Well finally, here we are bringing this tour to an end and soon we will be able to see our families and friends. It has been a long hard tour full of ups and downs, but in the end we made it through with minimal damage. I feel these are some of the world’s best soldiers and it has been an honor to have been able to serve with them. There are mixed feelings though, excitement of going home and sadness of parting with new friendships. This tour was very different from my first in many ways, but it is ok now, because soon I will be with my “better half”. Before closing, I want to thank everybody at home for all your support.

SGT Scott Beatty, Bakersfield, Ca.
1016th QM CO
Maintenance

The other day I was sitting on the bus on my way to chow, when I overheard a conversation from 2 other service members. They were discussing how they were on the downward slope of their deployment with only 4 months to go. I remember that exact same feeling. Thinking to myself and telling others how this day would soon come. But that day just never seemed feasible. And now it is here. The day that we have longed so much for is finally here.

It all began in the beginning of February 2006; the beginning of the rest of our lives. Well, for many of us anyways. This was the date that we left for Fort Bliss, T.X. Next is the day that we will never forget... the day we left for Kuwait. Through all of the births of our children, Birthdays, Holidays and Celebrations that we missed, that is another day we will never forget. This was just the beginning of our long journey, which is now finally coming to an end.

Most of us will be going home to our old jobs and back to our family and loved ones. We will be rejoining the world, and once again becoming one of the lost spectators in this world. Over here, we have a mission... it is all laid out for us in black and white. We are told what to do and we do it, usually with no questions asked. But now it is all up to us. We are the ones that have to make the decisions on how to handle our lives. There will be no one telling us where to be and when to be there. Now it is just us and our decisions.

I know that I can’t speak for everybody, but for the most of us, we are ready to come home and excited to be with our family and friends. And I just want to personally say that this deployment has been an experience for me, either for good or bad, it has been an experience. And I would like to say to my wife, Natasha that I love you and look forward to spending my life with you.

PFC Standley
3rd Platoon

We have been in Theater for about 49.81 weeks; 348.66 days; 8,367.84 hours; 502,070.18 minutes; and 30,124,210.61 seconds, it seems as if we just started yet time has flown by. It is hard to believe that we only have around two weeks left! We are in the great midst of getting equipment, administrative documents, personal items, and of course our #1 item, Soldiers, prepared for redeployment. The days here at the end seem to last longer, yet still not enough hours in the day to accomplish all tasks that need to be completed.

The 1016th as a unit and all the Soldiers can go home holding their heads high and being proud of the accomplishments they have achieved both individually and as a unit. I know in my mind, and I do believe our higher headquarters will say the same, that the 1016th has been the most productive, had the least disciplinary issues, the highest morale, and “espirt de corps” of any company with in Battalion and Brigade. The successes of the 1016th and the Soldiers during this deployment should make the 70th RRC (Regional Readiness Command) of the Army Reserve, the great states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington very proud of their citizen Soldiers.

Some of the 1016th’s mission accomplishments during the deployment were over 320,000 miles driven in a combat environment, hauling millions of pounds of supplies; hot re-fueling over 800 helicopters to include MEDEVAC’s; escorting and refueling many hundreds of thousands of vehicles; and issuing out life sustainment supplies to thousands upon thousands of TCN’s (Third Country National Contractors).

There has been over 40 new Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) promoted within the 1016th during this deployment. These fine young men and women are the future leaders of Americas Army. I and Captain Warner are very proud of these young Soldiers and will always brag and talk about them in the future. We will hold our heads high and tell our children that YES we served with them!

I would like to thank all the Soldiers for their hard work and dedication to accomplishing the mission, any mission that they have been tasked with. My job over the last year has been one of many variables, both ups and downs. But with the caliber of Soldiers and diversity of their civilian skill sets, my job has been much easier than I anticipated it would be well over a year ago. My peers and supervisors within the battalion and brigade always make comments about Soldiers from the 1016th.

To all the civilian employers back home, your employees on loan to the US Army have gained extensive knowledge, leadership skills, loyalty, the ability to overcome challenges, new ways of interacting with peers, leaders, and subordinates alike, integrity, personal courage, self-less service, and respect for others and themselves. I challenge you to receive them back with open arms and use them with their new skills to help your businesses grow and prosper.

Last, but by no means least, I would like to comment on the lessons learned over here. I know that personally, I have grown in my knowledge base, military competency, leadership characteristics and understanding of the importance of family. I have seen many Soldiers grow into fine young men and women who will benefit by being a very productive and energetic member of society in the towns and cities that they are going back to. I am sure that all Soldiers, to include myself, will be going home with many good memories and of course a few bad. If we all dwell on the positive and have an optimistic outlook on the future, America will grow as we will also.

