Abu Ghraib: Day 89
This time next week I will be getting ready to head to the airport in Dubai to catch a flight to Italy for my first R&R. While I am proud of myself for making it this far, I do not feel the sense of accomplishment that I thought I would. I suppose I should... 1/5 of the group that I came into country with has quit already. While I'm sure their reasons were valid ones, I just couldn't imagine quitting. The way I look at it, if our soldiers can't say "to hell with this" and leave, then I can't allow myself to either. They made a commitment, and so did I.
I'm working night dispatch this week. Not a bad gig considering when I get off work on Monday morning I will go straight to my convoy and be off to Camp Liberty for processing. I'll spend a day or two there and fly to Dubai and await my flight to Italy.
I've spent the last several weeks assigned to an Engine. We had a few decent calls; an electrical fire at the hospital, a dumpster fire, an investigation of a hit inside the base. Wackenhut just received their latest shipment of turnout gear, so many of the guys here, myself included, finally got their gear a few weeks ago. It's not the same gear that they had been getting, so instead of a nice tan color we got a bright yellow. Normally that's not a problem, except for the fact that the prisoners here wear yellow jumpsuits. Now, should we get a fire inside the prison compound, we will need close escort to make sure we do not get mistaken for prisoners by the soldiers in the guard towers. Other than that, no problem. I'm just happy to finally have my own gear.
In news from home, the Jacobus Fire Company, the Pennsylvania department I am a member of, just raised their ISO rating. It is a testament to the hard work that the current administration has been putting in. Congratulations.
Thank you Kati and Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn for the care packages.