We previously were advised to prepare for an eight-hour evolution after landing before we could sleep. We arrived at 2330 local on 2 NOV, effectively losing a day in transit. I, along with thirty-nine others, volunteered to be baggage handlers. I don’t know what I was thinking as, one, I am not that burly an individual, and two, I was still suffering from acute tendonitis in my right forearm. Along with three others, I climbed up the conveyor belt into the belly of plane where we were greeted by a sheer wall of green sea-bags. Every third one or so was filled with heavy IBA. As we cleared more and more bags, we established a daisy chain where, to my horror, I found heavy sea-bags being hefted at me. I’m happy to report I was not knocked over.
After unloading sea-bags and weapons, which were in locked cases, into a awaiting trucks, we boarded air conditioned buses and drove for an hour to Camp Virginia, a staging camp for personnel coming into and out of theater. Our first real views of Kuwait came from behind curtained windows on the buses. Not much to see at night of course.
After arriving at Camp Virginia, we gave awaiting personnel our ID cards which were electronically swiped into bar code readers officially recording our arrival. Later, we learned that our Boots on Ground (BOG) counters started the date of our arrival -- 2 NOV. Only 349 to go.
Next, we unloaded weapons and sea-bags onto the sandy area in front of our twelve-man transient tents. Under less than ideal lighting conditions, I eventually reclaimed my three sea-bags and one rolling suitcase. Originally, I thought the rolling suitcase was a good idea since it had wheels. I round said wheels were useless in sand.
We piled into our air-conditioned tents and found more bunk beds and a few lockers. Since my bunk was nearest the door, I just set my bags nearby. After some perfunctory unpacking, we walked in darkness to the Dining Facility (DFAC) for breakfast at 0630. After a surprisingly good meal, I walked back, in emerging daylight to the tent to sleep.
After unloading sea-bags and weapons, which were in locked cases, into a awaiting trucks, we boarded air conditioned buses and drove for an hour to Camp Virginia, a staging camp for personnel coming into and out of theater. Our first real views of Kuwait came from behind curtained windows on the buses. Not much to see at night of course.
After arriving at Camp Virginia, we gave awaiting personnel our ID cards which were electronically swiped into bar code readers officially recording our arrival. Later, we learned that our Boots on Ground (BOG) counters started the date of our arrival -- 2 NOV. Only 349 to go.
Next, we unloaded weapons and sea-bags onto the sandy area in front of our twelve-man transient tents. Under less than ideal lighting conditions, I eventually reclaimed my three sea-bags and one rolling suitcase. Originally, I thought the rolling suitcase was a good idea since it had wheels. I round said wheels were useless in sand.
We piled into our air-conditioned tents and found more bunk beds and a few lockers. Since my bunk was nearest the door, I just set my bags nearby. After some perfunctory unpacking, we walked in darkness to the Dining Facility (DFAC) for breakfast at 0630. After a surprisingly good meal, I walked back, in emerging daylight to the tent to sleep.
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