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