|
|
 |
|
| June 25, 2007 |
|
|
| My new partner, Andy Ryan. |
I'm always a little hesitant to show photos like the ones below. I worry about those
who have family or friends serving here Iraq and I don't want to worry them anymore than they already do.
I guess I decided to show these for a couple of reasons. These Humvees can withstand
a lot. And secondly, and most importantly, we are not in control. God has a plan and if we survive these types
of incidents then it's because that was his plan. If we don't, that too was his plan. It's important that
our soldiers have a relationship with God.
In this particular incident only the gunner was injured and his injuries were not life threatening.
| June 23, 2007 |
|
|
| Humvee struck by IED early morning today |
| June 19, 2007 |
|
|
| I'm sure you've heard the term "you lucky dog." These puppies are fed real dog food by the soldiers |
| June 13, 2007 |
|
|
| Sgt Martinez and today's "center of attention." |
|
|
| Big, tough, mean soldiers 'eh? Yea right. |
|
|
| This rocket came through our roof, exited our buidling and entered the building next door. |
|
|
| Photo depicts where the rocket entered the building next door. |
|
|
| Part of the rocket found in the buidling next door. |
|
|
| Look closely through this hole made by the rocket. What do you see? I'll explain more later... |
|
|
| There's an important story that relates to this photo. I will explain below... |
This building, next
door to the one I live in, just a day earlier, had been occupied by dozens of soldiers.
At the time of this rocket attack there was only one soldier still living in the building, he was Lieutenant, Casey
Smith. This building was hit by a rocket(s) on January 9 and January 24, 2007.
On this particular
day, January 9, 2007 the Lieutenant was returning from the Chow Hall with a “to-go plate.”
Under normal circumstances he would have went back to his room, ate his meal, and then he would have used his laptop
to access the internet for a couple of hours, checking his email, etc.
The Lieutenant told
me that for “some reason” he had an overwhelming desire to go to the Chapel that day. He said he had not been to the Chapel since arriving at our Forward Operating Base. At first he hesitated but then “gave in” and went to the Chapel. While he was at the Chapel this rocket attack occurred.
When using his computer
he would sit in a folding chair. The chair would have been right in front of
hole depicted in the photo above. His head would have been in direct line with the path of the rocket.
You can say what
you want. You can call it mere coincidence.
I can tell you though that it was not mere coincidence. God led him to
the chapel that day, he knows it and I know it.
It is very easy
to sit in the comfort of our homes in America and forgot the awesome power of God. It shouldn’t
be easy but it is. But when you come to a place like and you have no choice but
examine your own mortality, day after day, mission after mission, you learn not to take things for granted.
God works in ways
that many times we will never understand. I’ve often asked myself, and
God, why certain people died and I didn’t. It’s not up to us to question
that. God has a plan for each of us, whether we’re home in America or here in Iraq. I hope with all my heart that not another soldier dies during this war.
But I know that’s probably not going to be the case.
When I pray now,
which I do often, I pray that God’s Will be done, not mine. If that means
that I die tomorrow then so be it. Everything that happens is part of God’s
greater plan.
The media reports
the deaths of soldiers like an adding machine. We’ve lost more than 3,500
now and close to 1,000 government civilians. But there are also miraculous stories
of survival that are rarely reported by the media because they are rarely known outside the “circle of trust”
here in Iraq.
I just thought it was important to share this particular story with
you.
|
|
| IPAs Brian Campo and Gary Reilly (forward) show where a rocket exited the building next to ours. |
|
|
| Front door of building where the rocket exited. |
|
|
| A Humvee parked behind our building. The Humvee was struck by an incoming rocket. |
The photos
of the Humvee really help to show the destructive power of the rockets that were being fired at our base on an almost daily
basis.
If you
will recall the story I told you about the Lt Casey Smith and the rocket attack that occurred on January 9, 2007, there’s more to the story.
After
Lt Smith finally moved out of the building depicted in the photos he moved into the building directly behind the concrete
walls behind this Humvee. As a matter of fact the door to his room is directly
behind the walls.
This
poor guy can’t win for losing. He told me, on the day I took the photos
of the Humvee, that the insurgents must have a tracking device on him. We laughed
about it even though it’s not a laughing matter.
I thank God for men like Lt Casey Smith.
|
|
| L-R Me, Quinten Warren and Sheldon Ames, two my closest friends here in Iraq. |
| August 19, 2006 |
|
|
| Saddam's Throne inside the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad |
Here are just a few photos taken here in Baghdad. I will update them every so often, be sure and check back frequently.
|
|
| My former partner, Ron Little, and the piece of shrapnel removed from his back |
| March 3, 2007 |
|
|
| On the right is my current partner, Eddie Cirilo, a retired NYPD officer |
| March 3, 2007 |
|
|
| An Iraqi police vehicle which was near a car bomb that exploded in a nearby market |
|
|
|
| October 28, 2006 |
|
|
| Specialist Truelove holding his helmet. He was shot in head by a sniper and survived. |
| October 28, 2006 |
|
|
| Close up photo of Spc Truelove's helmet |
This is one of the most unbelievable things I have seen here in Iraq. My gunner, Specialist
Truelove, was shot in the head by a sniper. The bullet hit his helmet in the middle of his forehead and then exited
out the side of the helmet. His only injury was slight abrasion to the side of his head. Specialist Truelove and
I survived two roadside bombs together and then he survived this. I have no doubt that God has protected him and has
great plans for his furture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| October 9, 2006 |
|
|
| Providing security at a council meeting in Sadr City |
In case you were wandering, Sadr City is home to more than 2,000,000 people and the stronghold of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada
al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army. There are rogue elements within the Mahdi Army thought be responsible for a large percentage
of the sectarian deaths that occur in Baghdad everyday.
In the near future I will try to enlighten you on the history of the ongoing violence, and the reasons behind
it, between the Shia's and the Sunni's.
| September 28, 2006 |
|
|
| Some members of my squad in front of our station in Baghdad |
| Sepember 28, 2006 |
|
|
| L-R: Lt Singer, SSG Jones, Sgt Thompon, Sgt Grounds |
| October 4, 2006 |
|
|
| Providing instruction to Iraqi Police Officers |
| November 23, 2006 |
|
|
| Inside the Humvee during a mission |
| November 23, 2006 |
|
|
| My Gunner, Private David Truelove |
| November 27, 2006 |
|
|
| Our police station after being struck by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) |
| October 21, 2006 |
|
|
| Our Humvee after being struck by a roadside bomb |
| March 4, 2007 |
|
|
| This is a "Buffalo." Iti s used to dig up unexploded roadside bombs. What a job huh? |
| March 17, 2007 |
|
|
| My Squad Leader, SSG James Hoyle |
| March 15, 2007 |
|
|
| Soldiers of the 240th MP Company, 3rd Platoon, 2nd Squad |
| March 15, 2007 |
|
|
| Our Company Commander, Captain Dage, 240th MP Company |
|
|
| My team L-R: Sgt Lourdiane, me, SPC Long, PVT Burgos |
|
|
| Standing next to an IP vehicle damaged by an IED. The IPs survived |
An American Police Officer in Iraq
| January 17, 2007 |
|
|
| With a member of the Iraqi Army |
 
|
|
|
|
