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I will never again take anything for granted
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Days are starting to go by a little faster as I get more used to this place. It’s funny what you can get used to when you have to. I was so afraid of this place when I stepped off that plane and took my first step into Iraq; it’s a very unique experience I must say. Nothing is the way I pictured it and the reality of the situation is far more real.
On the convoy down to Forward Operating Base Michael, I rode in a fuel truck filled to the brim and all I could think about was what would happen if an IED (roadside bomb) were to hit our truck. It didn’t help seeing craters from previous explosions all along the road. Somehow, being locked and loaded and ready to go didn’t seem to calm my nerves.
I arrived safely on the FOB and quickly tried to make my small place more “homey” by putting up a few pictures and unpacking a few things. I started my job right away on a 12-hour rotating schedule. I began to adapt to my routine as I thought of the year to come. There would be no more trips to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, no more sleeping on a bed, no more eating at Willies Wienie Wagon (those from Brunswick know what I’m talking about), no more consumption of alcohol, no more safe surroundings, and no more Randy (my husband). Things just got serious.
Every day seems like the day before it and it’s only because of my job that I can even keep track of the days here. Most of the time I have no idea what is going on outside of this little FOB and I like it this way.
For a while I was the radio telephone operator (RTO) for my unit here and it was hell. I was hearing everything that happened outside on our patrols and convoys. Some days were better than others, but the bad days were sometimes very bad and it was hard to fully comprehend that stuff. I just did my job and tried not to think about it too much. I will never take anything for granted anymore. I was glad when they changed some people’s jobs around. I didn’t like knowing everything that happened to our guys out there. Sometimes ignorance can be bliss.
For the people who stay inside the wire, we cannot comprehend many of the things that our guys on patrol must deal with every day. It’s just like those of you at home will never understand what it’s like here and we will never understand what it’s like to for you being at home worrying about us. It doesn’t matter how well you are able to describe things, it has to do with actually experiencing it.
Sometimes I wonder what is the most difficult, putting yourself in danger every day or having someone you love in danger every day. Either way, it’s not a pleasant thing and the frustration of the situation is bound to set in pretty quickly. I’m frustrated, my husband is frustrated, and a lot of the guys here I know are frustrated. I can hear it in their voices when they call home. But we’ll be back before too long and then everything will be okay again.
But for now, we just keep doing the job that our country is asking us to do and hope that we make a difference here and back home.
We will meet again in Fiddler’s Green
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Forward Operating Base Michael, Iraq - A memorial service was held last Friday afternoon for our four fallen soldiers. A few days ago, some of the soldiers went around the FOB gathering up all the chairs they could for the ceremony.
Needless to say, when the memorial service started, all the seats were full and people were standing in every available space and were spilling out of the building. Earlier in the week, the small stage was supposed to have held four comics who would have filled the room with laughter. Instead, the stage now held the helmets, rifles, boots, and dog tags of our four fallen heroes.
Many people spoke, offering a memory of those departed. They spoke of their smiles and jokes, their hard work and soldiering skills, their determination and willingness to fight, and most of all their friendship. One spoke of how we shall never forget these brave men; this was how we were to honor them; that we should not think of how bad it was that these men died, but rather how great it was that men like this lived.
The ceremony carried with it many of the military’s dearest traditions. The most poignant of these was the roll call. The first sergeant of the company of the fallen soldier stands at attention and begins to call the roll. As each name is called, the soldier stands to attention and says, “Here.� When the name of the fallen soldier is reached, his name is called three times with a pause between each call. Upon the third calling of his name, a soldier in formation is suppose to announce, “First Sgt, SPC/SGT_ who was once a Rough Rider, is now reporting to a much higher authority. May God bless him.�
Taps was played by one of the soldiers here and a rifle salute was given in three volleys by seven servicemen. Bagpipes played Amazing Grace for our four brave soldiers as many mourned such a great loss. You could tell from the faces of everyone present that these guys were loved tremendously and that they will be sorely missed. May God bless the family and friends of these courageous soldiers, these boys will live on in all of our memories.
The fallen soldier from E troop asked for this poem to be read if anything should happen to him. [The author of “Fiddler’s Green” is unknown, but it is a favorite of cavalry soldiers.]
Fiddler’s Green
Halfway down the trail to Hell, In a shady meadow green Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped, Near a good old-time canteen. And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers’ Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell The Infantry are seen. Accompanied by the Engineers, Artillery and Marines, For none but the shades of Cavalrymen Dismount at Fiddlers’ Green.
