christmas pics

i make it rain! gangstas rollin with the benjamins!

this is my christmas tree :)

SGT Bustos really loves christmas

christmas pics

merry christmas...

well its that time of the year again and its hard to believe that weve been gone for almost a year. im gone from home once again this year. Weve been really busy lately...lots of patrols for lots of time haha. we havent really had much time to think about the holidays which is probally a good thing. The guys in the platoon have high spirits especially when our packages come in. its kinda like christmas every 4 days. Things are still pretty much normal arounds here except for the temprature and the rain. it hasnt rained too much bt when it does everything floods. and in a city with no real sewage system everything runs into the streets and when it floods, well were walking through it. enjoy that visual!

Today as we were patroling, we pushed into a house and discovered a kid with what looked like Psoriasis. It was on every inch of his body, which is a severe case,the father said that he had lost 2 sons to the same symptoms. its heart breaking. With my suplys i couldnt do anything for him so instead we refered him to our bigger aid station in hopes that they can discover his ailment and hopefully recieve an effective treatment.

So ive been writing on this thing for nearly a year now. and i fear that all im doing is repeating the same borring things over and over. So id like to hear form you. what do you want to know about? this country, our lifestyles, the people. ill do my best to answer any questions you might have.

also heres some pics taken. notice the "BARF" laundry detergent. Ive decorated my tree but ill post those soon. Have a merry christmas and enjoy your holidays

happy thanksgiving

Everyone. well another holiday has come and gone while im away. Days like this make me miss my family. As im sure everyone else is sharing my feelings on this day of thanks. I just got back from R and R leave aboout 2 weeks ago. I liked home alot better haha, but it feels good to be back in the swing of things. Patrols are better and overall things are better as well.

The other day on patrol we opened the soccer fields in our area. They were locked down because the city wasnt taking care of them. we went and cut all the locks on the gates. Immeadiatly kids from everywhere started cheering and pouring into the field. They was so damn excited about those fields. We told them "this is yours, now go have fun". It was all smiles and thank yous. It was a pretty cool expierence being able to do that. Soccer is everything to them. Ive seen the kids play soccer with a rock and no shoes on in the dirt streets.

Still day to day life. patrols got on and on. Its part of life out here. But it feels good to be back with my guys.

R and R

I appoligize to the latency of my postes recently. I left iraq on the 18th of october and started the long road home. It took me about 6 days to finally get home. Way too long. But reguardless im home and spending time with my family and friends. partying and hanging out. its strange being home and seeing all the differences in the places that i grew up and in the people that i left behind. Some good and some very stark differences in people. But i suppose that good that i see these things. it helps me remain grounded and continue the things that ive been doing. My true friends will always be there for me. But as for now im somewhat missing my brothers out there in iraq. Their working their asses off and im drinking haha. Ill be back soon enough. Just trying to enjoy my time left. I go back there in 7 days and spend another 7 months over there.

what a night

We took heavy contact last night. IED's (imporvised explosive devices) RPG's and small arms. My team leader was on a roof and was hit in the chest, Penatrating chest wound. and a shrappnel injury. He was coughing up blood but moving air through his lungs ok. He was flighted out immeadiatly for surgery and is in stable condition right now. we visited him this morning. He is in good spirits.

Get well soon SGT Constintine

PFC Christopher "Bart" Bartkiewicz

On Sept 30th I lost one of my best friends here due to sniper fire. I was the medic that treated his injurys. Bart was a great man and a loving father and husband. He was one of our brothers and will be missed. I just wish you could have know him. Rest in peace brother.