Balad, Iraq
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I was at Balad for 16 out of my 26 months in Iraq and Kuwait. I was an Army Contractor there. At times it was surreal, with all the T-walls and bunkers, incoming rockets and mortars, mixed with Taco Bell, Burger King, Pizza Hut and first-run movies in the AAFES theater…against a background of Jet and helo noise 7/24. Just a crazy, weird mix of war and small-town America. I met great people there that I miss terribly. I miss my hooch, especially. It was a world within a world that was at once a little risky, but also very safe and secure at the same time.
It changed my life because I went there a few days after my marriage of 17 years ended. Having been in-theater before, I knew the controlled environment would be good for me. I went there to heal, and Anaconda healed me. It’s kinda funny to think a person would go to Iraq to heal, but I did. I love Anaconda and my good memories of it will be with me forever.
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