I'm painfully behind on this

It is now 5 Nov 2008 and I'm watching NCIS, all FIVE seasons, while waiting for my time in this country to expire.

What is most notable about November, well two things OK three actually, is that the First marked my two year in service mark. That's right I have been a Private in the US Army for two years. Which brings me to point 2. Two years active duty in the service, barring any misconduct, means an automatic promotion to E4 Specialist. Yes that means after MONTHS of working, straining, begging to be promoted, the Army just gave it to me. I forgot part of point one, looking back in retrospect, the two year in service mark comes with a tenure raise. That promotion to E4 also comes with a raise. The third point is that it's November, which I have said twice now, but that also means that I'll be coming home. Soon in fact. Avid followers of this blog know I cannot discuss confidential information on a public forum or unsecured channel. Suffice it to say there is not long now.

I really wish I could say more. I'm practically oozing with emotion, but nothing I want to say can be said. Those of you in Michigan can look forward to seeing the whole fam in mid-late December.

Also I'm pretty sure now that I will be going officer. I've done some more research and it seems like I pretty much qualify without anything more than I already have. Have to double check on needing a security clearance yet, but I'm working that angle too. In any event that put me in the Army for at least two more years to get a degree and that's just the time it'll take to get my commission. There is no minimum commitment time once I get a commission but with the amount of pay I'll be getting I may just stick this military thing out. A military retirement is highly desirable. Retire after 20 years and the medical benefits continue for life, for you and your spouse, and you get 50% of your base pay for life. Stick it out for 30 years and the compensation ups to 100%. Officer pay with that much time in service? I'd not only never have to work again I'd likely never need to. Once I get my commission my starting pay will $3215.10. add in housing pay, benefits, substance allowance, it really starts to add up.

That's all future though. My focus at the moment is getting out of this country. Right after I watch a few more days worth of NCIS. It seems most of you have found me on Facebook but if you would actually like  a live chat look me up on AOL's Instant Messenger, www.aim.com and look up jcpahman77. If I'm awake and the internet is working out here, I'm on.

Until we meet again in person, this is SPECIALIST Pahman, signing off...

SPC Pahman, Jesse C.

United States Army

Camp Liberty, Iraq

Not much longer now.

It really stinks not being able to say more about when I may be coming home. At this point I still don't have an actual date and it's not far out. We won't know when we'll be in the states until we make it to Kuwait, just too many variables and concerns for safety and security until then. I absolutely cannot wait to see many of you again. Until then I honestly feel that I have been blessed to be able to keep in touch as well as we have. This is a very long distance to be away for so long, anything helps.

Until I'm home I want to thank all of you for your continued prayers. I know it's God's grace that has kept me as safe as I have been. There have been some times when I can recall being scared but I don't feel I was ever in any real danger; I could be wrong I guess, I just didn't know if I was.

For now I'll wrap up 'till I can think of more to say.

As Always:

PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.

United States Army

Camp Liberty, Iraq

Facebook

If I had known that so much of my family was on Facebook I would have joined long ago. I don't have much in the way of news, just the day in day out business everyone goes through. OK so day in day out business in Iraq is a bit different than it is other places, but after 13 months here that is what it feels like to me.
For the family I haven't had a chance to share with since I've been deployed, or in the service for that matter, let me tell you a little about what my life is like. My job title in the Army is 88M, we say 88 Mike, in English it means truck driver. I drive the Army's Heavy Equipment Transporter. The truck's main objective is to be able to transport the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank and it's crew. This makes it a very large truck. The photo above, or wherever blogger put it, is one of my favorite shots of the truck, the only thing it fails to do is show the scale of the vehicle. The tractor tires are over 50 inches tall and the bottom of the doors is almost 6 feet in the air. I could talk about the truck all day, it's why I picked 88M as my job, I love to drive, but enough about that for now.

