Checking in...

[Buckeyefan 1]

That is scary. Be careful! That's horrible about those two children in your last post. Sorry to hear it may be awhile before you return home. Do you have any idea of a potential return date? How's the family doing? I'm sure they miss you. Thanks again for your service - it is truely appreciated!

 

[VS540]

Well, my interweb time has drastically been reduced. My laptop took a crap on me two weeks ago and noone here can fix it. I'm either going to have to send it back to my wife or get a new one, either way I'm not going to be on much for the next month or so.

So I'm still alive and kickin, just not in the cyber-world for awhile.

We got mortared again today and had a 107mm rocket land 50m from where Beast and I where. It was a direct hit on the gym that required medavacs for 5 soldiers inside, luckily the round exploded on the topside of the building before penatrating through the roof. It hasn't been a very good week for us here.

That sucks about the gym and ppl inside.

Keep up the good fight!
I served 8 years in the Air Force and did my fair share of traveling. I was notified two years ago to be ready to be called back to active duty at a moments notice. Nothing has come of it yet...

Keep Beast and yourself safe!

 

[Audioholics]

When we tried to respond to it we got rocks and feces thrown at us

Unbelievable... this is likely why there is so much bias and intolerance from Americans towards the middle east... the culture differences are just too vast. I thought only primates threw feces.

 

[Tomorrow]

Unbelievable... this is likely why there is so much bias and intolerance from Americans towards the middle east... the culture differences are just too vast. I thought only primates threw feces.

Clint, I hate to break it to you, but humans are primates!

 

[Matt34]

Well, I broke down and bought another laptop. It's a Averatec 1020, one of those ultra-portables. It weighs 3.6lbs and is half the size of my dell. I'm going to give it to my wife when I go home on leave and get the Dell upgraded and fixed so I can bring it back with me.

Not much to report, we are still getting attacked about every other day. So much so that we have to wear full battle-rattle around the FOB now(which is not fun in 130 degree heat).

 

[majorloser]

Latest Pictures from Iraq

Here's some pictures Matt sent from Iraq.

His quote was, "Insurgents aren't the only scary thing here."

Thanks Matt for the great pics and PLEASE stay safe and come home soon

 

[Matt34]

It's a wolf that was caught at Camp Victory, Baghdad.(about 15mins north of me) I don't know a lot of details but they have a running ban up there for now.

 

[Matt34]

Well I get to start my journey home tomorrow for two weeks R&R!! I'm so ready for a break and I just might make it home for our 10yr wedding anniversary on the 5th. Wife is taking the entire two weeks off and we are going to try and catch the Alison Krauss and Union Station concert in Tucson while I'm home. I tried talking her into the Godsmack show but I got "the look"....is that even possible through instant message???

I have some homebrew beer and lots of movies I'm looking forward too, plus I get to knock the dust off the "pocket viper" that has been in storage all this time. Like they say, you don't really appreciate how good you have it until it's gone.

Beast has to stay here unfortunately but she is in good hands with my fellow handlers. When I get back we will really be on the downhill side of this deployment with four months left.

 

[Johnd]

Sounds like it's time for some well deserved r&r Matt...enjoy it. Allison Krauss sounds like a good bet...you'll have to let us know how it was when you check back in. If you have time, that is (because of the make up work to do with your better half ("the look")). Welcome Home!

 

[surveyor]

Thanks for serving our country Matt!
Gods Speed to you and all our magnificient armed forces.
Enjoy your R&R and your family.
Kelly Jenkins (U.S. Army 1976 to 1982)

 

[majorloser]

Get your butt home!

You'd better make it home for your 10 year anniversary! I guarantee this will be an anniversary you'll NEVER forget

Besides, there a nice juicy Porterhouse steak waiting for you grilled to perfection

 

[Matt34]

Sure didn't miss this stuff while I was home.

Rocket landed inside the conex.

Our Humvee, didn't make it through the 4" of glass.

The building we live in, there are marks all over but I just took pics of a couple.

One took out our neighbors A/C, lucky we don't need it now.

 

[Matt34]

Went on a mission the other day with a Stryker unit. Beast found a weapons cache hidden in a alley storage unit.

If you look close, you'll see a 1940's "grease gun".

Here's a couple of the strykers.

I guess flickr doesn't allow direct linking.

 

[Sheep]

Wow, this is so cool. Thanks for posting, and stay safe!

SheepStar

 

[Rob Babcock]

Good luck, Matt. I hope you and all your brothers in arms will be home soon.

 

[Matt34]

self inflicted boo-boo

Beast kept licking the top of her foot until it was raw. Had to treat it then bandage it up, she gave me that look that animals give you when you give them the green needle. Needless to say she wasn't impressed.

 

[majorloser]

Beast looks PO'd with you!

Is that like shooting yourself in the foot to get sent home?

 

[Matt34]

Beast looks PO'd with you!

Is that like shooting yourself in the foot to get sent home?

I told her she's a malingerer and it's a chargeable offense.

I think she is just bored, I'm going to have my wife send me a couple "kong" toys for her to chew on to keep her occupied during down time.

 

[stratman]

Hey Matt,

Just saw the superbowl with some buds, just a quick note, hey man thanks for what you guys are doing over there, there are some folks that don't understand the importance of you mission. We were talking about how you guys are in harm's way making sure that we can keep our way of life from coming to a screeching halt and here we are watching a football game safe at home (unless you live in central FL)thanks to you guys. I hope at least you were able to see some of the game.

Stratman

 

[Tomorrow]

Beast looks PO'd with you!

Is that like shooting yourself in the foot to get sent home?

...and in the picture in front of the Bradley, look where Matt is pointing that M4 (or whatever the rifle is).... ("Finger off the trigger until ready to fire." )

Hey Matt...that Bradley needs one of those fancy new ray (heat) guns?!