Heading downrange
[Phillip Carter,
Sunday June 26, 2005 at 1:05pm ]
On Thursday, I received orders from the Army mobilizing me for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These orders followed an earlier set, cut on Tuesday, which transferred me from the Army's individual ready reserve into the 101st Airborne Division. It's an honor and privilege to deploy with such a storied unit -- a band of warriors who have nearly all deployed at least once since 9/11. I'm scheduled to report for active duty in a little under 3 weeks to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After some period of pre-deployment training and preparation, I will deploy with my unit to Iraq.
It's difficult to describe the swirl of emotions I have now. I'm excited about this opportunity to serve, but also apprehensive about what lies ahead. I'm worried for my family and friends (this will be harder on them than me), and I will miss them terribly; but I'm also comforted by the strength they have displayed over the past few days.
INTEL DUMP will go through some changes over the next few weeks as a part of this deployment. I have asked several friends and colleagues to contribute or cross-post to this site, so INTEL DUMP will transition into a group blog. This is something I have long wanted to do; I greatly admire the intellectual dynamics and vibrancy of group blogs like the Volokh Conspiracy and Opinio Juris. Over the next few weeks, I will introduce INTEL DUMP's new writers, and adjust the site's format to reflect their addition. To the extent I can, I will contribute notes and dispatches from the field, although obviously my mission and my soldiers will take priority over any writing I might do.
See you on the high ground — more to follow...
It's difficult to describe the swirl of emotions I have now. I'm excited about this opportunity to serve, but also apprehensive about what lies ahead. I'm worried for my family and friends (this will be harder on them than me), and I will miss them terribly; but I'm also comforted by the strength they have displayed over the past few days.
INTEL DUMP will go through some changes over the next few weeks as a part of this deployment. I have asked several friends and colleagues to contribute or cross-post to this site, so INTEL DUMP will transition into a group blog. This is something I have long wanted to do; I greatly admire the intellectual dynamics and vibrancy of group blogs like the Volokh Conspiracy and Opinio Juris. Over the next few weeks, I will introduce INTEL DUMP's new writers, and adjust the site's format to reflect their addition. To the extent I can, I will contribute notes and dispatches from the field, although obviously my mission and my soldiers will take priority over any writing I might do.
See you on the high ground — more to follow...
22 Trackbacks /
Best wishes, we'll be thinking of you.
We had a number of IRR-types in OEF with us and they invariably brought their unique perspectives to the team, which was extremely helpful for us.
In what billet/capacity are you deploying? SJA? Civil Affairs? IO? Are you going with the Division/UEx command or with one of the UAs?
Have a safe and effective deployment. Go get 'em.
*The biggest damn camel back you can carry
*Wiley X SG-1 convertible sunglasses / goggles
*The bug wipes offered by Brigade Quartermasters
*Spray SPF 30 sunscreen
God speed.
- Navy LT
"In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich."
Good luck --- and thanks for being honest on these pages and admitting that W and Rummy screwed this up for good.
Love and prayers,
Pat
I want to join everyone else in wishing you the best, with regard to this recent news. You have already been doing a great deal of service to your nation, and I want to thank you for all that you have done, and for all that you will be doing in the future.
You are an excellent analyst of the vital issues facing our military, our citizenry, and our nation today. Your honest and principled approach to these matters has been much appreciated. Best wishes for a safe and successful experience overseas, and for a safe and speedy return home. God Bless!
good luck-if nothing else the experience will give you more of an insight and credibility when you speak of the war (not that you didn't have that already)
I have read your posts daily. While I have not always agreed down to the punctuation I have developed a real respect for your insights and analysis in these very trying times. Please keep posting when you can, in whatever form is possible during what will be a very difficult assignment.
We will be thinking of you and many others who struggle to deal with the mess that Dubya has left us all.
God bless you and yours. May you come home safe and sound.
friends at home, even those like myself who don't know you.
Rock the Casbah and Godspeed.
If your ever in Phoenix, drinks are on me. Stay safe!
Matt
CWO4 USN Ret.
That's all, just Thank You.
101st is certainly an honor...
But geez Phil... it probably doesnt help that Im reading this while watching Black Hawk Down. The two snipers just inserted...you can imagine the images that are going through my mind as I write this...
A couple of quick thoughts-
As an attorney, Im sure you will do your best to uphold the honor and integrity og our profession.
If you need any body armor, feel free to post on the site.
Be safe and good luck..
This news has really rocked me a bit. I have friends serving now in Iraq both in military as well as civilian capacities. I'm happy that you're going to the 101st since it is my old unit, but I would hope that you're going to work in JAG rather than as an MP, though surly the latter is where you will be needed.
I'll worry about you...but then it is my nature it worry, it is what made me a good soldier, a good senior drill instructor and now a good lawyer, I do worry about people. Even though I don't know you at all, Phil, I'll worry about you also.
Remember Patton's admonition:
"Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."
I know that you're an honorable guy, Phil, but I'm much older than you...God forbid push comes to shove, I'll expect you NOT to hesitate at all...do what you've gotta do and get yourself back here to CA and in a Courtroom,(which can be unsafe...lol, but nothing like where you're going to be).
Real Best Wishes &May God Go With You,
Traveller
Although I did not always agree with you, I have always found your comments insightful and stimulating, and you helped me to have a deeper understanding of the issues you write about. For what it's worth, your blog is on my daily reading list. I wish you and your family all the best.
Thank you and good luck
Thanks for the good wishes, but let me clear up a couple of things:
1. I am a volunteer. I knowingly, willingly, and intelligently accepted a commission as a United States Army officer. A reserve obligation after my term of active duty was part of the bargain. I knew that. Moreover, I chose not to resign when I became eligible to do so earlier this year; I felt that I had an obligation to keep myself ready while my nation was at war.
