I had a bit of a close call this morning, as you might suspect from the attached picture. One of my current duties as a labor foreman is to escort foreign (though I guess we're all foreign) and Iraqi laborers around the base as they empty dumpsters. Before each dumpster is emptied, however, I am required to visually check inside for any sort of weapon, UXO (unexploded ordnance), IED, etc. Should anything be found, I radio in to the proper authorities (out here, 'radio' can be used as an action verb). Fortunately, this little guy (81mm mortar) happened to be near the top of the dumpster, for had it been crushed inside the compactor, the results would have been ugly. As to why it was inside the dumpster, the investigation is ongoing. I cleared the area of all personnel, called in the MP's (who called in EOD-explosive ordnance disposal), filled out my sworn statements, and went on my merry way. I just thank God for watching over me, yet again, as 2004 had enough close calls with mortars for me.
4 comments:
OMGoodness. I had no idea that you were working in such a dangerous situation. When Stephen contemplated going over there it was to do what he's doing here over there. You're incredibly brave, Jim.
Ah yes, Hadji and his many methods of delivering an indirect fire munition. Well played heathen bastards. As we all know, it was I who saved you from many a mortar and rocket barrage, even when said barrage was brought down upon me by your overzealous picture taking tendencies. ---Matty
Matt, as I stated immediately after the mortar attack that almost took the both of us, our last week in-country in '04, haji will get me yet. Whether it be walking in 81's to whichever hooch I happen to be sleeping in or strategically leaving one in a dumpster, I'll get mine eventually. Oh,and you are welcome for saving you on the last day in Iraq, when you insisted on standing up to watch the "really cool firecrackers" exploding all around, and I had no choice than to grab you and pull you behind the earthen berm, escaping certain death by mere millimeters...
Close call, buddy... I guess the pressure of a trash compactor would probably blow the whole damn dumpster apart...? that would have been crazy. Anyway, I hope you drank that Red Bull. Brian J.
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