Combat Patch

The Army uniforms, both the combat and dress uniform bear two spots where unit patches are worn. The left shoulder which bears the patch of the unit you're currently attached to, and the right shoulder of the unit that you've been deployed to a combat zone with. This is the largest distinguishing factor that separates the "vets" from the new guys. When I first got to my unit, and a month later they all returned from their last tour in Iraq, us new guys envied the patch they wore on their right shoulder. Well now, after 30 days in country, we finally got our combat patches. This signifies somewhat of a crossover into the "realm" of of our unit. We aren't really looked upon any more as the new guys...as we've all gone out in sector, and done the required duty to wear that patch. Some people that have been through combat with other units get some variation with the patches they wear, such as the 10th Mountain Division, or the 1st Armored division, 2nd Infantry Division, ect. Lucky for me, I get the pride of the "Cav sandwich." Some people think that 30 days isn't enough time to "earn" the patch...well I think different. In 30 days, I've been blown up by an IED, raided a small shack that was being used by 3 insurgents who were spotted planting an IED ahead of us, recovered a 120mm artillery round primed to blow in the middle of downtown Kirkuk, and all in all, gone on over 15 missions. So I don't know what others think, but that's plenty for me to be able to show that i've been in a combat zone. So, to recap on what we did on our recent 3 day mission. It was mainly route clearance...we were clearing a bunch of different routes that hadn't been touched in a couple weeks. But we didn't find anything. As we were headed back to our COP (Combat Outpost) where we were camping out at, a call came down from our Battalion HQ saying that some Iraqi Police had found an IED in the middle of the city, and they needed us to go investigate it. We had been out for the past 8 hours overnight and we really just wanted to get back and get some sleep, but we didn't have a choice. We diverted our route and headed towards downtown. My vehicle is equipped with a CROWS (Common Remote Operated Weapons Station) which is operated from the inside of the vehicle via an LCD screen and remote stick...but as we approached the city they told the gunners to open their hatches and stand out with our M4's. Doing this mainly to keep people from getting too close to us, or to prevent people from throwing rocks at us. I wasn't really too worried, snipers aren't much of a threat here in Kirkuk. Anyways, this was really my first experience going through a busy part of the city, and being able to observe it all from the outside. Let me tell you, it's a whole different feeling than doing route clearance through deserted areas like we've done thus far. Your level of awareness skyrockets. You're scanning around you paying attention to the smallest of details. I wouldn't really say I was nervous, just very attentive. As we were stopped, and EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) was investigating the IED, we were all pulling security, making sure vehicles and people couldn't some up on us...It was weird. You drive through the city and everyone is looking at you, and you have to look them right in the eyes. It's a little unnerving sometimes, because anyone can do anything. Wait, why did that guy just hop on his cell phone after we passed him. Why is that lady burning so much on her rooftop and creating large clouds of black smoke right where we are. Why is that guy walking towards us with his hand in his jacket? I was ready at any given moment for some insurgents to pop out on the rooftops and ambush us. I was ready to shoot the first person that made a wrong move. I had permission to kill anyone who got too close to our vehicle. I was ready. But fortunatly I didn't have to. EOD ended up finding out that the ordinance was unsafe to move, and therefor we had to blow it in place. We had the IP's clear out the area, and then we moved to a safe distance and then BOOM! Thank god that bomb was discovered, because had it not, there would've been 100 casualties easy. These people confuse me sometimes....they just don't seem to care at all. They planted this bomb in the smack dab middle of the city...they just don't care who they kill. Anyways we moved back to our COP after that and got some rest. A few hours later we moved back to our FOB. Was looking forward to a little bit of downtime after this long mission, but we have 4 more missions in the next 24 hours. One tonight, and then 3 consecutive tomorrow. Something to do with pulling security on a downed helicopter crash site. We should be on foot tomorrow, which I've kinda been looking forward too. These vehicles are too uncomfortable! I'll send an update in a few days. -Out here-

DA03