The turn of Iraq is pretty amazing.....

Well, we are on track to close this month as the lowest month for coalition casualties since the war begun. The last few months have seen a downward trend and if things continue to go as they are now....I would say most of the combat here in Iraq is done. Overall, most, if not 99% of our time here, has been involved in reconstruction efforts, weapons cache sweeps, detaining possible insurgents and partnered patrols with the Iraqi Army, Police and Provincial Security Forces. What Iraq is now compared to just a few years ago is pretty amazing. Those of us who know that anything worth something huge takes time and patience. It is sad that there is a small majority of Americans that are so LOUD that they cloud the majority and cause them to forget what we, Americans, are truly about. The future of Iraq is still fragile and probably will be for quite awhile. There will be those upticks in violence or sporadic events around the country. But the Iraqi's will and desire to be free and live in peace will keep the momentum moving forward. There have been a lot of "new openings" these past few weeks...to name a few, the reopening of an oil refinery in the Al Anbar province that will bring oil to all the residents of that province, with that is a new power plant that is scheduled to open for the first time in that province within the next year or so. The oil refinery producing oil for the generators will make electricity and help the Al Anbar province head back to a normalcy for them. Another "new opening" is the Najaf international airport. A prime way of bringing residents to spend money in their economy and spark tourism. Ten of eighteen provinces are turned over to the Iraqis, that's over half!! Oh, and the fact that more parks in Baghdad are seeing activity....the good kind, kids playing, families enjoying is a testament of the return of life back to Iraq. These are just a few examples of the good Iraq is finally seeing. Who knows what the future will hold for these people. It has been a long hard tough road for them and for us. Cautious but optimistic, there is a light somewhere down the end of that tunnel. As for me....as I have said before, I am proud to have served here and my country. It may not have been as "glorious" as some of us maybe wanted to experience, but that's probably for the better in the long run. At least I didn't have to send any of my guys home wrapped up!! Ten years from now we will be able to really see how this all turns out. Nothing is as it seems at the moment it is going on. Looking at the big picture, being patient, persevering and sticking to strong beliefs and values is what makes it to the end. Soon we will be heading home...soon life will be back to "normal".

Doc

I finally earned my FMF pin......

I finally did it!! After months of intense training, when we could get it in, a brutal written test, and even more brutal oral board where you are sitting in front of two board members them firing off questions and a pretty easy prac ap.....I finally have been awarded the Fleet Marine Force pin. Almost all of my corpsman have gotten it. Three more we are working with so we should have 100% by the end of the tour. The FMF pin basically is a symbol to Marines that we are not only corpsman, but that we took that extra step to learn all there is about being a Marine. Everything from history to communications, to land navigation, all the weapons systems, anything involving the ground combat weapons and units to basic formations, how to lead....etc. The wearing of the pin signifies to most Marines that we are capable of not only taking care of their wounds, but if needed to be able to "be a Marine" if the time came. It is our show of respect towards them. That guy standing next to the Marine may be a corpsman....but in the eyes of most Marines we are Marines. To be pinned is a proud moment. To wear it is milestone.
Semper Fi
Doc

We are almost there!!

Well, as you can see I haven't been here in awhile. The last three weeks have been pretty brutal both physically and mentally. We moved to a new location about three weeks ago and are now literally in the middle of the desert. A huge ass dust bowl with almost daily sandstorms and at least 10-15 degrees hotter than by the lake. The days of waking up before a mission and looking out from our JSS to a beautiful blue lake and palm trees are over. Being in Iraq has been difficult at times, but the buffer of our view back then made it all better. So, after moving to our new spot I ended up getting sick, coming close to going down for heat a couple times during the first week. Miserable to say the least. Then on top of that I ended up having to take on a huge ass preventive medicine work load because the person who was supposed to do it here didn't. One more task I didn't want to assume. Oh, and I forgot, due to my handiness in diesel engines I became the FOB generator mech for 19 generators. And of course they were pretty much all FUBARed when I got here. Now, three weeks later, I am back to my healthy self, all the prev med stuff is straightened out and none of the generators are going down now. Whew!! Can't believe we are coming to the end. When we arrived in country I remember it being cold, raining, dark and muddy thinking....this is going to be awhile. Now, close to the end it's all good. So now the last couple weeks here we are winding down. Soon to be transferring to our reliefs. I am now back from doing missions due to my responsibility to wrap up my company medically. Occasionally I get a mission here or there, but mostly now back behind a desk, no more HUMV office. Now it's getting my company ready for the return. This week my corpsman and I will be testing for our FMF qualifications. Basically it is a designator that signifies that we are serving with the Marines. Covers all the basic history, fundamentals of the USMC to infantry basics, land navigation, comms, all the weapon systems and any element within the Marine Division. Our oral board is tomorrow and it will be the last chapter for us here. Anyway all is well. Doc

Some work pictures.....

