Big Gun and the Big Board

Hi everyone.

So more cool events unfolded here for me in a brief respite from the monotonous grind of casualty-care, that we do everyday at Anaconda.

Recently I gave anesthesia to an officer who I cannot describe in further detail, but suffice it to say he is very well connected and highly placed in our organization here at Balad. Because of the kindness shown to him by his surgeon and I we were invited to go on a behind the scenes look at our base defenses.

It began with a look at the weapons caches we have captured from the insurgents in the area. He had his staff show us piles and piles of weapons, of all makes and models from ancient WWII equipment, to the latest AK47s from the eastern bloc. We saw the mortar tubes, captured from the various Muslim insurgents, that have plagued this base as of late. Most interestingly he showed us various IED devices and how they were triggered. I’m frustrated when it comes to describing the things I saw; because they are secret. If anyone were to know what we know, say by stumbling across a careless blogger for instance, the enemy might change tactics. So vivid description will have to wait until I’m face to face with all of you.

Following that we went into the JDOC (Joint Defense Ops Center). The real secret stuff is in here. Remember in ‘Dr. Strangelove’ when the American general played by George C. Scott loses it because the soviet ambassador is going to see the BIG BOARD! Well the JDOC is the home of the big board for the area it is supposed to cover. I can't even tell you the area it covers. ARRGH! I just can’t tell you more than that, but it was really awesome, and I truly mean that. Our enemies are so outclassed technologically; I’m at a loss for words. It is really impressive to see how this NASA-like command center has real time control of the battle space, and integrates seamlessly with the troops in the field and planes in the air. I don’t feel anymore protected but I see now why we are as safe as we have been. I just wish I could I could truly tell the story. Kudos, to the men who devote their tour to keeping the bad guys on the run.

Finally we went on a tour of the actual fortifications and gun batteries around the camp. At the end of this we got a tour of the 155mm self-propelled howitzer. This is a cannon on tracks. It can lob a shell up to 30mi away. It looks like a big tank, but the armor is thinner and it is not as fast as a tank. Our host then let us put it through its paces. What a machine. I actually got to drive it around a small track and slog it through deep mud and gravel. Easily in the top five coolest things I have ever done in my fifteen years of military service. It’s an automatic and drives with a little steering wheel; anyone of you reading now could drive it. But, it weighs 27 tons and when it is moving you get a real rush of power (similar to an American SUV). Sadly we did not get to fire it but I could tell the crew would have loved to demonstrate that for us as well.

Later, I sat outside smoking a cigar and contemplating all that I have done lately, I watched the Blackhawks come and go just 100ft above my head and I came to the realization that I have done and seen so many things that I always wanted to do as a boy, I’m living the dream. My twelve-year-old self would have passed through puberty in one day if he had seen what I saw today. But I would trade it all in less than a second to be back in the arms of my wife and to hear the tinkly voice on my toddler or be goobered on by my baby. I’d give all this crap up just to be back with them and not have to leave their presence ever again (at least until the teenage years).

. . .I miss them so.