"Hi, Norfolk District! Wish you were here…they could use your help! I arrived in Kuwait June 4, en route to Baghdad, Iraq. I traveled with 'real Soldiers,' all wearing armor. They all looked like me -- no sleep for 24 hours. The flight from Kuwait to Baghdad was two hours. Everything here has fences made of T-walls. We are south of Baghdad.

The only gunfire I've heard is ours at night, but it's not as loud as the jets. I am upgrading to professional engineer, or as my commander would say, 'quality assurance/professional engineer.' I'm on the move to a U.S. Marine base. Most of the Corps projects are outside the 'wire' and require heavy security. As you can imagine in a desert environment, I'm drinking liter after liter of water. Interestingly, there's a lot of water underground, canals everywhere. Food in the dining facility is real good."

John W. Rowland, quality assurance/professional engineer, Camp Ramadi, Iraq.