robs-blog

Row, row, row your boat (aircraft carrier)...

Thu, 06 May 2010 15:19:47 +0100

    You know, I didn't think it could get any hotter than Iraq, but, oh no, I was wrong! Yesterday we had a heat index of 126 degrees! I just can't get enough water. I feel really sorry for the guys who are on the flight deck in this heat. Some are there all day and into the night. Night time isn't much better. Plus, they have the heat from the jets to contend with.
    Iran is messing around with us. I don't know if you are seeing this on the news or not, but they have been sending planes out to buzz our ship. We scared one away, the first one made it past us. That one was on the news for sure. The second one happened today, but we launched an F/A-18 after them and it high-tailed back to Iran. We think that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is trying to start something. Things are starting to get exciting around here!
    I have a picture of the Burj Khalifa building which can be seen by clicking here. Now keep in mind that the three buildings to the left are about 40 stories tall. That roundish building is really close, so it kind of throws the picture off. I found out that it has over 160 floors! When we go back to Dubai next month, I will be going to the top to the observation tower! That ought to be interesting! This building is literally twice as tall as the Sears Tower, or whatever they call it now.
    Well, I hope everyone is doing well. I will post again in a couple of days. Until then, here is a little bit of IT humor. Until next time...

Getting ready to leave Dubai...

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:14:55 +0100

    It was an interesting time here in the "sandbox", but we must depart and get back to work. I have added a couple of pictures to my photo page. My Facebook friends will recognize one of them. The other is a picture of the flight deck that I took right after flight ops. I tried to make it up there before it ended, but I couldn't. I will try to post a video of flight ops, bandwidth willing.
    I went into Dubai, to the Dubai Mall. I got to see the new tallest building in the world, and let me tell you, that thing is a monstrosity!! Pictures of it are coming soon to a blog near you! I could not believe how big that thing was. It looks like an upside down icicle. If you can't wait for the pictures I post of it, (which has a nice sunset behind it) you can Google The Burj Khalifa skyscraper. It is literally twice the height of the Sears Tower, if that tells you anything! I just sat there with my mouth hanging open in amazement. When we come back to Jebel Ali later on, I want to go up to the observation tower. I didn't have time this trip. They say that it is open now. That ought to be a great Kodak moment! Video also! The funny thing is that there are no other buildings that even remotely come close to its height, so it really stands out, even from 15 miles away.
     Well, I need to get some rest because tomorrow will be a busy day. Until next time...

I'm baaaaack!

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:20:20 +0100

    Hello again everyone! It's great to be back, well, sort of! If you are reading this, it must mean I am back on deployment. Well, at least it gives me a chance to communicate with everyone the things that I may be going through out here as the Ike makes its way around the Persian Gulf. The last time I posted, I wasn't in such good shape. Well, I feel much better now and am back to good health again! I am back in the gym again, in case you didn't know, but don't worry, I am being careful. So far so good. I am back to where I was before the injury and then some. On top of that, I get constant cardio being on an aircraft carrier. It's 17 stories tall, so it's like Stair Master hell!
    This next week or so, I will be checking in and going to the command indoctrination. I won't actually start my job until that is all over with, but when I do, I will hit the ground running! I found out that I will probably be put in a leadership position right off the bat. They are wanting to put me in as the Assistant Leading Petty Officer, or ALPO (hee hee, ruff!). It ought to be an interesting experience. I will be working with a great bunch of people.
    Sleeping has been tough at first considering that the mattresses are like sleeping on concrete slabs! I will have to go into town at our next port and try to find some egg crates or something. I can't tell you where the next port will be, but I will give you a hint, it's hot and sandy! That describes most of the ports in the Persian Gulf!
    I went up to watch flight ops yesterday to take a picture for an updated Facebook profile photo. If you are wondering why I wasn't smiling, it's because it was friggin' hot and humid, plus I was the only one up there and I didn't want the people on the bridge to think that I was some sort of nut job!
    Well, that's it for now. I will be back in a couple of days with an update after the port visit. As a reminder, you do not have to create an account to comment. Just comment as a guest. Until next time...

Hanging in there...

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:44:14 +0100

This is going to be a short post to notify, that due to my recent injuries, I can't post anymore to the blog. I hope you have enjoyed it over the past few months, but I can''t type as well anymore. Although I am putting up little one handed updates on my Facebook page, as the medication allows. Just so everybody knows, I was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. My FB page is http://www.facebook.com/robcarey2112, or look up Rob Caudle Carey. I'm at Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany now and I will be in the states tomorrow at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Thanks for reading!

