Appalachian Patria

Appalachian Intellectual. To me that means plain thinking. I am A Non Commissioned Officer in the Army Reserves. Let me say...My views expressed here are mine and not those of The U.S. Army, Army Reserve or my fellow brethren in The National Guard. This is entirely Sua Sponte. This is My Thinking. I'm single and in my mid 30's. Politicaly, I'm a Libertarian. (Again, Sua Sponte.I do not represent the Libertarian Party.)I love my native Appalachia, Rock n Roll and...I love God.

Name:
Location: Brevard, North Caroilina

I started blogging for two reasons. I was concerned about the changes to the area I live in, Southern Appalachia and I was about to go to the war. I was in Iraq in 06 and 07 and now Kuwait in 11 and 12. Blogging was a means of documenting my experiences and hoping it would help gain clarity. I don't feel that way about it any more. It's said people write blogs because they are frustrated, that's why people read them too. That makes us sound apocalyptic. Are we? Let it be said, what I say here is of my own thinking. This is entirely Sua Sponte and not an official representation of the U.S. Military or the U.S. Government as a whole.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

It Rained!!!

Rain! Our crops are saved!

Today we saw our first rain. There were dark scattered clouds at sunlight and at 0748 a strong wind blew throwing dust into the air. Then for five minutes it sprinkled almost enough to cover the ground. Allot of us stood out in it. It was brief but pretty. Then it cleared and a dusty haze has settled. It felt more noticeably humid too.

We’re Expanding

My section has grown. We picked up an E-6 from one of the ware house operations and a Lieutenant from the Marine Corps. He’s an Infantry Officer on his second tour. We are the only operation that is 24/7 on the Depot and the most multi serviced, hence the most multi cultural. There are different cultures within the Military. Our specialties range from two Air Force MP’s, a Marine Infantryman, an Army Infantryman (myself), two Finance guy’s and three Supply Guy’s. We hail from Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, South Carolina, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Georgia, Alabama, and myself the Western North Carolina Hill Billy. We’ve pulled together tighter, we’re getting along a little better. We might as well, this is Iraq and we’re “stuck like Chuck”.

Of course everything is not all gravy. We have some room for improvement. Some of my guy’s need to be a little more involved, there is some better potential inside everyone.

That reminds me. I’m going to have to give a lecture to them. Someone logged onto the “Adam and Eve” web site on our Office Computer. That site is a little border line for a Government Computer. I wonder what they ordered.

The Land of Nod

There were upper level clouds all day today. It’s cooler, with highs in the mid 90’s. The ground is wet in places in the mornings. The water comes up from the ground. Remember, from the book of Genesis, the Lord replenished the Earth from the ground up until he had Noah build the Ark. I think of that when I see it. I debate in my mind if this was the Garden of Eden. Throw stones at me, but, I feel like Eden was west of here. The wet clay sticks to everything and doesn’t dry out until evening. Then it starts all over again. Twenty feet away it will be dry and dusty. A sage of sorts grows everywhere in clumps and bushes called Terpa’s about head high are scattered about. They are both pale green.

It’s not easy being a Nerd

I about got mad. About, mind you. My camcorder was all out of focus. I would zoom and it would be blurry. Finally I read the instructions and come to find out the manual focus was off. I carry it around and more than likely when I was visiting a guard tower or something it got bumped on when other things were bumped and it got all messed up. Anyhow, I discovered it was out of focus while trying to get some white crane like birds flocking just out side of our parameter. I was out getting wooden ammo crates to put up in the towers. Some Jundi’s aren’t as tall as others and a step would help if they had to return fire. I got cases that had once contained 90mm Smoke Rounds made in Brazil. I knew they had a decent fire arms industry, it makes sense. I wonder if the Iraqis had 90mm Recoilless Rifles.

Come to mention the 90’…

The 90mm Recoilless Rifle was one great implementation. It was a simple design. You could take some flichette rounds and clear out some jungle, rooms (if shot from the outside), or an avenue of approach. It held well against armor with HE. Back in the day when I was in the 75th, we were the only ones left using it. Why not? It was one fine weapon. But the Army decided it had to go. Ammo wasn’t available. We should have swallowed our pride and bought it from the Brazilians.

