Entry # 61: July 20, 2006

Camp Buehring, Kuwait (Somewhere near the Iraq border)

Well, I suppose it’s time to move along. After eight long, god-awful months spent stagnating in the desert of Kuwait, it’s showtime. They’re sending in the back-up kicker. Our brigade has been called up to Baghdad to help quell the sectarian violence that has spiked in the past couple of months. Maybe I should rephrase that. Our brigade and company has always had Soldiers up north from Tikrit to Ramadi to Baghdad, albeit in a role under someone else’s command. This time, our brigade headquarters will control 3-4 task forces in a sector of mixed Shia and Sunni neighborhoods in Baghdad. Can’t tell you what I’m gonna be doing, because frankly, I don’t know yet. And I probably can’t tell ya even if I did know, so there you have it. All I know is, beware Baghdad, no more passive intel for me. Time to reach out and touch somebody (it’s an old Sniper saying, figure it out).

So while we’re packing and getting our gear ready to finally join the fight, we sent Shawn (well, now it’s CPT Fitzgerald, but I just call him Sir Douchebag) up north to recon our new post, ask key questions and basically prepare for the rest of us to arrive. In the meantime, I’m down here consolidating our gear and personnel and helping out our new commander, CPT Roppoli, still get acclimated. He’s in a tough position. Welcome to the desert, take command of your company, head up north and go fight. This happened all in less than a week. CPT Roppoli has barely had time to remember everyone’s name, but he knows intel. With our First Sergeant taking care of the Soldiers, I’ve barely left CPT Roppoli’s right side helping him prepare us for whatever awaits.

Shawn’s departure could not have come at a better time for CPT Roppoli. The night Shawn left, CPT Roppoli’s AC unit in his room died. This is not a good thing in the desert, just in case you didn’t know. So, without further ado, introducing my latest roommate, my new commander. I guess there’s no better way to get to know someone than to live with them for a while. I hope he can stand me. If I lay off the Texas Pete for a while, CPT Roppoli just might make it through this. Well, my bags are packed, I’m ready to go, but this time I’m leaving on a C-130. Hooah. And so the Soldier’s life continues…