Oh crap.

Quick update. Dryden is now hosting his pictures on here as well. Check them out.
You probably need to get to page 15 or so (can't remember off hand, don't feel like looking it up) before you get to the Fallujah pics. The rest are from Cali and before.

I figured I should do an update as I haven't done one in a while with all the stuff that's been going on. We reopened the internet cafe about 7 days ago, and people starting coming back in from Fallujah around 6 days ago. They are rotating in for a couple days of R&R, and then back off to the city for 3-4 days. Basically, 4 on, 2 off, and so on. Among 3/5 there was about a dozen KIAs and a larger number of casualties. Two (1,
2) KIAs were in my section, Motor T. Those of us from Truck Co (PA) had no casualties in Fallujah. Loosing a fellow Marine is never good, but we did come out of there with a lot less injuries than expected.

In Ramadi, Truck Co marines have been taking a beating over VBIEDs (vehicle born improvised explosive device, military slang for car-bombs driven by suicidal maniacs). Several of the Truck Co Marines received shrapnel to their legs, arms and face. At least 1 that I know of got taken back to Germany, and is probably home by now. He received shrapnel to his arms and face. I am told that he is in high spirits and wishes that he was back out here with all of us. I guess that (as he always says) he's "The real deal, John Chmill".

I got some pictures off of Galterio and Cunningham. Galterio's pictures are in the OIF2 section, and Cunningham has his own album. Granted, Cunningham's album contains a very weird mixture of OIF2, California, and Home pictures, but it's all good. Both albums have some pictures of the inner city of Fallujah, and I have more promised from other people on their way. I'll post them as I get them. Cheers, John

A moment of silence for our fallen heroes. Keep the members of our military and their families in your prayers.

10 Nov 1775... 2004 229 years and counting. Today marks another birthday for the Corps. UPDATE: Still no major injuries for 3/5 or Truck Co Marines. Personal update: I finally got a vehicle to use while carousing around base.

We have begun. It was pretty interesting yesterday when everyone was getting staged to go in. Last night, we took out an 8-building apartment complex and secured a hospital. Back here on base, all you can hear is the sound of artillery pounding away, all night and all day. There hasn't really been any incoming. I think the insurgents are being kept pretty busy elsewhere. The next 14 days will be pretty darn interesting.

BTW, CBS has the majority of the embedded reporters and should provide the most up2date news.

Today's a tight-lipped day. All comm is shut down, and that's all I have to say about that. However, I can point you to some publicy available information that has been around for quite a while.

• globalsecurity.org
• Camp Baharia is where I stay.
• I have a good many friends staying at Junction City

I can't say too much of what's going on out here, but I guess if you read the
news, you can extrapolate what is going to happen very, very, soon. It's really wild to be part of a new-making organization. Imagine reading about things that happen just outside your door on the news the next day, knowing that people are hearing about it on the tv as well. When a jet breaks the sound barrier and shakes my house, I can read about air strikes on fallujah the next morning. Weird, wild stuff there. As an update, still no serious injuries for the PA marines (at least at my position). Some have taken fire in different places, IEDs, RPGs, and the like, but God is still watching over and keeping them out of harm's way. Thanks again to everyone for their prayers and support. Please keep it up, especially in the upcoming week.

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On a side note, I am becoming very pleased with Gmail's conversation view. I can have 11 emails revolving around one thread, and it only takes up on line in my inbox. Clicking on the message allows me to read all messages centered around that conversation. Mail clients have supported thread view for years, but this is the first time I've seen it work in a predictable fashion. Very nice, and very conveinent. Thanks Google. Also, if anyone wants a gmail account, I have 5 invites to use up. Drop me a line.

Patron signs in. 21 is the next open computer, already written in next to his name. So I say:
Me: You can get on 21.
Him: (confused look) what?
M: You can get on 21.
H: Er no, it was already there...
M: You can get on 21.
H: I just signed up.
M: You can get on 21.
H: Oh. Ok. Thanks.
M: No problem.

Tell me again why I shouldn't mock these people?