AJC.com > Iraq coverage > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAll quiet at Radio Relay Point 5
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Radio Relay Point 5, Iraq — Little brown birds bounced around in the gray gravel, pecking between the stones for bits of food.
The only sound was their chirping. No machine gun fire. No mortar rounds exploding.
The birds were at the bottom of a guard tower where some Georgia National Guard soldiers were on watch at this remote outpost in southern Iraq.
Several similar radio relay points are spread across the desert between Tallil Air Base and Convoy Support Center Scania, where Georgia’s 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment is based. The Georgians stationed at these outposts patrol certain areas, monitor radio traffic and assist passing U.S. military convoys that need help.
The troops have everything they need here. The Internet. TV. A fully stocked kitchen. A gym.
Nothing much happens here at Radio Relay Point 5. No insurgents. No roadside bombs. Only the occasional visit from an Iraqi man, who barters with the soldiers.
Some 108th soldiers prefer it here in southern Iraq, far away from their last post in Yusufiyah, where insurgents repeatedly attacked with rockets and mortars.
“I’m glad we went to Yusufiyah first instead of here. It’s definitely a good thing we went to the worst place first,” said Spc. Joshua Watkins, 26, of Canton.
Other soldiers like being away from their battalion headquarters in Scania.
“Up there, you have to deal with all the battalion politics. Here you are just dealing with platoon-level stuff,” said Sgt. Kenneth Brooks, 41, of Acworth, a medic based just up the road at Radio Relay Point 6.
Nothing much happens at Brooks’ station, too. But the birds are more aggressive there. He said one attacked him last week while he was manning a guard tower. He thinks it was going after a string attached to his pants, perhaps thinking it as a mouse’s tail.
“It hit and went out and was coming back around for another strike,” Brooks said.
Spc. Michael Hardy said he had a similar experience in a guard tower at the same station. An owl attacked him, he said.
“All of a sudden all I heard was screeching,” said Hardy, 40, of Athens, Ala. “I thought, ‘Oh, my God. What the dickens is this thing?”
“My hair was standing on end. I didn’t know what the hell was going on. I don’t think my heart could stand all that excitement again.”
Brooks joked: “We were attacked by the Iraqi Air Force.”
Comments
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By Debby & Chelsey
February 27, 2006 08:23 AM | Link to this
Your doing a Great Job guys and we are proud of u keep up the good work and hope u guys are home soon . Stay safe and u are in our prayer’s always.
By Scout 108th
February 27, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry, you guys are not missing anything at Camp Scania.. We spend most of our time on line and counting the days till we go home. At lest you all have birds to hear/see.
By Proud Mom x 2
February 27, 2006 08:45 PM | Link to this
Thank goodness for this time of cooling down before coming home. I am so very grateful that our guys are out of that awful “triangle of death”. After months of being worried to death every minute that we weren’t talking to them, it’s a comforting thought that bird “attacks” are taking the place of mortars and IEDs for our former Row,Joe,and Mike inhabitants. We have not ceased praying though; for our own, and for the ones who replaced our loved ones.
By "Momma Kat" Orr
February 27, 2006 10:06 PM | Link to this
“The only sound was their chirping. No machine gun fire. No mortar rounds exploding”
Thank God for that.
Hey, y’all - hang in there - not much longer now. And to “my” adopted platoon out there at RP5 - you are all in our prayers & we’re real proud of ya! :-)
Sincerely,
“Momma Kat” Orr Loganville GA
By Co C 1/121 Soldier
February 28, 2006 04:51 AM | Link to this
I wish it was calm and peaceful up here. No such luck though. I love how the AJC makes it sound like all of the 48th is out of harms way. Dont forget about us lost boys up in Bagdahd. Its gettin mean up here again quick. The carrot at the end of the stick draws near, though.We are almost home.
By wife of soldier
February 28, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this
I sure wish it was that way for our soldiers of the 48th! They are still going out on a regular basis providing security for convoys. It gets more and more dangerous everyday. They have never had any down time since arriving there last May.
By Momma Kat Orr
February 28, 2006 08:57 AM | Link to this
C 1/121 Soldier ~ don’t worry… I PROMISE we HAVE NOT forgotten you…and you are VERY much in our prayers and thoughts. I know not all of y’all are “safely” (as safe as anything can possibly be there, anyway) tucked away on remote outposts… Hang in there - not much longer. We are standing behind y’all the whole way.