1SG Edward R Luper
“Yankee 7”
First Sergeant
1016th Quartermaster Company
Operations Iraqi Freedom IV and V

I originally agreed to write this with the intent that I would go ahead and get my regular day off without having to do "out processing" screenings. However, I didn't get my day off AND am still doing the out-process screenings. I had to laugh to myself at the thought of "Boy, will they be sorry" - but now that I am sitting uncomfortably on the puke green cot that I now call a bed, I've decided that with just under two weeks left, no bitterness is necessary.

I wish I could cover all the things in my mind for each and every one of you. To somehow give you a taste of everything that we have all experienced these past months, but it would be impossible. Some months longer than others, and then some that were gone in the blink of an eye. Just so you know, this last month.....yep, it seems to be the longest.

We have all had many jobs. Some of us were able to drive trucks the entire time we were here, some of us did multiple jobs from escorting Third Country National's (TCN), Soldiers, and KBR between FOBS, to guarding fuel points (the most boring), to making sure those same TCNs were safe in the Subcontract Employee Yard, to doing our actual jobs of driving trucks. We have done so many different jobs and learned so many new things. Some of us would call this year a "waste of time"; some of us would call it a personal learning experience. Either way, we have discovered things about ourselves and each other that we didn't know we were capable of.

I have been lucky enough to do all of the above plus a different job. I currently work for 1016th Quartermaster Company Headquarters. Here is a job I have purposely avoided for 10 1/2 months, now, due to an unfortunate injury; I was tasked to help them out. This job has turned out to be almost as fun as being out on the road with my squad. I actually have a good time everyday for the most part. On some level I almost feel "normal". I have learned new ways to mess with the SSG in charge of the office, from super gluing items to his desk, to trying to send his laundry to a whole other FOB (which by the way, I ALMOST succeeded.), to putting lotion on his phone as well as multiple other things. We still work extremely hard and some long hours, but have actually made a lot of progress with the process of getting everyone ready to head back home to you.

We have all changed, to include our families. They have become more independent, our children have grown so much. There is so much we've missed and so much we will have to learn about each other. This journey that began so long ago is coming to a close, and now we will embark on another journey back to the ones we love. It will be another learning experience for you, and for us. We are anxious to start this journey as I am sure you are as well.

I still wish I was on the road with my own squad, they are the best people you could ask for and I miss working with them, but to SSG Evans, SSG Williams, SSG Dock, SGT Sully, and SSG DeGarlais - thank you for the laughter (it truly is the best medicine), the "hair-do's", and the pranks. I will always look back and smile to myself at you crazy people, who in my mind are the most "normal" people I know!

To 2nd Platoon - You are all the greatest - but to 3rd Squad and "Frankie" - you've been supportive, funny, and a family I adore, I truly will miss you. I doubt that any of us will ever sweep dirt, drive nails into the ground, or sweep liners again......but you can say "Hey, I've actually done that!" and you will laugh (besides, we have video).

We will see you soon - and together we will start a whole new journey.
SPC Angely

As you can tell by everyone else’s blogs, our time in he__ (Oh, I mean Iraq) is coming to an end. As with all deployments that come to an end, both families and soldiers have certain expectations about coming home.

SOLDIER EXPECTATIONS….
We expect lots of food (real food not DIFAC food or MRE’s... something that has some flavor).
We expect to spend lots of “QUALITY” time with our spouses or girl- or boyfriends.
We expect to spend quality time with our children. Some of our Soldiers have newborns. So they will be spending lots of quality time with their newborns all through the night and through the day (The term "your turn" comes to mind).
For some of us we expect to consume some Class six (VI, BOOZE, BEER) often (some more than others). Some would like to just make the whole process easier and just hook up an IV with Jack Daniels in it (That would be me, my wife will like that one... NOT).
Some soldiers can’t wait to be able to evacuate waste (Go Potty, that’s for those with newborns... get used to that also) or take a shower in a bathroom that is not attached to 8 others with a crowd of people waiting on you to dry off or hurry up and flush.
Soldiers look forward to a real commercial, yes a real one compared to our 11 channels of AFN always telling us to be safe, don’t drink or drive (We just laugh at that one because of General order #1 no drinking in theater), and the ever so grand commercials about OPSEC (Operational Security).
Soldiers expect time off, but little do they know the honey do list has been piling for over a year (kidding 6 months, they had R&R leave in there).
They expect no grumpy old Sergeant First Class’s (Me being one of them) yelling (I don’t yell just voice my opinion loud enough so everyone can hear me) at them that they need a haircut or to get to the Motor Pool to do a PMCS on their truck because it’s maintenance Monday or Commo Thursday.
Soldiers expect to be able to drive a POV (Privately Owned Vehicle) again. Now they will be able to get a real ticket for going over 55 instead of going over 20 in a HMMWV with no doors in 100 degree weather from Air force SP’s in their air-conditioned Chevy Tahoe’s. Do I sound bitter?
There are a lot of other expectations but I won’t bore you with them (Too Late). We just expect to be home with our families and friends and be able to just say “Thank god it’s over”

FAMILY EXPECTATIONS……
The family’s expectations are to finally have their loved ones home safe and sound.
To be able to hold them finally and tell them they loved and missed them.
They expect to be able to take a breath and say “Thank god it’s over”
They expect to be able to watch the TV news (and those wonderful commercials) and not have to worry about their loved one that has been in harms way for the last year showing up on the screen or hearing their name on the list of casualties.
The kids expect their loved one to go to their sports event, graduations, and to go out and play soccer (That’s for my daughter Gianna) with them.
But most of all they expect to be a family again and spend time with each other.

