News 3 Special Assignment: Baghdad
Jan. 15, 2004
Posted: 8:39 am CST January 15,2004Updated: 1:30 pm CST January 16,2004
News 3 Returns From Special Assignment: Iraq
ONLINE FORUM -- Send A Message
Soldier Describes Scene Where Rachel Bosveld DiedDate: Jan. 15, 2004
From Baghdad YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME?
SGT BRIAN SNYDER ( shown here ) is at wits end. He's currently chatting on line with Tech Support about his broken laptop (on his lap).The conversation went like this.Snyder: "it's not working can you help me"? COMPAQ TECH SUPPORT ( and i quote): "you have to take it to an authorized service center to get fixed. Since you're in Iraq, I'm afraid you'll have to look for a service center there".And I'm thinking is this soldier ever going to buy another Compaq computer? What is this company thinking? I'm not sure if Snyder lined up a 6 person Humvee escort to somehow find a Compaq service center in this war zone. If he does, I'm going to ask him to stop and pick up a Big Mac and a Venti Frap with three shots of expresso. And of course, be safe on the way home.GIVE ME A BREAK COMPAQ!-John Karcher, News 3 Date: Jan. 15, 2004
From Baghdad STREET BOYS: They speak no English yet I have no trouble communicating with the future generation of Iraq citizens. These are the boys of downtown Baghdad. They are poorly clothed, look malnourished yet cavort and cheer and play like all 8, 9, and 10 year olds.
I feel sorry for these youths. Some don't have mothers or fathers. All live in run down homes. I want to reach out and take them all back with me to Verona. I want them to have good schools. I wish for them to have a good meal. I'd like to take them to the GAP or the mall and buy them new clothes.I'd like for some of them to see a doctor for the first time in their life. I wish they had dentists. I want them to go sledding in my back yard. I see the excitement in their eyes that I saw in my twin boys Brian and Matthew when they young. It's hard being reporter here.
I want to climb out of my role, my mission and be a humanitarian and put them all on a big jet to the USA. I'll admit. I cried in this street today. The tears I left behind were not only mine....but I sensed some falling from all of YOU who will see these pictures. I know you share in my feelings. We all want their lives to be as nice as ours. Hug YOUR children tonight. Feel the warmth of these boys. They are reaching out for us.I took these pictures today. I share them and my thoughts with you. It is what the Soldiers of the 32MP unit feeling daily as they patrol and rebuild this city and nation.-John Karcher, News 3 
Poor Iraqi 'Street Boys' Date: Jan. 15, 2004
From Baghdad
BAGHDAD ISLAND: It's an amusement park without the sound of children laughing. Rusty old helicopters, a roller coaster and tilt-o-whirl that hasn't seen a child in months. It's here that Iraqi families used to bring their children for entertainment. The park also features a small lake and observation tower. It was one of the few places in Baghdad where families could be families.It is now the base for the US Military. It's home to the Old Ironsides unit of the US Army. The Men and Women who man the tanks in defense of Iraqi People.-John Karcher, News 3 Baghdad: Abandoned Carnival Date: Jan. 15, 2004
From Baghdad
AAAAAH FUDGE!! Here's SSG Wade Hallett, 32nd MP Unit, of Janesville. He's the guy holding the fudge with the big brown marks on his lips. It arrived in a care package today from a relative in California. Wade says: Thanks! For those of you following my Atkins success .... tonight was a bust.
Here's SPC Jason Riley of Darlington writing a special message to students. You can read it in the online forum here.-John Karcher, News 3 Meet The Troops: See More Locals Date: Jan. 15, 2004
From Baghdad Precision Bombing: It's been some time since US aircraft have dropped bombs on this city of Millions. And the accuracy of the bombs is very evident.Driving through Baghdad we noticed Uday Hussein's "corporate headquarters"....nothing more than a shell of steel and brick. It's here that one of the most feared men in Iraq carried out his "mission". nearby are homes and businesses unscathed by bombs.Weapons Of War: The Russian made AK-47 being fired here is "the" weapon carried by the enemy in Iraq. It is the machine gun members of the 32nd Military Police see regularly when they are on patrol and mission here in Baghdad.
I fired the AK 47 today. It has a 30 shot clip. I put it in full automatic mode and emptied the clip in seconds. The 7.62 caliber bullet is very similar to the .308mm cartridge used by Wisconsin Deer Hunters. Of course, fully automatic weapons are illegal in Wisconsin although those that own them in Wi can easily modify them for auto mode.The AK was the weapon of choice for the enemy in Vietnam. Our Nam vets are well aware of its firepower and capability. It has a big punch and impact however its accuracy is not good.
In this war, Iraqis shoot and hope they hit something. The AK has a pistol grip and most fire it holding it like a handgun. The enemy here, "sprays and prays" as members of the 32nd tell me. They shoot, empty clips in seconds...and, hope they hit something.Rarely do they aim.-John Karcher, News 3 Date: Jan. 15, 2004
From Baghdad URGENT...SEND T.P. I couldn't believe it when I heard the news last night. Members of the 32nd have to BUY their OWN TP! Now, what's up with that? You thinking about a care package or preparing one for a loved one? ENLCOSE CHARMIN.AND I'M NOT KIDDING.
I used the porta potty the other day and had to search through 5 of them to find the necessary supplies. THERE'S A SHORTAGE. (Pictured: one of the last rolls.)Why do they have to buy their own? Uncle Sam has left the 'hood and I couldn't get a straight answer, but they do. Members of the 32nd have been very resourceful here to come up with the funds. When they arrived in Mustang Base the bombed out Baath Party VP Palace was in shambles. they cleared the halls, built "dorms, hootches" and SOLD any useable materials to Iraqis. That money has paid for T.P. as well as a weight room and personal items like micros or TV's at the local markets.GET TO THE STORE AND BUY TP....AND DON'T SEND GUM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF GUM AND HARD CANDY.-John Karcher, News 3 Date: Jan. 15, 2004
From Baghdad WHO'S EATING THIS?Mother's and Wives of Soldiers in the 32nd:
Which one of your sons/husbands would pig out like this at lunch? Would it be, Reynolds, Prieur, Hallett, McQuaid, Atkins, Krifka, Kettlesen, Otawaska?I'll give you some hints. He wears desert camo clothes, packs a shotgun for protection, he's got short hair.Troops look forward to the chow here. It's okay. Unlike other military chow halls, this is not prepared by military cooks. The locals are contracted by the US...and bring it in. I've dined on some pretty good stuff since I've been here. A huge salad bar every meal, lamb chops (my favorite), Chinese, Beef Roast, burgers, hot dogs, and chicken wings.Not everyone's crazy about the food. many troops have micro's in their hootches (rooms) and small heaters where they prepare mac and cheese and ready to eat soups and stuff. They have coffee pots in their rooms and tons of favorite foods that arrive regularly from "Mom"By the way if you guessed Otawaska....you've got a son with indigestion. Kerry told me ( i didn't believe him) "I don't eat like this all the time". The man can pack some chow. Kerry is pictured in our slide shows. He's wearing the camo!!!! Kerry's in pretty good shape. In fact, all the 32nd members are. Many have lost 10-30 pounds since they've been here.That's attributed to the summer heat last year...140 degrees every day and the MRE's they had to eat prior to the Iraqi contractor's taking over daily chow.Enough for now, I'm hungry....it's 815am and time for some GRITS AND EGGS!-John Karcher, News 3 Copyright 2005 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
