Family and Friends,

I have landed "safely" into Baghdad today after a brief leave to the U.S. My leave was very nice although short. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to contact or see everyone I wanted to. Actually, I did not expect to receive leave and even my parents did not know I was coming until I knocked on their door at 11:30 PM a few days ago! That was definitely a sight to see! After almost giving them a stroke, I realized I probably should avoid doing such things! After standing at the door staring with their jaws dropped to the ground, I politely asked them "can I come in now?"

Much of my time was spent hoarding good food, sleeping on a mattress, and showering. Ahhhh, luxury. It's amazing how much faster time flies by in the States than out here! After spending a few days in suburbia, I now return to the joyful land of Baghdad....

Lucky for me, here too I get to experience suburbia! In a matter of hours I will fly by Blackhawk to a "suburb" of Baghdad. I have been selected to provide forward medical coverage for ongoing missions in the streets of Fallujah. The fighting remains intense there. Although I will find out more after I arrive, I am told I will be living in tents and out of our vehicles with no showers, limited electricity, and no internet. We will not be able to receive mail from now either. You may not hear from me for some time possibly so please keep in mind at this point, no news is good news!

You are in my thoughts.

Sudip
 

Family and Friends,

I write you once again with my latest update from Iraq. As my friends, you have most likely recognized by now that you have become the target of my outlet: writing. It has become more so as I wrap up my book which I hope to publish. At this point it is ready to submit to a publisher (in case any of you have any contacts with publishers please let me know). I never really recognized writing as an outlet for me, but then again I never really pictured myself getting sent to war either. By now an email from me to you about once a month has become somewhat predictable. Life here has been anything but…

In some ways I consider myself extremely unlucky to have our unit quite possibly extended for a longer tour. In other ways I feel extremely blessed. Perhaps the greatest blessing is having the opportunity to care for and associate with the soldiers who are the true heroes of this war. I have been lucky in other ways as well. After dining several times at the "Green Zone Caf鬢 the caf頷as destroyed by a suicide bomber THE DAY AFTER I left the green zone! Some of my friends joke that I am not the most punctual person at times but this timing could not have been better!

On the 14th of October I was told to move out of my room for the arrival of the 10th Mountain Division Army unit as we prepare to move elsewhere. I thought I would be a lot happier seeing this unit arrive. However, the arrival of our "replacement" unit does not mean we are going home anytime soon. I grumbled as I moved all my items to another room. I find moving to be an annoying task and mumbled the whole time as I made multiple trips lugging my belongings. It took all day. I was in a bitter mood. This had been my room from February until October 14th. On the 15th of October a mortar round landed IN MY OLD ROOM! My cot I slept in just one day earlier now lay in rubble and shattered glass. With another example of my stellar punctuality, suddenly my bitter mood changed!

A couple of days ago I was convoying in an armored humvee in the streets of Baghdad returning to our post. Suddenly we arrived to a standstill traffic jam. The streets were crowded. All cars were stopped. Apparently, there was news of an unexploded car bomb up ahead. Instead of turning around and taking another route (which seemed the most logical solution to me), we were radioed by the base and told to "hold security" around the bomb. Yes, "hold security!" The crowds flooded the streets. The Iraqi police sirens screamed around us. And we stood like sitting ducks around our humvees in the vicinity of an unexploded car bomb with our weapons "holding security." As the doctor what I was securing I don�t exactly know, but nonetheless I was "holding security." Don�t ask-just execute! What ended up detonating was a harmless smoke grenade. Luckily nothing exploded. Once again, I breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, it could be worse.

Now we stare in the face of yet another challenge. Now approaching our 11th month, we find ourselves possibly traveling to secure yet another city in our grand tour of Iraq. A city that you will definitely hear about as the Iraqi elections approach. This will most likely mean living out of our vehicles once again like we did in Najaf. We are told mail will not be delivered to us if postmarked after the 15th of November. Quite possibly we will have no internet. None of this is certain yet. Like I mentioned in my last email to you our destiny is as clear as mud. However, this appears to be our future.

Let�s shift gears from our future to our past. For a change in pace, I thought I would write more about the history of the unit for which I am the doctor. From what we are told, we are the "heaviest" Brigade in Iraq at this time in terms of armor and weaponry. The Battalion I am the sole doctor for (1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division) included greats such as Robert E. Lee and has fought alongside General Custer and General MacArthur. It has played critical roles in the Civil War, World War, Korean War, Vietnam, etc. This Battalion has earned unit citations from the President of the United States. History repeats itself, and one day Baghdad, Najaf, and our next locations will be added to the unit history. I was never really a history buff, but I found the excerpt that I have attached below interesting. Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like to experience the other adventures encountered by this Battalion. I wonder if their doctor felt the same way I do. Maybe their doctor had a group of good friends like you guys to write letters to!

