31 JULY 2004Hi Hi. I'm in Georgia right now finally going through jump school. I found out less than two weeks ago on a Monday and was on a plane heading to Georgia on Thursday morning. I started class this past Monday. The first week, appropriately named "ground week" was spent learning the equipment and rolling around in a gravel pit leaning to properly execute a parachute landing fall (PLF). Next week will be Tower week, there is a 34 foot tower that we will jump out of in groups of four and slide down a cable with proper body positioning and whatnot. The third and final week is Jump week; which requires to make five total jumps, two at night. It's way too hot and humid here. I will be glad to get back to the moderate climate of Washington before moving on for my time in Hawaii. I can't take any pictures here at the school but if I get any jumps in while in Washington before heading to Hawaii I will get some pictures before the jump, on the plane, and after the jump. Good times. -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

09 JUNE 2004 Hello all...I am back in washintogn again. It's good to be back but I'll be much happier in a couple weeks when I'm home on leave in California. Katie has put up some pictures from Iraq already and I have plenty more that I will give to her to post when I get home. I will be in Huntington Beach from 22 June through 11 July with no plans to speak of. There are quite a few of you that I would like to visit with.
I have been keeping busy since I've been back. Alot of my previous posts from Washington have been about how little I find to do around here but that has been remidied. Within two days of returning I was on the Softball team from my company and the Rugby team for the Group. We won the pre-season softball tournament and got a new trophy for the chow hall. The season starts next week. Our first rugby tournament is on Saturday, 12 June. I hope to take some pictures. I've never played rugby; I've always enjoyed watching it but never fully understood it. We practice every morning in place of normal PT and by practicing everyday I think I am picking it up pretty quickly. I hope so at least.
As for as work and normal Army stuff goes its business as usual. I was hoping to get to go to Washington DC for a two week class right after I got back from leave but there are so may of us wanting to take it it's cheaper for the Army to bring the instructors to us. The latter part of the year I will most likely find myself in Hawaii or back in Afghanistan. Both of those would take me through or very close to the end of the year. I wouldn't mind going back to Afghanistan, but I haven't been to Hawaii in over 10 years and it would be nice to go back. I would probably have an easier time of convincing people to visit me in Hawaii at least. Until next time, -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

16 MAY 2004 Hello everyone. I apologize for the break between posts...I've spent the past couple weeks in an area with no internet access. But now I'm back. Katie has been working to get the pictures from Afghanistan up. She says she wants to pretty them up alittle bit but they are up. She also has a coupek rolls I sent to her from here in Iraqand has started to put some of them up. I will have at least 5 rolls of photos from my time here when I get back. So hopefully in the next couple weeks I will be able to get the rolls to Katie and she will be able to find some time to post them. That's about it. Most of my work here is done. We're winding down pretty fast. I dont knwo exactly when I'll be out of country though. I'm hoping to leave in very early June. If I make it to at least 01 June I will be paid hazerdous duty pay for the whole month. And that would be nice. But we'll see. Have a good day. -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

15 APRIL 2004Yay taxes! How is everyone? Fine?. I am fine too. So you're fine and I'm fine. We're both fine. Dr. Strangelove. Good flick. Anyway, I am actually fine. Staying busy ususally.And I am still promising pictures from Afghanistan. Don't give up on us. The day is drawing near. Yay! Besides's that there's not alot to say. I may get some excitement in a couple weeks and move locations for a few days to replace one of our guys that has something to take care of and will be out of duty. Generic, yes; but that's how it is. We'll see though. It's not a definite thing. So yes, that is all. Have a fine Army day. -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

01 APRIL 2004So we will finally have new pictures up soon. i promise. Katie has them ready to go and when she finds the time will add them to the site. I have a couple rolls from over here done already and will try to find a way to get the to her as well. That's all really. Nothing too exciting going on. I am a magnetic darts champion. and we're managing to get some pretty good work done too. in between dart games of course. Good times. So check back pretty soon and there will be new pictures. How exciting! -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

20 MARCH 2004 Good morning. It is 3:20 AM and I'm working hard as you can see. Yep, I'm working the night shift right now. That will be for as long as we are stationary here. Who knows how long that will be. Luckilly there is a computer I can use for this in where I work. For the first couple weeks here I had to pay locals to use computers they had in "Internet Cafe's". It was only $1 for 20 minutes but it's better to not have to pay at all. There's not too much excitement right now. I'm eating three hor meals a day. Even if i do eat my breakfast at 6 PM and my dinner at 5 AM. The chow hall just started making stir fry to order at dinner. Its the best thing so far. There is always good rice too. I sleep in a two man trailer. My room mate is usually starting his day just as i'm going to bed. I'll be here is in country for a couple more months at least. No one knows for sure right now. Yep. That's all. Have a good day. -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

