As more and more boys of the 2P arrive here in BIAP, the reality becomes more and more real. We are leaving here, one way or another. Baghdad's airport isn't exactly what you think. We are not actually sitting in any kind of terminal at the actual airport. We are on the military side of it all, with our transient tents, good food, and fresh haircuts.
It wouldn't be the 82nd if we didn't have to have a fresh haircut within the first 6 hours that we had arrived here. I was abruptly awoken at 9 am, after laying on the uncomfortable cot, in the freezer of a tent whippin in the wind. I didn't believe that they would have woken us up after only less than a few hours of sleep, but it is the 82nd, and after all the Army. Fresh haircuts across the board. Probably the best one I've had in months.
Our platoon the only one that seems any kind of happy here out of all of Delta company. The others down trodden and sad. We try and laugh and joke, and they seem to be taking no part in it. Beaten delta dogs, they barely lift their heads, or find joy in the fact that we are almost home. Thinking about the way we had it when we were at 763, I don't blame them. We were too.
Our Beladiyat move ended up being somewhat of a blessing, even though we were worked like dogs. We had good, well at least decent food, even though the majority of us ate like 9 year olds. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a smorgasbord of children's cereal. We didn't lose anymore weight, but we certainly didn't gain much back. Looking back at pictures of the round faces of individuals in the platoon, and their now feeble, thin appearance is kind of an amazing sight. Looking at all those who did nothing but eat well, work out with 'help' and the size they had amassed, they had dwarfed our platoon. The 'Scouts' our elite guys, who we ended up taking their job over, are already on the shrink plan from the week ago that we saw them. A close friend over their looks as if he's already lost 15 lbs, and he hasn't even spent a day at 763.
Our platoon, the misfits, we are one happy family. Sure we have our dislikes of this guy or that, and disagreements here and there from one guy to another. But considering we are mostly Alpha males, and have spent the better part of a year becoming brothers, that's expected, and certainly bound to happen. Three individuals are still missing, already home, or doing Army work somewhere else. Our LT Dan did catch up to us, and at least after today all of us should be out of the level of harms way that we were on a day to day in the likes of Beladiyat or 763.
The food here at BIAP has been the biggest and best change. Imagine eating at Sizzler for months on end, and then having a permanent table at the Ruth Criss. It's hard to even consume the portions put on our plates, but it's so well cooked, and though you probably wouldn't think so, we do. The dessert bar is splendid, and worthy of seconds. The sunken in eyes that we all had are starting to go away. Those frowns, starting to turn upside down. The belts are getting tighter around the waste, and we are loosenin' 'em up. That big weight is off the shoulders, and the clamp is off the stomachs. Home is smellin' closer, and even the 78 cold that it is here, feels like the 58 North Carolina should feel. Contrary to Mr Cornell, we're lookin a little like Minnesota, but we're feelin' a lot like California. Hang loose bro, not hung over. Not yet.
Is he 'avin a laugh?He's 'avin a laugh. -Ricky Gervais
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