Free Republic

The 600-member Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, based at Naval Base Ventura County, received its orders in January to deploy to the Persian Gulf for the anticipated war with Iraq. With the Seabees every step of the way will be Ventura County Star staff writer Dani Dodge, a veteran reporter whose latest assignment has been covering law enforcement in eastern Ventura County. To get ready for this assignment, she has been writing about the Seabees for the past month -- in addition to preparing herself with everything from shots to camouflage outfits. Her stories about the men and women...

Editor's note: Ventura County Star reporter Dani Dodge returned last week after two months in Iraq and Kuwait with Seabees from Port Hueneme. This is her story. Second of two parts Task Force Mike entered Iraq the day after the war started. It took 24 hours to reach camp. During the drive, I stared into the darkness waiting for an Iraqi army to materialize. The Battalion 4 Seabees around me in the back of the Humvee, even the one with the M-16, were asleep. The driver shouted back that we were in the demilitarized zone, but the only difference I...

First, let me explain: I don't camp, and when I did, flush toilets were always within an easy midnight walk. I subscribe to Bon Appetit and Cook's Illustrated and would never open a can of Chef Boyardee. I don't go outside without a shower and makeup. I have no military experience. Yet, I spent the last two months in the Middle East with the Seabees of Port Hueneme-based Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4; most of the time in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. We were in Baghdad before the city fell. Bullets flew over our heads. A land mine blew...