I know there is more for the families but I have more experience on the soldier side of it. I just want to tell my wife Sabrina that I love and miss her every day and can’t wait to get home and be with her. She is my hero. Tell Gianna and Damon Daddy is coming home.

SFC TY BURAS
1ST PLT, HQ, MiTT

Living in a combat zone can be very stressful. We don’t see much combat, but we are still at wits end. I sit back and watch everyone, and a lot of times we don’t see eye to eye. We have been at a running pace all year and now it is finally coming to an end and we haven’t slowed down much at all. I am not in a position to see the whole picture, but at the same time, as a Sergeant in the Maintenance Platoon, I do see what goes on around me. I see the higher leadership and the lower enlisted. I am not sure where I fit in, but I have two boys and a wonderful wife at home that make everything I go through worthwhile. I came here to do my job for the people of Iraq and the people of the US, but mostly for my family. I came here with high spirits and am leaving here a much smarter and older person. Hopefully it will all be for the best. This has been an experience to remember, even though I wish I never had to come and be away from my family. But I am here, and thank you all for your support.

SGT John Maher
1016th QM CO
Maintenance Platoon

According to my calendar that I have marked and hanging on the inside of my locker we now are within our last month until we Transfer Authority of the last of we are accountable for here in country and are free to leave the area. We are scheduled to fly to Kuwait days later for a few days and then the big hop back across the Pond to Fort lewis for our final demobilization.

Most efforts are being centered along the lines of making sure we have everything ready to go home. We gave away our HETs, moved out of our motor pool, and we are now getting ready to move out of our trailers and into tents so that the people coming in behind us have a place to stay when they get here. We in third platoon are still running missions with our tractor trailers and have another convoy scheduled to roll out the gate in a couple of days. Some of our people who were at the Subcontractor Employee Yard in Cedar for most the year are now on their first convoy with experienced truck drivers.

We have restrictions on how much we can carry home with us and the Post Office has restrictions on what we can send home through them and they only allow cash transactions. Finance has new restrictions on how much you can get out each month, so if you didn’t budget your money right this month you might be in a pinch for mailing things home. If what you have does not fit into all the restrictions and your budget; many items are being sold, given away, or thrown away. With each new deadline and change, it brings us one step closer to home; so in our heart every order to be at a specific place at an exact time brings happiness.

Our tour is coming to an end and we all have come and done what we could to aid the cause. There has been a lot of growing and learning for all of us. Our motto is usually Train as you Fight during our drills and now we have no choice because this is how we are to fight. Much of it is a bit different than we were trained to do, but we now know how things are really done in todays modern battlefield. We are heading home, ready for a much needed rest with much new knowledge to pass onto others and carry through the years.

SSG Wade Ulrich
3rd Platoon

Here we are.... So close we can almost taste it. If we don’t get another, we might, maybe, possible, sort of, could be, if the stars are right, extension notice. So far so good tho (as long as the other units in our battalion can quit losing things). If we have to stay much longer, we will end up tied to our trucks, just in case the truck gets lost.... lol. If any of your family members come home from here with a strange desire to tie rope to their belt loops just smack them up side the head and they will get better. On a related subject, I probably need to tie the schedule for this blog to myself, since I seem to forget it so often.

Other than the excitement of tying our weapons to our belts loops, we are getting fantasticly exciting briefings, packing and inventorying everything (yes, everything), and our regular day to day missions. Things are going pretty decent and we can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not to worry, tho, we wont let the light blind us until we are getting off the plane at home.

SFC Keller
2nd PLT SGT

Having just over a month left in this once Mesopotamian paradise now known as Iraq, everyone is very much looking forward to returning home.

We (1st Platoon) have finally released our trucks, Heavy Equipment Transporter System (HETS), to the 593rd Transportation Company. We started training them to take that mission about 45 days ago.

We have driven the HETS from one end of the Iraq to the other, as far North as Mosul in Iraq, and recently, as far South as Arifjan in Kuwait. The long nights on convoys, the weeks spent on the road away from the comfort of our own beds, the HETS were our home away from home. Everyone liked being out on the road, even though danger was ever-present. A lot of us have been fired upon and driven through small arms fire and had IED’s go off fairly close to us, and thankfully, nobody was injured.