Nearing the end of this tour!! Finally got a couple good crew pictures the other day while we were out on patrol. The picture of us is front of the MRAP. Those are the million dollar tactical vehicles that are designed to take the imapact of an IED explosion and protect the occupants. They are beasts. The vehicle wins all five stars in the protection department, but as far as comfort they are terrible. You have to literally strap yourself into the seats to keep from hitting your head on the roof when going over bumps and rough terrain. I guess that is the sacrifice they had to make to design a safer vehicle for us. No firm date yet on when we are returning. The dates continue to slide. We are almost there. The word is we are supposed to have a big homecoming either in the Rosemont Horzion or Solider Field. As soon as we know it will be pushed out to everyone. Next month is supposed to be the peak for temperatures. Into the 120's and 130's. You do get used to it. It's still hot no matter what, but your body does acclimate and it becomes easier to deal with. Was on the range yesterday and got to fire the big guns. I actually have a bruised face right under my eye and on the bridge of my nose from the gun hitting my sunglasses. The feeling of a machine gun in your hands is true power. That adrenaline feeling is the best. All is well in Al Anbar, Iraq. Doc

Busy week....

Well in the last week or so we have gone from temps of lower 90's to daily temps of over 100. And it's only June. By the time I get back I think the temps in Chicago will be cold to me. After a day of missions in this hot weather we get back and are completely drenched in sweat wearing all our gear. The last couple weeks have been pretty eventful. One day we found 20 RPG's and igniters all carefully wrapped in rice bags buried in a field. The next day we did a Combined Medical Exercise for the nearby village providing free medical care. Then to the incoming sirens to my BAS once again treating Iraqi casualties blown up by an IED, we think they were planting. Then to removing a cyst from the shoulder of one of my Marines to the everyday maintenance of the camp. I must say I stay very busy and the days are very diverse. The joke around here is "Doc" can fix your diesel, recharge your A/C, put stitches in you and treat trauma victims. Bring it to "Doc" I'm sure he can fix it. All is well here on the other side of the world. This deployment has really been a huge experience for me in a lot of ways. I have learned volumes in field medicine. I have seen first hand what it is like here. I have touched lives and taught things to the locals that hopefully one day can be used to save their own. I have laughed and played with the village kids. I have made new friends and experiences that one day I will be able to share with my kids. Overall, I have to say I am glad to have raised my hand once again for my country. Soon we will be home and back to the normal routine of the great free life in the U.S., complaining about traffic or gas prices or why the hell is my cable out again, to having the opportunity to go down to Best Buy or Starbucks whenever we want, drop in on a friend or just get on the Harley and ride. All within the safety of being able to go wherever we want whenever we want and have anything we want. Life will be good again, just with a different perspective. That of once again truly appreciating what a great country we live in.

Doc

A quick update on......

Okay, so I have had many questions on our donkey Trisha and dog Roxy. Well with Trisha, we only had her a few days. She was apparently running through the main base back like a month ago. Some guys from our company roped her in and our CO decided that we should keep her and find an Iraqi family to give her to. So, we here at our FOB became foster parents for a short time. Trisha ended up with this nice old Iraqi couple who was more than ecstatic to recieve her. They had a farm and I'm sure the work Trisha can do will more than relieve the old man of daily heavy duties. Now Roxy on the other hand has not been around lately. The Navy has just set up not to far from us and I have heard she is now staying down with them. I guess they must have better food or something for her. Anyway, she did stop by one day last week to dig up a piece of chicken she had buried a few days before, but other than that have not seen her much. All is well in our little world over here. Missions every other day which keep us pretty busy.

Doc

The Military Promoted me........

Once again I had to stand in front of the man. This time to receive the privilege of getting pinned and putting on the next rank. I never thought I would ever be an HM1.
Even being called "HM1 Rimkus" is foreign to me. When I marched up to Captain to receive my warrant, I immediately got nervous and instead of saying "Good Evening Sir", since it was sunset, I said "Good Morning Sir." I was like what the hell am I saying? He laughed and corrected me. Then the Platoon Sgt. read my warrant, removed the old rank and pinned the new rank on my collar. Being an E-6 changes a lot of things. Now am I not only the oldest guy on the camp, I am one of the only E-6's running around, so my duties change somewhat. Kind of above a lot of the nonsense now. It's all good.
Other than that going on missions every other day and time continues to fly by. We are now tasked with the opening of a new Iraqi police station. Another step in the process of total turn over. These guys have blue shirts and jeans for uniforms. A bunch of weapons and a few new huts we built for them. They are anxious to start, so the next few months will be interesting. We are all doing well here.

Doc