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DEL.ICIO.USHeading to a new base
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Convoy Support Center Scania, Iraq — Rain is sprinkling on the windshields of the Humvees as the soldiers roll out of their old base in Mahmudiyah.
Jeremy Redmon/AJC
2nd Lt. Chris Kehl (left) and Sgt. Eric Knight get ready to explore their new home at Convoy Support Center Scania.
Raindrops are a rare sight for the Georgia National Guard soldiers, who have suffered nearly intolerable hot weather for almost six months just south of Baghdad.
The nights are growing chillier now that fall has arrived in Iraq. Along with the heat, the troops from the 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment are leaving behind painful memories.
Insurgents repeatedly attacked them with roadside bombs, mortars and rockets in Mahmudiyah. Meanwhile, the soldiers bonded into a cohesive unit.
Sgt. Eric Knight has mixed feelings as he drives his five-ton truck out of the gate on Halloween, past a red sign at the entrance that reads: “Close With and Kill the Enemy.�
He and about 20 other 48th Brigade Combat Team soldiers were heading to a new base and new missions in southern Iraq Monday morning.
“Somebody told me the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know,� says Knight, 30, a father of three from Guyton.
Second Lt. Chris Kehl sits in the gunner’s hatch next to Knight, manning a .50 caliber machine gun. And next to Kehl sits a third passenger, a talking Yoda doll from the “Star Wars� movies.
Kehl occasionally asks the battery-operated doll questions, squeezing its left hand to trigger responses. In the movies, Yoda is an almost all-knowing creature with a special power called “the force.� Kehl asks it if the new base will have rocky road-flavored ice cream.
“Yes, I feel this will be,� Yoda responds in a gravely voice.
Kehl chuckles about his “comic relief.�
Jeremy Redmon/AJC
2nd Lt. Chris Kehl (top) and Sgt. Eric Knight arrive at their new home, Convoy Support Center Scania.
“If you don’t have humor in war, it’s not really a war,� says Kehl, 32, a software consultant from Atlanta.
Around 9:30 a.m., the convoy arrives at a much larger base near the Baghdad International Airport called Camp Striker. The convoy picks up two soldiers and some tank parts there.
Meanwhile, the battalion commander, Lt. Col. John King, attends a ceremony in which the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division officially takes over control of the 48th’s area of operations.
The 48th is being moved to several bases across Iraq.
Knight and Kehl get going again in the afternoon. As they travel south, they pass young boys begging along side the roads. They see farmers mining salt from pools of standing water. Kehl occasionally fires warning shots from his machine gun as Iraqi motorists get too close to his vehicle.
Along the highway, they see street lights in Iraq for the first time and wonder if they work at night. They drive by an odd sight in this war-torn country: picnic tables and umbrellas lining the highway.
Finally, around 3:30 p.m. they arrive at their new base, 65 miles south of Baghdad. Knight waves at a fellow soldier from the 108th, who is manning the front gate. He and Kehl see other friends jogging in T-shirts and shorts. In Mahmudiyah, they were required to wear body armor and helmets because of the threats posed by insurgents.
They see soldiers playing volleyball and basketball. There was a Halloween costume party here a few days ago. And they have several flavors of ice cream in the cafeteria. Knight and Kehl are home.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Sgt. James Kirchner
November 1, 2005 07:54 AM | Link to this
To steal your phrase “NICE”. so was there rocky road ice cream there or not sir?
Oh, and Knight, thanks for the reverse trajectory work, you know what I mean.
Sgt. Kirchner, James L Thunder Jinx Delta
By wife of a soldier
November 1, 2005 01:34 PM | Link to this
Mr. Redmon, I thank you for your wonderful coverage of our troops. You are doing a great job. I would like to know if you will be covering the troops that are staying behind at Camp Striker. My husband and his friends are not leaving anytime soon. Thank you
By Schreck
November 1, 2005 03:16 PM | Link to this
this place is a paradise compared to where we were. there’s no rocky road, but we have plenty of cookies and creme.
