We actually had a semi-decent meal out here. We got turkey, roast beef and ham, but by the time I got to go to chow the turkey was already gone. I tried the ham (bad idea) and the roast beef was ok...so I filled up on mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Yeah...talk about carbo-loading!
Christmas
I don't think we'll need anything to celebrate out here. I'm sure it will just be another day; missions as usual, which was just like Thanksgiving. Supposedly we're supposed to be moving shortly after Christmas, so we'll probably be packed up by then anyway. Seems like we just get settled in, and then they decide to move us again. Oh well...
Its actually starting to get kinda chilly around here. Its down into the low 40's at night...I think a couple of times its dipped into the upper 30's, but just for the night. Highs are probably upper 50's to low 60's still. You really notice the chill in the air when we're sitting on a rooftop overwatching the streets. Still haven't brought any of my "snivel gear" on the missions, but thats just because we usually walk around for a little while and warm up before we go and sit. In all honesty, I would probably take a knit helmet liner with me, though. Once we get set, we take our kevlars off and its pretty cold if the wind is blowing.
I can't think of any special requests for the package. Oh...actually, if you run across some of those hand warmers, a couple of those would be great. Other than that, I think I'm set.
I'm looking forward to getting back to Iowa. Glad that everything is going well there.
Things are kinda picking up around here. We've had some activity in the last couple of weeks that we haven't seen for quite a while. Its really got us back on our toes again. Everyone is ok; a couple of guys from the company we're attached to sustained minor injuries (especially compared to what they could have been) but I'm sure they'll be back in short order.
I guess we've got some big-wigs coming through sometime soon...so of course we've had to "tidy up the area." Doesn't make much sense, the whole country is covered in trash and garbage, and we're doing a police-call across our compound. Yay for brass.
Talk to you later, John
Troy
Monday, November 26, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
On the way back to the desert
Troy’s last few hours home are upon us. If you would like to see or talk with him before his departure you better drop him a line soon. Troy departs the Cedar Rapids airport at 0600 tomorrow morning. It will take approximately a week of traveling before he returns to his unit in the western edge of Iraq. Troy promises to keep us up to date as he finishes his tour.
As the Picture shows, we really enjoyed having troy in town
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Promotion
It is my pleasure to announce that prior to his mid tour leave PFC Troy Ruffin was promoted. Troy has now earned the rank of Specialist. We are all proud of Troy for this milestone.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
On the move
I got a phone call today from troy.
He has moved off of the front lines, and is currently resting up at Al Assad air base. He should move next to Kwait. From there he will fly to Dallas, and finally home to CID.
We expect him home on Wednesday.
He has moved off of the front lines, and is currently resting up at Al Assad air base. He should move next to Kwait. From there he will fly to Dallas, and finally home to CID.
We expect him home on Wednesday.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
9/27/07
Hey...I'm almost all packed up here, just have a couple things left to throw in my bad, and then I'll be all set to leave out of there. Got less than XXX hours till I hitch a ride to XXX, and from there begin the long journey home. When I start getting more information, I'll pass it along.
I'm wearing a brand new uniform, which looks waaaay out of place around here. Everyone else is wearing uniforms thick with dust and dirt from our daily activities, and here I sit in a bright, crisp uniform. I haven't worn anything this clean all year! Its kinda strange. I'm sure it'll get dusty/dirty on the drive tomorrow, so I'll pack a second one in my bag. It'd be interesting for people to actually see what we look like over here instead of the bright and shiny uniforms they see us wearing in the airports. But...they said we have to wear clean uniforms on our way home on leave. I'm not going to risk anything, so I've got on a brand new uniform, and one in my bag. Nothin's gonna stop me getting home!
Anything new in your neck of the woods? I'm sure I'll be spending a couple days at XXX, so I'll try and call sometime while I'm there.
Hope all is going well! Can't wait to see you again, John
Troy
I'm wearing a brand new uniform, which looks waaaay out of place around here. Everyone else is wearing uniforms thick with dust and dirt from our daily activities, and here I sit in a bright, crisp uniform. I haven't worn anything this clean all year! Its kinda strange. I'm sure it'll get dusty/dirty on the drive tomorrow, so I'll pack a second one in my bag. It'd be interesting for people to actually see what we look like over here instead of the bright and shiny uniforms they see us wearing in the airports. But...they said we have to wear clean uniforms on our way home on leave. I'm not going to risk anything, so I've got on a brand new uniform, and one in my bag. Nothin's gonna stop me getting home!
Anything new in your neck of the woods? I'm sure I'll be spending a couple days at XXX, so I'll try and call sometime while I'm there.
Hope all is going well! Can't wait to see you again, John
Troy
Thursday, September 13, 2007
09/13/2007
Can't wait, man!!! Tentative day for me to leave here is Oct 2. I figure travel time is probably 3-5 days. Will keep you posted, though.