21 FEBRUARY 2004 At least I think it's the 21st. I'm in Iraq. I arrived last night after a night in Spain and a night at Ft. Campbell, KY. I had about a week to prepare for this deployment. Far better than the 36 hours when we went to Afghanistan. This deployment has many unknowns, as always. I will be here much longer than the 6 weeks spent in Afghanistan last year. It's beautiful here. At least the vry little that I've seen this morning. I'll have plenty of pictures when I get home. It will be good to be doing somethign different; even though its way over here. I'll try to keep this updated while I'm here. -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

08 FEBRUARY 2004 Well, I'm still here in Washington. My jump school spot was given to a SSG that just arrived at the unit. No love for Privates. I'll go eventually. There's not much work to be done so i've been going to classes recently. Last week I learned how to drive and maintain a and i spent the week before that in a class for one of the satelite systems we use. This week I think I will be going to a Convoy driving and reaction course.
There was a little excitement on friday morning. We reported to PT at 0630 as usual but we were told to wear BDU's instead of the normal PT uniform (T-Shirt, shorts, Sweats if necessarry). Our Captain led us on a run out to the creek that runs behind our compound. Its about 8-10 feet across ans 2 feet deep. After we ran to the creek and did some excercises Captain yelled out, "Follow me, Men!" and got on his stomach and low-crawled down the bank, into the creek and across to the other side. (The air temprature was about 40 degrees) On the other side we did a couple excercises then went back across. Even though it was only 2 feet deep the bottom was mud and twigs so if you try to stand up and keep from gettign wet above the waist you sink right in so we had to swim. This went on for a little over an hour. Then we ran back to the compound and through our company buildign, dripping water and mud chanting, "MID, MID!" (Militaty Inteligence Detachment; out company has 5 detachments, we would be the MI Det.) Overall it was fun, just not while it was going on. We took two medics with us just in case but no one had any problems.
Katie has my pictures from Afghanistan as well as some other misc. photos. But she's real busy right now so when she gets a chance she promised she'll post them. Good Times-PFC Michael Lucas

18 JANUARY 2004 Hello Everyone. In the middle of another four day weekend here in Washington. Although, Friday, a few of us from the Detachment went to a firing gange to do some live-fire movement excercises. It was for those of us most likely to go back to Afghanistan. Yes, we're going back. I may be going to Hawaii instead this time though. Come March I'll be in one or the other. I've also been told I have a spot in jump school startign on 2 February. We'll see how well that holds up. And that's all. No exciting news this time. Adios. -PFC Michael Lucas Bashaw

06 JANUARY 2004 Happy New Year Everyone. I was able to take some leave back home in Huntington Beach over Christmas and New Years. Those of us that went to Afghanistan wern't sure if we would be able to take leave until about 5 days before Christmas but it all worked out. I was home from 23 December to 03 January. It was good bening home, of course. A little longer would have been nice though. I returned to a snowy Washington. I came off the plane in shorts and a sweatshirt and was met with 16 degree weather. We had the day off today because of the weather. The roads are so bad the Commander didn't want tose that live off post having to drive into work. We've had about a foot of snow in the last 24 hours. I haven't been in snow since basic training so it is nice to enjoy it. A drill sergeant has a different take on "playing in the snow" than you or I. We got to "play in the snow" alot at basic. "Roll left! Roll right! Low crawl to me! Now push!" There hasn't been any big snowball fights but I imagine if we have tomorrow off as well it may come to that.
Katie has added a "Lingo" section with a few term's and acronyms I have mentioned in my journals along with some other stuff. If there's any words or pretty much anythign you want explained you can email her or I and we'll add it to that page. And that's it. Until next time... -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

11 DECEMBER 2003 Hello everyone. I'm home safe and sound. It was a good, short deployment; about five weeks. There's not much to say about it. Partly because there's nothign too interesting that we did and partly because I can't say. I am glad to be back in the States though. Afghanistan is a beautiful country for the most part. Snow up on the mountains. I have pictures that I will get to Katie as soon as they are developed. It was pretty nice not having to shave for a couple weeks too. Because we're a Special Forces group we have "relaxed grooming standards" when we are deployed. It will be good to be home for Christmas and New Years after I missed three four day weekends in November (Veterens Day, Thanksgiving, and Menton Day [a canadian holiday 1st SFG (A) recognizes]). As well as Mom's birthday. Although I did manage to send her some flowers from 1800flowers.com because I'm such a thoughtful son. I'll be home for about two weeks before coming back to work. And that's pretty much it. I hope everyone has a good Christmas. -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