I’m sure it’s not too late. I’m sure within the depths of Anniston Army Depot the 90’ can still be found. If something as simple as an RPG can cause such a stir, then why not the equally as simple Recoilless Rifle? Fighting economically is fighting smarter.

My Apologies

This post has been put together on Word over several days. As I write this we are in Communications Blackout. I’m yet to learn exactly why. When I first got here in June we were in Blackout twice a month. It’s now coming twice a week. I’m behind on mailing folks. I can use the office computer to check my mail, but eight of us use that computer and the Iraqi’s have been cutting the generator at certain times…some earlier than others…in a vain attempt to conserve fuel. I find myself responding to who ever is on top of my list. You know who you are, I’m sorry I haven’t gotten a note off to you.

Do you want a little taste of my day?

Today I had to juggle Escort, Personal Security Detail (PSD) NCOIC duties and Advising. I pulled PSD for the Commander of Anniston Army Depot (I wrote the 90 part before I did the PSD, which was on short notice) I have a mind to ask him about the 90’when I do it again tomorrow, Insalla. At the same location where I did the PSD, along with one of my guy’s from Birmingham Alabama…not to leave anyone out…We have two Jundis guarding Barracks so another Iraqi unit won’t move into them. One, a likable, straight forward, hard working Jundi, saw me and came to me. “Mishkala”…Problem. Neither of these guy’s had water. I relayed it to one of the trusted Warrant Officers…Without an interpreter. “No problem”. Later after taking up some slack on escort I went back to see if the two had water. “Maku”…A negative answer. So, I had an interpreter tell another Warrant Officer…”OK”. So, later as I waited to do PSD for the Colonel and DA Civilians for an hour and a half before they e-mailed my Commander that they weren’t coming (it was a communications mixup, the Col. apologised), the two Jundis didn’t have water still. Finally a UAZ Jeep pulled in just before dark. It’s Ramadan. They weren’t going to give them water until dark because of Ramadan. They use water to wipe their ass; these kids couldn’t even wipe their ass. They were going to make them obey Ramadan.

You’ve gotta…

The guy from Birmingham borrowed some water off of a civilian contractor. It read on the label…”healthy water treated with ozone”. I love this country.

The haze is going to interfere with Night Vision tonight. This is the weather where someone could try to break into the Depot. My stuff is close.

Last note, the Blackout lasted five days.

Semper Vigilans

The Appalachianist

15 Comments:

Blogger sage said...

thanks for the update, I enjoy reading your post when you don't have a blackout... trees changing color here and I'm sure WNC isn't far behind.

6:54 PM  
Blogger Lee Ann said...

Glad you got a little rain!
So...when is your lecture?
Someone has a little guts to take his privilege on the office computer, eh? Adam and Eve? :)
Good that you guys are getting along good...makes life just a bit easier in your situation.
Wish we could see some of your video, I think that would be way cool.
Hey, I haven't gotten a letter from you yet! Ok, I will give you a break because you are a wee bit busy!
Tell your Birmingham friend that the weather was gorgeous today...blue skies, sunshine and in the 70s!
Hope all is going well with you cutie!
~xo

11:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah yes, that brings back memories of being out enjoying the local culture and customs in Southeast Asia and having to do my thing with water instead of Charmin. That sort of thing makes you appreciate the American way of life, real quick.

Sounds like you're staying busy. Which I always found more suitable than looking for things to do. It just seems to make the time go quicker and I'm sure that you're all for that. :-)

(Guntrash, who can't seem to sign in to the new, improved blogger beta)

7:08 AM  
Blogger Hill Billy Rave said...

Sage, I was sent a picture of a couple of poplar leaves a couple of weeks back or so. I should find out soon. My leave is coming up soon. Everyone back home keeps reminding me.