Our motor pool has the makings of a good ghost town. We have gone from hundreds of vehicles to a little over forty. We are starting to clear everything out as we will be giving the motor pool to the 593rd. All of our equipment is being inventoried, the stuff staying and that which is going back to Pocatello, Idaho.

Shortly, we will be getting the vehicles in for the Cavalry unit that will be our replacements in theater. We were a line haul company and they will be gun truck escorts. We will try to get the vehicles up and mission- ready prior to them getting here. Hopefully they won’t be in too bad a shape.

Just a few of the things we will not miss around here, the porta-johns (oh! what a fragrance), all of the constant noise (generators, helicopters, motors all running 24/7), the smoke from burning trash, and don’t let me forget the bugs the dust and the sun.

Some of our teammates have spent the better part of 6 months up in An Numanyiah training the new Iraqi Army, hopefully making a difference. Most of us will forever be changed by what we have seen or had happened to us or others while over here.


OIF 06-07

“All Gave Some – Some Gave All”
Author Unknown


1st Platoon

The deployment is getting close to an end. There have been many ups and downs for the many Soldiers, families and friends of the 1016th QM CO over the past fourteen plus months. Everyone should be as proud of their soldiers as I am. We should also be proud of all the family members. For they are the ones that truly made our deployment tolerable. Whether it is from a simple letter, a care package, a phone conversation or for taking care of the things that their Soldier would normally take care of back home. They are just as much heroes as the Soldiers of the 1016th QM CO. I salute each and every one of you!

We have been tasked to do many different missions throughout this deployment. From escorting local nationals to fueling helicopters to running convoys and everything in between. All missions and tasks assigned to the 1016th QM CO were successfully completed. Some had bumps along the way, others set the standard for other units to follow. From the “PAPER PUSHERS” to the leaders to the lower enlisted, every Soldier in the unit made a difference to accomplish all the missions we were tasked to complete.

Even though we are “GETTING SHORT”, we are probably at one of our busiest points of the deployment. We have moved to a different motor pool, we are preparing equipment and soldiers for redeployment, turning equipment in, receiving new equipment for the unit coming in behind us, training, going to mandatory briefings, packing individual equipment, preparing to move to tents and accomplishing many other tasks that need to be completed. As we do all these things, we are conducting just as many convoys now (if not more) than we have since we arrived here in Iraq. There is never a dull moment and not a lot of time for the Soldiers to let their guard down. It is very important, especially now, that we as a unit must and are remaining vigilant, focused on our tasks and missions so that we can all come home to all our loved ones. There is no time for us to let our guard down until we walk through the doors to our homes.

To my two little heroes, my daughters Samantha and Tabitha, I miss you, I love you and I will be home soon. To my biggest hero of them all, my wife Lorri, I love you and I will see you soon!

MSG Samuel Tlumac
Truckmaster/ Operations SGT
1016th QM CO
(The “MAINE” contingent)

With the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter, tension gets higher. There is so much that needs done in these last few weeks. People are starting to get relaxed and we aren’t done yet. It’s like some people are just quitting the last mile of a 20 mile marathon. Everyone is so run down and tired of this place, they just want to quit and go home. It has been hard to keep the motivation and drive to complete everything that is asked of us. But to finish this out, I believe everyone will come together and finish like we always do.

SGT John C. Brookshier
1016th Quartermaster Company
LSA Adder

Baghdad was nice, but I am glad to finally be back. The Green Zone (International Zone) was pretty quiet, but the noise from the rest of Baghdad was pretty constant. You could hear everything from car bombs to celebratory fire; any time there was a soccer game involving the Iraqi team, the neighbors would go outside and fire off a couple of magazines into the air. If their team won, it would last for an hour, if not, 20 minutes or so. The climate is different enough there to support lots of Palm and orange trees, grass, and flowers, so it looks more like San Diego than the desert around Tallil.

Weather was pretty much the same as Tallil’s over the winter, but it got a little colder and rained less. Temperatures in January stayed in the mid thirties most of the time; there was often frost early in the morning, but it usually warmed up to the mid forties in the afternoons.

I worked with a pretty diverse group; including Danes, British, Australians, and other coalition allies, as well as officers from other branches of the US military. When I first arrived, I was the lowest ranking soldier in the office. Out of 14 people in the office, 9 were Majors and Lieutenant Colonels, one Flag officer, 2 civilians, and one Sergeant (myself).

I was technically there to advise the staff on Fuel issues, but did very little of that- I was mostly one of the liaisons between the coalition Transition Teams’ Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense. I also tracked the fuel status of the Iraqi Bases, and recommended when and when not to supply them with coalition fuel when the Iraqi system failed. I was able to travel out to several of the Iraqi bases to asses their fuel situation.


