I have put together a small collection of my Iraq photos into a short photo essay on the JPG Magazine site. If enough viewers vote for it, it will be included in the print version of the magazine (hint).
http://jpgmag.com/stories/165
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
New article on the Minnesota National Guard website
There is a new article about my trip on the Minnesota National Guard website today.
Thanks to author CPL Joe Roos, for his characterization of my work as "some of the best photos that have been captured of Minnesota National Guard Soldiers in action in Iraq."
There is also a small collection of my photos in a new gallery on the site.
Thanks to author CPL Joe Roos, for his characterization of my work as "some of the best photos that have been captured of Minnesota National Guard Soldiers in action in Iraq."
There is also a small collection of my photos in a new gallery on the site.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Podcasts
I've started a (probably temporary) podcast of audio from Iraq. The first 5 episodes are live radio call-in shows that I did from Iraq to WTIP North Shore Public Radio in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
These podcast episodes should show up in the iTunes store shortly (just search for "eric in iraq"), but in the mean time you can download them directly here: http://ericiniraq.podbean.com/
These podcast episodes should show up in the iTunes store shortly (just search for "eric in iraq"), but in the mean time you can download them directly here: http://ericiniraq.podbean.com/
Monday, February 26, 2007
All photos uploaded
I have completed uploading all my photos from Iraq (all the good ones). You can search through all 732 of them here:
http://photos.scrappydog.com/Military/288386
http://photos.scrappydog.com/Military/288386
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Cross-country skiing in Iraq
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - The American Birkebeiner cross-country ski race was held in Hayward, Wisconsin yesterday, and two Minnesota National Guard solders competed from Iraq (I'm not making this up).
Here is a link to the story on SkinnySki.Com: http://skinnyski.com/racing/display.asp?Id=7884
For readers that don't know me personally: I used to be a serious cross-country ski racer and was once a member of the US junior national biathlon team myself, and I have also competed in "the Birkie" several times.
Here is a link to the story on SkinnySki.Com: http://skinnyski.com/racing/display.asp?Id=7884
For readers that don't know me personally: I used to be a serious cross-country ski racer and was once a member of the US junior national biathlon team myself, and I have also competed in "the Birkie" several times.
High praise from the US Marine Corps
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - One of the recurring themes of my conversations with senior Army and Marine Corps leaders in Iraq was effusive praise for Bravo Company 2/136 in particular, and the Minnesota Army National Guard in general. The following two video clips are senior Marine Corps commanders that were willing to speak on camera about the job that the Minnesota troops have done.
Major General Zilmer the commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), with over 40,000 Marines and all of Western Iraq under his command for the past year. It seemed noteworthy to me that he was even aware that 200 Army soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard were under his command, but he had more to say than that:
Colonel Bristol the commander of the II MEF (FWD) Headquarters Group, was Bravo Company's direct commander on Camp Fallujah, as well as being essentially the mayor of Camp Fallujah, a city of over 10,000 American's in a very hostile neighborhood. Colonel Bristol personally participated on many Bravo Company missions in the past 6 months, and he got to know many of the men in Bravo Company personally:
Major General Zilmer the commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), with over 40,000 Marines and all of Western Iraq under his command for the past year. It seemed noteworthy to me that he was even aware that 200 Army soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard were under his command, but he had more to say than that:
Colonel Bristol the commander of the II MEF (FWD) Headquarters Group, was Bravo Company's direct commander on Camp Fallujah, as well as being essentially the mayor of Camp Fallujah, a city of over 10,000 American's in a very hostile neighborhood. Colonel Bristol personally participated on many Bravo Company missions in the past 6 months, and he got to know many of the men in Bravo Company personally:
Trained killers or police officers?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - I've received several questions in response to the "Blue Bongo Battle" story about the goals of American soldiers in Iraq. Apparently, some people read the story and came away with the impression that the primary goal of the coalition forces in Iraq is to kill insurgents.
I can say from multiple first hand experiences while in Iraq that American soldiers genuinely view and actively train for deadly force as a last resort. Every time soldiers head outside the wire there is a mission briefing, and every mission briefing starts with a review of the rules of engagement. The rules of engagement are an explicit set of standards for how and when force may be used. A soldier must of have clear justification to fire his weapon.
Every soldier carries plastic "flex cuff" handcuffs, and in the past six months Bravo Company soldiers have captured twice as many insurgents as they have killed. Soldiers may not fire unless they are directly threatened. For instance they aren't allowed to shoot somebody just because they are holding a weapon, the weapon would have to be pointed at a soldier first. The standards seem pretty much the same as those that police officers in the US operate under.
Car bombs are a serious threat in Iraq, but there is a clear chain of escalation of force for stopping a suspicious vehicle:
1. Wave an orange flag or flashlight.
2. Fire a flare or orange chalk grenade.
3. Fire tracer bullets into the road in front of the vehicle.
4. Fire into the engine and wheels to disable the vehicle.
5. Fire at the driver.
I saw this happen multiple times, and it never got past step 2.
It is also important to note that a captured insurgent may reveal the names of other insurgents, or the locations of weapons caches. A dead insurgent doesn't talk. Soldiers understand this, and recognize that actionable intelligence is much more likely to save their life in the future than one more dead insurgent.
I can say from multiple first hand experiences while in Iraq that American soldiers genuinely view and actively train for deadly force as a last resort. Every time soldiers head outside the wire there is a mission briefing, and every mission briefing starts with a review of the rules of engagement. The rules of engagement are an explicit set of standards for how and when force may be used. A soldier must of have clear justification to fire his weapon.
Every soldier carries plastic "flex cuff" handcuffs, and in the past six months Bravo Company soldiers have captured twice as many insurgents as they have killed. Soldiers may not fire unless they are directly threatened. For instance they aren't allowed to shoot somebody just because they are holding a weapon, the weapon would have to be pointed at a soldier first. The standards seem pretty much the same as those that police officers in the US operate under.
Car bombs are a serious threat in Iraq, but there is a clear chain of escalation of force for stopping a suspicious vehicle:
1. Wave an orange flag or flashlight.
2. Fire a flare or orange chalk grenade.
3. Fire tracer bullets into the road in front of the vehicle.
4. Fire into the engine and wheels to disable the vehicle.
5. Fire at the driver.
I saw this happen multiple times, and it never got past step 2.
