Post by 181lizard on Nov 12, 2006 22:31:07 GMT -5
Remember a few weeks ago when I ask all of you about the Military age standards & how an ex-husband of my friend was going to the middle east? Wow...it was true & I have more info on him.
First...just if anyone is curious about why a man of retirement age would do this...I'm gonna post his e-mail to us. (Bear w/me)
To family & friends,
I volunteered to come to Iraq because I have a deep empathy for and can relate with the young men and women soldiers here on the front lines fighting the GWOT and who are making such personal sacrifices to protect us all. Rebuilding the infrastructure of this country and creating a free and prosperous Iraq is also a noble mission, but one that is secondary for me.
I am privileged to have been assigned to two very special projects that will have a direct and profound impact on our troops not only here at camp LSA Anaconda but throughout Iraq.
The war theaters Level III Expeditionary Medical Combat Support Hospital is locate4ed here at camp LSA Anaconda. Remember the television show *MASH*? This facility is a carbon copy of that image. They fly in the most critically wounded troops from throughout Iraq here on medivac choppers for emergency trauma surgery and to be stabilized. Then from there they are transported via Germany to Walter Reed in the states.
The operating rooms and patient wards are tents and the conditions are rough. I arrived here right at the start up phase to construct a new modern hospital and helipad to replace this legacy field hospital that has been in operation here since early in the war. It is a fast track project and we hope to have it completed in less than 6 months.
This project will have the most powerful impact of directly supporting and benefiting our troops that I can imagine.
Before it was called camp LSA Anaconda this camp was a major military base for Saddam and his Republican Guard.
When the war began, we took out the airfield and other strategic structures and eventually took over the place and established our own base here. There are roads, an Olympic size outdoor pool, sports arena, mosques, bunkers, storage tanks, huge buildings, and all kinds of legacy structures still standing from when it was under control of Saddam forces. The camps perimeter is guarded by a 13 mile concertina wired fence, guard towers and bunkers that were built years ago by Sadams forces. It is not illuminated, is in major disrepair and it's weaknesses are well known by the enemy. The project is to completely replace the perimeter infrastructure with a new fence, power source and lighted towers. It is also just getting off the ground and has a very aggressive schedule for completion. The completion of this project is going to directly benefit everyone on this camp by increasing their safety and security for infiltrators, sappers and snipers outside the wire.
So, there, in a nutshell, is why this man left. I'm a little stunned reading his letter. I can't for the life of me put myself in his place at our respective ages, but therein lies the rub. I'm not him, nor he me. I HUGELY respect him. I'm glad for our troops over there that people like him are ready and prepared to do what's necessary. He had alot of reasons to stay here at home but something called to him.
In talking with his ex, in the beginning, she was very angry at him for leaving because of all the special circumstances that are in their respective families, Now that she received this and other notes from him about why he felt the need, well, she's now understanding and rather proud. (as all of them should be)
Anyway...because of all the feedback I received when I originally asked the questions, I thought some of you might be interested in what I had learned.
I have more letters/notes he's written about what all he's doing if any of you are curious. None of it is classified (of course) but I find it very informative. It's a different spin on things over there that most of us never get to know through newspapers & CNN
reports. And...if I could ever figure out how to get his pics from my e-mail to here, I could show you more!
Sincerely...Liz
First...just if anyone is curious about why a man of retirement age would do this...I'm gonna post his e-mail to us. (Bear w/me)
To family & friends,
I volunteered to come to Iraq because I have a deep empathy for and can relate with the young men and women soldiers here on the front lines fighting the GWOT and who are making such personal sacrifices to protect us all. Rebuilding the infrastructure of this country and creating a free and prosperous Iraq is also a noble mission, but one that is secondary for me.
I am privileged to have been assigned to two very special projects that will have a direct and profound impact on our troops not only here at camp LSA Anaconda but throughout Iraq.
The war theaters Level III Expeditionary Medical Combat Support Hospital is locate4ed here at camp LSA Anaconda. Remember the television show *MASH*? This facility is a carbon copy of that image. They fly in the most critically wounded troops from throughout Iraq here on medivac choppers for emergency trauma surgery and to be stabilized. Then from there they are transported via Germany to Walter Reed in the states.
The operating rooms and patient wards are tents and the conditions are rough. I arrived here right at the start up phase to construct a new modern hospital and helipad to replace this legacy field hospital that has been in operation here since early in the war. It is a fast track project and we hope to have it completed in less than 6 months.
This project will have the most powerful impact of directly supporting and benefiting our troops that I can imagine.
Before it was called camp LSA Anaconda this camp was a major military base for Saddam and his Republican Guard.
When the war began, we took out the airfield and other strategic structures and eventually took over the place and established our own base here. There are roads, an Olympic size outdoor pool, sports arena, mosques, bunkers, storage tanks, huge buildings, and all kinds of legacy structures still standing from when it was under control of Saddam forces. The camps perimeter is guarded by a 13 mile concertina wired fence, guard towers and bunkers that were built years ago by Sadams forces. It is not illuminated, is in major disrepair and it's weaknesses are well known by the enemy. The project is to completely replace the perimeter infrastructure with a new fence, power source and lighted towers. It is also just getting off the ground and has a very aggressive schedule for completion. The completion of this project is going to directly benefit everyone on this camp by increasing their safety and security for infiltrators, sappers and snipers outside the wire.
So, there, in a nutshell, is why this man left. I'm a little stunned reading his letter. I can't for the life of me put myself in his place at our respective ages, but therein lies the rub. I'm not him, nor he me. I HUGELY respect him. I'm glad for our troops over there that people like him are ready and prepared to do what's necessary. He had alot of reasons to stay here at home but something called to him.
In talking with his ex, in the beginning, she was very angry at him for leaving because of all the special circumstances that are in their respective families, Now that she received this and other notes from him about why he felt the need, well, she's now understanding and rather proud. (as all of them should be)
Anyway...because of all the feedback I received when I originally asked the questions, I thought some of you might be interested in what I had learned.
I have more letters/notes he's written about what all he's doing if any of you are curious. None of it is classified (of course) but I find it very informative. It's a different spin on things over there that most of us never get to know through newspapers & CNN
reports. And...if I could ever figure out how to get his pics from my e-mail to here, I could show you more!
Sincerely...Liz
