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DEL.ICIO.USCompared to other camps, Stryker is the Four Seasons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Camp Stryker, Iraq —- The 48th Brigade Combat Team’s headquarters here is considered the low-rent district in the sprawling military complex that surrounds the Baghdad International Airport.
Originally built as a transition area for soldiers on the move, Stryker’s dust-covered tents and trailers are likely to be home to about 3,000 of the brigade’s members for most, if not all, of their year-long deployment.
Compared to the far smaller facilities to the south like Row, St. Joe and St. Michael, however, Stryker is like the Four Seasons.
There’s 24-hour food provided by KBR — not Army cooks — and it’s excellent. The tents have full-time electricity and wood-framed doors that cut down on dust and allow soldiers to walk in and out without crouching. There’s Internet access around the clock and AT&T phone service. Indian barbers charge $3 for a haircut, and that includes a neck-snapping chiropractic adjustment — whether the customer asks for one or not.
The outhouses are emptied twice a day without fail — an important consideration in a place where daytime temperatures commonly reach 115 degrees.
Knowing they’re likely to be here awhile, soldiers from the 48th have launched into home improvements with gusto. Many have swept and mopped their plywood floors, added partitions and purchased refrigerators, chairs and fans.
Foam mattresses are big sellers at the PX and privately owned “hajji shop.”
Soldiers place the mattresses on top of their military canvas cots, a move they say is well worth $12.95 price for thin mattresses and $20 for thicker ones. Both come in washable, zippered sleeves.
“You’ve got to do what you can to make it more like home,” said Spc. Lawanda Brown, 25, of Dublin, a human resources specialist at Rockwell Automation in civilian life and a member of the 148th Service Battalion’s Alpha Company. “Family pictures, sheets, comforters, music and DVDs. All of those things help get you through.”
DVDs are particularly popular here because they’re cheap. Pirated copies of current movies such as “Cinderella Man” are openly sold in the hajji shop for as little as $1, and no one seems particularly concerned about thorny intellectual property issues.
In fact, the knowledge that movie makers get stiffed is a plus to some.
Sgt. David Parrott, 33, of Americus, a firefighter and emergency medical technician at home, bought a double feature containing Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9-11”, a critique of the Bush administration’s war in Iraq, because he knew the controversial Moore wouldn’t get anything out of the transaction.
“The only reason I felt good about buying it was that I knew (Moore) wasn’t going to get one cent of my money,” said Parrott, who works at the 48th Brigade’s headquarters. “I’ve read the reviews. I want to see other points of view. But I couldn’t have bought it in good conscience knowing it was going to make that guy one cent richer.”
From the absurdity file
48th Brigade soldiers ona two-day convoy to Baghdad were ordered to remove plastic labels from their water bottles before they entered Iraq. The labels showed the water had been bottled in Kuwait, and at least one officer was afraid they would betray the “secret” that American military personnel and equipment have been flooding into Iraq from massive staging bases in Kuwait since the 2003 invasion. (When the convoy got to Iraq, soldiers found Kuwaiti water on sale at every stop.)
About mail:
Letters and packages can be sent to 48th Brigade members using the following address as an example. Letters can arrive in as little as one week, and packages take about three weeks. Even if units move, this mailing address will stay with them.
Pfc. Audie Murphy
HHC 48th BCT
APO AE 09372
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Amy
June 11, 2005 11:35 PM | Link to this
Keep the information coming on Camp Stryker. Those of us who have loved ones there are eager for news. I have enjoyed and appreciated your coverage so far. I check ajc.com two or three times each day for updates from you. Thank you for your commitment!
Please post pictures of BDE Staff and others at Camp Stryker. I would love to see some familiar faces (especially my husband’s, LTC London.)
Thanks again for your dedication and the service that you are providing to our families.
By Jenni
June 12, 2005 01:37 PM | Link to this
The mailing address given in the article is not good to use for all soldiers, it depends on exactly what unit they are with.
By sheila
June 12, 2005 06:05 PM | Link to this
My prayer is with the entire 48th and a special mothers prayer goes out to my son PFC Perkins with the 648th … I watch & listen every day for a chance to see you or hear that you are safe. A mother’s pride goes deaper than the deapest ocean and no water, land, can keep my love and pride from being with you. my love is your shield of battle… wear it proud and know that we miss you and love you very much. My son is a hero, liberator and an American soldier.