2. I don't see this as a "back door draft" or anything of the sort. I have a critical skill set, and I'm in the individual ready reserve. This is how the system should work -- transferring guys like me into units on their way downrange to fill requirements. Would I like a little more prep time? Sure. I think anyone would.
3. There is absolutely zero chance that I was mobilized because of my writing. The Army doesn't work that way. This was entirely a skill-set-to-unit match.
4. I don't know that we're at the point where we're scraping "the bottom of the barrel", as one commenter said. I'd like to think I'm at least a couple of inches above the barrel's bottom.
Thanks again for all the good wishes.
-PC
analysis these past months and hope you will come home
safe and sound to take up the keyboard once again..
- Alex
I wish you all the best in Iraq. Do your job, stay safe, and don't stop posting!
I became an obsessive fan of yours in March, 2003, and I have found your sucessive work to be equally good. I appreciate and honor your military service, but I also appreciate your skill with the pen (keyboard?). I think you provide a valuable service to your readers by serving as a nexus between points of view that don't understand each other well and thus often miss valuable insights.
I know that that military blogging regulations are onerous, but I do hope you find time to keep sharing your valuable perspective and insights.
Take care.
Yours,
Cris Dilworth
My apologies for failing to thank you for your blog earlier. Please try to keep it going in your new assignment. My thanks also for your faithful service to the nation.
Good luck.
You have a 'Rendevous with Destiny' with the 101st.
Enjoy the Screaming Eagles.
Work as hard over there there as you do here and you will make a difference. Remember the old Infantry maxims: Head Up, Ass down, Work Hard, Play Hard.
Keep the faith in what you believe in.
You will make your own luck and it will be good.
Iraq is the site of the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood and is said to be the birthplace of Abraham. In years to come you will need to kow that you made a difference. If you know that the light of liberation was helped by your contribution then you can be content. If you fail to stand up to your own principles then you will always regret it.
Enjoy the trip, it will be what you make it.
Make it memorable.
Peter
Good luck over there. The 101st is lucky to have you working with them.
In the past few years, I have gradually come to a greater understanding of the tremendous sacrifice that I and the rest of our society ask you to make for the sake of our well-being. From the bottom of my heart I am grateful to you, and the many more like you whom I will never get the chance to thank personally.
Good luck to you and and your fellow soldiers.
Second, I am interested in knowing if you are going as an MP or a lawyer. I hope as the former. I really want to see how your opinions and writing evolve, or don't evolve, when you come face to face with the bad guys in Iraq. You've long provided a reasoned, educated voice against many of the detainment and interogation policies we have towards captured enemy combatants. Will seeing them and their handywork in person, and dealing with teh passion and uncertainty of combat, change your opinion?
One thing I expect will be reinforced is the high regard you have for the military women who serve in combat roles, and I expect your voice in their favor will be stronger for having been there with them.
Stay safe. Do your duty in an honorable manner. And, when time allows, keep us informed.
You and all those currently serving in Iraq are courageous heros. You serve your country and UCLA class of 2004 proud. I hope you will check in with us and let us all know how you are doing. Stay safe!!!
Krista Kim, UCLAW class of 2004
Be safe.
Godspeed and be safe.
Um, this sounds cheesy, but you are by far and away my favorite military writer and security blogger. You were one of the handful of bloggers I started reading regularly almost two years ago who inspired me to blog, and you have greatly informed my still evolving thinking about issues of national security, citizen responsibility, and the relationship between the military and the civilian halves of the Republic. I really cannot express how much I admire the quality of your writing and analysis, and the sense of excellence and optimisim and patriotism I get from it. I am really going to miss your regular voice and thoughts on these matters, because I know that no matter how well things go, you'll be very busy and the frequency of your own postings will have to shrink.
We're really lucky and blessed to have such quality people like yourself ready and willing to answer a call at a moment's notice. Opinions on the war aside--and I was very much against starting this war, though I do feel we have to finish it in some way--I firmly believe that your spirited willingness serves as general warning to our enemies and therefore is our Republic's greatest defense. So from the bottom of my heart, the best of luck, stay safe, and may peace and security travel ahead of you and follow in your wake. Thank you very much and take care!!!
You are a great American, despite your endorsement of Kerry in the last election ! (j/k) I've enjoyed your blog and enjoyed your teaching skills in our undergraduate law class on the Patriot Act last year. My prayers are with you and all the wonderful troops who serve our country.
Adam Partridge
UCLA class of 04
SCU Law class of 08
Responded to your e-mail from last Friday. Feel free to ask questions...
One thing posted here: don't worry about the camelback. You'll be issued one.
Good luck, and if I'm in the 101st's AO I'll look you up.
If I were a statastician I'd like to do an analyis of how the IRR re-draft would be affected if chickenhawks enlisted.
For the record I'd like to say that I had a long conversation with a USMC recruiter about a going back in. I was told I was too old (43 at the time) and even though I pointed out that Sen. Paul Douglas (D. Ill.) joined the Marines as a recruit at 50 plus years oldI was still sent away.
That makes my hatred of college republicans even deeper. I don't support this war and I tried to get back. These little cowards scream about their support but don't even pick up the phone to see what they might do.
Best wishes Phil and if you run into my brother tell him I said hello and that I want him and all other Americans to be out of Iraq toworrow.
If you or your troops need anything, just post and I will do what I can.
Make us proud.
blog. I wish you good luck in completing your mission in
Iraq and bringing your men and yourself back home safely.