Chris Whong

I upgraded the blog software that this blog is running on, and fixed all the broken image links. It all seems to be working again… it only took me a year!

If there are still missing photos or errors, let me know.

-Chris

Sorry folks, it’s been so long. You wouldn’t think it would be easier to get to a computer in Iraq than it is here in Indiana, but that is the case. I don’t have long, so I will try to elaborate on this post later… the bottom line is that it’s great to be back in the states.

We had a bit of free time the first day back, and after catching a cab, myself and a few of my guys hit Montana Mikes for steaks and beers (I had a huge well-done burger of course). We then hit the outlet mall and spent money like it was going out of style. It was all surreal… cars, signs, green grass, blue skies, money, people, chirping birds, parking lots, commerce. This is America, the 243rd is back, and it feels great. (Really, words can’t describe it)

My next stop was to buy a cell phone. We went to the Verizon store and each bought a new phone and a service contract. They were so excited that we were returning from the war (and that we just spent a large amount of money) that they gave us a free ride back to base. You can’t beat that.

We’ll be home soon. I wish I could post some pictures, but the cradle for my camera is somewhere in transit. Out for now.

-LT

There’s no such thing as bad publicity…

Many of you may have read the comment from my last posting about WBAL mentioning my Blog on a segment on MilBlogs. I told the reporter I wish I could put some fresh pictures up, but probably wouldn’t make it back to Kuwait before the peice aired.

As soon as I rolled in, soldier after soldier has been telling me that their families saw my blog on TV back home.

Anyway, here is my shameless plug:

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/webtrendsblog/index.html

Can you believe we’ll only be in country for a few more days? I am trying to think of crafty things to say to rub that fact in for those soldiers who still have a few weeks or months left. One Sergeant in Iraq said “You’re so short, you don’t open doors… you just slide under ‘em” (Yes, I know, it’s really not that funny… military life can be so repetetive that there are a number of predefined cliches to describe almost anything we do)

Now for the mission stuff:

It was a doozie. Anything that could go wrong outside of enemy contact, did. Of course I can’t go into detail, but I will say that having my best troops on board made a hell of a difference. The troops we were training from the new unit were also outstanding, and everyone seemed able to take a bad situation and somehow still crack jokes and have a good time. We dealt with everything from messed up paperwork, unruly or nonexistent customers, shoddy loads, bad directions, lack of sleep, traffic jams, accidents, flat tires, disabled trucks, etc, etc, etc.

In hindsight, when I was being trained last September, both missions I went on were flawless, and I didn’t see how to deal with certain issues until they showed their ugly heads. The replacements that ran on my mission have now seen it all after only a week!

I suppose it was Murphy at work, but it made what was supposed to be a simple 3 day mission into a very complicated 6 day mission. It’s all behind me now, as 1st Platoon is now officially DONE our mission over here… the rest of our days are all admin and ceremonies.

Enjoy these photos… I have some more coming from before this mission, but I will phase them in later.

-LT

Here we have some Aussie troops, resting on their vehicles. These things just look like fun to me.

SGT Snyder and SSG White wrestle after coming in the gate of this FOB. Guess who won. Actually, I had to call the match because they rolled out into the street.

Here is one of our unruly loads. This palette of water almost didn’t make it. I had never hauled water before, but have heard horror stories about losing tens of thousands of bottles coming down the road. I think they package it like this on purpose… free water = winning hearts and minds.

We had to unload the damaged palettes of water by hand.

We found ourselves with a few hours to kill while our contractors were unloading their water… it also just happened that we were by the Zigurrat of Ur again. I took all the guys over to it, and none of them had ever seen it before (even the guys who have been here twice before) I tried to retain as much knowledge as possible from the tour I was given a few weeks prior… after a while I just started making things up. Did you know Elvis lived on the third floor of the Ziggurat?

M915s in a row, from the top of the Ziggurat.

The right seat riders of 1st Platoon:
SGT Snyder (a.k.a. Mr. Clean), SSG White (a.k.a. White Lightning), SPC Zwobota (a.k.a. Z-man), SPC Kennedy (a.k.a. Boy Wonder), Me (a.k.a. Bananaman), and SGT Scanterbury (a.k.a. Wingman, a.k.a. Chicken Wing)

SPC Kennedy poses. On a side note, I did locate the caretaker… I was going to ask him for a tour, and I think he was about to offer one. Just then, there was an explosion in the distance! He then said, “Rocket fall near my house, I have to go sir” and ran away… I hope everything was alright.

