Sour Swinger Predominantly follows my Army & Iraq Deployment. Also has some Geek, School, and other talk.

 

Staff Sgt. Mark Baum, 32, of Quakertown, shown with his wife and three children

Even though I am in the same brigade, I have no direct information on SSG Baum since he is in a different company. As such, I’ve assembled a series of quotes pulled from varies news websites.

“Officials say he was severely wounded by small arms fire after responding to an improvised explosive device attack. He was flown to Baghdad and died about five hours later. No other soldiers were killed or injured.” -WFMZ

“According to the Bucks County Commissioners, Baum, a Bucks County Corrections Officer, was deployed to Iraq five months ago as a sergeant with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Detachment 1, Company B, 1st Battalion 111th Infantry Regiment. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and promoted to staff sergeant.” -CBS

“Governor Edward G. Rendell has ordered that all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags at the state’s Capitol Complex and at commonwealth facilities in Bucks County be flown at half-staff immediately until Sgt. Baum is laid to rest.” -WFMZ

“Baum is the first member of the [56th] brigade to die in Iraq.” -Penn Live

“Baum is the 33rd Pennsylvania Army National Guard solder killed in action” -WFMZ

Official DOD release report.
Video interview with his wife.
Phillyburbs: Bucks Soldier Killed In Iraq.
CBS: Bucks County Soldier Killed In Iraq
WFMZ: Family of Local Soldier Killed In Iraq Speaks Out
Pennlive: Stryker Unit Loses One Of Its Own
Lehigh Valley: Quakertown Soldier Killed In Iraq Over Weekend

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We are finally in Iraq! I’ve been silent for awhile, but seriously…nothing was happening in Kuwait. Just a lot of waiting. The travel here was a bit tedious. It involved 2 bus trips, a plane ride (my first in a C130), and a helicopter ride. My platoon lucked out with only having one 24 hour delay. I heard a lot soldiers were consistently pushed back, and severally delayed. For some reason, my platoon was pushed forward and rushed wherever we went. Every time hack given was cut short.

Iraq is different in comparison to the desert in Kuwait. First thing I noticed, GREEN! There’s quite a bit of plant life here. Granted its nothing compared to the states. Now that we are in civilization, you see and hear a lot more. For instance their car horns, sound weird as hell. I’ve also seen my first white/silver sun. When the wind blows the dust around enough, the thicken haze allows one to look directly at the sun. So long as the dust isn’t too thick, the sun is perfectly round and white. Very strange.

We had a “layover” in Bagdad where I ate at THE best dining facility in my life. There were marble floors, chandeliers, and a very eloquent expensive restaurant type feel. The food was incredible! The Army….correction…the Air Force certainly spares no expense. Were I ever to make the military a career, Air Force all the way!

Our rooms here on post are basically like dorm rooms. There are two soldiers per room, and 3 rooms per pod (building). Bathrooms and showers line the outside. The water is always warm and civilians are used to keep it extremely clean. The chow hall is but a few hundred meters away as well as the PX and shopping area.

In the shopping area, you can find the bazaar. Oddly enough, there are more useful supplies there then what the PX offers. The bazaar is a bunch of local merchants. You can find anything from rugs and sunglasses to electronics and hardware supplies. Everyone bought a bunch of carpets, electronics and so forth to really spruce up our rooms.

With only being here a few days, we are waiting for word on what our mission will be. We’ve only had time to settle into our rooms, start unpacking our conexes, and prepping our vehicles. I for one, am relieved to get out of the training environment and start doing my job.

Btw, I managed to upload photos from Kuwait. Here’s the link and enjoy!

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For being a baron desert, Kuwait is quite beautiful. Looking out for miles at open, flat sand brings about a sense of peace. The open blue sky yields the brightest sun I’ve ever seen. Wish I hadn’t packed my sunglasses. Cloud coverage isn’t all too uncommon and when they form just as the sun sits, it makes for an amazing site. The clouds perfectly divide the sky. Below a radiant orange with a red dim sun while above the blue sky persists. Though photography isn’t allowed here, I couldn’t resist the urge to snap a picture.

The weather is almost perfect. During the day it gets to a warm 60 degrees. There’s always a slight cool breeze coursing through the air. I’m almost reminded of a warm spring day. Just missing all the green and water. During the dusk and dawn the temperature drops to a colder 40 degrees. At night the temperature takes a nosedive to freezing. I’m sure the night sky is beautiful, but unfortunately the base puts off too much light pollution. You’ll only ever see the moon and some lone bright star/planet below it.

The base is far from any civilization so I’m sure there is plant life and animal life to be found just not here. I’m literally in the middle of a desert. On the road, you’ll see random groups of tents with a few dozens camels strolling around. I imagine its some sort of “Sheppard tending to his flock” though there is nothing around them for miles. Not even a cactus.

Internet is not the best. Its about a mile walk round trip for me to utilize. I set up outside on some picnic tables under a pavilion. This is considered the “down town” area. Around me is a Taco Bell, barbor shop, Green Beans Coffee, Harley Davidson store, AT&T call center, C-Zee gaming center, alterations shop, and an outside auditorium. Other sections of town have a PX, Burger King, a massage parlor, KFC, and a Starbucks. Hanging out next to me are a bunch of finches scavenging for food. Guess we just brought all aspects of America with us.

The finches look just like our American counterparts. Question is, are they native or did we inadvertently bring them over. Aside from the camels that’s it for life. Finding insects is hard. Thus far I only found one ant (in which I ate) and a beetle. Flytraps are set up at the chow halls; though ever day they stay bare.

The Harley shop sells some paraphernalia and motorcycles. Yes actual motorcycles though you’ll never see it here. You can order a bike and have it imported into the states. Not only is this cheaper, but you avoid taxes. Nice! Most the fast food tastes the same. Only difference is a less diverse menu. Though for some reason BK’s burgers tastes like it was made off an actual back yard grill. It’s missing all the grease and tastes way better then back at home.

Living conditions aren’t that great but nothing to complain about. They’re your typical 50 man tents. Nights aren’t too quiet, as it seems like soldiers are always arriving from the states. Not hard to spot either. Just look for the mile long convoy with trucks and buses rolling in through the barracks area. Showers are surprisingly warm but must be short. I’m sure a fortune is spent getting water out here though it certainly doesn’t seem to be in short order. No matter which direction you walk, every 400 meters you’ll find big palettes of bottled water.

This place is certainly not what I expected. An entire deployment served in Kuwait would seem…pleasant. At least I have an idea of where a good chunk of our taxes are going too. Question is, how much is too much? I just can’t believe I’m getting combat/hazard pay right now.

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