Blog-ah

Coming Home

Homeward Bound

In a little while, I will be heading back to the United States.

I do so somewhat reluctantly.

As I mentioned in an email to my wife, I will miss Forward Operating Base Warhorse. Not because it is such a swell place to be; it isn’t.

No, I will miss it because I truly enjoy talking with, writing about and photographing our soldiers as they go about their duties. Put another way, there is a bond that develops between them and me and I am not sure that I can explain.

But I’ll try.

The other day at FOB Warhorse, a five-ton truck pulled into the compound outside of 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment’s tactical operations center. Inside the truck were literally hundreds of boxes and letters to be distributed.

A couple of soldiers climbed up into the truck; others formed a chain; and the unloading of the truck began. Mail for HHC, Alpha Company, Bravo Company and Charlie Company began to stack up into small hills of boxes, many wrapped in Christmas paper.

You could feel the excitement; it was a little bit like the excitement of Christmas morning.

“Isn’t this great,” commented CSM Richard Leirdhal as he watched. “Not only do families and loved one send these guys mail, but ordinary Americans who don’t know a single one of these kids pack a box up, address it to ‘Any Soldier’ and send it here. I think that is just great,” he added.

Leirdhal is right.

He went on to say that this is the part of this war that many in the American media don’t see and don’t write about. The fact that Americans – even those who do not agree with the current administration’s policies about this war - address boxes and cards to soldiers they don’t even know should not be ignored.

The unknown people who sent those cards and letters care. As I know most of you do.

And some in the media care, too.

And that’s why I am reluctant to come home.

J.M. Simpson

Photos From Iraq

Here are shots John Simpson sent us before returning home after a holiday visit at Warhorse with the 4th Stryker Brigade from Fort Lewis.

Stryker's UAV

To The Flight line: Spc. Jose Mena, Tacoma Platoon, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, pushes a RQ-7 Shadow out onto the flight line prior to a launch. The Shadow gives soldiers on the ground “eyes in the sky.”

– J.M. Simpson

J.M. Simpson in Iraq

Hard Consequences at Warhorse

For any organization to be successful, rules, regulations and traditions have to be observed. If not, then the organization soon becomes chaotic.

And given the purpose of a military organization, such chaos can get soldiers killed.

Clearly, chaos is not something that the Army can afford to have in the ranks … or anywhere else. And when a soldier does not conform to the rules, regulations and traditions of the Army, there can be consequences.

And when a soldier loses his weapon, there are consequences.

I don’t know all of the ramifications one particular soldier is facing for having lost his weapon. And I don’t know if there are other disciplinary issues at hand. But I do know that the consequences for having lost his weapon are hard, cold and dirty.

Sandbags need to be filled.

And this particular soldier is filling sandbags using a headlamp as he works in the dark with a small shovel.

Better sandbags filled and a lesson learned than a soldier’s wrong actions which could lead to disaster on the battlefield.

– J.M. Simpson

J.M. Simpson in Iraq

Mail for Comrade Moraga

Imagine Sergeant First Class Jose Moraga’s surprise when he got a letter from Megan Neel.

It wasn’t the fact that she wrote to him that was the surprise. No, that comes when one learns where the letter went before Moraga received it.

Neel is one of many Americans who sits down and writes letters to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. She lives in Markleville, Indiana, and she posted a letter to HHC, 1-38 on November 2nd.

The letter arrived today, December 11th.

Mail can be slow, but it becomes very slow when it is first sent to Moscow.

“I couldn’t believe it. Moscow!” exclaimed Moraga when he walked into the S-1’s (Administration) office at FOB Warhorse.

“Ah yes, comrade. And what else do you have to tell us,” joked one of the soldiers sitting in the office. “Do we need to contact CID?” he continued with a big smile.

Moraga shrugged off the good-natured kidding as he held onto the envelope in which the letter had arrived.

“I just can’t believe it first went to Moscow before it got to me,” he said. “It’s really incredible.”

- J.M. Simpson

J.M. Simpson in Iraq

John Simpson from the Fort Lewis Ranger is spending a part of the holidays in Iraq with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. He filed this photos this morning.

Sgt. Mariano Quinteros, 2nd Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, uses a hole in a wall to keep an eye out for insurgent activity.

Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, keep an eye on a row of buildings across from them before entering a building for with Iraqi Army officials.

On The Way Back to Iraq

By J.M. Simpson

While on my way to FOB (Forward Operating Base) Warhorse yesterday, I met a couple of interesting soldiers.

The first is SSgt. Kenneth Osborne. He coordinates flights from Balad AB to everywhere else in Iraq. What’s more, he’s very good at his job.

I had no sooner landed at Balad AB and walked into his office when he looked at me and said, “Ah, Mr. Simpson, I have been expecting you.”

Not only had he been expecting me, he also made sure that I got on the next helicopter headed to Warhorse. In a relatively short period of time, I was on my way.

But what I think makes this soldier remarkable is not so much that he does his job well, but that he goes out of his way to make sure soldiers get to where they need to be when they need to be there.

“My day is made when I’ve got soldiers going to where they need to be going,” he commented to me as I prepared to leave. “That makes me happy,” he added.

And knowing that you’re working to make this kind of coordination happen for the benefit of your fellow soldiers is a credit to you, SSgt. Osborne.

The second person I met was Maj. (Dr.) Will Bimson, a cardiologist who was flying from Balad AB to Warhorse. He will be attached to 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

A perceptive soldier, Bimson carried fours duffel bags plus a backpack. I wondered aloud as to why he had some much gear.

“I’ve got a lot of stethoscopes,” he joked as I helped him load his gear onto a Chinook.

Those were some heavy stethoscopes.

His humor aside, Bimson is only one of about 40 cardiologists in the Army. He has a great deal of training under his belt, and if called upon to use his educational background, he will do so with confidence.

“Whatever I face here, I am sure that I will do very well,” he said.

I believe him.

Should your loved ones need medical attention, they will be in good hands with Dr. Will Bimson.

And last, when I was here in September, the temperature would climb to between 115 and 125 degrees during the day and dip down to the low 90s at night. Now, however, the temperature struggles to get above 65 degrees during the day and falls into the low 40s at night.

In a word … it’s cold!

J.M. Simpson in Iraq

Hello From Iraq

I hope all is well with the Fort Lewis community as we each in our own way prepare to enjoy the Holiday Season.

Before leaving Iraq last September after having embedded with 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division for about five weeks, a soldier asked me if I would consider returning to FOB Warhorse around Christmas time.

His question stuck with me.

Last summer marked my third embedment with Fort Lewis soldiers, and I believed at the time that it would be my last embedment. Frankly, I did not like the idea of putting my wife through the worry that every wife (or husband) experiences when her husband (or his wife) enters a potentially dangerous situation. Why would I want to do this to a woman who has given me so much?

But like I said, the soldier’s question kept nagging at me.

I tried to rationalize the query away. I have a good position at Pierce College; I have children to look after; I have the Christmas season to look forward to. And why would I put up with the myriad of obstacles I face getting into and out of Iraq?

In other words, I had a lot of reasons … good reasons … to not come back.

But I did. I came back. All because one soldier in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment asked me a question.

A question that would not go away.

So I talked with my wife.

My wife said she would support whatever I decided. She knows better than anyone how much the idea of being with my “brothers” and “sisters” means to me. She understands that the stories I write and the images I make of your loved ones are important to you.

Please bear in mind that I cannot talk to and write about everyone in the brigade. I occasionally get comments complaining about how I did not photograph or write about so-and-so’s son or daughter, husband or wife.

Like I can be everywhere for everyone. It’s not going to happen.

Just remember that this is a big brigade and that I have a very limited amount of time (I am working on my time off between academic quarters at Pierce College) while here.

Then I talked with two other people.

Those two would be Donna and Jordan Haines, the owners of Coinforce.com. They also understand what it means to be in the military and how family members miss their loved ones during the holidays.

For the second time, they put the money up which allowed me to return. Were it not for them, I would not have been able to embed this past summer or now. The Haines have been instrumental in allowing me the opportunity to give you a glimpse into what good … and I emphasize good … our soldiers and your loved ones are doing here.

The Ranger Newspaper will carry my stories and images. KCPQ, Channel 13’s reporter and news anchor Lara Yamada will also carry my images and comments during several news broadcasts.

