| WEDNESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2004 - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK... FINALLY | ||
| I once worked with a company commander who liked to
say, "this place is getting hotter than two rats screwing in a wool
sock." O.K., maybe he did not use the word screwing, but you
get the idea. Mosul has been getting hot.
Yesterday
the number of mortar attacks increased dramatically. However,
at around 2130, things were about to change... It started with a rather loud explosion. We did not hear the usual, "Bunkers, Bunkers, Bunkers," (the overhead announcement telling us to get in the bunkers), but the BOOM was so loud most of us found the inside of the bunkers on our own. We sat there and waited to see if there would be any more explosions. We heard the helicopters flying overhead, which is quite common at night, especially after mortars or other loud explosions. Then we heard something we were not too familiar with... First we heard something that sounded like several missiles launching. Then we heard a large caliber weapon firing. Then we heard some more missiles. For a few seconds we could not figure out where it was coming from, then we realized that it was coming from the helicopter. The helicopter had found something and was blasting the shit out of it. When we realized what was going on, the living area erupted into celebratory cheers and high-fives, it was about time. Today, suddenly, there was more of the same. Lots of loud booms and large caliber weapons fire - coming from US. We are finally starting to kick some ass - IT IS ABOUT TIME. On another note, it has started raining quite a bit here. There is mud and water everywhere. On top of that, everywhere you go smells either like a huge cat litter box or a public restroom on the New Jersey Turnpike... |
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