One Year Later..... > General Discussion

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:39:00 PM EDT

Thought I'd compile my posts from Iraq into a single thread, the photos are all still on line, so I thought it would be fun.....

Wanted to drag it out of the archives

Greetings from Iraq...

Greetings from Fallujah...

Photos from Iraq...

PLEASE avoid the "Thanks for your service" posts.
You guys did enough of that when I was there.

This thread should be for the pics and the posts of the past.
Thanks

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:39:42 PM EDT

[#1]

8/20/2005:

Lovely weather, beautiful scenery.
I can get to a FOB (Camp Fallujah) only once a week, if I'm lucky.

Otherwise, I live and operate IN the city itself. I own about a square mile.
Hooray!

It's great.
I'll try to post pics in a week or so.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:40:35 PM EDT

[#2]

8/20/2005

Quoted:

Kick ass over there! ... and come back safe, and with all your men.

"My men" are all Iraqis. Trust me, you don't want me to bring any of them back to the States.

Actually, they're great warriors.
They just have a few bad habits that wouldn't work weel in our culture.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:41:13 PM EDT

[#3]

Major league tag.

HH

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:43:09 PM EDT

[#4]

Glad you're home.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:45:20 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Glad you're home.

Been home for a while, closer to going back than I am from coming home.
If you know what I mean.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:45:24 PM EDT

[#6]

How many DVD's did you end up with after your plea to the board here? Did it keep your guys from watching something other than porn?

I know I sent you about 40 DVD's and some good cigars..Hope you enjoyed them.. Glad I could help our troops turn away from porn...

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:47:06 PM EDT

[#7]

8/21/2005

Quoted:

Quoted:

"My men" are all Iraqis. Trust me, you don't want me to bring any of them back to the States.

Actually, they're great warriors.
They just have a few bad habits that wouldn't work well in our culture.

Care to elloborate? We always like stories from the sandbox.

Thanks for your service and stay safe

I am an advisor to the Iraqi Intervention Force.
We have a VERY small Bn Firm Base inside the city of Fallujah, and some Company bases, as well.
All very isolated.
Isolated from other Americans, that is. We have 10 Marines on a team.
We're not at all isolated from the Iraqis.
We eat, sleep and fight along side the Iraqi soldiers. Many missions a day.
It's a blast.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:48:23 PM EDT

[#8]

9/19/2005

I get to the FOB MAYBE once every couple of weeks.
Otherwise, I'm out in town.

I live not too far from "Blackwater Bridge".
Next time I login, I'll post some pics. I have some pretty intense operational photos.
Great shots, too from the streets of Fallujah. Not the stuff you see from the convoys of FOBs.
Foot patrols all day, missions galore.
SAF, RPGS, IDF, grenade attacks,IEDs, etc. Lot's of fun.

Power's always out, so I couldn't get the photos off my batery-dead laptop.
Oh well... next time.

For those of you with whom I've verbally sparred, in the past...
You'll get a kick out of this exchange I had with a Shop keeper:

Me: "We found these IED detonators in you shop. Did you make them?"
Suspect: (through a 'terp) "No, I don't know about them"
Me: "Who else works here?"
Suspect: "My boss"
Me: " Where is he?"
Suspect: "I don't know"
Me: "One of you is 'Muj'. Who is it, you or your boss?"
Suspect: "I DON'T KNOW"
Me: " what do you mean? You 'don't know' if you're Muj?"
Suspect: "I don't know"
Me: "I'll give you a choice, either YOU or you boss is going to Abu Gharaib"
Suspect: "I don't know"
Me: "wrong answer"

Took him.
Made him cry like a little girl.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:49:05 PM EDT

[#9]

Thanks again for your service.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:50:57 PM EDT

[#10]

9/19/2005

Quoted:

Quoted:
My "men" are all Iraqis.
I will forward your thanks, though it might be a bit confusing for them.

I've heard some good things about today's Iraqi soldiers and police.

The police are all thugs, who drive around really fast in their chevy Pickups, and fire their AKs in the air.
That seems to be their mission, from what I see.

The Iraqi Army varies from Bn to Bn.
Our guys are good.
They look like Marines, when on patrol. They move well, have great dispersion, they cover their sectors, they use hand and arm signals...

Until we take fire.
Then the go nuts, running around, chasing the sound of the guns.
Granted, no one likes to chase the sound of the guns more than me ....
It just isn't the best solution.
There are no "training areas", so all "training" is done during and after actual enemy contact.
Woohoo!

It's a living.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:51:01 PM EDT

[#11]

Old school tag....looking forward to rereading these, Cinc!

