tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87959522011-06-08T02:47:29.008-04:00An insider's look at life in Iraq from a soldier on the ground there.Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1143768723720199952006-03-30T20:25:00.000-05:002006-03-30T20:32:03.733-05:00

I arrived home in late October to a hero’s welcome - not one I expected, nor felt I deserved, but nonetheless I appreciated all of the gratitude I received from friends and family when I got off the plane in Raleigh, NC. I was shocked to see that my baby, who was 10 weeks old when I left, was actually walking and came right to me as if I’d never been anywhere. Once again his, “matter of fact”

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1130516631605249932005-10-28T12:21:00.000-04:002005-10-28T12:23:51.623-04:00

Local blogger Christy Seals reports that her husband Ryan arrived home from Iraq just hours before our soldier did. Christy is a good friend to this blog, and we share her joy that Ryan will soon return to her.

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1130355600515356482005-10-26T15:40:00.000-04:002005-10-26T15:40:00.520-04:00

There is a lively debate over at Cone's about the appropriateness of today's N&R front page. I thought it was an appropriate time to note the number of lost lives and to honor those who have fallen. The nickname story had a particular resonance with me.I am happy to report that I am leaving for the airport right now to greet my friend, The Soldier. He has been gone almost a year, and now he is in

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1128472931827462042005-10-04T20:40:00.000-04:002005-10-04T20:54:57.093-04:00

Well, the light at the end of the tunnel is brighter than ever. Our replacements are due in any day now and everyone is excited about starting our journey home. I just got back from another trip to Baghdad. My NCOIC and I made a special trip to attend an awards ceremony for my Commander. As I've written in the past, she is a real special person and I was proud to see her being recognized for the

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1125792472333848712005-09-05T13:03:00.000-04:002005-09-05T13:03:59.430-04:00

My Commander's medical status is "green" for go. All is OK! Thanks to everyone out there for their continued thoughts and prayers. Each one counted and I'm sure contributed to this positive outcome. She is on her way back to Iraq to wrap up this operation and lead the rest of us home in a few months. I look forward to your return, Ma'am.I traveled to Baghdad in my commander's absence to help

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1124165233042782752005-08-16T00:05:00.000-04:002005-08-16T00:07:13.046-04:00

The employees of Replacements, LTD have just completed a drive to raise funds to provide prepaid phone cards for soldiers who are oversees. These 183 minute cards will be used to support three service people who are relatives of Replacements employees, plus members of The Soldier's unit.Replacements, LTD has long been a bright spot for the Triad in so many ways. Now they are making a difference

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1124061502477107532005-08-14T19:16:00.000-04:002005-08-14T19:18:22.483-04:00

This post is by Patrick Eakes, The Soldier's blog editor.I played golf with The Soldier's son and father-in-law this afternoon. It was the second time I have the pleasure of playing with them, and two facts have emerged from those experiences.First, the soldier's father-in-law is one of a handful of elite senior golfers in the state and one of the best golfers of any age in the Triad. Second,

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1123630791846192972005-08-09T19:39:00.000-04:002005-08-09T19:39:51.886-04:00

My commander and I, along with several other leaders in the transportation chain, took a trip to Bahrain to meet with our DHL air carrier counterparts. I flew on a (DHL) 727 and was allowed to sit with the pilots. It was an interesting flight and not nearly as technical as you might imagine a large aircraft would be. The trip was a real eye opener - Bahrain was a nice, sort of a resort-type

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1121874769767026492005-07-20T11:52:00.000-04:002005-07-20T11:52:49.776-04:00

It has been a few weeks since my last update. The time seems to be going by a little faster now than when I first got back from R&R. "Time" is such a relative subject. On one hand I want "time" to go by quickly so I can get home to my family. Therefore, I rejoice in looking down at my watch and seeing that the day is almost done. On the other hand I believe in making the most of every moment and

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1120179958112881412005-06-30T21:05:00.000-04:002005-06-30T21:05:58.120-04:00

My two weeks at home was indescribably terrific. From the time I got off the plane and saw my beautiful wife and kids, to the time of our teary separation, was simply paradise. The itinerary my wife and I had done prior to my arrival worked like a charm. We identified each day’s activities along with the things we wanted to do and put together a schedule that allowed us to enjoy our time more

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1119577972982769952005-06-23T21:51:00.000-04:002005-06-23T21:52:52.986-04:00

After two weeks of R&R, the Soldier is in the air headed back to Europe, then Kuwait, then Iraq. I hope the next six months pass quickly and as uneventfully as possible.

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1118275745023968912005-06-08T20:07:00.000-04:002005-06-08T20:09:05.036-04:00

The Soldier has arrived home safely. He actually arrived yesterday (Tuesday, 6/7/05), but I did not confirm that fact until today.I do not know if he will blog while on leave, but I know we all wish him a peaceful and restful two weeks at home.

