As you all may know, I made a few posts on here a while back talking about my trials in Balad. So much has changed. To get you up to speed, after my month or so in Balad, I was sent to Tikrit to finish out the rest of my tour. Little did I know that my tour would be cut short. We basically trained to come to Iraq to train some more. It wasn't much of a deployment when compared to others I have done. We had time to not only practice for football games, but to play them. Doing sports in your spare time is one thing and is a good stress reliever, but having time to practice for them? you have way too much time on your hands. I pulled a lot of duty, that's for sure.
I won't go into detail about everything I did...as it would be fairly boring. I came back to the states Jan. 25th mainly because of my new promotion put us over strength and overmanned. I understand why the BC did what he did. At the time, I was pissed, but later on I grew to understand it. Looking back, I don't regret a thing. While coming back closed one door, it opened many others. I got promoted finally! Now I look at the army as a possible long term career opportunity instead of feeling like I was in Specialist Limbo. Also, I can start learning how to lead and train other soldiers. Not only this, but I get to be with my boy Elijah. He is something else, lemme tell you. You can't put a price on being with the kids. For kale, I am finding that I am starting to know and understand him. Going through the tough things with him makes you want to love him and appreciate him more. He is usually the easier of the two to deal with unless he gets sick. Even though he doesn't talk and doesn't always show me affection, I can not see how someone could not love him once you have been through hell and back. He is a walking miracle.
While all this is great, coming back has shown me that it can be more difficult than I thought to adjust. Things haven't always been hunky dory between everyone in the house. I don't want to get into all kinds of details, but people who are in the know understand what I am talking about.
Along with this is my lazy, inconsiderate, pain in the butt (and that's being super nice) ex, D.
She fills Eva's (my daughter) head with lies and makes it difficult for me to see her. Now...lets see. what am I leaving out? My job. What I have noticed is that things are in full swing and haven't really slowed down any. I deal with a lot of stress and high expectations...some of which I put on myself.
So, for all of you out there who have any questions or concerns or what have you, just post them in the comments. You can email me via contacting Lindsey.
I don't plan on posting a lot on this blog, but every now and then I'll show up.
P.S. Fireproof the movie may have some bad acting, but it is a great movie. Go see it.
Peace out!
SGT Edwin B. Brietz
Medic
U.S. Army
The Family
This is us about 6 hours after Elijah arrived. I'm happy because the phenergan had worn off and no I'm not on pain meds here.
Showing posts with label Blake's posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blake's posts. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Finally here! How it's been. Part 3 of 3
Well, after all of us left ali al-salem; each with our own section. we were divided up into 2 major sections, each having a HQ and 3-4 force protection units a piece. It is no secret what we are here for, but I will not always be going into specifics. Lets just say our guys work long shifts and help protect the base. After leaving Camp V, we went to Ali to depart our separate ways.
the first day in country, we had a bad dust storm. Little did i know that weather would play a big role in my upcoming job. I went in to get linins and a room when I was told that I would be the armorer and mail handler, on top of whatever it was I was going to do. My job...my MOS, well, i don't even mess with it here. It isn't needed.
So, for now, with one month in country and a paycheck or two under my belt, things are fine. I saved up and got a TV and a small fridge. I have my lappy-top and enough legit and black market DVD's to last me a while. I managed to find something better than a expensive ass calling card, called SPAWAR. I have also recieved 2 boxes from Lin. I love all the mail I get, though I dont get alot. We all do. send more please..:-)
I don't work out as much as i should, and a smoke more than i should. I dream of my wife and kids, and of seeing the world. I have managed to get in trouble a time or two for silly things, but I am getting better at my job and at life. I miss some of the guys i hung out with alot, and I enjoy some of the others.
My level of respect and admiration has went down for quite a few of our batteries important people, while it has went up for a few of some of the joes like myself. All in all, I am here to get paid and get promoted. Just like any other guy. I dont care about Iraq, or anything like that. I care about my guys, and anyone else in uniform. They are all that matters for now. The medic in me cares for peoples well-being.
I am finding I need to be more of a man: more confrontational, more vocal, more of a leader, ect.
I am not alot of those things. I suck at speaking....I tend to be low key. basicly, I need to change alot of myself and quit being afraid.
If any of you have questions about what all I do, what it is like over here...I mean anything!
Send Lin an email or just post them here. She will make sure I see them and answer them.
In the mean, when things happen (excluding opsec stuff and deaths), I'll post them here.
laters!
the first day in country, we had a bad dust storm. Little did i know that weather would play a big role in my upcoming job. I went in to get linins and a room when I was told that I would be the armorer and mail handler, on top of whatever it was I was going to do. My job...my MOS, well, i don't even mess with it here. It isn't needed.
So, for now, with one month in country and a paycheck or two under my belt, things are fine. I saved up and got a TV and a small fridge. I have my lappy-top and enough legit and black market DVD's to last me a while. I managed to find something better than a expensive ass calling card, called SPAWAR. I have also recieved 2 boxes from Lin. I love all the mail I get, though I dont get alot. We all do. send more please..:-)
I don't work out as much as i should, and a smoke more than i should. I dream of my wife and kids, and of seeing the world. I have managed to get in trouble a time or two for silly things, but I am getting better at my job and at life. I miss some of the guys i hung out with alot, and I enjoy some of the others.
My level of respect and admiration has went down for quite a few of our batteries important people, while it has went up for a few of some of the joes like myself. All in all, I am here to get paid and get promoted. Just like any other guy. I dont care about Iraq, or anything like that. I care about my guys, and anyone else in uniform. They are all that matters for now. The medic in me cares for peoples well-being.
I am finding I need to be more of a man: more confrontational, more vocal, more of a leader, ect.
I am not alot of those things. I suck at speaking....I tend to be low key. basicly, I need to change alot of myself and quit being afraid.
