tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52336872011-07-15T12:25:12.160-07:00Lewis of ArabiaNews and such from Kuwait and Iraqgandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.comBlogger491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-21546403269406344542007-07-13T10:49:00.001-07:002007-07-13T10:53:05.770-07:00Front Sight Firearms Training InstituteIgnatius Piazza - founder of Front SightIgnatius Piazza Blog Front Sight - in Guns & AmmoFront Sight - in New York TimesIgnatius Piazza - in Times DemocratFront Sight - in London TimesIgnatius Piazza - in Fort Worth Star TelegramIgnatius Piazza - in Chicago TribuneIgnatius Piazza - in Las Vegas LifeIgnatius Piazza - on Reform AmericaFront Sight - on BBC gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1110910875381909392005-03-15T10:17:00.000-08:002007-07-13T11:07:40.645-07:00Mike's helping with this post. Mike got some AR15 Magazines from MGW in the mail yesterday. They look pretty good. They look like the top part of the 90 round magazine he has from them. I'm going to get a couple for myself to try them out. Do we need five round magazine to hunt hogs? Maybe this weekend we can go shoot my new rifle again. -LoAgandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1110911525152566602005-01-10T00:25:00.000-08:002007-07-13T11:06:35.335-07:00Pictures are up of LoA's retirement party. LoA was awarded the de Fleury Medal, which is the highest award the Corps can give a civillian. Few people are awarded this medal. Congressman Chet Edwards wrote a personal note praising LoA's service and reminising on their growing up together. He also sent LoA a flag flown over the Capitol. Mr. Edwards was very nice to write that, and is a good gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1110909310042483552004-12-26T09:50:00.000-08:002007-07-13T11:02:58.013-07:00For a combined Christmas and Retirement gift, LoA got a very nice AR15 from his kids. more pics are available.It's got a Mega lower receiver, RRA collapsable stock, Colt flattop upper, 16 inch barrel (maybe Colt, maybe not), DPMS lower parts, Tango Down battle grip (which is very comfy), Yankee Hill Machine free float handguard, DPMS metal vertical grip, DPMS detachable rear sight, XS Sights gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1074881380266244462004-01-23T10:09:00.000-08:002004-01-23T10:11:42.560-08:00LoA was just emailed pictures from Saddam's capture.
You can view them here.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1074313122700503562004-01-16T20:18:00.000-08:002004-01-16T20:20:36.186-08:00Looks like Kirkuk has been hit by heavy rains lately and has become flooded. The pictures of from the Air FOrce base LoA stayed at in Kirkuk.
He recalls mentioning that the drainage was woefully inadequate. Oh well.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1062696497164624282003-09-04T10:28:00.000-07:002003-09-04T10:28:17.166-07:00gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1062389865757089692003-08-31T21:17:00.000-07:002003-08-31T21:17:45.740-07:00I put up some pictures.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1062298253984971752003-08-30T19:50:00.000-07:002003-08-30T19:50:53.850-07:00He's back!
And he's bald! Completely. twoLoA does not like it, but Glenda and I think it looks good on him. Bald is in, you know.
Anyway, he and twoLoA took off for Abilene after a scant 30 minutes or so at home. Tomorrow they are off to Cloudcroft where they will stay till Tuesday when LoA has to be in El Paso for processing out. I still think it's silly for him to have to do that, he gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1062174820346600142003-08-29T09:33:00.000-07:002003-08-29T09:33:40.320-07:00From LoA:
"I thought you might like this picture. I think it is the first one I have
sent back to the states.
This will be the last email from me until I get home. I have to wait for our PAO to get
back and give me the CD of the picturers she took at the awards get
together. I hope they just went to supper. I want to leave in another 30
minutes so Tom can take me and get back to the gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1062108229739245602003-08-28T15:03:00.000-07:002003-08-28T15:03:49.693-07:00Check out The Command Post. It's a good site for news about Iraq. Wish I'd found it sooner.
Only 2 more days till LoA is back on American soil!
Then maybe a week or two till the Mother of All BBQs!
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1061821603134212832003-08-25T07:26:00.000-07:002003-08-25T07:27:54.746-07:00LoA flew into Kuwait this morning, about 3:30 AM our time. He'll hang out in Camp Doha for the rest of the week, then fly back to the states Saturday.
He said he has about 2000 pictures. I don't think we can post them all up here, but we'll pick some of the better ones. Most of then I think can be put on a DVD and shown on the TV.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1061390579824137662003-08-20T07:42:00.000-07:002003-08-20T07:42:59.730-07:00From LoA:
"My replacement came in. He seems nice. I'll start going over what he needs to know today. There is a lot to remember in a short period of time.