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1117808755772741712005-06-03T10:25:00.000-04:002005-06-03T10:25:55.776-04:00

Our dear friend, The Soldier, will get on a plane in Iraq in a few hours. He is coming home to North Carolina for a much deserved two-week leave.His family deserves the time with him, too. His steel-spined wife has managed their home and three boys (one an infant) with unbelievable ease. I suspect the soldier might change a few diapers while he is home.The soldier is a good man and a good citizen

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1117033539542617982005-05-25T10:59:00.000-04:002005-05-25T11:07:44.996-04:00

Well, ten days before I leave LSAA en route to the States for my R&R. The anticipation to get home to see my family is overwhelming, to say the least. I've stated before that I underestimated how much I would miss the day to day events of my three sons, and even though I can never get that time back, I plan on making up for a lot during my two weeks at home. My wife and I have been working on a

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1115079391357049042005-05-02T20:07:00.000-04:002005-05-02T20:16:31.360-04:00

Even in combat soldiers find ways to stay entertained. My soldiers and I are participating in a basketball league that a few units on post started. During one of our games, an enemy mortar landed several hundred meters away. No one was injured by the blast, and we all took cover in the bunkers built beside the outdoor court. Minutes after the explosion, the "all clear" horn sounded, so we

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1113408299989516732005-04-13T12:03:00.000-04:002005-04-13T12:04:59.990-04:00

What a great American! Charlie Daniels performed for the troops here at LSA Anaconda the other night. I attended the show and was thoroughly impressed with the music, the performances, and the heartfelt patriotism of the "Long Haired Country Boy." I had the pleasure of attending a show he put on for the troops when I was a 2nd Lieutenant deployed to Cuba back in 1992 during the Haitian

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1113228169544261722005-04-11T10:05:00.000-04:002005-04-11T10:06:01.826-04:00

Convoy Back to Balad:My stay in Baghdad was worthwhile. I learned how their operation works in comparison to ours at LSA Anaconda. The trip also served to break up my tour. 21 days at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) plus the travel time nearly took care of the entire month of March. Not that I'm counting yet - we've still a long way to go - but the quicker the months go the better.I usually

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1113147633309155322005-04-10T11:40:00.000-04:002005-04-10T11:41:07.103-04:00

The Soldier lost his brother two years ago, so he started a memorial golf tournament last year. That tournament was organized in just a few weeks, but it was a great event and raised $7,000.I played in the second annual tournament yesterday. Since the Soldier is in Iraq, his wife organized the event with a little help from friends of the Soldier and his brother.We had a spectacular day as the

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1112575549583829212005-04-03T20:44:00.000-04:002005-04-03T20:45:49.583-04:00

We went to a cookout tonight with a few friends, including the Soldier's family. His wife is impressive - smart, strong, and taking everything in stride. She is juggling the normal demands of running a home and taking care of their three boys, aged nine, five, and six months.The older two boys are quite the young men. They have their fun like all kids, but they do not take advantage of their dad

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1111624628780097642005-03-23T19:37:00.000-05:002005-03-23T19:38:02.406-05:00

My time here in Baghdad has been interesting to say the least. To start, three of my soldiers witnessed a mortar attack during their travels between our work place and living quarters, approximately 11 miles away. They reacted perfectly, never stopping their vehicles, and arrived safely at their destination. Operations at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) are really spread out which makes

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1111625386587656572005-03-23T19:36:00.000-05:002005-03-23T19:49:46.590-05:00

The Soldier lost his brother in April 2004. I never met his brother, but The Soldier told me so many hilarious stories about him, I feel like I knew him.Last year, The Soldier, his wife, and some of his brother's friends, organized a golf tournament that raised around $7,000. That money provided two fun stations for the pediatric oncology unit at Duke Hospital, plus supported some other

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1110851508625741282005-03-14T20:52:00.000-05:002005-03-14T20:51:48.626-05:00

I asked The Soldier how those of us who are stateside can help him. He said if people want to help, they can give prepaid phone cards to soldiers with whom he serves. That will allow them to stay in some contact with their families without going broke. He further clarified that any AT&T phone card works well from where they are stationed.If any of you is interested in supporting the soldiers

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1110226991491225652005-03-07T15:22:00.000-05:002005-03-07T15:26:49.200-05:00

Our small operation has received lots of attention lately - the good kind. I feel like stars are falling all around me with all of the Generals that have come through here lately. To start, we had a visit from the ranking post Commander, a Brigadier General (one star). He came to see our operation, since we use his land and some of his assets to transport and provide convoy security. I interface

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1109281845453016442005-02-25T08:31:00.000-05:002005-02-25T08:27:50.210-05:00

I participated in a ceremony the other night to honor two soldiers that had fallen. It is called the "Patriot" detail and is organized by the Air Force to honor the remains of fallen soldiers being transported out of Iraq.We met at a small building at the edge of the runway. It was about 9:00pm, and the wind was blowing bitterly cold. There were about 70 Soldiers and Airmen standing patiently

