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Tuesday, April 24, 2007
'incoming from olsen'....
this space is set aside so you can interact with army spc. michael gary olsen who is in iraq....he is to begin posting here tonight.
olsen is pictured on a humanitarian misison his unit engaged in at christmas.
25 April 07 0400 a.m. Hello from Iraq. Let me start by intorducing myself. I am SPC Michael Olsen and I currently reside (except when deployed) in Barnesville. I am married to a wonderful woman who I met upon my return from my first tour. We have 4 beautiful daughters who are 11,12,15 and 16. I am attached to the 1048th MTC which is from Hartford, Conn. As I said this is my second tour to Iraq. My first tour was 22 Oct 02 - 27 Jun 03. For that tour I was with the 2d Brigade Combat Team, 4-64 Armor, 3d ID Ft. Stewart, GA. That tour I was responsible for driving a fuel HEMMT and this tour I am working as the BFT/MTS Operator. I can't go into detail about what those systems are or do but I can say that I am like the eye in the sky when we have convoys on the road. Our convoys move mainly at night so we can take advantage of the cover of darkness. The majority of units here operate mainly guntruck missions. The gun trucks are up-armored M1117s and M1114s. We live in trailers which we affectionally call "Hooches". There are two to a room and the rooms are about 12x12. It seems everything here is in a trailer including our showers and latrines (bathrooms). I will admit the living conditions are better than they were in 2003.
If there are any questions that you as the readers want to ask please feel to ask. I will be posting everyday so please stay tuned for my next entry.
We are glad to hear from you. I wish you well, and a safe tour. My thoughts are with you guys, and feel that you are doing what you have to do. Good luck and Gods Speed.
Hello from the heart of Georgia...thanks for all you are doing to make our nation stronger. I understand that it is quite a bit warmer there in the summer than it is between The Rock and Milner. How do you stay cool wearing all that gear?
Hello SPC Olsen, I hope this coraspondence finds you well and safe. I would personally like to thank you and your allies for all you do for us back home. Know that there are people who support you.
Good morning for Barnesville! Weather been pretty good here, a little dry for this time of year. Everyones yards are blooming well and full of the colors of spring, sounds of lawn mowers fill the air on the weekends and the kids are looking forward to the summer out of school and that first cold dip in the swimming pools.
Lots of guys fishing at the local holes, nothing big to report but we are having a ton of fun trying as usual. water levels are down at the Flint River so those early spring canoe trips are a little bit slower than last year.
The area around here is full of brides planning huge spring weddings and grooms paitently waiting on the day and FINAL BILL!
High School proms also fill the weekends. lot of good looking young ladies and gentlemen this year in Lamar County.
Will keep you posted, just wanted to let you know that no matter where you are, you town is alive and well.
Thank you for your service first of all, God bless you and keep all of you safe. I would like to know your feelings about the comments made by Harry Reid, "The war is lost", and if possible could you get us up a round-about answer from the men and women with you serving? Do you feel that this statement has given our enemies more influence in future recruiting for their cause? Rev.MJB
26 April 04 0447 a.m. Tonight I would like to start by saying hello to my beautiful and very supportive wife and daughters. True we as soldiers are making sacrifices, but it is also the families who are making sacrifices. So, Thank you Angel, Brittany, Shelby, Stephanie, and Roberta. For those who are interested, I am on Yahoo IM under the name of angelsvet03. So if you want to chat just send me an IM. For those who would like to write to me my email is michael.gary.olsen@us.army.mil
On behalf of my fellow soldiers I would like t say thank you for all your support. It is because of citizens like you that we stay motivated on a daily basis. it was a new day here and it seems to be just like yesterday.
I have started to develope a DVD of my units deployment. It has video, pictures, and a soundtrack. It is my way of remembering our tour. I have taught myself to develope DVD's just as I have taught myself all I know about graphics and graphic design. It helps pass the time in this home away from home.
The first question I would like to answer is How do you stay cool wearing all that gear? The trick is wearing it as little as possible. This is sandstorm season and we have had 2 major ones so far. It is also rainy season and yes we have gotten some rain.