It is also important to note that a captured insurgent may reveal the names of other insurgents, or the locations of weapons caches. A dead insurgent doesn't talk. Soldiers understand this, and recognize that actionable intelligence is much more likely to save their life in the future than one more dead insurgent.
Bravo Company article in US Cavalry ON Point
Andrew Lubin outside the chow hall on Camp Fallujah, February 2007.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - During my two weeks in Iraq with Bravo Company 2/136, I got to know a number of other journalists including Andrew Lubin, an ex-Marine, author, and commentator, who has written extensively on the the Marine Corps in Iraq.
Mr. Lubin took a little time off from his Marines, and spent several days with Bravo Company 2/136 during the the Blue Bango mission that I have written about previously. Here is a link to a new article from Mr Lubin about the Blue Bongo mission published on the US Cavalry ON Point website:
http://uscavonpoint.com/articles2/Article.aspx?id=1756
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Fallujah Portraits
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - I took a whole series of reference photos in Iraq that were never intended for publication, but when I started looking at them, they were just too powerful not to share.
Part of my workflow is to have people I photograph fill out a numbered "shot card" which includes their name and other personal information. I have them hold the card up next to their face, and then take a snapshot so that I have a photo to tie their face to the number so that I can keep track of who's who, and hopefully get everyone's name spelled correctly.
The interesting thing about telling somebody that you are just taking a picture for your records and asking them to hold up the card is that they relax. This collection of photos is some of the most true to life portraits I've ever taken.
Here is a link to the complete collection: http://ericbowen.smugmug.com/gallery/2489071#131661532
Friday, February 23, 2007
Change shortage in Iraq and Kuwait
The change in my pocket when I arrived home from Iraq & Kuwait.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - In Iraq and Kuwait there is a shortage of US coins, and so AAFES (the Army & Air Force Exchange Service), has taken to issuing it's own US currency, in the form of "gift certificates".
When you make a purchase of at the PX, or McDonalds, or Green Bean Coffee, or any other entity on a US military installation that accepts cash, you get these paper coins as change. They are printed on a heavy gloss card stock, and are about the size of a US fifty cent piece.
Occasionally, you get real US coins as change, but it's pretty rare. I would be curious to know how much of this "money" AAFES is printing, and what percentage of it disappears into the lint screens of the industrial dryers of the Army bulk laundry system.
The coins have a large number on one side, and a photograph on the other. There seem to be a lot of different versions. In the photo above there is a dime with Richard Nixon and a nickel with Chuck Yeager, as well as other more modern images with military themes. I wonder if there will be any coin collector interest in these?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Marine Corps Public Affairs Office in Camp Fallujah
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - The following article came up on my Google Alert for "Fallujah" today:
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/6F26104BCD05B1618525728A001C5FC4?opendocument
I thought it would be interesting to highlight this article, since I never really mentioned the Public Affairs infrastructure at Camp Fallujah in posts while I was there.
There are eight Marines working full time in the II MEF (FWD) Public Affairs Office on Camp Fallujah. Their responsibilities include publishing articles like the one above as well as assisting visiting journalists with details like transportation, housing, and communications.
SGT Jackson, the photographer and author of the article above was responsible for getting my satellite feed to KSTP working every night, despite only having been in Iraq a few days, and working with unfamiliar equipment. The rest of II MEF PAO office was equally helpful. Thanks to all!
A few public notes (since I don't have any of your email addresses):
2LT Hollenbeck: Thanks to your travel planning, I made it from Fallujah to Kuwait in 11.5 hours. Thanks!
SGT Jackson: I'm glad to see you are getting outside the wire. Keep up the good work. I'll be watching for the first Robert Capa photo.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/6F26104BCD05B1618525728A001C5FC4?opendocument
I thought it would be interesting to highlight this article, since I never really mentioned the Public Affairs infrastructure at Camp Fallujah in posts while I was there.
There are eight Marines working full time in the II MEF (FWD) Public Affairs Office on Camp Fallujah. Their responsibilities include publishing articles like the one above as well as assisting visiting journalists with details like transportation, housing, and communications.
SGT Jackson, the photographer and author of the article above was responsible for getting my satellite feed to KSTP working every night, despite only having been in Iraq a few days, and working with unfamiliar equipment. The rest of II MEF PAO office was equally helpful. Thanks to all!
A few public notes (since I don't have any of your email addresses):
2LT Hollenbeck: Thanks to your travel planning, I made it from Fallujah to Kuwait in 11.5 hours. Thanks!
SGT Jackson: I'm glad to see you are getting outside the wire. Keep up the good work. I'll be watching for the first Robert Capa photo.
400 additional photos uploaded
I have uploaded all the photos from days 1-4 in Fallujah. It's a lot of pictures the wade through, but hopefully fun if you are looking for somebody you know.
Here is the link to the new "complete" galleries: http://photos.scrappydog.com/Military/288386
I will be uploading another 500 pictures over the next few days.
Here is the link to the new "complete" galleries: http://photos.scrappydog.com/Military/288386
I will be uploading another 500 pictures over the next few days.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The Battle of Pump House Flanders, August 12th 2006
On August 12th 2006, 10 soldiers from Bravo Company 2/136 Infantry, 34th Brigade Combat Team, fought one of the most significant and decisive battles that Minnesota National Guard soldiers have fought in the Iraq War to date.
The Bravo Company soldiers were manning defensive positions at Pump House Flanders, a Combat Outpost that protects one of the two water pumps that supplies water from a canal fed by the Euphrates to the US base at Camp Fallujah.
Up to 35 insurgents riding in two fortified dump trucks, and supported by mortars, rocket propelled grenades, and machine guns launched a surprise attack after having approached to within 20 meters of the perimeter. 38 minutes later the fight was over, and 1 Bravo Company soldier was seriously wounded, and more than 20 insurgents were dead.