SFC Matthew Kohtz
3rd Platoon Section Leader

Okay, so I'm writing this blog after a 13 hour day. I am what you would call a procrastinator. I was asked to write this blog about a week ago. SFC Keller asked me to have a blog ready in about a week or so. So now this blog was due yesterday. We only have about a month left, so I don't let it get to me. That's seriously all I really think about, going home. Starting a new life. Getting deployed for me was like a giant reset button on life. It helps you find out who the real friends are. They are the ones that still talk to you after a year. Everyone else forgets about you and moves on with their lives. I made some new friends here, but realistically, I'll only end up talking to a couple of them ever again. For me, the deployment erased all debt. Allowed me to be able to afford my own place. Basically take my life in my own hands and not depend on anyone else. The days are flying by now as well, probably a combination of getting rid of the ROM site and time getting short. The only down side to going home is the overwhelming amount of stuff you have to do. Taxes, Financial aid forms, register for classes again, find a place to live. It's all stuff that's manageable. I do actually look forward to going to drill again. Seeing my old unit. I remember how much work it seemed like we did on a drill weekend. We do twice as much work here in one day than we do in an entire drill weekend. I look forward to being a valuable asset now.

Since most of you don't know, I work on the Push. Basically I drive the same six miles, six times a day in a tan taxi cab. Back and forth from Cedar to Tallil. I'm not complaining, though. I've got a great squad leader and a good squad. It may sound boring, but we make it fun and it has its tactical advantages having the same guys on the same mission. I have those six miles memorized like the back of my hand. (Actually most people can recognize a picture of the back of their hand) I can tell you the exact number of pot holes and where they are located. I've learned that most donkies have a death wish, cows don't like sirens, and horses walk funny when they have their legs chained together. Plus, at home, when would traffic ever get stopped by camels? You can't beat some of the weird stuff that happens here.

I hope this was informative enough for the blog. I used to be really big on writing blogs and telling friends about every little thing that happened here. Then you start to realize that there are bad days and good days and nothing really special. I really can relate to a friend I have in prison. Life is life, work is work, and nobody wants to hear or talk about the bad stuff, because it is just depressing. See you guys in month or so.

I do want everyone who reads this to root for Washington State University. Our team is in the NCAA tournament and it's the farthest our school has gone since 1941.

SGT Christopher Larson
2ND Platoon, 4th Squad
Alpha Team Leader

Getting short! Short is not normally considered a good thing. When you were a kid and you were short, you wanted to be taller, like the adults. Coming up short on cash is never a good thing. There are many, many times where being short isn't helpful. Being short on people, equipment or time is generally a bad thing, except in this case. Having a short time left in theater is an awesome thing. Getting short!


PFC Thomas O’Connell
1st Platoon

It’s been a couple of days since I was assigned to write another blog, but for the life of me I can’t think of anything to write. Time has gotten short now and we’re so close to going home and my mind is sometimes focused elsewhere. It’s interesting that as we draw near to the end of something, we tend to think about what we’ve accomplished and how far we’ve come. But as I look back over this past year I sometimes get discouraged, because at times I feel like I haven’t contributed to this war. I’m proud to be over here fighting for something bigger than myself, but sometimes I wish I could be doing more. Sometimes, I wish I was part of the action because, let’s face it, nobody wants to listen to the stories of a paper pusher. If you put two books up side-by-side on the shelf one entitled, “Raging Winds of Change: Memoirs of a Desert Grunt” next to “No Purple Hearts for Paper Cuts: Memoirs of a Desk Jockey” which one do you think would sell better??…. yep my point exactly. But that would be a pretty funny book, don’t you think? Maybe someday I’ll write it. Maybe, when I’m all old and wrinkled and don’t have anything left in my life except the memories that seem to fade with every fleeting sunset and my dog. When you’re old, you gotta have a dog… I don’t know why, but you just have to. I think it’s written in the Crazy Old Man’s handbook some where, but I wouldn’t know since I’m not that old yet, now crazy... that’s a whole other story. I can just picture it now…

”Grandpa, Grandpa... tell us about when you were in the war!”

“Okay, No kidding there I was! We were getting overrun with paperwork and I was taking cover behind my desk. Paper was flying everywhere and my buddy had just gotten a nasty paper cut on his finger. With that injury, I knew there was no way he could keep typing…I mean, fighting he couldn’t keep fighting. Reinforcements weren’t coming; I knew it was up to me to win this thing. So I picked up my mouse and I ran straight into the enemy’s line of fire.”

“What did you do next Grandpa?”

“What did I do next? Why, I single handedly took out a dozen NOCERs and half a dozen LODs. Why I even took out a few training rosters, as well. And then, without warning, it stopped. I was surprised it ended just as quickly as it had begun. I looked at the clock it was after noon... time for lunch.”

“Wow, Grandpa you’re so brave!! What’s an NCOER?”

