COME ON AIR FORCE!!!!!!!!

Don't fail me now!!!!!!!

Once I get actually in-transit, MDG wife will take over and keep you updated on my travels.

Thank you all SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH for your support, kind words, emails and most of all, prayers. I am indebted to you all for it.

The blog will stay up, and will I will continue to post stateside. The I have conducted the interview with my terps, although it probably wont be posted until I get home. There were some great questions, and some equally great answers.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and from every fiber of my being. This will not be the last you hear from the MDG, there's just gonna be a hiatus for a while. Please keep checking back. I look forward to revealing my identity, which I have kept mostly secret, due to both OPSEC and my wife's wishes. I didn't want to put out a name and a geographical location, for safety concerns.

SCOUTS OUT!!!!

MDG...OUT...OF IRAQ!!!! Yeeehaw!!!!!!!

Another Blogger Meeting

On the afternoon of the 22nd, I went over and met with Caelestis. I enjoyed meeting him, and we had a great conversation.

Caelestis is a VERY well learned and intelligent guy. He spent time in the Army, and now works as a contractor for the Army. He and I talked for almost an hour, and I learned A LOT from him in that short amount of time. He has some very good posts about the referendum, here and here. Go read.

We arranged to meet again today for lunch, but I didn't see him in the chow hall. So, Caelestis, same time tomorrow, buddy...hope ya can make it...and if the ASAS is too much trouble, I have ammo...

Grey Eagle was there, though, and we ate together. It was nice to sit down and chat with not the same guys you have been eating chow with for the last 18 months. Nothin against my platoon-mates, but new conversation is always welcome. I forgot my camera, but she had conducted her meeting PCI, so we were able to get a picture...which as soon as she emails me, I will post. She will probably do the same, when she gets access to the internet like I do.

These two are two of my favorite bloggers, so it is really amazing that I have been able to meet them, much less in Iraq, and less than two weeks apart. I guess I REALLY have to get to putting the new "Bloggers I have Met" coulumn.

SCOUTS OUT!!!


MDG...OUT.

Sorry for...

... the light blogging as of late. The reasoning behind this is two-fold.

1. Not a lot has happened lately that is worthy of writing about. It has been quiet around the city, and driving around the city for two hours is not anything to write about.

2. I have been packing and prepping to go home. It looks as if I will be leaving Iraq within the week. YAY!!!!

I will try and do one more interview with my interpreters before I leave. I would like for the questions to come from you, my readers. Please leave your questions in the comments of this post. Deadline for submission of questions is: 0800 EST, 22 October, 2005. Thanks.


SCOUTS OUT!!!!

MDG...OUT.

SUCCESS!!

Yesterday, the Constitutional Referendum went off without a hitch here in Kirkuk. NO reports of attacks on voter or polling sites were made. People were able to vote without fear of reprisal, attack, or death...and it looks as if the referendum will be passed.

The Iraqi Security Forces were the main forces used to protect the populace. The US only appeared in the city as a back-up force, prepared to provide support, while the Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army ensured physical security of the polling sites.

It looks as if the poll numbers indicate upwards of 60% voter turnout, on a national scale, which is more than we could ever hope for in the US. It seems the people here belive in the system, that they know that every vote counts, and they are eager to give their input into government.

Democracy has taken another step here in the Fertile Crescent, and I hope soon it will be running smoothly.

More soon....

SCOUTS OUT!!!!

MDG...OUT

Tagged...

Jen, my blog-daughter, over at Jennifer's Musings tagged me yesterday...so here goes...

Seven things I want to do before I die:
1. Make it back to the US
2. Raise a family
3. Be the best husband I can
4. Finish my college education
5. Visit Europe again
6. Own my own home
7. Shoot a trophy Elk, Deer and Moose

Seven things I can do:
1. wiggle my ears
2. Use Chopsticks
3. Make a excellent ROCKIN meal of biscuits and gravy
4. I'm pretty good at HALO 2
5. Make a pair of black leather boots SHINE like you wouldn't believe
6. use a sewing machine
7. Completely dis-assemble and re-assemble an M4 Carbine in less than a minute.

