Miccarelli in Iraq

To Delco and Back

2009-10-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

First, let me apologize for not posting recently.

Many of you reading this are already aware that my family suffered a big loss in the passing of my Grandfather, Nick Miccarelli Sr., two weeks ago. It’s been a tough time for us, but the sadness we feel is nothing in comparison to the thanks we have to God for allowing this man to remain in our lives for so long. Some close friends of mine were not lucky enough to meet their Grandparents, let alone to have 27 great years with them.

A special thanks has to my unit, especially Major Glen McElroy, Lieutenant Tom Kivlen, Lieutenant Mark Martella, and Sergeant First Class Buzz Houck. These guys had me on a plane bound for PHL in a matter of hours and probably would have carried me to Delco if I had asked them. Their actions were incredible enough, but my family and I were truly blown away when two bouquets of flowers were delivered to our home from the company in Iraq. We truly did not expect soldiers in combat who are already doing so much, to chip in their hard earned money to send flowers back to the United States. I found out later that our First Sergeant Jeff Huttle and Chief Warrant Officer Steve Harper organized the flowers and I truly cannot thank them enough.

Of all the flowers that were sent to the funeral, my Mom and Dad saved two, and I bet you can guess what bouquets they were from.

I could go on for days about what kind of man my Grandfather was, but if you read the blog post below about my Grandfather and Councilman Cohen, you will understand where a lot of the pride our family has comes from.

He taught me to swing a golf club, he taught me how to play poker, and he played G.I. Joe with me.

More than that he taught me that when times get tough, your family is all you need.

He was my role model and a shining example of what a man ought to be. Fair, honest, caring, and brave until the end.

Support a Great Cause!

2009-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania Veteran's Museum - BIKE/RUN
Date: October 18th, 2009 (Rain date October 25th, 2009)
Location: Harley Davidson shop, Rte 1, Chadds Ford
Registration- 8 am until 10am
Ride- 10am until 12:00pm
Lunch/activities- 12:00pm until 2 0r 3???

The Ride will run from Hannum’s shop in Chadds Ford to Coatesville and back to Chadds Ford.

The Registration will be $20.

Contact jschultze@paveteransmuseum.org for details!

Wings

2009-09-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." ~Leonardo Da Vinci

Today the U.S. Army felt it appropriate that the door gunners of B Co 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion be granted their Air Crew Wings.

SFC McCreary, SGT Briesch, and SPC Davensizer were awarded their wings alongside me but Commander Jeff Milchanowski and 1SG Jeff Huttle.

Sergeants Lerch, Smith, Habecker, Rocourt, and others were awarded Army Achievement Medals for their hard work in making sure our aircraft were in appropriate flying condition after their transport here. CW3 Tom Luckenbach was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his exceptional service in getting the unit ready for mobilization.

Atta boy guys!

55 Years Ago in Prison

2009-08-31T06:55:00.000-07:00

55 years ago in Broad Meadows prison Nick Miccarelli Sr. (my Grandfather) sat in a cell with the leadership of United Electric Union Local 107 out of Tinicum Twp. The lawyer for the leadership was a man named David Cohen from Philadelphia. He later became Councilman David Cohen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cohen_(politician)). His son Mark Cohen is now my colleague in the PA General Assembly. We have corresponded about other issues but it wasn't until I brought up the U.E. strike that we really understood a shared family history.

I remember sitting as a teenager in my Grandfather's home on MacDade Boulevard listening to him tell me about how David Cohen came to see him and the guys in jail. He would constantly tell me that if I wanted to get involved in politics, that I should "go see Cohen. He's a big wheel in City Hall." He and Cohen were staunch Democrats and were seen by many as radicals of their day. My Grandfather, who is now 99 has since forgiven me for running for office as a Republican.

The imprisonment is alleged to have been ordered by John McClure, then a political heavyweight.

Via facebook Mark Cohen related his father's memories of the stand they took over 50 years ago.

"The UE strike was one of the highlights of my father's long (1952-1982) career as a UE lawyer, and he talked about it often.

The UE was given a choice of paying a humungous fine or the jail sentences. My father thought the jail sentences were the lesser evil because the fine they wanted them to pay would have forced the union out of business. The union leaders agreed, and my father visited them regularly in jail.

The visits were more than about keeping their spirits up. The visits enabled them to translate their insights on what should be done be next to the membership. One union leader--I wish I could remember his name--was supposed to go to jail, but didn't. (Perhaps he somehow escaped from jail). My father had him dress up in a suit and tie, and carry a brief case with lawbooks and notepads. "This is my clerk," he told the jailkeepers. So the fugitive union leader went in and out of the jail dressed as a law clerk on a regular basis, and passed on to the membership the collective decisions of the union leadership.

