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DEL.ICIO.USHerding camels easier than herding cats, or sheep
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Camp Buehring, Kuwait — If this Army gig doesn’t work out for Sgt. Guillermo Thorne, he’s got a future in camel wrangling.
Thorne, 23, of Duluth, was driving a four-wheel drive Mitsubishi to a remote desert firing range Sunday evening when he noticed a herd of about 50 “ships of the desert” moving toward the place where machine gunners from Alabama Army National Guard’s 167th Infantry Regiment were about to erupt in a sunset target practice.
“Don’t get too close,” warned Maj. Matthew Saxton, 38, of Cedartown, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. “Those (camels) can be pretty ornery.”
Thorne put the pedal to the metal, and the baby SUV kicked up a dusty rooster tail as he maneuvered to cut the camels off, then shepherded them out of danger.
The brown and tan, two-humped camels put their heads down and trotted away, and Thorne gleefully followed. As he began to overtake them, however, one of the larger animals slowed down, raised his long neck and gave the car a disdainful glare.
“You better back off,” said Saxton, operations officer for the 108th Armor Regiment. Saxton had warned about the chiggers, ticks, lice and other bloodsuckers known to attach themselves to camels.
“That is, unless you want to clean up a bunch of nasty camel spit off the windshield,” Saxton added.
Thorne complied. But minutes later he came upon a herd of about 100 sheep.
Unlike the camels, which went in a fairly straight line, the sheep darted one way, then another, as Thorne sought to herd them with the car.
Finally, he used a trick any Border Collie would envy. He honked the horn. It wasn’t much of a blast, hardly enough to get an Atlanta driver’s attention. But the sheep seemed impressed and quickly cleared the area.
Bedouins clear desert of used shell casings
The herds are owned and managed by nomadic Bedouins who reside in and among an eclectic mix of vehicles that travel the desert.
There are trucks, trailers and even a 1972 Chevy Impala crusing the vast area that surrounds Camp Buehring. They say the nomads gather at firing ranges to collect expended brass shell casings — and there are no shortage of shells to collect.
The soldiers of Georgia’s 48th Brigade Combat Team have fired tens of thousands of rounds in recent days as they calibrate weapons ranging from carbines and machine guns to tanks and artillery.
What do the Bedouins do with the brass?
They pound it and shape it into jewelry and art forms to sell in shops. From time to time the base PX, a sort of general store, even sells their handiwork.
After the Alabama infantry unit finished its firing, a Bedouin man in loose-fitting white clothes and a red scarf paced the beachlike sand where the soldiers had been blasting away at paper silhouettes. He gathered up hundreds of casings expelled from M-16 rifles and SAW machine guns and put them in the upturned tail of his long shirt.
He smiled at the soldiers and waved amicably. Then he walked to a small, dark donkey tethered nearby. He poured the items into a saddlebags that hung nearly to the desert floor, and led it off into the night.
Iraq is a four-letter word around these parts
The word “Iraq” is seldom heard around here. Soldiers speak euphamistically about “going north” or “crossing the berm,” but Iraq isn’t part of the everyday vocabulary.
Comments
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By dubya
May 25, 2005 11:39 AM | Link to this
Thanks so much for this blog. It is good to see the everyday life of those so valiantly serving us. Who would have imagined herding camels? Really interesting too about the shell casings
By Carl G
May 25, 2005 01:22 PM | Link to this
Guys,
We are all proud of your efforts for us. You are wonderful people just return home safely. God Bless You All.
By Janicae
May 25, 2005 02:35 PM | Link to this
I have a soldier with the 48th(115th division, Maryland group) and it has really helped my anxiety level to know what is going on each day. I am starved for your article each day and wonder how I will be able to cope once you are back in the US.
Thank you Janice Chiddo Mother of an American hero servicing in the Army National Guard.