By Cyndi (a.k.a.Mom)
June 14, 2005 12:39 PM | Link to this
Thank you so much to AJC and your journalist with the 48th Brigade. We families appreciate more than we can say your daily postings and photographs! I’d like to wish my son with 121st Alpha Lawrenceville, Spc. Israel Brown a very happy 19th birthday from Mom and Dad! We miss you, but are proud of you for helping the people of Iraq and protecting us at home! I love you!! — Mom
By Ferra
June 14, 2005 04:47 PM | Link to this
I have a very dear sweet young man over there…I feel like he’s my adopted son in some ways…Nick Ives he is in Camp Stryker. We his family in Brunswick and his mom, dad and family would like to see his familiar face and that of his unit. Thanks for all the updates and photos. God Bless you.
By Christine Otis
June 15, 2005 01:03 PM | Link to this
Good job to all our men over there. My son is actually at Camp Liberty, will you be going there as well as Stryker? He is attached to a Lousianan Guard unit. He is SPC Brian Otis with the Charlie First Foot, TF 2-130th INF. Would love to see some news on this unit. He has been involved in action already since he got there last month. Keep up the good work, it is great to be able to keep up with the 48th via the internet. We are in Corpus Christi, TX so a newspaper subscription is not feasible. This keeps us in touch with the troops. Christine Otis
By LINDA
June 15, 2005 09:27 PM | Link to this
HI JUST WANT TO TELL MY BROTHER CORPRAL.CHRIS ENGLAND THAT I LOVE HIM AND I AM SO VERY PROUD OF HIM AND WANT TO WISH HIM A HAPPY FATHERS DAY THIS WEEKEND.WE PRAY FOR YOU AND ALL THE 48TH EACH DAY. PLEASE COME HOME SAFE. WE NEED YOU HERE WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED WITH YOUR DUTIES THERE. SISTER
By Christy
June 15, 2005 10:55 PM | Link to this
The embedded reporters are doing a great job covering the 48th. Please continue to do so, I check the AJC webite every morning and every night, eager to see what’s new. I too request that pictures of the Brigade Staff be posted (to include my husband MAJ Wood).
By Christina Penrod
June 16, 2005 01:42 AM | Link to this
I was just wondering if you are going to goto Camp Liberty. I would love to hear whats going on over there. My husband is with the TF 2/130 INF I would love to see some news on this unit. I would also like to thank you for putting this on the internet its not easy to find news about the 48th.
By Belinda Stanley
June 16, 2005 09:04 AM | Link to this
Just wanted to wish my Husband Sgt. Ricky B. Stanley a very Happy Fathers Day!! I Love you and pray for you daily. I am so proud of you and I know God has dispatched his angels around you to protected you and bring you home to me and our wonderful children. Keep your head up and be blessed.
By Robin Aylor
June 16, 2005 10:25 AM | Link to this
I just wanted to wish my wonderful husband, SSGT RAY AYLOR a Happy Father’s Day! Brianna & I are so very proud of you and miss you more than words can say. I hope the AJC will do some articles and pictures soon of the 648th EN BN Alpha Company from Camp Stryker! HELLO also to Andy Sikes; Nick Ives; John McRae; and all the guys from the 648th EN BN Alpha Co. We love you all!
By joe neel
June 16, 2005 03:16 PM | Link to this
My name is Joe Neel and I am a civilian contractor in Camp Liberty which is a stones throw from Stryker. I just want to tell my daughter Jennie that I love her and appreciate her support of me. I also want to tell my cousin Ralph Carroll of Suwanee how much I appreciate his support of me supporting our brave soldiers in Iraq.
