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Photo by Jim Spiri, September 1, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, SSGT Hjelm is seen during house search
in Mosul, Iraq. Hjelm, is a newly promoted Staff
Sergeant and today he wore the new rank for the first
time. I have been with him on many ops and he is
quite a character to travel with. Congratulations on
the promotion.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 1, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, a little Iraqi boy watches during
questioning of suspect.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 1, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, Captain Chris Contino is seen walking
to a position during patrol in Mosul, Iraq.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 1, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, SSGT Hjelm(L) and SSGT Hernandez are
seen escorting a detained person to a Humvee.
September 1, 2007 FOB Marez, Mosul-Iraq
It is September now. Another month clicks off on the
calendar. Most of the ones I'm here with will be
going home in three months or so. Everyone is
rounding the corner now on this deployment. Soon it
will be cooler here, and it will actually get cold.
It is hard to believe that because the days still are
quite warm. But the seasons come and go.
One of the comments on the blog mentioned the word
complacent. I must admit, I am guilty of that at
times without realizing it. I am glad for the
reminder. I must never forget where I am, for those
around me do not ever have the luxury of forgetting
where they are.
Continue reading ""Same Thing, Different Day"...by Jim Spiri" »
In this photo, Sgt. Bell (L) and 1st Sgt. Volk, stand at the scene of a SVBED attack that happened the previous 24-hrs. Many shops along the side were destroyed in the attack.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 2, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, the intersection that was the sight of a SVBED attack on September 1. The car was not the VBED, it was just another vehicle that happened to get destroyed. This scene is looking away from the shops.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 2, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, a family watches as their home is searched by Iraqi Army soldiers.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 2, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, an Iraqi Army soldier is seen in a home in west Mosul, during house searching.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 2, 2007, IA base, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, Sgt. Mansapit, from Alpha Co., 2/7 is seen after a mission that netted some insurgents in Mosul.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 2, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, both Iraqi Army and US soldiers participate in house search in Mosul.
September 3, 2007
In Iraq, as well as the rest of the Muslim world, the month of Ramadan is coming up. It will commence around mid September and continue through until mid October. Historically it has always been a time of increased terrorist activity here in Iraq. I have spent two seasons of Ramadan in Iraq and one in Kuwait. This would be my fourth. Basically, one does not eat or drink during daylight hours. Then, the devout gouge themselves silly at sundown. It would be a nightmare for those with hypoglycemia. In Kuwait, it is easy to get thrown into jail for eating or drinking during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan, whether you are Muslim or not. It is a sure form of aestheticism, and one I'm not excited about.
In any event, such is life in the Muslim world. It is just another element in the Muslim culture that most Westerners do not comprehend. Kind of like how most Westerners cannot grasp the concept of suicide bombers either. Or the matter of four wives for one man, all under one roof sometimes.
On Saturday in the morning, a very large SVBED, (suicide vehicle borne explosive device) was detonated on a busy intersection in a business part of town.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 4, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, Spc. Wallace, a combat medic with 2/7 Cav, administers first aid to Iraqi soldier shot in arm.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 4, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, smoke rises from one of two IED's we encountered today.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 4, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo one case the damage done to an Iraqi Humvee that hit an IED today.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sept 4, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo and Iraqi soldier rests during house searches in area where three insurgents were killed an hour earlier.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 4, 2007, Mosul, Iraq In this photo, Sgt. Thomas DeCarlo, (L), and SSGT Hjelm, (R) are seen during operations in Mosul.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 4, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, Col. Haji, of the Iraqi Army in Mosul, is seen leading the way during operations which resulted in the killing of three insurgents as well as nabbing several suspects. Lt. Col. Eric Welsh, in US Army uniform, is seen in background.
September 4, 2007 FOB Marez, Mosul-Iraq
The comment section of the blog is by far the most important. I encourage all the readers to read one in particular, that being, comment #5, under the story titled, "Same Thing, Different Day". It can be found in the September archives. It is a must.
Today I would be up earlier than usual and ready to roll. It would be busy. I was well rested, caught up on the things that needed to be done, and felt that I was in the stride, like a long distance runner seeing the last lap in view. I would try now to kick things into gear for time is running short on my stay here in Mosul. One might call it being a short timer.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 5, 2007, west of Mosul, along Tigris River
In this photo, a family that lives close to the river is seen sitting in doorway of their meager home.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 6, 2007, west of Mosul, Iraq, along the Tigris River
In this photo, a OH58-Kiowa helicopter is seen providing air cover for operation along Tigris River today.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 6, 2007, west of Mosul, Iraq, along Tigris River
In this photo, we see the area along the rivers' edge where some suspects were detained. The river is pleasant to view here.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 6, 2007, west of Mosul, Iraq, along Tigris River
In this photo, Pvt. Fernandez is seen in position in gunner's turret, during operation along the Tigris River.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 6, 2007, west of Mosul, Iraq, along the Tigris River
In this photo, a young boy was herding sheep near the river as a patrol rounded up some suspected insurgents.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 6, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, soldiers from 2/7 advance on the position where small arms fire came from.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 6, 2007, west of Mosul, Iraq
In this photo a young Iraqi girl is seen. She lives in a meager hut near the Tigris River, west of Mosul.