 

5th Cavalry Regimental History

 

The 5th Cavalry Regiment was organized on 03 March 1855 as the 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment at Louisville, Kentucky with officers and troopers from Alabama, Maryland, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia. In September of that same year, the Regiment relocated to Texas. Two years later, LTC Robert E. Lee took command and the Regiment spent four years fighting 13 campaigns against Native American tribes of the American Southwest. In March of 1861, the Regiment moved from Texas to Carlisle, Pennsylvania where the officers and men loyal to the South left the Regiment to serve in the Confederacy. The Regiment was refitted with new troopers and officers, organized under the Army of the Potomac, and fought its first battle of the Civil War at Bull-Run. On 10 August 1861, the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment was re-designated as the 5th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, and went on to fight with distinction in more than 17 campaigns at places like Gaine�s Mill, Fairfax Courthouse, Falling Waters, Martinsburg, the Wilderness, Shenandoah Valley, and Appomattox. It was at Gaine�s Mill on 27 June 1862, that the regiment made a valiant charge and stopped the advance of a Confederate Division commanded by General John Bell Hood, saving the Artillery of the Army of the Potomac from annihilation.

In September 1868, the regiment received orders to prepare for duty against hostile Indians in Kansas and Nebraska. For several years the 5th Cavalry fought many skirmishes and battles with the Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho and Apache Indians. After General Custer and 264 of his men of the 7th Cavalry perished at Little Big Horn, troopers of the 5th Cavalry Regiment rode after the Sioux to avenge their deaths. In 1898, the regiment traveled from San Antonio to the embarkation port of Tampa, Florida to enter the Spanish American War. More than 17,000 troops, including the 5th Cavalry, landed on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. In 1901, a bloody insurrection broke out on the distant islands of the Philippines. Dismounted, they battled in the jungles of the Pacific to end the Moro Insurrection. In 1913, border threats to the United States brought the regiment back to the deserts of the Southwest. In 1916, the regiment was dispatched to the Mexican border to serve as part of the Mexican Punitive Expedition. Under "BlackJack" Pershing, the 5th Regiment crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico and was successful in stopping the border raids conducted by bandits of Pancho Villa and eliminating the national threat from the Southwest.

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor. In February 1943, the 5th Cavalry Regiment was alerted for an overseas assignment. Soldiers of the 5th Cavalry Regiment dismounted and moved to the Southwest Pacific Theater. Over the next year and a half, the Regiment distinguished itself in some of the most desperate and bloody battles of the Second World War. The 5th Cavalry battled ashore with General Douglas MacArthur to liberate the Philippine Islands during the invasions of Leyte and Luzon. During the battle for Luzon, troopers from the 5th Cavalry Regiment were among the first soldiers to enter and free the Philippine Capital of Manila.

The Korean War began shortly before dawn on 25 June 1950 and the 5th Cavalry was among the first to deploy to the Korean battlefield. The Regiment was thrown into the desperate battle around the South Korean port city of Pusan. Troopers of 5th Cav held their portions of the perimeter around Pusan for more than 50 days against overwhelming numbers of enemy forces. At one time they defended against more than five North Korean Divisions. Later, during the drive north, the 5th Cavalry Regiment was the first unit to enter and occupy the North Korean capitol of Pyongyang. On 1 July 1965, the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated for combat duty in the Republic of Vietnam. In the Oriental calendar year of the "Horse", 5th Cavalry Regiment soldiers had returned to war wearing the famous and feared patch of the First Cavalry Division. The newly arrived Sky troopers wasted little time in getting into action, going into battle on 18 September 1965. Fifth Cavalry troopers found themselves fighting against Viet Cong guerillas and determined North Vietnamese regulars for almost 8 years and 16 campaigns. As a result of its gallant actions, the Regiment was awarded two presidential Unit Citations and the Valorous Unit Citation

In August 1990 the BLACK KNIGHTS were alerted for deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield. On 24 February 1991 the ground war began and the BLACK KNIGHTS found themselves fighting in the greatest mechanized battle since the Second World War. The Black Knights along with the rest of the 1st Cavalry Division conducted a successful "feint" which froze four Iraqi divisions, allowing the VII Corps to envelop the Iraqi forces from the west virtually unopposed.

 

 

The most eventful news I write to inform you about today is that we are staying through the Iraqi elections. Thus the "one year" deployment will likely surpass the 365-day mark since we left the states.