27 OCTOBER 2003 Howdy y'all. I am managing to keep a little busier these days. On friday I went to a Fast Roping class with the Linguists from detachment. We went to the Ranger's obstacle course which is near our compound, had a class, and then come down the tower with just hands and feet on a rope. It was pretty fun. I think the highest we ever come down from was 45 feet. Technically I'm not "Fast Rope Qualified" until I've repelled from a hovering helicoptor but we dont have the pilots. I took some pictures that Katie should have by tonight so hopefully they will be on the site soon. And she said she just developed a roll which had pictured from my graduation ceremony at Goodfellow. So it will be a party with all the new pictures that will be up soon. Crazieness.
Saturday I went to my section sergeants house with two other guys and helped him move. I swear, nothing would get done if it wasnt for us grunt privates. It wasn't too bad; especially when his 4 year old sons friend decided to use the carpet in their new house as a toilet. The two of them were on Time-Out for a while needless to say. And thats about it. Hopefully the pictures will be up soon and everyone will be happy. YAY!!! - PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

14 OCTOBER 2003 HiHi. Good times in Washington. I enjoyed the recent four-day weekend back home with family. But the real reason I went was to retrieve a vehicle. Of course it's always good to see them too. I enjoyed a couple days of relaxing then Sunday afternoon Mom and I took off on a journey back to Washington in the Montero which is now at my disposal. We made it past sacremento before stopping for the night. Then took off again early Monday and after I helped Mom find the train station and we had some dinner in Centrelia, WA, I made my way on to the base about 8 pm Monday night. Mom is now hopefully 6 hours into her train-ride back down the coast to Southern California. I'm sure Katie and Dad would have loved to share the trip too but some people have to work for a living.
I don't have any news of sorts so I guess I'll go through a typical day here:

0630 PT- until about 0730. Usually running. Sometimes we go out for a team breakfast of something. Whatever.

0900 In the office. Right now its alot of computer work. Updating information of the Asian countries in 1st Groups area of operation(AO).

1130-1300 Lunch. Sometimes spent playing random first person shooting games down on our office computer network. Good times.

1300-1500 (or so) More work. More of the same stuff.

1500 We usually get out of the office about 3 pm. Some of us go work out again because morning PT is never too intense. Sometimes we just go nap.

And thats about it. Its pretty slow right now so we can usually get our work done by 1500. And thats the way I like it. There's roumors that it gets pretty busy after the 1st of th eyear. But we'll see. Yep. Thats all. Good bye. -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

05 OCTOBER 2003Hello. Another gloomy day here in Washington. It feels good outside though. I haven't done too much since I arrived at my unit last Thursday. I'm done inprocessing so maybe real work will begin soon. I am the lowest ranking in my shop though so if there is a need for people for post clean-up details (like last week) it will surely be me. There isn't a whole lot of work to be done right now. The shop I work in has a couple projects but nothing that is very time sensitive. Its pretty lazy down there. I might be in a different office this week helping to update personnel files for my detachment. At least that would give me something to do. Yeah. So thats all. Have a good day. -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw

23 SEPTEMBER 2003 Hello everyone. Sorry for the long absence. I haven't been especially busy, just lazy. I had a good last couple weeks and graduation from Goodfellow AFB. Mom, Dad, and Katie made the trip out to see me. They came to Texas a couple days early so we were able to go out to eat a couple times during my down time from out-processing. Katie found her new favorite place out in San Angelo. Maybe she'll post some pictures of it (note from Katie: I did! click here). After graduating on 11 September I enjoyed 10 days of leave back in Huntington Beach before I had to report to Ft. Lewis here in Washington. I have been in-processing on to the post all this week and after one more briefing tomorrow morning I will finally get sent to my actual unit across post. Then I will get to enjoy a coupel more days of in-processing for my particular unit. Ft. Lewis is much larger than the one-mile square Goodfellow AFB i am used to. But the weather is great. I havent seen the temperature go above 70 degrees since I've been here. Another contrast to the 100+ degree heat and humidity of west Texas. So yeah. Thats all. I am hoping to keep this page updated and Katie has some pictures to post so check back occasionally. -PV2 Michael Lucas Bashaw