September 6, 2007 Mosul, Iraq
When I was a youngster growing up, I spent many a time
camping along the banks of the Rio Grande River in
southern New Mexico. There were four of us in our
group. Fred and Greg Melton, who were twins, Scot
Sheward and myself.
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 7, 2007, FOB Marez...
In this photo, Dale Johnson, of the US Air Force, is
seen atop a building at FOB Marez, Iraq. Johnson is a
communications technician and is the son of Wade
Johnson. He's just a nice guy and finding him for his
father was like locating a needle in a haystack. This
one is for you Wade.
September 8, 2007
One thing I've learned on this journey is always be
prepared for things to change. That is a given, and
it has worked in me much patience. I've also learned
that each day is never wasted. This entry I've
titled, "Short Story", for a reason. It will be
short, but to the point.
In the last 36-hours, word came down that three US
soldiers were killed from here in Mosul.
September 8, 2007 FOB Marez, Mosul-Iraq
There is a book I am reading about FDR during WW2. It
is quite fascinating to read that book and be here in
Iraq at this point in time. No matter what people
said about FDR, he did manage to do one thing well.
That was, he mobilized the nation in support of a
monumental task. The task of course was the defeat of
Nazi Germany as well as Japan. It would have been
impossible to pull off that victory without the
support of those on the home-front. FDR and his wife
Eleanor, knew this.
Those of us that were born within ten years after WW2
ended had in our rear view mirrors what remained of a
nation that stood behind it's leaders. Many say that
"times were different". In a sense, I concur.
Yet the deeper I read, it seems "the more things
change, the more things stay the same".
Continue reading ""Reading History, Making History"...by Jim Spiri" »
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq In this photo, SSGT Vratney, of Bravo Co., is seen escorting a suspected cell leader during night raid in Mosul, Iraq.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo a suspected cell leader is seen with hands on wall as he is prepared for being taken in to Iraqi authorities.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, members of Bravo Co., 2/7 and Iraqi Army soldiers, are seen during night raid to capture and detain cell leaders of ISI, Islamic State of Iraq members.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, US Army soldier from Bravo Co, 2/7 Cav, is seen with suspected cell leader during night raid in Mosul, Iraq. The suspects are all assumed to be part of ISI, or Islamic State of Iraq, terrorists.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo the wife of a suspected cell member of ISI, Islamic State of Iraq, is seen looking directly into the camera as her husband is about to be detained.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo the light shines on a suspected cell leader during night raid in Mosul, Iraq. Raid was conducted by Bravo Company, 2/7 Cav.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo soldiers from Bravo Co., 2/7 Cav, are seen during house search of suspected ISI cell members home in Mosul, Iraq.
Photo by Jim Spiri, Sep 9, 2007, Mosul, Iraq
In this photo, a suspected member of ISI, Islamic State of Iraq terrorists organization, is seen detained during night raid in Mosul, Iraq. In the background, Lt. Dolney, of Bravo Co., 2/7 Cav, is seen watching over as he directs operations.
September 9, 2007 FOB Marez, Mosul-Iraq
It was actually cool last night, around 0400 hrs in the morning. For the first time in a long time, I did not need air conditioning in the Humvee. I had been up for 28-hours straight, by the time I got to sleep on Sunday morning. The previous morning I had been on an early mission when mechanical problems forced the group I was with to return to the FOB, towing another Humvee. I searched around the rest of that day for the next mission and by the time I got it all sorted out, the mission would begin shortly before midnight.
It would last until after sunrise. I mentally adjusted and decided that sleep would happen after the mission I was on was finished. I'm glad I hung in there. It would be another education for me to add to the collection of experiences.
Continue reading ""Watcha gonna do when we come for you, bad boys, Bad Boys?"...by Jim Spiri" »
Photo by Jim Spiri, September 10, 2007, FOB Marez, Mosul-Iraq.
This is a photo of Apache Company, 2/7 Cav, from Ft.
Bliss, in El Paso, TX. Apache Company is commanded by Capt. Steve Tegge. I have been most blessed to travel with them quite often. They are indeed professionals.
All of them have become my friends.
September 10, 2007
It's becoming important enough now for me to speak up.
For some time now, I've held back. Timing is everything. That one thing alone, I've learned from those on the ground. The time has come now.
All throughout this journey I've been watching, listening, observing, experiencing and waiting. It came to me one day that what I'm doing here is conveying what I experience. That is a humbling thought. It is also a great responsibility. I have felt the heartbeat of those whom we sent here to do a job. I've watched the pulse of the home front from afar. I have somehow been placed in a gap between the two. There are times I have this sense with my arms stretched wide from left to right, that I can almost feel the tugging as I pull those at home towards those that are here.
We all are in a great and awesome battle. Everyone knows it. Some are in denial, because this scene is so spectacular. I believe wholeheartedly that we all are on the verge of a huge turning point in history.
Continue reading ""When McCain Speaks, People Here Listen" by Jim Spiri" »
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