Check out my new Ride...

The CH-46E Sea Knight, affectionately known as the "Phrog" is slowly retiring after more than 40 years of dedicated service. Though I will always love this old girl, shown here on NVG's, it's time to move on. My email address and this blog site won't change names, just my aircraft will.

I just got selected to fly the MV-22. I will finish up my time here in Iraq and then stay with my squadron until June when we stand-down. Then my training on tilt-rotor aircraft will begin.

My Trip to Baghdad...

I just got back from Downtown Baghdad. Myself and one of my Marines, SSgt Michael Rivera, got to visit the city for his reenlistment. His tour was up and he had chosen to reenlist for another four years. This involves a short ceremony and for someone like him with eleven years in, he was deserving of something special. We flew into the city on the 22nd and stayed till Christmas morning.
We stayed in the U.S. Embassy, which is one of Saddam's old Palaces (the top picture here, not the bombed one here), and did his ceremony at the Crossed Swords next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb is from the Iran-Iraq War and is for the same purpose as our own like memorial. The Crossed Swords are bookends for a parade deck where Saddam used to hold daily parades. We conducted the ceremony and then took a tour of the city. Here are two of the Saddam busts that were removed from the palaces. This guy really thought a lot of himself. It was quite a trip and was a very unique way to spend Christmas Eve and Morning...

Merry Christmas...

Here is my version of a Christmas Card. It is from Al Taqaddum Airfield. Merry Christmas to all...

"Chewy's" Aircraft and Crew...

Here is Ole #5. My Crew is Capt Drew "Buck" McFarland and LCpl Sabrina Lopez. Lopez told us we could put a picture of Vida Guerra on our armor if she could put our names in pink... Capt McFarland is a talented artist and he freehanded this drawing while looking at a Maxim picture of Vida.

Christmas Flightline Style...

Here is the Line's Christmas Tree. It is decorated with all the Christmas essentials: Candy Canes, Garland, Stockings, Ornaments (One that is custom made by the Capt's wife, thanks Baby!), Lights, and Spent .50 Caliber Shell Casings...
We are almost ready for the season. We just need to hang our stockings...

And you thought commercials are bad at home...

As I sit here on duty, occassionally glancing at the television showing the Armed Forces Network one persistent thought keeps crossing my mind. Why do they show commercials that advertise the Armed Forces Network, on the Armed Forces Network? What choice do I or anyone else have that watches it. I can't tune up any other network from here and they don't show the commercials anywhere else. I just don't understand...

Try teaching Psychology to young inquisitive minds in a country that collectively needs a Psychologist

As I sit here writing a Psychology exam for my class I think back at all the questions my students have asked over the course of the last month and a half. Many have been along the lines of "Why do we study so much Anatomy", especially of the brain. Some have been went with "What does something an ancient old dead dude said have to do with our lives today." While those are pretty good and even humorous, the best questions are "Why do the Iraqi's do..." and there have been many. I used to start to answer them, now I don't quite know. At least the Referendum passed. Maybe if this country finally moves towards democracy and peace, we will all be able to understand the Iraqi mind and they ours.

Iraq is much better when there is something to do...

When there are no missions to go do it gets pretty boring around here. Of course I always have my "to do lists" of minor things to take care of. What would I do without "to do lists?"