Thanks to all that have sent cards, letters and packages. Rest assured that I received them whether the address said the 155th, Camp Crocker, or whatever. I think I hit a few wrong key strokes from time-to-time when I sent my emails, so the address was written wrong. Think of where I work as the "Eleventy-fifth", and that will be a good reminder.
COL Martin Weisse
TF 115 MED
Camp Cropper
APO AE 09342
It's Holy Week, the weather's warming up, and there is a changing of the guard, sort of, going on. The last group of replacement doctors and nurses just arrived, and so a whole bunch of people that I've worked with for the last 6 weeks or so are leaving this week. God bless'em!
For the bulk of the 115th group that has been here the whole long time since last May, this marks a watershed. They won't have to see anyone else leave before they do.
******************************
17 April 2009
I’d like to say to say it’s the end of another week here at the “Eleventy-nickel”, but that’s too confusing, because weeks don’t begin or end here. Every day’s about the same, except I go to church on Sunday afternoon, or 8 a.m. East-coast time.
There was a rainbow today here in Iraq. I was inside the DMC, and heard a rat-a-tat-tat on the roof, looked out the door window and saw sunlight. I went out to investigate and it was rain. Looked up and saw a rainbow. Not a brilliant, Hawaii-type rainbow, but by God it was a rainbow. Now THAT will make you smile, I don’t care where y’are.
I have a new job here- when the last group of doctors came, and the people they replaced left, I became the medical director of “Wire Medicine”, which is all the medical care that goes on in the TIF. As you can imagine, it is an extremely glamorous job, pretty much what I have trained for my whole life. Not bad for a country pediatrician. Actually, I have a bunch of paperwork to do everyday, but the good part is that I have a much better idea of all that goes on inside the TIF. I got a tour of one of the compounds, and went inside one of the large, concrete structures where the detainees sleep- all their mats are on the ground, in three rows. Each detainee gets a thin mattress, 1 blanket, a prayer rug, a Koran, a hygiene kit (towel, tooth brush, etc), 1 change of clothes (yellow pants and shirt, white underwear) and that’s pretty much it. A small soccer field, volleyball, ping pong tables. Sounds like a picnic at the Weisse Farm, at least that last part. I’ll write more about the DMC and the TIF later.
The other benefit of my new position, is that I get to go to the weekly Chiefs' meeting. Thats when the chief of each compound meets with LTC Graul, the TIF commander and they can exchange info, requests, etc. Then Medical gets their turn, then Legal. It's all very interesting. I thought it was going to be boisterous today, because earlier in the week there was a disturbance at the "Pledge ceremony". Basically, before the detainees get released, they must pledge before an Iraqi judge to work together for the good of Iraq, etc. Well, the judge was late, and a fight broke out between the Takfiri and a Shia. The Takfiri all remind me of Simon Zealots. They don't like anybody. So much for the pledge. No one got released that day. Ever wonder what will happen after we leave?
I had a nice Easter- there was an ecumenical sunrise service, I went for a run outdoors (my first non-treadmill run since I’ve been here), then mass at 3 p.m. and a nice dinner. They even had Easter decorations, chocolate bunnies, and jelly beans. (See pictures) Janet had sent some Peeps, so I even had those! And I want to thank everyone who continue to shower me with their thoughts and prayers, postcards and packages. The pictures you see are my wall on March 1st, and then on April 1st. I have received more than a dozen postcards and pictures since then, so you’ll see what my wall looks like when I take a picture on May 1st.
I think of you all, and your thoughts keep me going strong. If I don’t write back, it’s not because I’m not thinking of you or don’t care, of that you can be sure.
The view from the end of my street/alley.
My room on March 1, 2009
Already more color on the wall- April 1, 2009
The Ba'ath Party HQ building- the first thing we bombed in 2003.
Directional sign on Camp Cropper.
My favorite street sign on Camp Striker.
Easter basket in Iraq- peeps, chocolate bunny and jelly beans.