THE HOME STRETCH!

Well we are finally in the home stretch! Only 4 more weeks or so in Iraq and we all can't wait to get home. We are all getting pretty tired of walking to the bathroom, the shower, and the chow hall, but we're not complaining.

A lot has happened since my last posting. We finally completed our FMF Officer Qualification. We'll have a pinning ceremony in a couple of weeks. We all had to individually sit for an oral board in front of 3 qualified FMF officers (mostly Marine) and answer 100 questions related to Marine Corps history, structure, mission, and tactical situations. My board took 1 hour and 20 minutes which is about average. Needless to say I'm glad it's over, but it's a great accomplishment for our crew, and one that is well earned and appreciated.

I've started mailing back all of the 'cold weather' clothes I probably should have never taken in the first place, but this place can get very cold at night during the winter and early spring months. It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in 6 months. I have a lot of cleaning and disposing of unnecessary items from my hooch. Some of the folks we've met from other units have headed home including the 2/136 Minnesota National Guard who left last month. They did a great job here while having to endure an extension of their deployment from 15 to 18 months. It's good to know they are getting a much deserved homecoming.

Patient flow has come in spurts. We've been reminded by CAPT Jernigan, our Chief of Professional Services, to stay focused and not to become complacent. We continue to see a good number of casualties related to IED blasts. The wounds still never cease to amaze me at the level of soft tissue damage created. Many of the wounded US military are transferred back to either Walter Reed Army Medical Center or the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. I'm planning on making a brief stop at one of those facilities on my return home from Camp Lejeune. It's my hope to get chance to see a few of my patients recovering and returning to normal life after sustaining such traumatic injuries.

This will not be my last posting as we still have a little more time left, so I'll save my 'see ya soons' for my last message.

I would like to also wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my oldest brother Harry (July 26) and my Uncle Clyde (August 8). I hope you guys had fun on your special day.

Take care

Doc Tally

It's Hotter Than July!

LCDRs NEPTUNE AND MEADE SUCCUMB TO THE HEAT

'BUTTER BETSY'

ME AND DR CARR AT STEP AEROBICS
OUR BELOVED AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR BELOW

4TH OF JULY PRAYER BREAKFAST WITH GOSPEL CHOIR

LADIES DAY AT TQ

Sorry for the long delay from my last entry. Patient flow has picked up a bit and we're busier these days. We've finally made it into July! Only about 6-8 weeks to go. We had a festive 4th of July with a large feast at the DFAC (dining facility). Your choice of steak vs. BBQ (or Both!!). We thoroughly enjoyed the decorations throughout the chow hall including Betsy Ross ("Butter Betsy" as I like to call her) and the two incredibly ugly dinosaurs (I have no idea what they have to do with Independence Day). There was plenty of Welch's Sparkling Cider and Near Beer to go around. We also had a TQ Surgical picnic the following Sunday after the fourth, complete with a series of spirited volleyball matches that had heavy officer involvement (including me and I'm still sore!).

Everyone is truly excited about beginning to make re-deployment (return home) plans. The light at the end of the tunnel is looking a bit bigger than the pin prick back in March. Many of us are from commands all over the place. Some will have to fly back overseas (Guam/Naples, etc.) after we return to Camp Lejeune.

One of the things we wanted to do before leaving was have our own American Flag flown over the base. You can buy a flag and have it raised on a special day such as the 4th of July. 2nd MLG will then make a nice certificate signifying the occasion. The certificate has a nice synopsis of the history of the air base at TQ, with interesting facts like the chemical weapons bunkers here and Saddam's plans calling for disassembly, burial, and re-assembling of the MiG fighter aircraft seen parked around the base.

Our FMF (Fleet Marine Force Qualification) course is winding down. We've received lectures on nearly every aspect of the U.S. Marine Corps and had some very interesting site visits and will start our oral boards for qualification this month. I can probably speak for everyone by saying that we're happy it's coming to an end. I think the overwhelming interest in getting back home is alittle too hard to resist.

In true military fashion, everything must change, even our aerobics instructor. He's headed home, so we're continuing with a Marine Corps Staff Sgt, so there's not much let up in her intensity. I've lost about 15 lbs while here, which is great, but the REAL challenge will be the up coming winter back in Connecticut. There's just something about short days and cold weather that makes me want to rest, eat and 'fatten up' like a hibernating bear.