The courage of the vast majority of the union leadership in going to jail helped rally the spirits of the rank and file. It is also drove John McClure nuts because of the high cost of jailing the union leaders and the negative political feedback. I believe McClure wanted to get some concessions from the union leaders before releasing them from jail, but they declined. Finally, he was willing to release from jail without any concessions. That still wasn't good enough: the union leaders came up with demands to be met before they would agree to leave the jail.

'Your Grandfather' is one of the last living links to my father's days at the UE and it would be a real pleasure to talk to him while his memory about long ago is still sharp."

Three Guys Get a Bump

2009-08-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Joe Habecker (left) Ryan Smith (far left)

Our First Sergeant Jeff Huttle gave me the honor of reading the promotion orders for Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steve Harper and Sergeants Joe Habecker and Ryan Smith.

Steve is a former Air Force guy who saw the light and is now one of our crack pilots in B Company.

Joe and Ryan are former Long Range Surveillance types. They were co-conspirators with Kerwin in the Martella/Miccarelli pinkbelly incident. They were sufficiently rewarded for their transgressions following their promotions.

The First Sergeant put them in the front leaning rest (push up) position. Just when they thought they were about to get a nice workout, two giant gatorade cans were dumped on them by their fellow LRS-D alumni. This is a shocking experience in normal temperatures, but in heat approaching 120 degrees, I'm sure it's much worse. What's worse is as they tried to get up they were pelted with water balloons.

It was a firing squad and it couldn't have happened to two better guys.

Courthouse Does Right by Vets

2009-08-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

When you first walk into the Government Center at the Delaware County Courthouse you don't see pictures of long dead judges or former elected officials. The lobby of that area is adorned with pictures of currently serving members of our nation's military. The Ridley Township building has a similar set up in their lobby. It's nothing fancy, but it gets the point across.

Recently, my Mom and Dad were invited by members of County Council (Linda Cartisano, Jack Whelan, Christine Fizzano-Cannon, Tom McGarrigle, and Andy Lewis) to hang my photo amongst the others from Delco serving.

Due to the unique nature of a sitting State Rep serving in the military, I am often recognized for my service more so than others. Many troops have fought harder and longer than I have with little or no recognition. These are the unsung heroes who get the job done on a day to day basis. My hat is off to those people at the courthouse who decided to recognize all of us for what we do. In a time when Michael Jackson's estate gets 5000 hours of coverage TV for every hour spent on the wars, it's nice to know that people remember us. Sadly many people could tell you the latest gossip on MJ but could not tell you who Jason Dunham, Ross McGinnis, Michael Monsoor, Michael Murphy, and Paul Smith are.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/08/05/life/doc4a78f63e1e381225017933.txt

Other news from Delco:
WWII heroes and personal friends of mine Bud Hendrick and Ed Buffman in the news. If you should ever have the fortune of meeting these two men you'll be in for the time of your life. While Bud is 90 and Ed in his eighties you'd think you were hanging out with two teenage sailors on leave. These two men, along with Media Mayor Bob McMahon (a Viet Nam Combat Infantryman) and others are amongst the founding members of the Pennsylvania Veteran's Museum and should be commended for their patriotism

Veteran's Museum Gets a New Entrance:
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/07/27/news/doc4a6d199c37c55290848591.txt

The Minnesota Three Laid to Rest

2009-07-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

The three guys killed on our base, Drevnick, Wertish, and Wilcox were laid to rest recently.

Special recognition should go to our own Major Glen McElroy, Lieutenant Mark Martella, Chief Warrant Officer Dave Gool, and First Sergeant Jeff Huttle for aiding the dead and wounded. They ran in when others ran away and that's not an easy thing to do.

From the Pioneer Press in the Twin Cities:
By Saturday afternoon, the Associated Press said Iraqi police had arrested a member of an Iranian-backed militia suspected in the attack. The chief of the Basra provincial police said the militiaman confessed to the attack.

During a search of the house where the suspect and an aide were arrested, Iraqi officials said they seized four Iranian-made rockets and documents listing names of officials to be targeted.

U.S. military commanders believe some Shiite militias have received money and training from Iran, which denies the charge.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_12868600?nclick_check=1

Wertish : http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/127962/

Drevnick : http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1054153.shtml?cat=206

Wilcox : http://hometownsource.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10033&Itemid=1

While They Politic in Baghdad, 3 Dead in Basrah

2009-07-18T06:01:00.001-07:00

Three guys were killed in an attack on our base. Some of our guys were able to lend a hand to some of the wounded. They deserve serious recognition for their bravery.