The following video clip show Captain Chip Rankin, the Bravo Company commander, standing on the wall of the Pump House, giving an account of the fight (recorded in February 2007):
The Bravo Company soldiers were manning defensive positions at Pump House Flanders, a Combat Outpost that protects one of the two water pumps that supplies water from a canal fed by the Euphrates to the US base at Camp Fallujah.
Up to 35 insurgents riding in two fortified dump trucks, and supported by mortars, rocket propelled grenades, and machine guns launched a surprise attack after having approached to within 20 meters of the perimeter. 38 minutes later the fight was over, and 1 Bravo Company soldier was seriously wounded, and more than 20 insurgents were dead.
The following video clip show Captain Chip Rankin, the Bravo Company commander, standing on the wall of the Pump House, giving an account of the fight (recorded in February 2007):
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins
FALLUJAH, ANBAR, IRAQ - An Army runs on it's stomach, and one Bravo Company soldier apparently runs exclusively on Otis Spunkmeyer Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins.
SPC Brian "Bootcamp" Micheletti, of Gilbert Minnesota, poses with one of his favorite muffins.
A short interview with SPC Micheletti, discussing his favorite food.
SPC Brian "Bootcamp" Micheletti, of Gilbert Minnesota, poses with one of his favorite muffins.
A short interview with SPC Micheletti, discussing his favorite food.
The innocence of children...
FALLUJAH, ANBAR, IRAQ - One of the things that I have the found most striking during several weeks in Iraq is the children. The young children in particular are oblivious to the war around them. They don't know or care whether they are Sunni or Shia. They don't know whether or not their father is an insurgent. They view American soldiers (and reporters dressed like American soldiers) with curiosity and openness not fear.
Older children are more aware of what is going on around them, but they still don't grasp the gravity of the situation. They tend to see American soldiers as some odd blend of Santa Claus and dim witted uncles. They run up to you any time you stop calling "Mista, mista! Chocolat? Pen? Futball?" If you don't give them anything I have heard some reports of rude gestures or even thrown rocks, but this was definitely not my experience. Instead they would adopt a sort of hurt puppy face, and following you around, cataloging the other possessions that you might be willing to give them.
Numerous children asked to see my watch (a Tag-Heuer given to me by wife as a wedding present), and then asked me to give it to them. One boy in his early teens asked me to give him one of my cameras. When I said no he said he could give me money for the camera. I said no before we got to discussing what he would consider a fair price for a Nikon D200 and telephoto lens.
The camera boy left, and I thought I had seen the last of him, but a few minutes later he reappeared carrying a rabbit by the ears. He wanted to trade the rabbit for my camera. This attracted the attention of one of the soldiers I was patrolling with, and between the three of us we were able to determine that the rabbit had a name, and that it was probably the boy's pet. The most interesting part of this whole exchange was the perceived value of a rabbit to a young boy growing up in a small impoverished village outside Fallujah.
Several days later while visiting the local water plant, I met a boy of about 10 named Whalid. I know his name because he came up to me and proudly introduced himself, and wanted to know my name. I tried to ask Whalid his age, but I couldn't get the point across. We were however able to determine that Whalid could count to ten in English. I thought that this was a worthy accomplishment, and I rewarded it with pen.
Whalid, in the black and white striped shirt, wins the lottery with a new soccer ball, and can of soda. Courtesy of they US Marine Corps.
Generally, the children would stick together in groups, but occasionally one of them would approach us on his own (boys only). The most memorable of these was "sling shot boy". On this occasion there was a group of about ten older boys who were watching us from a little distance. They were doing the usual "Mista, Mista!" routine, but they weren't coming forward to interact with us. This was a little unusual, and I'm guessing that they had very specific orders from some village elder to keep their distance, because we were meeting with the sheik.
Slingshot boy was probably only five or six, I'm guessing that one of the men we were talking to was his father, and so he felt much more comfortable to come forward and interact with us. He might have been a little too young to have learned the whole "Mista, Mista" routine, because he didn't ask for anything, he just wanted to quietly see what we were doing. He was rewarded for his politeness with a spinning top, and his first Pop-Tart.
Children also serve to bridge the gap between adults in this war. I was standing near three Iraqi men in their 20's and 30's while I was taking pictures of Slingshot Boy. They weren't openly hostile, but they definitely weren't being particularly friendly either. It's a safe bet that in this part of Anbar province, a strongly Sunni tribal area, that one of these men was probably an insurgent, and they were probably all at least somewhat sympathetic to the insurgents, if not openly supportive.
We were all enjoying watching Slingshot Boy's excitement at his first bite of a PopTart, and I had a flash of inspiration and pulled out a picture of my family to show the Iraqi men. I quickly had a cluster of cheerful Iraq men all gathered around to check out the picture.
This exchange of a picture led to a ten minute conversation carried out in very broken English and makeshift sign language with multiple pictures and maps scratched in the dirt. From this we were able to determine that all of us were married, and all of us had children. I assured them that I was not from New York or California, and drew a map of the United States to show where Minnesota was. Yes, this was a television camera, but I was not from the BBC. The fact that one of my cameras was worth more that $3,000 US was fairly staggering.
The day started with mistrust, and ended with friendship, all because of children. I'm left with some new found hope that there is always common ground to be found between people even in situations as divisive as the Iraq War. Hopefully these men will think twice about planting an IED along the roads leading to Camp Fallujah, or even better will be willing to call the hotline to report one.
Ordering Prints (frequently asked questions)
Now that I'm back in the US, I am in process of uploading about a 1,000 full sized original photos from the trip that will all be available for printing (this includes more than 800 new pictures that nobody has seen yet!) It may take a couple days to get them all uploaded...
Frequently asked questions:
1. How much are you charging for prints?
4x6 $5.00
5x7 $7.00
8x10 $15.00
8x12 $15.00 (I would highly recommend printing 8x12 instead of 8x10, because it shows the whole image.)
11x14 $20.00
4 x wallets $5.00
There are also many other products available from coffee mugs to t-shirts. Click the "buy: this photo" button above a picture to add a picture to your shopping cart and see all the products and prices.
2. What about poster size enlargements?
Many of the pictures I took should print fairly well up to 20x30 (poster size), if you are interested in ordering 12x18 ($30.00) or 20x30 ($50.00) please contact me by email (eric.bowen(at)gmail.com), and I will handle the order personally.