If any of you have questions about what all I do, what it is like over here...I mean anything!
Send Lin an email or just post them here. She will make sure I see them and answer them.
In the mean, when things happen (excluding opsec stuff and deaths), I'll post them here.
laters!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The journey continues...
part 2
so, last I left you, I was in the Nova Scotia wanna-be land of NEWFOUNDLAND. (yes, they all speak in ALLCAPS over there. it's for dramatic "army wives" effect, you know.)
an aside if you will - every FRG's favorite show, "army wives" is often close to army reality, yet often strays away from it and does things for dramatic effect that I think are hilarious. Yes, my wife makes me watch, but she'll deny it.
So, we fly from there to Iceland of all places. I slept through that whole ordeal, but i remember people bitching because it is, get this, illegal to smoke ciggarettes there! WTF?
I ain't sure, but who cares, right?
Now the long leg of the flight. Next stop, Hungary's Buddapest Int. Airport. All the guys agreed after seeing the local women the name should be changed to bootyfest. That freaking place was some kind of expensive! For a apple dessert looking thing and a ginger ale, it was $10.00!
The exchange rate was $1 for 140 (whatever hungarian monopoly money is called).
THEN add the city mall like inflation. How do they buy anything in that place?
After the short layover, we head for "hot-ass" Kuwait. We touch down in Ali Al-Salem and move our bags from bus to bus to bus to truck to bus to bus with no rest, food, anything. (never mind the long-ass bus ride in which I was an armed escort) I throw my back out in the process of all of this. We get there, get a lame-ass brief that doesnt apply to us, then we think we are gonna get our beds. WRONG. We get shiped to Camp Virginia, AKA The Sandbox that sucks! Everything is a good 5 minutes of walking away, except the porta-johns and the showers. Thank God! While I think this place sucks, I will be proven wrong by BALAD, which doesnt have half the facilities of Virginia OR Ali Al-Salem. I paid 5 bucks an hour (!) for internet and didn't bitch like I did once I seen the free lines in JBB (for short)
I am gonna stop this part of the journey leaving you in Camp Virginia, awaiting the orders for Ali Al-salem and the next stop of JBB.
Thats all for now!
love,
Blake
so, last I left you, I was in the Nova Scotia wanna-be land of NEWFOUNDLAND. (yes, they all speak in ALLCAPS over there. it's for dramatic "army wives" effect, you know.)
an aside if you will - every FRG's favorite show, "army wives" is often close to army reality, yet often strays away from it and does things for dramatic effect that I think are hilarious. Yes, my wife makes me watch, but she'll deny it.
So, we fly from there to Iceland of all places. I slept through that whole ordeal, but i remember people bitching because it is, get this, illegal to smoke ciggarettes there! WTF?
I ain't sure, but who cares, right?
Now the long leg of the flight. Next stop, Hungary's Buddapest Int. Airport. All the guys agreed after seeing the local women the name should be changed to bootyfest. That freaking place was some kind of expensive! For a apple dessert looking thing and a ginger ale, it was $10.00!
The exchange rate was $1 for 140 (whatever hungarian monopoly money is called).
THEN add the city mall like inflation. How do they buy anything in that place?
After the short layover, we head for "hot-ass" Kuwait. We touch down in Ali Al-Salem and move our bags from bus to bus to bus to truck to bus to bus with no rest, food, anything. (never mind the long-ass bus ride in which I was an armed escort) I throw my back out in the process of all of this. We get there, get a lame-ass brief that doesnt apply to us, then we think we are gonna get our beds. WRONG. We get shiped to Camp Virginia, AKA The Sandbox that sucks! Everything is a good 5 minutes of walking away, except the porta-johns and the showers. Thank God! While I think this place sucks, I will be proven wrong by BALAD, which doesnt have half the facilities of Virginia OR Ali Al-Salem. I paid 5 bucks an hour (!) for internet and didn't bitch like I did once I seen the free lines in JBB (for short)
I am gonna stop this part of the journey leaving you in Camp Virginia, awaiting the orders for Ali Al-salem and the next stop of JBB.
Thats all for now!
love,
Blake
Friday, July 11, 2008
So, how have I been? The other half speaks!
part 1
I'll try to fill in the blanks from that fateful day of 1 July 08 until now. It has been a long journey until now. I flew from Lawton, OK to some Podunk town in Illinois. We landed there and the layover was about 2 hours. all I remember was that the can cokes in the machine cost 50 cents. SWEET! From there, we went to NEWFOUNDLAND?! (did i spell it right?) It is pronounced "new fin lind" i think, and it is really pretty! They have alot duck hunting inspired town names like Goose Bay (where we were) and Labrador. There wasn't crap at the landing strip but a small office, but i remember the grey overcast sky, the long rows of trees on the horizon, and the greenest grass I have ever seen. I want to take Lin there for a second honeymoon or vacation. The might not be alot there, but I think i could come up with things to do (and places to do them).
More Later.
My time is up :-(
I'll try to fill in the blanks from that fateful day of 1 July 08 until now. It has been a long journey until now. I flew from Lawton, OK to some Podunk town in Illinois. We landed there and the layover was about 2 hours. all I remember was that the can cokes in the machine cost 50 cents. SWEET! From there, we went to NEWFOUNDLAND?! (did i spell it right?) It is pronounced "new fin lind" i think, and it is really pretty! They have alot duck hunting inspired town names like Goose Bay (where we were) and Labrador. There wasn't crap at the landing strip but a small office, but i remember the grey overcast sky, the long rows of trees on the horizon, and the greenest grass I have ever seen. I want to take Lin there for a second honeymoon or vacation. The might not be alot there, but I think i could come up with things to do (and places to do them).
More Later.
My time is up :-(
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