Day 1: On To Victory

Today is our first full day without D. He left yesterday. It was a rough day for all of us. There was a big meeting where we were able to say our goodbyes, then the guys and gals loaded up on buses and rode out to meet the plane, and we went home. Its tough to know that Dan won't be home with us for what could be 15 months. There should be some break time mid-deployment, and maybe here and there along the way. We will be looking forward to those breaks!

We love you honey!

Ok, for those of you wondering what Camp Victory looks like, or how safe it is, I leave you with some photos and info. Camp Victory is a base just outside Baghdad proper. The compound, once a palace of the Hussein regime, is now in coalition hands, full of thousands of soldiers and civilians all working to restore the Iraqi government. At the center of the compound is Al Faw palace, erected in tribute to a 1988 Iraqi army victory. (See sign below: you can barely make out the dedication sign) Al Faw is a huge sandstone structure, larger than most city blocks, sitting on a small island, and surrounded by lake water, with a bridge leading up to the palace doors.

Dedication Sign In Al Faw Palace

Leading up to the palace are several abandoned guard towers. They once guarded the inhabitants of the palace, but now stand empty.








Guard Tower Outside the Palace

Going up to the palace doors, you pass by massive stone pilars. Covered walkways lead down alongside the building. In front, the palace doors, which are 12 feet high, stand permanently open. To get into the palace you proceed through a round-about door, built to keep the cool air inside and the elements outside.










Walkways Around The Palace


Just inside the palace is the rotunda, a large marble foyer with a huge chandelier hanging in the middle. Spiral staircases on either side of the room raise up 3 stories. At each story is a balcony surrounding the room, allowing you to see the polished marble and the chandelier below. Multi-colored woodwork covers the celing along with dangling light fixtures. (One blog I read described it like willow branches hanging from the ceiling).












Marble Floors and Chandelier Inside The Palace



This palace, once a place where only few could go during the days of Sadam, now is an office building, where military and civilian workers, who are separated for their homes and families, struggle to make Iraq a safer place to live. (For more pictures go check out: http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/victory_camp-iraq )


Ok, some of you want to know what life will be like for D. Well, it will be hot and dusty for the most part. Just take a look at this thermometer! Yowzer!










Hot!!

I have found a couple of different pictures of living quarters at Camp Victory. I'll put them both, because I don't know yet which he will have.

Well that's the basics of Camp Victory. I will have more later about the life of a soldier and what there is to do for fun at Camp Victory, later. What I can't find on the web, Dan will tell me. I hope you guys are liking this blog, it is sure helping me to stay connected with the idea of this deployment. I hope it helps you all connect to.