Rest in Peace Dan Drevnick, 22, Carlos Wilcox, 27, James Wertish, 20.

http://www.startribune.com/local/51049262.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DU2EkP7K_V_GD7EaPc:iLP8iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

These are the first casualties since the change in the SOFA (status of forces agreement) that went into effect this month. The Washington Post reports :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/17/AR2009071703634_pf.html

"The strict application of the agreement coincides with what U.S. military officials in Washington say has been an escalation of attacks against their forces by Iranian-backed Shiite extremist groups, to which they have been unable to fully respond."

If you have the time, please read the above article. Our own commanders are now concerned that Iraqi edicts will now inhibit our ability to defend ourselves. I truly respect General Bolger for sticking up for his troops in Baghdad, and by extension, all of us.

The article goes on :
"After a brief lull, the attacks have continued this month, including a rocket strike on a U.S. base in Basra on Thursday night that killed three soldiers.

The acrimony that has marked the transition period has sowed resentment, according to several U.S. soldiers, who said the confidence expressed by Iraqi leaders does not match their competence.

"Our [Iraqi] partners burn our fuel, drive roads cleared by our Engineers, live in bases built with our money, operate vehicles fixed with our parts, eat food paid for by our contracts, watch our [surveillance] video feeds, serve citizens with our [funds], and benefit from our air cover," Bolger noted..."

The Pullout

2009-07-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

(In the green shirts kneeling are Specialist Joe Habecker and Sergeant Bruce Kleckner, standing are Sergeant Tony Allsop, yours truly, and Specialist Brian Salisbury)

On June 30 American Forces officially pulled out of major cities in Iraq. This is really the first test to see if the last 6 years of fighting has made a lasting impact. The Iraqis report over 650,000 soldiers in their forces and most of us here believe they are going to need every one of them to pacify this country. While the insurgency has been weakened severely it is far from dead and attacks still occur albeit with less frequency.

During my last tour of Iraq I was a part of a military transition team (MTT) which operated in the restive city of Ramadi. The job of a MTT team is to live with, fight with, train, and advise the Iraqi military. Of course there were ebbs and flows in the training, but the Iraqis had a strong core of good officers and some enlisted to build on. The Iraqis have been fighting for a long time, and their soldiers are certainly tough, however the commitment of their leadership to this country will ultimately make the difference here.

The Iraqi government and military have been plagued by corruption and subversion. There have been several instances where al-Qaeda and other operatives have infiltrated the Iraqi Army in order to gain intelligence about our operations. Some of these instances have resulted in the death of American and Iraqi soldiers and has made some of our troops leery of dealing with certain elements of the Iraqi government. It's my belief that while these problems are real, the vast majority of the Iraqi Forces just want to do their job, earn a paycheck and go home to their families.

After all of the articles, essays, and books I've read about Iraq, I remain optimistic about the chances the Iraqis have to stabilize this country. During 2006-2007 the people in Iraq saw what al-Qaeda's vision for Iraq was all about. It was a bloody war in the streets to bring everyone under their thumb. While the people in Iraq are ready for us to let them stand on their own two feet, I think they generally understand that they have an opportunity. This is the first chance they've ever had to elect their leaders and to determine their own future. While the success of this entire war is still uncertain, I'd like to believe that the sacrifices made by so many of us will account for the betterment of the world.

Join, or Die

2009-07-04T03:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday our company leadership threw us a barbecue for Independence Day. A band from division showed up to play rock, country, and pop hits ranging from "She Think's my Tractor's Sexy" by Kenny Chesney to "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner. It gave a festive atmosphere to a usually focused hangar. The work continued around those of us who took a break to remember Independence Day. SFC McCreary performed Grill Sergeant duties while Chief McGrath and I took on all comers at washers.

We invited a few Iraqis with to join us. Somehow I was tasked with explaining to the Iraqis that we were eating beef and not pork. It took some hilarious hand gestures and some barnyard noises, but we managed to get the point across and the guys got a good laugh at my attempt at communication. We also did the best we could to explain to them that this was a celebration of America's Independence and how Iraqis should feel the same way about their recent Sovereignty Day (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8125857.stm). Now that our forces have left the cities in accordance with the status of forces agreement, the Iraqis must truly sink or swim together.