Thank you everybody!

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:21:25 +0100

     First, I want to say thank you to everybody for the birthday wishes, cards and gifts! I eventually had a good birthday. But, I do have to say it did get off to a bad start. Night before last, two of our guys were killed in action. It was a little personal for me because I was monitoring the battle along with a few others. I was listening to one of the guys as he was shot 3 times. Next, I heard as they tried to save his life on the helicopter. Lastly, I heard as they pronounced him dead on arrival. Last night my boss insisted that I go to the Fallen Comrade Ceremony. I wanted to go, but I didn't think that I would be able to because I was on watch. My boss told a coworker much senior to me that he was to cover me so I would be able to go. I'm still not quite sure why that was, but I didn't ask. I went to the ceremony and about 200 to 300 people were there. They lined us up from the back of the plane, so there was a lane to walk the caskets down with us on either side. The members of the team that they were with them were in the front. There was a small brass band off to the side, and I remember them playing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" as they were parading the caskets down the lane. I also remember a tear streaming down my face as both were taking place. But the one moment that I will never forget, is after they placed the caskets onto the plane, the Soldier who tried to save his friend, kneeled down and laid his arms and forehead on the casket and wept. I don't think there was a dry eye in the group. I know mine weren't. I'm getting a little choked up now as I write about it. I've been to memorials before. I went to one the second day that I was in Iraq, but none had quite the effect that this one had. It was a little more personal, because I was listening to it unfold.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the families who had to meet that plane back home. If I have learned one thing about this whole experience, Iraq and Afghanistan, is that people should not take life for granted. One day, like these Soldiers, it could end just like that. Granted, they were in a much more dangerous environment, but anything can happen to anybody. Live life to the fullest. That's all I have to say about that. Was that a Gumpism?!
    Today was much better! After seeing all of the birthday wishes and being able to open some presents, I was really happy! It turned out to be a good day after all. It's gonna be a good day Tater! Anybody who has seen Ron White will recognize that one.
    Well, hopefully I will have some info about when I will be coming home pretty soon. You guys will know as soon as I do! Oh, also, I have officially been labeled! Click here to find out what! Until next time...

An "Attaboy" from the office of the General...

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:47:38 +0100

  Something happened yesterday that I want to share with you. I got a call from the secretary of the General. She said that he wanted to present a flag to a Soldier that was shot in battle. This Soldier is not on this base, so it had to sent by plane. Well, she asked me if I had a flag, and it just so happens that I have a few of them here with me. I took one of them and took it down to the guard and had them fly it on the flagpole over the compound. I had about 30 minutes to get all of this done. Flying it and getting it to the plane. The plane was used because it was getting ready to go to that area anyways, and it had people that were going to meet him also. Fortunately, it all worked out smoothly. I didn’t think too much of it, it just seemed like the appropriate thing to do, but I got an email from the secretary today. This is what it said:

"Petty Officer Carey,
    Just wanted to drop a line and tell you a great big THANK YOU for your assistance yesterday. Day in and day out we are seldom recognized for what we think is a small task in the big picture…but yesterday you most certainly achieved a great deed. Your actions will definitely make an impact in one of our service member’s who sacrificed a lot. Thank you for making this command a success!”

I have to withhold the sender’s name for obvious reasons. But this made me feel really good. I’m glad I was able to make a difference!
Other than that, it's business as usual, keep watching the news though! Until next time...

Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam...

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:33:20 +0100

    Yep, it's another one of those days! I'm feeling a little homesick the closer my birthday gets. At least I don't have to be here on my 40th. Knowing my luck, I'll be on a ship for that one! Speaking of coming home, there is a slight chance that I will be back in October. The reason is that there was already a relief for the person that I relieved. They are going to send that person here to replace me. I would finish out my time in Ft Bragg. At least I hope that is what happens! They can't really ship me anywhere else, except for Djibouti maybe. I better not jinx myself. Of course, I don't have the right uniform for that place anyways.
    I forgot to mention the toilets here. I know what you are thinking, "why is he writing about the toilets?" Well, they are backwards! The hole that the water goes down when you flush is in the front! Use your imagination to figure out why that is a problem! The stalls have shower curtains instead of doors. A stiff breeze and everybody can see you do your business! Yes the windows are open because they are not air conditioned. Also, the water that we shower with is non-potable. It's disinfected for washing only. You can't drink it or you'll get sick. I can't wait to take an American shower! Chlorinated tap water doesn't sound so bad now! We have to brush our teeth with bottled water. It's not so bad though. At least the gym is nice! Oh speaking of getting sick, there has been a case of cerebral malaria reported here. Luckily I have been taking my Doxycycline since I got here. That medication is required to come here since malaria is very common in this area. But I haven't seen any mosquitos since I got here.
    You would not believe the weather here. The highs have been around 103, which is no big deal since I just came from Iraq, but the lows have been in the low 50s. Around 52 or so. It drops 50 degrees in about 2 hours! From sunset until about 2 hours after that. That is nuts! I'll tell you though, the nights feel great here. I still haven't seen a drop of rain in almost 4 months, not even a cloud! The first rain I see when I get home, I'm going to just stand in it and let it soak me. I've learned that rain is a good thing. If it is always sunny and clear, it'll start looking like Iraq, and that place is depressing!
    Well, I guess that is all for now. Unless something out of the ordinary happens, I will post again day after tomorrow. Considering how this place is, what is ordinary anyway?! Everybody take care and remember, wherever you go, there you are! Until next time...

