Date 05/27/2005
Well, I made it back from leave and finally arrived at my FOB around 10:30p.m. (2:30p.m. your time) on Thursday! It was a long trip back and I am glad that it didn't take as long for me to get home or I would have went crazy!
I left Tri-Cities on Monday around 1:25 p.m. and headed to Atlanta. Most things become easier with practice or after doing them several times. Leaving is the hardest thing to do! I have a good group of friends and a great family so, I guess that is why it is so hard to leave. I had a great time on leave even though I didn't get everything done that I wanted to do.
The plane ride from Tri-Cities to Atlanta was a rough one! I think half the plane thought we were going to crash just after take off because the plane was getting tossed around pretty good. We made it to Atlanta and after 30 mins. of searching for my bag I finally got checked in. I had about two and a half hours before I had to board my next flight. I ate at Chili's and someone picked up the tab, there was a lot of that going on there. It was a little different from when I arrived the first time. Most people look at you like you are an intimidating dog....they don't know if they should pet you or keep thier distance.
Our plane started loading at 6:30 p.m. and we were delayed at the gate due to some "computer glitch," as the captain said, with the plane. We finally took off just before 8:00 p.m. We got airborne and was flying just above the clouds at 550 mph. It was neat to watch the clouds go flying by right underneath you. Right after that, I looked out the window and watched the moon rise over the horizon. It was a big full moon and actually appeared below the plane, it was really awesome to watch.
We arrived in Germany around 10:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. your time). I was there long enough to shoot an email to Shaylene and go to the bathroom. It was only about a hour total. On the way to Germany, I was moved to Business Class and had all the room in the world to sit and nap. Well, that didn't last long! Some Colonel, who got on in Germany, bumped my ass back to coach! I sat next to a DoD Contractor that had a little odor to him and some short female that could ball up in her seat. It was a crowded flight to Kuwait.
We got to Kuwait around 6:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. your time). It is a hour bus ride to Camp Doha, where we pick up our body armor and helmet and make arrangements for the rest of our trip. Bt the time that all was done, it was almost 1:00 in the morning (now Wednesday morning). I got a bite to eat and called home. I ended up going to bed around 2:30 a.m. I woke up at 11:00 a.m. and went to the PX after shaving and brushing the teeth. I got a bite to eat and walked around the PX. They are much more "relaxed" in Kuwait! There are soldiers walking around in civilian clothes like they are back home.
I had a roll call formation at 3:30 p.m. and found out that I had to do it again at 10:30 p.m. I was appointed the chalk leader and had to do roll call and make any changes to the manifest. At 10:30, we did another roll call, got on buses, and to a ride to a place called Area 51 (not the one in the U.S.). There we loaded our bags on pallets and had about four hours until our flight. I watched the movie "Dodgeball" and it is pretty funny if you have not seen it.
We got on a C 130 transport plane and took off around 4:00 a.m. and arrived in Baghdad around 6:30 a.m. (now 10:30 p.m. your time) on Thursday. There I found out that our helicopter would not arrive until after 9:00 p.m. They don't like to fly the big double propeller helicopter (CH-47) during the day. So, I sit around and think about what I did on leave and was basically depressed most of the day (as I was most of the trip). I ried to sleep some but was also trying to get adjusted to local time. With all the traveling at night, it is hard to get your body back on schedule. It is also a lot hotter than I left it over here. It was over 100 degrees and feels like you are walking around with a hair dryer blowing on you. You can feel your skin baking.
I got my helicopter ride! It was my first time riding on a CH -47. My only experience with them was when I was hit by one of it's wheels while I was hooking a Hummer up to it for transport. That was in Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell in 1995. We had other people to drop off at FOBs around Baghdad and I ended up with a 45 minute flight. I had a good scare during the flight! I was next to the last seat and a tail gunner is sitting on the back ramp of the bird. Right behind me, on the outside of the helicopter, is the chaff and flare dispenser. Chaff is used to block radar and attract heat seaking sources away from the helicopter. It is automatic and dispenses when the helicopter senses a threat. Well, the damn thing went off and the jolt made it feel like something was hitting the helicopter about where my shoulder blades were. It turned out to be nothing but, it scared the crap out of me the first time it went off. They don't give you a warning!
We get escorted from the landing zone back to the FOB. Third platoon was doing the escort and I got to ride with them, instead of riding in the back of a truck. I caught up with some of my platoon and the events that have been going on over here. I finally went to bed around 2:00 a.m. and they woke me up at 10! I was sleeping pretty good and could have slept longer. I have to put my body armor back together and get everything ready for missions.
I am sorry this is so long but, I had a lot to tell. I am off to take a shower and will talk to you all later. Thanks for everything while I was home. I had a blast and enjoyed seeing everyone. I miss you all and will talk to you later! Take care!!
Matt Cousins SSG, INF Staying Low, Checking 6!
Matt Cousins
SSG, INF
Staying Low, Checking 6!
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