Hello from Baghdad, Iraq. I wanted to let you know that by God’s grace I arrived here safely, and that I am working hard and am taken care of very well. I deployed on Sunday, 14 Jan 07 from Norfolk, VA, to participate in a two week training course at Camp McCrady and Fort Jackson near Columbia, SC. There were 288 sailors in my NIACT (Navy Individual Augmentee Combat Training) class and we all lived together in open bay barracks with community showers, toilets, and sinks. All of our training was conducted by the Army through a cadre of very professional and motivated drill instructors. Our first week was full of gear issue, M16 zeroing, M16 qualification, reflexive fire, and classroom time. The second week was also busy with 9M qualification, heavy weapons, convoy operations, and urban operations. Overall, I enjoyed the training and found it quick and yet thorough.On Friday, 26 Jan 07, I departed Columbia, SC, with 100 other sailors for Kuwait. We flew in a government chartered plane and made stops in Shannon, Ireland and Leipzig, Germany. Once in Kuwait we transferred to Camp Virginia via bus for a couple of days of acclimation. We lived in 12-man tents with cots, and we had shower trailers with hot water (sometimes) on one end of our road and deluxe port-a-johns with no lights on the other end of the road. There was a DFAC (Dining Facility), PX (Post Exchange), Library, Cinema, Gym, Chapel, AT&T Calling Center, and even a McDonalds! On Wednesday, 31 Jan 07 I took a combat first aid course with VERY realistic dummies that breathed and bled. It was pretty wild.
On Thursday, 1 Feb 07 our class headed out to Udari Range to take an Advanced Convoy operations course from MPRI (contracted military training instructors) for three days. Our time in the desert was interesting: middle of nowhere, no sinks or showers, and co-ed berthing on the floor of our classroom tent. We conducted live static and dynamic fire on the range while shoulder to shoulder with another sailor, received lots of classroom time (IED identification, convoy tactics, etc.), and participated in an all-day convoy operation. I was the gunner for our Humvee…and froze! Some cool parts about the desert were the random herd of camels, an extremely bright and full moon both evenings, and very dramatic sunrises and sunsets in the clear, dry desert sky.
We returned from Udari Range on Saturday, 3 Feb 07 and immediately transited to Ali Al Salem Air Base for the night. The next day we boarded an Air Forced C-130 bound for BIAP (Baghdad International Airport). We spent the afternoon at Camp Victory and later moved to Camp Stryker to await transit into the International “Green” Zone. It was not until 0300 (right as Billy Joel sang the last note of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl) that we loaded a Rhino (armored bus) and headed into downtown Baghdad. We JUST missed the kickoff! At 0500 our armored bus arrived in the IZ (International Zone), and a representative from the GRD (Gulf Region District) picked me up and took me to the GRD Compound – my new home. My room is half of a sub-divided conex box (a large metal container found on a ship or an 18-wheeler), and is tricked out with electricity, AC, a wall closet, a full size bed, a nightstand, a mini-fridge, desk, a TV/DVD with cable, and internet connection. There is a separate bathroom with a toilet, sink, shower, and hot water. Our accommodations are some of the best in the IZ.I am the Deputy G-4 for the GRD, a United States Army Corps of Engineers organization responsible for the reconstruction of Iraq. My section (including military, civilian, and Iraqi personnel) handles supply, property, and transportation for the GRD headquarters in the IZ and our three districts throughout Iraq. I personally manage all power generation for the two GRD compounds within the IZ, which includes a 7.5 MW power plant, two 500 kW generators, and two 800 kW generators. I serve as the facility manager for over one million square feet of office space and living quarters for over 1200 personnel located in 33 buildings. I also manage the operations and maintenance of all life support functions to include minor construction, facilities maintenance, portable water, waste water removal, refuse removal, electrical power distribution, delivery of generator fuel, bottled water, janitorial
service, and roads and grounds maintenance.My job is pretty extensive and keeps me VERY busy. I’ve been trying to learn as much as possible as fast as possible before my sponsor (LTJG Farley) and my boss (COL Smith) head home. Afterwards, I will be the acting G-4 until another Army colonel arrives. I’ll send more emails later on talking about work and life in the IZ.
In closing, I have some exciting news that some of you may not have heard yet. First, let me give you two pieces of background info: a week before I deployed, I found out that the Navy will be sending me to Oregon State University to get a Masters degree in Ocean Engineering starting in late-Sep 07. Secondly, I've known (and many of you have too) that God made Erin SPECIFICALLY for me since the second time I met and talked with her. Given the situation that the Lord has placed me in and all the confirmation He's already shown me in regards to Erin, I decided to ask Erin's father for his permission and blessing to marry her. I received a unanimous "yes" from Erin's entire family, and we are planning to get married on 1 Sep 07. Now that’s something to look forward to! I miss you all, and can’t wait to see you in mid-August.
Serving God and Country,
Daniel
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8)
Mailing Address
LT Daniel Lutz
GRD 1, G-4
APO AE 09348
Email Address
daniel_e_lutz@yahoo.com
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