I'm getting deployed

[WhiteRat]

Rejoice! For you won't have to read any of my threads about spiders or smashing up a piece of shit van for a few months. I'm getting deployed in a few weeks to Iraq. I'm very excited but admittedly a bit nervous as the deployment date creeps closer. I can't say I expect my time there to go without incident.

Unlike the Army or Marines, the Air Force's deployments typically run from 4-6 months, although there is talk of extending them a few months. Fortunately for me, I'm only going to be there for the 4-6. Even with the shorter time, I'll still come back with a sizable paycheck (at least in my terms. it'll be more money than I've ever had) and I'm sure I'll have some interesting stories to tell (no prison abuse bullshit, I have integrity and morales).

I'm getting a camera before I leave and if anyone is interested I'd be more than happy to try to post pictures and or updates with what little internet access I'll be able to have.

For now I'm going to enjoy enjoy the insanity that is the i-mockery forums and then it's off to the desert where maybe I'll play chess with the ghost of Juttin's dad or something.

[Protoclown]

Good luck. Make sure you come back in one piece.

[FartinMowler]

I hope they send you some where boring and uneventful...

[sadie]

yah, i'm sure iraq is filled with boring, uneventful places right now. >:

[Crimson Ghost]

Just remember, There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

[executioneer]

and remember if you see any bear demons they're probably really just men :x

[Grislygus]

What about fire worms?

[Lenor]

your going to be completely different when you come back :/

[Esuohlim]

Have a good time WhiteRat and please don't get yourself killed since I happen to like you and all :x

On another note, Terra please go back to the Middle East and get killed thx

[Azrael]

Be careful. Be sure to flush a Quaran down the toilet while you're there.

[jin]

Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you! Don't Get hurt! ;0

[ArrowX]

yeah good luck and be safe.

where exactly are you being deployed in iraq?

[Mr. Vagiclean]

try to catch one of those crazy iraqi spiders and stay safe too

[Archduke Tips]

Everyone is giving you advice so...
Kill some arabs. If you don't, you aren't doing your job.

[MetalMilitia]

Take lots of pictures! (but don't feel obliged to stack whomever you are taking pictures of into nude pyramids or whatnot)

[Zomboid]

Good luck and don't get shot.

[noob3]

remember whiterat, the noob3 will always be with you! even in battle! so if you are ever in a bind, just think about me and you will be filled with the courage of a 1,000 courageous knights!!

[WhiteRat]

yeah good luck and be safe.

where exactly are you being deployed in iraq?

I'll be stationed somewhere that isn't Baghdad.

Kill some arabs. If you don't, you aren't doing your job.

Technically, my job is to escort, guard, and basically watch Iraqi and third country contractors work. I pick them up in the morning, search them, and if they are clean, let them into base where they work on construction projects, general maintenance, or clean the shitters. I'll be armed with an M16 and a 9mm, but hopefully I won't have to use them. From what i've heard the only real danger for those doing my line of work is the constant mortar attacks, but usually they don't even make it into the base.

[xbxDaniel]

Good luck and everything man.

[Sicktodeathmx]

Be safe and have fun!

[Archduke Tips]

Technically, my job is to escort, guard, and basically watch Iraqi and third country contractors work. I pick them up in the morning, search them, and if they are clean, let them into base where they work on construction projects, general maintenance, or clean the shitters. I'll be armed with an M16 and a 9mm, but hopefully I won't have to use them. From what i've heard the only real danger for those doing my line of work is the constant mortar attacks, but usually they don't even make it into the base.

You can have dillusional thoughts all you want. They give you a gun because they expect that you are going to have to use it. Make sure you go for the kill shot because a half dead Iraqi can still make you a dead American soldier.

[jin]

Russo, sometimes i like you and sometimes i think you're really lame.

[WhiteRat]

Technically, my job is to escort, guard, and basically watch Iraqi and third country contractors work. I pick them up in the morning, search them, and if they are clean, let them into base where they work on construction projects, general maintenance, or clean the shitters. I'll be armed with an M16 and a 9mm, but hopefully I won't have to use them. From what i've heard the only real danger for those doing my line of work is the constant mortar attacks, but usually they don't even make it into the base.

You can have dillusional thoughts all you want. They give you a gun because they expect that you are going to have to use it. Make sure you go for the kill shot because a half dead Iraqi can still make you a dead American soldier.

Two in the chest, one in the head.