By 1SG Barry Smallwood
June 16, 2005 04:11 PM | Link to this
I would like to say thank you to AJC for it’s coverage. I have your reporters inbedded in my company and they are doing a great job. I would just like to say hello to my famil in Griffin and happy Birthday to my wife. Thank you to all the families and friends of HHC 48th INF BDe from MAcon, Georgia. Thank you…. 1SG Smallwood Hatchet-7
By brenda clement
June 16, 2005 06:44 PM | Link to this
just wanted to say my prayers are with you and the entire 48th brigade,and to my son perry clement who with the 1/121 out of lawrencville ga. and to all those in his unit…god will see you through…….. love your mom!
brenda clement
By lisa
June 16, 2005 11:53 PM | Link to this
Thanks to each and everyone of the soldiers there for serving our country and helping in iraq. I would like to say to my husband, Cpl Chris England, in HHC 2-121 that myself, craig and courtney and cheech and sneakers miss you and love you very much. You are our “American Soldier”. Our prayers are with each and everyone of you. God bless all the soldiers and please come home safe!! love Lisa
By Annie Bellinger
June 17, 2005 11:32 AM | Link to this
Alpha Company 2nd Platoon out Lawrenceville We love you all and miss you so very much - - - God’s Speed to all of you…Especially to my Husband SGT Tim Bellinger!!!
By Dorothy Calhoun
June 17, 2005 02:24 PM | Link to this
Happy Fathers day to my son SFC Richard Hopkinsthis text will be bolded at Ft. Stryker. We think of him always and send our love. Mom and Dale
By Sharon
June 17, 2005 03:04 PM | Link to this
Bold: I would like to say thanks for all that yall have done. A prayer goes out to my husband Spc. Billy Joe Bridges. I thank about you everyday. Wish you a safe return home.
By charlotte ferguson
June 17, 2005 10:15 PM | Link to this
I have a son at camp stryker, SPC Derry Monroe 48th brigade , deployed in may mos is 31 charlie would love to see his picture on ajc
Derry, Shannon and I are thinking about you every day, We love you, Mom
By Lanciee Barnwell
June 17, 2005 10:53 PM | Link to this
SPC Robert L. Barnwell, 148th Alpha Company. I would like to take a moment to say that you are thought about every hour and minute of the day. Your wife loves and misses you greatly and CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOU COME HOME. Lausha, Demetius, Cartrell, Cameron and Courtney would like to wish you a VERY HAPPY FATHER’S DAY WITH LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES. Granny also sends her love and prays to you as well. See you soon.
Love ya
Lanciee
By Regina G
June 18, 2005 09:40 AM | Link to this
I would just like to take out a little time to say thanks to all our soilders, who are on this mission. Special thanks to my good friends SPC. MARCUS BUTLER AND SGT. DRAMOSKI FRANKLIN. Just remember that we love you all, and that you continue to stay in our prayers. The Hines Family
By matt
June 22, 2005 05:11 AM | Link to this
i am one of the soldiers at fob st michael. i will try to ease the thought of every one who may read this. once you have been here for a couple of weeks you realize there are worse places you could be. the mwr has free internet and during the day there isn’t a whole lot of people in there. i also want to say hi to my mom becky, brother jerrad, and the rest of my family. love yall
By Kristi
June 22, 2005 07:46 AM | Link to this
To families: Please remember that there is a mandatory communications outage following any catastrophic event. When FOB St. Michael took mortars, the rumors were enough to rattle the most faithful. During the outage, wounded soldiers are given commo priority to contact families ASAP. The best way to look at it is that “no news is good news” following reports of turmoil. God bless our troops & keep the Faith.
By Frances Siple
June 22, 2005 08:28 AM | Link to this
PFC Pedro Mendez, is a medic and my big brother. I wanted to say how proud we are of him and how proud we are of the entire 48th!
By Jeff
June 22, 2005 08:29 AM | Link to this
Thanks for serving your country, and for serving the state of Georgia. I and some of the other veterans around here are praying for you to all come home safely and to do your jobs with great virtue. Be careful in that theatre, keep your eyes open and please don’t get “comfortable” out on the streets. I’ll put the whole 48th in for prayers and such at church this weekend.
By Lindsey
June 22, 2005 11:57 PM | Link to this
Thanks so much for the news updates on ajc. I have just now discovered it but I am very thankful. My prayers go out to all of our soldiers but I especially miss my Tyler! And yes, I would love to see some pictures from over there and some familiar faces!