Ripping Out Fences & Dangerous Convoys

At the motorpool we have like six conex's full of parts and all kinds of stuff. Well we've began the process of pulling everything out and moving it to the other side of the yard. On the other side of the yard it is being shelved nicely to be inventoried. And needless to say this process involves a lot of toil in the sun. So we've put some very full days with no end in sight. In addition we're putting in a new gate. Let me explain that our current gate exits onto a very busy road. Everything from trunks to Tanks rumble by frequently. So that makes it a very dangerous place to pull out. In addition, as you pull out your view is obstructed by various concret barriers and a building. So we requested the funding to put in a new gate and so that work also started today. I was on the crew this morning who tore out about 200 feet of barbed wire. And let me tell you I have cuts on my hands and arms to prove it. It was especially difficult cause I've never work with anything like this before. So when I first hit the task I didn't have a clue as to how to even begin. So I kind of watched a few of the others and kind of clumsily mimiced their motions. But it wasn't long until I caught on and I was in there working with the rest of them.
Not all our work of the last few days has been in the motorpool. We did a convoy yesturday. And it was with heigtened trepidation that we prepared our vehicles and our gear yesturday morning. There had already been one improvised explosive device found on our route to the green zone. And in addition just 90 minutes prior we had felt the jolt and heard the a loud explosion that rocked one of the check-points on our route. We in fact we held up cause the authorities closed the highway. So we sat in our armour with our weapons, vehicles and equipment ready to roll when the all clear signal was given. We got word that the insurgents were moving out of Fallujah and coming up to Baghdad, cause they feared the major US assault that is looming on the horizon. So they're trying to shift attention away from that city. So even the soldiers with a lot of iraqi miles under their belt were feeling some butterflies. So we got the all clear and we set out. Before we set out the 1st Sgt. gave the mission briefing. He looked sternly at our gunners, who ride on top of the gun trunks with machine guns. And he told them to strickly use the rules of engagement. To use hand signals to communicate with traffic to our rear. And to kill any one who defies those commands. As we pulled out the driver expressed some fear this time around. I told him not to worry. That I had said a prayer and God's Angel was going before us. It was hard to tell if that was much of a comfort for him. The route was very heavily beset by Marines, Army Soldiers and Iraqi forces. I counted numerous tanks and many more heavily armoured patrols. It was with much relief that we arrived at the hospital in the green zone. It was lunch time so we headed for a small chow tent that is set up next to the hospital. Here were we live we have large, spacious dinning facilities with a large selection and variety. But this tent featured no frills. It's small and uncomfortable with only a basic selection of food. But it's all we had since no one wanted to make the trip to the pizza place that's about a mile away. After lunch I relaxed in the hospital lobby and watched the O'Reilly Factor on the TV that was there. When our time came to return to our camp we learned that the roads were closed again. So after waiting an hour and a half the 1st. Sgt. decided on an alternate route that was a bit unfamiliar. But the plan was to head down the closed route and only go for the alternate if we were turned around there. So we set out and indeed the route was closed. However, we had a remarkable piece of luck (or answered prayer). There was one of those armed patrols that go back and forth along the highway that crossed over and got behind us as they headed back up the highway. So the checkpoint was opened to allow the patrol to come back through and we sailed on through since we were just in front of them. What a blessing that we completed our mission on the most dangerous road currently in theater without an incident. Praise God.