Back in Iraq

"The title sounded so much cooler when I was screaming it in my head as a parody to the famous AC/DC song. When it’s written on paper, it kind of loses its awesomeness. Regardless, after many months of training, and thousands of miles of travel, I am finally set in my duty station – Camp Taji, Iraq – which is located only a few miles north of Baghdad. It has been nearly three years since I had last been in this area, and it is like a completely different universe.

The base itself is very impressive. I live inside a two man “CHU”, which I am fairly sure stands for Container Housing Unit (however, I like to think it stands for "Cool-ified" Housing Unit). Regardless, it can be most closely compared to the back of a tractor trailer, if the inside were renovated and fitted with electricity and furniture.Compared to the glorified circus tents we occupied at Fork Polk, Louisianna, CHU's are like a little piece of sunshine. Speaking of sunshine, let's not forget the warm Iraqi weather! Knock it if you will, but keep in mind that while you are shoveling yourself out of some Armageddon-like snow squalls - I will be perfecting the suntan atop my big, shaved, bald head."
Boots on the Ground