The Ultimate in Martial Arts

darrianation · 06-16-2006, 05:06 PM

A couple of folks have asked me to share some of my experiences in Iraq. So, for those of you who may be interested here are a few of my thoughts and experiences.

As I think back on all that has happened in the year I spent in Iraq I am filled with relief I am back home, yet, a part of me is still over there thinking about those I left behind who are still in the thick of it. As I sit here writing this, I feel an emptiness because the “TEAM” is no longer whole and purpose seams to be lost in the day to day grind of paying bills, balancing the budget, taking kids to the baby sitter, fighting with bill collectors, and the tax man, etc. Even getting together with old friends and family members seams to be unfulfilling at times, they just don’t get it and socializing with them forever seams like trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole. I feel a bit of a detachment from them and my wife feels I am detached from her. But why digress?

What I miss most is the intense sense of purpose that the team community can provide. Being part of a team that works, lives, and bleeds together is something like no other. It gives one a holistic sense of purpose, a greater cause…the things that can be accomplished are limitless…its very powerful and consuming.

Regardless of the disaster laying in front of you, no matter what goes wrong, regardless of the odds nothing can stand in your way, because if each individual wants it bad enough a metamorphosis occurs…. A coalesce of community towards a single goal with each member of the team feeding on the energy and commitment of the other and clarity sets in and a oneness of purpose drives the team…the “perfect storm” to whatever task lies ahead. Regardless of how fucked up things get (and they get pretty fucked up)…it works because enough committed folks with a determined drive to get it done, makes it work. Now, that’s an “art” form…a wonder to behold, and is indescribable to those who have never experienced it. I guess (in reference to the previous paragraph) I am in the let down stage…coming down off of an incredible high like an athlete who has just spent his very last ounce of “go” to win the event (only this let down phase takes a little longer).

Let me begin by stating how proud I am to have served with men of such high caliber and with such unbridled bravery, fierce determination, unwavering conviction, caustic ferocity, and unrelenting tenacity…true professional operators in every sense of the word. I am humbled and in “awe” of many of these good men.

I am not going to go into a lot of details as far as locations, names of clients, or the names of other operators for reasons I hope you understand.

My job predominately revolved around transportation, protecting convoys as well as VIPs as they traveled throughout the country to various destinations (facilities, hotels, airport, etc). The story below was one of our more interesting days.

Our assignment that morning was a routine assignment, one we had done a hundred times. We were to pick up a client at the airport and drive to his hotel to check in and then out to the site (facility) north of Baghdad. That morning while eating breakfast we checked in with our forward deployed scouts (indigenous paid employees), as usual, to see if anything was going on that direction. We had Iraqi’s on the payroll that would scout out routes and talk to the locals for us and would report if roads were blocked or if something fishy was going on along our proposed travel routes. They reported everything was clear and no current problems in the places we had planed to go.

We picked up our cargo (VIP) and took him to his hotel so he could freshen up, change clothes, and get a bite to eat. As he went about doing so, we sat and drank coffee and listened in on radio chatter from other teams (same group) report on various problems or actions going on. When our client was ready we proceeded to our intended destination.

So far in the process everything was going to plan without a single problem and we were staying on our time schedule. As we pulled up to the front gate the first wrench was thrown into the works. A gun battle was underway there. No, they weren’t insurgence, or terrorists, but Iraqi employees from two opposing factions. After we secured our client in a building away from the fighting we went and assisted the local security folks to quell the fighting.

Our next assignment for the day was to pick up another client at another facility and drive him to the airport (substituting for another crew who were sent off on another assignment), before returning to pick up our original client to take him to another location along with some other cooperate types.

As we pulled onto the highway, a tractor trailer pulling a flatbed with large heavy machinery was struck by an Abrams (army tank) and jackknifed spilling his cargo onto the roadway blocking all lanes of traffic. So, we sat and waited until it could be cleared…since it was the only way we could get to where we were going.

Once cleared and we were on our way again, a couple of minutes later, over the radio we heard chatter from another crew who was under fire and taking casualties. They were just a few miles up the road form us, so, we speed away to catch up to help out. When we arrived they had both there vehicles disabled. We immediately gave them cover fire while they ran to our vehicles carrying one of their wounded who was shot in the upper thigh and upper pelvis/lower abdomen just under his body armor. Another guy was shot in the hand. We speed off performing emergency medical treatment in route to the hospital (my paramedic skills came in handy on many occasions). Both survived their injuries.