I'm reminded of Benjamin Franklin's 18th century political cartoon which you can see to the right. Franklin was saying that the colonies must join together and survive or remain separated and fail. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Join,_or_Die) For the first time since this war began, it's now a totally Iraqi run operation. It's their time to "join or die". The Iraqi Army has had some recent successes in cities like Basrah. From the Times of London:

British forces stood aside during the “charge of the knights” in Basra when Iraqi forces swooped into Iraq’s second city, supposedly in our area of occupation. While our commander was off on a skiing holiday, government forces eventually beat the militias with American help.

Let's hope they can maintain that momentum.

The Birthday Betrayal-All In Good Fun

2009-06-10T23:20:00.001-07:00

Briarcliffe's own Lieutenant Martella and I decided to relax last night in our company break area. We were both born on June 10th and while we would much rather have been with friends and family at a Delco establishment, we decided to make the best of what we had.

Linda and Nick Sr. (mom and dad to me) sent me a wonderful package of specialty meats and cheeses from Trio's Cold Cuts on Mac Dade Boulevard. We were joined by my roommate Jamie Kerwin and Chad McGrath who supplied us with birthday cigars. All was well. We were calm, had some music playing, some great food, and a couple cigars to celebrate our birthday. We were as far from Iraq as we could have been. That is until my trusted roommate Jamie Kerwin, turned on us.

Jamie is a member of the old Long Range Surveillance Detachment (LRSD) which recently closed up. They were a specially trained unit of the PA National Guard and some of their ranks now serve with our unit. Only if the Army had known that their skills in ambush tactics and hand to hand combat would have been used for such treachery.

While Mark and I enjoyed our relaxing evening, a plot was in the works. At SSG Kerwin's direction a force of former LRSD guys and some of our crew chiefs had assembled around the covered area which surrounds our common area. The force consisted of a former sniper, a Ranger, several paratroopers, and a hefty backup force. Upon Kerwin's command, the "A-team" rushed into the courtyard and wrestled Martella and I to the ground. We fought back gallantly but were no match for the elite team assembled for this mission. Once we were unable to fight back the objective of the mission became clear.

They were there to give us "pink bellies" for our birthday.

For those of you who have never been the victim of a this attack, according to a website it is "The act of rendering a person's belly skin bright pink with a series of sharp, open-handed slaps."

As a newly elected State Rep I'm not usually subjected to pink bellies, but this is the Army and this is one of the things I love about the Army. No matter who you are or what you do back home, you're just another one of the guys here. You get treated like everyone else for better or for worse. That means doing all of the monotonous work, being subject to the same threats, and being a part of all of the fun (sometimes crazy) traditions the Army retains. If there is one thing about the Army that I'm sure I'll miss, its the camaraderie. The we all live together, fight together, spend our recreational time together, and deal with the same problems together. It's sometimes hard in politics to know who's on your side and who's not. Soldiers don't have that problem.

It was a great birthday. I just hope the members of the "a-team" know that there's two Delco boys who just put all of their birthdays on our calendars.

Thank You All

2009-06-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for all the kind birthday wishes. LT Martella's birthday is today as well. My dad sent me a big package from Trio's on MacDade Boulevard that we are going to snack on tonight to celebrate.

Basrah International Airport

2009-06-09T04:22:00.000-07:00

Blackhawk Pilot Steve Harper (pictured left) and I decided to have a look around the Basrah International Airport during a free moment. After convincing the Iraqi Police who guard the place that we didn’t plan to go AWOL (absent without leave), they allowed us entrance. The airport is in impeccable shape for what this nation has been through and it looks ready to facilitate thousands of people a day. The interior is beautiful marble throughout the cavernous rooms and the infrastructure is in place. All we are missing is people. The problem is that investment has been slow to come back to this area due to the uncertainty over future stability.
During my last tour in Ramadi, in 2006, people rarely left their homes if they hadn’t fled the city altogether. The streets were desolate and sometimes eerily quiet. Unfortunately they usually didn’t stay that way for long, as attacks on our forces were as frequent as any time during the war. Basrah 2009 is a far cry from Ramadi 2006. When we fly over Basrah we see the green palm tree groves, the bustling markets, and kids playing outside which have replaced my memories of blown out neighborhoods, empty streets, and citizens running for their lives to escape violence.
This place has more than a fighting chance. If the security situation continues to improve as it has since General Petraeus implemented his strategies, the Basrah Airport could become home to business and leisure travelers. It seems to me that Iraq is in a better position to be turned over to the Iraqi Forces now than ever before. Violence is more sporadic than ever, the Iraqi Forces are still standing up after taking some serious hits over the years, and the public seems to be pushing their politicians to end the corruption in their government. While the situation is far from stable, I for one can attest that this is not the Iraq I remember three years ago.
Booker T. Washington once said “I have begun everything with the idea that I could succeed, and I never had much patience with the multitudes of people who are always ready to explain why one cannot succeed.” I hope those who are fighting for Iraq can instill Booker’s sentiment in the rest of the population.