And I will do my best to do what I do in the time I have … to tell the stories of good soldiers doing good work in Iraq.

J.M. Simpson

Simpson Headed Back to Iraq to be with 4th Brigade

John Simpson, photographer and reporter for the Fort Lewis Ranger is headed back to Iraq in December to capture the stories of the 4th Stryker Brigade during the holiday season. His reports and photos should start appearing here and in the Fort Lewis Ranger newspaper around December 13 through the end of the year.

This is Simpson's fourth trip to Iraq since the war began.

John Simpson in Iraq

THANK YOU

As is always the case, no task as large as this one succeeds were it not for the cooperation, help and understanding of others. I am no exception to this.

First, I cannot adequately articulate how thankful I am to have been blessed by the actions and words of my wife, Melanie. Were it not for her, none of what I have accomplished would have been possible.

Second, I have been allowed into a world that most people outside of the military do not experience. I am talking about being with soldiers at war. I thank the men who talked to me and trusted me to tell their stories.

Some of these individuals I will not forget.

1Lt. Daniel Crumby: From him I learned what a FST, or Fire Support Team, does.

SFC David Heard: I thank him for his willingness to share his room while I was at COP Aztec. And I think your son could some day be a very good artist.

SSgt Michael McLaughlin: I have no doubt that I can “hang a round” after watching you conduct a fire support mission. Hooah!

SFC Jonny Resseguie: It’s soldiers like you that make the American Army great. You make St. Michael smile.

Maj. Mike Garcia, PAO, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division: Thank you for trusting me to work with the soldiers of this great brigade. I only wish others in your line of work were as trusting, professional and open-minded as you are.

Lt. Gen. James Dubik: Thank you, sir, for taking the time to talk with me. I think it meant a lot to some folks at Ft. Lewis to hear about your thoughts; I know it meant a lot to me.

SFC Angel Colon: You are a first sergeant’s first sergeant. It was my privilege to work with you.

Jordan and Donna Haines: Were it not for the fact that you two put your money where my mouth is, none of what has been published in the Fort Lewis Ranger Newspaper would have happened. Thank you.

Capt. Jason Shick: Our paths first crossed in 2005 in Mosul. They crossed again at Ft. Lewis. And they crossed again in Baghdad. Be safe.

SFC Kris Macavoy, SFC David Jameson, SFC Jeff Singh, SSgt. John Caldwell, Sgt. Chad Jones, Sgt. Shane Knight and Spc. Christopher Shaffer: You engineers carry a very large toolbox, and I think you soldiers are the best.

Sara Monzo: Thank you for your support through your advertising in the Fort Lewis Ranger Newspaper. Moreover, thank you for the shirt you provided me. A number of soldiers commented on it with the words, “Hey. That’s the company that built my house.”

Assault Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment: Thank you for allowing me a look into your operations. If people only knew how much you have to do and with how little you have to do the mission with, they’d be amazed.

Lara Yamada, KPCQ – Channel 13: It was a pleasure to work with you. I think we’ve done a wonderful job for your viewers. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute.

Maj. Matt Moore: I wasn’t quite sure how to take you when we first met back at Ft. Lewis, but I have since come to respect and admire your grasp of all aspects of the AO in Baqubah. Thank you for your time and the use of your office.

Lt. Col. Ricardo Love: No one – and I mean no one – has been as receptive to this photojournalist as you and your staff have. You will never know how appreciative I am of this. Thank you.

Maj. Jody Miller: You didn’t bat an eye when I asked to use your office. You never denied me access to anything while I was at FOB Warhorse. You are a damn good XO, and you admirably serve 1/38.

SSgt. Christopher Sterling: You took the time to explain to me some of the finer points of life on the streets of East Baqubah. Semper fi.

SSgt. Ryan Longacre: Thank you for allowing me an inside look as to how you work and live in a COP. I deeply appreciate your trust, both here and at home.

It has truly been an honor and a privilege for me to serve with, write about and photograph the soldiers in 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. My only request is that you all come home safely; my only wish is that you were all coming home now.

J.M. Simpson

Editor's Note: John leaves the warzone today. Look for his continued coverage on Iraq throughout this month inside the Fort Lewis Ranger. We here at the Ranger thank John for his dedicated service not only to our papers, but more importantly, to our readers.