Been getting your emails
Nothing too exciting out here, other than one of my guys burning his balls. Seriously...a flare was set off and it burned his thigh and penis/scrotum. Yeah...2nd degree burns, and his dick is on a long road to recovery. Probably will lose a large chunk of skin off his balls, too. But, gives him a great pick-up line: Hey baby, wanna see my war wound?
Anyway, should probably go...
Been getting your emails
Nothing too exciting out here, other than one of my guys burning his balls. Seriously...a flare was set off and it burned his thigh and penis/scrotum. Yeah...2nd degree burns, and his dick is on a long road to recovery. Probably will lose a large chunk of skin off his balls, too. But, gives him a great pick-up line: Hey baby, wanna see my war wound?
Anyway, should probably go...
Monday, August 27, 2007
On the move update
As I figured, things have changed regarding the move. We're still heading to the same general area, but my destination has changed a little bit.
From our company (B Co), our 3rd platoon is being attached to E Co (engineers) to help augment their capabilities. At first, the plan had been to have one of the E Co medics cover the platoon, and I would stay with Bravo to cover the platoon we would be getting from D Co. This, however, has changed, and I am now flying out Thursday (I think) to E Co's area of responsibility. I'm actually happy with this change, as I have done most of my missions with 3rd platoon; they all know me and are confident in me and my abilities, and I know how they work. I think this is going to work out in everyone's best interest.
My address is changing just a little; all that is changing is the platoon assignment.
PFC RUFFIN, TROY
B Co, 3rd PLT, 2-7 IN BN
UNIT # 73431
KOREAN VILLAGE
APO AE 09371-3431
Still don't know much about the area for which we'll be responsible, or specifics on living conditions. As so much of this is up in the air, and it doesn't appear that any more information will be passed down to us, I am taking the "worst-case scenario" standpoint and anticipating not having the chance to use the phone or internet after I leave here on Thursday. If that is the case, my next chance to use them will be when I arrive at one of the larger bases on my way home on leave. Still don't have a confirmed date yet, but I have been told I'll be on the first or second flight out for the month. Rough estimate is 6-10 October, but will have a more definitive idea when I start my travels back towards the States.
I have most of my gear packed for the upcoming move; just the stuff I need on a daily basis left to throw in my bad. I'm also stuffing my aid bag with as many extra supplies as it will hold. For now, it sounds like I may be close to one of the established aid stations, though I don't want to be caught without the supplies I need.
The nice thing is that I'll be running missions right up until I leave for our new "home." This is definitely helping the time pass quickly. I haven't been keeping a calendar or anything, but we should be right around the "halfway point" for our deployment. We've heard talk of our return date being anything from mid-March to early April; most of us have decided to take the latest date and shoot for that...if we return any earlier it'll just be icing on the cake.
Not much else to report from here. If anything pops up in the next couple days I'll pass it along.
Best wishes
Troy
From our company (B Co), our 3rd platoon is being attached to E Co (engineers) to help augment their capabilities. At first, the plan had been to have one of the E Co medics cover the platoon, and I would stay with Bravo to cover the platoon we would be getting from D Co. This, however, has changed, and I am now flying out Thursday (I think) to E Co's area of responsibility. I'm actually happy with this change, as I have done most of my missions with 3rd platoon; they all know me and are confident in me and my abilities, and I know how they work. I think this is going to work out in everyone's best interest.
My address is changing just a little; all that is changing is the platoon assignment.
PFC RUFFIN, TROY
B Co, 3rd PLT, 2-7 IN BN
UNIT # 73431
KOREAN VILLAGE
APO AE 09371-3431
Still don't know much about the area for which we'll be responsible, or specifics on living conditions. As so much of this is up in the air, and it doesn't appear that any more information will be passed down to us, I am taking the "worst-case scenario" standpoint and anticipating not having the chance to use the phone or internet after I leave here on Thursday. If that is the case, my next chance to use them will be when I arrive at one of the larger bases on my way home on leave. Still don't have a confirmed date yet, but I have been told I'll be on the first or second flight out for the month. Rough estimate is 6-10 October, but will have a more definitive idea when I start my travels back towards the States.
I have most of my gear packed for the upcoming move; just the stuff I need on a daily basis left to throw in my bad. I'm also stuffing my aid bag with as many extra supplies as it will hold. For now, it sounds like I may be close to one of the established aid stations, though I don't want to be caught without the supplies I need.
The nice thing is that I'll be running missions right up until I leave for our new "home." This is definitely helping the time pass quickly. I haven't been keeping a calendar or anything, but we should be right around the "halfway point" for our deployment. We've heard talk of our return date being anything from mid-March to early April; most of us have decided to take the latest date and shoot for that...if we return any earlier it'll just be icing on the cake.
Not much else to report from here. If anything pops up in the next couple days I'll pass it along.
Best wishes
Troy
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