The living conditions aren't bad here at all, depending on which FOB you get to call home. I've been on 3 so far this tour. Most people live in what we call CHU's, or Container Housing Units. There are three rooms per container and 2 people per room so my space ends up being about 6x12', I haven't actually measured. In that space they provide a bed, a wall locker, a small end table and a reading lamp. There is usually reasonably good A/C and if you have a TV you can connect to AFN, the American Forces Network, at no cost and get 11 channels to keep up on current events. Also depending on the FOB, and this one is among the best, there is wireless internet in the rooms for the paltry sum of $65/mo. which unfortunately struggles to rival the speed of a good dial-up modem. On top of what is in the room already we have the chore of fitting our military gear and any other amenities we might want to make the tour more pleasant. For my part I have my laptop, a TV, DVD Player and a small surround sound setup, I love my movies. As we are so close to the end of our tour now most of my gear has been packed into tough boxes to get ready to be shipped home.

I carry an M16A2 with an attached M203 40mm grenade launcher. I've been fortunate enough not to need it yet. As for what I actually do, I can only give so many details, MUCH of what I have seen, carried, and where I have been is classified, or at least that is what they tell me. During the hot months, and hot doesn't really do it justice, but during the hot months we work nights. My current schedule has me going to the gym at midnight for PT and then work call in the motorpool at 0230 in the morning. Most of the time in the motorpool is spent trying to keep the trucks running. The problem with a tractor trailer system that weighs 45 tons empty is it has a tendancy to fall apart. Once you factor in that it can haul another 70 tons it really becomes obvious how much work these trucks need. When I'm not in the motorpool I'm mostly left alone. Missions take me outside the wire, a term used to indicate when we've left the FOB and entered into an unsecured area. I've been on so many at this point that I have lost track. This is the part of the job I cannot talk about, suffice it to say that almost anything can and does happen outside but that I have been safe throughout the tour and to date my unit has not lost anybody.

I'll be home to the states by Thanksgiving and our little family is hoping to make the trek to Michigan to visit in late December. The Army likes to do things to change perfectly good plans for no reason at all, but that is the plan for now.

Until then take care and God Bless.

PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.

United States Army

Camp Liberty, Iraq

link to new blog

http://web.me.com/jcpahman77 Much easier for me to manage my blog this way. If you like it, get a mac and get a .mac account lol.

Back in VBC!!! Woot

I'm back in VBC, land of good internet. I'm working on a new site for the blog, it's one where I can make the posts on my laptop and then upload them when they are ready so I don't have to rely on the internet just to write a post. I actually started making entries when I first heard we'd be going to VBC so there are a few entries there to get caught up with. Comments can be left as well so it should work much like this one does. I'm back with 3rd Platoon and SFC. Kinninschkze who I haven't seen since I left TQ. I'm looking forward to finishing out the tour with some old friends, both from my old platoon and from 57th TC who I got to know when I was here the first time. I'll post the link to the new blog once it uploads and I'm sure exactly what the link is.

Stay tuned.

an exercise in patience

Trying to get this page to open on my laptop has been quite an exercise, but a blog post is needed.

I've responded to everyone's comment on the last post so I won't go over that material twice. They are still working on the internet out here. Anyone with enough motivation could stand to make some money if they could figure out how to make this work, look-up USComz. Anyway, since the last posting I've been staying busy and safe as usual, but now I get to add injured to the list. It didn't happen on a mission or anything, it's just age catching up to me. I've always had bad knees and it seems that they are getting worse. I was working on a trailer this past Saturday and just went to stand up to lend a hand. I was standing and turning at the same time and when I put weight on my right knee it popped and it seems I have a partially torn meniscus now. For those not familiar it is a tendon in the knee and apparently is fairly painful when pulled. There is nothing that can be done for it out here because it requires surgery to fix. Normally this is the kind of injury that would get a person sent home but our company is short handed and can't afford to loose anyone else at this point, even an injured person can do some work.