A candid shot of troops descending the 4000 year old steps of the Zigurrat.

This is one of the royal tombs they unearthed… again, I did not remember the facts and figures, so I told them King Tut was buried there. I think a few of them believed me.

This is likely my very last posting from Iraq proper. As things wind down for the 243rd, life has gotten a lot more hectic for me and my fellow leaders, as we have to turn over equipment and property to the new unit, plan and execute training for them, make sure our troops turn in their gear, attend mandatory classes, pack up their stuff, clear customs, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Add to that list one final mission to Iraq, to get the new guys on their feet. I am riding with my replacement: first platoon leader from the new company… his troops are mixed in with mine, and we are all rolling down the road together, sharing thoughts, experiences and ideas.

Quite a few of his troops (most, actually) are one and two deployment veteran transporters of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We transplants from the 243rd know only the setup as it has existed for the past year, with hot meals, showers, internet, phones, gyms, and air conditioned tents at every stop, and help just a radio call away. While we wait on our trucks before a push, the war stories start… transporting was a whole different animal back in 2003, and our replacements tell stories about constant fear of chemical attacks, 20 hours or more per day of driving, finding your way around with paper maps and protractors, and never knowing when your next meal, shower, or chance to sleep would be. Some remember when the FOBs we know today, laden with concrete barriers and HESCO bastions as far as the eye can see, were merely tents with a few rings of concertina wire around them.

We’ll pull back into Kuwait for the last time in just a few days, and I can finally pack up my field gear and get ready for a long plane ride home. I want to thank everyone who has read and commented on this blog over the past 14 months for their support, especially my family and friends.

-LT

I just met 2LT Warner, who will soon be signing for my equipment! I showed him around Arifjan, and told him a bit about the mission he’ll be doing for the next year or so. The handoff has begun.

Today is a good day!

-LT

No, not our replacements… today as I exited the chow hall, I was stopped by a river of troops pouring out of buses and heading straight for dinner. This is what we looked like on August 11th, 2005… after an 18 hour flight and a 3 hour bus ride, our first destination was the chow hall for a long overdue meal.

This is what “new guys” look like. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, but with everything in the Army, be it training or deployments, you wait and wait and wait, you do your job, you try to live your life and stay positive. Then one day you see the folks who are just getting there and realize how close you are to going home, and it’s awesome.

No, I don’t know any of them, who they left behind, what lives they lead back home or anything. I guess it’s an “I’ve been there” complex that makes you look at them and say… “man, that’s gotta suck” as you smile to yourself. It’s almost time to pass the torch on to the next unit, and bid farewell to Iraq and Kuwait (for now).

I’ll see you all soon.

-LT

Today is yet another 4th of July spent away doing something for Uncle Sam. In the past, he has been notorious for making my training coincide with summer and the 4th. This particular deployment unfairly took two whole summers… but I’m not complaining.

This morning was the “Independence Bowl”, which was supposed to be the long-awaited Officers vs. Enlisted football game. Of course, there are only 5 commissioned officers assigned to the 243rd, so we had to recruit some assistance from the rest of the Battalion. (Incidentally, only 3 of the organic officers showed including myself, but I will not say any names)

As the date grew closer, and the trash talking grew more extreme, we realized we had nowhere near enough officers to field a football team. I had to do a few quick temporary field promotions to three of my more football-savvy specialists.

As it turned out, that was still not enough, and we ended up just evening out the teams. After 90 minutes, the score was tied 6-6 and the temperture was approaching 100, so we agreed to come back another day and finish it.

Later in the afternoon we had a Barbecue and a game of softball… I don’t think there are any fireworks here though.

-LT

iMovie and 5 minutes…

(You will need Quicktime to view this awesome movie.)
(If you don’t have it, get with the program!)

I have heard plenty about the neverending rain in Maryland, but I just read this news article about Lake Needwood!

I worked there for 4 consecutive summers, helping patrons into canoes, rowboats and paddleboats and making 6 bucks an hour.

Now they say the dam may fail! Whoa!

–LT

We have been asked to inform our families that July 10th is the last day you should send us mail, or we may not get it.

-LT