My Times at Iraqi Freedom
On 1/25 (month/day), I took off to Kuwait. We did alot of drills, alot of wind storms. We had 4 Corpsmen, 2 Communication Marine, British Signals and Decon Royal Marines and 1 Decon Marine w/ us in our convoy. The times are as following, Kuwait time was 6pm, it would be 5am CA time. All times in the notes are in Kuwait time, Iraqi is the same as Kuwait.
3/17, we departed to go up north to Bagdad. We stayed at San Fwan Hill until the planes would lower the height of the hill with the bombs. We stayed at San Fwan Hill until 3/20.
3/20, the bombings started @ 8pm, we could see the fireworks going on. News: 3/4 got hit by friendly fire and a helo goes down by maintenance problem. 3/21, bombing starts up again @ 3am, at 12pm we moved til we were 5 miles from the S. border of Iraq, we got there at 145pm. @ 610pm we moved up north til 1030pm, then @ our fireholes we could see patriot missiles flying overhead at 0140am.
3/22 we got word that a marine and a corpsmen got injured by stepping on land mines. @ 330pm we moved 25 miles, we got there at at 1140pm.
3/23 we got word that 5th Marines (Camp Pendleton) had POW's but then when they started to search them, the Iraqi soldiers started to shoot at them behind the buildings, 50-60 casualities, 4-6 Marines dead.
3/24 we had to go through a massive sand storm, so bad that when I was walking through it, I had to stop inside a truck to clean out my goggles and my eyes and could taste the sand inside of my mouth. 2 7-tons a LVS flip as we started to go on a night move from another unit. We started to move out in the dark w/ no lights, just our night vision goggles (NVG). We could tell that 1 of our trucks got stuck in the mud so 1 of our 7-ton went in front of it and we connected it to each other so the truck can pull it out. It worked then all of a sudden the headlights went up in the air and then we could no longer see the headlights. We decided to turn on the headlights and we noticed that there was a drop off and the 7 ton was on its side, no injuries. We managed to flip the truck back to its tires w/ 2 wreckers.
3/25 we rested for the day.
3/26 @1:15pm we got shot at by 1 iraqi tank & soldiers on foot, we were w/ tanks and land assualt vehicles (LAV) during our rest on the side of the road. 2 iraqi soldiers killed.
3/27-28 we rested and took advantage of the rest time.
3/29 12pm we sent out 8 motor t marines (MT) & other marines from 7th marines headquarters company less than a mile to clear out a building. found houseware w/ clothing over it, 4 people w/ white flags came by but ran away. lately the gnats are a real pain in the butt.
3/30 nothing new, just relaxed
3/31 we got the call to send out a gun truck @ 2 empty trucks to haul POW's in. we were told that we were leaving this area to go up north but nothing happened, but a very hot day.
4/1 we got a class on drills and what to do in case of an attack.
4/2 moved @ 1pm & went 50 odd miles til 730pm.
4/3 @ 5am seen alot of smoke & alot of booming less than 2 miles from our trucks, 3/11 from 29 Palms is doing it. We rounded up some POW's (Prisoner Of War). On of the Iraqi Officers spoke english so we used him as a translator. The soldiers wore nice casual clothes, very hot day, News: 3/7 lost a Marine.
4/4 went up north 27miles. We started @ 1245pm and stopped @ 745pm. Alot of civilains in towns, very humid that day.
4/5 The temp was 108, we got word to take off our helmet and flak jacket. We moved only 4 miles but had to come back since Tanks wasn't finished clearing the roads for mines. We're only 14 miles away from Bagdad, we stayed @ this RPG site for the night.
4/6 We cleared out some bldgs. Heard alot of artillery shots @ 8pm, we could see the flights of the missiles.
4/7 @ 430am, arty missiles still going, stops after a hour. We move to pass the bridge and stop, traveled around 5 miles. We got mail, finally! Couple of Marines from our Platoon steals couple of Iraqi public transportation buses, we spray our 7th Marines logo on it. Been told that Iraqi ambulances are free game to shoot at. Also been told that alot of loiters have been stealing tractor's and generators.
4/8 We moved to another spot, we checked out a place that has buses & different trucks. I took a white board, couple of type writer paper. We took some civilians & searched them. One of them had a WI drivers license. We released the civilians after they were interogated, 15 total. Its almost like a mini riot w/ people stealing things from different buildings. 4 cars shot up w/ dead people still in them w/ flies over them, as we passed, the people would cheer & wave @ us. We passed an Iraqi camp w/ an Obstacle course in it, alot of green grass. News: a female POW got rescued.
4/9 Nothing new except around 2pm, we heard shots around our area, we couldn't find the person(s) that fired the shots. Theres a huge fire w/ a fire cloud couple miles away. The house that we were @, had chairs that we took, it was abandanded w/ 3 dogs.
4/10 We're moving today, we got word that Sadaam H. & his kids are dead, people are stealing from gov't palace & stores of Bagdad. We are leaving the spot & now in Bagdad. Now our mission is Humanitarian Relief. Some fighting as we hear gun shots & tankers shooting off their ammo.
4/11 Most of the day was spent listening to music, took a pict of the Iraqi Intelligence Service Head Quarters. Heard a shot right next to us, made my heart beat faster only to find out it was a hummer just blew a flat tire next to us.
4/12 2 buildings goes on fire, 1 of them is an university, @ night you can easily see the outline of the smoke coming from the buildings. 1am, the prayers from the microphone from an Iraqi building goes off.
4/13 1pm we leave (8 MT Marines in 2 hummers) to provide security for a 5 star hotel called the Palestine Hotel. We go thru the city of Bagdad, we get there around 130pm. We heard shots coming @ us across the land, they were 2 Iraqis on the 2nd story of a 3 story building. After I took roll after the fight, we were missing one Marine, another Sergeant & I had to go out to search for him, we found him after 10 mins.