Yesterday I went in for a follow-up and they tried to drain the fluid off of the knee cap. I say tried because in order for it to be successful the patient needs to remain motionless. I did not. I've never had a needle that large in my knee before and it was a very unpleasant sensation. I'm on an anti-inflammatory and a fairly large pain killer to help deal with it but I won't be able to get it fixed until we return to the states. They also gave me a cortisone shot which didn't hurt nearly as bad as when they tried to drain it, and that seems to be helping a great deal. I can walk on the leg, but not well. I was on crutches for a few days but they say it will heal better if I try to walk on it as much as I can. For now I'm off of the road while it heels. I'm working in the base tire shop which is run by our company.

I'm not the only one with knee injuries right now so I've been getting some good advice on how to handle it and I'm confident that I'll be able to make a full recovery once I am home in El Paso, in the meantime I have to live with it. Luckily we are nearing the end of our tour, the countdown has begun. With any luck I'll pickup my E4, specialist rank, in October and that will feel good. I was close to getting it for September but I didn't have much time to study.

I'm working days for now, so as with the last entry that means I need to wrap this up so I can get some sleep. I'm trying to check my e-mail at jesse.c.pahman@us.army.mil as much as I can, but that site is also hard to load. I'll be home soon, and I look forward to sharing the experiences I've collected along this tour. I hope that you don't find I have changed too much, but I know that I have. Know that at some point I may snap for no good reason at all and that whoever or whatever it was I snapped at, it probably wasn't provoked. It happened once on R&R and I've seen a good deal more since then. I'm learning some Arabic as well and I will share what I know when we all get to meet again in person.

Until then, take care and know that despite how it may sound I am doing very well.

PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.
United States Army
Camp Taji, Iraq

An exercise in patience

Trying to get this page to open on my laptop has been quite an exercise, but a blog post is needed.

I've responded to everyone's comment on the last post so I won't go over that material twice. They are still working on the internet out here. Anyone with enough motivation could stand to make some money if they could figure out how to make this work, look-up USComz. Anyway, since the last posting I've been staying busy and safe as usual, but now I get to add injured to the list. It didn't happen on a mission or anything, it's just age catching up to me. I've always had bad knees and it seems that they are getting worse. I was working on a trailer this past Saturday and just went to stand up to lend a hand. I was standing and turning at the same time and when I put weight on my right knee it popped and it seems I have a partially torn meniscus now. For those not familiar it is a tendon in the knee and apparently is fairly painful when pulled. There is nothing that can be done for it out here because it requires surgery to fix. Normally this is the kind of injury that would get a person sent home but our company is short handed and can't afford to loose anyone else at this point, even an injured person can do some work.

Yesterday I went in for a follow-up and they tried to drain the fluid off of the knee cap. I say tried because in order for it to be successful the patient needs to remain motionless. I did not. I've never had a needle that large in my knee before and it was a very unpleasant sensation. I'm on an anti-inflammatory and a fairly large pain killer to help deal with it but I won't be able to get it fixed until we return to the states. They also gave me a cortisone shot which didn't hurt nearly as bad as when they tried to drain it, and that seems to be helping a great deal. I can walk on the leg, but not well. I was on crutches for a few days but they say it will heal better if I try to walk on it as much as I can. For now I'm off of the road while it heels. I'm working in the base tire shop which is run by our company.

I'm not the only one with knee injuries right now so I've been getting some good advice on how to handle it and I'm confident that I'll be able to make a full recovery once I am home in El Paso, in the meantime I have to live with it. Luckily we are nearing the end of our tour, the countdown has begun. With any luck I'll pickup my E4, specialist rank, in October and that will feel good. I was close to getting it for September but I didn't have much time to study.

