I thought I'd take a moment to explain what it's like inside of one of those HUMVEE's everyone gets to see on TV so often. The typical gunship can hold five people in the ideal situation. Every person in that vehicle has a crucial role to play in making it back inside the wire alive. It breaks down like this - The TC, driver, gunner and security elements. The ideal amount of people is five per gun truck.

The driver:
The driver has the responibilty of maintaining the vehicle in proper working order. One of the tools he or she (On O'Ryan it's always he) will use is the PMCS (Preventive Maintence Checks and Services). Like it sounds this is nothing more than a checklist of items to be inspected and serviced according to the Army's pre-set schedule. That breaks down like this- befroe operation, during operation, after operation, weekly, monthly and wear and tear. The driver does things like tie down all weapons and equipment, ensure several days of food and water is stowed and service the communication equipment. In addition to all this the driver has a specific area he is responible for durning driving and halts. He must also constantly scan to the front of the vehicle for danger and be ready to react in the fraction of a second.

The TC:

The Track Commander must ensure the overall safety of the "Crew" and completion of the mission. The TC usually moniters two our three different radios for direction and situational updates. The TC is to inspect each gunship before departure and coordinate with other members of the element in movement. The TC aslo acts as part of the security element during halts and directs the crew during battles. The TC is generally considered a link in the chain of command answering to to overall commander.

The security elements:

The security elements are generally assinged to secure the outside perimeter of the vehicle during halts, but always act as an extra pair of eyes during movement thru hostile areas. The security team can be called upon to activly engage and pursue an enemy upon engagement. Some people must stay with the radios and vehicle at all time, so the security people usually get the call to manuever. All members of the security team are crossed trained to fill in when needed and almost always have some form of advanced medical training.

The Gunner:

The Gunner is usually the one all you folks see with the upper half of his body stickning up out of the vehicle. He generally maintains some sort of heavy weapon or the most firepower on the "Crew". This is because of the stability of the fireing platform and the view while elevated. The Gunner has to be aware of everything around the vehicle at all times and must immediatly relay observations to the "Crew". The Gunner must engage and stop any threats to his "Crew" at the farthest possible point. The Gunner must maintain the heavy weapon in a high state of readiness at all time, the life of the "Crew" is dependent on this. The Gunner must also be quick on his feet because he is the most exposed to hostile fire. It is a trade off for the advantages of obsrevation. He can see much more than anyone else in the vehicle because he is the most exposed and becaused he is exposed he is a target.

This is the ideal number and not always met. The mood inside is always rather relaxed and upbeat. We always find time to joke and kid around are always trying to find ways to make the vehicles more comfortable but that's almost impossible with safety being the first concern always. We almost always have some cold drinks and snacks available but never take our attention away from possible threats.

As for what has been happening recently. We lost two more men several weeks ago and were saddend by the loss. The temprature is down near the low one-hundreds and there is slowly developing talk of going home. I haven't been able to visit many villages lately but always find the people glad to see Americans. That's all for now. I hope some of you have a little better picture of life in a gunship.

August has been as the Army said it would be, bloody. The Army publication "Stars and Stripes" reported that the first part of August has been the deadlist for Reserve and Gaurd soldiers thus far. My entries this month have been few as a result. The policy here is to stop all communication with the folks back home any time there is a KIA or WIA in the general area.

The logic behind this policy is that when such horrible news has to be delivered to a family, it should be done with complete respect to privacy and the families loss. Everyone here understands how important it is that this be respected. To see such news plastered on the Internet or hear from someone outside the family first is just plain wrong. In theory it's a good policy but in practice it really doesn't work, and does cause another problem for soldiers loved ones.

My loved ones know of this policy because I told them long ago not to worry if I stop communicating for a few days or weeks, because someone has been killed or wounded. The problem now is that when they don't hear from me they assume I'm the one hurt, they have no way of knowing otherwise. So in effect thousands of families are made to suffer just a bit each time there's a shutdown of communication.

I find it insulting that anyone would think I am capable of violating a families right to privacy in mourning, I considered ending my blog because a few family members feared for their loved ones after my entry "Incoming". It troubled me greatly to know a parent was so disturbed by my words. The vast majority of men and women here would never violate a parents right to know first. The assumption that it might happen is the reason for the policy.