Up and Running

2009-06-01T04:12:00.000-07:00

Our unit is up and running and we're doing very well. We've been working long hours and getting a lot accomplished. I'm getting used to flying more than I ever have, but the guys and gals in our unit really take the load off of each other. Whenever a crew is working on a task or a mission, there always seems like there are a few troops around to help in some way. The old idea that many hands make little work is alive and well in the vast majority of this unit.

Below is some good news and some sad news:

Rocket Attack on our base proves fruitless.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq-daily-violence/story/68994.html

Major Steven Hutchinson was killed in Basrah last week. He is the oldest soldier to be killed in this war and was a two tour Vietnam Vet.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1182382/Vietnam-veteran-Major-Steven-Hutchison-oldest-U-S-soldier-die-Iraq-age-60.html

SPC Edmundson was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, killed in an IED attack.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09149/973616-100.stm?cmpid=newspanel4

Chester Fire Fighters

2009-05-23T04:13:00.000-07:00

My buddy Ed Reilly and his coworkers from the Chester Fire Department saved the life of a disabled woman in a burning apartment building. If you check the post "family" you will see his beautiful daughter Mackenna, my Goddaughter.

Keep up the good work guys!

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/05/23/news/doc4a175de8d56f8955614784.txt

Mother's Day & Delco Boys Take to the Air

2009-05-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Much to my Mother's chagrin, I have began flying here in Basrah. Days like Mother's Day are especially tough, as many of us are used to stopping by to see our mom's on this holiday. I sent her a little something from Kuwait with a card, but I'm sure she'd rather have a visit. This is the third time I've missed Mother's day due to a deployment. I missed 2003 in Kosovo and 2006 during my first tour in Iraq.

No need to worry Mom, I'm in good hands over here. The Army was even kind enough to give me another Delaware Countian to fly our chopper straight.

My first flight was piloted by Lieutenant Mark "Nighthawk" Martella (pictured left) of Briarcliffe. We landed at another base for a break and he was able to call his mother for a few seconds. He frequently brags about her cooking and occasionally scoffs at the chow hall food here in Iraq. He most frequent statement is a sarcastic "just like mom makes" when ever the cook makes an attempt at Italian food.

We also recently found out that the Martella's used to live next to my cousin John Miccarelli on Jackson Avenue in Collingdale. Delco is a small place.

Flashback to 2006

2009-05-03T01:48:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, my unit served in Iraq in 2006. One of the men I served with was named Sergeant Joseph Proctor. He was killed in a coordinated attack on an observation point that our unit was responsible for manning. He was killed alongside Marine Corps Captain Brian LeTendre. On May 3rd of 2007 and 2008, members of my unit and I have flown or driven to Indianapolis to be with Proctor’s family on the anniversary of his death.

His wife Beth, sons Joey Jr. and Adam and daughter Cassie always carried an unwavering pride in their father’s actions. Beth proudly wore his medals on her jacket and Joey Jr. joined the military along with his uncle and cousins. If you ask me, there is no better way to carry the memory of a fallen loved one than to continue to fight for what they stood for. Proctor's family has done that.

Sergeant Travis Redman, who was the last American of four who wasn’t killed or seriously wounded in the attack, held down the observation point until assistance arrived. His courage despite being the last man standing was also incredible. The terrorists literally threw everything they had at our guys. Their goal was to try to destroy our observation point and reduce the American and Iraqi presence in Ramadi, which was then nearly controlled in total by terrorists. The terrorists failed that day due to the efforts of the Americans and Iraqis who defended that place.

Marine First Sergeant Craig Cressman, Army Sergeants Steve “Hoss” Tomlinson and Ben Hannur, and I were in the first humvee from our team that arrived on the observation point. We arrived to a devastated place. After helping to evacuate the wounded Iraqis we set to rebuilding the observation point. Tomlinson and I remained there for a week, rebuilding the place, restoring confidence in the Iraqi forces (who were shaken to say the least), and fighting off an attack here and there. We returned to FOB Ramadi (our main camp) to attaboys from the guys and our leadership. Those attaboys from the guys meant more than any medal they gave us.
You can read my accounts of Proctor’s heroism below.