I'm working days for now, so as with the last entry that means I need to wrap this up so I can get some sleep. I'm trying to check my e-mail at jesse.c.pahman@us.army.mil as much as I can, but that site is also hard to load. I'll be home soon, and I look forward to sharing the experiences I've collected along this tour. I hope that you don't find I have changed too much, but I know that I have. Know that at some point I may snap for no good reason at all and that whoever or whatever it was I snapped at, it probably wasn't provoked. It happened once on R&R and I've seen a good deal more since then. I'm learning some Arabic as well and I will share what I know when we all get to meet again in person.

Until then, take care and know that despite how it may sound I am doing very well.

PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.
United States Army
Camp Taji, Iraq

First blog post since R&R?!?

Can this really be my first posting since R&R? My blogger dashboard says it is but it doesn't feel right. In any event, I have been very busy the past few months, keeping my truck running and working towards that next promotion. I've been eligible for Specialist since May but unfortunately it's a big company and there are a lot of PFC's eligible for Specialist. I'm in line somewhere and by November I'll pick it up automatically anyway so I'm not stressing about getting it sooner anymore, if I do I do, if not, oh well.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel of this tour, we're looking at just over 3 months left. Naturally I cannot and will not post a return date on the web, but the end is near. I've seen far more of Iraq than I ever planned too and now that I'm wrapping up the tour, I can see myself doing it again. I'm not looking forward to it, but now that I know what to expect and what is required of me, I'm not worried about another tour or two; heck it's the cool thing to have 3 or 4 tours these days.

The weather has gotten very hot and looks to stay this way until at least the end of August. I still don't know much about when we'll be allowed to take block leave so that we can visit Michigan but expect me to be very bundled up, I've gotten accustomed to it being in the 90's all night and 110-130 during the day. It looks like I may finally be getting internet in my room in Taji. I am on the internet on my own laptop right now but I have to go outside to get a signal. They are in the process of running hard lines to all of the CHU's (container housing units) and the process should be done soon. When that happens I should be able to get online much like I was in VBC.

I don't have much time yet today before work so I'll wrap this up. I tend to get out after 1am my time which is 7 hours ahead for those of you on the east coast. I'm not always online, and the internet isn't always available, they seem to be working bugs out of the system yet, but when I can I will be online and looking for friends and family to chat with.

PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.
United States Army
Camp Taji, Iraq

"No Air" Update

Diana was nice enough to put the song on my Myspace so if you swing by http://www.myspace.com/jcpahman77 you should be able to hear it play.

Superman

Just some more song lyrics to think about. These are the things that keep me sane, although God only knows how.



I cant stand to fly
Im not that naive
Im just out to find
The better part of me

Im more than a bird...Im more than a plane
More than some pretty face beside a train
Its not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home Ill never see

It may sound absurd...but dont be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed...but wont you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
Its not easy to be me

Up, up and away...away from me
Its all right...you can all sleep sound tonight
Im not crazy...or anything...

I cant stand to fly
Im not that naive
Men werent meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

Im only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
Inside of me
Inside me
Yeah, inside me
Inside of me

Im only a man
In a funny red sheet
Im only a man
Looking for a dream

Im only a man
In a funny red sheet
And its not easy, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm...

Its not easy to be me

"No Air"

Most of you who know me well know I live on and in music. "No Air" is a fairly new song, at least to me, that seems to be getting a lot of airplay down here. Anyway, I said that to say this; it nicely sums up how I feel. I'm sure not many of you know the song, I'm not even sure if most of you know the song so it might not be a good reference. But the chorus is something like without you there is no air. I get the feeling it's going to become a favorite song of mine the next few months in Iraq.

Very Early Wednesday morning I leave for Iraq. So tomorrow is my last real day here in the States. I've had some time to reflect on the past 17 days and I've made an observation. This 18 days has been as a dream come true. The problem is on Wednesday I wake up and have to return to what has been a reality for me for the past 8 or so months. I'm looking forward to about 6 more months before our tour is completed. Certainly there have been rumors and speculations as to whether or not we will do our full 15 months or not, but that is not for me to comment on. If I knew anything for certain one way or the other, that may be different, but I know no more than you do. To comment then would be naive. This I know, be it a 12 month tour or a 15 month one, I am prepared for whatever.

