Busy weekend for Semper Gumby and his Automedics

Where has the time gone? It has been a busy week for Semper Gumby. Just got back from a lllloooonnnngggg weekend of back to back missions. The stress is building to the point where I don’t feel like doing anything. I would blame the blog, for me not writing in my journal, but I haven’t written much on the blog either. So the journal has pretty much laid mute for a while.

Friday morning I went on a short mission. I don’t really think it qualified as a MEDCAP (medical civil affairs program). But we called it that. It was more a recon in preparation of the march scheduled for Saturday morning. But the march location and time is a surprise. We dropped off some medicines at the Qayarrah medical clinic. When I think of MEDCAPs, I think of us seeing locals and providing medical care. The caretaker was the only guy there since it was Friday the typical day off for Iraqis.

Late Friday evening we, the Automedics, rolled out with the engineers to start the cordon and search. The commander of the 2nd battalion 2nd Iraqi Army had organized a March against Terror along with all the locals shieks, muktars and the governor. He asked our unit to assist him in making it a safe demonstration. I KNOW the citizens in Baghdad did their march on 12 May and the American Muslims did their marches back on 14 May. It is great that less than 2 months later the citizens of Ninevah feel safe enough to do their own march. It is a further testament to the Automatic battalion and the 3 battalions of the 2nd Iraqi Army that we had no casualties or incidents during the march. No patients and no patience. It is a great day when the medics are bored. We were all ready to come home an hour after getting up this morning. It was great to sleep under the stars though. Very peaceful and cool. I dreamed I was sailing and being on night watch. It got unbearably hot as the day drug on. 125 F. I would say add 20 or more degrees to that for inside the MEV. I have been considering putting this journal/blog into a book form. I know I haven’t done enough exciting things for a book but I take a few of the stories others have done and will make them my character's. I want to throw the demons vs angels fight in the background or would that be considered a story within the story instead of background? Anyway back to the March Against Terror. The engineers did a cordon and search, which means we start in the middle of town and work our way out. Then not let anyone back in that we dont want in. The engineers and mechanics moved vehicles off the march trail all night. We gave the locals an hour to get their cars moved on their own. We didn’t want any parked cars to become IEDs. Around 1 am shots rang out. Seems a local dog attacked one of the bomb dogs. So the handler had to shoot it. About 4 hours before we thought the event would be over the engineer commander, Big Country, came and said, "Endex." That is army speak for pack up and go home. It means end of exerise. I guess it could be argues that this isnt military training but we army guys are simple folk. CPT B is a mountain of a man at 6’4” 250 lbs. Always grinning with a twinkle in his eyes and a kind word for everyone. Seems like just a big kid playing army. Which is how I view my time in the military. I am just playing army. I get real excited when I get go to the range and fire a weapon or get to watch the artillery fire. Call me immature if you must but it makes life fun. Who says we have to be boring and dull? I am just a 43 year old kid.

Strykernews dot com has the only article I could find about the march. It makes me wonder who the 18 media guys were and what agencies they represented.

We got back from the march Saturday afternoon. Fueled up the MEV (Stryker- Medical Evacuation Vehicle), repacked our water supply and ate dinner. I learned a long time ago while reading Louis L'Amor books that you have to take care of your equipment first. If I ever have a son I hope he reads Louis L'Amor for the things I am not able to teach him. It isnt that my mom and dad didnt teach me. I just didnt listen. After all, parents are dumb when you are young. It is only after you get older that you realize how intelligent they really are. (No mom I didnt write that because you read my blog. LOL You are a great mom. Thank you for everything) I get sidetracked alot dont I? The only medical work we did Saturday at the march was preventative. We gave 3 cases of water to the Iraqi Police. It has become unofficial policy to give all water and food at the end of a mission to those in need.

Sunday morning dawned with us preparing another MEDCAP. It seems the PA had located some reporters and photographers from the Army Times newspaper and Combat camera. So to continue making the Automedics famous we went out once again. We got an infantry platoon to take us out to a small village up north. It was 30 minutes of off road driving. Even though the MEV is like riding in a Cadillac it was a rough drive. Most of the passengers were suffering motion sickness by the time we made it to our destination. The muktar’s son met us as we entered the town of 63 people. He was very well mannered. Polite to a fault. It took about an hour to get the 25 patients taken care of. It is sad that so many who came had birth defects. What is saddest is…we can’t do anything to help them. Sure we gave what limited vitamins and medicines that we had. (Costco sent us a case of children's vitamins free to give out) But they really need surgery or higher level of care than we can carry to them. When asked the muktar said there had never been a doctor, Iraqi or American, at their village before. He was a gracious host. He brought out a large platter of flat bread. Huge bowls of butter and dipping sauces. Then passed tea around to everyone. For the first time on a MEDCAP I declined the tea. I did to the horror of all accept the water bowl though. It was a small price to pay to show respect for the hospitality of the muktar. Actually I feel great. For lack of a better word, I guess my karma is good. The Lord is keeping me from getting sick because my heart was in the right place. We gave school supplies, beanie babies and candy to all the kids. SSG Brady Love taught a few of the boys how to play American football. We are out of soccer balls. Before we left we promised to bring their welder a set of goggles (we treated him for arc burn) and to bring a Dentist with lots of toothbrushes.

I think when I write this part in my book I will have an angel swatting the bacteria out of the water. Or is that too dramatic? LOL I think I should stop worrying about the book and just write what the Lord leads me to write.

Bottom line…..I missed writing here on the blog and am glad I am back safe.