“That’s another story…”

I am grateful for this opportunity though. I have learned so much in my time here; things that I would have never learned in the civilian side of the world. I joke about the raging winds of change, but if there was ever any change, it’s been in me and I know that it has been for the better. I am coming out a better Soldier, a better employee, and a better friend. But most importantly, I’ve become a better husband and father. I watch some of the Soldiers here in country, and I get upset when I see them doing things that not only hurt themselves but hurt their families back home. If you leave this place worse than when you got here, then you’ve wasted your time. You’ve wasted not only your time, but your fellow Soldier’s time, your units time, the governments time, but overall you’ve wasted your husband’s, your wife’s, your Mom and Dad’s, or your boyfriend or girlfriend’s time. They put their trust in you to come over here, to do your job, and to come back home to them. How are you going to fulfill your promise if you are breaking that trust?

I know that I have drifted a little off the subject and that this has taken a turn towards the “not funny,” but we can’t be funny all the time. There’s a time and a place for everything and right now is the time and the place to get serious about your future, about getting home and being with your families. This is a great profession filled with great people and I am proud to be a part of it. I just wanted to say thank you to all the people who have helped us out through this deployment. The list is infinite and I can’t thank everyone enough for what you have done. Just know that my heart and pride go out to all of you who still support our troops. We may be over here doing the fighting, but those of you back home are the real heroes, standing up for what many others don’t believe in anymore. I am proud and thankful to be here, but I am so ready to get back home. Again, thank you and I’ll see everyone real soon.



SPC Cory P. Mann
HQ, Do-it-all-Mann

I ask myself, is it really March? Have we really been doing this for over a year now? Is it really about the end of this deployment? So much has happened this past year. Some days I feel like this year has gone by somewhat fast. Other days I feel that the time is dragging on and the only place I want to be is at home with my son. He has grown so much physically and mentally. I think back to the start of this adventure (or nightmare depending on the day) and remember him as a toddler and how he has grown into a young boy.

Being deployed is definitely a sacrifice to all parties involved. The upside of all of this experience is the true friends I have made. I have learned from these individuals and they will always have a place in my heart. I have grown to really care for my friends and would do anything for them. We have spent so much time and gone through so many things together that only we will ever understand. I am truly blessed.

Well, now that I got the sappy stuff on my mind said, I guess I can write about what is happening. The past couple of months now I have been working as the Motor Pool’s Tool Room Custodian. I have been working on getting the tool room ready to sign over to the next unit that will be replacing us. That involves having current inventories, turning in shortage indexes to get new tools on order, and maintaining tools that are used. During the day as I do these tasks, I also keep track of and issue out tools to mechanics along with operators.

The days that can get crazy are command maintenance, once a week, and days that I help P.L.L., because they have to leave the office to pick up/turn in parts or other running around. So that means that I am going back and forth between the two to help keep things running. It can get frustrating, but for the most part, others are understanding and try to be patient. It will be great when we can turn the hand receipt over and not look back.

Bringing this blog to an end and hopefully soon enough, this deployment, I just want all of us to get home safely and back with our families. We started all of this together, now let’s finish it together. As we go home, just remember that we really accomplished things here. The junk we were issued now runs quite well and our Motor Pool is one of the best. So let’s try to hold our heads high and be proud of who we are and what we have done. But the real heroes will always be the families at home taking care of things until we get back. Always being supportive is how my “heroes” have helped me get through this. I love you all and can’t wait to see you all again. Most of all, Kyler, Mommy loves you, and I will be home soon.

Sgt. Sarah Krehbiel
1016th Quartermaster Company
Maintenance Platoon

The countdown has started. That’s right..... We’re counting down the days, and with our fingers crossed, most of us will be home with our families by the end of April. The last month of a deployment is the most crucial month. It’s the month that a lot of people get complacent, people start thinking about going home and think about not being here, so they just stop caring. This month the only thing on peoples minds is the day they get to kiss they’re spouse and child, or for some, that first beer they're going to have.

Much of our time here lately is spent fixing trucks and doing motorpool maintenance. We received all of our equipment in a “fixer upper” state (to put it mildly). Our command is determined to handover our stuff in much better shape then we got it and why not.... It wasn’t very cool fixing all those trucks when we first got here. The rest of our time is spent turning in gear, selling stuff we’re not going to take home and getting our affairs in order back home. Some people have bought toys, and some people have set plans up to go on vacation. Whatever we’ve done, it’s something to look forward to when we get back.

There are many things that go through our heads in this last month. What am I going to do for work when I get back? Is my family going to be different or are they going to treat me different?
Where’s my life going to go after Iraq? In all honesty, I personally don’t care. I just want to get back and close this chapter in my book.


SGT Ian Walsh
2nd Platoon

Hello from Iraq. I have been in country for about 10 months. Being in country has opened my eyes to what I have left behind. For example, fly-fishing when I want and setting on my couch and watching hunting and fishing shows on Saturday mornings... Taking my kids Amanda and Cody fishing and hunting... The thing I am really looking forward to is spoiling my grandson when I come home, he will be old enough to walk

My daughter and my son and Becky are the only people that make my life worth a dime. When I get to Idaho, I plan on going to the back woods and get to know my family again. After I spend some time with them, I plan to come back to Iraq and work for KBR as a HET driver for a year our two I can not pass up the thrill of being on the road, making good money, helping my fellow Soldiers and trying to make a difference in this country

Amanda, Cody, Becky and of course my grandson Terick, I love you and miss you all and we will have a big party when I get home.