I know that when I come home again I have a wife and family waiting for me. Thanks to that wife I also have a REALLY large TV and nice stereo to come home to. Hey, I love my movies, but movie theaters freak me out. Besides it's nice to be able to invite a good group of friends over and enjoy a good movie, or just cuddle up with my wife and watch a touching movie together. I've met all our new neighbors now, or at least I think I have. The ones I have met I get along with, and they all care about Diana and most have kids that our play well with, so I know they are OK while I'm away.

I pray continually that I will be able to maintain better communications with those of you at home that are praying for me. Things are getting better for me over there. I have a new team leader who is a great guy that I get along very well with and I'm getting used to "the way things are". It's a lot to get used to. Being so far away from normal life. It doesn't help that nothing out there even vaguely resembles home. The entire landscape is flat, no grass, few trees, and except near the northern end of the country, not even many hills to speak of.

I ended up going to bed before finishing this, so Today is now my last day here. I am still planning on making some phone calls. There are a few people I need to talk with that I haven't called yet and a few people I need to talk more with. I've still got some laundry to do and of course pack again for the trip back. I was planning on having that part done ahead of time, but we all know I tend to put things off. Plus denial makes it hard to prepare for something. Even sitting here now it's hard to think that this time tomorrow I will be on a plane.

I know that I have many friends to go back to, and a job that I am very good at, but it's hard to want to go back to a place where it doesn't feel we have a purpose. Certainly making Iraq safer for the Iraqis is a noble cause, I just don't see that it is our cause. Who are we to put an end to thousands of years of fighting? And what makes us think we even can? All I know is this, six months won't see the end of this war, and from what I understand my company already has its orders to go back, which means I'm definitely looking at a second tour before my contract expires, if I allow it to expire.

So before this becomes a whole book, I'll close by saying I'm ready to get this over with. I know no matter what I have time to finish there, and the sooner I get back the sooner I can be getting it over with. I'm just not looking forward to it.

As a final note, I'll be using my military e-mail address from now on in Taji. The internet there doesn't let me check my RoadRunner account, but I can still log into AKO. That address is jesse.c.pahman@us.army.mil for anyone who doesn't have it. I don't know how often I will be online, but I'm going to try to make it as often as possible.


As always with love and prayers,



PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.
United States Army
Camp Taji, Iraq

R&R at last

I'm home at last for R&R. I got in Friday afternoon and am just about recovered from the jet lag. Diana and I went on our date last night and when I'm more awake I'll make a separate blog entry about that, if Diana doesn't beat me too it. We upgraded our little network here at home so that I can use the internet wirelessly on my laptop while I'm home, unfortunately I disconnected the phone in the process it will be fine once I finish but for a few more hours or so the phone is off; the cell of course is unaffected. So to all those wondering, I'm safe, I'm happily home and adjusting to American air again; stupid allergies. I figure today will be a good day to make calls since it is Sunday and no one is at work; I just need a bit to finish the phone.

Love you all and I'll be in touch soon.

Jesse

It's been too long

I'm on a trip back in VBC for a day, which is how I managed to get near the internet. It turns out they really don't like us keeping blogs, which is why I don't have one, do I? Anyway, I wanted to assure everyone that I am alive and well and looking forward to finishing this tour up so that I can be home to be with all of you.

I have yet another new team leader and this one is really excited about helping me move forward with my career in the Army. We're even talking about putting in a packet for Chaplain, which would also be an officer position, so I could be in the ministry and stay in the Army; the best of both worlds? I think so.

I only have 30 short minutes of battery power left at this point, stupid Iraqi plugs don't fit anything. I am going to try to maintain this better but it is very hard to get near the internet in Taji. Know that you all are always in my prayers and I know I am in yours.

