I came back from my year in the desert with a persistent cough. (Yes, only one year. I was just an Air Force comm troop after all). After awhile you start to wonder what's going on (Gulf War Syndrome? Nile River Virus? Hammurabi Flu?)
Turns out I had developed some kind of allergy-like symptoms easily taken care of by an over the counter Claritin when needed.
Then I read about this guy and others who say they have debilitating symptoms because of Balad's burn pit. (Balad is northwest of Baghdad, for those who've never had the pleasure taking that blackhawk ride up the Tigris.)
Breathing smoke as a Fobbit is nothing compared to what the combat troops go through, but I can sympathize. I had my own encounters with the Balad Burn pit. Here's a picture I took, I don't know why...
I can vouch that it really stunk, but so does cordite from a mortar attack when your tent's air handling unit sucks it in as the sirens are going off... There were days when it swept across the base, but usually it just plumed up into the sky...
17 comments:
Silverfiddle, As always Thank You for your service. But have to ask; Do you know what was being burned in the pit? and Was the pit there before the war or created by our Forces?
They burned everything, all the garbage.
A military installation is a small city, gotta do something with all that trash.
I'm almost sure we created it. We do it all over, not just Balad.
Thanks. I kinda figured garbage but the way you presented it, it eluded to something other than that.
Be sure to stay on top of that cough no matter the cause.
Something you should check out: The Hurt Locker. I just watched it. Stunning.
SB: You're the second person who's recommended that to m. I've gotta check it out.
Reminds me of the comm work I did around the airstrip at Bagram. The concern there wasn't IEDs, but land mines sewn indiscriminantly by Taliban and Northern Alliance when that was the dividing line.
One simple rule: If there ain't a path, don't walk there.
That sunny day photo makes me want to grab the suntan lotion (and flak jacket)...
Fredd: We were safely inside the confines. It would've taken a 5 mile shot to hit us. Did have to scramble for cover a few time because of mortars, however.
Thanks for sharing the pictures, would be interested in any more you might have
thank u my friend for your service and for being YOU. hugggss!
Angel, you always have such warm things to say!
WMUR: Careful! Ask a veteran for more pictures and you'll get your ear gabbed off...
I do plan on doing more stuff like this.
I smelled something like that once. I think it was coming from D.C.
Good Morning Mr.Silverfiddle!
I just figured on stopping by for shit's and grin's to see wassup!
Your a Vet too that served in Iraq, heh? Actually I have a nephew there now (Marine Corp), and get this .... his dad ... my brother in law is an Iranian who escaped the late 1970's revolution of Iran, came to Texas and married a Texas gal .... been married since and converted to chrisianity too. I also have a niece fixin to get deployed somewhere's when she graduate's high school this year, that just enlisted in the Army. My dad was WW2 and Nazi POW, mom's brother was Air Force .... same war. I tried to enlist in the Seabees (Navy) which I was looking forward to since around 14 or so, waiting for my 17th birthday (early 1970's) I failed my written exam ...was told to come back a few month's down the road ... but a few month's later I was in Dade County Jail (Miami) accused of stealin a car in Wheeling,W-VA ( Pittsburgh Area) and driving it down to South Florida .... oh well!
Nice posting Sir and pic's. I know damn well year's "after" any of these war's, is when we find out about occupational hazzard's from the war as far as respiratory, mental or anything else. I was opposed to this war ... or our deployment of troop's to this region .... only because I figured it was just to take control of the region and make a bunch of money, oil, contracting, etc. I dont want shit from these MF's or to tell them how to live, I dont want anything to do with many of these ragheaded flea bearded MF's period, I dont even want their f'n oil, I'd rather buy oil from commie Chavez before them. I am not anti- war at all ... and know several vet's who loved their service .... Vet's who spent 20 year's and more serving. To be frank ... I cant stand these islamic nation's .... and to be more frank ... no ...I wouldnt send one soldier over to any of these rat trap's to fight any of their stupid religious war's, and would even let countries like Iran build nuke's if they chose, I do know that if any one of these cocksucker's ever so much as remotely suggested that they will nuke us .... make no mistake .... I would level their whole f'n societies, especially the women and children, women reproduce, and children grow up to avenge. Frankly I just dont like any of these MF's.
One more thing .... all this shit talking now out of Iran .... they should be kissing our asses for taking down Saddam as it is .... yet their selling "woof ticket's" on what their going to do. Fuck them too! I better STFU now.
Thank You Guy .........
Ranch Chimp:
I've met quite a few Iranian immigrants, good people! This is still the land of the American Dream for those who want to participate.
I share your disdain for the flea bitten lands of the middle east. We need to wrap it up right and get out, and we need to think twice before going in again.
Thanks for stopping by!
You know it's not just shit from burn pits. In Kabul you could see the particulates floating in the air. And when you drove away from the city, which is in a bowl like depression surrounded by mountains you could see the ring of black juxtaposed against the mountain sides.
I can recall coughing up black flecked spittle after being out and about...
Gene: I remember reading that Kabul's air had the greatest concentration of fecal particulate matter of any population center in the world. Not a nice thing to contemplate as I sat at the airport.
Thanks again my friend for serving our nation so loyally.
Also I am glad to know that the cough was nothing serious. No one can truly know the hardship of serving overseas during wartime unless they experience it themselves.
God bless you all.
Thanks Letician, but I had it easy...
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