October 2004 - Posts

• Rain is Here

  It's been cool and overcast today (all day, for the first time since I've been here). It rained some this evening, and the rainy season is supposed to be starting right about now, so the dust is probably about to be replaced by mud. Not much new here, Read More... Posted Saturday, October 30, 2004 2:54 PM by ssmith | 4 Comments

• PT Scores and Internet

  Not much new to report this week. Temperatures are getting more and more tolerable here, and in the morning it's actually getting cold enough that something more than shorts and t-shirt is required for PT. And speaking of PT, we had our Army Physical Read More... Posted Saturday, October 23, 2004 2:34 PM by ssmith | 4 Comments

• Update From Bernstein

  I've been here almost a month now, which has flown by very quickly, it seems. I can hardly believe October is more than half over! It's rained twice so far, but neither time enough to really leave any lasting puddles or wetness. But the rainy season is Read More... Posted Saturday, October 16, 2004 1:31 PM by ssmith | 4 Comments

• First Rain

  We got our first clouds a few days ago, and today was the first real rain showers I've seen since I've been in Iraq. There was some lightning and thunder, as well as some pretty heavy drops, but the whole thing wasn't even enough to really wet the ground, Read More... Posted Saturday, October 09, 2004 11:52 AM by ssmith | 0 Comments

• I'm still here (and soon you may be...)

  It's been a relatively slow week, which means time passes more slowly. It is possible to be busy here as well as safe, so while I appreciate the sentiments that folks invariably have about how they'd rather I be bored here than having exciting experience, Read More... Posted Thursday, October 07, 2004 12:28 PM by ssmith | 4 Comments

• A General Stops In (funny)

  Last week some time, the 1st Infantry Division commander, a 2-star General, was visiting FOB Bernstein. He (and his entourage of security personnel, drivers, and various hangers-on -- in total about 20 people) stopped by my platoon's new living quarters, Read More... Posted Sunday, October 03, 2004 6:50 AM by ssmith | 4 Comments

• More Info on IRR placement SNAFUs

  LTC (ret) Weldon formerly a deputy G1 wrote me today to elaborate on where the problem usually lies for replacements who arrive to find that they have no position to fill: Steve: HQDA and HRC St Louis do not assign individuals to positions within a theater, Read More... Posted Friday, October 01, 2004 12:43 PM by ssmith | 6 Comments

• 30th Brigade Commander Gives SitRep to NC Newspaper

  In this article , General Hickman describes the current situation in his (my) brigade's area of operations here in Iraq. I pretty much agree with everything he has to say, too, so if you're wondering how things are going over here, have a read. Share Read More... Posted Friday, October 01, 2004 12:16 PM by ssmith | 0 Comments