2009.02.12
13FEB09--"Gone Home on Leave"
Tomorrow morning, I depart the team to begin the trek back to the States. Read more »
12FEB09--Walk through Village (Pictures)
Today, the team went through a walk (dismounted patrol) through an Iraqi village. We visited several businesses that I had interviewed yesterday. Allow me to share several scenes. Read more »
2009.02.11
11FEB09--Interviews
Today, I met with some local Iraqi business owners to help interview them for a program to help businesses. Most interesting was my dialogue with the only woman of the group. Read more »
Arba'een Holiday
Four days from day, Iraqis and Shi'a worldwide will celebrate Arba'een. In southern Baghdad, the holiday has already begun. Read more »
2009.02.07
06FEB09--Tigeris Fishing
Today, Sergeant 'KC' Connaughton and I visited the Iraqi Army's new boat ramp to the Tigeris River. Looking out onto the river, I could not help but imagine having a fishing rod in hand. Read more »
2009.02.05
05FEB09--Scarface, now 'Scarchest'?
This afternoon, the team returned to our base as normal. But instead of Scarface, the energetic team puppy, greeting us as we dismounted the trucks, we located him sprawled on a doormat with a sizable gash on the right side of his chest. Read more »
2009.02.04
The Real Story Behind Iraqi Election Day, 31 JAN 2009
Just over four years ago, the Iraqi people voted in their first free and fair democratic elections. But those elections came at a cost. Large religious sects, certain voting districts, and in one case an entire province, boycotted the election.
Sectarian violence ensued, resulting in 44 civilian deaths on Election Day, January 30, 2005, and countless more in the months and years to follow. Read more »
2009.02.02
02FEB09--A Super Farewell
Today, my team not only celebrated the Super Bowl by grilling out at midnight, we also wished farewell to one of our interpreters. Read more »
01FEB09--Election Security Operations Complete
Election Day has come to a close here in Iraq. The day was amazingly quiet and successful. 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.