3. Why are you charging so much/so little for prints?
This project is a personally funded, money loosing labor of love. Selling prints is one way to help recover some of the costs. My goal is to strike a balance between affordability for family members and meaningful income to support the project.
4. I would love to get some prints of my family member, but I really can't afford the prices?
I realize that this deployment is a severe financial hardship for some guard families, and if you legitimately can't afford the prices send me an email, and we'll arrange a scholarship to get you some free photos of your family member.
5. What if I order a lot of prints? Can I get a discount?
Contact me directly, and I would be happy to discuss your circumstances?
6. I'm uncomfortable shopping online with a credit card, can I send you a check?
Send me an email with the details of what you would like to order, and I would be happy to try to accommodate you.
7. Print guarantee. What if I'm not happy with the prints I ordered?
SmugMug, the company that hosts my photo website, and processes print orders provides an unconditional guaranty of all print orders:
"If you are unhappy with your prints or gifts, SmugMug will reprint or refund your order, whichever you prefer. Simply send email to help@smugmug.com within 30 days of receiving your order."
Frequently asked questions:
1. How much are you charging for prints?
4x6 $5.00
5x7 $7.00
8x10 $15.00
8x12 $15.00 (I would highly recommend printing 8x12 instead of 8x10, because it shows the whole image.)
11x14 $20.00
4 x wallets $5.00
There are also many other products available from coffee mugs to t-shirts. Click the "buy: this photo" button above a picture to add a picture to your shopping cart and see all the products and prices.
2. What about poster size enlargements?
Many of the pictures I took should print fairly well up to 20x30 (poster size), if you are interested in ordering 12x18 ($30.00) or 20x30 ($50.00) please contact me by email (eric.bowen(at)gmail.com), and I will handle the order personally.
3. Why are you charging so much/so little for prints?
This project is a personally funded, money loosing labor of love. Selling prints is one way to help recover some of the costs. My goal is to strike a balance between affordability for family members and meaningful income to support the project.
4. I would love to get some prints of my family member, but I really can't afford the prices?
I realize that this deployment is a severe financial hardship for some guard families, and if you legitimately can't afford the prices send me an email, and we'll arrange a scholarship to get you some free photos of your family member.
5. What if I order a lot of prints? Can I get a discount?
Contact me directly, and I would be happy to discuss your circumstances?
6. I'm uncomfortable shopping online with a credit card, can I send you a check?
Send me an email with the details of what you would like to order, and I would be happy to try to accommodate you.
7. Print guarantee. What if I'm not happy with the prints I ordered?
SmugMug, the company that hosts my photo website, and processes print orders provides an unconditional guaranty of all print orders:
"If you are unhappy with your prints or gifts, SmugMug will reprint or refund your order, whichever you prefer. Simply send email to help@smugmug.com within 30 days of receiving your order."
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Eric Home in MN Safe and Sound
Eric returned on Monday afternoon. He is doing great. I know he has many more stories to post and hundreds of images to upload. Our 1 and 3 year old are initiating him in their own "embed" program which is keeping him pretty busy at home but I am sure they will give him a break soon so he can get back to you!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Cartoonist Embed
I'm sitting with my new friend Chris Muir, at Caribou Coffee in the Kuwait City International Airport. I haven't mentioned Chris before, but he was on my flight from Amsterdam to Kuwait, and he was one of the other three journalists that I travelled to Baghdad with on the way in to Iraq two weeks ago.
This morning I ran into Chris again in Kuwait, and it turns out he is on my same flight from Kuwait to Amsterdam again. Small world. We have been taking turns watching each others bags in the airport, and generally hanging out. It's always nice see a familiar face.
Chris is a cartoonist, and he just spent a week in Mosul on an embed to get material for his comic strip (and you thought I was crazy). At any rate I thought I would pass along the link to his website so you can check out his comic strip. He doesn't have any Iraq themed strips yet, but I'm sure he will soon.
Day by Day, by Chris Muir: http://daybydaycartoon.com/
UPDATE: I've also added Chris' comic strip to the bottom of this page (it will update daily).
UPDATE II (March 8th): Chris has a humorous travelogue posted on The Fourth Rail today. For those that aren't familiar with it, Bill Roggio's Fourth Rail is definitely the most comprehensive and credible independent source of daily news on the wars in Iraq and Afganistan that I am aware of.
This morning I ran into Chris again in Kuwait, and it turns out he is on my same flight from Kuwait to Amsterdam again. Small world. We have been taking turns watching each others bags in the airport, and generally hanging out. It's always nice see a familiar face.
Chris is a cartoonist, and he just spent a week in Mosul on an embed to get material for his comic strip (and you thought I was crazy). At any rate I thought I would pass along the link to his website so you can check out his comic strip. He doesn't have any Iraq themed strips yet, but I'm sure he will soon.
Day by Day, by Chris Muir: http://daybydaycartoon.com/
UPDATE: I've also added Chris' comic strip to the bottom of this page (it will update daily).
UPDATE II (March 8th): Chris has a humorous travelogue posted on The Fourth Rail today. For those that aren't familiar with it, Bill Roggio's Fourth Rail is definitely the most comprehensive and credible independent source of daily news on the wars in Iraq and Afganistan that I am aware of.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Ice Cream
I ate dinner with 1LT Bromgren, SSG Jones and a few others from Bravo Company 1st platoon the other night at the DEFAC on Camp Fallujah. I had just been out on a patrol with SSG Jones that morning.
I was getting ready to get up from the table when 1LT Blomgren said, "Aren't you going to have ice cream?"
"No", I responded.
"We ALWAYS have ice cream."
Noncommittal grunt from me.
"This could be the last night you ever have ice cream..."
"Good point. I'm in."
We both had mint chocolate chip, and it was great.
I had ice cream again tonight at the McDonalds here in Kuwait... you never know if it's going to be your last ice cream.
I was getting ready to get up from the table when 1LT Blomgren said, "Aren't you going to have ice cream?"
"No", I responded.
"We ALWAYS have ice cream."
Noncommittal grunt from me.
"This could be the last night you ever have ice cream..."