Okay, now we are running about 2 hours late for picking up our other client. We called and asked if there was anyway some other arrangements could be made to get him to his flight before it left. We were told no (for whatever the reason), and to get to him as soon as possible. So, with the pedal to the floor, bullet holes in our vehicle, and still covered in blood, we were off again.

As we speed down the highway we came up behind a small U.S. Army convoy, three vehicles, two trucks, and a Bradley. Suddenly, BAM…an IED went off in front of them. From what I remember everything went into slow-mo and the Bradley came up off the ground on three sides. One of the trucks veered into our path and my teammate who was driving veered off the road. We were hit with the concussion which felt like a steaming hot tree trunk being swung by Barry Bonds, hitting us with such force it pushed us back into our seats and knocked the wind out of us (and of course left our ears ringing), it was very disorientating. We immediately got out of our vehicle and begin helping the soldiers to secure the area and to help with any wounded. Fortunately there were no serious injuries to anyone.

We finely arrived 3 and half hours late and our client had already missed his flight. What was so ironic was…we had gone through delays from a truck vs. tank accident, two firefights, and an IED explosion just to get our asses chewed…and our work day was only half over. Such is the life of a security contractor in Iraq.

osopardo · 06-17-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrianation

I feel an emptiness because the “TEAM” is no longer whole and purpose seams to be lost in the day to day grind of paying bills, balancing the budget, taking kids to the baby sitter, fighting with bill collectors, and the tax man, etc. Even getting together with old friends and family members seams to be unfulfilling at times, they just don’t get it and socializing with them forever seams like trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole. I feel a bit of a detachment from them and my wife feels I am detached from her...

I probably don't have to tell you, but what you're feeling is normal after the intensity of what you've experienced. I believe there's probably a constant, slightly greater trickle of adrenalin going into your system at all times when you're in that kind of enviroment/situation (even during "down" time) which doesn't happen in "normal" life. It's an underscore (like the background music in a scary movie) that's playing all the time when you're in that heightened mode of awareness, because lives are at stake in an urgently immediate sense. Unless someone has experienced it (and you went through a whole year of it!) it's hard to really understand or sympathize, that's why you feel disconnected. Give yourself (and them) time.

Just remember that war is an evil aberration caused by evil people and what you're doing now (being a father, a husband, a citizen) is also hero work.

Thanks for sharing.

Glad to see you're back home safely.

EmptyneSs · 06-17-2006, 08:11 PM

crazy story man. iraq sounds like one scary ass place.

i had a couple questions though if you dont mind.

do you think the situation is improving or getting worse?

what weapons did you guys mainly use over there?

do you think the media here in the us accurately portrays the situation in iraq?

do you think think usa casualties in iraq are being under reported here at home?

darrianation · 06-18-2006, 10:02 AM

Iraq is still a very dangerous place. The scariest thing is IEDs, folks over there are terrified of them. I tell you, gunfighting with the bad guys did not scare me (that much), but what might be in that abandon car, under that box, or hidden in that debris, scared me a lot.

Do you think the situation is improving or getting worse?

Despite popular belief I think we have really seen a slow down of insurgents coming into the country. The Joke is we have been so successful at killing them at such a fast rate their pool of potential recruits is getting down to a puddle. I think it’s because more Iraqi’s are helping by providing information coupled with infighting within the insurgency and they are providing information on each other.

Our weapons are fairly standard M4, MP5, M14, Glock23, and other neat little nasties.

Do I think the media here in the U.S. accurately portrays the situation in Iraq?

Well, since I usually don’t watch/read much “media” (news) it is hard to come up with details but “NO” absolutely not. It seems they tell only bits and pieces of a story, the parts that get folks excited or mad. News that gets you emotional (upset/outrages, etc) sales better than news that makes you feel good or warm and fuzzy inside. It’s marketing…CNN is in the market to make money and they are in competition with many other news competitors after all.

Instead of hearing success stories about water treatment plants, schools being built by us in cooperation with Iraqi’s. Iraqi’s working side by side with the U.S. and wants things to work and are very proud of their work. Teachers being trained, electricity being restored, plumbing, elections, infrastructure, jobs, medical equipment and treatment, etc, and etc. Instead you read headlines such as “Marines kill civilians", etc, etc. Instead of seeing Iraqi’s coming up and hugging us and thanking us for building a new hospital or getting rid of Saddam, they show the other side when Iraqi’s are demonstrating for whatever the reason. What you get from the media is a carefully orchestrated package meant for mass consumption and to improve their bottom line.