Until next time,
take care;



PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.
United States Army
Camp Taji, Iraq

Two more song's lyrics

These two come from Toby Keith. The last time I did this I broke it down by verse and chorus and then blogger went right ahead and changed it so I'm not going to waste my time with these two.

They are kinda country, but very patriotic. I listen to them before every mission in my truck now. So without further ado, here we go.

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue:

Verse 1:

• American girls and American guys
  
• we'll always stand up and salute
  
• we'll always recognize
  
• when we see old glory flying
  
• there's a lot of men dead
  
• so we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head
  

• My daddy served in the Army
  
• but he lost his right eye
  
• but he flew a flag out in our yard until the day that he died
  
• he wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
  
• to grow up and live happy in the land of the free
  

• Now this Nation that I love has fallen under attack
  
• a mighty sucker punch came flyin' in from somewhere in the back
  
• soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye
  
• man we lit up your world like the Fourth of July
  

Chorus:

• And Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
  
• and the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist
  
• and the Eagle will fly and there is going to be hell
  
• when you hear Mother Freedom start ringin' her bell
  
• and it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you
  
• brought to you courtesy of the Red, White and Blue
  

Verse 2:

• Justice will be served
  
• and the battle will rage
  
• this big dog will fight
  
• when you rattle his cage
  
• you'll be sorry you messed with the US of A
  
• 'cuz we'll put a boot in your @$$
  
• it's the American way
  

Repeat Chorus

Next Song, American Soldier:

Verse 1:

• I'm just trying to be a father
  
• raise a daughter and a son
  
• be a lover to their mother
  
• everything to everyone

• Up and out bright and early
  
• I'm all business in my suit
  
• yeah I'm dressed up for success
  
• from my head down to my boots

• I don't do it for the money
  
• there's bills that I can't pay
  
• I don't do it for the glory
  
• I just do it anyway

• Providing for our futures
  
• my responsibility
  
• yeah I'm real good under pressure
  
• being all that I can be

• I can't call in sick on Monday when the weekend's been to strong
  
• I just work straight on through the holidays
  
• sometimes all night long
  
• you can bet that I stand ready
  
• when the wolf cries at the door
  
• yeah I'm solid and I'm steady
  
• and I'm true right down to the core

• And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
  
• I've counted up the costs
  
• I know the sacrifice
  
• Oh and I don't wanna die for you
  
• but if dying's asked of me
  
• I'll bear the cross with honor
  
• 'cuz Freedom don't come free
  

Chorus:

• I'm an American Soldier an American
  
• beside my brothers and my sisters
  
• I will proudly take a stand
  
• when Liberty's in jeopardy
  
• I will always do what's right
  
• I'm out here on the front lines
  
• sleep in peace tonight
  
• American Soldier I'm an American Soldier
  

Repeat Chorus

It's HERE!!!

The MacBook arrived yesterday. I was out working and since it was insured I had to wait until this morning to pick it up, which was pure torture to be sure. So once I took care of some work business this morning I took myself to the Battalion mail room to sign for my package. Which among other things from my dearest wife included the laptop and 4Gb of RAM to upgrade it with. I ran to my room and began to unpack everything. At first glance it's hard to like the cosmetics of the MacBook, but then I realized that's because I've become so accustomed to black or graphite colored laptops that the white set me back a bit. Plus there aren't a thousand colored lights and dozens of extra buttons that no one will ever use either. What it does have is exactly what anyone would need, exactly where the would look for it. The keys press effortlessly and are large and well spaced, even some one with fingers my length can enjoy the keyboard.

I'm absolutely giddy, and it's even faster now that I installed the 4Gb of RAM. I ran it through its setup program and played with it a bit as it was to make sure everything was going to be operational before I opened it up and upgraded it. I haven't figured out how to turn on the keyboard backlight yet, but if it's anything like the rest of this laptop, or my iPod for that matter, it'll probably come on all by itself when it notices it that the room is dark.

