In the Gray Area
Page 24
We move on, and I scan the roads for Iraqi army checkpoints or convoys. Nothing appears, and I head toward the last place I remember. The phosphate plant, I remember thinking. A peculiar place to put a brigade headquarters. But it is still there, and the Iraqi soldiers man their posts and go about their daily routine. They look smart in their uniforms, and their weapons are clean and well maintained. They rehearse battle drills, NCOs moving back and forth, instructing the soldiers, mentoring them. Inside the buildings staff officers bustle about, filing reports and planning training exercises. There are no more patrols in the desert, no more nighttime raids into Husaybah or Karabilah. The Iraqi army is training for something, but it doesn’t know what it is, and neither do I. Peace has found this tortured, pathetic country, peace from the inside and out, and in its serenity I finally see what it is that so many fought and died for.
I see a beginning.
I awake from my dream. Next to me my wife stirs momentarily and then drifts off back to sleep. She is accustomed to my restless nights; she has been for years. She wonders if I will ever find that part of myself that I lost in Iraq so long ago. I walk down the hall to the bedrooms of my two young daughters. They have never seen Iraq, and I wonder if my recurring dream will ever come true. In the warm glow of their night-lights I stare at them one by one, their angelic features reflecting a blissful ignorance only visible on the faces of small children who have never suffered the trauma of war. No bombs will explode outside their windows tonight; no masked gunmen will cut them down in their beds. They will remain blissfully unaware that somewhere in Iraq a different father questions if his children will survive another day. I wonder if true peace will ever find that country, and as I turn to leave I wonder what kind of world my daughters will grow up in. And then, as they frequently do, my thoughts turn to the brave young Marines with whom I have served, and I gaze at my daughters once more and remember the words often attributed to George Orwell:
“We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harm.”
Iraq is far away, and my daughters will sleep soundly tonight.
So will I.
Acknowledgments
Books are collaborative ventures. Just as no commander achieves success individually, authors are similarly indebted to those around them who assist in both direct and indirect ways.
For the writing of this book I owe my greatest debt to my best friend and wife, Ashley. Her strengths are innumerable, and as always her painstaking editorial assistance made the difference between this book being a good one and a great one.
I am similarly thankful for my parents, CAPT Benjamin F. Folsom Jr., USN (Ret.), and Judith G. Folsom. Their love, support, and shameless public promotion of me and my previous work have been a constant source of encouragement for me throughout this process.
Gracious thanks go to Ron Gridley and Jeff Simpson for their assistance with the manuscript’s security and policy review, as well as Curtis Williamson and Robert Miller for their public affairs and ethics guidance.
Sincere thanks to Roger Cirillo at the Association of the United States Army, as well as the editorial staff of the Naval Institute Press for their confidence in my work.
As with my previous book, the story presented here is not solely my own. Without the Marines and sailor of Military Transition Team 0733 this book could not have been written. To all of the Outlanders—Todd Hanna, Norvin Deleonguerrero, Jason Rehm, Matt Bates, Joe Davidoski, Andrew Grubb, Shaun Leek, Clarence Wolf, Theo Bowers, Olanza Frazier, Mark Hoffmier, Emiliano Rabor, Travis Wardle, and Daniel Fry—I am eternally grateful. For months you so often heard me tell you that I had nothing for you. Now I finally do.
Semper Fidelis.
Glossary
1st Lt. First lieutenant
2nd Lt. Second lieutenant
Aajaaz Arabic for “sandstorm”
AH-1W Marine Corps attack helicopter
AK-47 Russian-made 7.62-millimeter assault rifle used by the Iraqi army
Ameed Arabic for “brigadier general”
AO Area of operations
AQ Camp Al Qa’im
Aqeed Arabic for “colonel”
ATG Advisor Training Group
Berm Artificial sand wall used for protection or for delineating boundaries in the desert
BFT Blue Force Tracker: digital, GPS-based system used to track and communicate with Coalition units on the battlefield
BP Battle position
BTT Border transition team
BZO Battle-sight zero; calibrated settings on the sights of a rifle that allow the shooter to overcome various factors and hit accurately at a given range, used as a default before adjusting for wind or distance
Canc Short for “cancel”
Capt. Captain
CASEVAC Casualty evacuation
CH-53 Marine Corps heavy-lift transport helicopter
Chai Hot, sweet tea
CMR Consolidated memorandum receipt
COC Combat operations center
Col. Colonel
Comm Short for “communications”
COP Combat outpost
Cpl. Corporal
DBE Department of Border Enforcement (Iraqi)
DHQ District headquarters
Dishdasha Traditional dresslike outfit worn by Arabic men
DOD Department of Defense (U.S.)