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1108139855302117502005-02-11T22:24:00.000-05:002005-02-11T22:25:33.606-05:00

Thanks again to everyone for the kind words, thoughts, and prayers you are sending to me and the troops. Please don't ever underestimate the importance of your support. I would especially like to thank everyone who has stayed in touch with and assisted the families of soldiers during their separation. It really makes a difference in the soldier's performance here when he knows that his family is

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1107190921141307392005-01-31T11:55:00.000-05:002005-01-31T12:02:01.140-05:00

January 29 , 2005 First and foremost, I would like to thank the ever-present media for really boosting the insurgents’ message. I can't tell you how aware the media made me about how dangerous it would be for the Iraqis to get out and vote. We get to watch a few select channels here, and every station represented in the country was putting the "fear factor" in the minds of those who were

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1106938506532353602005-01-28T13:40:00.000-05:002005-01-28T13:55:06.533-05:00

Since Instapundit gave a shout out to this blog, we are getting a visitor every ten seconds. We normally welcome about 50 visitors a day. For those of you visiting for the first time, the Soldier remains anonymous. He is a reservist who has been in Iraq for one month. I am Patrick Eakes, and I maintain this blog for the Soldier. If you wish to leave a comment, I will be sure it is forwarded to

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1107117917079879332005-01-26T19:48:00.001-05:002005-01-30T15:53:58.693-05:00

It all happens so fast. Thanks to all who have written in response to my journal. The support has been encouraging and is greatly appreciated. Time in Iraq goes by so fast. I asked one of my soldiers what day it was, and we both had to think for a while before coming up with different answers (we finally narrowed it down and just picked one). It doesn't matter what day it is here. All that

The Soldierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463265591634982205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1106143382569159742005-01-19T08:59:00.000-05:002005-01-22T09:28:04.493-05:00

The News & Record ran a front-page article today on a recent attack in Iraq that Nick Sowers documented in an email sent home. The N&R article included an information box directing readers to two blogs I maintain, including this one. If you are visiting this blog for the first time, welcome. This blog documents the life of a reservist who has been deployed to Iraq. The Soldier remains anonymous,

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1105895371793066402005-01-16T12:09:00.000-05:002005-01-16T12:09:31.793-05:00

Another week has passed, and although it can't go fast enough, the time is flying by. My team is getting settled, and we received our room assignments this week, which was a big morale boost. It may not seem like much to most, but we've been living in transient quarters since we were activated in November, and although it's not home, it's what we've got for now. The guys' morale is high as they

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1105373229144721212005-01-10T22:47:00.000-05:002005-01-10T22:46:55.686-05:00

My unit arrived in Kuwait safely. We had a commercial flight chartered by the Army. My commander, CSM, and I passed up an opportunity to fly first class, and we sat with our troops for the 20 hour voyage. I don't know if they appreciated the gesture or thought we were foolish for not moving up. Anyway, it seemed like the right thing to do. Our time in Kuwait was minimized because of our

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1105230628178693922005-01-08T19:26:00.000-05:002005-01-08T19:30:28.176-05:00

I spoke to Mrs. Soldier yesterday. She said that the Soldier made it to Kuwait City fine. He was there a few days, then traveled by convoy to his final destination, which is outside Fallujah. The soldier told me before he deployed that the convoy would be unescorted, meaning they would not have significant defense if attacked, so we are all glad he made it to his compound safely.

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1104174394206487082004-12-27T13:47:00.000-05:002004-12-27T14:06:34.206-05:00

Well, it is the eve of my deployment, and my troops and I are ready. It is not clear if all of them know exactly what they are getting into, but as one of their leaders, I know they've been trained. We all got to spend Christmas with our families, and that was a pleasant surprise from Uncle Sam. You see, when I was on active duty, my wife and I were married for only 6 weeks before I deployed for

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1102809431158877492004-12-11T18:58:00.000-05:002004-12-11T18:57:11.156-05:00

I had a great Thanksgiving with my family. Our newborn son is doing great, my wife is adjusting well to me being gone, and our older two boys seem to be doing fine as well. I get home from time to time; it all depends on our training schedule, which changes daily. Things at Ft. Bragg are going well - same old Army, hurry up and wait. I'm towing the line and trying not to ruffle any feathers. The

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795952.post-1102790644326238972004-12-11T16:10:00.000-05:002004-12-11T16:10:56.853-05:00

Welcome to the Triad's newest web log. I am Patrick Eakes, not the soldier. The soldier will send me his notes via email for me to post to this blog. I will post his emails in full, only editing spelling and/or punctuation. Initially, these posts will originate from Fort Bragg during training, then Iraq during deployment. The soldier is a close friend and in the NC National Guard Reserve. He

Patrick Eakesnoreply@blogger.com0