Good Guys in Bad Times....

So its Christmas time in Iraq (and the rest of the world). It is cold here but no snow to be found. When i was on patrol the other day i was the gunner and I'll tell you, that is no fun. I was freezing on top of that 15 ft armored vehicle! we started before the sun came up and i was frozen 30 mins into it. I couldn't really feel my hands and wondered that i could even work the 50 Cal (a massive gun) with any kind of precision if the opportunity came around. bc the roads are so wreck from past IEDs the vehicle constantly rocks all around slamming you into the armor turret, so the only way to control this is by standing for the 12+ hour patrol. It was so bad the other day i looked like a battered house wife the next day.
But the random presents from thankful Americans flood the FOBs and my boss alone gets close to 6-8 packages a day... we all make fun of him bc of his vast supply of wet wipes and candy (which he doesn't need... he is getting a bit big). but there is a clear message that America does support their troops, and i guess that is the only real important gift this season for me.

I do miss the family and the fun in this season, but i love experiencing the different holidays in different countries. a holiday tradition every year here is to cut your hair. Our Iraqi unit i am working with went to an orphanage to cut the kids hair and give out gifts of food. The Haaj that was a couple weeks ago was the time when Muslims take the trip to Mecca a trip they all must do once. It was interesting to see my Interpreters (of whom i hang out a lot with) pray and fast a lot during that time of the year. We all tease each other and i helped get a better azimuth to pray to Mecca then what they were doing before (bc they always pray to Mecca, southwest from our location). Some of them are getting a visa to America soon and i told them they could stay with me until they get a good job and get their new life started. i mean anyone who runs down an ally way with a gun (having all the $$ reason and opportunity in the world to shoot you and doesn't) while shooting at a sniper who is shooting at you... earns my trust. one of them, before entering a house that we thought the sniper was in, says stop, cocks his weapon, yells "Alla awkbar" (God is Great) and goes in before you, determined to kill the terrorist and putting himself in danger before you ... he can definitely sleep on my couch if he needed. good guys in bad times. Another guy, while on leave, had a car bomb blow up at a check point he was at killing a family and several others. He reacted and got to a wounded girl who's leg was blown off and stopped the bleeding and rendered aid that we taught him and saved the girl's life. they says war can bring the worst and best in a person...

Good guys in bad times.....