DshK Russian 12.7-millimeter heavy machine gun used by the Iraqi army
ECP Entry control point
EOD Explosive ordnance disposal
Eye-pro Slang for “eye protection” (ballistic glasses or goggles)
FAO Foreign area officer
FOB Forward operating base
G-2 Brigade intelligence section; also used for brigade intelligence officer
GPS Global Positioning System
GSR Gunshot residue
HF High frequency
HME Homemade explosives
HMMWV High-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle; also called Humvee
HN1 Hospitalman first class
Hobas Arabic kiln-baked flat bread
HUMINT Human intelligence
Humvee See HMMWV
IA Iraqi army; also used for a member of the Iraqi army
IED Improvised explosive device
IP Iraqi Police; also used for a member of the Iraqi Police
IRR Individual Ready Reserve
ISF Iraqi Security Forces
JCC Joint Coordination Center
Jundi Arabic for “soldier”
Junood Plural of jundi
KVN Key Volunteer Network
LAR Light Armored Reconnaissance
LAV Light armored vehicle
LCpl. Lance corporal
Lt. Lieutenant
Lt. Col. Lieutenant colonel
LZ Landing zone
M1114 Model number of up-armored HMMWVs
M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun used by U.S. forces
M240 7.62-millimeter medium machine gun used by U.S. forces
M4 Carbine version of 5.56-millimeter M16 assault rifle used by U.S. forces
M9 9-millimeter sidearm used by U.S. forces
Maj. Major
Maj. Gen. Major general
MARSOC Marine Special Operations Command
MEF Marine Expeditionary Force
MiTT Military transition team
MNC-I Multi-National Corps-Iraq
MNF-W Multi-National Force-West
MOD Ministry of Defense (Iraqi)
MRAP Mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle
MRE Meals ready to eat
MSgt. Master sergeant
MTV Modular Tactical Vest
Mujaas Arabic for “monthly leave cycle”
Mulaazem Arabic for “second lieutenant”
Muqaddam Arabic for “lieutenant colonel”
Muqaddam rukn Arabic for “staff lieutenant colonel”
MWR Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
NAI
Named area of interest
Naqeeb Arabic for “captain”
NCO Noncommissioned officer
ND Negligent discharge
Net Short for “network”
NVGs Night-vision goggles
ORA Operational readiness assessment
Oscar-Mike Jargon for “on the move”
PAS-13 Bulky handheld thermal imaging device used by U.S. forces
Pax Jargon for “personnel”
PBIED Personnel-borne improvised explosive device
PKM Russian-made 7.62-millimeter medium machine gun used by the Iraqi army
Pogue Slang for “rear-echelon”
PPE Personal protective equipment
PSD Personal security detachment
PTT Police transition team
PX Post exchange
QRF Quick Reaction Force (formal Iraqi army unit designation); also quick-reaction force (USMC unit)
Raad Arabic for “major”
RCIED Radio-controlled improvised explosive device
RCT Regimental Combat Team
RIP Relief in place
RPG Rocket-propelled grenade
RSM Regional security meeting
S-2 Battalion intelligence section; also used for battalion intelligence officer
S-3 Battalion operations section; also used for battalion operations officer
S-4 Battalion logistics section; also used for battalion logistics officer
Sadie Arabic for “sir”
SAPI Small-arms protective insert
SATCOM Satellite communications
Seabee Used for a member of the Naval Construction Battalion
SEAL Sea, air, and land; a member of a Naval Special Warfare team
Sgt. Sergeant
Shemagh Checkered-pattern Arabic headwrap
Sherta Arabic for “police”
Shukraan Arabic for “thank you”
SITREP Situation report
SNCO Staff noncommissioned officer
SOP Standing operating procedure
Souq Arabic for “market”
SSgt. Staff sergeant
SWA Southwest Asia
TCN Third-country national
Terp Slang for “interpreter”
TQ Taqaddum (Iraq)
TTP Tactics, techniques, and procedures
UAV Unmanned aerial vehicle
UH-1N Marine Corps utility helicopter
UHF Ultrahigh frequency
USZ Urban security zone
VBIED Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device
VC Vehicle commander
VCP Vehicle checkpoint
VHF Very high frequency
Vic Jargon for “vehicle”
WAG Waste Alleviation and Gelling
Wadi Dry riverbed or creek bed in the desert
Wasta Arabic for “influence” or “clout”
XO Executive officer
Index
A
Aamar (warrant officer)
Abd-al-Nabi (warrant officer)
Abdullah (general)
Abu Fayehdi (Iraqi role-player)
Abu Mahal tribe
Advisor Training Course
advisors: vice trainers. See also Military Transition Teams
aerial reconnaissance
Akeel (warrant officer)
Al Gab’aa plantation
Al Karbuli tribe
Al Khalidi tribe
Al Qa’im phosphate plant
Al Qa’im regional security meeting. See regional security meetings
Al’aa (captain)
Ali (captain)
Ali (first lieutenant)
American character
ammunition allocation
Anbar Awakening movement
anti-smuggling operations
Anwar (second lieutenant)
Ar Rabit massacre
Arabic language
army. See Iraqi army
Army Special Forces detachment