FLASHBACK TO 2006:
11 MAY 2006
Valor is Not Strong Enough A Word
03 May 2006
On May 3, one of our strong points was struck with a coordinated attack. The attack consisted of mortar fire, sniper fire, machine gun fire, and a SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device). While the exact details of the attack are classified, I can discuss one incredible act of bravery that was committed by my late friend Sergeant Joe Proctor.

When I first arrived on the scene 15 minutes after the blast, a lightly wounded Iraqi approached me and told me “Proctor kill driver. Make truck stop.” While I knew Proctor was brave and would certainly give his life for another, I thought the Iraqi was just trying to reduce our grief by telling me an exaggerated story of bravery. As I began to evaluate the scene two things became abundantly clear to me. The first realization was how incredibly wrong I was in my assessment of the Iraqi’s story. The second realization was how clear it became to me that Proctor had done what very few men in this world could ever imagine.

A dump truck packed with an estimated 350 lbs. of explosives charged the strong point and breeched the wall. Before it could make it to the barracks area where dozens sleep, the driver was shot dead by Sergeant Joe Proctor. Proctor, without hesitation, opened fire on the truck, which was bearing down on him, killing the driver and bringing the vehicle to a stop. Seconds later the vehicle detonated, killing Sergeant Proctor, and Marine Corps Captain Letendre instantly.
Since my time in country, I’ve spent a lot of time at strong points such as these. I spent 12 days on that same strong point with Sergeant Proctor last month. He showed me the ropes and told me what to do in every possible situation. He, as much as anyone, has served as a mentor to all of the replacements.

He and I would have long conversations to pass the time about the typical things soldiers talk about. Proctor loved to talk about his family. We both agreed that our main motivation in life was the safety and happiness of our families. While most guys have a picture of a model on their computer screen background, Proctor had a picture of the most beautiful woman in the world, his wife, on his.

16 MAY 2006
Final Thoughts on Proctor
Sergeant Joseph Proctor need not be made more of in death than he was in life. In a world full of phonies, Proctor told it like it was. He was an incredibly generous and considerate man who always thought about you before himself. He brought a pack of cigars out to the strong point for me, because he knew I would forget. He was patient and only got angry when his soldiers weren’t as safe as they could be. He was an honorable man who loved his family and country above all else. He put his life down so that American and Iraqi soldiers could live. In his absence we mourn him, comforted by the knowledge that he died that way he lived; standing yards taller than his frame, with courage and strength. No matter the amount or caliber of the medals they pin on any of our chests, they will all seem insignificant in contrast to the pride we feel to have fought alongside a man named Joe Proctor.

Troops Bracing for Backlash

2009-04-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

Everyone is getting ready for the release of these pictures of detainees being mistreated. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.13d3a2fbfc306c176c00483f74ae99a8.1291&show_article=1

It's like basic training, when one guy messes up, everyone gets punished. We were in Iraq when Haditha http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haditha_killings broke, and the retaliation was evident and aimed at soldiers who had nothing to do with the wrong doing.

I remember it like it was yesterday; a group of us were sitting in our make shift chow hall watching the Armed Forces network when the anchor began laying out the killings in Haditha. We all looked at each other and began lament the backlash that we were sure was to come. Backlash is a mild way to put it. It was more like a tidal wave. Hopefully we don't get more of that.

First Flight

2009-04-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

Today we went up for our first flight in the Middle East. I wish I could say that we completed our training, but upon take off, a cloud of sand dropped down on us causing us to land prematurely. A sandstorm ensued and that was the end of flying for me for the day.
Our crew consisted of Crew Chief Bruce Lee Kleckner (no he wasn't named after the famous kung fu star, but he loves it when you joke about it, so feel free to facebook him and leave jokes on his wall) and our Platoon Sergeant and boss, Steve Shirk. SFC Shirk was responsible for my RL (readiness level) progression throughout Fort Sill. Both of these guys have been deployed overseas in various capacities and are well experienced as are the majority of the troops.
The tent is getting a little tight. Whenever I feel like complaining about our conditions, I generally consider Viet Nam and World War II. Who am I to complain about our camp in Kuwait when we have a Starbucks, Taco Bell, Burger King and all other types of American joints as well as airconditioning in our tent? I think about my Uncle Larry who was a Marine in I Corps in Viet Nam being attacked by flies in some Godforsaken jungle, my Great-uncle George jumping from a plane into Normandy in June of 1944, or my Great-uncle Dominic in the heat of North Africa with Patton's 3rd Army. These men help me to put things in persepctive. We don't have it that bad here.
This kind of thinking actutally helps me when I'm home to appreciate the things we have. My Uncle Larry who I mentioned above passed away from agent orange poisoning in 2000, but he would always tell me that "freedom has a flavor for those who fought for it, that the protected will never know." I guess when people tell me that I have an ability to "not sweat the small stuff" it's because of this type of thinking. Military life certainly has shown me the contrast between the way some people live, and the way we live. It drives home how good we have it, how much we should appreciate it, and how hard we should all fight for it.
If there is a song that describes the plight of our unit it would be "The Legionnaire's Lament" by a British band called the Decemberists. If they could change the lyrics from missing Paris and the Siene River to missing Delco and Ridley Lake, then it would about fit me closely. The lyrics adequately approach the missing of home, but unlike the protagonist in this song, I'm sure I'll be back again.
Hear it here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOc1mn-4EzE

