Finally Where I'm Supposed to Be

Yes ladies and gentlemen the day has finally come and gone. Yesterday, I flew in via a shaky military cargo plane to my final destination in Iraq. Although I am not in my final housing, at least I am in an air-conditioned tent for now. The base is just as expected with of course lots of sand and more sand.

Ask me, "So Nick, what was your first experience in Iraq?."

My answer would go something like this. . .

"Well I was loaded unto the back of a military cargo plan with all of my battle gear along with the rest of my company and our pallets of duffle bags. We were interlocked, packed in like sardines, with the temperature that day in the mid 90's. I put on my headphones for the flight and closed my eyes. . . . . . . I woke up because something wet has hit me in the face. 'What the hell?. . . Sgt Stee did you sneeze on me?' And then it hit me. This was not snot but projectile pink vomit from someone after we had dropped hundreds of feet in an instant. I wiped off my face and thanked the man upstairs that I was not sitting next to the individual, that person was Yang, the small asian man in our company. After I assesed the situation of myself, I wasn't too bad, I looked to see if I could help Yang. It was futile. His lap was covered as was his pistol and rifle. Thankfully we had only fifteen minutes or so left and I kept myself from vomiting also. I actually tried to get the 2nd LT next to me to puke also by describing the color and consistency of the vomitus. Needless to say the LT didn't puke and we landed safely at the base. We were now nine hours difference in time from home."

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a wonderful Easter with their families.

From Iraq Happy Easter,
Nick