RAYMOND L CORNWALL
SSG, 1ST PLATOON

Time here at the 1016th Motor Pool has been pretty good. Just the thought of leaving this place has lifted all our spirits. We have been getting the Motor Pool ready for the next unit by moving parts around and signing equipment over. Missions are still rolling, and they soon, will be going away as well. The best part about the past week was packing things that we will be sending home which I thought I would never get to do. Other than the excitement of leaving, everything else has stayed the same out here in this land of sand. We will be happy to see you all soon.

SGT Corey Sato
Maintenance Section

* According to Encarta World English Dictionary , Fragment means, break up: To lose or to cause something to lose. A sense of unity or cohesion, with the result that something splits into Isolated and often conflicting elements. Such as: Society is starting to fragment.


Many wars has been fought over the centuries and one of the oldest books we have that had many, many wars, was the BIBLE. GOD has ordained battles and GOD has not ordained battles. That’s not to say that war is a bad thing, nor to say it is a good thing, only that it happens, whether it is for the good the bad.

Throughout history, wars have been fought to preserve the rights of freedom. Preserve what freedoms? Freedom of speech, Freedom to worship GOD, freedom to vote, Freedom to travel, Freedom of privacy, and Freedom to bare arms. If there are any more Freedoms that needed to be here, forgive me for not mentioning them at this time.

There were Civil wars, World Wars, Religious wars, Dynastic wars, Trade wars, Revolutionary wars, Guerrilla wars, and Colonial wars. Wars have been fought and battles have been won. There was Triumph and victory over the adversary.
However, having to go to war, or going into battle is not all glorious. There will be lives lost as a result of any of these types of wars.

During times such as this, there could be fragments of wars. Do not be weary in well-doing, it is not shameful for one to lay down his life for another. They are to be honored for such a service, for it is not easy to say that you will die for someone, or for a cause, you believe in. These are Soldiers, fighting men and women, and civilians who have stepped up to the plate, and honored their commitment to their country.

Wars are not meant to be beautiful, loved, or perfect, but Soldiers still need our beautiful country to love us in a non-perfect world. The war has already begun, so stay unified in your hearts for us, FOR UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL. Thank You for the continual support for YOUR Soldiers.

1 Soldier of many.

SSG Makeba Harris
Night TOC Operations
HQ, 1016th QM Co

After being promoted to SSG, my job in 3rd Platoon and purpose in the section was rather unclear. I am a team leader. That ensured some duty and responsibility. But as a whole for the mission I didn’t really have job. When we started doing convoys it was brought to the platoon’s attention that Logistical Commanders would be needed from the line haul units to ensure that the proper loads were shipped to the proper places. They needed E-6’s and since I was capable, that became my new duty. The missions are as varied as the destinations, but the mission statement remains the same. “Transfer of goods and materials through out Theater, in a safe and timely manner”.

My latest trip took us to Kuwait. I hadn’t been there since we got to Camp Buhering in April, and was kind of excited to get back there. Our final destination would be Camp Arifjan. That too would be nice since I hadn’t been there since my last deployment. I didn’t know what had changed but was curious to find out. The mission was supposed to be a relaxing trip for all the guys and the cargo was a simple load and off load so I expected a little down time too. Then we hit the road. We hit one hang up after another; electrical problems with our trucks mostly. The good side to that is, you get to find out where the maintenance shops are on a lot of different posts. Also, team work is improved as soldiers struggle to connect the trucks together so that they can be towed. Then, the paperwork for the loads got messed up and it took quite a while to get straightened out. So, the down time for some of the guys and myself didn’t happen quite like was planned, and the three day run turned into a six day ordeal.

Kuwait was nice, and it was great to get some “foo foo” coffee from Starbucks and eat some Taco Bell. Camp Arifjan has grown to twice the size it was when I was there and I didn’t recognize the place. Most of the team got to let their hair down for a bit and enjoy the amenities of life south of the border.

Our return was later than had been expected but through all the hiccups a lot was learned, and a new unit on Tallil got their personal gear that they had been waiting on for a week or so. See, the unit that is replacing the 172nd had recently had their connexes unloaded at the port, and it was our job to retrieve them.

If you keep up with these blogs you’ll notice I’ve written a few of them and most have been about the bad experiences I’ve had. It strikes me as a little odd the bad things in life seem to stick out a little more in the midst of things. The missions that I’ve had have taught me a lot and there have been plenty of good ones that go by the wayside unmentioned. I am reassured though, that like life, when all this is looked back on, the good times will stand out and all I’ll have from the bad ones is a story to tell and a lesson learned. Learn from the rough times in life, and live in the good times.

