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.
Today I would travel with the PSD group of soldiers
who are the security detail for Lt. Col. Welsh. We
would visit an area relatively close to the FOB, but
still in the city of Mosul. It was where a military
vehicle was blown up a few days back. We would go
there and search the area to see what we could find.
Although it was a day that seemed a bit on the calmer
side of the intensity scale, it did result in the
detaining of a very suspicious character.
I was in familiar company today, with Deleon driving,
DeCarlo the vic cmdr., Wallace the medic on my right
and Fernandez the gunner up top. Fernandez could also
double as comedian on Comedy Central, and pretty much
kept me in stitches with his impersonations of various
characters. It is rather enjoyable to roll out with
these guys.
After some coordination among all the elements
participating was worked out, we all arrived at our
assigned locations. The neighborhood was again a mix
of nicer places scattered among some not so nice
places. Near where we were was a large construction
project that I was told would be the future home of a
government courthouse facility. It was a massive
building with many facets to it. The area is near the
river and on our way there one could see many tracts
of land that were cultivated in such a manner for
irrigation. Things were green and growing. It once
again looked quite similar to farming in the
southwest.
We would go to the construction site and there would
be many, many workers all sitting down in an arranged
fashion. Identification cards were being examined as
the Iraqi Army participated in the mission. While
that was under control, we would proceed in close
proximity to the neighborhood close by. Once there we
would visit several houses and ask many questions. We
discovered that some of the residents were professors
at the university level and some had even been
educated at universities stateside.
The insides of the houses were again well kept and had
much tile work in them. At one point, one of the
residents sat down for quite some time as he and Lt.
Col. Welsh discussed issues about the neighborhood.
We stayed for quite sometime and I saw that the work
of "public relations" was a major part of this days
operation. It is once again, all in a days work.
Walking around the neighborhood, one would not think that anything is
wrong, at first glance. But, the enemy has a way of
infiltrating these very type of areas, and it is up to
the soldiers to eliminate this threat. That is for
sure, a major part of the work here in Mosul. It
takes a careful eye and a skilled soldier to find
those that spend most of their time trying not to be
found.
I watched as Lt. Col. Welsh and his men went from
house to house today questioning each resident. All
the while, he and his men are observing, processing
information mentally, looking and listening for
particular statements and reactions, while at the same
time working hard through interpreters to gain the
confidence of the residents of this neighborhood. It
seems routine, but it is always a new day with new
situations that must be dealt with.
As we went from block to block, we eventually came to
another part of the neighborhood. There were more
people out and about and the homes were on a bit
lesser scale. One person on a corner seemed to stand
out among the others. Lt. Col. Welsh, noticed it
right away and went up and began a conversation with
the man. I noticed that this man was taller, and in
very good shape physically. He was about 35-years-old
and well groomed. As he was questioned I meandered
around the scene a bit. At one point, I snapped a
photo of a young boy seemingly oblivious to all that
was going on. I have included it in todays postings
of photos. It seems to capture the essence of what I
experienced on this mission.
The man that was being questioned was soon detained.
He was placed in the vehicle I was in and we proceeded
to another location where he was questioned and
processed for further identification by Iraqi
authorities. The mission was for all practical
purposes over now. We would head back to the FOB, a
short distance away. On the way back, one, possibly
two RPG blasts were heard. It was all in the same
area we had just been in.
I am reminded of the comments I saw on the blog today,
again. Complacency kills. I am never complacent
anymore in Iraq. No matter what each day brings,
whether it is the same thing or not, it is still a
different day, each day in Iraq.
Jim Spiri
Mosul, Iraq
jimspiri@yahoo.com
Comments (12)
You and all of our soldiers are in my daily thoughts and prayers. I'm glad you do not allow yourself to forget that you musn't become complacent. Keep your spirits up and your head down sir.
Posted by Valerie Mansapit | September 1, 2007 10:13 AM
Posted on September 1, 2007 10:13
Just a few years back Capt. Contino was sitting in the back row of my history of Europe since 1815 (sophomore survey) class trying to maintain a low profile. Now look at him! . . . although the battle gear does help to blend him with the rest of you guys (just like those baseball hats used to.
I am sorry to say that the story of the Battle of Leipzig or Solferino and so on has taken on a new meaning for him and all of you. . . . Thanks for what you are doing to keep us safe back here. Now . . .you all hang in there and try to keep safe . . . and alert!
George
Posted by George Strong | September 2, 2007 11:04 AM
Posted on September 2, 2007 11:04
Have you met my son, Spc Cameron Martin, STB Co A, who spends his time half at FOB Marez and half at an outpost?
Kathryn Martin
Posted by Kathryn Martin | September 2, 2007 5:26 PM
Posted on September 2, 2007 17:26
Hi Jim,
Thanks again for a interesting story," Same Thing,Different Day"---and the wonderful photos especially the picture of my son, Captain Chris Contino. Your reporting enables everyone back home to gain a understanding of the soldiers missions. Two items in this story made a deep impression on me, not becoming complacent and that the soldiers can't forget where they are.
I also caught up on reading your previous articles in the archives and enjoyed all of the photos.
Please keep up the great job of reporting the work that is being done in Iraq.
Keep safe,
Susan J. Contino
West Newbury, MA
Posted by Susan J. Contino | September 3, 2007 2:19 AM
Posted on September 3, 2007 02:19
It's time to go home, Jim.