JS I do miss the signs of spring. I miss sitting outside with my wife and girls. I miss driving into town and seeing everybody out and about. I can not wait to use the pool at our complex. As far as fishing, I am sorry to say that I have never gone fishing. Never had an interest in it but then I never tried. I really miss Dairy Queen. Thanks for keeping me posted.
Rev MJB I have not heard the comments made by Harry Reid so I can not comment on them. But what I can tell you is that no my fellow soldiers and I do not think the war is lost. What we are doing here is liberating the Iraqi people. True there are some who don't want us here but that will not deter us from our mission.
Well said Michael! I appalled you and your fellow soldiers for everything you do for us and our country. To hell with all those who want to criticize, I don't see them getting off their sorry butts and participating in a war that could possibly change our lives. I couldn't imagine how tough it is for you to be away from your family. My heart and prayers go out to you and the soldiers in your unit. Thank you for everything that you have done for us! You are what makes us proud to say we are American!
Hello Barnesville, sorry I have not posted in the last couple of days.
The majority of the iraqi people want us here. I was reading the latest copy of the army times and there was an article regarding the withdrawl of U.S. troops. The article reported that yes the Iraqis want us to leave but as stated by a Sunni restaurant owner in Basra "I do not think that now is the best time to ask for the U.S. withdrawl." Another iraqi citizen in Mosul stated "A pullout of U.S. soldiers would create even bigger problems than we have now. Iraqi forces are not ready to deal with the insurgents and militiamen, and this will lead to even more chaos and killings." So to answer the question "How do the people of Iraq really feel about the United States being there? Do they want us out like the media portays or is that the minority?"
The answer I would have to say is yes because they want their independence and no because they are fearful of what would happen if and when we do finally pullout.
Michael, Do you think the Iraqi forces will ever be able to handle the problems there. It seems to me that the insurgents have their people embeded in with the Iraqi forces the US is training.
14 comments:
25 April 07
0400 a.m.
Hello from Iraq. Let me start by intorducing myself. I am SPC Michael Olsen and I currently reside (except when deployed) in Barnesville. I am married to a wonderful woman who I met upon my return from my first tour. We have 4 beautiful daughters who are 11,12,15 and 16. I am attached to the 1048th MTC which is from Hartford, Conn. As I said this is my second tour to Iraq. My first tour was 22 Oct 02 - 27 Jun 03. For that tour I was with the 2d Brigade Combat Team, 4-64 Armor, 3d ID Ft. Stewart, GA. That tour I was responsible for driving a fuel HEMMT and this tour I am working as the BFT/MTS Operator. I can't go into detail about what those systems are or do but I can say that I am like the eye in the sky when we have convoys on the road. Our convoys move mainly at night so we can take advantage of the cover of darkness. The majority of units here operate mainly guntruck missions. The gun trucks are up-armored M1117s and M1114s. We live in trailers which we affectionally call "Hooches". There are two to a room and the rooms are about 12x12. It seems everything here is in a trailer including our showers and latrines (bathrooms). I will admit the living conditions are better than they were in 2003.
If there are any questions that you as the readers want to ask please feel to ask. I will be posting everyday so please stay tuned for my next entry.
We are glad to hear from you. I wish you well, and a safe tour. My thoughts are with you guys, and feel that you are doing what you have to do. Good luck and Gods Speed.
William Brown
Hello from the heart of Georgia...thanks for all you are doing to make our nation stronger. I understand that it is quite a bit warmer there in the summer than it is between The Rock and Milner. How do you stay cool wearing all that gear?
Hello SPC Olsen, I hope this coraspondence finds you well and safe. I would personally like to thank you and your allies for all you do for us back home. Know that there are people who support you.
ROME
Spc. Olsen,
Good morning for Barnesville! Weather been pretty good here, a little dry for this time of year. Everyones yards are blooming well and full of the colors of spring, sounds of lawn mowers fill the air on the weekends and the kids are looking forward to the summer out of school and that first cold dip in the swimming pools.
