A Well Needed Update

It is pouring outside right now, and you will note that it is 11:22 at night as I am writing this. The reason I am up so late as that I will be performing Battalion (hereafter denoted BN) CQ (charge of quarters?) until nine in the morning (I started at 6:00 pm). So, what does this entail you may ask. . . . I have to answer all phone calls, make a radio check every hour, and stay awake! It will be a long night.

Thanksgiving was not much to talk about. We actually had a BN parade that included "floats" from each of the companies. I actually was put in with task of making ours and we decided to make it a Christmas theme with the Commander (CO) as Santa. I will put up pictures when I can get them uploaded. The dining hall (DFAC) did prepare a afternoon meal that had turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. It was good enough for me, I really can't complain because food is food.

We haven't really done a whole lot since. Minor things like cleaning vehicles and going to classes about vehicles have been done. We are supposed to be going out to the field on Monday until the 15th of December but we aren't really sure how this will work. I will have to update my blog by phone if I can get a signal where we will be. So, if there aren't any updated for a while you'll know why.

I pray everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and they were able to spend time with their families. As for us down here, we just think of it as one Thanksgiving down, one to go (but the next one will be in Iraq). I am already thinking about going to Arizona for Christmas to visit my Mother and then getting back to Minnesota to visit the rest of my family because guess what?.. . . .that means that is is one Christmas/New Years down and one to go. LOL :-). And yes those will also be in Iraq the second time around. Ohhh, I will also see a second birthday in Iraq, that is kind of weird to think about. I will have turned 21 and 22 when this deployment to Iraq is all said and done.

So keep your chins up everyone, the Holidays are right around the corner and for most of you that means a break from school (finals finished of course) and for some a break from work (me). I hope all you Gusties are studying hard and keeping up the good work at school so finals can come witha little less stress.

Until next time,
Nick

The Vikes Win Again

mmmm.......this is our lunch (MRE's everyday)

Okay, so I am sore tonight.

Yesterday we had the combatives class like I said on the audio post. It wasn't what we were expecting but, it was still good training. Nothing about the class included non-lethal techniques, that is to say you would not use these in a bar room brawl. Hopefully, I will never have to engage an enemy without a my rifle and hit somebody in the jugular notch (better yet, they won't be that close). It was cold enough to note the presence of slain (sleet + rain = slain).

This morning we woke up and headed to the track to conduct our physical fitness test (from now on will be referred to as PT test). I knew that I wouldn't be in the best of shape as I haven't done a sit-up since. . . . well I can't really remember. I did well on the run and the push-ups but I guess my rectus abdominis failed me and I failed myself. I have never failed before, so this is a wake-up call to get my butt in gear.

We had class after lunch about extricating patients from vehicles, which was less than exciting and not very educating. After that, I finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife and now I am going to read Virgil's Aeneid. I have read four books in the two weeks I have been here and I think this is a good pace, but a costly endeavor (I spent 115$ at the bookstore the other week). Thankfully, people have been lending me books and thank you Carrie for sending me those two :-).

Oh, by the way, the Vikings won . . . .again. ... . . . . . . against the Packers. I will not gloat, but I will say that I am happy with the outcome.

Have a fantastic week everyone!
Nick

Post Scriptum- Nick's book recommendation of the week: A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

The Weekend Update (21NOV05)

Frustration and Confusion

Well I thought I left an audioblog yesterday but apparently it didn't go through. I wanted to let everybody know that the surgery went well and my teeth are good. I still have today and tomorrow on percocet so I am not allowed to carry a weapon around when on narcotics. Instead, I have been carrying around the light up sword that Nicole so thoughtfully sent with me. I carry it to formation with me every night and people seem to get a kick out of it, and I tell them that the army is now issuing these instead of rifles.

Frustration- I can't clean my teeth very easily. For people who know me, I like to brush my teeth three times a day and listerine often. I have been careful not to disturb the sites of the missing teeth.

Confusion- Yesterday as I was lying on my bunk thinking about life I wondered just how I had ended up in such a place doing such things. I paused and thought about what I want to be doing with my life and somehow being at Camp Shelby was not what I envisioned (go figure). It is funny how over 70 men and women in our company get up everyday to do things that they have no real control of. We have been put here to do what we are told and yet nobody sits down and says "hey, this isn't what I want to be doing right now!". Instead, we get up and do what we need to do everyday and then at night we call home and go to bed. I guess I had never really thought about it this way, but I am riding along on this journey whether I want to or not.

I wish I could explain this better to everyone and maybe I will find the words to eventually explain the situation. I am having a great day (maybe the percocet is helping) and I hope everyone back home is enjoying the snow and the W the Vikings somehow managed to pull off on Sunday.

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone,
Nick

The Weekend Update (14Nov2005)

Hello everyone,

I'm am alive and kicking! I may be just a little high from the Percocet so excuse me if I can't write too well.

Saturday- We had some downtime at the unit, so we took advantage of going into town and I bought a new MP3 player to keep myself occupied. I finally had some civilian chow at a Chinese buffet. I did a little bit of reading from my MCAT study book.

