Comments | strypgia: One Thousand Hours

strypgia

One Thousand Hours

Mar 25, 2008 11:57

Sorry for the long silence. Not dead, just very tired. Lots of attacks, rocketings, etc. Too many to count. I was going to post a few days ago, but then another blackout hit due to casualties. Another battalion, not ours. Things are on an upward trend after the last couple months of quiet. Summer's heat is coming on, and with it more violence ( Read more... )

iraq

Comments 9

matrygg March 25 2008, 15:05:13 UTC

They're telling us on the news over here that Patreus is pushing to stop the drawdown...is that going to affect you?

strypgia March 27 2008, 08:19:07 UTC

Not us. We're already past the 12 month mark, and in the pipeline t redeploy home. They're reluctant to keep us here any longer than they have to since every month we're over 12 is an extra $1,000 hardship bonus per man per month. That adds up fast for a full brigade, so they try to avoid paying us any more of that if they can.

As for the guys behind us....I don't think they'll be getting more than they expected, but I'm betting the planned reduction back to 12 month tours and the lowering of the total number of brigades here will be put off indefinitely. The sitation just keeps improving, y'see. Just check today's headlines. >.

ermac318 March 25 2008, 16:21:32 UTC

I had just heard this morning that the cease-fire that al-Sadr had instituted has been lifted - do you know whether this is true or not?

Yes and No strypgia March 27 2008, 08:37:17 UTC

As with just about everything in Iraq, the answer is complicated ( ... )

Re: Yes and No ermac318 March 28 2008, 04:43:11 UTC

I was driving home and heard all about it on NPR. I'm not one to believe in God but I hope that in whatever quantum universe we live in, it's one in which you come back here safely. Stay safe, to whatever extent that's possible in that hell hole =/

Darn heat anonymous March 27 2008, 04:09:59 UTC

Sorry to hear the temps are rising again. Glad to see you are ok though. Another of my buddies who I was with at my first assignment is in theater not too far from you. He got to dodge a few indirect rounds recently as well. I'm sure Senator Clinton can sympathize with you right now.

Need anything else? Food holding up ok?

Tumbleweed

Re: Darn heat strypgia March 27 2008, 08:14:44 UTC

I'm sure Senators Kerry and Kerrey have a much better idea of what it sounds like. Senator McCain, porr guy, knows well the sound of direct AA fire.
Myself? I've been here long enough I can discern between mortars, rockets, and missiles all by sound alone, and give you a fair estimate of the caliber or type.

But bloody hell, am I getting tired of it. I was woken up four bloody times yesterday by rocket attacks. I can't get any sleep like this!

Food's holding out. Can't wait for real food again, though.

Quiet too long anonymous March 27 2008, 07:00:27 UTC

Good to hear from you.
Not dead is even better.
Hope you're able to get some rest despite the heat of the day.
Need a mini-fan?

Stay strong. Stay safe.
--mads

Re: Quiet too long strypgia March 27 2008, 07:59:07 UTC

Not yet. The HQ a/c still works, and we'll be moving out before the heat gets really nasty.