Hope your supper was good. We ate at the base since we were there to pick up Clif. They had lobster tails. I took the bratwurst. It is getting close now. 9 + 1 to go."
The heat must've gotten to him. Who turns down lobster? :)
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1061172795250494412003-08-17T19:13:00.000-07:002003-08-17T19:13:23.626-07:00Got this from LoA today:
"Good news. No one bombed the pipe line. It apparently started leaking
at a location the NOC fixed about a month ago. Someone did ignite the
pool of oil but at least they weren't targeting the oil pipeline. We
still have a major problem. We have 1,000,000 barrels of oil in the
pipelline to get rid of before we can repair the leak.
I should get my pickup today nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1060981985456239932003-08-15T14:13:00.000-07:002003-08-15T14:13:03.340-07:00Received a message from LoA today. "Not a good day. We received praise from our higher headquarters during the VTC this morning for starting to pump oil to Turkey for export. WE went by the NOC after the VTC to see how much they were pumping and Adil said the pipeline had been bombed at 0300 this morning and it was on fire. They do not have a shut off valve for 90 miles upstream. There nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1060787354494386322003-08-13T08:09:00.000-07:002003-08-13T08:18:55.640-07:00The latest word is that LoA will be flying out from Kuwait on the 30th and arriving here also on the 30th. (Time zones are fun!) His replacement should be arriving about a week before so LoA should have enough time to show him the ropes.
As a taxpayer I must say it's dumb to bring LoA home so soon, just as he is getting the hang of things, getting to know the local people he's been working gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1060629396341224492003-08-11T12:16:00.000-07:002003-08-11T12:16:36.313-07:00LoA received an email saying that the flights out on the 29th are all full, so now we're not sure when he'll be home.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1060108410882627362003-08-05T11:33:00.000-07:002003-08-05T11:33:30.860-07:00Looks like, if all goes according to plan, that LoA will be arriving home at about 3pm on the 29th of August. Then he and Mrs. LoA are heading out to El Paso to do paperwork, turn in his issued equipment (although why wouldn't he just leave it in Iraq for the next guy to use?), and then into the desert for a few days of R&R.
Also in the good news category, LoA's daughter is engaged. The dategandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1059167557398457592003-07-25T14:12:00.000-07:002003-07-25T14:12:37.370-07:00Had a good telephone conversation with LoA today plus 2 emails and am glad to report that he is well and doing OK. Rumor is that the AF will be kicking them out of the tents on 1 Aug and hopefully all will be prepared for them at their new offices and living quarters at the NOC. Food has improved, but is not great. The General was there and seemed pleased. They had held a 3 1/2 hour lunch nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-105881313578006922003-07-21T11:45:00.000-07:002003-07-21T11:45:35.770-07:007/20 Have had several recent emails and calls from LoA. He is doing well and looking forward to being home soon. He and Doug are sharing the operations tent so it's just the two of them rather than 10-12 people. Work is progressing on the facility at the NOC property and hopefully some can start moving in soon. LoA's room is at the end of the hall, so he will be one of the last one to move nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1058663167796206712003-07-19T18:06:00.000-07:002003-07-19T18:20:08.040-07:00Got some pictures from the July 4th BBQ:
The red polka-dotted cap should be familliar to everyone. If not, well, that's LoA underneath it. Next to him is an unidentified North oil Company employee and LoA's boss, Mr. Cox.
Cpt. Conner working the grill.
One of the SWFteam, P Sisler, teaches some Iraqis how to bake an apple pie.
The BBQ was held at the Northern Oil Company Country gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1057861293530865482003-07-10T11:21:00.000-07:002003-07-10T11:21:33.496-07:00hmmm...looks like no one updated this while I was gone. Apparently lots has happened. While LoA was in Bagdhad his hotel was attacked by 3 RPGs. No Americans were killed. I don't know if the attackers were. LoA is fine, but will now be living in an undisclosed location whilst finishing his tour in Iraq.
I haven't heard how the BBQ went, I'll assume it went well. Will let y'all know when gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-1057228474090955482003-07-03T03:34:00.000-07:002003-07-03T03:34:34.073-07:00July 4th is coming up soon. Hopefully the wood arrives in time for the BBQ. We hear that LoA has procured 345 pounds of meat. There are only 200 people going to the BBQ. That's almost a pound and a half for everyone, that's a Texas BBQ alright!
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-959521162003-06-23T10:31:00.000-07:002003-06-23T10:32:40.000-07:00Just talked to LoA. He had another l day bout of illness, but was feeling better. Is going to cut back to 13 hours today and 12 hours starting next week. He has been asked to extend for an additional 2 weeks (bummer) but that is ever so much better than the original Nov. date. He should now be home around the 3rd of Sept. They were unable to go up North to pick up the vehicals for the NOC. nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-958028922003-06-18T13:17:00.000-07:002003-06-18T19:52:49.000-07:00Not an LoA update, but I just got an email from tWoLoA *(NoA? NoT**? NoTbrniGB***?) :
"Dear lew, mike & glenda,
i'm writing from oxford on Wed 6/18 at 2100.
