Birch checking in

“I finally got a chance to stop by. I hope all is well (hell I hope there are still folks he who know me....)

I've been in kuwait about a week now. Its like a really big beach without the water. I'll be heading to Iraq soon and will final get established and be able to start working as opposed to training.

All in all things are well. Still working on adjusting to the time change. I have been sleeping a few hours here and there but nothing solid. Running has been less than fun.

Anyway, summer camp is great. Y'all take care!”

“Take care, Birch!”

“Who is this "birch" character?”

“"Hello Mudda. Hello Fodda. Here I am at Camp Haji. Camp is very endearing, and they say we'll have some fun if it stops searing."

Good to see ya Birch. Take care.”

“Yes, take care.”

“Take care.”

“Hiya Birch! Whatcha doin' there anyway? Hopefully not carrying the kinda pack you'd avoid like the plague here, eh?”

“Glad to hear from you. I'm still praying.”

“Howdy!!!!!...take care!!!!!”

“me and the boys think of you often--take care!”

“"summer camp"

never heard it called that.. be safe!!!
hey you need a care package?”

“Smooth sailin' in that sandy ocean.”

“thanks for checking in, birch. great to hear from you! best of luck.”

“Obi, his pack for work weighs about 120#.

He gets online very rarely (has to find time and pay for it at the base Star
bucks), so I'll take the liberty of answering the questions I can.

Maple, we don't have an address yet as they'll be moving again sooner or later. When I get it I'll pass it along and any requests. Thanks for asking! Hoping it will be soon....I have a growing pile of stuff to be sent!”

“So, wtf ever happened to that hyperpacker guy?”

“I am back, today is a DONSA (day of no scheduled activity) day. Not a full day mind you, we trained this morn before the sun was high to avoid the worst of it. I just chillin now. I broke down and bought a mango passion fruit frappacino at starbucks and damn it tastes good.

Obi, we are doing the final prep work and validations before we head up to iraq for the remainder of our tour , it should be 10 months or so. And as Sass said I am carrying a ruck about 3x my normal size(110-120#),my full kit, plate carrier (carriers my armor plates) ammo and water adds about another 40# or so. All in all about 85-90% of my body weight. My days of cruising along for 15miles with a smile are gone LOL.

Hel, please tell the boys I said hello. I look forward to playing dune jump 2000 with them again next summer.

I'll post an address once I get one. It'll be some time yet. I have one for kuwait but it'd be a month of sundays before the mail catches up.

The time is going surprisingly fast. I have been promoted since I left home (I am now a corporal, the oldest rank in the US military and the hardest to get rid of) and will hopefully get my next stripe in Oct.

Thanks for the well wishes.”

“...we appreciate ya keeping us up to date!!!....and send prayers & best wishes.....
...when I was in Chicago, we went to the Disney store & there was a little stuffed Piglet with a little shirt on that said "Birch"..I thought of you & I took a pic...it is on my facebook,... but it was so cute!!!”

“120# pack? ARMOR?

I'd have never made it through boot camp...”

“Starbucks?! Wow. Do you have a Kroger, too? They're having a great sell right now.

May the Spirit of 76 be with you, my barely-missed-meeting-you Lower Peninsula friend.”

“sell = sale”

“good to hear from you birch. hang tough man!”

“thanks for the updates! We'll be watching for them and praying for you and yours.”

“wow...Obi Long time no hear...great to see your stil out there

hey Ped,
Hey Birch,
Hey Sass

BTW...Birch I still have that perfect spoon you carved...thanks so much, I always think of you when I see it. People who come into my house always ask about it...ya see it's not just a christmas decoration to me!!

Hi E1 else..hope your all doing well.”

“Birch, great to hear from you and best wishes.”

“Birch, Sass, Abby, I wish you all the best, and a safe return home for you Birch. You are all in my thoughts. May fortune see us all on the trail together again soon. Congrats on the promotion Birch. Keep the sand out of your action, and your head down Bro.”

“Right on, Birch. Good luck keeping the sand outta everything.”

“Yo Bud. Good hearing from you! Keep low!”

“Now that I am living the movie Groundhog Day I have some time for a quick update.

I have been settled in at my new home for about 3 weeks now. Its not too bad, I have three good friends as room mates, and the A/C works so its all good. There isnt much to see except for the mountains in the distance and they are usually obscured by sand. The base is an old iraqi airfield. Any signs of the original owners are long gone.

We've been pretty busy but I spend most of my free time at the gym or sleeping in my CHU (containerized housing unit). Oddly the food is amazing with the best fruit I have ever eaten. I got to chill out with the two FOB dogs the other day which was cool, made me miss my dog. They are spoiled rotten.

I am currently near tikrit living in a transient tent. I am not supposed to be here, I am supposed to be very far from here as a matter of fact but it is what it is I geuss. the weather continues to suck, its about 114* again. So I will go back to sleep, then when it cools it'll be back to the gym again...just like groundhog day.

PS tikrit looks a lot like a south florida ghetto with sand.
last edited: 8/18/09 7:36:20 AM”

“A dust devil near our bunker


Me and speed bump

last edited: 8/18/09 7:43:15 AM”

“You're looking good, birch. Thanks for your post and for showing the pictures.

Best wishes.”

“I ws thinking it sounded like the bottom of the Grand Canyon in August without the scenery!

Stay well ----”

“Glad you're doing well- still don't know about that mustache, though.

Good looking dog.”

“Glad it's going well Birch.”

“The dog has a mustache? Are we seeing the same pic?

Thanks for the pics, birch. keep your barrel clean.”

“good to hear from you. take care bud.”

“the mustache is necessary, treebait. the locals respect facial hair.”

“Thanks for the update and glad you're doing well.”

“i LOVE the mustache! mustaches are HOT! keep up the good work.

keep your head down.”

“hey sass, dizzy just called your man hot

Come on cat fight!”

“LOL!”

“Good Luck Birch, we are proud of ya.”

“Glad to read things are going well.”

“of course they would. those ba$tards better watch out while Birch is in town!”

“I was just thinking we were overdue for an update. Keep 'em coming - more pics too.”

“Thanks for the update and for your service!!!”

“Of course she did; he is! ;) Literally and figuratively, lol.”

“What whippersnappers!

Birch, glad to hear you are doing well. I imagine sand is just in everything. Stay safe.”

“Birch, good to hear things are going well. 114 is hot and must feel even hotter out in the sun.”

“Good God, is that PHIL in the middle?

Birch, how long must you endure there? Seems you've adjusted as best as situation allows, but gotta believe you can't wait to get back here... when will you hang up your pack? I mean the 120# one!!!...”