A big thanks goes out to LCDR Neptune for many of the pictures for this post. I can tell I'm starting to wear down as I'm not taking as many pictures as I did in the beginning. Living your life in such a confined space shares a little likeness to prison life (without the fights and open showers Thank Goodness!). I'll try to keep the blog updated regularly as we begin our wind down.

P.S. A big farewell goes out to LT Nicole Stewart, our psychologist, who is back home. She was replaced by LT David Burke from Naples (Welcome Aboard!). Apparently the psychology special leader mandated that all deployed psych docs have their license, therefore LT Stewart was sent home and can complete that requirement. She can also enjoy the comforts of friends, family, and home.

Take care

Special Congratulations!!!

OBVIOUSLY OVERCOME WITH HAPPINESS!
LCDRs NEPTUNE AND CARR ENJOY THE WEDDING

This is a special entry into the blog. Congratulations are in order for my brother, Ted and his new wife, Dale, who got married on June 22nd. The wedding took place at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. Fortunately, I got to see a web cast of the wedding on the Bellagio's website. Unfortunately, I didn't see it live, but as fate would have it a wounded Marine came in, that needed surgery, about 30 minutes before the wedding. Nonetheless, you could tell by the photo above that some of the crew and I were emotionally overwhelmed by the nuptials. Congrats again Ted and Dale, welcome to the family!!!

Happy Father's Day 2007!

"THE TQ STARTING FIVE"

THE NBA VETS VS THE MARINES
LCDR NEPTUNE AND LT SMITH TOWERING OVER THE VETS


SHAWN BRADLEY HELPS OUT TO FIX THE NETS (He's really not that tall, but almost!)


PATRICK (MILITARY CAR SALES), LCDRs NEPTUNE & EARLY, AND LT CORWIN EAT POPCICLES ON A HOT DAY

LCDR CARR'S METHOD OF WATCHING MOVIES IN THE OFFICER HOOCH



LCDR NEPTUNE
"ENJOYING" HER ANTHRAX VACCINATION

LAYOUT AT THE NEWLY DESIGNED OFFICER'S HOOCH (THE 'O' HOOCH)




GANG AND CHEERLEADERS AT THE VBALL TOURNEY

MARINES AND CORPSMEN HAPPILY WAITING IN LINE FOR ANTHRAX SHOTS





CDR MOORE, LCDR CROSS, AND LT HITCHCOCK SHARING COMPANY IN THE 'TQ HOT TUB'
LCDR NEPTUNE, LCDR CROSS, AND LT HITCHCOCK GETTING A SPLASH DOWN ON A HOT DAY






Happy Father's Day! It's time to spark up the BBQ grill once again. I want to wish my father, Harry F. Taliaferro, M.D., my uncles, and my brothers and cousins a Happy Father's Day. We are trying to salvage our summer here in this arid desert by making the best of it.

We've had some great visitors to come through to see us here at TQ. This week, 3 former NBA vets took time out to spend time with the troops. Shawn Bradley (Philadelphia 76ers/New Jersey Nets/Dallas Mavericks in the '93-'05), Thurl Bailey (Utah Jazz/Minnesota Timberwolves '83-'99)and Greg Minor (Boston Celtics '94-'99). As you can see from the photos they are all pretty tall. Shawn Bradley is 7'6''. He makes the rest of us in the picture look like the "Evolution of Man" poster. They shot some hoops with the Marines, signed autographs and took pictures. They were all great guys. Kenny Anderson was billed to participate, but we heard that he had passport issues. We hear that the New Orleans Saints Cheerleaders will be coming in the future.

Switching from a good thing to a not so good thing, Anthrax vaccinations have taken place for the last month. Unfortunately, it's been made mandatory again for us. These shots in particular burn when given, unlike the one I had back in Groton, CT. Thankfully, I've received my last one here in Iraq.

Patient flow continues to be slow here for the 2nd month in a row. Thankfully, the newly christened 'O' Hooch, thanks to LT Corwin, is up and running. It's a place where officers can go and relax while watching a movie or play a spirited game of poker (and hopefully not lose your combat pay). All in all, we are all 'knocking on wood' in hopes of keeping the violence to a minimum. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger. We're all missing home quite a bit now.

Take care. I'll keep in touch.