More of this story Apr 07, 2004
Furthermore, there were other elements to contend with like sweltering heat, camel spiders, mosquitoes, and sand fleas. The latter was probably the worse, he said, because the sand fleas were similar to, but smaller than flies. (West Memphis Evening Times, AR)
Area soldiers prepare for Afghanistan Apr 04, 2004
It also touches on the exotic terrain where soldiers might encounter creepy-crawly strangers -- from camel spiders the size of dinner plates to the venomous snake known as Cleopatra's asp. The battalion includes companies from St. Cloud, Duluth, Brainerd and Mankato. (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune)
Stockton native talks to students about serving in Iraq Mar 23, 2004
Noll also told the students that camels are the most common animal in the region of Iraq, but went to tell them about the huge camel spiders that he also has had to deal with. Telling a classroom of mostly wide-eyed students, he told how the camel spiders are about eight inches in diameter and rear up on their hind legs when approached. (Freeport Journal-Standard, IL)
Soldier visits young pen pals Mar 13, 2004
"There not a lot of snakes. Camel spiders are pretty dangerous," Taylor told the students. It is just starting to get warmer in Kandahar, Taylor said. (Hammond Daily Star, LA)
Local woman returns from nine months in Kuwait Jan 28, 2004
Troops also encountered less pleasant critters such as giant scorpions and sand-colored camel spiders.Kuwait is an endless flat plain of sand, almost devoid of color. (Coalfield Progress, VA)
Full Story? Jan 22, 2004
After considering the desert temperatures over 100 degrees, the snakes and camel spiders the troops had to contend with, and the risks, Crossley said he doesn t regret that decision at all.He is now working on trading his experience driving military big rigs for a Rhode Island trucker s license. (Woonsocket Call, RI)
Morrow Co. soldier expects change in Iraqis: 'They feared Saddam ... Dec 19, 2003
They had chests of ice and camel packs brought in to cool the water, but they were still able to cook Ramen noodles in 3 minutes. The huge camel spiders actually chase you and there are sand fleas that get into the beds and bite," said Middleton, as she used her hands to describe the 8-inch circumference of one spider that bit her. Middleton felt the culture shock going to a country that had clay houses and poor sanitation with sewage and feces in the streets. Animals graze through garbage... (Marion Star, OH)
Returning soldier visits his Orange Elementary pen pals Dec 06, 2003
But what really left the children wide-eyed was hearing about camel spiders. "The real big ones get about as big as this," said Schaver, tracing the top of his wide-brimmed hat (Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA)
Counting our Blessings Nov 27, 2003
"It's poor and it's nasty. There's big disgusting rats and camel spiders. The men are also super mean. I'm thankful I live in Bremerton.". Jessica Heiner apparently read the same intelligence reports: "If a Camel Spider get's on a camel, when it's laying down, the Camel Spider will be munching on the camel's flesh," she said (Bremerton Sun, WA)
Returning GIs give thanks as time abroad deepens appreciation of ... Nov 27, 2003
It?s about more than soft carpet between toes or even not having to dodge mortar fire and camel spiders. (THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON) Navy PO 3rd Class Daniel Yost is thankful for his new fiancee, Trisha Bahlke, to whom he proposed last week after arriving at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (Toledo Blade, OH)
Sgt. Bob Ott presents OHS flag that flew over Baghdad Nov 19, 2003
Scorpions are also common, as well as 'camel spiders. "Those spiders are as big as your hand," he noted (Ogden Reporter, IA)
Female veteran honored Nov 10, 2003
And the story about camel spiders -- a cross between a spider and a scorpion as big as her hand and fast as lightning -- drew responses like "Cool!" and "Yuck!". Bugay had been an active duty soldier before, from 1981-85, but never had been in a combat zone (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA)
Read voices from the front Nov 06, 2003
Rocks. Sandflies. Snakes. Scorpions. Camel Spiders... We are still firing back. I swear the tanks and artillery pieces are right across the street. ... (Sangre de Cristo Chronicle, NM)
Soldier, home on all-too-brief leave, tells of life in Iraq Oct 31, 2003
When he isn't busy patrolling, he sometimes pauses to scoop up a camel spider in a water bottle with a hole cut in the side. Brickman holds his hands apart as though cradling a creature the size of a guinea pig when he describes the camel spiders so named because they supposedly can eat camels, he said (Springfield News Sun, OH)
Lilienkamp back at Fort Riley after serving overseas in Baghdad 9 Oct 2003
He encountered huge camel spiders, whose body and legs span 6 inches or more. They are very aggressive spiders that will pursue people and animals to bite them, rearing up on their back legs and hissing (Arapahoe Public Mirror, NE)
QC women share worry of soldier sons 4 Oct 2003
One mother says she?s freaked out by reports of Camel Spiders ? huge arachnids which the service men and women have been writing home about. I heard they?ve been putting scorpions and camel spiders in jars and betting on which one will last the longest,? Anderson said of the troops? otherwise futile quest for entertainment (Bettendorf News, IA)
Marine meets with young pen pals 26 Sep 2003
After rolling out a military-issue bed roll, Smith said, "Sleeping in the sand is not too much fun, because they have things like scorpions and camel spiders.". The group of 20 Moody students bubbled over with questions about tanks, training, sandstorms, weapons, enemy movements and Saddam Hussein s decoys (Middletown Press, CT)
