30 January 2005 - As some of you already are aware, I'M NOW IN KUWAIT!!! That's right, family, friends, and other supporters. My unit has finally redeployed to Kuwait enroute to the United States. Actually, we've been here for about a week, but I just got my laptop fixed and back to top form (so to speak). My hard drive crashed a few weeks ago, and it was a significant emotional event for me. I've come to rely so much on my computer, that to lose all that I had worked on over the year, including my website, was a real let down. I have my own automation team, and none of us could save the drive. Anyways, January was a busy, busy month interspersed with extremely slow periods. The redeployment process went smoother then expected, but nothing like planned. We had some hiccups with the movement control teams in Iraq. They kept holding our convoys at other bases throughout the country for one reason or another. Our first convoy of equipment arrived in Kuwait the day that our last convoy of equipment was planned to make it there. But, in the end, it all has gotten here. And I must say, due to the smart planning of our staff, we lost no equipment, had no injuries enroute, and as of today, all our equipment has been cleaned to the Navy's standard, and now our equipment is ready to be loaded onto a ship and get the heck out of here. The flights down to Kuwait were a real mess. Me and MAJ Dunn spent the last 2 days in Mosul running around the airfield coordinating last minute flights. Apparently our Battalion wasn't given a set flight schedule, but instead were told to move the entire unit Space-A (space available). That means that our soldiers were a priority 5 on the boarding plan...a lower priority then even military equipment being hauled. BUT...MAJ Dunn is one of those guys that can convince a Haitian that jumping out of his boat and swimming back to Haiti is the right thing to do. I'm quite impressed by MAJ Dunn. He's not like a typical military officer who tries to bull-head everything to meet his needs. He goes in and talks to people, no matter the rank, and tries to work an issue and not just beat it down into submission. He brought me along to do that. I was the "muscle" so to speak...although I said and did very little for this. His methods work better then mine pretty much most of the time. Our flight out was late, a little after midnight. The flight was uneventful...nothing like the last time I flew to Kuwait. The Strykers were keeping the insurgents too busy for them to attack the airfield. We did get to watch a helluva light show right before we left. Apparently, there was a huge firefight going on north of the airfield, and the Air Force was providing air cover. We watched as two F-18's came screaming out of the dark of the night and launched off a few missiles at the insurgents. It's awe-inspiring to actually see. Imagine this...all's you see are the afterburners in the dark, plummeting out of the dark sky. Suddenly, you see this little flash of light just below where the plane would be, and you watch as a streak of light speeds away from the aircraft. The streak fades away, but as you follow where you think it is going, there's a burst of blue light followed by a crack and boom. Then it happens again, and again, and again!! Awe-inspiring I tell you! 

Since my laptop had crashed and I lost everything, my last post never made it into history, and it was a good one too. Somehow, I must be good at weaseling my way into things, or I've managed to be lucky enough to be in the right places at the right time. Maybe a little bit of both. One of the few things that our BN XO, MAJ Zollar, wanted to do before leaving Iraq, was drive a Stryker. Well, MAJ Dunn is an avid off-roader and he wanted to drive one as well. During the bridge missions our unit conducted in Nov and Dec, the 73d Engineer Company (Stryker) was attached to us. During this time, we developed a great working relationship with the 73d commander, CPT Gollinghurst. When asked, he agreed to let the MAJ's in our unit, drive his Stryker, kind of as a thank you for the assistance we provided to him and his company (most support companies are set to the back burner when it comes to resources, and the 73d was being pushed way back...we provided everything they needed after they were first attached to us). I guess by luck of the draw, I was picked to take pics of the guys on their big day.  So we pick a day just before we're supposed to fly out, and it's a rainy one. Cold, wet, and miserable, but who cared?! We drove the Stryker out into the back 40 where no one would be in jeopardy of us running over them. The driver of the Stryker gave us a quick 10 minute class. Don't ever let anyone tell you that military equipment is difficult to use. The Stryker drives like a car with a steering wheel, a gear shift, gas pedal and brake pedal. MAJ Zollar starts out the test drive, keeping it somewhat conservative. I get to stand in the Vehicle Commander's (VC) compartment. Since the driver has about a 30 degree field of view in front of him, the VC is critical in being the extended eyes of the driver. We drive around, choosing areas where he can get the feel for the turning radius of the vehicle. We take him through the winding "bone yard"...at least here if he hits anything it'll be junk vehicles that have been scrapped. MAJ Strobel, the BN S3, drives the second leg. Actually, we bring him back through the same course, just in reverse. Commendably, he does well, just like MAJ Zollar. Then comes MAJ Dunn's turn. He mashes the gas and we buck out and head for a hill. We hit the mud mound at a cool 35 mph, the mud a good 6 inches deep. The Stryker's turbine engine whines as we barrel up, trying to hail the 32 tons of steel and electronics. I think we lost a little speed, but not much.  200 feet later, he jerks the wheel around and we scream down the mountain. I'm sitting in the rear hatch being thrown around like a rag doll, but let me tell you...I'm having a blast. MAJ Dunn takes the first turn at the intersection at close to 40 mph, the Stryker's hydraulics forcing the beast to compensate for the 30 degree lean that MAJ Dunn just forced us into. No prob...we clear the turn and are off again, bouncing over ever little hill. ravine, and obstacle MAJ Dunn can find. Even the actual driver of the vehicle is amazed at what his Stryker is capable of handling. For safety sake, I moved back into the Stryker's passenger compartment, and watched the digital picture screen. So, then I hear MAJ Dunn yell back to me "Hey John!! Wanna drive?!" I hadn't intended too, and I know I'm not as crazy as Dunn when it comes to driving, but how can I pass up this opportunity? "Hell yeah!!" is my answer. So we pull over, and MAJ Dunn and I switch seats.

