Our embedded reporter and field medic Don with another slice of life in Iraq… yes I'm sure there's some hippy comment to be made about being a medic in war, but it won't come from the likes of me. well, things are getting a little more dangerous around here. yesterday, we found a vehilce borne IED (improvised explosive device) before it was sent out to kill us. today we had an ied blow up 50 meters (150 feet) in front of us as we were traveling. yesterday's wasn't bad. we happen to search an abandoned car on the side of the road and found two artiliry shells and det cord and gasoline containers. we called eod (explosive ordinance departemnt) out to the site and they blew up the car. there is little to nothing left of it. today's was a little different. i was driving the lead vehicle and an ied blew up right in front of us. i slammed on the brakes and we got back. my gunner, the guy with the big gun on top of the hummer, fell into the gun hole and was dazed. he was fine for a while, but disoriented and his condition became worse. i called for a medevac and the bird was in the air while i treated him. two iv lines, oxygen, and other assestment stuff most of you probably wouldn't understand. he is going to be fine and flew out on the blackhawk to higher care. it was pretty intense for a while. at the risk of sounding arrogant, i did a very good job and was highly praised for it. it was just as any patient at the fire department and i just reacted to the situation. staying calm and doing what i love to do as a medic was awesome! it sucks that my patient went through what he did, but he had no serious injuiries and basically suffered from neurological shock. this is my thing and i was glad that i was there to help. well, i'm done with my delusions of grandure. be thankful that you have people like my patient today that arerisking all for you…and getting hurt for you also. don All men die, some men never really live.

The latest from the Iraq…

hello all, as i have previously stated, sorry for the mass email as i hate getting mass email. however, i don't have time to write everyone. just wanted to tell you about my day today.

i realized that i am in a war zone, but it became much more clear today. the 278 conducted a huge raid consisting of approx. 600 us troops and approx. 200 iraqi army. we took down a bad guy, (some sheik) which some believe is a major player. none of our guys got hurt, and as far as i know not a round was fired.

i was on another mission later today, so i wasn't able to go on the above one. i went out today to clear all our routes (of bombs and bad guys, IEDs, etc.) which is something i commonly do. however, as we were going through a local town on our return from the mission, so were the iraqi army from their mission. we were driving side by side with three of our vehicles and several of their's loaded with IA guys. we bottle necked in traffic, and then it happened. someone either fired at us or the IA; or one of the IA freaked out and fired for some unknown reason. we heard a few shots, then we heard at least 100 rounds firing all at the same time. the IA are a jumpy group. we looked for enemy targets but found none and never fired a shot.

but it was pretty freaky. i was surprizing calm. i just got my rifle ready and looked for something bad. i also made the vehicle commander ask if there were any injured (since i'm a medic). none that anyone knows of. but after the inital volley of rounds fired, into the air it seems, some other IA and iraqi police called for a cease fire and things returned to normal like it was a common thing. not 2 minutes later, a kid was smiling and waving as we passed by again like they always do.

so be glad that these occurances are not an everyday part of your lifestyle. when i first got here, hearing mortor rounds fire and hit and gunshots were something that alarmed me and i got 'ready for war'. now i don't even bother to ask what the explosion was i am so used to it. be thankful that you and our kids DON'T have to get used to it.

this 'war' is nothing like what other previous wars have been. i have it easy in compraision. however, the ignorace i lived in while in america – no matter how many times i watched 'saving private ryan' – is forever gone. be thankful that you live where you do, and aren't woken at 3 am to mortar rounds. also be thankful that america hasn't completely rejected God yet. we are more blessed than any other place by far, even with our problems.

just wanted to share my experience today and the lesson it taught me.

may Christ be very real to you.

don

All men die, some men never really live.