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:53:26 PM EDT

[#12]

9/19/2005

I trust our Iraqis.
They're all Shias, with a few Kurds.
If they wander out in town alone, they'll get beheaded as quickly as I would.
We're in the same boat.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:56:06 PM EDT

[#13]

Cool posts Cincinnatus. Thanks.

Good work, and good luck "eating soup with a knife" on the next tour.

Posted: 12/21/2006 4:59:46 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Major league tag.

HH

Right behind you...

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:03:40 PM EDT

[#15]

10/9/2005:

These are all taken in West Fallujah, and elsewhere in Anbar.
I tried to take shots from some rarely seen perspectives...

Like from the turret of a Humvee....

Or while sitting on the tailgate of a Nissan, heading towards the sound of the fighting...

Or from the roof of my lovely Fallujah home (yes, it's right in the thick of things). So much for force protection

The usual suspects (night and day...)

A warrior...

Me and the kids....

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:05:33 PM EDT

[#16]

10/9/2005:

Things are going well.
Advisors are not fairing well, lately, but I watch my six, 24/7.

No sleep, endless missions.
Just what I had in mind (15-20 years ago).

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:07:03 PM EDT

[#17]

10/9/2005:

olyarms:

Gotta ask, do you ever encounter the "insurgency" or is it pretty much hide and seek?

Both.
Lots of tossed grenades, IEDs, RPGs, bursts of small arms fire, and the occaisional mortar.

The IEDs often come with all the trimmings of a deliberate ambush.
Fine in a Hummer, not so fine on foot.

We are clearing them out of the city, and pushing them west.
They are cowards, not too bright (thanks God), and only know how to run away and rat out their pals.
The dimes drop all day.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:09:44 PM EDT

[#18]

10/9/2005

Quoted:

Quoted:
Both.
Lots of tossed grenades, IEDs, RPGs, bursts of small arms fire, and the occaisional mortar.

The IEDs often come with all the trimmings of a deliberate ambush.
Fine in a Hummer, not so fine on foot.

We are clearing them of of the city, and pushing them west.

I take it you are in a M1114?

And is that open sewage in some of the pics?

In the one pic, I'm in an "uparmor".
But that's rare. I usually walk, or sometimes I ride in the back of a Nissan PU.
Patrol, patrol, patrol. (ambush, raid, kick in doors.)

yes, shit flows like rivers

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:12:53 PM EDT

[#19]

10/30/2005:

New photos...

Me in the Firm base with the Benelli...

Eerie shot of Blackwater Bridge....

Blackwater Bridge....

Me (my rifle) and my recently caught, genuine Terrorist.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:14:50 PM EDT

[#20]

10/30/2005:

More photos...

The view if you're walking point in the Sook...

This is what's left of a guy who tossed a grenade...

Learning young...

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:15:28 PM EDT

[#21]

10/30/2005:

Things are going well here in lovely Fallujah.
Making progress with the Iraqi Forces. Crushing the enemy.
This town stinks.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:17:17 PM EDT

[#22]

10/30/2005

View of the AO:

Another view of the bridge...

Rubbing elbows with the locals...

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:18:10 PM EDT

[#23]

10/30/2005:

Quoted:
What's the story behind the "genuine terrorist?"

What did he do?

What did he say?

Where will he end up?

Thanks and stay safe.

He did all the things that terrorists do.
He didn't say a word.
On to Abu Ghraib.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:19:17 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Glad you're home.

Been home for a while, closer to going back than I am from coming home.
If you know what I mean.

Still with 2/25?

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:19:26 PM EDT

[#25]

11/19/2005:

Hello!

I have time for this one post.
All is well.
Had a close call with an RPG the other night.
Cuts and scrapes, sore like after a car wreck.

Great to be here, breathing.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:20:40 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Glad you're home.

Been home for a while, closer to going back than I am from coming home.
If you know what I mean.

Still with 2/25?

2/25, ADSW to the Pentagon, recently relocated to DC for work as a "Counterinsurgency Consultant".

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:21:29 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Glad you're home.

Been home for a while, closer to going back than I am from coming home.
If you know what I mean.

Still with 2/25?

2/25, ADSW to the Pentagon, recently relocated to DC for work as a "Counterinsurgency Consultant".

And here I thought you were slacking and not making drill weekends...

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:21:51 PM EDT

[#28]

11/19/2005:

Quoted:
"But that's rare. I usually walk, or sometimes I ride in the back of a Nissan PU."

GOOD LORD MAN Don't do that.

At least you have 50-75% chances of no harm in an 1114. My buddies and I have been there to see a lot of entire crews of Nissan PU's get wasted. probably at least half a dozen-- multiply that by about 4-6men per vehicle.

even at 75% most of our guys prefferred walking to the 1114. half those kill everyone in the 1114.

I really hope the Marine Corps isn't ordering you to ride in thin-skinned vehicles.