I'm a legionnaire
Camel in disrepair
hoping for a frigidaire
to come passing by
I am on reprieve
lacking my joie de vive
missing my gay paris
in this desert dry

And I wrote my girl
told her I would not return
I've terribly taken a turn
for the worst now I fear

Its been a year or more
since they shipped me to this foreign shore
fighting in a foreign war
so far away from my home

If only summer rain would fall
on the houses and the boulevards
and the side walk bagatelles it's like a dream
with the roar of cars
and the lulling of the cafe bars,
the sweetly sleeping sweeping of the Seine.
Lord I don't know if I'll ever be back again.

la la la la dam
la la la low

Medicating in the sun
pinched doses of laudanum
longing for the old fecundity of my homeland
Curses to this mirage!
A bottle of ancient Shiraz
a smattering of distant applause
is ringing in my poor ears

On the old left bank
my baby in a charabanc
riding up the width and length
of the Champs Elysees

If only summer rain would fall
on the houses and the boulevard
and the side walk bagatelles it's like a dream
with the roar of cars
and the lulling of the cafe bars
the sweetly sleeping sweeping of the Seine
Lord I don't know if I'll ever be back again

If only summer rain would fall
on the houses and the boulevard
and the side walk bagatelles its like a dream
with the roar of cars
and the lulling of the cafe bars
the sweetly sleeping sweeping of the Seine
Lord I don't know if I'll ever be back again...
be back again,
be back again,
I'll be back again

Ku-WAIT

2009-04-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the delay in posting. We are in Kuwait and I have to be careful about discussing our movements. One thing I am at liberty to discuss is the chow. We have eggs to order in the morning, and lobster at night. Yes, you read that right. There is lobster in army dining facilities in Kuwait.

Lobster.

The food that usually scares me away due to the forbidding “market price” cost on most menus is being fed to American Soldiers in the Middle East. I don’t know if General Patton is incredibly proud or spinning in his grave. Either way, you will not hear any complaining from me about the chow. The living conditions are tough, but are temporary. We packed into tents, about 70 of us in each one. Although privacy is non existent, there are some good points, namely the gym.

I am proposing that they change the name of Kuwait to “you-wait” since that’s pretty much our plan for the coming days.

Although there has been some violence in Iraq recently, here is some good news : http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ik_Fiq2l77tFUTDx6GeXMo6d2UdQD97N0D080

Another Transfer - B Company 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion

2009-03-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

The four horsemen are saddling up. McCreary, Leonhard, Noble and I are being transferred again. This time two gunners from the Chinooks are coming with us. Davensizer and Breisch will be joining our traveling band of aerial marksmen.

Just to recap, we started with B Company 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion which is a Chinook unit. Upon our arrival to FT. Sill we were transferred to A Company of the same battalion, which is a Blackhawk unit. We have now been transferred to B Company, 1st Battalion, 150th Assault Helicopter Battalion. The Assault Battalion has Apaches and Blackhawks, however since there are no doorguns on Apaches, our assignment to Blackhawks will not change. While we will still be under Pennsylvania's 28th Combat Aviation Brigade the unit we will be working with is from New Jersey (insert PA/NJ rivalry joke here). While we are sad to be leaving the Montana guys, I realized that we will be serving with the only other Delaware Countian I have found on this deployment. Lieutenant Mark Martella of the Briarcliffe Section of Darby Township is a Blackhawk pilot and B company's first platoon leader. We may be flying missions together, and God help the bad guys if there are two Delco boys swooping in on them.

Lieutenant Martella approached me on the bus a few weeks back. The conversation went something like this:

LT Martella: "Hey man, you from Delco?"