This was the last mission for our friends and brothers in arms, B-Co, 172nd Infantry, Maine National Guard. When I was in An Numaniyah, I served with some of them and they earned my respect from the get go. As a training team for the Iraqi Army, they were outstanding. I expected nothing less from them as Convoy Protection Platforms (gun trucks). They performed flawlessly and once again showed that they are one of the most squared away units that I have ever worked with in my humble career. My hat goes off to CPT Lyon and all the boys from B Co. Thank you for your service and God bless you.


SSG Matthew Holman
3rd Platoon, LCC

Distant, brotherhood, sacrifice, disappointment, and the feeling of accomplishment are some of the many emotions the 1016th QM have experienced during this deployment. With 80% of this company coming from all around the Northwest and with different backgrounds, you might say we have learned to adapt in new ways to accomplish many goals we were tasked.

Trial and adversity is our bond and the feeling of accomplishment is our reward. When faced with many problems that exceeded my experience, I turned to those who I for the most part relied on for answers and guidance (SGT. Hare, Team Leader, SSGT Encke, Squad Leader, SFC Keller, Platoon Sergeant, LT. Wilkerson, Platoon Leader). Doing this has created great opportunities for friendship and provided me with the necessary tools it took to accomplish the mission.

As we near the end of the deployment HOPEFULLY, I realized that a company is like a family. You do not get to choose who you live and work beside, “you just do it.” If you were to ask me, “what is the most critical piece of experience during this deployment that helped better you?” It would be to not look at a problem as being a problem, but think of it as an opportunity to make the situation better.


SGT Brian Park
2nd Platoon

It’s mid February here in Iraq, the temperatures are rising and the day count is falling away. With all the work we still have and more coming, we could stay busy for another year though I hope not to be here too much longer. I have seen a lot of personal growth in the last 11 months. Many promotions for my friends and now my leaders. Life long friendships have formed, many aquaintences made. Courage and discipline have been tested and struggles with some I now consider brothers. All of us have experienced exhaustion at least in the last year... for most, a new scene or two being away from home for the first time, aside from Basic Training.

In closing, this has been an experience most of us will never forget. This has been a most challenging and sometimes the most confusing time for me. Between the hard work and long hours, practical jokes and good humor, it leaves some wanting more, but I feel we are ready to be going back to our homes.

John Thurman
1016th Maintenance platoon.

Well, here we are. Our days in Iraq are numbered. Even though we haven’t received our orders yet, the excitement is building. Some have decided to voluntarily extend their stay in theater and those of us going home soon wish them the best of luck. Chances are, several of us will be back again soon enough.

Most of the conversations that I have heard or been a part of have focused on the activities immediately happening upon our arrival home. Some are going fishing or camping. Some are going on long trips to visit family; some are taking their families to new places. Some are going on cruises to celebrate one thing or another, some are going right to work and some are planning on dropping off the face of the earth for a while. All of these are great ideas and everyone, including the families, has earned that reward. Soldiers, don’t forget the sacrifices your families or loved one have made while you were over here. Enjoy yourselves.

There is still a whole lot of work to be done before we get out of here, but it is well worth the effort. In some ways these next several weeks are going to seem like forever and in some ways we are going to worry about having enough time to get everything accomplished. We can do it, because this is the easy part.

In my opinion, not that it matters, job well done everyone.


SSG Anderson
TOC OPS, 1016th QM CO

During the course of the last year, 3rd platoon has stayed pretty busy with the plethora of missions assigned to us. However, we have also had our fair share of down time. I would like to share a glimpse of what we do to alleviate the boredom during that time.

I would have to say that the number one thing done to pass the time is gaming. I mean seriously nerdy computer gaming. No college network gaming party ever came close to the amount of time many of us have put into playing computer games. Much of the time, several of us link up the computers and either help each other accomplish missions in Starcraft or Diablo, or we practice our combat skills against each other in games like Doom or Fear. There is the occasional Tiger Woods Golf tournament or a showdown between the Seahawks and the Colts in Madden 07. Sometimes we just need a bit of alone time to play video games, and that is when games like Oblivion and Siberia come out of the dusty bottom shelf of the wall locker.

Another of our favorite pastimes is watching TV shows. Hours at a time can be spent on the last nine seasons of Stargate or the newest episode of Prison Break. The sharing of TV shows is almost like being back in elementary school trading baseball cards. Everyone seems to have a few of their favorite shows to trade for someone else favorite.

Every so often we get tired of staring at our laptop screens and resort to older and much less technological methods of entertainment by picking up a book, most likely written by Tom Clancy, or pull out a board game that will most likely involve world domination.

Even with all the down time, we manage to fight the boredom as well as we can. I think that I speak for everyone when I say that we would much rather be at home. In the meantime, we do what we can to pass the time as painlessly as possible.

SGT James Fullmer
3rd Platoon