Accuracy via Volume

Ich Liebe Deuchland

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:39:00 +0000

This is my second time through Leipzig, fifth time in Germany overall, and while it's not my favorite trip here (tough to beat the Bavarian Alps), it's always good to visit, even if it's just an airport lounge and gift shop.

I'm on my way home...

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:54:00 +0000

As the tailgate of the C-130 opened a Soldier shouted over the roar of the engines, "Is this still Iraq?" For a second I couldn't tell. Then the math started to add up: sand dunes, lush green foilage and cool, clean smelling air. We were in Kuwait. The destroyed bunkers on the flightline were a familiar sight from my last few times through Ali al Salem. It's a relatively small base with few amenities for the thousands of Soldiers 'just passing through'.

The transient life, living out of a duffel bag locked to a bare bunk, it less than desireable but it's just a short stop on my way home.

Drab

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:03:00 +0000

If you've never seen a T-wall before, come to Iraq. We have plenty.

It would amaze you how quickly you come to miss green grass, trees and everything else you expect to see in Minnesota. If you can, imagine a place void of plant life, fresh air and quiet nights. This is our home. What could be a still night is filled with the constant rumble of diesel generators and the rank smell of sewage. A few days ago I saw a row of palm trees and so badly wanted to pull over and enjoy the deep green color of their leaves. Sometime we'll have time, not today.

Welcome Back to Iraq

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:15:00 +0000

So, as you might know, I'm back in the sandbox for more of deployment fun. Our journey in-to-country was a bit different from the rest.Rather than stopping in Kuwait for five days to shoot ten rounds at the range, myself and few others picked up an almost direct flight from McChord to Basra International. It was a nice fight if you don't mind sleeping across the flight seats with a metal rod stuck in you spine. The other choice with the cold metal floor, which seemed to be surprisingly better. I was planning on getting photos of the scheduled midair refueling, but slept right through it.

The seats at our one stop, Ramstein, reaffirmed my belief that I may have joined the wrong armed force. Nice, soft chairs to sleep... Oh wait, time to get back on the plane. Nope, wait the flight is delayed. Back to the terminal for some more sleep in the nice soft... The plane is ready to go! Quick get to the... still delayed plane. Well, why don't you guys just wait on the plane, we should be ready to go, in about an hour. Maybe I was wrong about being wrong. Go Army. The last 5ish hour flight was smooth and uneventful.

We arrived at night and when the wheels had stopped and the doors opened the familiar smell of burning plastic, rotting garbage and dust filled the air. Our advanced party greeters picked us up and whisked us away to your new living quarters.

The Containerized Housing Unit (CHU) is a shipping container sized... container... that is split usually into three rooms accessible via doors on one side. I now sleep in a little box, with no lights.

Good times.

Iraq 2008 Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Greetings all-

By the time this delayed post goes out, I will have landed safely at our new place, Camp Basra, Iraq. I will try to call you all when I get there but if I don't, understand that it maybe tough as this place is brand new to the US and, from what I've heard, the connectivity just isn't there.

Talk to you all soon. Love-

The Lewis Life

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Random Fort Lewis photos.

Seperate

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:10:00 +0000

It's amazing how closely weaved one can become with others and yet how separate their threads are. Groups are fabricated and unwound at a moment. In that instant, there is a pause.

Can it be that our individuality is our strength, or a weakness?

The cursor blinks in anticipation of what is to come.

Finding Calm

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:04:00 +0000

It hasn't been easy, and I can't say I've been successful.

I've been reminded every few days, "Take some time for yourself. Don't burn yourself out." It's happened before.

I've come into this mission knowing what separation from my friends and family will be like. I've been there before.

The frustration of working with those who find pleasure in inflicting their will on others. I've meet them before.

I feel the stress, the sadness and the anger rising. My neck tightens.

This time, will not be like before. I will find peace in war.

Drink deeply.
Live in seventy and joy.
The Wise person delights in the truth
And follows the law of the awakened.

The farmer channels water to his land.
The fletcher whittles his arrows.
And the carpenter turns his wood.
So the wise direct their minds.

-The Buddha

Hot or Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:38:00 +0000

I've been here for two weeks and already, it's been too long. Our Fort Lewis hosts have set us up in what our bus driver calls "The Historic District." The white washed World War II era open bay barracks stand in stark contrast to the modern stone condos of the local Soldiers one block away. Using the sinks here is a bit frustrating. We have two choices: scalding hot or freezing cold, with nothing in between.