Lee Ann,that little sprinkle was great. I already gave the lecture. it brought up some jokes and laughs. I told them I have the net in my room, they can use mine and clear the history. So far no takers.

I don't know how I can post video, I've wanted to post some small clips.

Well, Lee Ann, you havn't told me where to send such a letter...

You called me cutie and the guys and some home folks say I look mean in that profile pic...You ain't bad looking yourself ;)

Gunner...I hate that. The LT was talking about how disgusting that was. No one has thought about that I suppose, that's why you see water bottles piled up in their latrines. And water is precious here.

This Beta thing seems awfully untrustworthy to me...

10:02 AM  
Blogger Ramblin' Ed said...

Hi AI,
Enjoyed the post. Got me to thinking, maybe the hole in the ozone layer is really an open pit mine of sorts. Or else where do they get the ozone they're putting in the water?

This next thought is both morbid and stupid. One thing that had always bothered me about maybe getting killed at sea was what the folks were gonna think about some of the stuff that was in my locker. Omm, Ok, not MY locker, but other people's locker. The paper cleared that up yesterday when they did an article about the footlockers coming home from Iraq. They said "anything untoward, such as pornography" was removed before it was sealed and turned over to the family. See, I ... I mean those guys were worried about nothing.

I looked up the UAZ jeep like I said I would. Fugly little critters. But pretty sturdy looking. Then the racers on The Amazing Race were using them in Mongolia. Seems a UAZ is a lot like a mule. Strong and sturdy, but tempermental. And only starts when it wants to. Out of 10 UAZ's, 3 had to be started by means other than turning the key.

Gotta go to work. Catch you later, hillbilly. Is livermush starting to sound good yet, or do you need a little while longer over there? I only ask because I care.
Ed

1:49 AM  
Blogger Murf said...

A.I. - I would be hesitant to use your keyboard too. (heehee)

I'm impressed that you kept the instructions for something AND referred to them when you need help. I didn't know guys did that. :-)

6:44 AM  
Blogger Hill Billy Rave said...

Ed, thanks for stopping in. Sorry I don't get to check in much, same to you M(urf!).

Actually the UAZ jeep ain't so bad. The Iraqis don't like them. They want Humvees...Gas guzzling beasts with the axles bowing from the armor...They just don't take care of the UAZ. The brakes have an unmistakable whine. I've never seen one not want to crank. I have seen them sitting on dead batteries muc like blocks back home. All of usAmericans are impressed with them. It wouldn't meeet US air standards, though.

M(urf)!, go ahead, tell me I'm just a dense masculine lump, but, you've lost me. Maybe t's the day I had...Maybe it's a Jedette Mind Trick...

10:22 AM  
Blogger Ramblin' Ed said...

What do a UAZ's brakes and me have in common? Why, our unmistakable whine, that's what.

The trouble getting them to crank perhaps could have been staged to provide suspense. It was, after all, reality TV.

2:04 PM  
Blogger Murf said...

Mmm...a dense masculine lump that I can mold into anything that I want....what would I make? I know I would definitely keep the boots. I dig the short hair too.

7:22 PM  
Blogger Hill Billy Rave said...

Ed, I didn't meant to contradict you. It's an interesting thing about "reality" tv. Maybe they created the problem to be more dramatic...Maybe their UAZ was a lemmon...What did their brakes sound like.

Murf, I still don't know what your talking about...I'm clueless.

9:11 AM  
Blogger Murf said...

Which part is confusing?

10:23 AM  
Blogger Hill Billy Rave said...

The keyboard part. Yes, I did keep my instructions, not very guy like I know, call it my femenine side.

11:43 AM  
Blogger Ramblin' Ed said...

Tomorrow I am offering you a compromise. It'll be in my blog. Don't say no until you think about it.

Warp speed, Mr. Sulu.

4:21 PM  
Blogger Ramblin' Ed said...

OK, Buckwheat. It is posted.

4:18 AM  
Blogger Hill Billy Rave said...

Gahlee, Thnk you Ed.

11:30 PM  

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