Charlie's Weblog

So, on Sunday comes a chance to write. I'm living large out here - they offer four meals each day and the dining hall is the best I've seen in the Army. My duties as officer-in-charge of the mental health section don't run me too ragged. We support the 6,500 Iraqi detainees and the hospital is located in the center of the internment facility. The detainees are there because they did something bad against the U.S. or coalition and eventually (years, likely) be handed over to the Iraqi government. My guess is the Iraqi government is a little more concerned in taking over the banks and oil refineries than they are in taking custody of the jails and psychiatric hospitals, but time will tell.

The first picture shows what we wear in the detainee compound. However, we check our weapons at the front gate before we go into the internment facility. The body armor is a little warm and bulky (40 pounds), but the stuff works. This was taken at our living area, which is about a quarter-mile from the internment facility. Naturally, as everyone might guess, the Secretary of Defense has clamped down on the taking of pictures in internment facilities!

The other picture shows what we more often wear - desert battle dress uniform with the "boonie" hat and sunglasses with padding around the eyecups to keep out the blowing sand. Behind me are the Hesco sand berms and concrete overhead covers to keep us safe. There is a pallet of water bottles - the Army makes sure it's available everywhere on this post. Some Army trucks are behind that and then the horizon shows the guard towers at the internment facility.

At the hospital the surgeons let me watch their work - very interesting and something that would not be possible in a civilian hospital. They may one day let me assist. Seriously, the medical standards here are uncompromisingly high and the detainees are getting better medical treatment now than they ever will again in their lives.

Physically we're located about five miles west of Umm Qasr, which is the port city for Iraq. Once is a great while the wind direction shifts and the humidity goes from zero to about 90%. Fortunately, it's not often.

I'm living in a pod - one of those buildings in the photo. Really it's a shipping container with two beds, couple wall lockers and a window. It's okay, though, and they haven't assigned me a roommate yet.

Yes, the weather is a little warm. It's usually 140F in the day, but cools to the 80s and 90s at night. This will likely start to settle down by September, though. October we'll have sand storms and can look forward to our eight annual inches of rain in December.

The psychologist I'm replacing is Robbie Rhodes. Interesting guy - his British ancestor was sort of the scoundrel of the family no one wanted to talk about who founded the African nation of Rhodesia through Machiavellian politics. Robbie was a band musician before he got into psychology in California and works as a civilian with the DOJ. He was in San Antonio until about a year ago when he transfered to another federal prison in Sacramento. He's about the most laid-back psychologist it's been my pleasure to know. He rooms with Sam Hoffman. Sam started as an Army infantryman, then worked through the enlisted ranks for 20 years in Naval surface warfare before re-treading a second time as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Oddly, he's the civilian boss in Baltimore of our XO, who is two grades above him. Sam is also the hospital finance officer, so getting supplies is a little easier for the mental health section. It's been a pleasure having their company.

Well, it would be great to type for an hour or so, but the time on the computers is limited. Happy anniversary to Henry & Lisa, who celebrated 16 this past week. Be good back in the U.S.

With love,

Charles