Sunday- The company sang happy b-day to me for morning formation and was quite possibly the worst rendition ever accomplished (which was their goal of course). We went over to a supply building to offload our medical equipment that we brought down from Minnesota. We loaded up five or six ambulances and aid bags. We also found out that we would be losing about 12 soldiers pretty soon to other companies. I mentioned earlier that we are short medical personnel in the line units so they will be taken away (mostly male). Unfortunately this included Fields and Nygaard, two of my best friends here from E Co. In replacement we are receiving females from IRR (inactive ready reserve). These are individuals that are non-active duty but still deployable, so they were activated back to active duty to support us. There is a very good chance that I will also be moved within time.

Monday- I headed into town for my dental appointment. I had my wisdom teeth pulled (1,16,17,32). They put me under intravenously and so the whole procedure took less than a minute in my mind. I remembered my camera so I took a picture of myself afterwards, but I can't remember taking the picture.

Isn't that a cute picture? I am actually doing really well. It is hard to eat without screwing up the sockets and the stitches but I'll be able to eat better tomorrow.

I just wanted to thank everybody for the wonderful birthday wishes and the cards that I received. It is nice to know that everybody is doing well and hasn't forgotten about me.

Love you and miss you everyone,
Nick

P.S.- I guess you guys like the audio posts, so I will make sure to do one or two every week ;-)

The Weekend Update (7Nov2005)

Ok everyone here it is. . .

So, I am on a computer with internet at our company headquarters because nobody is around and the internet is working (for free).

Saturday- I finshed the lax day with no issues and started to settle into the barracks. I was able to get some more gear today, which included my body armor (metal and ceramic plates) and some other desert issue items like sand goggles and things. Not a whole lot more to report.

Sunday- We started our in-processing here at Camp Shelby which included 8 hours of briefings; power points and DVD's etc. . . Everyone back at the unit was preparing for the GAC (ground assault course) for the next day. I worked on some latin and called it a night.

Monday (today)- I woke up and worked out at the small gym behind our unit and then went for a run. I took a shower finally and then got dressed to go eat chow. We left for our medical and dental checks which lasted all day. I ended up with 5 immunizations to include anthrax, hep. A, yellow fever, and the flu shot. And of course I was flagged to have my wisdom teeth removed because they don't want me to have any problems overseas (they will be pulled on Monday). I remember prediciting they would pull them before my b-day but it looks like it will be the day after. They lost my audiology test so I had to do that over again. Needless to say to all you civillians, it was a long and trying day.

Well Mississippi isn't that bad, although I do miss Minnesota and the beautiful fall/winter climate. I am adjusting quickly to the environment and everything is falling into place. I have been put into ambulance platoon for the company so that is where I'll be. We know what our BCT mission is now. We have been charged with taking over the task of securing convoy routes in Iraq, details are scarce but for security purposes I am not able to say where or what exactly this would include. For all intensive purposes, you can just imagine that I am going to be "over there". I know that we are short medical personel and there is a good chance that I might be pulled out to a "line unit". Line units are the front infantry on the line and they can only be males, so that would be me That's all for now folks!

Sgt. Bope

Post Scriptum- Magistra Maria, if you read this you will be happy to know that I am studying my latin in anticipation of writing.

Down in the South

Family and friends,

I am now at Camp Shelby, Mississippi for our mission training to Iraq. I made it in yesterday evening to Gulfport and then bussed to the base. I live in the barracks with the rest of the enlisted men. I have a top bunk and a locker, that is it. Let me phrase it this way, I have a 3'x6' area to myself. I will put pictures up on yahoo when I get the chance because it costs 4$ an hour to use this internet and I can't access it in the barracks. Needless to say, I don't know how often I will be updating the blog but I hope once or twice a week. My phone does have service here so I can make calls or people can leave a message and I can get back to you. Here is the address for those of you still writing snail mail:

Sgt. Bope, Nicholas
C Co. 134 BSB 1-34 BCT
2490 25th Street
Camp Shelby, MS
39407

Tomorrow I am going through more briefings and by the end of the week I will training with my unit again until Christmas. Then, in January I have to go to the 21 day medical refresher course. It is good to see everybody has been having fun down here, lots of hard work, but good training. I don't really need anything sent to me right now, so letters are just fine. I know a lot of you are wondering why we are spending so much time here and not leaving for Iraq sooner and I'll explain briefly.

First off, we need to go through the medical refresher course to make sure we are all prepared to treat battle injuries.
Second, we are deploying with a combat team and we are expected to be prepared to engage in combat and react appropriately.
Third, we must get used to the active duty lifestyle which doesn't include a whole lot fun, but long days and hard work.

Once we have completed these things we will head out to Iraq, and be more prepared then any of the other military units present. If we can be better prepared, then we can reduce the number of combat casualties and send more people back home. Have a great weekend everyone!

Sgt. Bope

Mississippi are you ready for me yet?

Hello everyone,

I have been in Minneapolis since Tuesday. The Army put me up in a hotel here near the airport and we have been getting ready for the flight tomorrow. I have repacked my bags for the fifth time and now two are already on a semi headed for Camp Shelby. The other three are with me and I will be taking them with on the plane. I don't really know anymore information about the deployment except that I will be meeting up with the rest of company down south. We had a deployment ceremony yesterday for the families and then we had today off. Just to give everyone a breakdown of who I am going with . . .

-34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division
----1st Brigade Combat Team
--------134th BSB
------------Charlie Medical Company (C Co.)

This overall deployment is cooperatively a deployment of the 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Anyways, I know this has been a brief update but there isn't a whole lot more to say and I am going to enjoy the rest of my day off. The next time I update I will be in Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Everyone have a great weekend.

Until next time,
~Nick~