Stopped at Al Asad which is in the Marine sector. Look it up on Goolgle. At that time I had no clue at to where we were. Landed, dropped of a pallet of supplies and shortly were on our way again.
Everything is brown. A quick glimpse of the Marine Air Base at Al Asad.Landed in Balad about 9:30 and went through in processing again. No Customs. Picked up by the Commanding Officer of our base squadron. He just learned about 15 minutes before we landed that I was arriving that AM. Checked into the hospital and was getting oriented to the clinic set-up when "ALARM RED" was sounded. As part of our training, I had learned it meant hit the deck and cover your head and ears. I just didn't think it would be so soon. While lying on the floor, I heard a voice from across the room say in a very calm and matter of fact tone: "Welcome to Balad." It doesn't actually happen very often but they take it very serious no matter what. They can detect direction of an incoming and within seconds determine potential impact point. They then send out the alarm to just the part of base at risk. There are hidden and secret assets that can also shoot the missle, rocket or motar out of the air. Still probably safer here that driving on 10th Avenue South.
The next step was to get situated in tempoary quarters next to the hospital until LtCol Jackson and I can swap rooms. I got cleaned up, took a shower, ate dinner and by then, it was almost 6 PM and I was soon fast asleep
4 AM and wide awake. Took a walk around the compound behind the hospital and there it is, "The Wire" and the rest of Iraq. My first sunrise in Balad.
The next step was to get situated in tempoary quarters next to the hospital until LtCol Jackson and I can swap rooms. I got cleaned up, took a shower, ate dinner and by then, it was almost 6 PM and I was soon fast asleep
4 AM and wide awake. Took a walk around the compound behind the hospital and there it is, "The Wire" and the rest of Iraq. My first sunrise in Balad.
No comments:
Post a Comment