First impressions of the cockpit; not nearly as cramped as a tank drivers compartment. The seat is immensely comfortable with easy to operate electronic seat adjustments. The hatch is hand operated, but that's alright. Everything in the Stryker (except the gun) can be run from the driver's position. Behind the steering wheel is the infrared camera screen...same thing I was able to see in the back. I don't use it, b/c the field of view is smaller then what I can see when I look out the open hatch. There's a gear shift like in a truck. I put the vehicle in drive, let go of the brake, and tap the gas. The Stryker lurches forward, and we're off. The Stryker is extremely responsive, and I don't have to jerk the wheel around to get the vehicle to respond. I've said it before, but this is why the Stryker is being called the Cadillac of the Army. You mechanized guys have nothing on the Stryker!! I take us around the standard route, passing by some other Strykers who are out learning to drive as well. I'm amazed at how easy it is to take the instructions from the VC and not hit anything. We test my ability by pulling us down a narrow road that has jersey barriers in an S-curve pattern (not sure why there, but oh well). Don't even nick a barrier. So, I'm sort of just be-bopping along enjoying the drive, and then CPT Gollinghurst says let's take it down the populated part of Marez. Oh-kay...if he says so. We take a drive by the DFAC, make a few comments about the dark, lifeless tent that still stands there with it's insurgent provided sun-roof, and then move off back towards the motorpool. I expected to have to switch out so the enlisted driver could bring it in, but the CO says that I'm driving well enough that he'll let me bring it into the motor pool and park it. Wow!! The best part of this is that since the 73d motor pool is right next to our living area, everyone that is outside will get to see us...and that's a good feeling. I make the turn down toward the security gate of our area, and wave to a few soldiers who are staring at us, having recognized that it's 276th soldiers that are commanding that vehicle and not some Stryker soldiers. MAJ Strobel gets out and ground guides me into the motor pool; I weave in and out of the stationary Strykers on my way to the designated parking spot. It's kind of funny...the looks we got from the 73d soldiers were just as classic as watching the 276th soldiers. I pull a sharp U-turn and settle the purring beast back into her home, and then proceed to shut her down. So....I guess much to the dismay my wife, I don't want a Hummer anymore...I'll wait for the civilian model of the Stryker! It's a much better ride, and you can fit more then just the groceries in it. Heck, I bet you could fit a Mini Cooper car into it. And that was my experience as a Stryker. What started out as a miserable day due to the weather, ended up being one of the more memorable days I've spent in Iraq. And it was a fitting way to end my time in Iraq.

MAJ Dunn, Me, CPT Gollinghurst, the Driver (whatshisname), and MAJ Zollar	Me as the Vehicle Commander. Does that helmet look too big for my head?
Short class on the basics of Stryker operations.	MAJ Zollar and MAJ Dunn in the rear air guard hatches.
Right before I take us out. There's the cheesy grin...what did you expect though?	In the end....returning to the motor pool. I'm in the hatch in the center of the picture.