"Good point. I'm in."
We both had mint chocolate chip, and it was great.
I had ice cream again tonight at the McDonalds here in Kuwait... you never know if it's going to be your last ice cream.
Little things I find surprising
I arrived in Kuwait a few hours ago, and although I've only been gone for a week and half, my perspective has still changed.
It's evening here, and I just saw a helicopter fly over with it's lights ON! In Iraq most routine helicopter flights take place at night, and all helicopters totally blacked out at night to make it harder for insurgents to shoot at them.
I took a shower, and put on clean civilian clothes for the first time in 10 days (I've been living in a nomex flight suit). It felt good, but foreign. It's a little uncomfortable to not have ten pockets with every thing you could possibly need in easy reach. Where do I up my sat phone and my spare camera batteries?
There are no armed Ugandan guards in front of the PX or the chow hall here. This saves the multiple times daily debate I've been having with various Ugandan guards about where I am, or am not, authorized to enter without a military escort (chow hall: OK, Multi-National Forces West Headquarters: NOGO).
It's evening here, and I just saw a helicopter fly over with it's lights ON! In Iraq most routine helicopter flights take place at night, and all helicopters totally blacked out at night to make it harder for insurgents to shoot at them.
I took a shower, and put on clean civilian clothes for the first time in 10 days (I've been living in a nomex flight suit). It felt good, but foreign. It's a little uncomfortable to not have ten pockets with every thing you could possibly need in easy reach. Where do I up my sat phone and my spare camera batteries?
There are no armed Ugandan guards in front of the PX or the chow hall here. This saves the multiple times daily debate I've been having with various Ugandan guards about where I am, or am not, authorized to enter without a military escort (chow hall: OK, Multi-National Forces West Headquarters: NOGO).
The Mechanics
SSG Hausauer and SGT Resindez of Bravo Company maintenance section, lift a new Bradley transmission controller into place.
FALLUJAH, ANBAR, IRAQ - Normally, mechanics at the company level are just responsible for basic servicing: oil, tires, light repairs, basic stuff. For anything serious, they just pass it on up the chain to the next higher level of maintenance.
The vehicle's operator is responsible for first level maintenance: known as Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS). This basically means checking the oil, and making sure the lights work.
Company level maintenance is second level and the next level is the battalion, or "third shop" as it colloquially known in the Army. There are additional levels beyond the third shop, ending at "depot level" maintenance. This same scheme applies to all Army equipment, such as radios and weapons, not just vehicles.
Bravo Company is technically part of the larger 2nd Battalion 136th Infantry, but the rest of the battalion is located on another base several hours away on the other side of Fallujah. And so practically Bravo Company has been on it's own as far as it's normal maintenance chain. Fortunately, Camp Fallujah is a major Marine Corps headquarters, and there are higher level Marine Corps maintenance units available to help out the Bravo mechanics.
However, according to SSG Hausauer, a Bravo Company mechanic, the third shop on Camp Fallujah was so slow, that after the first month they just started doing higher level maintenance themselves. They ordered additional tools and manuals, and started teaching themselves how to do things.
The Bravo Company mechanics were trained as Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanics, and didn't have any previous experience working on HMMV's, but they dug in and figured it out. Over time they worked their way up to doing most major HMMV maintenance themselves including replacing engines. SGT Resindez the chief troubleshooter, figuring out many of the new problems as they came along.
The Marines don't use the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and so there weren't any other Bradley mechanics on Camp Fallujah to turn to. The Bravo Company mechanics started figuring out the high level maintenance tasks on this vehicle as well, including pulling turrets.
Every several weeks the mechanics have had to go "outside the wire" with their tracked tank retriever, to recover vehicles that had broken down, or been damaged by IED's. Normally when they head out to do a recovery they have a security element provided by the Camp Fallujah Quick Reaction Force (QRF), which is staffed 24 hours a day by Bravo Company soldiers.
Trips outside the wire to recover battle damaged vehicles are real combat missions into hostile areas, and the mechanics have to be prepared. In addition Camp Fallujah experienced frequent indirect fire attacks (mortars and rockets) during the first 9 months that Bravo Company was there. Including having mortar shells land right outside the motor pool.
During the Iraq summer with temperatures climbing to over 120 degrees, and the Bravo Company mechanics experimented with working nights, in an effort to stay cooler. Unfortunately, the Marines were only working days, and they couldn't get parts or deal with issued that required help from the Marines at night, and so they ended up continuing to work days in the scorching heat.
With the pending move to TQ, it is unclear what the Bravo Company mechanics will be responsible for, during the final four months of their extended tour.
Bringing the interpreters home
Max the interpreter, with his back to the camera, questions a villager.
Here is a great article from ABC about bringing Iraq interpreters back to the United States:
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2876354&page=1
Incoming
BALAD (AKA: "ANACONDA"), IRAQ - Disembodied voice, closely followed by two distant explosions, "Take cover. Take cover. We are receiving an indirect fire attack." I've been here for 4 hours, and this is the second time I have heard this announcement. A few of my fellow passengers pick up their body armor, and jog to the nearest bunker, but most don't even seem to notice.
I put on my body armor, and taking note of the lack of a general sense of urgency around me, I wander outside to check out the scene. There is a small cluster of transients gathered nervously inside the entrance of the nearest bunker, but the local civilian employees are still chatting in the smoking area. Protected from incoming mortar rounds apparently, by cigarette smoke and laissez fair.
I'm at the Balad fixed wing passenger terminal (AKA: "The PAX Terminal") waiting for a flight to Kuwait. In this case "terminal" describes a group of long green Army tents with plywood floors, and sandbag walls. There are three tents that I've gotten to know over the past few hours.
The first tent is the ticket counter, where three KBR employees stand behind desktop computers. There is a large whiteboard that lists the days flights arriving and departing for places named: BIAQ, TQ, Kuwait International, Ali Al Saleem, Mosul, and Al Asad, to name a few.
The second tent is innocuously named B-2, but it is really a never-never land of cots and sleeping soldiers, where you go to wait indefinitely in hopes that there will be space for you on a flight that is going your way. People can wait here for days, I had been told to allow at least 3 days to get from Fallujah to Kuwait.
