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CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - I'm sure a lot of you have heard stories about "life on the FOB" in Iraq, just as I had before actually setting boots on the ground here in Baghdad — stories that included camel spiders and sandstorms.
But, as the war has changed completely since OIF I, so have the realities of our daily "life on the FOB."
As for the camel spiders, I have not seen a single one; not even a baby one. It could be that they stay hidden in the shadows and underneath buildings, but as of right now, I have had no sightings, or even heard of a camel spider sighting to validate the tales of giant flesh-eating spiders I heard in the rear. There have been snakes slithering around this FOB though. It may not sound frightening, but all the snakes in this region are poisonous.
The animals here are varied. There are large crow-looking birds, but instead of being all black, they have bright white bellies with black heads and black wings. I found out they are called magpies. My favorite animals here, by far, are the jack rabbits. They are much larger than wild rabbits in the States, but very skinny, and of course, are sand-colored.
Thankfully, it is not as hot and sandy here in Baghdad as it was at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. There, I couldn't walk from the tent to the dining facility without getting eyes and ears full of sand. And luckily in Baghdad, there haven't been any sandstorms since I've been here. I came prepared with goggles outlined with foam to keep the sand from my eyes, but they've proved unnecessary so far. Sand flying up in my face may not be the problem here, but the air is very dusty. When I see local Iraqis with their mouths and noses covered, I wonder what secondary effects breathing in all this dust has on my lungs.
On a lighter note, the weather is finally cooling down, but we realize these are some bittersweet days, because as the temperature drops here it signifies only one thing — the rainy season is upon us. Just as you learned in Social Studies class as a kid, how the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flood every year and deposit their fertile silt upon the flood plains of Ancient Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq still has its seasonal flood every year. Our battalion is preparing for it now by re-graveling all the motor pools to ensure that our mission is not hindered by vehicles getting stuck in the mud.
While all this may not make Baghdad sound like a future tourist destination, I can assure you that life here is just not that bad. There are even palm trees and lakes, and there are lots of extracurricular activities Soldiers can get involved in if they are looking for more to do outside of work. They can catch a quick pick-up game of basketball or play "beach" volleyball in the sand on the volleyball courts. Morale Welfare and Recreation centers provide areas where Soldiers can work out in the gym or get together for a game of billiards, ping pong or cards. There are even several chapels on the FOB where Soldiers can get their weekly spiritual dose, with numerous church services to choose from.
All these activities are great opportunities for Soldiers to escape and forget about the stressors they face, whether it be combat stress or stress developed from worrying about loved ones back home.
One thing is for sure, without some way to relax and let off steam, some Soldiers would not be able to focus while pressured to perform on duty. That makes extracurricular activities and all the opportunities offered here an integral part of "life of the FOB." They help keep all the Soldiers mentally and physically healthy, so that they can perform their mission and return to their loved ones at home station.
| Date Taken: | 09.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2009 15:44 |
| Story ID: | 39269 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 135 |
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