BIAP!
I mention BIAP all the time on this site because we are ALWAYS goig there and back. BIAP, of course is Baghdad International Airport. Formerly Saddam Intl. Airport it is about a 20 minute drive from where we are at!
We take this trek to bring people to and from various mission, ranging from in country to pass, to R&R. The photo of me here is from yesterday at the SF compound, where we went to do a little training, and I saw a clear day to get a shot of BIAP in the background. We occupy the side of the airport that is opposite of the civilian terminal, and that place the military has is not a great place to wait. They have improved it a lot since I have gotten here, but the other side looks like an Oasis that we want to check out, unfortunatly we can't go to the other side, in fact the road to BIAP is Route Irish, and it is one of the most dangerous roads in Iraq! It would take about 20 minutes to get to downtown Baghdad if you took Irish, but for us getting to the IZ requires gun trucks and that means NOT GONNA DO IT! I have done it before, and it was my first "convoy". 2 gun trucks(HMMVs) and rush hour to boot. It was freaky, and I was clenching my butt cheeks the whole way! I have seen the people in Iraq drive, and let me tell you, most of them obey and respect when they see military vehicles and move out of the way, but some I just don't understand what they are paying attention to. See when you are in 2 or 3 vehicle convoys, you do not want to stop, NO MATTER WHAT, because tha tis where the IED's will get you! The rule of thumb for here is to go fast, and if you are in a IED explosion you keep going, as they might have others set up! Pretty simple actually. I still all in all like to take helicopter to travel.
Anyways, we have made 3 trips to BIAP in the past 12 hours, and 1 was because we brought SGT G to drop her off and she forgot her weapon at the office! VERY IMPORTANT to have that! And then this morning we brought Curt for his R&R so now it is quiet, and ALL the NC people are gone. We are gonna miss SGT G, as she was Curt and I's partner in crime!
Oh well, time to move on and get the rest of this deployment forward!
Later,
Erik
11 Comments:
We are still here for you cyber friend. You sounded a little lonesome.
Prayers going out for Sgt.G and Curt to have safe trip home.
Maybe you've addressed this before, but when do you get to come home for good?
Great picture. It is so cool to hear what you are doing everyday while you are over there! When do you get to come home?
That is a very interesting report. You have an amazing site and the picture was very cool. Great job out there. Stay safe and keep up the awesome work.
You have been blogrolled m'dear at A Day In The Night Of A Stripper!
Wow Erik, that picture is amazing! I had to giggle with the butt clenching comment!
Clench those cheeks and stay safe!! :)
We won't let you get lonely, Erik! Promise :-)
Thanks for the kewl photo ... you always have great images.
Erik,
Ok...I remember you telling us about all the trips you've made to BIAP and was hoping that you take a different route. Have heard about how dangerous that road is. PLEASE remember that you have a friend here - looks like you have many of us. Stay safe..ok?
God bless you.
Ironically I was just checking out Sargeant G's photo on Curts blog earlier today... I can see her in my mind.
Also - too weird that we would say we 'forgot our laptop' or forgot our 'keys' at the office. She forgets her weapon. ;)
Make sure that you guys are just really, really, really careful during all of your travels, OK?
Geez...I feel like such a mom.
I think I would have EVERY muscle clincehd. Not just the ol' poop shoot.
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