The Price of Freedom

So I am really lucky that I was hooked up with all this stuff in my room: a couch, a bed, a tv and dvd player, etc. I know what you're thinking...go ahead and make this picture your screensaver. I won't mind!!! Thats was probably only funny to me, but I'm in Iraq! Give me a break!!! 

So this is the mud that I will speak of. It is everywhere and actually makes me hungry because it looks like snack pack pudding spread all over the place! 

My fabulous room. All kidding aside, I live like a king (relatively speaking of course!) 

My prestigious neighborhood. You know you're all jealous of the extra sandbag anti-mortar round fortifications! 

Honestly, who would have thought that this guy would be the fourth highest ranking person in a 450+ person battalion, fly the premier attack helicopter in the world, and be off on his second combat deployment in this C-17 aircraft? I never really figured it would turn out like this.

Taji is just like I left it, with minimal improvements. In a weird way, it feels like I have never left. Like I am stationed here and I just deploy back to Texas for 18 months at a time. The DFACis still quite a hike, but the iced coffee is still very worth it. I am with a handful of really great guys that I deployed with last time.

We were talking today about the noises being the same here. Aircraft are taking off over the trailers all day and night long. We got here during the beginning of the rainy season which is at least cooler than the rest of the year, but is plagued by rain and mud and sandstorms. All of which suck enough for me to wish it was summer. 

After some very interesting strategic level movements, yours truly arrived in FOB (Forward Operating Base) Taji, Iraq 8 days ago. I have not been able to post due to what we call a "commo blackout." When anyone from this FOB is killed, all internet and phone lines are turned off to prevent the next of kin and families from being notified improperly/inappropriately. With technology today the way it is, could you imagine finding out your loved one was dead on some Joe's MYSPACE? That would be very bad and for these reasons, I am not readily available to communicate. If it's any indicator if how things are going here, I would just say that for a variety of reasons, of the 8 days I have been here only about 12 hours have not been blocked out.

The good news is that I now have a mailing address. It follows here:

CPT Paul J Daigle
HHC, 1-227th Aviation Regiment
Unit 5010-0010
Taji, Iraq
APO AE 09378

I dropped off my first three letters today/tomorrow and I am looking forward to hearing and receiving letters or care packages. Many people ask what I would like or need. I can get pretty much anything out here, but it's all almost like back home. For my friends and I (seeing as I have much fewer number of Soldiers than last time), we are planning on sharing anything we get rather equitably. I personally am on a diet (I'm down to my target 185 lbs. again--that was quick!) and there is plenty of junk food to eat, but my guys love candy!

I personally like pictures from family and friends to hang up on the wall, new music, any Clemson stuff (didn't remember my flag this time either! damnit...) cigars, sugar free red bull (no longer available here!), magazines like maxim, national geographic, time, the economist, newsweek, etc., healthy snack food, sugar free drink mixes, and things of the sort. I am kind of a fan of Grey Goose Vodka and Seagram's Tonic too. Oops did I say that out loud?

Well now that the internet is back up I will be sure to catch you all up on what's going on with me. Hopefully I can post some pictures after I consult with our Operational Security experts. Thank you so very much for my thoughts and prayers. Peace out.

Our second stop was in Iceland and I was originally pretty fired up about it until I found out that they closed off a wing just for us and not a single thing was open. The weather was really nice though and the air was very clean (so much so that it was immediately noticeable). Our first stop was Illinois somewhere but unfortunately I was racked out hard on the plane. I didn't even know that we had stopped! Our third stop was in Germany and they had a couple of vendors there. I got some food and some interesting beverages, but most importantly I scored some postcards to send home to the family.

This picture is of my cot in my Kuwaiti "residence." Mine is the first one on the left of the foreground. I share this place with 75 other dudes but luckily for me, I don't spend a lot of time in this place.

Well I am on my 20th hour of duty day so it is high time for me to get some sleep. I'll post any good pictures as they come.

Paul

Well, after a long break, I have officially returned. I originally planned to update everyone in the two months prior to our deployment, but I will admit I was completely overwhelmed. I worked everyday until at least 2000 (8 p.m. for you non-military types) in preparation for our Battalion's deployment to Iraq.

As an Assistant Operations Officer or "Battle Captain" as we are affectionately known, my job has two roles. Prior to deployment, it is my charge to ensure that every Soldier has had the appropriate amount of training in all aspects of the military in order to be prepared for combat operations. This training ranges from being proficient with individual weapon systems to being able to put a HellFire Missile into a building over 4000m away with bullets flying in your face. We have had a plethora of classes and small group discussions on everything from team tactics to Iraqi cultural awareness. And for every segment of these training events, it is my job to coordinate for briefers, facilities, transportation, status tracking, etc.

Once we move into theater, I change gears and keep my aircrews (including myself) in the fight by providing situational awareness, mission briefings, air-ground integration, and airspace deconfliction. I will manage a certain amount of team missions at once to acheive the ground commanders' objective of defeating the enemy and restoring peace/democracy through lethality and agility.

We arrived at Camp Beuhring, Kuwait about two weeks ago and began the grueling process of RSO (Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement). This month is filled with briefings, last minute weapon validations, and the logistical operations that will successfully move our Battalion forward into Iraq. I am currently working about 18-20 hour days as well as flying once or twice a week to become environmentally qualified (i.e. learning how to land in the dust). The long days are helpful in keeping me from thinking about what I have left at home, but every night before I go to bed I have to hold back the tears. My responsibility to my Soldiers also helps since for many of them, this is their first time. I can see on their faces the extreme separation anxiety that plagued me on my first deployment. It makes me stronger knowing that they need me to be their leader.

This Battalion has some more time before we move north and begin to integrate ourselves into the fight. There are many things left that we must do to ensure a smooth transition as we occupy our battle space. I would like to thank all of those who keep us in their prayers and thoughts. As soon as I have an address for myself, I will post it. For those of you who wrote me last time, you know that I always write back no matter how little free time I may have. God be with all of you back home.