Good morning from Baghdad, where the weather has been nice and cool,
50's in the morning and 70's during the day. Things remain nice and
quiet for us in our little AO (Area of Operation) as Team Zombie is
finally settled in as we moved into our new office last week when we
returned from FOB Liberty for five days of MRAP (Mine Resistant Armored
Prtoection) vehicle training.Pretty cool vehicle, like driving an
armored bus. 
Our team has been occupied mostly with updating paperwork
relative to applications for business grants from the various
neighborhoods in our AO. Over the past 24 hours, Grandpa and I
volunteered to participate in two walking presence patrols in Khadimya
just outside our gate, both two hours long, one at night and yesterday
afternoon. I haven't walked that much in full battle rattle since Basic
and damn was my back feeling it! It was very cool, though. We saw so
much of the area.
During the night patrol, the power went out on one
street we were walking thru, definitely made for some jittery nerves.
It was amazing to see so many people out and about, at the little shops
along the way, mostly friendly and responsive to the general greeting
"A Salaama Lakem" which means "Peace Be Upon You". We stopped at a nite
club packed full of men on outdoor patios playing dominoes. Several
hotels along the way appeared to be very nice, as the local shrine
appears to be a big draw for Shia pilgrims visiting the area. The Iraqi
Army and Police seem to have a good report with the populace as those
interspersed amongst our patrol greeted many along the way and seemed
to have very friendly relations with those we met along the way.
Funny story...during yesterday's daytime patrol thru the markets and
around the shrine, several of the Iraqi Police walking with us wanted
to trade equipment with me, kept asking my name, etc. all very cordial,
but when one guy asked me what my name was, his buddy told me the guy's
name was "Loogy", which I could easily remember as the English
equivalent was a sort of spit, right? So I'm calling the cop "Loogy"
during the patrol and he and his buddies were laughing. Finally, at the
end of the patrol, one of the interpreters hears me and informs me that
"Loogy" means "Ass-Kisser" in Arabic. So I tell him to tell the cop I
really thought his name was "Loogy" and they all got a big laugh out of
it.
The market area we walked thru yesterday was unbelievable, just packed
with people and all sorts of goods from rich silks and carpets to gold
and foods of all sorts. Just like anywhere, when security improves,
business does as well and that was very evident yesterday. It was a
very good patrol to participate in as we got to see so much up close
and personal rather than in a Humvee driving thru. Attitudes were good
and people again, seem to appreciate their freedom and like most of us,
want to work and make a buck. It's too bad none of this gets reported
back home. I have pics of the market and shrine, and Loogy, on myspace
under "Khadimya Market and Shrine".
Yesterday I also discovered that Bowzer the puppy is alive and well,
living in the back of the FOB with her (he's a she) siblings and
getting nice and fat thanks to the 1st ID soldiers who have adopted
them and named her "Wilber". Also, unsure if I'd shared this, but
there's about 300 Ugandan soldiers on our post, responsible for
perimter security and I have to say, they do a damn good job and pose
quite the imposing figure. I always make a point of greeting them with
the Ugandan "Aghandi" which means "How Are You" and occasionally a
"Waybody" which means "Thank You". It's fun to get to know them and see
them light up with a smile when they see a Joe actually trying to
relate to them. Heck, the way I see it, they are doing a job that saves
Joe from having to man that gate or watchtower at night and I
appreciate them for it.
Chow has gotten a little better under the 1st ID now that they have
taken control from the departing 502nd Airborne, who by now should be
home and enjoying life stateside. The bacon is crispier, however, we
are now short on cereal and other snack items. If anyone wants to send
us stuff, Pickel has asked for Doritos and my request would be for
Captain Crunch Berries. Unsure of Granpa and LT's requests, but they
seem to enjoy anything we get as we all appreciate the baked goods
we've receieved, especially the homemade fudge we receieved from the
ever-wonderful folks at Madison Manufacturing in Hamilton! Just
wonderful people there and everyone in the 403rd back at Liberty and
here at Justice and the other FOBs want me to reiterate how thankful
and appreciative we all are for the goodies already sent. Also, if
anyone has kiddos at home or school who want a pen pal, there's plenty
of Joes not getting mail who would probably love to have one, so just
have them send a generic letter with a home or school address on it and
I'll distribute. We'd also like hard candy and pens/pencils as that is
the biggest request from Iraqi kids we meet. They appear to be well-fed
and healthy, but are such beggars. They come up, shake hands with us
and greet us, then say "Mister, Mister, you got chocolate" or ask for
the pens in our sleeves. Too funny.
Well, that's about the latest and greatest from our quiet little spot
in Baghdad. Will keep you posted as things progress. It hasn't even
sunk in yet that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.
We're just looking forward to the New Year, which means we're that much
closer to getting back home.
God Bless!
Sgt Jon Alvarez
A Co 403rd CA BN
2 H BCT 1ID
FOB Justice
APO AE 09344
www.myspace.com/ILoveCNY