Interesting way to get a ribbon...

[Alex]

11/28/06:

An interesting email chain from a friend stationed in Iraq. It's a different life.

-Alex

>From: "Thomas Metzger" <[e-mail]>
>Subject: ARRIVED IN KUWAIT
>Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2006 13:35:13 -0400
>

Hey all!

Sorry for the mass email. First (and probably only) chance I will have to
email until I get to Iraq (can't say when due to security concerns).

Things are pretty quiet here at the moment. I just finished up some
additional convoy training, including a live fire on a M249 while the Humvee
was moving. I hit 7 out of 10 targets on the move. The instructor asked
me why I wasn't in the Army...

We're not allowed off the base (again, for safety and security), and not
even allowed over to the Air Force Base (they jealously guard their
women...not that I need that!) This base is pretty well set, and I am told
that where I am going is similar (only it gets daily mortar, rocket, and
small arms attacks). Ah well, take the good with the bad.

Updated my MySpace account (if you have not found it, look for
[e-mail]). I'll have some pictures of me in my GoFast gear
as soon as I hit downrange.

Well, I have to go for now. Have fun (but not too much)

Tom


* * * * *


>From: "Thomas Metzger" <[e-mail]>
>Subject: IN CASE YOU HEAR RUMORS
>Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 17:46:27 +0300
>

Just in case anyone hears a wild rumor: I am not wounded.

We had a rocket attack that landed on the football field we were playing
flag football on. 2 rockets struck about 100 meters off, sending us all
into 'duck and cover' bunkers. I was knocked down fro the concussion when a
third landed, and my office thought I had been hit. A couple of them ran to
get medical help. I guess the word made it all the way to the CG, since he
was inquiring into my health.

I personally think I was lucky. They pulled a 1 inch piece of shrapnel out
of the bunker's sand bags. Right where I would have been standing if I
hadn't been knocked over. This is the closest anything has gotten to me.
I mean, on convoy, a round or two will crack over the vehicles, but you
can't really tell where it's from...and the IED hit another convoy in front
of us earlier this month.

This just reminded me of my own mortality.

I'll send a pic of the piece later this week. When I get home, I'm getting
a plaque made and mount that thing. The brass is going to say "You
Missed!".

I've already called Becca (I didn't tell her, but I wanted to see if she had
been told. I figure if they had told her, she would have been a wreck).

10 months to go... $*#@...


* * * * *


>From: "Thomas Metzger" <[e-mail]>
>Subject: Re: IN CASE YOU HEAR RUMORS
>Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2006 20:11:04 +0300
>
Well, they just finished the Sitrep. the second rocket struck 35 meters
from the bunker we were heading to. EOD said that we were lucky the
warheads didn't explode (a common thing with these 107mm rockets...real
crap). The BM1 said that there wouldn't have been enough of us to find if
it had gone off.

So, to Hadji I say this: *YOU MISSED!*

Yeah yeah, I know. Don't tempt fate...don't spend all your Karma...but man,
all I could do today was stare at that hole in the ground, head up to the
tallest tower in the FOB, and give Hadji the bird...


* * * * *


>From: "Thomas Metzger" <[e-mail]>
>Subject: Re: IN CASE YOU HEAR RUMORS
>Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:47:52 +0300
>

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

We were just awarded the Combat Action Ribbon....for getting rocketed at a
football game!!!!

And what is sad, is the General said that we are some of the very few in
MNSTCI who actually had earned it (still trying to figure that one out...)

[Josh]

11/28/06:

Weird timing, Alex. Just tonight I was contacted by the father of an old close friend. My friend, who I've only talked to a couple of times in the last 8 or so years, had joined the Special Forces and was stationed in Afghanistan last I heard. Well, apparently he's stateside again (in North Carolina), so his dad game me his email. I'll probably hear from him shortly. Should be interesting.

[Josh]

12/2/06:

I heard from my friend (Lincoln) who was in Afghanistan. He checked out the website and left a few comments on the Guestbook.