[executioneer]

makes a man quiet, peaceful, and dead

[Wiffle Bat]

Good luck and have a blast ^___^

[Geggy]

Don't forget to bring home some ears so we can make some lovely necklaces.

[Archduke Tips]

I'm sorry if I sound like I am being a jerk. I do care about the soldiers in Iraq, and I don't want them to die.

At the same time, I realize there are people over there who will kill them. I'd much rather WhiteRat kill somebody than be killed. We don't have to talk about it after the fact, but I want you to know that I understand if you have to defend yourself.

[sadie]

i wonder what kind of spiders they have in iraq.

[RaNkeri]

i wonder what kind of spiders they have in iraq.

I was about to say the same too :(


Anyways, I wish you luck. Hopefully you'll get home in one piece

[zeldasbiggestfan]

Good luck. You and David both better come back in one piece.

[Jeanette X]

Goodbye and good luck.

[FartinMowler]

P.S.: What's your full name? I want to be able to check if something happens.

I find it hard to believe Jeanette X with a post like this :/ poor taste dude.

[Jeanette X]

Yeah, you're right. Sorry. I'll edit it. :(

[noob3]

editing makes it look real good n'all yeah really with fartin's fucking QUOTE

[FartinMowler]

And I was sure that I wrote "I find it hard to believe Jeanette X is a girl with a post like this"

[WhiteRat]

I'm suspending my internet account tomorrow morning so that can only mean one thing...my time for action is now.

My laptop and 250gb external hd are packed to the brim full of movies, tv shows, roms, and Starcraft. Hopefully it will be enough to tide over the boredom that will inevitably strike when I find myself with some free time. Hopefully i'll be able to post pictures and/or updates if I can get long enough internet access. I'll be back in 4-6 months so in the meantime keep ridiculing zeldasbiggestfan and i'll be back in no time.

May the winds of time blow effortlessly through i-mockery forever and ever, amen.

[zeldasbiggestfan]

IM GONNA MISS YOU TOO MAN >:

[xbxDaniel]

This is a sad moment. :(

Seriously, best of luck to you man.

[sadie]

i like whiterat.

[Terra]

Vio con dois mi amigo

[xbxDaniel]

I saw with two my friend? :/

[Preechr]

I'm sure Terra misspelled something more like: "Vaya con Dios, mi amigo."

Babelfish that, buzzkill.

[WhiteRat]

1.5 weeks down, and several more to go. Life in Iraq, what can i say other than 14 hour work days with one day off every 5 days sucks. I must say though, an incoming mortar can really get your heart pumping. The weather is cold and muddy and it always smells like burnt plastic courtesy of the massive burn pit that is constantly roaring. The food here is pretty damn good. I think I'll be treating myself to steak and lobster for dinner tonight.

[sadie]

at least you don't have to worry about running into that saddam hussein guy!

[Chojin]

Incoming mortars are like a brisk morning jog, huh :<

I think most americans need incoming mortars, then :<

[DamnthatDavid]

JINXING HIM!

Do not have a Blast, just have a great time and come back safe with your Overseas bonus, and your combat zone bonus!

[Tropical]

good luck, oh and bring back some WMD's.

[WhiteRat]

I'm 33 days in and so far we've had 40 mortar attacks. I quit smoking cigarettes for 15 days but I foolishly started up again.
It's very hard to resist a carton of "Miami" brand cigarettes for only 4 dollars. :(

[Fathom Zero]

You need to write an auto-biography.

[Chojin]

Why would you want to put yourself through cigarette withdrawal on top of being in a god damn warzone ;<

[DeadKennedys]

http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~markro/images/hulk2.jpg

Cause he loves the PAIN! Solidarity, brother.

[WhiteRat]

The rusted remains of a few Iraqi armored vehicles:

http://a935.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/56/l_5ae9fe56ee38b426c7bb9af06e54a786.jpg

Oh, and about the quitting smoking gig, I figured that if I could quit here i'd be able to go back home and remain smoke free.

[noob3]

dude buy some antique bong they captured in some palace & smoke some wacki iraqi if u know what i mean :lol

jk man hang in there & be safe ok?

[WhiteRat]

Iraq is back? Or is it I that is back? Pictures, anyone?

[RaNkeri]

Yes please. Seen any action lately? :x

[Esuohlim]

Welcome back WhiteRat thanks for not dying dude

[Seven Force]

Hey Whiterat glad to see you are ok and in one piece :)

[WhiteRat]

Now that i've returned back to Japan from leave in the good ol' U$ of A and stopped being lazy, i've posted some pics of my wonderful time in Iraq.