The bravery of the Iraqi’s is astounding. To see them come out in mass to vote when they were told they would be killed if they did, showed to me their pride and their resolve. To see grown men cry because of this new found freedom to vote makes me feel that we Americans really take for granted are freedoms and it pisses me off when I see low voter turn out or folks whining about America (except in the cases when our politicians take away our freedom in the name of safety-Iraqi’s certainly want safety but they are so grateful for the freedom that they are willing to stand up in the face of danger and choose freedom over danger). I think if folks here in the states had to go through what these Iraqi’s have had to go through for their freedom Americans would cherish it a hell of a lot more.

Do you think USA casualties in Iraq are being under reported here at home?

I think so but I have nothing really to go off of. I have talked to many U.S. servicemen as well as some other folks (in the know) who think so. And I have seen a lot of body bags over there. I will tell you this…The Iraqi deaths at the hand of insurgents or other indigenous factions are a lot higher (extremely higher) than American deaths or those folks being killed by Americans.

darrianation · 06-18-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osopardo

I probably don't have to tell you, but what you're feeling is normal after the intensity of what you've experienced. I believe there's probably a constant, slightly greater trickle of adrenalin going into your system at all times when you're in that kind of enviroment/situation (even during "down" time) which doesn't happen in "normal" life. It's an underscore (like the background music in a scary movie) that's playing all the time when you're in that heightened mode of awareness, because lives are at stake in an urgently immediate sense. Unless someone has experienced it (and you went through a whole year of it!) it's hard to really understand or sympathize, that's why you feel disconnected. Give yourself (and them) time.

Just remember that war is an evil aberration caused by evil people and what you're doing now (being a father, a husband, a citizen) is also hero work.

Thanks for sharing.

Glad to see you're back home safely.

Thank you for your support.

**Thai Bri** · 06-18-2006, 10:33 AM

You need to come out of this. Easier said than done. But taking them kids to the nursery is one of the greatest gifts in life (apart from pickin' 'em up that is!).

So appreciate what you have my friend.

I'm glad you're back.

darrianation · 06-18-2006, 02:53 PM

No worries mate,

It's hard to explain, but there are intense guilt feelings about leaving your teammates behind. It feels like there is still more left to do. But I know its time for someone else to do it. I can't remeber whatit's called but it is a transitioning state.Yes, I know this is normal; I have been through it before. In time my equal equilibrium will be reset and life goes on.

osopardo · 06-18-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrianation

there are intense guilt feelings about leaving your teammates behind. It feels like there is still more left to do. But I know its time for someone else to do it.

I was watching a program on the history channel a couple of months ago which explained why the ancient Roman army could defeat their enemy even when they were outnumbered. They had a closed-rank fighting formation where there would be ten rows of soldiers. The front row would fight for about 8 minutes then fall back to the rear and then the second row would fight for 8 minutes then they would fall back to the rear, etc. In this way each soldier would fight for about 8 minutes and rest for about 80 minutes. Meanwhile, the barbarians would fight continuously until they fatigued totally, made a mistake and got themselves killed. Some heroic Romans soldiers would sometimes protest that they could fight longer, that there was "more they could do." Their centurions were not very receptive to those kinds of protests. They knew why the system worked...

darrianation · 06-18-2006, 04:58 PM

Very nice!

