Tuesday, June 10, 2008

So, how was your morning?

Mine was a bit odd...

2:30AM I am out unloading food and bottled water off of some trucks that brought us some well appreciated supplies. I'd make a pretty good Teamster.



Later, I walk out the gate of the small camp where I live and see this:

I can just see every tanker reading this begin shuddering in sympathy.

Then I make my way to the assembly room/work room and get a phone call from Operations - "did you happen to hear a large explosion southwards a few minutes ago?" Huh? Uh, not as such. Is there something I should know...?

Then I sat down with some powerful instant coffee and made CDs of technical manuals and training pamphlets that have been translated into Arabic. I think my Iraqi counterparts will be pleased.

I wonder what this afternoon will bring?

15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay, I'll bite...did the tank get attacked, or did someone just stop in the middle of changing the track pads?

9:51 AM  
Blogger richard mcenroe said...

You saw the tank and that was when you remembered you had to go unload some water, right? *g*

10:01 AM  
Blogger LTC John said...

Oh no, the tank was escorting the supply convoy, when they made ready to leave...oops.

10:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

man am I glad I dont have to change the tracks

11:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That looks like a final drive failed. Lots of work in any case.

11:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There were obviously apricots somewhere on the tank.

My old Platoon Sergeant had a weird tanker superstition. He noticed every time one of the crew on any tank in the platoon had apricots (from the old C-rations) onboard, the tank invariably threw a track at some point in the FTX. I laughed.

Until it happened to me.

::: cue ominous music :::

11:40 AM  
Blogger jeff said...

Is that an Abrams? The lines don't quite look right - looks like a Challenger II, actually.

11:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

jeff. that's just the angle the turret is at. That's an Abrams allright.

11:42 AM  
Blogger Dave said...

Ugh. I know how awful it is getting tracks onto a little Bobcat skid-steer loader. I can only imagine your pain.

11:45 AM  
Blogger LTC John said...

It is a British Challenger II - I am the only US Soldier at this location.

12:20 PM  
Blogger David M said...

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 06/10/2008 News and Personal dispatches from the front lines.

12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I will now burn my report card from my "Armored Fighting Vehicle ID" class at Armor Officer Basic.

It was the muzzle reference system box on top of the tube that made me think it was an M-1.

The other thing I learned in class when identifying armored vehicles (which proved to be much more valuable) was, "If it's weird, it's French."

2:22 PM  
Blogger LTC John said...

Sean,

If it is weird it is French still applies.

2:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I'd make a pretty good Teamster."

must resist... resist... awww crap I can't resist.

So you watched everyone else unload for 5 minutes then took a 15 minute break after which you filed a grievance with a steward and had your buddy Tony bust some heads?

--The evil Greyhawk

4:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Job! :)

5:42 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

  • Wikablog - The Weblog Directory

  • My blog is worth $60,970.32.
    How much is your blog worth?