I recently read in that same "Stars and Stripes" of a fellow blogger that was hit by an IED and her driver was killed. She was evacuated to a hospital and within four hours was hitting keys on a laptop making a blog entry, the idea was that blogging can be theraputic and should be encouraged, I disagree with this particular application. The point being I completly agree the intent of the policy but wonder about the actual effects on so many family members that just don't know if the one they love is ever going to call back.
And as with the case above some infromation will still get out, so where does one draw the line? I know that no such policy exists on the larger posts and they also experience casualties. It just troubles me that my family just wants to know that I'm OK, like so many others back home everytime CNN makes a broadcast it's as if things are out of control here and it makes them worry everyday.

Of all the recent casualties I have no ideal who the KIA/WIA are because it was just so far away. We here at the FOB have done very well as far as surviving goes and all look foward to going home ASAP. In an effort to put minds at ease let me inform those with loved ones here that over the past two years the amount of KIA's can be counted on one hand. The Army also says things get much safer from September to January, I definetly hope they called that one right.

I had been having some problems with my hand and some pain around the wrist so I was sent to the aid station to get some X-rays. Just as I arrived at the aid station here on the FOB an Iraqi man carrying a young boy arrived, he arrived about ten minutes after I did. The boy had a large bandage over one of his feet and was about seven years old. I was a bit suprised to see an Iraqi civilian since the rule right now is we don't give any medical aid unless it is "Loss of life, limb or eyesight". The purpose for this is to encourage Iraqis to seek help from other Iraqis.

Well the boy seemed rather excited to be around the Americans and the father also seemed quite pleased. It was another one of those things I wish all Americcans could see. Three really big beefy American medics just waiting on this boy like royalty. I inquired about the boys injury and it seems that he was run over by an Iraqi in a car near our patrol and the medics had rushed to the scene. The boys foot had almost been ripped off from the shin down. And luckily the Americans had been in the area to save not only his foot but his life as well.

I could not understand what the father and son were talking about but I could tell from their eyes that both were pleased to be in the company of American medics. As the bandage on the boys foot was removed the medics, through a translator, told the fafther to try and have the boy walk. The boys foot was pointed downward from having been set that way to heal, but the boy manged to hobble on the injured foot. I could now see the wound clearly and can only say that it must have been horrific for the parents to see. After the boy managed a few steps the big American medics naturally produced a bag of chocolate bars as a reward for the boys effort, the father and son both thanked the medics for their kindness and seemed very happy as they left.

It is disturbing to see so much attention being given the woman from California, Mrs. Shehaan, when so little is mentioned in regards to all the kind things and progress that is being made here in Iraq. I don't want to die here nor do I want one more American death, but this fight must be fought and this it what soldiers do. I find it discusting that members of the press should exploit ones grief simply to make money. I am reminded of quote from a Kelsey Grammer movie not long ago, "If it bleeds, it leads". There are some military people here that might sympathize with Mrs. Shehaan and of course all that have lost love ones, but we as soldiers do not ignore history and it's lessons.

Americans have been targets of terrorist since I can remember. Have we forgotten Mr. Klinghoffer or the American sailor that was blugeoned to death over twenty years ago, they were killed because they were American and nothing more. We must have stability in this region and put and end to as much terror as possible. 9/11 was the second attack on the World Trade center and Clinton was in office then. And could Mrs. Sheehan explain the bombing of peace keepers in Beirut in 1983, what about the U.S.S. Cole? We are targets because we encourage people like Mrs. Sheehan to say what they believe, but it is a shame the media seems to ignore the sacrafices made by people like the medical staff here at O'Ryan.

We are making progress here with the IA and it is definetly frustrating at times but we really must stay the course. The people of Iraq suffer incrdible losses from mainly people outside the country and a great deal from people that believe violence and fear are the primary tools for controlling the population.

