Update from Ian in Iraq

I have arrived safe and sound in Q-west, Iraq. You can find Q-west by locating Kirkuk and Mosul on a map, then drawing a triangle that crosses over the Tigris. It is about 20 km west of the river, almost due south of Mosul. Easy to spot on Google Earth, because it is the only thing for several miles. The trip here was long but not too bad. We had a layover in Dulles in Washington, DC that was long enough that we had time to leave the airport and visit the National Air and Space Museum exhibition. They had the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb, the Enola Gay, on display. They also had the space shuttle Enterprise, an SR-71 Blackbird, a P-38 Lightning, a Concorde, and many other interesting aircraft. The next flight took us directly to Kuwait, where we stayed a few days while waiting for a flight to Q-West. The flight here was rather less enjoyable than the typical airline flight, as a C-130 is not quite as comfortable, and it took a steep glide path for landing.

I live in a building similar to a trailer known as a CHU (containerized housing unit, I think). It is meant to house two Soldiers, but I have it all to myself, so I can have some privacy when I want it. I hope to get some posters or art to hang on the walls and a rug to make it a little more like a home. It also has a very good air conditioner, so it is quite comfortable inside in only a few minutes. It is certainly a far cry from the tent cities in Kuwait, or the ones people were living in here earlier in the war.

The food at the DFAC (mess hall) is amazing, all things considered. They have a huge variety of food every day in the main line, and there is a short order line with fast food, pizza, tacos, and hot sandwiches. There are plenty of drinks available, including sports drinks and big bottles of water, so you stay hydrated. There is even ice cream, cakes, deserts, and smoothies available. All you can eat, and all free (to us, not the taxpayer). It certainly is much better than the rations we were eating in the Philippines.

There is a fair amount of shopping to be done here- there is a PX with movies and games as well as the usual essential hygiene items, and Iraqis and other foreign nationals run shops with crystal, jewelry, carpets, clothing, and the like. I don't care for the immense pressure to buy something- even more than in the Philippines or Brazil- but they certainly have low prices. Much of the goods are counterfeit, like DVDs, shoes, or bags, but some of the other things like the carpets are pretty good quality.

My job is the assistant S3. I help make sure that the convoys carrying food, water, fuel, and other necessities running from the Turkish border south have the support they need to keep supplies moving. I am working for a very professional officer, Cpt. Ackiss, that I think can teach me a lot about becoming a good officer. I spend most of my days in front of a computer, but I did recently get to go drive around the perimeter of the base and look at the defensive positions. I should get some practice at briefing in front of the battalion commander, and I will probably get involved in planning some of the non-standard missions that come up from time to time.

I will try and send some pictures soon, because the sunrise and sunset here are beautiful. You can email me at:
strouir@hotmail.com
or
ian.stroud@us.army.mil

My mailing address is:

Ian Stroud
HHC, 17th CSSB
FOB Q-West
APO AE 09351

* The website I go to for the Family Readiness Group says not to put rank on the letters or packages sent so keep this in mind. MV