This is certainly not the worst place I've stayed with the Army. There was that shelter half during basic, setup on a frozen Kentucky valley floor. The shivering kept me up all night. The food isn't the worst I've had. The T rations in Hohenfels forced many of us to stop eating at the chow hall for days at a time.

The point is, it's not the worst place, but I've heard it from several poeple so far. They just want to get out of here and on to Iraq.

Last Wild Game for a Year

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:26:00 +0000

3-0 Wild! Gotta love it!

Vancouver 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:14:00 +0000

Iraq 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:01:00 +0000

Strange New Places

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:56:00 +0000

One 12 hour flight later, here we are in Kuwait. Now, what to do... I've got it! I'll expand my knowledge of the rich and diverse Kuwaiti culture by sampling the local cuisine!

"Yeah, I'll take a Big Mac, large order of fries and a Coke."

Looking for the Pony

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:22:00 +0000

So the story goes:

A father had two sons who were night and day in their attitudes. One complained, and was pessimistic about life while the other was optimistic, cheery and found happiness in everything he did.

One morning, the father decided to give his sons something different for the holidays. The first son came downstairs to find under the tree every present he had ever asked for. Sadly, the son muttered, "If I play with them they'd probably break."

Hearing his brother, the second son ran down stairs to find his present, a huge pile of manure. He was off, sprinting through the house and yard looking through closets and cabinets, giggling the whole way. When his father caught up to him he asked, "Son, what are you doing? What are you looking for?"

Hardly able to contain his excitement, the son smiled and answered, "With a pile of manure that big, there has to be a pony around here somewhere!"

It is with that attitude, after enduring the last the last week of lines to nowhere, lack of common sense, and overall... manure, that I think, "Where is that damned pony?"

Her name, was Marcella...

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:22:00 +0000

She's a sassy Italian... and, for a time, it was good. (Queue the violin) Alas, as quickly as she entered my life, she'll soon leave, only to return to whence she came, the cold, dark and lonely CRC arms room. *snif* (Fade to black)

Nunchuck Skills, Video Skills...

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:48:00 +0000

It has been a long day full of drawn-out briefings. As we say in the Army, "Death by PowerPoint." The only break in the monotony is the occasional "motivational video." They are kind of mind-numbing slop that makes you want to find every person who slapped together a Toby Keith based slideshow and shake them while screaming "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!" ...nice weather though.

More of the Same

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:55:00 +0000

To all of my MPAD Falcon friends, you'll be happy to know that Fort Benning CRC hasn't changed a bit. Same everything. Yesterday I stood in line for an hour in order to find out that I didn't need to be in the line.

Good times...

Welcome to Fort Benning!

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:38:00 +0000

"Home of the Infantry, Follow Me!" That's what I was expecting to hear when we came here. It's usually barked out by the gate guards as you enter the base and as corny as it sounds, it gives me a warm fuzzy. This time, nothing. I had my camera out and everything. The battalion Command Sergeant Major mentioned that they will soon be changing from "Home of the Infantry" to "Maneuver Center of Excellence." Lame. Thankfully my Basic Training alma mater, Fort Knox, is still "The Home of Armor!" Wait a sec. What's this US Army Armor Center crap? Center? Really?

iPod Vending Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:43:00 +0000

I wonder how many nickels I would need for a new iPod...

And her name was...

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:29:00 +0000

So far the suggestion box has had some good names. Any more ideas?

Steyr AUG

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:20:00 +0000

I haven't been to the range in awhile so we decided to head over to
Bill's. Today's rental was the Austrian Army's Steyr AUG. Sweet...

VOTE!

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:52:00 +0000

I just sent my absentee ballot in. It's kinda nice that the decision was so easy this year.This cool little photo was taken by a friend in Iraq as part of the campaign to rock the absentee vote.

1st ID Goes Pop

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:22:00 +0000

The U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division has gone where no other has, Sears. I guess we now know what everyone at Fort Riley will be wearing this year.

The next phase of the Army's commercial campaign has replaced the familiar star logo with the shoulder sleeve insignia of The Big Red One.

As soon as I saw this display the first thing I thought was when, if ever, will this kind of attention be shown to the units that have historically and are currently playing a critical role, The National Guard. I am bias on this one but, the Red Bull looks much better on on a t-shirt. That being said, I agree with Delobius, we need some more fashionable gear added to the Red Bull line. We need some jerseys, hoodies and headgear (hats) with more than the "paste your logo here" look we have going now. Does anyone know a designer?

I see you...

noreply@blogger.com (Prometheus) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Now this is what I need for my M4.