SSG Miccarelli: "Yes, sir."

LT Martella: "I saw you in the Daily Times."

SSG Miccarelli: "Thank God I found another person from Delco. Oklahoma is nice and all, but I miss the county."

LT Martella: "You aren't kidding."

I proudly told him that I was from Chester Pike and went to Ridley. He informed me that he was a Chichester grad. We then proceeded to play some "Delco Do You Know" and found out that he used to pal around with the brother of a Chichester girl I dated in high school.

Small world, but thank God there is another Delaware Countian here.

Family

2009-03-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

This beautiful girl in the photo is my Goddaughter. Last month Mackenna Reilly turned 5 years old. She helped her dad make a shirt that says "Vote for Uncle Nicky" and wore it to the annual 4th of July Party my parents throw. In this shot, her and I are watching the fireworks over the lake at East Lake Park.

I was given the honor of being named her Godfather by my oldest friend Ed Reilly, a Chester Firefighter. Mackenna was born on February 23, 2004 three days before I returned home from Kosovo. She was baptized shortly after by Father Canavan at Saint Rose of Lima in Eddystone.

Many of the guys miss their families after over a month away from home, and certainly I am no different. Being away from family and friends is one of the toughest things about military life. As any service member will tell you having the home front squared away does a lot for ones piece of mind. For my mother and father, this is the third time they have sent me off to a foreign country for an extended period of time. My father himself is a Korean War Veteran and my mother had most of her brothers serve the Republic in the armed forces. They have been exceptionally understanding through all of this and couldn't be more supportive.

This could make things interesting

2009-03-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.jpost.com/

Rest In Peace SSG Baum, PA National Guard

2009-02-25T15:51:00.000-08:00

SSG Baum was serving with Company B, 1-111th Infantry out of West Chester, which was the unit I deployed to Kosovo with in 2003-2004. We at FT. Sill received the news from Jim Quinn who was serving with SSG Baum. Jim and I were in Kosovo together after graduating a year apart at Ridley.

I hope this is the last post I have to write of this nature. From the Allentown Morning Call :

Staff Sgt. Mark C. Baum of Quakertown died Saturday shortly after he was shot in the Iraqi city of Mushada while responding to a roadside bomb attack.In addition to his wife, he's survived by daughters Alexis, 6, and Kailey, 3, and a 7-month-old son, Conrad.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6673875

So much for the Chinooks....

2009-02-23T18:25:00.000-08:00

In an exciting change of events, we have been informed that my three roommates and I will no longer be door gunners in the Chinooks we had been training on. We are now assigned to a Blackhawk Company. Since we have been detached from our home unit, Sergeant First Class Kevin McCreary, Staff Sergeant Kevin Leonhard, Specialist Cody Noble and I are now known as the "four horsemen".

In a very non-chalant manner, we were approached by our first sergeant who said "you, you, you, and you are all now with A Company". We all chuckled until we realized he was serious. A Company is a unit of the Montana National Guard who fly Blackhawk Helicopters. We are getting to know the guys. They all seem like great guys, but we do miss operating with the guys from PA. The Montana guys have already done this gig once. They were in Iraq a couple years ago and all of their pilots and crew members are well trained and tested. Our operations shouldn't change a lot.

Going from Chinooks to Blackhawks normally would not be a big issue, except for the fact that I spent my entire last night at home convincing my mother that she shouldn't worry, since Chinooks are the safest thing in the sky. I assured her that Blackhawks would be a more dangerous job and that we should be thankful that I do not have that mission.

I believe it went something like this, "What could go wrong mom? The Chinooks are built right here in Ridley Township! Dad worked there for 20 years! Those Blackhawks are dangerous. Chinooks are safe."

Open mouth, insert foot.

In actuality, despite my attempts to convince my mother otherwise, the Blackhawk is about as safe as any other aircraft in the sky (regardless of the fact that SGT Probst of B Company says he has yet to see a movie called CHINOOK DOWN http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/) according to all of our pilots.

I am comforted by the fact that my family worries at the same level regardless of the bull I try to feed them about the safety of our mission. In all sincerity, they are much calmer this time than last time. As many of you read on Totten's article, Ramadi was no place nice in 2006. Iraq seems to have been pacified quite a bit since then, and flying above the action is safer than being on the ground in the thick of it. As my platoon sergeant put it, "if you're on the ground and you're not in the chow hall, your bunk, or getting ready to fly, you got problems" meaning we're aviators and our job is to stay in the sky.