Home of the Soul Cookie

From: Bender Morris T LTJG
Date: Dec 11, 2006 10:32 AM
Subject: [U] Where Does the Time Go?
To: [a bunch of people]
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

So I was catching up on Kevin’s blogs the other day and I realized that I hadn’t sent out an email in about a month. Time has certainly started to go by. Christmas is just around the corner, followed closely by New Years. At that point, I am half way home. For those I’ve promised names and addresses of in-need service members, I have my NCOIC actively working on that with the Command Sergeant Major. I should be getting a list in a day or two. I asked him for a list of about 15 names of varying branches.

In all, the routine has smoothed out. I get into work around 0800 local time (midnight on the east coast) and work for 12 hours. Now that we have a second Watch Officer that takes over during nights, I have less need to stay late. I usually wrap up any loose ends between 2000-2100 (8:00 - 9:00 pm) before heading home. I spend 2 hours winding down by reading, watching a movie, playing a computer game, or whatever before settling down to sleep.

Let me now stress that I am fine, and everyone I work with is fine. However, I must mention something that might make some of you a little worried. Again, I will stress that there is nothing really to worry about. A few days ago, there was some indirect fire against Camp Liberty, Camp Victory, and Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). Several rockets were fired and there were three impacts on the bases. Camp Liberty/Victory is next door to Slayer and is where the PX is located. We occasionally make trips there to shop or to eat at the fast food located there. One of the impacts was in the parking lot of the Dining Facility. I have included pictures that were taken on the scene just after impact. While there were injuries (some serious), no coalition forces (military or civilian) were killed.

These incidents are NOT a frequent occurrence. The most we usually get are in-town explosions or small arms fire on the other side of the outer wall. For those that have seen the pictures of the Perfume Palace, the wall on the other side of the lake is the INNER wall. The outer wall is quite a distance away.

Thank you all for keeping us over here in your prayers. It may seem like a small thing, but knowing we have the support of family and friends back home does help keep us going. Happy Holidays.

Tom