OT: Cool Baghdad pic.
 

Here is a pic of my old man and his crew in front of his hotel in Iraq. The Al Sadeer is located in the Green Zone in Baghdad. He was a cop for 34 years, and 2 years ago, he retired as police chief in Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ -- Home of the Bennihana Grand prix, and site of numerous SBI races to this day. In fact, OSO's Sharkey grew up across the street from his office. Guess he got bored with retirement, and is over there helping to train\evaluate the Iraqi police. He is in the 3rd row from the bottom, just to the left of the middle. Grey hair.....seems to be looking the wrong way. He'll be back for 20 days in July. I figure i should buy him a beer or 2, huh?

Buy him several, he deserves every one.

Your dads got balls the size of church bells for going over!

tell him thank you... from all of us

Ditto and I'll buy the beer.

You are lucky to have such a hero in your life. We are all lucky.

Good man! You've got a great old man there McGarry. Buy him a couple of cold beers and a wheel barrow to haul his sack around with. I trust he'll have a safe return home.

Way to go!

My friends dad was probably with him part of the time he was there. He is the National president of FOP and has spent some time over there seeing the training. Tell your old man we send our thanks for his work!

right on!:cool:

Very cool. WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! Cuz they're AMERICAN SOLDERS! Tell him.......THANK YOU.

dittos to all above.

Bring him over to the Waters Edge and I'll buy him a beer too.

Ditto.

:cool: :cool: :cool:

Very cool. God speed for a safe return.

Jon

By the way.....why is the picture so tilted? Did they set the camera on a tank muzzle? :D :D :D

PM me his info. I got my authorization (I've been on hold for almost 2 months) and am due to ship to Baghdad (I'll be in the Green Zone assuming no more delays) in a couple of weeks. I'll buy him a beer over there and say it's from his son. Who knows, it might even surprise him! :p

Miller, that's a very cool offer. I'm not sure he'll still be in Baghdad once you get there, as he ships out to Babylon in a few days. For security reasons, he won't know the convoy is rolling out till about 1/2 hour before they leave. If he's there, I'll get you the contact info. Look for my PM. Thanks again.

Some bad news. Yesterday 2 of the guys in the pic were killed in a convoy wreck from Tikrit to Baghdad. It didn't hit many papers, and the gov't doesn't report contractor casualties, but here is the story in one of the men's local rags. http://www.wftv.com/news/3304112/detail.html

Something you won't read in the paper is that the 2 were going back to Baghdad to end their tours early, and head home. They had had enough of the place, and didn't want to leave their families fatherless. My dad knew one of the men pretty well, as they had trained together in Virginia. That is really sad news. :(

Thanks for all the good thoughts folks.

Dad took a blackhawk today from Erbil to Baghdad. 2 hrs 100' off the deck all the way. He said it was almost as fun as my Donzi. ;) He's back in July for 20 days, I'll see if he has a water's edge run in him. I'm sure he can make the patio bar, he lives in Pt Beach.