Sincerely, Momma Kat Orr Loganville GA jeffskat@gmail.com
By another lost soldier
February 28, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this
Everyone at home thinks the 48th is safe and out of harms way. There are many soldiers living all across the country in the thick of it. Just like Co C, Co A 1-121 was handed off not once but twice and left up near Baghdad. I have enjoyed laughing at the “fobbit stories” and the cheerleader and the other admin soldiers having to rough it in their trailers. I will be glad to see Iraq in my rear view mirror!!!!
By My Opinion
February 28, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this
This article was about one place - RRP5. I don’t see in the article that the reporter is saying ALL our beloved 48th is out of harm’s way. The Brigade needs our prayers on a continuous basis - when you ask your blessings at mealtime - or for the trip you are making - or just as a special prayer anytime and often. Our soldiers and those of our allies are always in my prayers. They are all in harm’s way and doing a great job - regardless of what their job is.
To the troops - God be with you till we meet again. May He hold you in the palm of His hand and protect you.
By agrwife
February 28, 2006 08:03 PM | Link to this
Relay points are not “easy”. When our guys first went out, they had nothing. They were sent out there to fend for theirselves.
We had to send cooking equipment and yes more food.
Co C and A 1-121 we have not forgotten about you and you are in our prayers. Praying you will be out of harms way soon.
By 48th BDE Wife
March 1, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this
I always hate to see when the AJC does an article about a specific unit or fob or area because there is always someone out there to say well my soldier has it worse because he/she is somewhere else. Rather than always trying to one up someone can’t we all just agree that ALL of our soldiers are in harm’s way no matter where they are in the sandbox. We are all hoping and praying that they will all come home safe and sound no matter where they were stationed.
This isn’t some camping trip our soldiers have been on this is war, let’s all remember that and be supportive of all of our soldiers no matter where they rested their boots. After all their willingness to do so is what gives all of us the freedom to post on this very blog.
By Momma Kat Orr
March 1, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this
Very well said, 48th BDE Wife. I couldn’t agree more. It aint’ a picnic over there, anywhere….
By proud son
March 1, 2006 08:04 PM | Link to this
My dad is with the Troop E 108th Cav unit station at Anaconda. they have been hit by IEDs almost everytime that they go out the gate. Even though some places are safe and have internet, phones and a stocked kitchen. they have nothing like that there. The guys morales are getting low. lets please keep them in our prayers.
Proud Son of a Cav Soldier
By CB
March 3, 2006 09:33 AM | Link to this
My honey is in the 48th also. He tells me that he is bored, I comment “good”. I worry about him, of course, but now he is in a more calm place. Every day I still think of and pray for the ones in all of the other hectic areas. It’s almost time for many of you to wrap it up and call it a year. Continue to take care of each other until we can get all of you home. When the petty things come to mind, I think about the people that will not be able to welcome their soldier when everyone else is coming home. This whole situation hits so many in different ways, everyone involved is in my thoughts and prayers. cb
By Soldier at RP5
March 3, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this
To the 48th BCT; The article is about a small portion of men in the middle of the IRaqi desert. The kitchen is a tent that is about to fall in on itself. the gym is a bench that leans to oneside with very few weights. We have AFN we have internet on two computers. It is a outpost, take it for what it is. There are many people still in harms way. The reporter did not talk about all the sleepless nights of memories of our last post. We relive those often. This deployment will change many not all, but some. We all need to come home and be thankful for GOD and being AMERICANS, not giving the idea to people back home that we get upset if someone does not write about you. Trust me the Army does not care about who goes where or who does what, as long as it gets done and people come home. God be with us all and may God bring us home to our famlies and friends.
By "Momma Kat" Orr
March 3, 2006 07:33 PM | Link to this
Hey RP5 Soldier - You are not forgotten - we pray for you daily…many times a day. And we will continue to pray for y’all even after you are home. hugs
Sincerely, Momma Kat Orr Loganville GA jeffskat@gmail.com
By concerned wife
March 4, 2006 09:36 AM | Link to this
I think that everyone is concerned for our soldiers. I know I am, b/c my husband is over in Iraq.He is at RRP #9. The conditions at RRP #5 sounds alot like the ones at #9. Their gym is a weight bench also. Yes, i have sent food. Although the RRP’s are out in the desert, their duty is still dangerous. All our soldiers will stay in danger, till they are ALL home safely. GOOD WORK YOU GUYS, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU.