I’m not even sure where to begin with today. It started at 7:35am and it is now 11:45pm and I’m just typing my blog in Microsoft word because we do not have easy internet access here.
Of course the day started with a trip to the DFac for some breakfast. I forgot to mention how good the coffee is here! Regular coffee is awesome and strong coffee is almost like tar – Love it! Following our regular morning routine we headed to the hospital, Balad Emergency Department – Arrowheaded. We were shown the landing area and the proceeded to a flag covered walk way
known as ‘Hero’s Hwy’ where all the soldiers enter the hospital through. Once in the hospital we were taken through each stage that a trauma patient would go through; emergency room, CT Scan area, operating room, ICU, ‘normal’ care unit and the recovery unit. While in the CT Scan area we were shown the computer images of a soldier who was stabbed in the head, he survived with no long term affect. The technology that is used in this process is indescribable. From there we met the medical staff and viewed an operating room which was the backdrop of many of our pictures with them! After the operating room we headed to the intensive care unit. There was a soldier in there with a gun shot wound to the face and a little 5 year old Iraqi boy who fell victim to an IED (improvised explosive device) placed by their own people. Iraqis are welcome to the 
care at this hospital as well. If any Iraqi shows up at a base in search of medical assistance they are not denied help from our soldiers. This little boy was in containment behind glass windows. We could not go in the room but we could see him from the window. This was sooooo hard to see. The nurses talked about reading how the Iraqis are feeling through their expressions due to the language barrier; let’s just say the expression on this little boys face put a wrench in all of our hearts. He is at the right place and being taken care of by all the right people, now we can just pray for him. Moving on to the next area we met Tarrik, a 3 year old boy who was severely 
burned by boiling water while playing in his home. He has been there for a few months and is a favorite of the hospital staff. He was so cute and is doing so well. He and I blew each other a kiss and he gave a high five or two. We then proceeded to the recovery area where there were a few more soldiers and write on the wall of their back 'hang out' room. In this area they were able to move around and get up for pictures and things so it was nice to end here seeing some soldiers in the recovery process. This hospital is also where soldiers come to be stabilized before being sent back to the states if they are in need of excessive medical care.
Then came the fire department… this was all fun and games for us and the firemen! We took some pics and then were able to get in a truck and shoot water, of course I aimed at all the people watching and almost drenched our security guy and our tour manger Andy, we had never seen him move so fast! Five of the firemen got their gear out and we all put the gear on and shot a fire hose together. This made for some good laughs and photo ops!
On the way to our next stop we drove next to the ‘wire’. Outside the wire is where we were not allowed to go; that is considered ‘battle ground’. One of our security men explained to us that kids will sometimes come up to the gates and the soldiers are told not to give them anything including water. When they do, the kids run back to their villages and spread the word. Within the hour they have hundreds of kids lined up at the fence begging. Just beyond this wire was farm land and we witnessed
some women hard at work. Once we arrived we toured a gunship, C-130 plane that is equipped to shoot HUGE weapons. After touring the gunship and visiting with soldiers we headed to a gun range where we each got to shoot 5 different guns. Of course we all loved this. We shot an AK-47, m-9 Beretta Piston, MP-5, British Sterling and an M-4.
We also visited the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – CJSOTF. It was awesome to hear some of their stories and also hear them describe what it is they do. They don’t really report to anyone and they are pretty much their own small unit that answers to themselves only. Most of what they do is undercover so that’s about it from that part of our day ;-)
Dinner with the winners to the spirit contest was held at the DFac in a VIP room. The entire unit, Maintenance Operations Communications, was able to join us in the VIP room. One of the soldiers mentioned that he would never again see the inside of that room. It is fun to help soldiers experience things they would normally never be able to do if it wasn’t for our visit!
Following dinner we went to our last meet in greet. Signed autographs and took pictures, the usual. At the end of that meet and greet, we took a special picture of our own…
And last, but not least we closed out our day on the runway where the m-16 take off. These are
crafts are incredible. By the time they lift off from the ground they are going 200+ MPH. These are crafts are refueled every 1.5 hours while on missions. A refueling plane meets them in the air and they refuel during flight.
I know I left out tons of details on parts of today’s activities but I would have to write a book to be able to share it all. With a 5:45am bus call to head to airport, I’m out!
Of course the day started with a trip to the DFac for some breakfast. I forgot to mention how good the coffee is here! Regular coffee is awesome and strong coffee is almost like tar – Love it! Following our regular morning routine we headed to the hospital, Balad Emergency Department – Arrowheaded. We were shown the landing area and the proceeded to a flag covered walk way
known as ‘Hero’s Hwy’ where all the soldiers enter the hospital through. Once in the hospital we were taken through each stage that a trauma patient would go through; emergency room, CT Scan area, operating room, ICU, ‘normal’ care unit and the recovery unit. While in the CT Scan area we were shown the computer images of a soldier who was stabbed in the head, he survived with no long term affect. The technology that is used in this process is indescribable. From there we met the medical staff and viewed an operating room which was the backdrop of many of our pictures with them! After the operating room we headed to the intensive care unit. There was a soldier in there with a gun shot wound to the face and a little 5 year old Iraqi boy who fell victim to an IED (improvised explosive device) placed by their own people. Iraqis are welcome to the 
care at this hospital as well. If any Iraqi shows up at a base in search of medical assistance they are not denied help from our soldiers. This little boy was in containment behind glass windows. We could not go in the room but we could see him from the window. This was sooooo hard to see. The nurses talked about reading how the Iraqis are feeling through their expressions due to the language barrier; let’s just say the expression on this little boys face put a wrench in all of our hearts. He is at the right place and being taken care of by all the right people, now we can just pray for him. Moving on to the next area we met Tarrik, a 3 year old boy who was severely 
burned by boiling water while playing in his home. He has been there for a few months and is a favorite of the hospital staff. He was so cute and is doing so well. He and I blew each other a kiss and he gave a high five or two. We then proceeded to the recovery area where there were a few more soldiers and write on the wall of their back 'hang out' room. In this area they were able to move around and get up for pictures and things so it was nice to end here seeing some soldiers in the recovery process. This hospital is also where soldiers come to be stabilized before being sent back to the states if they are in need of excessive medical care.
Then came the fire department… this was all fun and games for us and the firemen! We took some pics and then were able to get in a truck and shoot water, of course I aimed at all the people watching and almost drenched our security guy and our tour manger Andy, we had never seen him move so fast! Five of the firemen got their gear out and we all put the gear on and shot a fire hose together. This made for some good laughs and photo ops!On the way to our next stop we drove next to the ‘wire’. Outside the wire is where we were not allowed to go; that is considered ‘battle ground’. One of our security men explained to us that kids will sometimes come up to the gates and the soldiers are told not to give them anything including water. When they do, the kids run back to their villages and spread the word. Within the hour they have hundreds of kids lined up at the fence begging. Just beyond this wire was farm land and we witnessed
some women hard at work. Once we arrived we toured a gunship, C-130 plane that is equipped to shoot HUGE weapons. After touring the gunship and visiting with soldiers we headed to a gun range where we each got to shoot 5 different guns. Of course we all loved this. We shot an AK-47, m-9 Beretta Piston, MP-5, British Sterling and an M-4.We also visited the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – CJSOTF. It was awesome to hear some of their stories and also hear them describe what it is they do. They don’t really report to anyone and they are pretty much their own small unit that answers to themselves only. Most of what they do is undercover so that’s about it from that part of our day ;-)
Dinner with the winners to the spirit contest was held at the DFac in a VIP room. The entire unit, Maintenance Operations Communications, was able to join us in the VIP room. One of the soldiers mentioned that he would never again see the inside of that room. It is fun to help soldiers experience things they would normally never be able to do if it wasn’t for our visit!
Following dinner we went to our last meet in greet. Signed autographs and took pictures, the usual. At the end of that meet and greet, we took a special picture of our own…
And last, but not least we closed out our day on the runway where the m-16 take off. These are
crafts are incredible. By the time they lift off from the ground they are going 200+ MPH. These are crafts are refueled every 1.5 hours while on missions. A refueling plane meets them in the air and they refuel during flight.I know I left out tons of details on parts of today’s activities but I would have to write a book to be able to share it all. With a 5:45am bus call to head to airport, I’m out!
What a great experience at the hospital that you were able to blow kisses to that sweet boy! I almost cried when I saw that picture because I could just see the love you felt for that little boy in your eyes! That's what I call a "cheer" leader- you're the best!
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