Jim Spiri in Iraq

The helicopter manifesting place informed me that the next helicopter out would not be leaving until Saturday, the 18th, and it would be late at night. No problem, I was working my way back to Mosul, and was surely not in a hurry, yet. I was assigned a "hooch", and I now had a place to stay and the showers were near by.

After cleaning up, and getting a bite to eat at the chow hall, I made my way over to the TOC, (tactical operations center), and touched base with the folks there. I was hoping to get out to the Yazidi community, however, timing was off. I would miss the excursion there. It is something I regret.

But sometimes, it just happens that way. One cannot get to it all.

The folks there at the TOC informed me that I could take a flight to Mosul in the early morning, riding with Sgt. Major Ciatola, who works directly for General Odierno. I accepted the invitation and readied myself for an early departure the next morning. I would miss the trip to the place where the VBED's had been detonated in the Yazidi community, but I would get back to Mosul by 1000 hrs, Saturday, the 18th.

The next morning, I was up and ready, and made my way over to the flight line and was cold-loaded onto the blackhawk. (that means loaded into the aircraft before it's engines are started)

Soon the aircraft took off, and we were airborne headed for Mosul. It took about an hour, and the air whipped my face briskly the entire journey as the windows were out on the sliding door. I soon figured out that I had sat exactly the wrong way to enjoy the flight. Had I been smart, I would have sat with my back towards the front, and that way the 130-mph wind would not have blown me around so much. At one point I almost had my Kevlar helmet blow off my head. So I spent most of the time holding one hand on top of my helmet on my head, and the other hand trying like heck to snap a photo or two. Eventually, I just sat back and enjoyed the view. It was a nice view, although brown is the dominate color most all the way. But there were some hills and a little bit of greenery dotting the landscape as well as herds of sheep the closer we came to Mosul. It had been a while since I traveled during the day by helicopter in Iraq. For security, helicopters usually travel at night.

Once we arrived in Mosul, at FOB Diamondback, I disembarked and made my way over to Marez via the bus.

It is a short trip. I found my way to the hooch and put my things down and took a breather. I had made it back after eight days. I had only planned on four. I gathered up my laundry, took it over to the drop off place, and from there made my way over to the PAO office and Major Cunningham, to let them know I was here. They had been tracking me and were wondering how I would fare. While I was gone, an invasion of media hit Mosul. Big media had found there way here.

"Oh great", I thought. Just when I thought I had lost them in the dust....

They had come to see all the wounded Yazidi people in the hospital and while here do some other things that media types do. I had heard also that yesterday, Senator Carl Levin and Senator John Warner were here.

I have met both of them before and spoke to them on a couple occasions. I remember Levin being professional, courteous and interested when I spoke to him. I remember Senator Warner as being "old", and a very good actor for the camera. Too bad I missed them.

I know that General Petraus is about to release his report and I know what goes along with all that hype.

In the past few days, I had mixed with some brass in the Army and found them to speak frankly, and very direct. I like that. I had also met and spoke with some heavy weight Iraqi players in the scheme of things, and I learned that human nature is the same in the east as in the west. Nothing new under the sun.

After 30-minutes in Mosul, I was getting my blood pressure up a bit, thinking about all the things going on while I was absent. It was at that point I found my way down to 2/7, where I ran into Lt. Col. Welsh and many others that were glad to see me back. I needed to be with the "real players" and sure enough there was a mission that was leaving out into Mosul city in an hour or so. I was invited to come along. I made my way back to the hooch, got my flak and Kevlar ready, put a fresh battery in the camera, walked over to the chow hall and had a small lunch and lots of juice, and was soon heading back over to 2/7. I would be going out again with familiar faces. I somehow needed to do this today. I missed them, and needed to feel the sweat all over my body from running in and out of places looking for bad guys. I needed to hear the sounds coming over the headset from comms with the Kiowas overhead. I just felt at home after being gone for only a week and a day. How will I feel when I'm gone for good?

I arrived at the staging point early, went over to Sgt. DeCarlo's quarters and chatted with him for a bit. He mentioned how busy they had been the previous week and we talked about things in general. Then, word came down to mount up. Mission was on.

I would be riding in DeCarlo's Humvee with DeLeon driving. Wallace, the medic was on my right. Cortez was gunner. Lt. Col. Welsh explained that today would be looking and detaining people in Mosul that are not from here and are suspect foreign fighters. The Iraqi Army was involved in the operation and it would be a fast paced afternoon for the most part. Mosul was on a curfew this day. No traffic was to be on the streets. Things were shut down in light of the events in Sinjar. It had been well reported in the big media that many operations country wide would be taking place all at once as the days draw closer to General Petraeus' report on the surge.

We headed into the north end of town and moved about from place to place. All along the way our group as well as others in the area were working the neighborhoods finding folks that don't belong here and detaining them. The Iraqi Army had a place set up close by, on a high ground overlooking the Tigris River where all the suspects would be held temporarily as research on just who each one was, took place.

There for sure is a sense in Mosul that a crackdown and round up is under way. The enemy is well aware of it and tries to adjust his tactics accordingly.

As we went from place to place I noticed that much of this area had more of a farming atmosphere to it.

Some of the places had cows and chickens and gardens and life was a little on the slow side at first glance. It actually had a beauty to it that seemed familiar. Most of the homes had at least 15-people in them and very few males of military age were around.

But some were.

We then went to an area along the river where the farming was more landscaped. It reminded me much of small farms along the Rio Grande north of El Paso into New Mexico. The soil looked rich, the alfalfa that was growing was a deep green and the pear orchards were somewhat healthy looking. At one point we came upon a place that made adobe bricks the old way. It was beautiful and reminded me of my in-laws home.

They built their home with adobe bricks and we helped them lay them during construction. I've always enjoyed the farming along rivers in deserts.

The afternoon wore on as we moved at a rapid clip from house to house. I was again drenched in sweat as everyone else was, yet it felt good to be working the beat with 2/7 once again. It just has a feel to it that cannot be explained in words. I have come to really like being among the men of the cavalry.

Before the mission ended we headed up to the place where all the detainees from the days work had been gathered. We were on higher ground as over a hundred suspects were set along the back perimeter of this home overlooking the Tigris River. I took some photos of them and glanced over the river as Sgt. DeCarlo knelt down on one knee for a moment. I'm always watched by crowds when I begin to take photos. This crowd looked intently at me. They had no idea who I might be, but I knew they were all here for one reason. To find out what the heck they are doing here and whom they all are connected to. There is a network that is spun like an endless web among the insurgents. Little by little, it is being undone.

But it is a long hard process and at times it seems endless.

But watching the Iraqi Army step up to the plate little by little is encouraging. They are much better at finding all the holes in the insurgents network.

They know these people, for they are from among them.

We, the Americans, are outsiders. We have learned much, but the locals policing themselves, will eventually be the only method that has a chance of becoming successful. That is what I have learned in the past week or so, again.

We mounted back up and proceeded back to the FOB.

This mission was done for the day. There will be many more in the days ahead. Word has spread among the enemy. They seem to always know before we arrive.

Yet they are being tripped up and will continue to be until we all leave. Looking back on today's mission, I recall again the look on the faces of the detained ones as I photographed them. I knew by their body language what they were thinking. But what they did not know was what I was thinking. I wanted to tell them this...

"When it's time for leavin', I hope you'll understand, I was born a ramblin' man".

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