Mission to the Middle East, Part 2
I just received a message from the Ernie Pyle of Persia, Capt. Matt Hanson, who is stationed in Iraq. (He also sent pictures!)
Life is good, and the weather is finally cooling. It should be raining soon. We actually had the heat on last night for the first time. Iraq is an interesting place. We are mainly on the Camp Victory compound, which is attached to bunch of other compounds around the airport. It is surreal seeing the airport after all the press coverage with the initial attacks when the press was embedded with the troops. I have met people from all over the country as well as from Iraq. Local nationals work all over the compound every day, and I talk to many of them about Iraq and how they feel about us being here. Interesting perspectives.
We live in pretty good conditions and are located by Faw Palace that Sadaam built to celebrate a victory his troops had down near the Quwait/Iran/Iraq border many years ago. We are located where what used to be his zoo area. He had all sorts of wild animals and manmade lakes located there. His two sons had identical palaces over by one of our offices, and we are located in one of the boat houses the boys had.
Copters are always flying, shots can always be heard, and as you have read we have had some days with multiple mortars hitting in and around us. Nothing hits too close, but anything on base is too close. I h’ave been keeping close watch on Bash and wish I could be there for the Dannie game. I’m still trying to find out if some satellite could reach–some around here have satellites–the game so that I can catch it. I will let you know if that works out.
I will write more soon.
Matt