I was deployed to LSA Anaconda or Balad Air Base as it's known to Air Force folks such as I. It's just northwest of Baghdad in the lively Sunni Triangle. It's common nickname is Mortaritaville due to the large amount of mortars that are fired into the base. Prior to the war the base was the jewel of Saddam's Air Force but now it's nothing but sand, rocks, and concrete barriers. During my time there we had at least 230 indirect fire attacks and that's not including the ones that landed or exploded off base. The high number of shit that was thrown at us made Anaconda once again the highest attacked base in Iraq.

To quickly sum up my time there...

- No, I didn't get to shoot at anyone. I fired 10 rounds to re-sight in my weapon, and that's about it. The nature of my job (Security Forces Augmentee/TCN and LN Escort) kept me on base. I never got to go outside the wire, which is a good and a bad thing.

-Most of the Iraqi's I encountered were decent hard working people that were just trying to make a living. Some were complete shit bags that would lie and beg for clothes, food, candy, etc. only to sell it off base.

-Turkish workers are dirty, smelly, horny pigs that lust after American women.

-There is a SHIT TON of money pumped into the country and you've probably already known/assumed, a lot of it is being put to waste.

-American contractors run rampant, and some even make 100k a year simply fixing sewage pipes, air conditioners, and other menial maintenance tasks.

-I despise American contractors. They are the rudest and most inconsiderate people over there.

-By the time I left the temperature was in the 110s and on the last day it was 125.

-It didn't rain a whole lot but when it did, damn did it rain HARD. The mud almost drove me insane.

-I still support the overall mission but I have major qualms with the way things are being run over there. So much money is being wasted.

-Also fuck Halliburton and especially it's bitch of a subsidiary KBR. Oh do I loathe KBR.

Now on to the pics!

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/_41259338_iraq_balad3_map203.gif

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/cobra.jpg
A usmc cobra flies overhead.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/bombdump.jpg
Smoke from a mortar that landed on base.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/f16.jpg
An F-16 takes off to prematurely soom poor sap's life.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/f162.jpg
F-16 in a hardened shelter.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/a10.jpg
An A-10 is prepared for takeoff.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/cobra2.jpg
Marine pilot checking a GBU.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/orangesky.jpg
This picture is not altered in anyway. A dust storm had swept through moments before a severe thunderstorm hit the area. I felt like Douglas Quade on mars.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/mud.jpg
The aftermath of the aforementioned thunderstorm.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/we_got_zarqawi.jpg
Barriers like this are all over the place. Some are "rah rah kill kill" while others feature memorials for fallen comrades.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/morningsmoke.jpg
The first smoke of another long day.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/iraqitruck.jpg
Iraqi's love to pose for pictures.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/iraqitruck2.jpg
Iraqi's getting ready to fill sandbags at $.07 a piece.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/l_16b9149efc46f88af9628eef917392da.jpg
Found this in the vehicle bone yard. I laughed every time I went by it.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/lvis.jpg
The Large Vehicle Inspection Station. I spent 2 months here searching vehicles, Iraqi's, and foreign workers.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/l_69328a2c71975aa98dde54ae1899e991.jpg
Taking a break at the search pit. I'm on the left if anyone cares.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/group.jpg
At the terminal moments after stepping foot back in Japan. Once again if anyone cares i'm on the left.

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I took alot while I was there but after looking through them I realized that most of them sucked. Alot of them basically repeated themselves. But, to make up for it, here's a video my buddy made with a bunch of pictures and clips that he had. Sorry for the cliche music (I would've played some Tiny Tim).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OFG9CSUlzmE

Enjoy!

[RaNkeri]

Glad to see you're back in one piece

[Fathom Zero]

Looks like you had a fun time!

[noob3]

it looks like he's not dead, or seriously mutilated!

mission accomplished, dude! we're glad to have ya back!

i think i'm gonna spraypaint "FUCK IRAQ" on the back of my car too!

[ArrowX]

Good to see your in one piece.
Quite the adventure you had.

[Grislygus]

Did you get any more pics of the sand/thunderstorm? That's crazy.

[zeldasbiggestfan]

I thought the sandstorm picture looked badass. Did tons of shit get in your eyes from it?

[WhiteRat]

Looks like you had a fun time!

Fun, no. Memorable, yes.

[Chojin]

Welcome back, Buddy! ;D

[arg_zombies]

Woah
I was listening to the same song in the video
Before I watched it
I thought itunes had jumped to the start of the song again :\