No.
The Corps {officially} says we cannot ride in the Nissans.
But when the QRF rolls, and there's a Marine out there....

...I'd ride a bicycle if it would get me there sooner.

We are very independent out here. We do what must be done to accomplish the mission.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:23:04 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Glad you're home.

Been home for a while, closer to going back than I am from coming home.
If you know what I mean.

Still with 2/25?

2/25, ADSW to the Pentagon, recently relocated to DC for work as a "Counterinsurgency Consultant".

And here I thought you were slacking and not making drill weekends...

Right now, I drill for "free", to keep some continuity within the command.
All so I can keep my seat for the show...

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:23:49 PM EDT

[#30]

11/22/2005:

Quoted:
Amazing, just amazing. The professionalism and quality of our men is beyond belief. I guess that's what you get when born into freedom and tought that nothing is more important. I know we've had arguments about things like armor and the administration, but I'll tell you I couldn't be more appreciative, also. Perhaps tomorrows leaders are over there right now, and will use the absolute courage and mission focus necessary to lead America in the future.

On a side note, what do you think of the iranian presidents comments about 'wiping israel off the face of the map'?.

I know nothing of such things. Nor do I care.
I have no idea what is occurring in sports politics or popular culture.
I don't really know what is happening outside of Western Fallujah.
I have no news source.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:24:32 PM EDT

[#31]

Holy Cow Cincinnatus you're hot!

Those kids are just precious. Any chance they'll grow up to be productive members of society?

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:24:33 PM EDT

[#32]

11/22/2005:

Quoted:
Hello!

I have time for this one post.
All is well.
Had a close call with an RPG the other night.
Cuts and scrapes, sore like after a car wreck.

Great to be here, breathing.

More on that... (I'll tell it here, because I sure as hell can't tell my wife...)

We were coming back from an evening foot patrol. Our Firm Base’s outer-most checkpoint/observation post was in sight up ahead. I dropped back near the rear of the formation, to cover our movement around the last corner before the home stretch (my night vision and Surefire makes this necessary). The last troops and the Nissan gun truck passed by. I remained there for a few seconds to see if any heads would pop around any corners. Nothing. I stepped it out to catch up with the main body, one of the Iraqi Lieutenants was with me -we alternated walking forwards and backwards until we had made it back into the formation. It was then that I found myself on my face, in the middle of a black cloud of dirt and heat. It was quiet, and I had a feeling like déjà vu, that I had just heard an explosion. I jumped to my feet and ran through the center of the cloud, climbed a small rubble pile so I could look over an adjacent wall. My ears were still ringing, nose was bleeding and my leg hurt like a sonofabitch. I fired three rounds into the cloud of smoke on the other side of the wall (I mistakenly believed that a grenade had been tossed over the wall). My head cleared a little, and I began shouting “La teramee! La teramee!” (Arabic for cease-fire). Of course I was the only dope who was shooting. Once the Iraqis start firing, it’s hard to get them to stop.
As I returned to the site of the explosion, I noticed a section of an RPG tail lying on the ground. I picked it up and smelled it. It was the culprit. One Iraqi soldier had been hit with fragments in his leg. We carried him to the gun truck, and it sped off to the waiting ambulance, and then on to Camp Fallujah. He was the only one injured, beside myself. I just had a few cuts and scrapes, and some over all soreness from being knocked to the ground. Not worthy of a Purple Heart by any stretch of the imagination (unless you’re John Kerry). I was back operating the next morning (looking for a little payback).
The RPG had probably been fired from the rear. It hit us while we were directly beneath a streetlight. It had been fired from the dark. No one saw or heard the launch. We did not get the shooter this time. The incident DID, however help to illustrate how dangerous it is when you re-enter friendly lines. I had just been trying to impress this upon the Iraqi soldiers.
Earlier this week we had found a cache that included RPGs, just a hundred meters from the site of the attack. (care to guess, in what type of peace-loving building?)

It’s now five days later and I’m still a little sore. If I was 20, I’d probably feel fine. 38 year olds aren’t built to do this shit every day.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:24:35 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Glad you're home.

Been home for a while, closer to going back than I am from coming home.
If you know what I mean.

Still with 2/25?

2/25, ADSW to the Pentagon, recently relocated to DC for work as a "Counterinsurgency Consultant".

And here I thought you were slacking and not making drill weekends...

Right now, I drill for "free", to keep some continuity within the command.
All so I can keep my seat for the show...

Word is showtime is not too far way.

Round three here we come...

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:25:36 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
Holy Cow Cincinnatus you're hot!

Those kids are just precious. Any chance they'll grow up to be productive members of society?

