Got another package a couple days ago. It had a soccer ball, some tart candies and lots of Kool-Aid.
Here’s a picture of the package and the ball riding out into the city.
Here’s the little boy who got the ball.
Thanks for the contributions!!
Great pics, Bear.
So, what do you do all day?
How difficult is the language barrier? Do you have terps, or not?
If you didn’t know where I was, what assumptions would you make from these pictures?
Where would you think these people lived? A war-torn country? Some other city? Some other neighborhood? Next door??? Not sure what my point is I guess…
This baby here is named Retarj. So of course, I call her “Little Baby Retard” or just “Retard!”. Meh… I’m pretty easily amused out in sector, I guess. She’s a cute little girl though, isn’t she!!? Whenever I see her out, I’ll wave and yell out her name. Her father smiles and waves.
Here she is enjoying a treat sent by fisha.
Hmmm… well I guess it just all depends on the day. We spend many days just patrolling neighborhoods, searching for anything dangerous–IEDs, bomb parts, weapons, explosives, etc. We spend a lot of time talking with local residents, shop owners, informants, or pretty much anybody who has something interesting to tell us.
We search for people we know are bad or dangerous. We collect intel on those bad people, which usually uncovers new bad people we didn’t even know about. We go around questioning people to try and locate those dangerous people. When they are located, we go capture them. A lot of this stuff would really make a great crime drama. Seriously. You wouldn’t believe the complicated web of players. It’s a plot most couldn’t keep up with!
Sometimes we’ll just grab some suspicious looking guys. Then we’ll take their photos to some local informants and find out if we’ve grabbed anyone bad. If they are known members of terrorist groups or are known to have done something bad like shooting at Iraqi Police or placing bombs or murdering civilians, then we take them to a detention facility. If nobody seems to know them, we’ll scan their fingerprints, iris and face to add to our massive database, and then let them go with a handshake.
Sometimes we just patrol to establish a presence.
Or go around surveying residents to find out about their cost of living, their power, gas, water, food, their safety, their concerns, their complaints… that sort of thing. We’ll get pictures and information of all military aged males so that we have information on everyone in the neighborhood.
Sometimes we provide security for Iraqi construction to fix a street or sewage problem or something.
Sometimes we respond to murders and do what we can to find the murderer. Just the other day I sat with a family whose murdered son still lay in the driveway. We couldn’t speak, but empathy is a universal language.
Some days we’ll go meet up with some Iraqi Army guys and take them out with us. It gives them more needed experience. And gives us… well… an interesting time!
Some days I just stop to enjoy the view.
Some days we’ll just chill in some random house. Talking and socializing with the residents. All in a days work, I guess.
Some days are actually nights…
That’s not exactly an exhaustive list of everything I do all day. But it should give you an idea.
Thing is, my unit could relocate at a moments notice. We get sent to where extra combat troops are needed. We’ve calmed this area down for the most part, so we could up and move at any time to some other place. Who knows. Today we’re patrolling the city, tomorrow we could be walking through farmland or palm groves. Could be the vast open desert, or the lush vegetation of a river delta. Only time will tell. Gotta be ready for anything. I think I’ll miss the city though.
I’m learning words. Many Iraqis speak enough English to at least understand what I’m trying to communicate. There is always a terp nearby. Never more than a block away, I’d say. But he’s usually busy. He stays with the lieutenant. If the person seems to really have something important to say, I’ll see if the terp and LT can swing by and talk with them. If we need to ask someone lots of specific questions or interview someone or something, we’ll always use the terp. But for simple interaction or commands… we just rely on our Arabic and their English… and pantomime.
Hey Bear, sorry I haven’t sent a box yet, but I got a bit sidetracked- my brother landed in the IZ last week… fun fun fun.
I am going to be placing an order with Oriental Trading next week- I’ll throw in some plastic and/or rubber sunglasses. They look like Rayban Wayfarers- pretty cool!
I sent off two boxes to you this week as well, BN.
Two more boxes came this week. One was loaded with candy and Play Doh. The other had toys, candy, two air pumps (sweet), and some Tap Lights!!
I made sure to bring a Tap Light out right away. The family loved it! Especially the kids. If you’re wondering how helpful or how well received your gift was, or just how meaningful and useful it would be:
Here’s a couple pics of the children doing their school work under the soft yellow (and pink) glow of your generosity!
Thanks again, guys!!!
Bear has moved. Anyone interested in sending him packages or letters needs to get the new address of where he is located. Feel free to either email or send a private message to me. Packages sent to the old address should get to him, it’ll just take a lot longer.
I just got two dozen pairs of rubber & plastic sunglasses to send over- I’ll email you tomorrow for the new address.
Thanks, fisha.
First time I’ve seen this thread. I’ll give it a read and come back. Still ongoing, right?
Still going strong, he is just a little more northerly than he was previously. Bear also mentioned that he might not be able to check in as much for a while, but we’ll see. Communication tends to be a priority, even when they’re out and about.
Merry Christmas, Bear_Nenno. Thanks for everything.
Stay safe.
Received today from Bear_Nenno.
"No time.
Please tell all that the project is not cancelled and I am not ignoring anyone. It is delayed. Major shit going on. I’m not dead, but the snow covered orange trees and palm trees made me wonder if hell froze over. It’s cold. And wet. I hate it.
I’m on a 24 hour rest and found a computer. Took 3 hours to load the SDMB. But I am currently dry. And warm.
Google: “Operation Iron Harvest” for details.
I’ll be in touch with all as soon as I can. I know people are probably wondering about their packages and the gifts. All will be put to use. Promise.
Stay warm. Stay safe.
-With Hope
Nenno"