I wait here for a few hours, and then go back to the first tent to check on my status. My first choice flight has been cancelled... There is another flight in two hours, but it doesn't have any seats. The woman tells me be back at 7:20 am to see if there are any no shows for the full flight.
At 7:30 I'm waiting at the counter in hopes of an open seat. A new shift has started since that last time I was here, and the woman working the counter seems irritated by my Press ID, and the fact that I'm making her call to check on the status of "line 10", the flight to Ali Al Saleem, Kuwait. She doesn't seem to have any desire to answer a direct question, but she takes my Press ID and tells me to go to a third tent.
Tent A-3 has lines of benches setup like a church pews, and they are full of soldiers. Outside is a small group of civilians, and a few older more senior soldiers. I join the outside group, and soon start a conversation with a middle aged Sergeant from the Tennessee National Guard who is on his way to Qatar on a 4 day pass. A Lieutenant Colonel from the Maryland National Guard joins our conversation. She is stationed in Kuwait, or "confined" as she describes it, and is returning to her unit from a "vacation" in Iraq. She has a 7 year old daughter at home, who she hasn't seen since July.
Happily, tent A-3 is the waiting area for passengers who have been manifested on the next flight. It would have been nice of the KBR lady at the counter to explain this to me. Within a few minutes a seasoned Army master sergeant begins a roll call of the flight manefest. He is on his way to R&R, and has been press ganged into the job by a KBR employee who can't seem to be bothered to do it himself.
We stack our bags on the side of the road, and a group of civilian contractors palletizes them so that they can be loaded onto the aircraft in one forklift friendly bundle. Then we board busses to the flight line, and proceed to pack 72 humans into a C130 bound for Kuwait. The seats are just as uncomfortable as last time, but I'm on my way home.
I put on my body armor, and taking note of the lack of a general sense of urgency around me, I wander outside to check out the scene. There is a small cluster of transients gathered nervously inside the entrance of the nearest bunker, but the local civilian employees are still chatting in the smoking area. Protected from incoming mortar rounds apparently, by cigarette smoke and laissez fair.
I'm at the Balad fixed wing passenger terminal (AKA: "The PAX Terminal") waiting for a flight to Kuwait. In this case "terminal" describes a group of long green Army tents with plywood floors, and sandbag walls. There are three tents that I've gotten to know over the past few hours.
The first tent is the ticket counter, where three KBR employees stand behind desktop computers. There is a large whiteboard that lists the days flights arriving and departing for places named: BIAQ, TQ, Kuwait International, Ali Al Saleem, Mosul, and Al Asad, to name a few.
The second tent is innocuously named B-2, but it is really a never-never land of cots and sleeping soldiers, where you go to wait indefinitely in hopes that there will be space for you on a flight that is going your way. People can wait here for days, I had been told to allow at least 3 days to get from Fallujah to Kuwait.
I wait here for a few hours, and then go back to the first tent to check on my status. My first choice flight has been cancelled... There is another flight in two hours, but it doesn't have any seats. The woman tells me be back at 7:20 am to see if there are any no shows for the full flight.
At 7:30 I'm waiting at the counter in hopes of an open seat. A new shift has started since that last time I was here, and the woman working the counter seems irritated by my Press ID, and the fact that I'm making her call to check on the status of "line 10", the flight to Ali Al Saleem, Kuwait. She doesn't seem to have any desire to answer a direct question, but she takes my Press ID and tells me to go to a third tent.
Tent A-3 has lines of benches setup like a church pews, and they are full of soldiers. Outside is a small group of civilians, and a few older more senior soldiers. I join the outside group, and soon start a conversation with a middle aged Sergeant from the Tennessee National Guard who is on his way to Qatar on a 4 day pass. A Lieutenant Colonel from the Maryland National Guard joins our conversation. She is stationed in Kuwait, or "confined" as she describes it, and is returning to her unit from a "vacation" in Iraq. She has a 7 year old daughter at home, who she hasn't seen since July.
Happily, tent A-3 is the waiting area for passengers who have been manifested on the next flight. It would have been nice of the KBR lady at the counter to explain this to me. Within a few minutes a seasoned Army master sergeant begins a roll call of the flight manefest. He is on his way to R&R, and has been press ganged into the job by a KBR employee who can't seem to be bothered to do it himself.
We stack our bags on the side of the road, and a group of civilian contractors palletizes them so that they can be loaded onto the aircraft in one forklift friendly bundle. Then we board busses to the flight line, and proceed to pack 72 humans into a C130 bound for Kuwait. The seats are just as uncomfortable as last time, but I'm on my way home.
BREAKING NEWS: Bravo Company 2/136 moving to TQ
Captain Chip Rankin briefs Bravo Company 2/136 soldiers on their impending move from Falluja to TQ.
FALLUJAH, ANBAR, IRAQ - Bravo Company 2nd Battalion 136th Infantry, 34th Brigade Combat Team, Minnesota National Guard, currently based in Fallujah, Iraq, just received the official news that it will be moving from Fallujah to "TQ". TQ is the base where to rest of the 2nd Battalion 136th Infantry is stationed.
Bravo Company has been in limbo for the past month since the surge was announced, and the entire 34th Brigade Combat Team's tour in Iraq was extended by four months. Before the surge was announced, a Marine Corps infantry battalion was scheduled to replace Bravo Company in Fallujah , and they began to arrive this week in accordance with the pre-surge planning.
With the arrival of Bravo Company's Marine Corps replacements this week there has been a debate as to how best to use Bravo Company. The Marines were expecting to take over Bravo Company's present offices, housing, motor pool, and equipment including things like crew served weapons and radios.
With two units contending for the same scarce resources, the decision was made to return Bravo Company to Army control, and let the Marines take full responsibility for the security of Camp Fallujah, which is primarily a Marine Corps base.
The mood of Bravo Company soldiers was generally positive at today's announcement. TQ has better amenities, like phone service, and recreational facilities. And the rumor mill claims that the chow hall there is better.
There has been no official announcement as to Bravo Company's mission at TQ, but the general expectation is that it will be considerably safer, not involving the sorts of offensive combat operations that the company has been engaged in around Camp Fallujah for the past 6 months.
