A Taji Kind Of Night

It’s 2007. Is that a good thing? We’ll find out.

A small world of humans
We started it off right here at Taji. It’s the Muslim Holiday of Eid. Iraqi wise everything came to a screeching halt. I’ve spent some of my slowest days in Iraq over the last couple of days. I was going to hop on a flight down south for the night, but the mission got bumped up a night and I missed out. I instead went to a cookout catered by Iraqis. I talked with a Major that had been in the Florida Guard and he knew a guy I was in 3^rd Ranger Bn. with…It can be such a small world. The food was great, and I didn’t over eat. They played allot of country music though, no wonder that Lt. got a Dear John. Earlier I had stood in on a fire talking with some others and a civilian contractor. A lady contractor who most people don’t like, but, I like listening to her talk. Even, if she has a slightly bitter disposition. She may not be an angel, but she’s human. We poked fun at being in Iraq and how things work. After the cookout I went back to the fire before heading off to bed.

Right about midnight
Laying in bed I conjured up a ghost…The first in a series of stories I began writing years ago. It’s a Mountain superstition and may be every where else, it can’t just be antonymous to Appalachia, that what your doing at midnight is what you will be doing the rest of your year. So, you might as well do something worth while…hey, you’re in Iraq and you better make the best of it. I was reading over the story and jogging my memory of what my characters were like and my eyes began to burn. That’s not worth while so, I called it a night. I spoke my words to God, and began to nod off. My Iraqna phone started ringing. It wasn’t the guy on watch, it was an unknown number. Who in the heck was trying to get a hold of me? I thought it was “Girl of Lately” which is now “Girl of a Long While Back” who happens to be in Baghdad now. No, I have her number…I don’t know who it is…I call them back; all I hear is my voice echo. They call back. It cuts them off. This went back and forth for almost fifteen minutes. Five minutes to midnight, I might as well do something worth while. I talk to God again. I felt real peaceful, so I open my eyes. Midnight. Three minutes later I hear a whine almost like the belt of a car. One second later I hear the detonation. My metal door vibrated. Happy New Years, they haven’t forgotten us after all. Fire works courtesy of the Insurgency. I stayed in my room, it’s a hard building and it will have to be a good direct hit to get us. I figured there would be another one at any second. I listened for the Counter Battery Fire to go out. A good Fire Direction Center (FDC) and Gun Crew can throw a round out in less than 180 seconds. Nothing…No “Shot Out”. No more incoming.

There was a New Years celebration going on and Fox News was broadcasting. I wasn’t going, too big a crowd. I don’t want to be part of the masses for one year. Jelloiuse must think it odd of me because I was at the bar she worked at for New Years a few years ago and I walked out by myself at Midnight…I stand out from the crowd. But back to lovely Taji, Iraq. I don’t go to any event unless there are Cheer Leaders. Another reason is what happened last night. I’m told the whole thing is all over the news. Truth is we’ve taken incoming allot of different times and it didn’t make the news. We’re not in eye sight of the Green Zone.

It was a 107mm Rocket. I got to handle a chunk of it this morning at the Battle Update Brief (BUB) for BDOC. It was painted olive drab, my favorite color…

Things that make Soldiers go hmmm
While at the BUB a 1^st Sgt. was promoted to SGM and had been selected for CSM. The BDOC Commander (I like him for a LTC, but don’t go telling him) made a point that less than 1% of Enlisted Ranks are selected for such position. This makes me think of two things. The higher you go in the Ranks the more political it gets. I’ve got people asking me why I’m not an E-8. It’s not that I don’t want to, but, I don’t do political. Also too many people put their packet in because they want to. Not because they feel they can do the job. The LTC also pointed out that the less than 1% rule doesn’t even go for Four Star Generals. It’s long been complained that the Officer Corps is bloated. I feel this is true, but I fear my knowledge is a tip of the ice berg. Enlisted people spend more time in leadership positions than the Commissioned do. Is this effective? Generals have more power than the President principle wise. They have a small platoon of aids and staff members follow them around acting silly. Greater than 1%? Is this good? Is this effective?

My New Years message to you
Some of you know this, I ain’t telling you your business, some of you don’t… Because you’re human. Stand up for your beliefs. Don’t impose yours on others. Do what’s right, even if it’s not convenient to. Don’t let nobody take advantage of you or push you around. Love somebody. Even if it’s just your Dog.

I’ve never been too good at making my own luck.* I’ve had to wipe the blood off my hand because I stuck it in the machine. I’ve still got a hand though. I’ll make my own reality.

*LOL, I had a black cat cross my path in Iraq. What irony.

The Appalachianist