Hillah, Iraq. From the people that brought you the Champ Charlie Country Club and Pool, and the Yazoo 25 Humvee with Thumpin’ Sound System and Heavy Weapons, your Anglico Marines give you the First Hillah Riverine Patrol Group. We found a boat. I don’t mean ‘found’ as in the way your Uncle Carmine from Queens […]

Hillah, Iraq. Tonight the team got together for movie night. The bootleg copies of The Dukes of Hazzard appeared in the Hadjimart, so, popcorn in hand, we packed into the Team Room. The movie itself was a pleasant distraction, pablum suitable for taking one’s mind off things. Parts of the movie take place in Atlanta, […]

Hillah, Iraq.   Mass Grave Found Near Baghdad, Forces Say Thirty bodies were found Sunday in a grave south of Baghdad, Iraqi forces said. Iraqi commandos were led to the grave in the Owerij industrial district in southern Baghdad after interrogating insurgents detained in a raid earlier in the day, Col. Selam al-Maamuri of the Interior […]

Hillah, Iraq. We were out on an administrative mission when I saw something interesting. We don’t go tearing through town like we used to. While this behavior is perfectly legal under the terms of the cease fire, it only serves to irritate the locals if done indiscriminately. We are not afraid to stand by our […]

Hillah, Iraq. The replacement El Salvadoran Battalion has arrived, increasing the population of the camp by nearly twenty five percent overnight. Our operational tempo will slow dramatically as the turnover begins.The only thing worse that being out in combat is sitting doing nothing.

Hillah, Iraq. The new El Salvadoran leadership wanted to go meet the Coalition Leadership in Diwaniyah. Knowing that opportunities to get out the gate will be rare for awhile, I volunteered to be on the escort. The Anglico Colonel wants to come for a visit, which is great. There are some misconceptions about the Hillah […]

Hillah, Iraq. Changes of command are ceremonial affairs in nature. Orders are read, awards awarded, and there are speeches aplenty. I had forgotten about the speeches. I sat in the front row in front of the two battalions, deeply happy that I was not sweltering in the sun. The flyby had been a big hit. […]

Hillah, Iraq. The El Salvadoran battalion visited Ancient Babylon today. Anglico provided a vehicle for security. It is apparent that the new El Sals are not yet used to operating in a combat environment. They do not drive nearly aggressively enough. I am probably imagining this, but it seems the locals could sense their hesitation, […]

Hillah, Iraq. We left before lunch to support an administrative mission to the local police station. The new El Salvadoran colonel went to meet the police chief. This required only one Special Forces and one Anglico vehicle for support, and I wanted to get out. The short ride over was uneventful, and we parked in […]

Hillah, Iraq. SWAT has made tremendous improvements. Tonight’s mission was theirs in its entirety: intelligence, planning, and leadership. We were cautiously optimistic. Although they have been doing a good job, improving constantly, tonight’s mission was a sweep of many houses in a large area, a mission profile generally producing mixed results. But, it was a […]