Dear Post Members:
        I've been in country for about a week and a half and things have been pretty exciting.  We flew in from Kuwait on a C-130 during the night and thankfully the flight was uneventful.  We are stationed at Al Taquadom Air base which is nestled in between the two lovely communities of Ra-mod-ee and Fallujah.  The town immediately to our north is Hab-a-knee-a (not sure how to spell it) and to our west is a HUGE lake so at least that flank is covered unless they start coming in by boat but I think the OP's would take care of them with a little 7.62 action.  The day that we arrived we were greeted with a 5 rocket attack.  Made us feel right at home.  Spent a couple minutes in a bunker with some Marines and we had a nice talk until all clear was given.  At the aid station we are kept busy with sick call and we also do evac. 

        Today I was able to observe/help at the Surgical Shock Trauma Platoon tent.  A soldier had been shot right above the knee's and both femurs were fractured with arterial bleeding.  Two bullets passed from left to right and a bullet was still lodged in his right leg.  The x-rays showed the femurs shattered 2 inches above the knees.  They restored blood flow to the right and left femoral artery and patched things up rather nicely.  The soldier is being transported to Bilad where they can take care of the long term issues.  I'm sure the soldier will eventually be sent to Germany.  Every day something is happening and unfortunately it is an excellent opportunity for us medics to learn and practice on these heros. 

        The terrain is pretty bleak and brown.  The air base is on elevated terrain so that gives us a pretty good view of our surroundings but the insurgents like to pester us.  IED's have been quite an issue but EOD guys are doing a great job taking care of them when they are found.  Time is short on these computers.  We have to sign up and then wait until one is free.  Once on, we get 30 min and then its the next guys turn.  I will try and contact you at least monthly and give you updates.
Take care and God bless!
Sam