2008.11.30
30NOV08--Major Wentworth's Promotion
Today, Aaron Wentworth of Michigan was promoted to major from captain. We had a cookout to celebrate, and Major Wentworth invited the Iraqi Army to participate. Read more »
2008.11.27
Soldiers' Thanksgiving Meal
Today, we as Americans are reminded of how much we have for which we can be thankful. The Soldiers here on an American base in southern Baghdad, where a wall divides us from a co-located Iraqi Army base, are thankful for the decline in violence that has held for months. Read more »
"Adopt a Soldier" -- Names/Addresses Available
On 22SEP07, the Roanoke Times printed one of my articles, "Care Packages Connect Soldiers To Home" (http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/iraq/2008/09/22/care-packages-connect-soldiers-to-home/). The article explained the value of care packages, suggested ideas for contents, and urged readers to adopt Soldiers on any one of several websites. At the time, I did not have names and addresses of single Soldiers readily available to distribute. Read more »
2008.11.25
Circa 7NOV08-Transporting Trailers to New Base
Some days, a year long deployment feels like it is crawling by. Other days, you look down at your watch and realize the date. We have nearly been here for four months now. And we moved the trailers that we would live and work in two weeks ago now. I am just now writing about it! Read more »
2008.11.24
Sons of Iraq Progress: An Uplifting Surprise
One month ago, the U.S. military transferred control of the Sons of Iraq to the government of Iraq. Under U.S. control, the social movement operated like a neighborhood watch committee and became an enormous success, leading to a dramatic drop in violence in Iraq between the summer of 2007 and 2008.
Under Iraqi control, Read more »
Offer to Send Care Package of Gifts (Response to Jo Ann)
I recently received a request from a kind lady named Jo Ann for a list of items to be sent to my team and I. Things like international calling cards, DVDs or CDs. Jo Ann had a budget of $600. Below is my response. Read more »
2008.11.23
Recent Pictures: Stampede and New Iraqi Commander
2008.11.19
Conversation with Iraqi Soldier about Family (Pictures per Reader Request)
Recently, an Iraqi Soldier asked about my wife and children. These are very common questions. Iraqis have a hard time understanding how Americans can settle for only one wife, and very much do not understand single Soldiers. "Is something wrong with your manhood?" is perhaps a proper way of wording their questions for the single Soldiers. Read more »
2008.11.17
Effects of War, Part II: The Children
As I noted in my most recent column, one of the most common sights soldiers see in Iraq is trash. As products of a rebuilding government, garbage-strewn fields are everywhere.
But far more profound is the collateral damage left in war's wake. Children may be safe physically, but the lives of many of them are a far cry from what we are accustomed to seeing in the States.
And that view is often heartbreaking. Read more »
About this blog
Rich Connaroe graduated from Northside High School in 2000 and VMI in 2004. Now a Captain in the U.S. Army, Connaroe begins a one-year deployment to Iraq in August. During that time, he plans to make regular blog posts that he hopes will connect readers of the The Roanoke Times to U.S. soldiers who are deployed in Iraq.