No, not really. I pixelate my face to hide the scars, warts, rashes and fungi.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:28:07 PM EDT

[#35]

11/22/2005:

More photos...

Another view from the top...

The little girls are just gorgeous. I brings me extra joy, each time I see to it that another Wahabi scumbag is put away or put down. The wahabis actually threaten girls this young for not wearing the Burkha.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:30:42 PM EDT

[#36]

12/21/2005:

Merry Christmas from the boys....

Things are going well. The recent loss of our brother Marines was rough, but we march on.
The night of that Hell, we most definitely eliminated more than a few of those responsible for the carnage.
Cold comfort, but satisfying nonetheless.
We are really getting proficient at finding and "getting" the bad guys -more and more of whom seem to be AQ.
Here are a few photos...

The team photo (I'm the guy on the far right)

Cute kid

Another asshole...

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:32:36 PM EDT

[#37]

12/28/2005:

Quoted:
Thanks and Marry Christmas Cinci! I gotta ask, how are your Iraqi troops doing? Some of them look like they could use some work, while others look pretty squared away.

They are aggressive, very aggressive.
They don't run away.

They can't shoot for shit.
Yet they have an amazing ability to accicentally kill people with remarkable accuracy.

They have great instincts in the field.
Some of the officers are sharp, and some are not.
They are great at pulling intel from sources.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:32:57 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Holy Cow Cincinnatus you're hot!

Those kids are just precious. Any chance they'll grow up to be productive members of society?

No, not really. I pixelate my face to hide the scars, warts, rashes and fungi.

lol! I've really enjoyed your dialog and pictures. I read no true glory and do not envy your job at all.

Patty

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:33:14 PM EDT

[#39]

Thank you for serving.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:33:28 PM EDT

[#40]

1/22/2006:

Greetings.

All is well here. VERY busy these days.
Catching/eliminating many, many AQ and insurgents.
Very satisfying.
Caught a few snipers recently. They had it coming in spades.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:34:17 PM EDT

[#41]

1/22/2006

Thanks, we're set.
Those who have sent thing have our sincere thanks.
It has helped to make life bearable.
Hell, I'd have been satisfied with a hole to sleep in, and MREs to eat.
Food, DVDs and Cigars have made things quite civilized for us.

I'll be home by March. I look forward to beer, scotch and family (not necessarily in that order)

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:34:18 PM EDT

[#42]

Fantastic stuff. It bears repeatng: "Thank you Cincinnatus for your service!"

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:35:56 PM EDT

[#43]

1/22/2006:

Quoted:
When you say AQ, are you talking about "AQ of Iraq" or foreign Arab terrorists? If OPSEC will allow you to say...

Either way, continue to kick ass and stay safe.

Both.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:36:49 PM EDT

[#44]

1/25/2006:

We treat our PUCs with dignity and respect.
I'm always so happy to catch them, I smile. The prisoners see my smile and they smile too. It's contagious.
They stop smiling, once they realize that they're going to be in Abu Ghraib for a while.

I don't smile for snipers, though.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:37:25 PM EDT

[#45]

2/6/2005:

Well, that went by pretty fast.

Next week I begin the movement from Fallujah towards home.
It's been a great deployment. I have no regrets. Very proud of my Team.
We started with an Iraqi Bn that was OpCon to a Marine Co, capable of executing simple company missions.
We will be leaving an independent Bn capable of complex, extended ops, robust in their ability to collect and act upon intel.

Final tally, when it's all said and done:

Well over ONE HUNDRED Insurgents/AQIZ captured(and sent away) or eliminated by our Iraqi Bn...
All in six months.

These Iraqis are more than ready.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:37:57 PM EDT

[#46]

2/6/2006:

I need beer, a martini, scotch, and a Porterhouse. (as soon as I step foot on US soil)

Then a few days later I'll make it home to the wife and my boys (for the important stuff).

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:39:07 PM EDT

[#47]

Quoted:

You already know this Cinci- Please dont shut off until you are sitting on the freedom bird headed to CONUS...

Thank you for your service !

Dram out

Don't worry about me, brother.
I'm like a fucking robot.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:39:44 PM EDT

[#48]

2/6/2006:

God help me, I love it here.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:40:36 PM EDT

[#49]

2/6/2006:

Quoted:
Where are you going for that porterhouse, Cincinnatus?

Where else?

Peter Luger's Steakhouse -NYC

That is, IF I can resist the first place I come across in Jacksonville that serves a decent steak, before making it home.

Posted: 12/21/2006 5:42:11 PM EDT

[#50]

2/23/2006:

Thanks for the support gents.

I'm home.
Got kiss my wife, my 3 and half year old son...

...and I finally got to meet my new son, James.

I am content.

Thanks again, gentlemen (and ladies).

Warning

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