Jim Spiri in Iraq

Up top in the gunner's turret would be Sgt. Briola, a man from Guam in his early thirties. He is very experienced and as I watched him perform today, I came to realize he knows what he is talking about.

Bell would be on my left in the back. He is cool and calm, has his own little camera and does better than me at it from time to time. Lt. Peabody from Espanola, NM, and a graduate from West Point would be the boss and he was in the front right seat. The driver was an Hispanic soldier whose last name slips me at the moment. I was in the back right seat. It was very early in the morning when we departed, and it is safe to say that all of us were a bit on the sleepy side, at least I was for sure. There would be times to wake up though.

These guys are members of Apache Company, 2/7. We were a real multi-cultural team today; young, old, black, white, Hispanic and Islander, a perfect cross section of America. One team. One mission. One accord. It is real and I am happy to report that it is not just a theory, it is an everyday practice among these cavalrymen.

We would head into Mosul in support of the Iraqi Army and Iraqi police during similar operations as of late.

There would be tanks, Bradley's and Humvee. We would go to the objective area, and set up and cruise through known rough areas that have recently yielded all kinds of caches as well as insurgents. There have been firefights here lately and it is not a walk in the park. Actually, it's never a walk in the park.

Cruising through the streets of Mosul in the early mornings, one watches as the locals go about their business. There was traffic today, but we were ahead of most of it. Getting around town is never an easy prospect. The Iraqi Army and Police were to have been on station by a prescribed time. Seems as though they are late from time to time. Once there it is obvious that the Iraqi Police could use a little more in the motivational aspect of things, but then again, it was early, and this is the middle east.

Wearing the headset again, I was able to keep track of what was going on with those in our area but not immediately in sight. The more one listens, the more one learns. As we moved about our mission I could hear some of the guys in the Humvee I was in singing certain tunes to themselves. It was another surreal scene in my mind moving around the streets of Mosul, in a known bad area, listening to those in my immediate sphere "humming in a Humvee" as warriors in the zone. I just smiled and was at peace. Yet, none were complacent. After all, this is war.

At one point, we stopped a vehicle with some males in it and questioned them. They were in a large truck of sorts and it was determined to check them out. Turns out they were ok, and we proceeded on. Then, there was talk over the comms about an IED that was found.
This was on a road we had been on already. Now, I've looked out the window what seems like a million times and I have yet to spot one. How these guys find them is beyond my understanding, but, most are found by very observant soldiers while riding in their vehicles. Some have been found right next to parked vehicles. Others are found the hard way, by rolling over them as they are detonated. It is for sure a real crap shoot at times.

We all staged our vehicles in such a way, that we would not be affected by the blast. A team of soldiers placed a charge in proximity to the IED, and we watched from inside our Humvees as the bomb was detonated. Another one that did not get us.

We proceeded on and headed through the neighborhood called Rizalah. It is a very bad area. The guys in the Humvee were taking bets on how many minutes it would be before we got hit. Before I could place my wager, "BOOM". An IED exploded right at a tank. It was very loud. The tank was in front of us and we were following it, at a distance. I think Briola won the pool, but I'm not sure.

After a while, we made it back to the FOB. No one was hurt, no big damage done to equipment, and it was still before noon. This mission was done, for now.

This is what goes on in Mosul, and throughout many parts of Iraq, everyday. These guys go out daily and encounter such things as what I've described. They will continue to do so. It is their job. It is what we pay them to do. I am constantly in awe of how they do their jobs day in and day out. From early mornings to late nights and all times in between. I have spoken with members of the Cav at length on many occasions.

We talk of many things including incidents such as todays. Throughout many conversations, we have touched on issues that all Americans back home talk about in between commercials on the TV and six packs at the arm chair.

What I can say about these talks that I have with soldiers in country is this....there isn't so much concern about why this or that. Rather, the concern is with how to minimize each days hazards for each member of their team. Yes, there will come a time when "issues" that everyone debates back home will come front and center, but today, here in Mosul, the most important issue is how not to get blown up and train up the locals to care for themselves.

I was thinking that the two Senators that were here at the FOB the other day maybe should have gone out on a "mission" with some members of 2/7. That way, they could ask first hand what they think while they struggle to close the heavy door of a Humvee and sweat like they've never done so before. We have entrusted such civilian leaders with big judgment calls without ever giving them the proper insight. Perhaps they would say they are too old for such a mission. I would beg to differ with that assumption.

One of the current Presidential candidates, Joe Biden, of Delaware, just announced his son will be deployed to Iraq. I would tell Mr. Biden that I came and saw my son at war. Perhaps he should do the same. Then we can talk.

Photo by Jim Spiri, August 19, 2007, Mosul, Iraq...

In this photo, Sgt. Briola, from Guam, is seen during a tense moment keeping a watchful eye on rear security in the turret.

Photo by Jim Spiri, August 19, 2007, Mosul, Iraq...

In this photo, an IED is seen having been detonated.

Photo by Jim Spiri, August 19, 2007, Mosul, Iraq...
In this photo, Capt. Tegge, Alpha Company commander, is seen talking with an Iraqi male, during morning operations in Mosul, Iraq

Photo by Jim Spiri, August 19, 2007, Mosul, Iraq...

In this photo, Lt. Peabody, from Espanola, NM, and a graduate of West Point Military Academy, is seen during morning operations in the streets of Mosul, Iraq.

Photo by Jim Spiri, August 19, 2007, Mosul, Iraq...

In this photo, an M1Abrams Tank is seen rolling out on morning mission, part of Alpha Co., 2/7 Cav. A tank later hit an IED on this mission, but did not sustain any damage.