06-16-2006, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
darrianation Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,161 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	A day in the life... A couple of folks have asked me to share some of my experiences in Iraq. So, for those of you who may be interested here are a few of my thoughts and experiences. As I think back on all that has happened in the year I spent in Iraq I am filled with relief I am back home, yet, a part of me is still over there thinking about those I left behind who are still in the thick of it. As I sit here writing this, I feel an emptiness because the “TEAM” is no longer whole and purpose seams to be lost in the day to day grind of paying bills, balancing the budget, taking kids to the baby sitter, fighting with bill collectors, and the tax man, etc. Even getting together with old friends and family members seams to be unfulfilling at times, they just don’t get it and socializing with them forever seams like trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole. I feel a bit of a detachment from them and my wife feels I am detached from her. But why digress? What I miss most is the intense sense of purpose that the team community can provide. Being part of a team that works, lives, and bleeds together is something like no other. It gives one a holistic sense of purpose, a greater cause…the things that can be accomplished are limitless…its very powerful and consuming. Regardless of the disaster laying in front of you, no matter what goes wrong, regardless of the odds nothing can stand in your way, because if each individual wants it bad enough a metamorphosis occurs…. A coalesce of community towards a single goal with each member of the team feeding on the energy and commitment of the other and clarity sets in and a oneness of purpose drives the team…the “perfect storm” to whatever task lies ahead. Regardless of how fucked up things get (and they get pretty fucked up)…it works because enough committed folks with a determined drive to get it done, makes it work. Now, that’s an “art” form…a wonder to behold, and is indescribable to those who have never experienced it. I guess (in reference to the previous paragraph) I am in the let down stage…coming down off of an incredible high like an athlete who has just spent his very last ounce of “go” to win the event (only this let down phase takes a little longer). Let me begin by stating how proud I am to have served with men of such high caliber and with such unbridled bravery, fierce determination, unwavering conviction, caustic ferocity, and unrelenting tenacity…true professional operators in every sense of the word. I am humbled and in “awe” of many of these good men. I am not going to go into a lot of details as far as locations, names of clients, or the names of other operators for reasons I hope you understand. My job predominately revolved around transportation, protecting convoys as well as VIPs as they traveled throughout the country to various destinations (facilities, hotels, airport, etc). The story below was one of our more interesting days. Our assignment that morning was a routine assignment, one we had done a hundred times. We were to pick up a client at the airport and drive to his hotel to check in and then out to the site (facility) north of Baghdad. That morning while eating breakfast we checked in with our forward deployed scouts (indigenous paid employees), as usual, to see if anything was going on that direction. We had Iraqi’s on the payroll that would scout out routes and talk to the locals for us and would report if roads were blocked or if something fishy was going on along our proposed travel routes. They reported everything was clear and no current problems in the places we had planed to go. We picked up our cargo (VIP) and took him to his hotel so he could freshen up, change clothes, and get a bite to eat. As he went about doing so, we sat and drank coffee and listened in on radio chatter from other teams (same group) report on various problems or actions going on. When our client was ready we proceeded to our intended destination. So far in the process everything was going to plan without a single problem and we were staying on our time schedule. As we pulled up to the front gate the first wrench was thrown into the works. A gun battle was underway there. No, they weren’t insurgence, or terrorists, but Iraqi employees from two opposing factions. After we secured our client in a building away from the fighting we went and assisted the local security folks to quell the fighting. Our next assignment for the day was to pick up another client at another facility and drive him to the airport (substituting for another crew who were sent off on another assignment), before returning to pick up our original client to take him to another location along with some other cooperate types. As we pulled onto the highway, a tractor trailer pulling a flatbed with large heavy machinery was struck by an Abrams (army tank) and jackknifed spilling his cargo onto the roadway blocking all lanes of traffic. So, we sat and waited until it could be cleared…since it was the only way we could get to where we were going. Once cleared and we were on our way again, a couple of minutes later, over the radio we heard chatter from another crew who was under fire and taking casualties. They were just a few miles up the road form us, so, we speed away to catch up to help out. When we arrived they had both there vehicles disabled. We immediately gave them cover fire while they ran to our vehicles carrying one of their wounded who was shot in the upper thigh and upper pelvis/lower abdomen just under his body armor. Another guy was shot in the hand. We speed off performing emergency medical treatment in route to the hospital (my paramedic skills came in handy on many occasions). Both survived their injuries. Okay, now we are running about 2 hours late for picking up our other client. We called and asked if there was anyway some other arrangements could be made to get him to his flight before it left. We were told no (for whatever the reason), and to get to him as soon as possible. So, with the pedal to the floor, bullet holes in our vehicle, and still covered in blood, we were off again. As we speed down the highway we came up behind a small U.S. Army convoy, three vehicles, two trucks, and a Bradley. Suddenly, BAM…an IED went off in front of them. From what I remember everything went into slow-mo and the Bradley came up off the ground on three sides. One of the trucks veered into our path and my teammate who was driving veered off the road. We were hit with the concussion which felt like a steaming hot tree trunk being swung by Barry Bonds, hitting us with such force it pushed us back into our seats and knocked the wind out of us (and of course left our ears ringing), it was very disorientating. We immediately got out of our vehicle and begin helping the soldiers to secure the area and to help with any wounded. Fortunately there were no serious injuries to anyone. We finely arrived 3 and half hours late and our client had already missed his flight. What was so ironic was…we had gone through delays from a truck vs. tank accident, two firefights, and an IED explosion just to get our asses chewed…and our work day was only half over. Such is the life of a security contractor in Iraq. __________________ The law of tyranny: 1. Any power that can be abused will be abused 2. Abuse always expands to fill the limits of resistance to it. 3. If people don't resist the abuses of others, they will have no one to resist the abuses of themselves, and tyranny will prevail. Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika . Coming soon Jan 20th 2009!

