Day #8 - 07 March 2009 – “On our way …”

Our ride was a DC-10 out of Atlanta, GA dubbed the” Freedom Flight” by the airlines. 350 passengers, all military – a mix of soldiers return from mid tour leave and newly deployed soldiers, lined up at the gate to board the plane. The flight itself was not as bad as I expected: 2 hot meals, in-flight movies, and an open galley with flight attendants offering all the snacks and drinks you wanted. There was no first class, it was general boarding and open seating with colonels sitting next to privates. I was able to score an aisle seat so I was happy. We flew 8 hours from Atlanta to Leipzig, Germany. There we re-fueled and then flew another 5 hours to Kuwait. With the time change and day light savings time we were all jacked up. We left on Friday at 7pm and arrived in Kuwait on Sunday at 1am, losing a day and a half somewhere in our travels. Kuwait is nothing but dry desert sand as far as you can see. No greenery, no wildlife, nothing. The camp is filled with the humming of generators and the smell of port-a-potties baking in the sun. But I can’t complain even though I am sharing a tent with 12 other guys and sleeping on rickety cots; we have air conditioning, electricity and only a 50 foot walk to the showers with warm water. Could be a lot worse but definitely miss the comforts of home right now.



Loading bags for the airport.



Lots of waiting around at the Atlanta airport.




Tent City in Kuwait.



Tent in Kuwait where we are living.



My humble living quarters.