Jim Spiri in Iraq

As a young man, I was always the only "gringo" on all my sports teams. Living in New Mexico, you just learn another culture in addition to your own. I am the son of an immigrant from Italy, so I always learned to assimilate other cultures into my own path. Being here among the soldiers from Ft. Bliss, reminds me so much of my youth. There are many hispanic soldiers here, and just being around them, brings back lots of memories. Today, following SSGT. Adam Martinez around on a mission into Mosul, was an exercise in observing and realizing how much I too miss home.

We gathered again early in the moring. I would have SSGT Cook in the front right seat, Spc. Brown driving, Spc "Ski" gunner up top in the turret, SSGT Martinez on my left in the back seat, while I occupied the back right seat. These were all members of 1st platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Battallion, 7th Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division from Ft. Bliss, in El Paso, Texas.
Before departing, I was instructed by SSGT Cook on some emergency procedures should we encounter some contact and if things got rough. I was told how to assist if needed should we have a roll over, and some other things in the event the situation dictated that I would need to know some procedures such as the use of a tournequet. The instructions given me were precise, clear and firm. "Roger that", was my response, and we headed out to the far west of Mosul.

The area we were going to is kind of on the outskirts of Mosul, heading west into the vast desert. There are some businesses out there, mostly tile making places, junk yards for all kinds of wrecked and banged up vehicles, and other types of industrial looking facilities. It's open area, rather than crammed city streets, and it has a look of incompleteness to it.
It was again a swealtering day.

We were looking for some items that would have been fabricated into vehicles being used for IED's. The area is huge and has lots of medium sized industrial yards that look ideal for the enemy to utilize in the construction of innovative bomb vehicles. Things like used tankers are seen all around. All kinds of junk yard type places that just look a mess, dot the various locations we visited. There is just an array of big shops that look run down and suspicious to the first time observer. These are the places we checked out during the mission.

As we moved from place to place, I soon began to tag in close with SSGT Adam Martinez. I would follow him most of the time on this mission and observe how he operates. As I watched him lead his troops from spot to spot, I did my best to focus in on his duties.
What I found was that Martinez was everywhere. He has lots of energy, and sets the pace for those around him. He is also keen to step up the pace as the intense heat of the Iraqi summer bears down on each soldier. Keeping one another motivated as well as hydrated in each mission, is crucial. Martinez is aware of all the elements in his scope of movements.

There were times during this mission that gates needed to be climbed so as entry could be gained. Martinez, a bit shorter than most of the others, hoists himself over the gate with the help of his fellow troops.
Then there were times that doors just did not want to open. Again, Martinez was there front and center, and the job was done. During one of these moments when a door would not cooperate, a soldier said "this door won't open". Martinez with a grin on his face, fired back, "a door won't open..? now way...I'll get it open". And sure enough, door was opened. As we were moving to the next location, Martinez joked with me, "I love it when they say the door won't open. That's when I know I gotta get it open. It's a challenge."

I later learned from Martinez that as a teen, he was active in boxing. He is quite familiar with local Albuquerque boxing celebrities and the cockiness of a boxer plays out at times on missions such as opening doors that won't cooperate. He's a fast mover on his feet, and it shows throughout the day. He looks young, but at 28, he is older than many around him, including his Lt. He's been to Iraq before, and been through plenty of heavy combat. These days he has taken up the responsibility of teaching the younger troops under his direction. As the father of four small children, (with #5 on the way) he demonstrates constantly a tone of firmness in his voice while at the same time enjoying teaching those under him. He just seems to take charge and bring the followers into the mode of becoming leaders.

As the mission went on, we went from location to location. We linked up with other platoons and participated in more house searches in different areas of Mosul that morning. Two more suspects were detained and we moved to more locations. Soon the mission would be complete and we would return to the FOB. We were all very hot and as we waited for the other humvees to mount up for our exit from west Mosul, I looked over at SSGT Martinez. He was soaked from head to toe. But not one word of how difficult it was in the heat. He looked like a boxer in the 14th round, with one more round to go, never showing his opponent any weakness.

We headed back to the FOB through the rough area of Mosul. All eyes alert, everyone not concerned with heat. Ski up top kept the traffic out of our way.
Sometimes warning shots are required to prevent bottlenecks in the traffic, so as not to leave us a prime target for IED attacks. We made it back to the FOB and dismounted. Another day's mission done, no one hurt.

Later that evening I would go and audio-interview SSGT Adam Martinez who opened up more about who he is and where he came from. I have included it in this entry as well as some photos of Martinez. This day reminded me much of hot August days back in New Mexico when cross country training took place. I liked being on a mission with my "neighbor from New Mexico", SSGT Martinez. Before I left him that evening we talked about green chili cook-outs and summer nights back home. He misses his family and is excited about the upcoming birth of his newest arrival. There is a saying where we come from, it goes like this..."mi casa, es su casa", translated it means, "my house is your house".

Among neighbors in New Mexico, this is a reality.
SSGT Adam Martinez and his entire family knows they may come and stay at my house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at any time. I do miss home.

Jim Spiri
FOB Marez, Mosul-Iraq
jimspiri@yahoo.com