Log Base Seitz

And now a few snap shots from life at Log Base Seitz.

At Camp Victory there's a huge PX, a Wal-Mart like store where you can buy anything from TVs to shoes to toothpaste to food and magazines. And these lame shirts. ;)


Though the shot is blurry (and I thought I had trouble focusing), it does give a good sense of the dining facility where we all spend the majority of our time, and the group of New Mexicans with whom I spend much of my time. The guy in the green hat is the Commander of Log Base.


A view of beautiful Log Base Seitz with the town of Abu Ghraib in the distance (being patrolled by Blackhawks). The tiny logistical base at one point supplied 1/3 of Baghdad with anything from food and water to ammunition and fuel. The maintenance shop filled more than 10,000 orders in one year, including the uparmoring of more than 3,000 vehicles (to the tune of $25k a pop).


Just south of Abu Ghraib at sunset. Hopefully an indicator of things to come, the silver lining that is.


People from Abu Ghraib burn their garbage at night. We burn our garbage during the day, which makes the air over the base toxic, oh, pretty much round the clock.


And there are mortar attacks! This dud in the right hand corner flwe directly into the staff HQ cutting the communication wires seen to the left. Luckily it did not explode.


In one day we had four separate mortar attacks. This unexploded ordnance is waiting to be gathered. And how does one pick up UXO? "Very carefully," I was told by a wise man. "Like a little newborn baby."


Given the frequency of mortar attacks at Log Base Seitz, you learn quickly that bunkers like this one, which are sprinkled throughout the base, are your friend.


I started out taking daily walks when I arrived at base but given the air quality (see above) and frequency of mortar attacks (see above), I familiarized myself with the MWR, or recreation center. Given the amazing amount of food on this base, it's a place I should undoubtedly be spending more time. But why would I do that when there's...


Twister!


... or ladies' night at the med center. yes I was humiliated, but every journalist knows that sacrifices must be made in the pursuit of sources, and joining in was a condition for me to take photos.




Preparing for one of my rare and cherished trips off base, this time with the 245th.


At camp Taji, about 20 minutes to the north, there is what they call the bone yard, where Russian tanks from Saddam's army have been left to die.


There a very few Iraqis allowed on Log Base Seitz. The handful who have been hired for such jobs as cleaning, sweeping or filling sand bags are closely monitored.