Independence Day in Basra

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:18:31 +0000

We didn’t shoot off any illegal fireworks for the 4th, although we could have probably put on a good show with tracers and grenades. We did however celebrate like full-blooded Americans – with a cookout. In true trailer trash fashion, we set up a collapsible grill between outside the conference trailer and brought over chips, burgers, hot dogs and “near beer” (non-alcoholic coors) from the chow hall. The meat was all cooked and frozen (in that order) when we got it, so it was just a matter of heating it back up. I can’t say it was the best burger that I had, but it was the 4th of July and dangit, eating burgers is just what you do. The guys smoked some cigars and we sat around with our near beer (and my diet coke) sharing stories of traveling in Iraq. I think the funniest has to be Barney’s story about throwing up on the C-130 when he left for leave. He got sick and had nothing to puke in except for his hygiene bag – talk about ironic. So after he got the sickness out of him, he carried the bag (he says there was no where to throw it away) off the plane and onto the bus, for a one-hour bus ride to base camp. The bag was leaking everywhere and he ended up throwing it away in Kuwait, after much deliberation because “Hey, I paid 10 bucks for that thing.” It’s been determined that Barnhardt and Crankshaw can’t travel together anymore – all of their travel stories are bad juju.

We ended the night with video games at the trailer. I called Craig and talked to him and Momma B for about an hour. They had a lot of people over and I wish I could have been there. It sounded like they were having a good time! Craig’s dad told him not to tell me what they were doing, because he shouldn’t rub it in. I told him it just gave me something to look forward to. I think Christmas and the 4th are the holidays I miss most when I’m away. The good news is – we’re over halfway through our time in Iraq! I’ve got my Europe trip coming up next month and by the time I get back, I’ll have just 2 months until our replacements arrive. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

Check out Adam’s slideshow of all the 4th of July Pics here.

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Independence Day in Basra