You've educated, informed, encouraged, and supported so many in these last few months. You've brought insight into what our service men and women go through everyday, insight into what goes on in Iraq on a daily and nightly basis.
To me your stories and your reason for being in Iraq is about the people-not the politics. And I am more than honored to have served our service men and women over here in Kuwait (area of operations). I believe they serve a noble cause, and for that I thank each and every one of them and their families.
In a little over a month I will have fulfilled my contract and the year that we planned to be here in the a-o-r while our son Jimmy was deployed. You have introduced some of your insights regarding politics and the civilian contract world. I have to say something at this point.
The civilian contract world... This is my third contract. I had hopes for the contractor that I am currently working for here in Kuwait. Disappointed-big time. But for reasons other than what KBR and the "big boys" get called on the carpet for. What I have learned about this war is that war is business-BIG BUSINESS. Politics is just the rhetoric used in conducting business. And the contract world breeds such ugliness.
There will always be the ones that will never "get it". Maybe their conscience has been seared with a hot iron, or the seed fell on the wayside and the traffic of the world caused it to wither and die. I don't know. But I know what I've seen-the contractors that make their "home" over here to avoid claiming all their income to avoid child support, or the ones who keep a "maid" while they send their paychecks home to their families, or the ones who are running or hiding,-mostly from themselves...it's good money to run. Unfortunately I could go on and on.
For the families that have written to you, thanking you,-that "get it", it has been worth the time that you have spent in Iraq. More than worth it. And as you so sincerely put in one of your stories, there are others that have suffered more and given more.
So I'm going to say good job, Dear. But it's time to go home. Lord, bring all our sons and daughters home safely.
Candace Spiri
wife of Jim Spiri
Posted by Candace Spiri | September 4, 2007 6:29 AM
Posted on September 4, 2007 06:29
Mrs. Spiri. I commend you and your husband for all that you do. As a wife of a U.S. Soldier who dearly misses my loved one, I have to say I agree with you that it's time for Mr. Spiri to go home. As much as we would all love to continue to hear the "real" stories that go on there, only so much can be asked of one extraordinary person.
Mr. Spiri, on a side note (and maybe a little joke too)....you know that the wife is always right, right? And by always, I do mean ALWAYS. Hehe.
Please be safe in all of your journeys, whether together or apart. Mr. Spiri, thank you for the uplifting email you sent. You will always be a part of my memory and your name and face and deeds will never be forgotten. From the bottom of my heart, thank you both.
Posted by Valerie Mansapit | September 4, 2007 2:31 PM
Posted on September 4, 2007 14:31
I find that I read and reread all of your columns Jim. They give me a day to day snapshot of my son's mission. I appreciate your wife's comments - but you have performed a tremendous service to the families back home. Mary
Posted by Mary M. Gardiner | September 4, 2007 6:39 PM
Posted on September 4, 2007 18:39
Jim,
Listen to Candace. She is speaking prophetically. It is time. She's going home--your first responsibility, after God, is to your covenant relationship with her. If she goes home, you go home... Honoring covenants is a believer's duty. . .
Posted by Annamaria | September 4, 2007 9:43 PM
Posted on September 4, 2007 21:43
"What I have learned about this war is that war is business-BIG BUSINESS. Politics is just the rhetoric used in conducting business. And the contract world breeds such ugliness." Candace Spiri
"What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and looses his soul?"
Jesus the Christ, son of the living God
Seems human beings almost never get it. Politicians, never. People who just want to gain wealth from other people's suffering, and war, are just pitiful.
Jim e-mailed me. My son was just shipped over to FOB Marez. He said he may have seen him. Dale is Air Force. Seems the Army has asked the AF and Navy to lone them people to work in the offices while they go out on patrols.Wade
Posted by Wade Johnson | September 5, 2007 4:12 PM
Posted on September 5, 2007 16:12
As I attempt to write a comment, words fail me... I can't articulate all I feel for what you and Mom have been able to experience. I knew as you both embarked on this latest endeavor, Jesse and Jimmy were the driving force behind it, but I realize as this leg of the journey comes to a close, ALL the soldiers and their families are what have made your absence from us well worthwhile. I am honored to be called your daughter.
Go West, young man (and woman!)!
All my love, admiration, respect and pride,
Melain
Posted by Melain Blackwell | September 6, 2007 3:03 PM
Posted on September 6, 2007 15:03
I am looking forward to seeing you and Mom during Thanksgiving this year, so you better make it home by then! I will miss your reports and I'm sure all the other readers of your blog will miss them, too. But not as much as I miss having my dad and my mom stateside! See you soon.
Love,
Moriah
Posted by Moriah Spiri | September 6, 2007 3:37 PM
Posted on September 6, 2007 15:37
hi jim hi candy michael here , just cleaned the virus out of the computer so i can catch up on what i've been missing out in your writtings. just the comments from the family members is enough to keep going for them ... candy by now you know there is more then two of us praying for the ring of protection around jim . jim a good friend tried to tell me when i was wraped up in politics " family first " with that said you have taken on the sons and daughters of america as an extended family. the photos are great ! the only things i got out of iraq was a bad feeling for KBR management ( the only company in the warzone to terminate an alaskan native for wearing a sweatband in the desert) im may have violated there dress code policy on my off hours but i still have my avon good grooming award from high school and they can't take that away. the only other thing i treasure is making a friend ... the kind you keep for life and beyond. kahdushan
Posted by michael | September 8, 2007 7:00 AM
Posted on September 8, 2007 07:00