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BLOG: From The Front Lines With Zinno

Hey everyone!!!  I know it's been a while since I last wrote.  Things in Baghdad remain pretty much the status quo.  And sometimes as they say, no news is good news.  Although I do have some sad news.  We lost two Soldiers last week after their vehicle got hit with an improvised explosive device.  On Sunday, May 22, we held a "Fallen Heroes Run" here on our base.  It was a 6-mile race where each participant ran with the name of a fallen soldier on their chest.  We spent that morning honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  Little did any of us know that before the day was through, we would be mourning the loss of our own.  It reminded us all how fleeting life is and that none of us are promised tomorrow ... or even later that afternoon.  We held a memorial service for those who died ... and it really hits hard when you stand in front of those boots, with the rifle, the helmet and the dog tags.  We all lean on each other for support and continue on as brothers and sisters in arms.

We also celebrated Memorial Day here with a ceremony to honor the fallen.  For those of you who haven't seen my video on You Tube, they played the video at the ceremony.  I am attaching a copy of it here.  Please pass it on to everyone!! If I can get 1,000,000 hits on You Tube, I will personally donate $1,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project.  Please help me out!

Other than that, keeping busy here.  I have taken up boxing ... it is amazing.  What a workout!  My grandfather was a boxer in the military during WWII, so it kind of comes full circle for my family.  Well ... sort of ... I have no plans on stepping in the ring any time soon!! I ain't pretty ... but I sure don't want to get any uglier!!! That's for damn sure!!!  I am also including some photos of Baghdad ... the old Baghdad.  Some of the buildings were destroyed by the US during the initial invasion.  They were Baath Party houses during the Saddam Hussein regime ... you will see the awesome power of America!!!

I hope everyone had an amazing Memorial Day weekend!  Summer is here ... go out and enjoy every second of it!!! By the way ... it was 114 degrees here today!!! God Bless America!  Enjoy the pics!

Coming home with a "W" ...

All the best,

Zinno

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Apparently someone took these down from Eutaw Street!!! Pretty awesome to see them in one of our chow halls!
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One of the toughest sports I have ever tried ... I'm like the Iraq-version of the "Italian Stallion!"
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This the "Victory over America" palace ... Saddam never finished it ... basically because we kicked his ass!
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This was the old "Baath Party House" ... it was also the military HQ for Saddam. It didn't stand much of a chance against us.
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An up-close view of that same Baath Party house. Done-zo!
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Another palace that succumbed to American military power ... this is the backside where I found these two ornate murals.
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The famous "crossed swords" on the Tigris River in Baghdad. It is a landmark of Baghdad's "Green Zone."
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Me and a couple of Soldiers in my unit with the "Al Faw" palace in the background.
OPERATION PROPER EXIT - Baghdad, Iraq by mcit11 on YouTube
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