Archive for January, 2009

So what have I been up to since I got here?  A lot of flying, and a lot of patient transport.  Its a completely different experience this time than last time.  I am usually back in my own bed at night, missions don’t go on for hours and hours without rest, and I am flying overhead instead of driving or walking through the streets.

So far I have had several routine transfers to the hospital north of here from units in the south.  I also had a couple of trauma patients that the TMC here stabilized and then sent north as well.  In fact, almost everything we take is headed north to one of two major hospitals in our area, and that brings about a different challenge I’ll talk about later.  I did expect there to be more Point of Injury missions than there have been, but I guess that’s a good thing.  It means our guys aren’t getting hurt out there as much anymore.

I have set foot on the place where civilization began.  Where the Sumerians and Babylonian ruled.  Where Hammurabi’s Code was written, and where the wheel was invented.  The place is known as Ur, and you can even find it in the Bible.  I might have mentioned this before, but I love history, especially practical history and anthropology.  Screw the dates, show me the how.  So you can imagine what a great experience this was for me, even in ACUs.

Before we get started I should mention the site is Iraqi Controlled, but actually inside the Coalition “wire” for protection.  That way the enemy can’t lob mortars at us from there and force us to retaliate against such a sacred place to all humanity.  You have to make a special appointment to see the place as part of a “group tour.”  The tour is by donations after the fact, and you can climb on and in most of the ruin.  Something you would never be able to do in the U.S.  All they ask is that you take nothing and leave nothing behind.

Well no sooner do I complain about waiting then my ride finally comes through.  I am now at my new forward location and I start on the schedule tomorrow.  Anyway, I am settling into my new home and while I need to get a few things, I think I can make this place pretty comfortable.

So that’s the latest.  Not much, but something.

I have been waiting now for 12 days.  Waiting for what?  Anything.  I have gotten a few flight hours, but I have no real mission here.  I am supposed to move forward to another FOB, but we keep getting weathered out, or something else happens and I can’t go.  I feel so completely useless and its starting to get to me I think. 

Whirrrr, the noise of the motors opening the ramp of the C-130 rouse me fro my half sleep state.  I look down the rows of bobbing kevlars and out the back.  Dust blows by as the roar of the engine dies away.  We all stand and grab our bags and start down the ramp into the night.

I stand on the tarmac for a second and get my bearings.  The Terminal is off to my right.  I walk that way and I can here the wind say “Happy New Year, and welcome back.”

Ugh.  Another year back in hell.