Though some go curving down the trail To seek a warmer scene. No trooper ever gets to Hell Ere he’s emptied his canteen. And so rides back to drink again With friends at Fiddlers’ Green.
And so when man and horse go down Beneath a saber keen, Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee You stop a bullet clean, And the hostiles come to get your scalp, Just empty your canteen, And put your pistol to your head And go to Fiddlers’ Green.
Permalink | Comments (58) | Categories: Lauren Schreck
Dinner and a ‘No’ show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In an effort to provide our readers with more insight into the daily lives of soldiers of the 48th Brigade Combat Team in Iraq, we have asked several soldiers to provide occasional blogs for us. Spc. Lauren Schreck, 21, of Brunswick, has been doing her own blog from Forward Operating Base Michael in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, since July. A student at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta in civilian life, Schreck is an Army fuel specialist. But she is currently overseeing the telephone and Internet center at the base. This is her first blog for ajc.com.
FOB Michael, Iraq — The signs were posted days ago announcing a comedy show here. The show was supposed to start at 1800 (6 p.m. civilian time) in the maintenance bay following a cookout. It was to feature four comics from comicsonduty.com - Dave Mishevitz, Sarah Tiana, Danny Bevins and John Bizzare. I was very excited. I thought there was no way that our tiny FOB would ever get to host one of those MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) shows that we always hear about. It was always the larger camps like Taji, Liberty and Striker that all the celebrities went to. But it was our turn this time, and I couldn’t wait for the show to begin.
The festivities kicked off around 1700 (5 p.m.) with a good, old-fashioned cookout. Having a cookout is how we celebrate everything in the South. There were steaks, hot dogs, corn on the cob, baked beans and lots and lots of cold beer (near beer, that is). Our cooks were grilling steaks on make-shift grills made out of wire and metal barrels sawed in half. They sure did the job, though. The chow line got pretty long for a while as people waited for the HHC (Headquarters and Headquarters Company) 1st SGT to serve the beans. It was a nice change of pace to have chow somewhere besides the mess hall. Everyone took their tray and just found a nice piece of curb or Humvee bumper to sit down on and eat. I walked over to the HHC building where they have plastic tables underneath a camouflage shade to eat with a few old friends.
After I finished dinner, I walked back over to the maintenance bay to discover that they were serving Baskin-Robbins ice cream!! The only ice cream that we have ever gotten is the Iraqi ice cream cups that have melted and been refrozen several times over. Needless to say, there was a constant line for the ice cream until they were left with one lonely tub of mint chocolate chip. I took my chocolate ice cream cone and went to sit in front of the tiny wooden stage to wait for the show. At around 1810, I started to wonder where the performers were and if the show was going to be late. One of the soldiers next to me informed that the show was not going on. The comedians’ flight had been cancelled. I should’ve known that would happen. Flights into FOB Michael are grounded every other day or so because of low visibility. The only choppers that fly those days are the medevacs and other priority flights. So, we made the best of it and put on a Chris Rock video. It was the same video I had seen a dozen times, but Chris Rock is funny no matter how many times you’ve heard the joke.
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Bio: Lauren Schreck
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Name: Spc. Lauren Schreck
Age: 21
Hometown: Brunswick
Unit: 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment
Based at: Forward Operating Base Michael, Mahmudiyah, Iraq
Military specialty: petroleum supply specialist
Current job: Overseeing the phone and Internet center at FOB Michael
Civilian occupation: Student at Agnes Scott College
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Lauren Schreck
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It never seems to amaze me some of the bitterness that is spitted out on this blog. We have no idea how anyone feels…inside the wire or outside..but don’t think the inside is any safer.... read the full comment by wow | Comment on I will never again take anything for granted Read I will never again take anything for granted
hooray for Timothy! Thank you for telling it like it is! You have my respect for being truthful. Good luck to you.... read the full comment by me | Comment on I will never again take anything for granted Read I will never again take anything for granted
Officers wife..aka cililian. It’s always nice to get an officers wife ponit of view on how Trops and spouses should conduct themselves..not. We that go outside the wire on a dialy basis are more then aware of what we say and don’t say... read the full comment by Timothy Gunnin | Comment on I will never again take anything for granted Read I will never again take anything for granted
Officer’s Wife, Thank you for you passionate view, it was well put. I was wondering when I too would be attacked.Thank you for being so promt, and completly discordant. I do belive that what we would all like to hear about our men... read the full comment by my name is faith | Comment on I will never again take anything for granted Read I will never again take anything for granted