Have had a marvelous time, the weather has been wonderful, mostly warm
and sunny. I talked to Dad yesterday via Lynda's phone and he had been sick again. Lewis, hope you are truly well now and feeling much, much better.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-956965042003-06-15T16:16:00.000-07:002003-06-15T16:16:58.000-07:00Alfred said she wants you to try and smuggle back the Yukon. I think she's mostly kidding.
Happy Father's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-956963752003-06-15T16:10:00.000-07:002003-06-15T16:11:14.000-07:00Got another email from LoA:
"Thanks, I ordered two BBQ pits to be made to my design from the North Oil Company three days ago. I could have used their equipment and built them, but I don't really get paid to do that. I'll go by tomorrow and see how they are coming. They will not be smokers, but just 32" diameter pipe spilt in half, using one half for the pit. No lid. Each one will be 5' gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-956962072003-06-15T16:03:00.000-07:002003-06-16T20:07:27.000-07:00Got an email from LoA today:
"I finally got into the web site for lewis of arabia. It is good. Up to now I couldn't stay on the computer very long. Always someone waiting to get on. Today I'm on the boss's computer since my internet cable hasn't been run to my room and Doug is in Kuwait for two or three days. He had to go down for a partnering meeting with the contractor. It is nice to sitgandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-953835972003-06-06T12:57:00.000-07:002003-06-07T12:28:35.000-07:00Received a call from LoA today around 1100 our time. He sounded good. Is feeling much better. He has been very busy. States that if it weren't for the looters the Corp would not be needed in Northern Iraq. The Northern Oil Co. has nothing to work with; equipment, buildings, information, etc. all taken or destroyed by looters. If the Army can not control and manage the looting situation, nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-951868382003-06-02T04:31:00.000-07:002003-06-02T04:31:57.256-07:00Have an update on LoA. He had a 3 day bout with "Saddams revenge" that gave him a bad time but he always worked through it. Fever one night. Glad to report all is better. They have tried to be very careful with their eatting but something got them. He had been out to measure some damaged buildings and while out it rained. Not enough to even wet the ground, but rain none the less. Lew says nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-949877482003-05-28T06:33:00.000-07:002003-05-28T06:33:45.740-07:00Heard from LoA by e-mail sent on 5/27. He is well. Has armed guards with them at all times and if an area is not secure they do not go there. He also has soldiers guarding the Hotel day and night as well as staying at the Hotel. He still has not received mail, but I haven't had any returned which is good. Hopefully he will get LOTS of mail soon. If you have sent mail and had it returned, nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-948582152003-05-25T05:57:00.000-07:002003-05-26T20:51:28.000-07:00Received an e-mail from LoA last evening sent Sun. 5/25 1226 AM. He is fine. The people of Kirkuk chose 30 people to form a new government on Saturday and everything went well. Lewis says the email on his end is not doing well and that he still has not received any letters. He said some of the letters from home to others had been sent back return to sender. He ask that we not send packages nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-947946722003-05-23T10:34:00.000-07:002003-05-23T10:35:16.000-07:00Lewis of Arabia called today, spoke to Nancy. He is doing fne. He's working seven days a week, about 14 hours a day. He gets up, has breakfast at the hotel, goes out and looks at two or three sites, then back to the hotel for dinner and to write up reports on what was seen that day, then colapses into bed. Repeat till August or October. He's doing damage assesment of some sort (he didn't gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-947178882003-05-21T20:13:00.000-07:002003-05-21T20:18:40.000-07:00Had my first e-mail for LoA from the Middle East (Kirkuk)today. He is working 7-14's and eating chicken for lunch and dinner every day. Good thing he likes chicken! He will have e-mail access, just slow. He said his first day went by fast. He went out on an oil pipeline fire site that had been burning for 3 days. Iraqi firefighters came by and put it out. He thinks he may be home in four nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-946009472003-05-19T14:58:00.000-07:002003-05-19T14:58:28.066-07:00Had a much needed call from LoA today approximately 2200 hours Kirkuk time. They are 9 hours ahead of us. The convoy had arrived at 1600 after almost 3 days of travel time. He did have the MIA footlocker with him. He is housed in a Hotel with airconditioning and real food and had had his first shower with clean clothes since leaving Kuwait. There was one small mishap in route, somehow three nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-945858782003-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:002003-05-19T09:00:41.920-07:00Looks like he left for the North on Saturday. The journey should take four or five days. gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-944849592003-05-16T21:21:00.000-07:002003-05-16T21:24:17.000-07:00Apparently there is a derth of trucks available, so LoA's convoy didn't make it out today. They'll try again tommorrow. Still no word on the footlocker.