Note: There is a photo gallery of this briefing here: http://ericbowen.smugmug.com/gallery/2481026
Friday, February 16, 2007
New photos from Fallujah - Day 8
I went out on another meet and greet patrol this morning. Captian Rankin took Colonel Stewart out to tour Pump House Faladers, and meet another minor sheik, whose village is right outside the south gate of Camp Fallujah.
I apologize for the lack of comments on these photos, as I rush get packed for my flight out this evening. Hopefully I'll have better internet access over the next few days, and I can update them.
http://ericbowen.smugmug.com/gallery/2477985
I apologize for the lack of comments on these photos, as I rush get packed for my flight out this evening. Hopefully I'll have better internet access over the next few days, and I can update them.
http://ericbowen.smugmug.com/gallery/2477985
Technical difficulties
We had heavy rain here in Iraq last night, and I wasn't able to get a good satellite connection to upload pictures (4000ms ping times and 95% packet loss for the geeks reading this).
We also had to do the television upload in a non-standard way, and apparently the audio was lost in transmission. Maybe weather related, maybe operator error...
Not to worry... we will resend everything again later today. Along with today's stuff.
Today is my last day in Fallujah, a day earlier than planned due lack of open helicopter flights tomorrow. But I still have a ton of additional photos and lots of stuff to write about, so stay tuned for the next week or two...
UPDATE: The clouds went away, and we have a sunny afternoon, and my satellite modem is working great. Moral of the story: BGAN does NOT work in rain or heavy clouds, and loves clear skies (1500ms ping times now, and 8% packet loss... MUCH happier). Photo upload in progress.
We also had to do the television upload in a non-standard way, and apparently the audio was lost in transmission. Maybe weather related, maybe operator error...
Not to worry... we will resend everything again later today. Along with today's stuff.
Today is my last day in Fallujah, a day earlier than planned due lack of open helicopter flights tomorrow. But I still have a ton of additional photos and lots of stuff to write about, so stay tuned for the next week or two...
UPDATE: The clouds went away, and we have a sunny afternoon, and my satellite modem is working great. Moral of the story: BGAN does NOT work in rain or heavy clouds, and loves clear skies (1500ms ping times now, and 8% packet loss... MUCH happier). Photo upload in progress.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Soldiers names
I have a system of index cards and mug shots to help me identify all the people in my photos, but it's not perfect, and sometime I'm in a hurry to just get something posted... That is all a 'round-about way of asking for your help:
If you know someone in a photo that I have not identified in the caption, please put their name in a comment, and I will update the caption as soon as I can.
If you know someone in a photo that I have not identified in the caption, please put their name in a comment, and I will update the caption as soon as I can.
The incessant hum...
... of generators is the one universal truth that I've found of the Iraq war. Everywhere I go in Kuwait or Iraq there is a generator running, often multiple generators. There are certainly hundreds of generators running on Camp Fallujah at any given moment, and there may even be thousands of them.
Their incessant hum blends into the background fairly quickly, except when you are shooting video, or recording audio, and then it is a nagging pain that just won't go away. If the meter on your audio isn't registering sound constantly it means something is broken, because there is no such thing a quiet here.
This morning they had to take the MWR internet center, were I was working on my email, down for an hour because they had to service the generator. Surprisingly, I've never noticed a fuel truck on Camp Fallujah. Perhaps the diesel fairy comes around every night, I'm not sure.
Their incessant hum blends into the background fairly quickly, except when you are shooting video, or recording audio, and then it is a nagging pain that just won't go away. If the meter on your audio isn't registering sound constantly it means something is broken, because there is no such thing a quiet here.
This morning they had to take the MWR internet center, were I was working on my email, down for an hour because they had to service the generator. Surprisingly, I've never noticed a fuel truck on Camp Fallujah. Perhaps the diesel fairy comes around every night, I'm not sure.
New photos from Fallujah - Day 7
I was able to spend another day outside the wire today with CPT Rankin and COL Stewart the new Marine commander of Camp Fallujah, and CPT Rankin's direct superior.
The primary purpose of our mission was to introduce COL Stewart, who has only been here in Fallujah a week, to the local Sheik and to the manager of the local water treatment plant.
The water treatment plant is currently broken, and engineers from Camp Fallujah have been working to help get it working.
http://ericbowen.smugmug.com/gallery/2474800
The primary purpose of our mission was to introduce COL Stewart, who has only been here in Fallujah a week, to the local Sheik and to the manager of the local water treatment plant.
The water treatment plant is currently broken, and engineers from Camp Fallujah have been working to help get it working.
http://ericbowen.smugmug.com/gallery/2474800
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Articles
I'm sorry that I haven't written much in the past couple of days. I'm prioritizing on shooting photos and video, and there just aren't enough hours in the day.
I have lots of stories in progress, and I should have lots of time to write next week as I work my way home "space a".
I have lots of stories in progress, and I should have lots of time to write next week as I work my way home "space a".
New photos from Fallujah - Day 6
I spent today focused on the Bravo Company headquarters platoon, including the medics, supply, commo, the arms room, and the mechanics. I did some fun video interviews with all of these groups, and hopefully you will be able to see some of them on KSTP this evening (note: all KSTP programming is available on the web the following day).
I'm working on a special in-depth profile of SGT Ruben Resendiz and his family in cooperation with the Crookston Daily Times, and so that is the reason that there are quite a few pictures of him today. More details over the next several days...
Here is the link to today's photos:
http://photos.scrappydog.com/gallery/2471724
I'm working on a special in-depth profile of SGT Ruben Resendiz and his family in cooperation with the Crookston Daily Times, and so that is the reason that there are quite a few pictures of him today. More details over the next several days...
Here is the link to today's photos:
http://photos.scrappydog.com/gallery/2471724
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
How do you define "nothing going on"?
On Monday I stopped in the First Sergeant's office to see if anything interesting was going on, and find out where I would get the most interesting stories for the day. He said that it was going to be a quiet day, and there was really "nothing going on", but why didn't I go hang out with 3rd platoon for the day.
