Sandstorm Sunday

It's Sandstorm Sunday. This is our first sandstorm since we arrived. It's not too bad, but the fine grain sand gets EVERYWHERE here. Computers, cameras, living spaces, and any other crack or crevice on your body gets sand in it. Overall it's a good thing for us because when sandstorms take place, the fighting pretty much stops, and there are virtually zero flights going in and out of the area. This is also the first Sunday morning we've been able to sleep in or finish going to church services.

This past week has actually been a refreshing break. Incoming casualties have been slow, which has given us time to enjoy other pursuits. I am proud to say that I have completed and passed my Marine Corps physical readiness test (PRT). You're tested on the most pull ups and sit ups you can do in 2 minutes, and a timed 3 mile run. The passing standards for the test are set by age. Given that I wasn't in peak shape, I'm glad it's over. I finished my run in just over 27 minutes (I know, I'm slow as a turtle!) We started at 0900, and by 1000 the sun is bright and hot here. One the good things about the test was we ran on a road that leads over to the town of Habbiniyah and the lake. It's a nice view; I wish I'd taken a picture, but I was concentrating too much on my run.

We've received a scant number of Iraqis this week (civilian, Army (IA) and Police (IP)). We had a young Iraqi boy who was caught in a gunfight and had a bullet lodged in his upper thigh. One of the general surgeons removed the bullet intact. The boy was fine. We worry alot about unexploded ordinances on our patients. It's not uncommon for Marines, IA or IP to have grenades on there person, or even worse, explosive material lodged within their body. There are contingencies for this problem, but we often have to fight that normal impulse in most medically trained people to rush over and start helping a severely injured patient.

Our reinforcements from Al Asad arrived this week. Most of our capabilities have been 'PLUSed UP' with the exception of Orthopedics of course. We now have six general surgeons and 2 more anesthesia providers, along with additions in a host of other medical and nursing positions. Al Asad became a level III facility and was taken over by the Army. That means (among other things) that they have a CAT Scanner and a number of other surgical sub specialists, as well as ICU beds and ancillary services like physical therapy. Therefore, they can be a valuable resource for us. However, with the switch, the Navy personnel there were no longer needed and reassigned to other locations. We can always use the help, and from what I hear, they tell us the food is MUCH better here.

The images this week include:

Hesco Beach Club (where the volleyball is played)

LT Day looking sharp in his food services garrison cover

LT Laquihon hold comforting his patient with the Padre in the background

Me in between sandstorm gusts.

LCDR Carr (again) who wishes to be called Gator given his never ending consumption of Gatorade

LCDR Carr and his Hajji mask attire.

LCDRs Neptune, Carr, and Early braving the elements of the sandstorm.