06-18-2006, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
darrianation Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,161 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Iraq is still a very dangerous place. The scariest thing is IEDs, folks over there are terrified of them. I tell you, gunfighting with the bad guys did not scare me (that much), but what might be in that abandon car, under that box, or hidden in that debris, scared me a lot. Do you think the situation is improving or getting worse? Despite popular belief I think we have really seen a slow down of insurgents coming into the country. The Joke is we have been so successful at killing them at such a fast rate their pool of potential recruits is getting down to a puddle. I think it’s because more Iraqi’s are helping by providing information coupled with infighting within the insurgency and they are providing information on each other. Our weapons are fairly standard M4, MP5, M14, Glock23, and other neat little nasties. Do I think the media here in the U.S. accurately portrays the situation in Iraq? Well, since I usually don’t watch/read much “media” (news) it is hard to come up with details but “NO” absolutely not. It seems they tell only bits and pieces of a story, the parts that get folks excited or mad. News that gets you emotional (upset/outrages, etc) sales better than news that makes you feel good or warm and fuzzy inside. It’s marketing…CNN is in the market to make money and they are in competition with many other news competitors after all. Instead of hearing success stories about water treatment plants, schools being built by us in cooperation with Iraqi’s. Iraqi’s working side by side with the U.S. and wants things to work and are very proud of their work. Teachers being trained, electricity being restored, plumbing, elections, infrastructure, jobs, medical equipment and treatment, etc, and etc. Instead you read headlines such as “Marines kill civilians", etc, etc. Instead of seeing Iraqi’s coming up and hugging us and thanking us for building a new hospital or getting rid of Saddam, they show the other side when Iraqi’s are demonstrating for whatever the reason. What you get from the media is a carefully orchestrated package meant for mass consumption and to improve their bottom line. The bravery of the Iraqi’s is astounding. To see them come out in mass to vote when they were told they would be killed if they did, showed to me their pride and their resolve. To see grown men cry because of this new found freedom to vote makes me feel that we Americans really take for granted are freedoms and it pisses me off when I see low voter turn out or folks whining about America (except in the cases when our politicians take away our freedom in the name of safety-Iraqi’s certainly want safety but they are so grateful for the freedom that they are willing to stand up in the face of danger and choose freedom over danger). I think if folks here in the states had to go through what these Iraqi’s have had to go through for their freedom Americans would cherish it a hell of a lot more. Do you think USA casualties in Iraq are being under reported here at home? I think so but I have nothing really to go off of. I have talked to many U.S. servicemen as well as some other folks (in the know) who think so. And I have seen a lot of body bags over there. I will tell you this…The Iraqi deaths at the hand of insurgents or other indigenous factions are a lot higher (extremely higher) than American deaths or those folks being killed by Americans. __________________ The law of tyranny: 1. Any power that can be abused will be abused 2. Abuse always expands to fill the limits of resistance to it. 3. If people don't resist the abuses of others, they will have no one to resist the abuses of themselves, and tyranny will prevail. Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika . Coming soon Jan 20th 2009!

06-18-2006, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
darrianation Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,161 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	No worries mate, It's hard to explain, but there are intense guilt feelings about leaving your teammates behind. It feels like there is still more left to do. But I know its time for someone else to do it. I can't remeber whatit's called but it is a transitioning state.Yes, I know this is normal; I have been through it before. In time my equal equilibrium will be reset and life goes on. __________________ The law of tyranny: 1. Any power that can be abused will be abused 2. Abuse always expands to fill the limits of resistance to it. 3. If people don't resist the abuses of others, they will have no one to resist the abuses of themselves, and tyranny will prevail. Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika . Coming soon Jan 20th 2009!

06-18-2006, 04:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
darrianation Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,161 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Very nice! __________________ The law of tyranny: 1. Any power that can be abused will be abused 2. Abuse always expands to fill the limits of resistance to it. 3. If people don't resist the abuses of others, they will have no one to resist the abuses of themselves, and tyranny will prevail. Welcome to the Socialist States of Amerika . Coming soon Jan 20th 2009!

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06-17-2006, 08:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
EmptyneSs Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Cali Posts: 2,116 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	crazy story man. iraq sounds like one scary ass place. i had a couple questions though if you dont mind. do you think the situation is improving or getting worse? what weapons did you guys mainly use over there? do you think the media here in the us accurately portrays the situation in iraq? do you think think usa casualties in iraq are being under reported here at home?

06-18-2006, 10:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Thai Bri Premiere Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5,413 Groans: 1 Groaned at 3 Times in 3 Posts	You need to come out of this. Easier said than done. But taking them kids to the nursery is one of the greatest gifts in life (apart from pickin' 'em up that is!). So appreciate what you have my friend. I'm glad you're back.

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