By Rhonda Carlson
May 25, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this
My son is with the 48th Brigade, 118th, HHB. All of his comrades call him Rufus. We love you Rufus! You are our Hero! We hope that the Rufus & Clyde Show goes on!! Momma
By Deborah Bruce
May 25, 2005 04:52 PM | Link to this
I have a soldier in the 48th, Troop E 108th Calvary, and I go to this website daily to catch a glimpse into his life overseas. I appreciate your bringing those of us left at home closer to our Heros on a daily basis. I hope that each one of our brave men and women know how much we support them and that we pray for their safety and for each one to return home safely. Thank you and May God Bless, Deborah Bruce, mother of another American Hero proudly serving in the Army National Guard
By Delvia Streets
May 25, 2005 09:39 PM | Link to this
I just want all these brave ,valiant soldiers to come home whole, my brother is there and we are very proud of him and all the soldiers,but we want them home.
By Lindsey McPherson
May 25, 2005 10:10 PM | Link to this
My fiancé and some other friends are deployed with the 48th and it has really been helpful to have a picture with a story. Thank you for giving me a glimpse into the overseas life of my hero. Thank you all for all that you do. Good luck and come home soon!
Lindsey McPherson
By Katrina Bloom
May 26, 2005 02:08 PM | Link to this
My husband is with Troop E 108th Calvary and I have this website saved to my favorites to keep up with the daily happenings in Iraq. Thank you for making us family members able to hopefully catch a glimpse of our loved ones overseas. It makes us feel a little closer to our heros that left us to defend our freedom. My husband’s name is Sgt. Nicholaus Bloom,I also just wanted to let him know that I was trying to continue to adapt everyday and that I will be fine. I miss him and love him very much. Come home soon. “Come What Will”
By Alesia O'Keefe
May 26, 2005 07:51 PM | Link to this
My husband is with the 108th Armor. I am so happy to have these articles every day! This is how I connect with what he is doing and I can’t thank you enough. I know that to some this is just ‘news’, but to me and my children it is a link to our hero. John, we love you and miss you every day. You are my hero!! With sincere appreciation, Alesia O’Keefe
By Nicole Bell
May 26, 2005 09:53 PM | Link to this
I want to thank you for the stories and updates on the soldiers in the 48th BDE. My husband is Sgt. Bell and it helps me to read about the things he is or will be doing. I can only imagine the things happening all around him, but with these stories I can actually get a glimpse and it makes me feel closer to him even though he is miles and miles away from me! Thank you so much and keep up the good work!
By Donna Garrett
May 27, 2005 04:54 AM | Link to this
I’ve got you save to favorites so I read you comments everyday. My husband is Sgt. Stephen Garrett 1/121 Winder detached to the 2/130.
I would assume that he will convoy too. You guys be careful and watchful. If you meet my husband, kiss on the lips and tell that’s from me. Be truthful, good or bad, in your reporting.
We pray for a safe return.
What about the Father’s Day idea?
Donna Garrett
By VERONICA
June 2, 2005 05:02 PM | Link to this
I AM SO PROUD OF MY SOLDIER “SSG BRYAN L JOHNSON” AND I THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME ABOUT EVERYTHING HE GOES THROUGH.IT MAKES ME EVEN PROUDER.THANKS,VERONICA!
By debbie davis
June 4, 2005 02:01 PM | Link to this
We were just directed today to your website from our FRG president. What a blessing it is for those of us who have our loved ones serving with the 48th in Iraq to have ajc helping us to keep in touch with their everyday lives! I havent’ been able to tear myself away from all the articles; and feel like you are catching me up on what my son is living and doing since his deployment. A heart felt thanks to you both for your work and bravery in supporting our soldiers and their families with your willingness to serve in such a capacity with them! Our son, Chris Davis (a fister with the 118th) attached to the HHC2-130 from Illinois group would want me to say “thanks a million” from him also, as I won’t have to ask him so many questions when we get to talk!ha. Thanks again….ernie and debbie davis