TW in Iraq #6: Arrival in Fallujah

contact@thirdway.com (Lance Corporal Sean Barney, USMC) — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 15:49:00 -0600

(Note: This arrived at Third Way as a letter from Sean dated 4/02/06)

Fallujah, Iraq

Last night we arrived at our forward operating base (FOB) in the center of the city of Fallujah. After two days at Camp Victory in Kuwait, we were flown in a C-130 to a large air base about 20 miles outside of Fallujah. After another two days at the air base, we convoyed through the city of Fallujah to another base just outside of Fallujah at Baharia. Finally, after another two days at Baharia, we convoyed into the heart of the city to occupy our FOB.

The flight from Kuwait was uneventful, with the exception of the swift, spiraling descent the plane made before landing, in order to avoid potential rocket attacks from outside the perimeter of the base. The base we flew into, on the other hand, was quite a sight to see.

For those military personnel and private contractors stationed at that base, life in Iraq is pretty darn good. The chow hall was extraordinary. One night we were there, steak and crab leg were served. There were always multiple stations where food of different varieties, including Mexican and Indian food, was served. There was even a Baskin-Robbins station, with ice cream and your choice of toppings. It is going to be a mild form of torture over the next seven months to know that this is just 20 miles away, when we are eating MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and tray rats at our FOB in Fallujah!

The convoy to Baharia was our first trip “outside the wire,” as well as our first opportunity to see the city of Fallujah. We were originally supposed to convoy out the night before we did, but the vehicles did not arrive until after sunrise and the decision was made that it was too dangerous to convoy through the middle of Fallujah during daylight hours. Thus, we stood by at the airbase for another day and then convoyed out after sunset and after the nightly curfew took effect in the city.

Actually seeing the city of Fallujah up close was rather shocking. At night time, the city looks like some concrete jungle, straight out of a sci-fi, doomsday movie. Much of the city literally lies in ruins. Many of the most prominent buildings are hollowed-out heaps of rubble.

Baharia is the site of one of Uday Hussein’s old palaces. The palace is located on an island in the middle of a man-made lake. When the Marines occupied the grounds, they found skeletal remains in the lake of young women that Uday had abducted, raped and killed. One thing I can say is that Uday knew how to pick his real estate. Even in its current guise as a military base, it has the beauty of a resort.

Our FOB in Fallujhah is located in the middle of the city. We woke up this morning for the first time to the sound of morning prayers. When an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detonated mid-morning, we felt the concussion inside the FOB. (The Marines were not hurt) It is a far different atmosphere here from Baharia or the air base we flew into.

Third Way Dispatch: TW in Iraq #6: Arrival in Fallujah

TW in Iraq #6: Arrival in Fallujah