I got to 3rd platoon's area to let them know that I would be in the area all day, and they said they were heading out in an hour, and I should get my stuff (body armor and water) if I wanted to go (that was the mission that I photographed sweeping a village for weapons).
Fairly interesting stuff for me, but so routine for Bravo Company that everyone I asked said that there was "nothing going on" today. That's because many Bravo Company soldiers have been doing this sort of thing 6 days a week for almost a year, and going out on a combat patrol is about as unusual for them as doing their laundry (actually most of them only do their laundry once a week).
I've learned that I have to ask people WHAT they are doing today, instead of whether they are doing anything I might find interesting...
I got to 3rd platoon's area to let them know that I would be in the area all day, and they said they were heading out in an hour, and I should get my stuff (body armor and water) if I wanted to go (that was the mission that I photographed sweeping a village for weapons).
Fairly interesting stuff for me, but so routine for Bravo Company that everyone I asked said that there was "nothing going on" today. That's because many Bravo Company soldiers have been doing this sort of thing 6 days a week for almost a year, and going out on a combat patrol is about as unusual for them as doing their laundry (actually most of them only do their laundry once a week).
I've learned that I have to ask people WHAT they are doing today, instead of whether they are doing anything I might find interesting...
Questions and concerns:
I've been getting a lot of email from you all over the past week, and I apologize for not having had a chance to respond to it all personally. Here are a couple of common questions:
Q: Why aren't you, or when are you going to, show other Minnesota troops besides Bravo Company.
A1: Transportation in Iraq is very slow/difficult/unperdictable (read some of my earlier posts about the trip from Kuwait to Fallujah), if I tried to visit other bases I would be spending my entire 2 weeks waiting for helicopters instead of taking pictures.
A2: I thought there was more value in focusing on just one group of soldiers, and really taking the time to get to know them in order to provide in-depth coverage that is hopefully representative of all the Minnesota Guard soldier serving in Iraq to some extent.
Q: Are you endangering soldier by tell where they are? Are you endangering a soldier's family by saying where they are from?
A1: I have very strict guidelines about what I can an cannot write about. I will never write about future operations, or operations still in progress, and I will not discuss military locations in Iraq that are not already widely known by insurgents.
A2: I believe it is very common practice to list a soldier's hometowns, it helps readers/viewers identify with the soldiers. That said, if any individual or soldiers family had a problem with their hometown being listed I would certainly remove it from my website and photos immeadiately.
Q: Why aren't you, or when are you going to, show other Minnesota troops besides Bravo Company.
A1: Transportation in Iraq is very slow/difficult/unperdictable (read some of my earlier posts about the trip from Kuwait to Fallujah), if I tried to visit other bases I would be spending my entire 2 weeks waiting for helicopters instead of taking pictures.
A2: I thought there was more value in focusing on just one group of soldiers, and really taking the time to get to know them in order to provide in-depth coverage that is hopefully representative of all the Minnesota Guard soldier serving in Iraq to some extent.
Q: Are you endangering soldier by tell where they are? Are you endangering a soldier's family by saying where they are from?
A1: I have very strict guidelines about what I can an cannot write about. I will never write about future operations, or operations still in progress, and I will not discuss military locations in Iraq that are not already widely known by insurgents.
A2: I believe it is very common practice to list a soldier's hometowns, it helps readers/viewers identify with the soldiers. That said, if any individual or soldiers family had a problem with their hometown being listed I would certainly remove it from my website and photos immeadiately.
The worst sound in Iraq...
... is a medivac helicopter. Camp Fallujah's hospital is only a few hundred meters from Bravo Company's area here on Camp Fallujah, and we've seen two medivac helicopters come in this morning (it's 8:00 am here).
To be very clear these are NOT carrying Bravo Company soldiers, or Minnesota National Guard soldiers to the best of my knowledge, and no Bravo Company soldier has been wounded in the week that I've been here, with exception of one broken ankle (a non-combat injury).
But almost everyone in Bravo Company has seen a medivac come in for one of their own at some point in the field, they know what it means. And when one flies over our area to land at the hospital you see people visibly disturbed.
KSTP coverage
Here is the link to watch my daily spots on KSTP Channel 5 News in Minneapolis:
http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S29912.shtml?cat=86
http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S29912.shtml?cat=86
Monday, February 12, 2007
Watch me on KSTP Channel 5
KSTP Channel 5 Minneapolis ran my first piece on the 10:00pm news last night. I don't know if it ran on any other Minnesota ABC stations.
For those of you that live outstate, or don't have time to sit glued to your TV, you should be able to watch the stories online at the KSTP website soon (no link yet).
For those of you that live outstate, or don't have time to sit glued to your TV, you should be able to watch the stories online at the KSTP website soon (no link yet).
4x6 prints available
I've had multiple requests for prints of the pictures I've been posting. Unfortunately, the size of the digital images I've been able upload from Iraq are too small to do enlargements, but on consideration they should print fine at 4x6.
And so 4x6 prints are now available of all the photos I'm posting from Iraq for $5.00
After I get back I will update all photos to full sized digital originals, and you will be able order prints of you soldier up to poster size 20x30.
And so 4x6 prints are now available of all the photos I'm posting from Iraq for $5.00
After I get back I will update all photos to full sized digital originals, and you will be able order prints of you soldier up to poster size 20x30.
Help bring Max the interpreter home
I think I've found one cause where we can actually make a little difference on the war here in Iraq with this little project.
Max is an 18 year old Iraqi man from Baghdad, he has been working for the coalition forces as an interpreter since he was 16 years old, first with the Marines, and for the past year with Bravo company. Max appears in several pictures I took on yesterday's patrol, in every picture his face is covered to protect his identity, and we take extreme care to make sure we don't do anything that might reveal his identity.
He has been in combat almost daily for 17 months. He wears the same uniform and carries the s
Max is an 18 year old Iraqi man from Baghdad, he has been working for the coalition forces as an interpreter since he was 16 years old, first with the Marines, and for the past year with Bravo company. Max appears in several pictures I took on yesterday's patrol, in every picture his face is covered to protect his identity, and we take extreme care to make sure we don't do anything that might reveal his identity.
He has been in combat almost daily for 17 months. He wears the same uniform and carries the s