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Dance without embarrasing myself
2. Draw or Paint (I am an not artistic, I can't even get crayons right)
3. Roll my tongue
4. Understand liberalism
5. Get my dirty socks into the hamper (It's physically impossible for me to accomplish)
6. make an over-easy egg, I always break the yolk...
7. ...or a pot-roast, for that matter...i DESTROYED a piece of meat once...

Seven things I say a lot :
1. "Dude, Seriously.."
2. Right on
3. Roger
4. I can't wait to get out of this country (Iraq)
5. I miss my wife.
6. Donkey, SHUT UP!!(inside joke)
7. (quietly)"Lord, give me strength, protect me and my men, keep your hand over me, help me vanquish my enemy and give me peice of mind to make good decisions. Amen"

Seven things I find attractive in a female:
1. My wife, everything about her!!!!
2. (see above)
3. (see above)
4. (see above)
5. (see above)
6. (see above)
7. (see above)

Seven… celebrity crushes? Who came up with that one?
1. None, really..
2. Seriously. (see above in 'things I say a lot')
3. I am not star-struck...
4. because...
5. I have the woman I want...
6. and it is not fair to her...
7. ...But my wife would laugh and say "Lila McCann"

Seven people I feel like bugging:
1. El Capitan
2. SarahK
3. Sgt. B
4. Caelestis
5. Mustang 23
6. PebblePie
7. Peter Clute


SCOUTS OUT!!!

MDG....OUT.

A Few Links...

I read, from the Mudville Gazette's Open Post, an Op-Ed from the LA Times, of all places. It was titled Peace is not the answer. It's an excellent piece.

Also, I found a translated version of the new Iraqi Constitution, found here It really is nice to see a document, something concrete.

Finally, I watched "An Unfinished Life", with Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, and Jennifer Lopez. It's a good movie, go see it.

Sorry not more right now, been busy prepping for the elections.

SCOUTS OUT!!!!!!!


MDG....OUT.

MilBloggers Meet...

I went to the gym today to do some cardio. I was standing in line, waiting to sign in and get a towel behind a couple of 101st ABN soldiers. I noticed the female soldier in front of me had her name and unit written on the stock of her rifle. I recognized the unit name. I asked her if she knew of a person in her unit that blogged under the pseudonym of Grey Eagle. She said "That's me!" (She's listed in my blogroll, under Lady Screaming Eagle I introduced my self, and we had a little discussion, about the FOB, the services available on post, and Kirkuk.

So, now I will have to change my blogroll, and put a category "Bloggers I've Met".

And, it also means.....my replacements are here....on the way stateside SOON!!!! HOOOAH!!


SCOUTS OUT!!!!


MDG...OUT.

Record

My brigade, the 116th Brigade Combat Team, made up of units from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, New Jersey, and California, currently owns the record for re-enlisting soldiers, out of any unit, Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 256th BCT, headquartered in Louisiana, held the previous record at over 400 soldiers re-enlisting in-country. The 116th BCT set out to beat that record with a goal of 500, and did on 14 September 2005, with BG Alan Gayheart, Commander of the 116th BCT, ceremonially swearing in SGT Seckel in front of a representative formation of other soldiers re-affirming their commitment to continue to stand ready to protect freedom.



I'm in there somewhere, third row from the back, right-center of the photo. Even I couldn't find myself.

You will notice the photo is labeled "500th Re-Enlistment". As of right now, the 116th BCT has had 733 soldiers sign new 3 or 6 year contracts.

I venture to say that this is a huge testament to the will of the army. Not the Army, the organization, but the army, the men and women who wear the uniform, no matter what branch. Knowing the adversity faced in combat, and the need for the constant defense of our nation, and having already experienced hardship, loss, and separation, a momentus number are willing to continue to be counted among the willing.

SCOUTS OUT!!!!!

MDG....OUT.




OPEN POST COURTESY OF Mudville Gazette