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-943477802003-05-14T13:31:00.000-07:002003-05-14T13:31:59.443-07:00Looks like LoA's footlocker was shipped successfully to Camp Doha (Kuwait, as opposed to the city of Doha in Qatar) , but now no one can seem to find it. D'Oh! His extra pair of boots, almost all the t-shirts he packed, as well loads of smaller personal items and books are now AWOL. Hopefully it gets found quickly.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-943455242003-05-14T12:49:00.000-07:002003-05-14T12:49:23.583-07:00Sorry y'all, the comments are reeeeeeal slow. When you click on the comment button, just walk away from the computer for a while or something. It can take 10 minutes or so to post. I'm looking into ways to speed the process up.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-943454142003-05-14T12:47:00.000-07:002003-05-14T12:47:00.953-07:00Just heard from LoA. He's in charge of the convoy North on Friday, but there are no trucks to be found. Hopefully the contractor can find some, otherwise they'll go whenever they get enough trucks together. He also said his address has changed, so if you previously got it from Nancy, you need to get it from her anew.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-942961942003-05-13T17:06:00.000-07:002003-05-14T14:06:55.000-07:00Ran into Lamar the other day. He said the yard doesn't look as good as when you mowed it :) Just kidding, he said the yard looked great. Glenda on the other hand ran into a few trees and bushes and such and looks horrible. She also forgot to wear gloves and got a nasty blood blister. Oh well, maybe now she'll wear gloves and pay a bit more attention when someone shows her how to work the gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-942953912003-05-13T16:49:00.000-07:002003-05-13T16:58:47.000-07:00LoA arrived early this morning Kuwait time (oh four thirty!). He called in and said that he was in a large un-air conditioned warehouse with a bunch of other guys. Should leave "for the North" on Friday or thereabouts. The living quarters should be better in the North, it should be an air conditioned apartment. We'll see.
If you want to send him a letter or something (and you should, but gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-941792952003-05-11T19:48:00.000-07:002003-05-12T12:10:23.000-07:00Hi Lewis, this picture was made today at Pat and Fred's because I didn't think you had a current picture of your family. Mike said you can print it out or you can right click on it and set it for your wallpaper. Stay safe. Love, Nancynancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14919771763295191446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-941741902003-05-11T18:06:00.000-07:002003-05-14T14:09:18.000-07:00
Today LoA left for Kuwait. His group got kicked out of the barracks to make room for the new group coming in, so they went to see the movie Daddy Day Care (I suggested X2, but DDC was probably all the base theater was showing)[edited to add: He said it was funny]. The flight left at 8pm Central Time and is scheduled to arrive in Kuwait at 4am local time Tuesday which is....7pm Monday Texas gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-938028722003-05-05T07:59:00.000-07:002003-05-12T12:10:44.000-07:00LoA (Lewis of Arabia) began his journey to the Middle East yesterday. He'll be at an un-named millitary base (ohhh...doesn't that sound...mysterious!) for a few days getting his final shots and filling out loads of paperwork. He should leave for Kuwait by Friday as they decided last Friday that they are not going to be issuing any clothing and such to the new people going over there, so there'sgandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-920720512003-04-05T20:26:00.000-08:002003-04-06T18:02:55.000-07:00In case you were wondering, the pictures up above are from Lewis' last trip to the middle east, when he spent several months in Kuwait following Desert Storm. The picture on the left is Lewis on a destroyed Iraqi tank that was positioned inside a school by the Iraqis. This school was across the street from the apartment he lived in. The herd of camels is, well...a herd of camels. Not much you gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-919403332003-04-03T14:11:00.000-08:002003-04-03T14:11:17.670-08:00Looks like the map over at CNN is better than the one I found.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-919203322003-04-03T08:08:00.000-08:002003-04-03T09:50:38.000-08:00Added a comments section over on the left. Feel free to use it.
Also added a map a little further down on the left. Click in it to get a more detailed, larger look.
gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233687.post-918068472003-04-01T16:52:00.000-08:002003-04-02T07:27:35.000-08:00This is a test of the Lewis of Arabia Web Log (Blog). It'll be a forum for diseminating the emails we receive from Lewis whilst he is deployed in the Iraqi Theater of Operations
The Theme music does not seem to work with Internet Explorer at the house, but I don't recall what version I'm running. It works fine with Opera 6.05. If you want it to stop playing, just click on the Stop button up gandalf23http://www.blogger.com/profile/08233797752232239626noreply@blogger.com0