Ayad (lieutenant colonel): on alleged insurgent attack; on anti-smuggling operation; background of; on brigade support; cell phone etiquette; community relations and; conflict avoidance by; false report filing by; favoritism shown by; on fuel allocation; gift-seeking by; information sharing and; on Iraqi flag incident; leadership style of; on logistics support; marksmanship training and; micromanagement by; on negligent discharges; office decor of; on oil smugglers; personal leave and; on police; promotion of; relationship building with; on Sa’id reassignment; subordinates’ complaints against
B
Baath party
Bagooz IP checkpoint
ballistic plate inserts
Basra offensive
Bates, Matt
Battle Position Okinawa
Battle Position Samsiyah
Battle Position Tarawa
Battle Position Vera Cruz: alleged insurgent attack on; disorganization of; inspection of
battle positions: Ar Rabit massacre impact on; brigade inspection of; challenges in supporting; fuel allocations and; fuel consumption by
battlefield trauma management
battlespace coordination
Big Mo (interpreter)
body armor
Border Fort
bottled water
Bowers, Theo
C
C-130 aircraft
Camp Al Qa’im
Camp Fallujah
camp maintenance projects
Camp Phoenix
Camp Virginia
casualty-handling procedures
Ch-47 Chinook
chai boy
Chameleon electronic warfare system
children, Iraqi
Churchill, Winston
civilian contractors
close-combat marksmanship training. See marksmanship training
Combat Outpost South: camp maintenance projects; command inspection of; defensive plan for; interpreters at; looting of Outlanders’ compound; MiTT compound aboard; observation camera in policing; 3rd Battalion at; transition team turnover at; vermin infestation at
command climate
communications: with battle positions; in command-and-control; on missions
communications equipment
community-relations project
cordon-and-search mission
cultural differences: bribes; false report filing; give-and-take; in IA perception of Marines; in Iraqi dependency; military culture and; pride vs. proficiency
cultural indoctrination training
D
Davidoski, Joseph
Deleonguerrero, Norvin
dogs in camp
driving infractions
E
electronic warfare system, Chameleon
explosive ordinance team
F
Fallujah Brigade
Farhan (major)
Fight Club (film)
fighting load
first-aid training
First Companyd Battalion. See Battle Position Okinawa
1st Marine Division
Flag Day
flag of Iraq
flare discharge
flight suit
fly infestation
Flynn, Jason
Folsom, Ashley
Folsom, Emery
Folsom, Kinsey
Folsom, Seth: career trajectory; on leadership; leadership style of; in team leader role; as trainer vice advisor
food preparation by Iraqis
foot care
forward operating base (FOB) amenities
Frazier, Olanza
Fry, Daniel
fuel consumption by battle positions
fuel supplies: Ayad on; as battle position issue; hoarding mentality and
G
Galeai, Max
garbage burns
Ghassan (lieutenant colonel)
gift-seeking behavior: author’s anger with; Ayad’s; for bottled water; letter requesting gifts; in Third Battalion; upon Outlanders’ departure
&
nbsp; Glass, Robert
Global Positioning System (GPS)
goat grab
going native
Gridley, Ron
Grubb, Andrew
gunner position in Humvee
H
hajji store
Hall, William
Hameed (warrant officer)
Hamood (warrant officer)
Hanna, Todd
Hassan (captain)
HESCO barriers
Hoffmier, Mark
humanitarian assistance
Humvees: crew positions in; cross-training in; electronic warfare system in; Iraqi, maintenance of
Hussein, Saddam
Hussein (captain)
I
I Marine Expeditionary Force
IED threat; electronic jamming and; to Humvee; police transition team fatality and; pressure strips and; in Third Battalion AO,
Iha’ab (son of Ayad)
India tour of duty
Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)
insurgency: alleged attack on Battle Position Vera Cruz; attack on police checkpoint; propaganda on Iraqi flag; SEAL team mistaken for; suicide bombings
Internet communication
interpreters: as contractors; at COP South; friction with; performance counseling of; team duties and. See also individual interpreters
Iraqi army (IA): battlespace coordination and; casualty-handling procedures; character flaw of; committees in; coordination issues in; gift requests by; initial impression of; logistics support issues in; marksmanship training for; mission planning and; monthly leave cycle of; officer and enlisted status in; performance counseling and; relationship building with; rivalry with police; transition team partnership with; uniform irregularities in; in urban operations. See also Third Battalion
Iraqi children
Iraqi enlisted personnel: abuse of by officers; attitude toward Marines; dogs and, aversion to; favoritism toward personal security detachment; initial impression of; negligent discharges by; security infractions of
Iraqi flag incident
Iraqi Ministry of Defense
Iraqi names
Iraqi officers: abuse of enlisted personnel by; commanding officer’s complaints against; complaints against commanding officer of; farewell gifts to; passivity of; personal bodyguards of; personal leave and; physical labor and; reaction to Outlanders’ departure; uniform of; visit protocol for