I was recently at one of the IA bases when word arrived that one of the soldiers in the room had lost a relative in a gun battle with insurgents. As the man wept openly he was surrounded by fellow IA soldiers and comforted. Afew days later the unit pledged to finish the job we have started and make the country safe for their families. People the want to cut and run really ought to talk to the soldiers coming home and find out what sacrafices the IA also makes.

Although none of us really like to admit it, if there is to be peace in this region in the decades to come then it will take more sacrafices and effort from those like the men from Wisconsin,Tennesee and Hawaii that are here on FOB O'Ryan. Americans are the most caring people these Iraqis have ever met and in time the whole of the Arab world will see that also.

If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always.

Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam

I felt it was fitting "Embrace those gentle Heroes" with the words of a soldier that has gone before us. We should never lose sight of the real cost of war and always remember those that have sacraficed all of their tomorrows for our today.

The roadside explosions continue, as expected, and the voices on the radio are ever vigilent. We all hope and pray that someday we can all look back and understand why this had to be, and that someday we will all call war insane.

We recently had some dust storms past through and it was something to remember. I can best describe them as similiar to fog. It wasn't really windy as one might think, it was just alot of dust hanging in the air. Visibilty was down to about a hundred meters and even less at times. This just added to the stress of being on gaurd for IED's and VBIED's (Improvised Explosive Devices and Vehicle Bourne). Often times the locals are very familiar with the roads travelled and won't slow down during poor visibility. This means they'll get very colse to us very fast and that's when things can go bad fast, hopefully we won't get too many more dust storms.

The heat here is still as intense as before and should start cooling down in four or five weeks, anything below a hundred degrees would be welcome. The worst thing for me about the heat is the salt from my sweat always dripping in my eyes, I'm constantly wiping away the salt or drying off my glass's. If I opt to not wear glass's I stll have to deal with the sweat. This is why alot of soldiers here carry towels around their necks, even though it's over a hundred and twenty degrees one still needs to wipe away the sweat. Sometimes it seems like hot salt is in the eyes and it really burns. It also has the effect of just draining ones energy, even though physical activity is minimal.

I found out last week that Donald Rumsfield was about ten miles away talking to soldiers at the LSA, it would have been nice to speak with him but for obvious security reasons that would not have been possible. Instead the REMF's and POGE's got their opinions in.

I would strongly suggest for those that want to know more from military people all over Iraq, that they log on to the "Stars and Stripes" website. I read recently were some REMF's from LSA Anaconda were complaining about no longer being allowed to recieve two meats with their meal at the same time. The REMF's have a choice of five or six different meats, salads, pies, cakes, sandwiches, soups, milkshakes, hotwings, burgers, hot dogs, fries etc. And yet have the nerve to want, demand, Steak with their Lobster. I don't believe we on the FOB have ever been given a hamburger let alone the variety the REMF's are complaing about. I was on the LSA for two months and know all they have to do is finish eating and go through the line again, too much work I guess. For us here it's always meat,starch ,veg, salad and it comes labeled just like that. The starch is eight out of ten times rice and potatoes. Hell we don't even get gravy with the always dry meat. I, like most people here, now purchase my own food or have it shipped to me by familiy.

The reality is that none of that stuff really matters so long as we get home alive and in one piece. We can't sweat the small stuff like the people in Kuwait and the LSA's. It's TCOB always.(Take care of Business)

I would like to start of by addressing those of you that have loved ones here in the area. My comments about the anxiety and percieved danger are very real, this is a dangerous place. But the reality is, and I don't mean to diminish the losses, the chances are very slim most of us will ever get hurt. Here's why, although the insurgents are busy trying to hurt us, most people that get hit by IED's and VBIED's walk away. I've gotten up close and personal with my share and didn't receive a scratch, got one hell of a rush but no harm done. The problem for most of us is the suddeness of the attacks. If you've got all your gear on and doing what you've been trained to do things will work out. I'll try to put a number on it this way. The odds of getting hit by an IED are fairly small, if you're outside the wire maybe one in a hundred, of actually getting hurt one in a thousand. That's just the way I see it. It's just the anxiety that gets to you and people should try to understand when we come home about loud noices. I hope this helps with the worrying, just deal with the heat,wear all your gear and keep your body where it's supposed to be and everone comes home safe and in one piece.