A big thanks needs to go out here to Larry and Judy Hand, aka Mother and Father-in-law, for loaning us some of the money for the laptop until we get our tax return or my next payment for my sign on bonus. This laptop surfs the internet as fast as I've seen over here and is just sooo Mac lol.

The best part of this is now I can take my time to finish fixing the Acer so that I can get my photos, music, and movies out of it. The photos are the most important but the rest wouldn't be bad either. Actually, given more thought, what I will probably do is take the pieces home with me on R&R and get the adapters I need to connect the laptop hard drive to my desktop. That should be the easiest way to get the files off the drive.

Also, a note for Diana and others, well two actually; first, I haven't yet found a version of MSN messenger for the MAC, go figure Microsoft doesn't readily offer its software for Apple products; and second, I cannot for the life of me remember my e-mail password. I have Yahoo! Messenger installed and if you wouldn't mind Di, I could really use the e-mail password.

Thank you all so much for the support and understanding while I have been without internet in my room. I'm going to go play now, I'm in love with my new laptop already.

Just another day in Iraq

I'm using the internet when I can at the MWR, it's free but limited on time. Diana has sent a replacement laptop which I'm looking to see mid-next week if all goes well. It's an Apple, so I'm giddy of course. Also I'm researching what it's going to take to turn the satelite dish I have into internet access of my own, it'll be faster and I can control it, two positives.

In the meantime, I'm logging up more and more missions, my driving continues to improve, if that's possible. Ok conceeded I know but what the heck, it's my blog, you have a different opinion, make your own post. Life is mostly the same over here, with the exception of a curfew for soldiers now (which I'm sure will blow over). Apparently two dumbasses managed to wander off and get themselves killed on the FOB and now we can't have anyone in our rooms after 2100 and we can't be out past 2300. That's 9:00pm and 11:00pm for the civilians reading. It sucks because that's when we really have time to spend with each other, but at least we can hang out at the MWR and play pool and watch movies.

Pray the laptop shows up on time and I should be able to get back to having regular internet access, which will mean I can read and return e-mails again and start using the web cam occasionally as well.

From Iraq:

PFC. Pahman, Jesse C.
United States, Army
Camp Liberty, Iraq

Much News

Dear Friends and Family,

It's been a little over a week and there is much to report.

First and foremost my laptop has broken, it fell off of my bed and the power connection pushed all the way inside of it, so as it stands now I have no laptop. Currently I am borrowing a friend's but it's only for an hour or two at a time. I've begun to try to repair it, but it may be a moot point. News has come down that our platoon is being moved to Taji to rejoin the rest of the company. The problem with this is that there is no internet in Taji. The provider up there turned out to be a terrorist, nice huh? They were taking the soldier's money for the internet and giving it over to the enemy.

Everyone in my platoon, the company we are with, and the battalion here is fighting this move. The problem is that the order has come down from a Brigade level. It seems our Captain Hernandez knows people in high places. I could go into the safety reasons of why we shouldn't move but I'm not sure how much of that I can really discuss. What I can say is this: We've been doing such a good job here in VBC that we've been requested so often by other FOBs that we cannot support the work load. As such a call went out for more trucks. 16 more trucks are on their way here so we will have a total of 24. The powers that be in Taji saw this as the perfect time to get us back. We're fighting this move tooth and nail, but it seems all we're going to end up doing is slowing this down. The worst part of this is it's a slap in the face. How can you look a group of people in the face and say, "you are doing such good work that we need to bring more trucks here to support the work load, oh and by the way, you all won't be the ones doing the work anymore, we're going to bring in an activated reserve unit of infantrymen". I dunno, it's just a raw deal. I'll post up news when I can but there is no internet in Taji and for now my laptop is still down. I love you all and I'll keep fighting the good fight.