Stuck in Mosul again

Sgt. Rachel A. Brune LSA Diamondback, Iraq June 26, 2006 Mosul, Iraq - I originally came down to Logistical Support Area Diamondback in the city of Mosul, Iraq, to cover a few stories from our subordinate battalion, the 142nd Corps Support Battalion, an active-duty unit from Fort Polk, La. The stories were supposed to take me about a week, and then I would be back at Q-West, putting together my paper, writing the stories and doing all the little things we need to do to prepare for our incoming unit. That was the plan. I’ve now been here for two weeks, and have spent the last four days trying to get out of here. Transportation around here is always tricky, especially if your timing is off or your boss sends you a last-minute request to do a media briefing, kicking you off your convoy. There is an airfield here, but unless you sign up 72 hours prior to the flight, you have little to no chance of getting on one, especially going to Q-West. Luckily, I brought my office - a Nikon D2H digital camera and Dell laptop - with me on this trip, and have been able to lay out most of the next issue of my newspaper. This issue is dedicated to the 142nd CSB, who is shortly to change command with the 352nd Corps Support Battalion, a Reserve unit out of Macon, Ga. Of all of our subordinate battalions, I have to confess, the 142nd is my favorite. Although the unit does not lead the pack with stories submitted by the unit public affairs representatives and sometimes invites other reporters to their stories without telling me, the soldiers there have an innate sense of public relations, alerting us when cool things are happening and taking care of me whenever I visit. Diamondback is a pretty small base tucked into a corner of downtown Mosul, across from Forward Operating Base Marez. The support and logistics folks mainly reside on Diamondback, while all the infantry “bubbas” (yes, that’s a technical Army term) hang out on Marez. My first trip to Marez came on June 15, when I accompanied the 142nd CSB chaplain, Capt. John P. Smith, to the Dair Mar Elia, or Monastery of Saint Elijah. This is a structure, dating from the 6th century A.D., often rebuilt and added on, but retaining some of the mystery and aura of the monks who used to live there and the many pilgrims who made the journey. The Nineveh province, where Mosul is located, is fabled to be the spot where Jonah landed after exiting the whale in the Biblical story. Whether the location of Jonah’s abrupt arrival is a big fish story or not, it is easy to fall into meditation on history and spirituality within the quiet stone walls. While on LSAD, I also took the opportunity to avail myself of the new 142nd CSB Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center. Named the “Mind, Body, Soul” Center, there is a weight room, phone and Internet room, television and library and a “spiritual fitness” center, which is a room where soldiers can meditate, pray or play music on the drum machine set, keyboard or guitars. Actually, I can’t really complain about being stuck here on Diamondback. After two weeks of leave, it’s a little bit like have two more weeks away from the stresses of a brigade headquarters. I now have two more coins for my collection, both from the 142nd CSB. One is a huge monstrosity commemorating every place the battalion has been in Iraq - and they have been all over this northern sector. I welcome their replacements, the 352nd, and hope to make it down here again before I leave.