http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=30.492616,64.52601&spn=0.025479,0.039997&z=15

Its amazing what you can find with a little time in google maps.

The above link shows the location I was in combat. Defending the airfield. I found it by looking at the Afgan/Pakistan border and by remembering the color of the sand was able to click around and find it.

You can zoom into the compound that seems to be now abandoned and dunes now begin to bury it.

It's wierd how people become emotionaly tied to places during their lifetime.

Where you got married. Where your first kiss was.

Thinking back on the events of the night of combat I remember how my platoon could hear my voice shaking over the coms as I instructed them to fire. I remember the tracers exploding in random directions from the helicopter that went down behind us while we fired in the other direction out on the perimeter. It took about 10 mins for all the aviation fuel to burn out and then the darkness returned. I remember when we started to fire adjustment rounds our navy corpmen came out of his tent in his underwear and with a grogy voice like someone would use when they where awoken rudely said "What are you guys doing?". I didn't know weither to laugh or scream at him. So I just said "We are shooting at people". His eyes bugged out and he said "Shut up?" like I was just pulling his leg or something. I replied "Dude, we are, get your shit on.", refering to his helmet and flackjacket. He instantly dove into his tent to dress for the show. We fired rounds East onto enemy close to Alpha Co.'s Postion. We fired them danger close. A guy from alpha said to me later in the week that he could hear our rounds whistling down infront of their postion as he stayed crouched in his fighting hole. Our Forward Observer was on that black hill tothe east of the base and called me to send in hell. War is a bizarre experiance.

I remember the next days sunrise was the best I had ever seen. I also made the decsion to have children that day. Kinda wierd to me. Just taking life now wanting to bring life into the world that I just made a little more violent. 

Well I just rambling now. Been a tough week.

Hug your kids.

Ya.  Thanks for the service to your country.

And those buildings, or that area, looks like it's a blue color. Was it blue or is that the gov'ment's imposed censorship, like that over the Wh!te H0use?

War...I am extremely interested in learning more about  all things that have to do about the military.

I would love to hear more about your experiences and see any pictures you might have.

And I truly appreciate everything you and everyone who have fought so bravely for our country.  THANKS

First off the military (the Marines in particular) is NOT for everyone. Quite a few never made itout of basic training an more even got broken from the physical and mental intensity later on.

I have always been a positive person so I had a positive experiance. Yes, there where times that where extemely challenging and made me have more than a few of those WDF am I doing here moments. WDF moments

1. Said episode in the intro post

2.Training in 120 Degree weather in Saudi Arabia

3.Having the shit kicked out of me for 3 weeks while learning to become a close combat trainer. To the point of pissing blood.

4.Having all the items stolen frommy baracks room by asshole superiors and have to do push ups for each item I wanted back. 

5.Training in the So Cal Desert and the supply officer forgeting to schedual water drops for us. A few peeps went down with heat exaution.

6.The infinate amount of times that a superior got in my face just for the sake of getting in some face.

But I came through it all a more outgoing person with great experiances seeing the goodness and harshness of the world outside of our own bubble here in the US.

1. Gaurding a hospital in East Timor and having locals shake my hand in thanks.

2. All the new countriesI got to visit. Korea, East Timor, Australia, Singapore,Tailand,Kuwait,Saudi Arabia,Oman,UAE,Dubai,Pakistan,Afghanistan. Plus crossing the international date line and the equator at the same time.

3. All the friends I made while in. The toughest times where not so tough whenyou had someone else sharing in your pain.

4. All the crazy ass weapons I fired. All the cool vehicles and air craft I have been in.

5. Putting rainbow stickers on all the assholes cars that made me do push ups to get my shit back. Knowing that they where driving around on a Marine Corps Base for days without noticing a rainbow sticker on there bumper was worth every push up I did for that stunt once they found out who did it.    Don't get me wrong cause I'm definatly       NOT anti-gay. I just love that they got so pissed when they found out. Most stickers went on the front bumper where they wouldn't notice it for awhile. LOL

Like everything in life you get out of it what you put into it.

Some pics.

I am on the left. Yes I am short and small but I made it through everything the Marine Infantry could throw at me. The guy on the right couldnt hang and went AWOL a few months after thispicture.

 

A typical day at the office. This one in particular was training in the Australian Outback wherethe flys tag teamed with the Mosquitos to dominate your face.

Look Ma, More desert!

Some of the toys.

Some of the vehicles. I do miss My hummer. The military version not these weak ass civilain ones.

I forgot to add the story of my dreaded 10 hr ride in an Amtrak. No not the train, but this piece below that has the horrible smell of burning desiel fumes.

Question: How many Marines fit into the available transport you have?  Answer: One more.

I have plenty of others ill get on later if you'd like.

If any one hear is thinking of going into the military talk to people that have been there. Do not talk to a recruiter until you do.

 

 

warmachine = one bad ass motherfucker

This day is call’d the feast of Crispian:   He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,   Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,   And rouse him at the name of Crispian.   48 He that shall live this day, and see old age,   Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,   And say, ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’   Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,   52 And say, ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’   Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,   But he’ll remember with advantages   What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,   56 Familiar in his mouth as household words,   Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,   Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,   Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.   60 This story shall the good man teach his son;   And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,   From this day to the ending of the world,   But we in it shall be remembered;   64 We few, we happy few, we band of brother;   For he to-day that sheds his blood with me   Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile   This day shall gentle his condition:   68 And gentlemen in England, now a-bed   Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,   And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks  

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.                    Henry the Fifth.   William Shakespeare

Thank you for your service.  Semper Fi

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Shit kicked out of you by your own superiors? Ouchies. What the fuck is wrong with them? That sounds even worse than prison rape.

Nice, that sounds really fun. I remember in my taekwondo class we would kick each other to shits. We had training pads but it still hurt like a bitch.

I'm intrigued by army life. But I know it's different than Marine life. I wonder what the recruits are like? Is everyone going in a spoiled kid living with their mom and pop, then become hardened trained killers by teh end of training? Lolz

I think I'd be too nerdy for the Marines. The guys will take turns taking dumps on my head or something....Hahaha