I recently got to watch one of the medical people going through some of their training. One of the guys was viewing photos of casualties and learning what was done, right and wrong. It was amazing to see the severity of the wounds and then learn many victims were saved and even recovered fully. I saw the results of some of the terrorist attacks on children and got very angry. The medics here are somewhat different then most soldiers. They have a desperate need to help the sick and wounded but will not hesitate to take a life in the defense of others. I suppose that like the rest of us they've developed a "quick switch" that allows them to go from one extreme to the other.I suppose in the same way many of us feel a sense of impending doom on patrol but always but duty first, even if it means the worst. I like to put the medics in two catagories - Line medics and REMFs. Remember this is not meant to insult the REMFs, it's just how this Infantryman sees things. The line medics love to be "Outside the wire" and get out with the grunts,cannon cockers, gun bunnies, tankers and MPs. They want to get down and dirty and understand that where we go they go, they just have to carry thirty pounds more then everyone else, and why not?, they're medics. They almost never sleep and after along day or night are all over the soldiers like a mother hen, checking for sores, rashes, bumps and bruises. The medical people have it very tough whether or not they're outside the wire. This is because for every person killed about ten are wounded, military and civilian. And it's the medics that must endure the suffering of so many, I have nothing but respect for all our medical people REMF or not.

The REMF medics just prefer to work within the confines of a hospital or medical station and have available far more resources then the "Line medics". Maybe it's more civilized and in line with traditional medical treatment. The Army has all the state of the art equipment and still cares for a great number of Iraqi people here although we are trying desparatly to give them complete independance.

As far as just relaxing with the average Iraqi soldier/farmer I am noticing a few things worth mentioning. First I've noticed the more time we spend with them the more curse words they use. Particularly the "F" word. I recall one Iraqi soldier dropped some ammunition on his foot and, without hesitation, blurted out the "F" word. They also use a few more that I won't mention I just find it amusing what the Iraqi soldiers have managed to pick up from us.

I've also been in some of their sleeping areas and have seen quite a bit of local cable television. At time it seems as though I'm watching our very own "MTV". What really gets my attention is the women see so much like the young women of the United States. They dress very much the same and seem very much at ease expressing themselves on camera. The Iraqi soldiers put everything on hold during one of these programs. However, just change the channel and everything becomes be very conservitive and like what the press at home likes to show. When I ask the soldiers what they think of things like this on television they tell me it's very good and usually coming from Syria or Jordan. They also have infomercials and soap operas.

One day we were sitting around talking about families and the soldiers asked one of us at what age did most American women wed and that Iraqi "women" marry at about fourteen or fifteen. And they went on to say that if a woman hits twenty and is not married most people believe something is wrong with her. This explains why I've never really seen teenaged girls here, only little girls, grandmothers and those that are covered from head to toe in garments working in the fields.

When we asked about the issue of several wives we were told by one of them that it helps to replace those children lost in time of war. I know this all seems very strange and it's only what I am going through here in Iraq, but it is the truth. And all though there seems to be a genuine concern for children at times I also pick up a sense of indifference. Here's an example. I was talking to one soldier and asked him why he only had one wife, and he replied that three months ago his second wife and three kids were killed by insurgents during a roadside bombing. He went on to say that soon he would find a replacement wife and start to have more kids. I had expected him to become angry, but he just said things as a matter of fact.

However on another occasion my commander had brought some gifts for the children of Iraqi soldiers and explained that since insurgents are willing to kill twenty children to scare one American he wanted them to give the gifts to the children in their villages. One of the Iraqi officers responded by saying he was gratful to the people of America for their kindness, but they don't need toys and candy they need safe places to go to school, eat, shop and play. And he also said that they were there to defend Iraqi and kill all those that would harm the innocent, whether or not they were from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Jordan or any other terrorist country Iraq must be safe for children. We really didn't know what to say at that point and my officer finally said "And we will do all that we can to help the heros of Iraq do just that".

We tend to have light moments with the Iraqis and often times grow impatient with their lack of urgency in perfoming given tasks, but that is just the way the culture is. It always seems to come back to "Insh Allah" or "If God wills it, it will be".