By A PROUD 108TH WIFE
November 1, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this
HORRAH! I AM GLAD YOU GUYS ARE IN A MUCH SAFER PLACE. HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU GUYS SOON. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. TO MY HUSBAND SGT JOSE AYALA I LOVE YOU.
By Jenny
November 1, 2005 04:36 PM | Link to this
DON’T POST ADDRESSES ON HERE!!! If you can find this site and read it, so can others with less-than-honorable intentions. Contact the unit’s rear detachment or FRG for the updated addresses. Remember OPSEC.
By Shannon Knight
November 1, 2005 05:35 PM | Link to this
Thank God that you made it safe Eric! We have been praying for your trip and the relief of knowing you made it is unexplainable. The boys and I are so proud of you. We love you and miss you!
By LT Kehl
November 1, 2005 11:57 PM | Link to this
No rocky road here. That was a pun for the journalist because we were about to hit the “rocky road” out of Striker.
Address here, same as always second line changes to
HHC 1-108AR (SCANIA)
LT Kehl
PS - I like me damn hair the way it is! Punk civilians!
By Friend of Lt Kehl
November 2, 2005 01:26 PM | Link to this
So glad to see that the 108th is finally moving to a safer place. Get home soon Chris. TJ, KJ, DC and I will be waiting for you.
By jeannie
November 2, 2005 05:23 PM | Link to this
This is the address that we were giving….
( SCOUT ) Soldier’s Rank and Name HHC-108th Ar, 48th BCT, Scania 3rd ID, APO, AE 09372 I hope this helps you…
By mnisme
November 4, 2005 01:16 AM | Link to this
Schreck, I’m glad things are better for all of you. I’ve missed your blog, it meant a lot to me at a time when I was really frightened for my soldier and all the troops.
By Ty
November 4, 2005 01:26 PM | Link to this
Glad that the guys are moving to “safer” places—if there is such a place there. My husband is with the 48th and yes he did move to a so called safer place. However, he is still going to be on the same dangerous roads. Doing alot of the same dangerous assigments. I think now is the time to start praying harder for our troops to make it home safe.
By Anna
November 5, 2005 06:16 AM | Link to this
DESPERATELY SEEKING SOLDIER First off, thank you Jeremy Redmon for your coverage and dedication.
To comment on by wife of a soldier, “I would like to know if you will be covering the troops that are staying behind at Camp Striker. My husband and his friends are not leaving anytime soon.” I am terribly worried about my love and dear friend. His name is Spc James Daniel “JD”. 48th brigade, 1/121, A co. He had informed me that most of his company was leaving - but he was staying behind. Along with news came a new address and the drop of task force 2/121. Please excuse my ingnorance, as military formality is new to me. We have spoken daily, sometimes mulitple, via IM, web cam, and email for months and me receiving phone calls. He told me that the internet was being shut off around the 20th of October but even so we still chatted several times a week. I last spoke with him on Oct 27 and he said he had good news and that the internet would be back on Oct 31/Nov 1. I haven’t heard a word from him. I know weeks of hearing nothing can be normal, I know communication devices can fail but this is out of character for him and I am hugely worried. I sent him 2 large care packages and don’t know if he’s received them. I don’t know of his welfare. If A N Y O N E knows him or someone who does, PLEASE contact me. He’s such an incredible man and I miss him dearly.
To everyone serving and those supporting and waiting: I send ALL my gratitude, strength, love, and prayers. I feel confused and scared so THANK YOU for any help. Any further informative web sites or support groups would be appreciated.
respectfully, Anna
By Anna
November 7, 2005 12:01 AM | Link to this
Just to let anyone know who read my concern, I finally heard from my dear friend and brave soldier Sunday night Nov 6. I was so thrilled and relieved. He said communication from styker has been difficult. And the danger currently seems even more. I pray and send every ounce of healing and positive energy to our HEROS! If anyone does know of other discussion groups/chat rooms for the 48th please let me know. It is so helpful to be connected. peace, love, fortitude, discernment
By Kimberly
November 7, 2005 10:46 PM | Link to this
To Anna, I don’t know if this went through the first time, so trying again. I am with Alpha Company Family Readiness, so PLEASE contact me: andylkeene@yahoo.com. We would love you to be involved with our group.