Lots of guys fishing at the local holes, nothing big to report but we are having a ton of fun trying as usual. water levels are down at the Flint River so those early spring canoe trips are a little bit slower than last year.
The area around here is full of brides planning huge spring weddings and grooms paitently waiting on the day and FINAL BILL!
High School proms also fill the weekends. lot of good looking young ladies and gentlemen this year in Lamar County.
Will keep you posted, just wanted to let you know that no matter where you are, you town is alive and well.
JS
Thank you for your service first of all, God bless you and keep all of you safe.
I would like to know your feelings about the comments made by Harry Reid, "The war is lost", and if possible could you get us up a round-about answer from the men and women with you serving?
Do you feel that this statement has given our enemies more influence in future recruiting for their cause?
Rev.MJB
Thank you!
26 April 04
0447 a.m.
Tonight I would like to start by saying hello to my beautiful and very supportive wife and daughters. True we as soldiers are making sacrifices, but it is also the families who are making sacrifices. So, Thank you Angel, Brittany, Shelby, Stephanie, and Roberta. For those who are interested, I am on Yahoo IM under the name of angelsvet03. So if you want to chat just send me an IM. For those who would like to write to me my email is michael.gary.olsen@us.army.mil
On behalf of my fellow soldiers I would like t say thank you for all your support. It is because of citizens like you that we stay motivated on a daily basis. it was a new day here and it seems to be just like yesterday.
I have started to develope a DVD of my units deployment. It has video, pictures, and a soundtrack. It is my way of remembering our tour. I have taught myself to develope DVD's just as I have taught myself all I know about graphics and graphic design. It helps pass the time in this home away from home.
The first question I would like to answer is How do you stay cool wearing all that gear? The trick is wearing it as little as possible. This is sandstorm season and we have had 2 major ones so far. It is also rainy season and yes we have gotten some rain.
JS
I do miss the signs of spring. I miss sitting outside with my wife and girls. I miss driving into town and seeing everybody out and about. I can not wait to use the pool at our complex. As far as fishing, I am sorry to say that I have never gone fishing. Never had an interest in it but then I never tried. I really miss Dairy Queen. Thanks for keeping me posted.
Rev MJB
I have not heard the comments made by Harry Reid so I can not comment on them. But what I can tell you is that no my fellow soldiers and I do not think the war is lost. What we are doing here is liberating the Iraqi people. True there are some who don't want us here but that will not deter us from our mission.
Well said Michael!
I appalled you and your fellow soldiers for everything you do for us and our country.
To hell with all those who want to criticize, I don't see them getting off their sorry butts and participating in a war that could possibly change our lives.
I couldn't imagine how tough it is for you to be away from your family.
My heart and prayers go out to you and the soldiers in your unit.
Thank you for everything that you have done for us!
You are what makes us proud to say we are American!
i didn't realize til now that i spelt applaud wrong.
It's suppose to say APPLAUD not appalled.
Sorry!
How do the people of Iraq really feel about the United States being there? Do they want us out like the media portays or is that the minority?
Good question Anon 7:42
1 May 07
0240 a.m.
Hello Barnesville, sorry I have not posted in the last couple of days.
The majority of the iraqi people want us here. I was reading the latest copy of the army times and there was an article regarding the withdrawl of U.S. troops. The article reported that yes the Iraqis want us to leave but as stated by a Sunni restaurant owner in Basra "I do not think that now is the best time to ask for the U.S. withdrawl." Another iraqi citizen in Mosul stated "A pullout of U.S. soldiers would create even bigger problems than we have now. Iraqi forces are not ready to deal with the insurgents and militiamen, and this will lead to even more chaos and killings." So to answer the question "How do the people of Iraq really feel about the United States being there? Do they want us out like the media portays or is that the minority?"
The answer I would have to say is yes because they want their independence and no because they are fearful of what would happen if and when we do finally pullout.
Michael,
Do you think the Iraqi forces will ever be able to handle the problems there. It seems to me that the insurgents have their people embeded in with the Iraqi forces the US is training.
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