Small updates from abroad...

Taken from several emails, Erik has been sending some pictures into his time in Kuwait and Iraq thus far...

Here are 4 pictures. The first is of my bags in the army lodging facility in Alaska prior to leaving. I took 4 duffle bags, an assault bag, my computer bag, and a rucksack for my deployment. The other 2 are of the pie/cake area at the DFAC at Camp Beurhing in Kuwait. Right next to this which I don't have a picture of is the Baskin Robbins ice cream area. 31 flavors weren't available, but we were able to choose from about 6. The last is of me on my first day in Kuwait just after we got off the buses which took us from the airport to Camp Beuhring. Calling this area a theatre and seeing that decorated concrete barrier made me realize that I was entering a warzone.

One photo is of the Hooter's aid station sign that one of the medics from West Palm Beach, FL got and threw in one of the connexes. It is up with the PA and 4 other male medics. Would've been nice to have here, but given the sole female medic remained at Caldwell thought it would be better served up north. The other is of the non-alcoholic beer selection at one of the PXs in Kuwait at Camp Beuhring.


Here is a picture of me and the PA in front of a mosque in Balad, Iraq. You can see my pistol in it, so I hope this satisfies your request of a picture of me with my pistol.

Attached you will find a picture of a donkey that I saw on my way from our FOB to the nearby Iraqi Army Medical Clinic, a couple of frogs sunbathing on a nice day in the drainage ditch, SPC Petty and his buckets catching some rainwater as it drips through our porous roof, and a face that was carved out of a watermelon by the Indian workers. They dressed up in witches' hats and decorated the DFAC for Halloween. It was very nice of them to celebrate this American Holiday with us.