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!
The bottom line is that we spent a lot of time setting up a compound at an Iraqi base for our team to live in, but, before we moved in, the Iraqi Army unit moved. Therefore, we had to move to be close to them. We hired a herd of trucks and a crane to load up our storage connexes and trailers.
The fastest way to hook a crane to the top of either a connex or a trailer is having a guy on top, ready to hook and unhook. The fastest way to get a guy at the right place in a timely fashion is for him to move on the hooks themselves. It was a good time, really. I won't be unhappy if we have to move again, and I get to ride the hooks again. Not a bad day's work.
At first, I was cautious riding atop of a storage connex. You can see from the truck that I am maybe two stories high.
The view at this elevation on flat terrain is actually quite nice.
Sergeant Brian Parker of Norfolk, VA joined me, and the good times rolled!
I rode the hooks much like I saw the foreign national workers, but Parker showed me a thing or two here.
Parker makes like an Olympic gymnist.
Yes, the Iraqi can hardly believe his eyes. But the real show was about to begin.
Good idea? or best idea ever?
"Don't worry, I got you."
Like a couple of kids...
Sergeant Daniel Colon to the Iraqi: "Looks like fun. You want to give it a go or what?"
The Irish security contractor directs Lieutenant Jay Alaniz and Sergeant "KC" Connaughton, "Okay when they plummet to the pavement, you go check breathing and responsiveness, you check pulse and blood loss, and I'll..."
The safety-concious Irishman travels across Iraq in this vehicle. I keep my MRAP, thank you.
The line of trucks hauling the trailers and connexes.
Rich,
It looks like there was some fun to be had as you went about your business. Good to see it's not so serious all the time over there. That actually looks like a ball... I'd like to try out my Olympic gymnast skills, show you boys a thing or two. (haha, just kidding!) Take care, and keep up the good work!
Comment by Eva — November 25, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
Eva,
Parker and I had a lot of fun with this. Maybe too much.
Some of the other pictures of us in the air, well, not so much on the manly side.
But we're closer, and I am a better guy for knowing him.
Comment by Rich Connaroe — November 26, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Great stuff! What a nice respite from the daily grind, eh? With my tongue firmly planted in my cheek I bet your safety officer was thrilled too.
Comment by mike thorne — November 26, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
Mike,
You see us wearing hand protection, ballistic eye protection, and head gear, eh? We mitigated the risk level to a low level. Any reasonable person would agree.
Comment by richconnaroe — November 27, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Just wanting to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and to say thank YOU for what you are doing for others.
Comment by Mrs. Who — November 27, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
I agree, and I am still smiling. Keep your humor up and I am often thinking
of you and your Soldiers. Stay safe. Hooah!
Comment by Mike Thorne — November 27, 2008 @ 5:52 pm