4/14 We stayed over night a Missionary of Oil. We went through the building, alot of paper, computers, drafting boards, Dell computers. They also have a library, cinema, cafeteria, all rooms w/ Sadaam's picture. Theres 1 room that smelled pretty good. Still hearing gunshots.
4/15 We moved back to the previous location, then we took a dog w/ us that we called Ripper. News: 3/4 lost a Marine
4/16 Went on a movement to Dohra w/ 3 other Marines for the Electric Co. to provide phone services. I dialed the password & then the number to either, Bagdad South, Bagdad, after I dialed the #, I would then pass the phone to the represenative. After that, we had to go to the Palestine Hotel to drop off the phone, I got my pict taken w/ Dan Rather.
4/17 Relaxing day
4/18 We drove around the area to see if theres some Iraqi tanks that we can take w/ us. We also let the pigeons go on top of a house that was abanded, they were used to smell any gas that the Iraqi army released. Pretty nice sight, to see alot of trees, cars driving by on the highway.
4/19 We moved to another location, went thru 3 or 4 crowded mob of people for their religious ceremony holding green flags. Waved alot to kids & adults.
4/20 We got word that we'll be home on June 1st
4/21 Raining today, not heavy, had a gear inspection, had cereal for breakfast instead of the typical MRE. Watched Scarface. Played spades, we were ahead 400-10 but lost w/ 500 was the game winner.
4/22 Slept in abit for a change, we had to go to a class @ 9am for better inhancing our career.
4/23 Watched Truck Company leave w/ 18 of our trucks, they were w/ us from day 1, coming from Camp Pendleton.
4/24 Left for our new area @ 12pm & got there @ 6pm, went thru 4 small towns, went 70 miles, we're going to be here 2-3 weeks.
4/25 Bad windstorm, mail services starting up again, rained last night. We sorta adopted 2 dogs, Spuknic & Skittles.
4/26 & 27 Nothing new or exciting
4/28 Got word that May 1st we can use a satelite phone (phone that you can call anywhere) for 5 mins.
4/29 We had ran for excercise, and then I went on the mail run to get mail. After that I went on a Water run to refill 3 of our Water Bulls that are used to haul water around w/ us, attached to the trucks w/ our Water Boy, Cpl Foster. We also used the phone to call home.
4/30 Had to make sure that everybody is taking their malaria pills, we got bananas, apples & milk w/ our breakfast.
5/1 My 10th anniversary, we had a promotion formation for 2 Marines, watched abit of "24" on the laptop.
5/2 Got word that Marines from the advance party (2 from us) will be going to Kuwait tommorrow @ 1230 am!!
5/3 Listened to the Pres. speech on the radio that the US forces won't leave til Iraqi is free. Trip to Kuwait is cancelled, tossed a football around.
5/4 2 of our Marines leaves @ 3am.
5/5 4 Marines goes to see the doctors for illness, some bug has been going around lately making Marines sick.
5/6 The driver of our truck gets the bug.
5/7 1am I get up to throw up, I have the bug now, only 1 Marine so far doesn't get the bug. Marine throws up blood, 1 gets an IV, another Marine takes my spot as I sleep & throw up most of the day.
5/8 Feel much better, watched Scorpion King w/ Jake
5/9 4 more Marines gets sick again. We were forced to take showers or wash up after our run since we stunk pretty bad & we didn't really notice it. Got word that 5/21 we'll be leaving to Kuwait.
5/10 @ 2pm I had to go to get questioned because a Marine lost a piece of expensive gear, got the chance to call home.
5/11 Quiet day, had to help another Marine to the hospital for the illness, he got 2 IV bags in him. It rained at night, very cold water.
5/12 General talked to us, nobody knows if Hussein is dead or not. Had some serious lightning storms going on. Been assigned the task of Platoon Sergeant for S-4 platoon along w/ Motor T.
5/13 Nothing going on today, besides taking a very long nap.
5/14 Got word that 6 Marines will be leaving to Camp Miltelda.
5/15 Very hot day, found out that our trip home will be June 1-5. Got word that 1 of the sentry got heatstroke, from the Administration Platoon, had to give him Valuum instead of IV thats how dehydraded he was.
5/16 We had to get a class for "Combat Transition" so we know how to react when we get back home, very excited to think that we're heading home soon. Got word that we'll be leaving to Kuwait on the 22 May. Very nice day w/ the nice cool breeze. @ 1030am, one of the Marines leaves in a hummer to go back to the states for family emergency.
5/17 went on the road to find places to buy food/pop for the Marines. All day event to find a place.
5/18 Communication Platoon was very nice to me to give me some batteries for my cd player, went on the road to find some tires for some trucks, windy & cool day.
5/19 3/4 leaves @ 4am, pretty happy knowing that pretty soon it'll be our turn to leave to Kuwait. Very strong winds last night, couldn't see much.
5/20 Got word tommorrow we'll be leaving @ 3am & it'll be an all day driving. After that we'll be washing & inventoring the trucks for their gear. We'll be getting up @ 1230am.
5/21 Left @ 325am, made pretty good time, 1/2 way mark @ 8am. But we had a 15 min delay since 2 Marines from Comm. Pl. went down for heat injuries, those darn reservist!! We got to Kuwait @ noon. Got word that 5 Marines plus I will be going to Camp Suabia for the rear party.
5/22 We left to the Camp @ 10am.
That was my experience at Iraqi Freedom. I didn't get back to the states until Aug 12th. I would like to thank everybody that sent me letters and care packages, and having me in their prayers, I really do appreciate them.