Jim Spiri in Iraq

This day, we would again work in conjunction with the Iraqi Army, known as the "tripple deuce", 2nd brigade, 2nd battallion, of the 2nd Iraqi Army division.
Today's major for them, would be one Major Sabul.
(sp?) As we dismounted the vehicles, we proceeded through the back streets of this side of town, through paved, narrow alley ways that looked similar to places I've seen in a sense in northern Italy, where my father was from. It's surely not as nice as Italy, but, it does have a character of sorts.

I was in a different Humvee this time, yet still with the same group of folks in trail shortly behind us.
Today, I had Sgt. Major Curry in the front seat, Haskins as the gunner up top, the interpreter next to me, and the driver whose name slips my mind at the moment. They all know me a little more each day and it's quite enjoyable to learn once again in depth, little by little, their jobs as soldiers in the Army.

We passed by an old Christian church and stopped and talked to the caretaker of the place. It was the first time I had experienced this in Iraq. As we strolled through the area from neighborhood to neighborhood, in conjunction with other platoons of US Army soldiers as well as many, many Iraqi Army patrols, our presence was well known in the streets of north Mosul. In this area, there are periodic rocket and mortar attacks being fired at coalition forces.
We were there looking for where it might be coming from. This is an example of day to day duties in Mosul. There are plenty of "bad guys" still out there, but the number is dwindling.

I was told that the strategy of eliminating the leaders of insurgents in the Mosul area is currently reaping benefits. One by one, a leader emerges who directs terror campaigns against coalition forces and one by one each leader has been found, by this type of operation. The fight has defenitely been taken directly to the enemy. What has now been occuring is the leadership among the enemy has turned to squabling among each other and at times, they, (the bad guys) have turned on one another. The result seems to be less bad guys, more Iraqi Army control, less presence needed for US forces.

Mosul is not a pretty city from the street level, at this time. There are plenty of places that have sewage running in the alley ways and the smell can be overwhelming especially in such hot weather. It's been a hard hit city in the past five years. But it is showing signs of hope. There is commerce, there are people that have a look on their faces that is different to an extent than in other places I've been in Iraq. Yes, it has a long way to go, but one can see the chance for success.

We spent quite a bit of time weaving in and out of the streets of north Mosul on foot. The photo opportunities were excellent on this day, and I was again enjoying the rythm of the foot patrols in Iraq.
It is the part I like best in doing this. Getting a good photo right in the middle of it all. Eventually, the Iraqi Major had determined that this day's work was done and we began to breakdown and mount back into our Humvees. At one point, we stopped before leaving and purchased some fresh hot bread that looked like real thick tortillas. I had one that the interpreter handed me. It was hot, chewy and downright delicious.
I was reminded of times in Central America doing similar things in years past.

We closed the door on the Humvees and were preparing to leave when all of a sudden shots rang out and hit directly in front and to the left of where I was sitting in the Humvee. It was right where the bread had just been purchased. Immediately, those in my Humvee as well as the one behind us, exited the vehicles and pursued in the area where the shots were thought to have come from. I went with them, as we pushed in pursuit of the evasive gunman. In and out of alley ways, moving with speed, everyone on high alert mode, we moved in a square looking, aiming and searching for the hidden culprit. This is urban warfare. It could be anywhere, but today, it was north Mosul.

After a while, it was determined that this time, we would not find him. We again got back into our Humvees and headed out, as the mission had drawn to a close, for now. The other group of Humvees that was with us, went to a different location on the return ride as we went to another battallion of Iraqi forces where they make their camp. On the way there, down some highway, in front of me about a quarter mile or so ahead, an explosion occured. Thick black smoke rose above off to the right. It was an IED. We pushed through, no one was hurt, and I found myself peering out the window of my up armoured Humvee. As we passed by, Iraqi Army soldiers were in the area beginning to secure the area. In a matter of seconds, the smoke was well in the distance and could only be
seen in the rear view mirror. This one missed.

We arrived shortly at our next destination. I was invited to stay for lunch and met with some more Iraqi officers as well as some other US Army personell.
Lunch was good. It was rice, chicken, a tomatoe type broth, as well as fresh cucumbers and sliced tomatoes.
Cold pepsi and bottled water was the drink of the day. This battallion was made up of Kurdish folks.
The battallion I was with in north Mosul was mostly Sunni. As I was eating my lunch I was thinking about todays events. Patrols, shots, IED's, lunch, Christians, Kurds, Sunnis, US Army, Iraqi Army, etc...This is Mosul, everyday.

We finished lunch, and departed back to FOB Marez.

Like riding my horse through the desert of southwestern New Mexico, forty years earlier, I am now riding in another desert, on another type of horse, wondering what lurks behind each turn of the reins. I was a good rider and don't recall ever falling off my horse. Riding with the 1st Cav in the streets of Mosul, Iraq, I think back to the days when a young boy would ride his horse and then come in and watch the news on black and white TV about another war in a far away place.

I wonder where I'll go riding tomorrow...?

Jim Spiri
Mosul, Iraq
jimspiri@yahoo.com