New photos!

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:08:21 +0100

    First, check out the update to the last post... I didn't include this in the update below, but the unit that was hit only had 30 days left before they went home.
    I put a couple of pictures on the photo page. One is of the manly muscles I am trying to build. Sorry if the lighting is a little weird, but using a flash in such a small space makes them look washed out. So I had to pretend I was in a photography studio and started to mess with the lamps for lighting. I do the best with what I've got!
    There is actually not much going on tonight due to the elections over here. The elections are why a lot of the action over here has been happening. Maybe I will have more to report later. Until next time...

A sad day...

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:01:07 +0100

Update to this post: I am sad to report that the suspected capture was not a capture. That Soilder was killed in the explosion.



I really hate to keep having to post this type of stuff, but I feel I need to. We lost one of our guys today, which is why the flag at half-mast is up. This one will definitely be on the news. They think one was captured, the other definitely died. They were in their vehicle when they were hit by an IED. That's not all, they sent people to look for them and one of the search team stepped on another one, but fortunately he will live. A broken leg is what they said he had, and some shrapnel. He got lucky. Oh, I didn't mention that I heard and saw that happen. But, we are making a lot of progress though. Also, there were four rocket attacks today. I was in the bathroom when one of them hit. I was standing next to this other guy washing my hands when we heard it. We both looked at each other, and said "holy crap!" I don't remember grabbing any paper towels before we took off out of there back into the building!

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    On to the lighter side of things! I may not get a roommate after all. They are making accomodations for those new people that are coming. In other words, I think they just got a new shipment of plywood and blankets! Oh, and 2x4s! That will be nice not having a roommate. You guys know that I am a people person, but that would be pushing it!
    I have actually been to the chow hall a couple more times. When we tried to go yesterday, we got turned away because we didn't have our weapons! I mean, I don't make it a habit to argue about rules, but what on earth do I need a weapon for while I am eating? I don't have to carry it anywhere else. So why the chow hall? Talk amongst yourselves... Ok, that's enough. So, now I carry my pistol around with me just in case I might need it to get my haircut or something! Ya gotta love it!
    We've started a kind of joke around here, and if any of you have seen the movie "Dodgeball", you'll know what I'm talking about. It refers to the rockets and mortars. It's "Just remember the five D's of dodgeball: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and...Dodge!" Hey, you have to laugh! That's funny, I don't care who you are!
    Wow, I've rambled on today! Well, I need to go by the mail room. I heard that I have a package in there! I wonder who it could be from?! Oh, by request, I will have an updated picture of my "manly muscles" :) on the next post. Until next time...

The true American Hero...

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:35:14 +0100

I don't even really know what to say, but I will give it a shot. I'm not going to have my usual humor, or attempt at humor on this post. Last night and this morning was a real I opener for me. You can say, "that Soldier (Sailor, Marine, Airman) is a true American hero" for what he does, but you have to see it with your own eyes to actually understand why that is. I saw the actions of true American heroes in the field last night. When you think of heroes, think of those guys. Although it was from a video screen and speakers, I saw and heard the most jaw-dropping experience of my Navy career. I wish I could explain more, but I think you understand what I am saying. I think a lot of people get desensitized by the news and the reporting that they do, I'm not saying the people that will read this are, but the average person is. You guys know the deal. But when you see it and then realize that this is really happening right then, at that moment, it really brings it to another level. Part of me is glad that I am here, because I can see first hand and appreciate who some of the real heroes are. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to help them do what they do. I will be glad when I can share this and other experiences with you. Until next time...