Return to Main December Page

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Camp Caldwell , Iraq .  Camp Caldwell is one of the three main Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) that the 278th Regimental Combat Team is occupying.  The other two are FOB Bernstein and FOB Cobra.  The 278th is deployed around the northeastern part of the country. 

I delayed writing you all until all of our convoys arrived safely at their locations.  I didn't want to risk saying any dates.  I arrived at Caldwell  on December 6th - first flying to Camp Anaconda near Bagdad by C-130 aircraft and then to Caldwell by Chinook helicopter.  The Chinooks are large helicopters which hold thirty soldiers.   

The last of the convoys arrived a couple of days ago.  I had gathered the soldiers that came by aircraft for a prayer service last Thursday to pray specifically for the safe arrival of all the convoys.  Praise be to God that all the soldiers arrived without any serious injuries.  I understand at least one IED (Improvised Explosive Device) was set off and cracked the windshield of a HUMV, but did not injure anyone.  Some other IEDs were found, reported, and disarmed.

We are taking over from the 30th Infantry Brigade out of North Carolina .  They will be here in transition for a time until we complete the transfer of authority.  When I was in seminary at Southeastern Baptist Theological near Raleigh , I was a member of the 30th.  It was good to be reconnected with some of my old colleagues. 

Much improvement has been made to Camp Caldwell since they first arrived.  Instead of tents, now all the soldiers are in either buildings or what we call CHUs (Container Housing Units).  CHUs are 10 X 20 trailers that are sleeping two to four soldiers.  Right now I am in a CHU with Captain Mark Paul, our intelligence officer,  and Sergeant Mike Testerman.  It is a little crowded, but more CHUs will open up once the 30th leaves.   The 30th spent a lot of time in carpentry improving things around Caldwell .  A lot of porches have been built on the CHUs.  Our CHU has a enclosed 6 X 10 plywood room on the back.  I think it will make a nice prayer room. 

Camp Caldwell is in an isolated location   It is about 10 miles east from the town of Balad Ruz and about 15 miles east of the Iranian border.  It is spread out over a large area and looks kind of like a college campus.  It was originally built as a military training facility under Saddam Hussein.  Caldwell was named after an American soldier who was killed as the U.S. came in to occupy this facility.  

There is a new gym about 200 feet from my CHU that also has a nice day room for watching movies and just relaxing.  We also have a couple of places where we can use the computers and phones.  Thanks for all those who have sent AT&T Cards that I gave out to our soldiers, but I ask you to discontinue.  Unfortunately, AT&T charges exorbitant prices for use of their cards over here (a 120 minute cards gets you a 12 minute phone call).  The soldiers are buying into another service called Segovia , which has more reasonable prices. 

Half of Camp Caldwell is used for training the Iraqi National Guard.  Two Iraqi soldiers attended our Sunday evening service this past week.  The chaplains from the 30th said that they will often attend.  Many are interested in the music, just curious, or even seeking.  Most are very kind, as their culture takes interpersonal relationships much more seriously than Americans.  They greet you with As-Salaamu-alay-kum (which means God's peace be with you) and sometimes cover their heart with their hand as a sign of affection.  The chapel services have truly been spirit-filled and the gospel is being preached.  The chaplains from the 30th have done a wonderful job.  Pray for us as they leave and we take over the ministry here.   

In the center of the base is a beautiful mosque (which is off limits to Americans, even American Muslims).  Many locals work on the base in various capacities, and like Kuwait , workers from India and Pakistan are also here.  There are several shops around the post run by the locals that the soldiers call Haiji-marts.  The soldiers call all the locals Haijis (but not when talking to them).  I was careful not to use this word because I didn't know if it was offensive or like calling a Tennessean "Bubba."  But then one of the stores is actually called The Haiji Store.

Almost all the Haiji-marts have the same things - lots of pirated movies, fake Rolexes and Brietling watches, and cheap trinkets.  Everything here is really poor quality.  Don't expect a return policy.  I picked up a watch to look at it and the guy behind the counter said "Good watch, good watch."  I pressed one of the buttons on the watch and it stopped working.  Luckily, I had not bought it.

Our soldiers are already going out of the FOB on patrols and reconnaissance missions.  I prayed for a group leaving this morning.  Many soldiers have related the sadness of the poverty they see, especially the children, who run up to the HUMVs.  It seems that their is no real system for getting rid of trash and it covers the highways.               

I've probably gone on long enough.  I'll write more later.  Thanks for all your prayers and notes.  God is keeping my spirits up.  It is good to finally be at our destination after six months of training.  I will keep you up to date on the events of Camp Caldwell .  Feel free to forward this note.  

In Christ,

Chaplain (CPT) Jeff Ryan
Support Squadron, 278th Regimental Combat Team
U.S. Army

-----------

Click on the Link below to download / see the slide show that will make you see how blessed you are and make your holidays happier.

POWER POINT PRESENTATION