Our embedded correspondent Don has his take on the Election: oh my gosh, i have a few minutes to myself! i don't konw what to do! the elections are over and they were a whopping success despite whatever the bullcrap faggot media may tell you. sorry, i'm very bitter since the only new i ever hear about is the 'bad stuff we do'. well they dont have the pictures of me and lots of other soldiers handing out meals to iraqi police and candy to kids. they also don't tell you that over 60% of the population voted (at least in our area), which is fantastic considering their lives are threatened for it. we pulled down several posters that said if you vote, the streets will be lined with your blood. we did have a few bad things happen, you heard abotu the suicide bomber at quaniquin that killed 5 iraqi police. that bomber had a little boy with with him in the car. some ieds went off, but so far i haven't heard one thing about an american getting hurt.  i wasn't able to contact anyone considering i was running about 19 hours a day during this part of history. so sorry. also i'm sorry that i am putting out mass email since i despise it myself, but i don't have time for anything else. actually, i'm on duty right now. but i am able to do other things while on this duty as long as i have a radio. actually, its just like working at the fire department!  but i am safe. i was scared a few times, but ok. i'll tell you the iraqi police and iraqi army handled most of this themselves. it is a step for them taking control of their own country, which is positive. they are some brave guys. they stand around at checkpoints all the time with no body armor and get shot at.  well, that's it. i will try to write some of you back personally,sorry if i can't get to you all.  don  All men die, some men never really live.

The latest from the front lines… sans the media bias. hello. i have arrived back to my fob safe and sound. since it has past, i think i can tell you where i was. we went on a trip to baghdad for supplies. i can't get more specific than that though. i actually had a great time. i got to use a toliet that flushes! it was wonderful. i also had a day off while there and was able to get some gifts. i enjoyed a burger king double whopper and french fries too. the chow hall was magnificant. they had a milkshake bar! four hot meals served a day with several choices. i loved it. at my fob, i get t rat meals for breakfast and dinner, with a mre for lunch. mmmhhhhmmmmm, wholesome goodness! thanks to all who send me stuff so i can live off pringles and snickers. anyway, i will surely volunteer for that mission everytime from now on! thnigs are getting more intense with the elections closing in. we are anticipating a few days of no sleep and constant business. i wonder what the big difference is! really, i don't have it too bad most of the time. i am able to get on the phone or computer usually once a day. amy seems to enjoy the phone calls and webcam sessions. well, that's it for now. thanks for all your prayers. keep them up, our attorney fees are getting outrageous. but hopefully with the help of the newest addition to the attoney team, the next appearence in court will be the last. thanks don All men die, some men never really live. Don's attorneys are for a State Side matter unrelated to the war.

I received some news direct from Iraq today and I realized that I somehow didn't post the last email from Iraq I received back in December. My bad. So here is the old one, with the new one to come tommorrow: well here i am. i have made it to my destination safe and sound. flying on a c130 was a trip. i thought my eyes were going to explode due to the great pressure that built up in my head. they descended very rapidly. it hurts for hours later. then we flew on a shcnook or however you spell it. that was cool! i wish i haed a camera for the recording of the counrtyside and seeing us fly seemingly 30 feet or less above the ground. i twas really cool. first helicopter ride.  things are a little crazy right now. there are too manyt people here for this small area. in about three weeks we will lose all the guys that are leftover from the previous occupation. but until then, it is crowded. but not too bad. i have to live in a small chew with four other guys until i get my own with the other medic.  i don't knw anything yet about the phones. they are supposed to work with the internet thing i got, but i've heard rumor about that company going bankrupt! so i'll find out more and tell you later. don't send me any calling cards – they don't work here. you have to buy a certain kind, and if they are still running, you can recharge them. i'll give out the pin to amy if someone wants to recharge it.  food right now is not very good. it is t rats (military food). but the same people at anaconda are supposed to some here soon to take over chow. that was some of the best food i've ever had. so i'm looking forward to taht. as usual, the army doesn't know where our bags are. so i have just my aid bag with me. no shower materials, dental stuff, change of clothes, etc. i really hope it gets here real soon. i'm going to start smelling pretty bad soon.  don't send me anything until i can give you a good address. if you already sent something, don't worry about it. they are talking about breaking up our company and making a different one that sounds a lot better anyway, but with a different name. i don't know about all that yet, but i will. as of right now, just hang on. my name and fob will still be the same, so even if you do send something out, it should get to me…theorically. that's why i say wait.  anyway, i have 30 minutes on the computer at a time. so i'm gonna go. hope everyone if faring well. don't worry about me, so many others before me have had it much worse. its not that bad. i don't want a summer home here, but not too bad. we'll see how i feel in the summer though!  don  All men die, some men never really live. Oh and did I mention that I didn't edit this email in any way? Yeah, let's just chaulk it up to hurrying w/ little computer time and not go there. Ok? :D