Stationed in IRAQ

[Grapeshot]

Good evening, Gentlemen.  I bid you greetings from Camp Taji, Iraq.  I am over here as a contractor processing US made M198, 155mm towed howitzers for re-issue to the Iraqi Army.  I have been here about a month and have seen some of the strangest collection of destroyed equipment one can imagine.  Between our living accomadations and our worksite there are acres of trash heaps and boneyards.  I have seen scores of T-72's, and Soviet 152mm SP Howitzers as well as American M109, 155mm SP Howitzers sitting in these boneyards.  One that we pass has an M60 Tank and an M110 8 inch SP Hwtzr sitting high on the trash piles.  I've seen tail fins from bomb casings or drop tanks lying on the roadside as well as a bucket load of destroyed soft skined vehicles piled high and long.

A well invested entrepenour could make a fortune smelting all this scrap into something usable.  

At the worksite, behind a chain link fence topped with razor wire are crates of small arms ranging from 9mm Stirlings to Soviet 13.5mm Heavy MG's.  I saw various LMG's like the German MG42 and M1919 A6 as well as one Soviet 7.63mm PPSh-41 "Burp gun",(standard Soviet SMG w/Drum mag and ventelated barrel shroud.), and AK's up the wazoo.

I ONLY WISH I COULD GET INTO THAT AREA TO SCROUNGE UP SOMETHING INTERESTING, EVEN IF I HAD TO DE-MIL IT.  

[Jake MacReedy]

While in Mosul in 2005 & 2006, I carried a Sterling.  Later it was replaced with an AKM, which was somewhat more effective!  The Sterling was quite handy being employed from the confines of an armored Humvee, though!  There is a tremendous amount of "cast-off" equipment still laying around over there, though. I work farther north than you, Grapeshot.

Best Regards,
Jake

[Captain Barrett]

...as well as one Soviet 7.63mm "Burp gun",(sorry, don't remember the nomenclature, standard Soviet SMG w/Drum mag and ventelated barrel shroud.)...

PPSh-41

[Charles Isaac]

I think the best thing you can get your hands on over there is one of these Fusil Automatique Légers.

[SGT John Chapman]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE?,.....Did ya lose a bet?......

[Grapeshot]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE?,.....Did ya lose a bet?......

No, I did not lose a bet.  I'd been out of work for over a year and needed the extra cash nto pay off all my bils.  It's a small price to pay, being over here for a year, to still serve the U.S. for all I have received over the years.  Anyway, I feel if GOD opened the doors for me to be here then HE has plans for me to do something and HE will keep me safe.

It is written in Psalm 91 v.4-7:  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:  HIS truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  Thou shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. (AKJV)

[Pitspitr]

I think the best thing you can get your hands on over there is one of these Fusil Automatique Légers.

Gonna highjack the thread for a second here. Sorry,
Last night on Gun Stories the FAL was featured. in a couple of scenes they showed it being fired in super slow motion. I couldn't believe how much the barrel and fore end flexed. I guess I know all barrels flex during firing but that thing looked almost like a whip antena (sp?)
Now back to the regularly scheduled programing:
Thank you for your service Grapeshot! Godspeed and a safe return.

[Mustang Gregg]

Not wanting to highjack the thread, neither---
But the FN FAL barrel and forearm FLEX?  Noticeably?   
One of the most accurate 7.62 X 51 rifles I ever owned was a 1963 metric FAL (Bundesgrenchitz G1). 

I'm in Afghanistan right now.  And I know what your talking about with the surplus weaponry and ammo. 
IT IS SIMPLY FREAKING AMAZING!!!

Mustang Gregg

[Trailrider]

Godspeed, troops! And a safe journey home at the ends of your tours!  Thanks for your service!

[SGT John Chapman]

Well Stay Safe, and get yourself back in one piece.....