WHAT went into this decision of probable extension of our tour? We are told this decision wasn't made lightly, and required a significant amount of decisions at the highest levels to keep our Brigade here in Iraq.

The next logical question is WHY? With increasing opposition in Iraq now, we will become part of the Multi-National Corps who will use us as a fire-fighting unit, with the ability to move to risky areas and support the headquarters responsible for that area.

The next big question that remains unanswered is WHERE? Instead of winding down and preparing to return to the States during this 10th month of deployment, we could end up staying in Baghdad, or moving to any of the cities you read about in the papers or see on the news. Uncertain.

Although publicly units are now deployed for "one year," a longer tour is more on the lines of what we anticipated. The big question is this: "one year from WHEN?" That question remains to be answered. No time soon…

The good news is that this allows for more soldiers, if not all of us, to return to the states for 2 weeks of leave. Wait a minute, "if not all of us?" "Then WHO?"

The other good news is that we can still receive packages and mail through November and maybe have it stop in early December.

With the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, politicians continue to debate the future of Iraq. Besides "WHO?, WHAT?, WHEN?, WHERE?, and WHY?," our future out here is pretty clear! As far as the question "WHAT NEXT?" - My answer is the same it has been all year - just grin and bear it! It could be worse!

You are in my thoughts,

Sudip

Family and Friends,

I am now out of Najaf and back in Baghdad after a 10 hour road convoy. It was a very intense month. Still have all my fingers to type this email to you as well as my sanity (I think???!!!). I never thought I'd hear myself say "I can't wait until I get back to Baghdad!" A paradise by no means, but I guess it's all relative.

We were returned here to provide security and medical coverage for the upcoming 8-million-man holiday march. The last holiday march resulted in bombings, uncontrollable crowds, flames on the streets, and multiple bruises from thrown stones. This one will hopefully be less eventful. Hmmmm….

Many of you want to know "what is it like out there?" I'm sure there is lots of coverage on the news. I have already shared pictures with you of my living conditions. Here are some more personal shots that I would like to share with you guys. I tried not to make them too gory! Enjoy!

Soldier formation during funeral ceremony.

Family and Friends:

Who Would've Thought?

Muktadr Al Sadr. He is a radical Shiite cleric in Iraq stirring up much trouble for the coalition forces. In April alone, he and his militia were responsible for over 100 U.S. solider deaths. He is 30 years old.

Sudip Bose. A regular guy with a fairly normal upbringing stirring up no trouble and minding his own business! I too am 30 years old.

We live on opposite ends of the world. We have totally different lives. I grew up one way. He grew up another. Under ordinary circumstances our paths would have never crossed. Never. But now I wonder how could this man have such an effect on my life? Many people have shaped me into the person I am today. Parents, family, teachers, coaches, professors, neighbors, and friends. All of you. But Muktadr Al Sadr?

I am no longer in Baghdad. I am now heavily immersed as front line medical support and the sole doctor in a series of intense raids aimed at capturing Muktadr Al Sadr. The pursuit of this man and his militia has completely altered my life here. I am coupled with select Marine troops (who do not have their own doctor) and elements of my Army battalion. The fighting is extremely intense. This is not car bombs. This is not explosive devices. This is one force (us) versus another force (the Al Sadr militia) on the battlefield which is a cemetery in Najaf, Iraq. In the thick of things I am immersed. Who would've thought?

Since my last letter to you all this trip out of Baghdad was not quite the one I had anticipated. With about 4 hours notice I was emergently pulled from my weekly shift at the Combat Support Hospital and instructed to pack up my items and head "elsewhere." After several hours of convoy, now I write you from Najaf, Iraq. I have been here for a few days now. Who would've thought?

I roll around the streets of Najaf in a tracked vehicle. We stop and set up the canopy. It is here we treat patients. It is my life. I sleep in it. In the afternoon sun I roast in it. I watch blackhawk and apache helicopters flying overhead in it. I hear loud explosions from it. I transport in it. I work out of it. I live in it. Hey, not all of us are lucky enough to work out of our own home!

 

Life is no longer out of a building once infested with rats. But now I long for that. Who would've thought? No longer in Baghdad for now. Now a homeless nomad in Najaf, Iraq. Uncertain where I will be even two weeks from now. Uncertain if I will live out of this vehicle and sleep in the cot pictured on the side of it for the rest of my deployment (March 2005?). Uncertain when and if I will have internet access again. Uncertain if we will accomplish the mission of capturing this man. Uncertain if I will be able to one day look the man who placed me in this intense battle in the face. Uncertain why I do not feel anger or hate towards this man, just awe that his actions can affect my life in such a significant manner. Uncertain how and why things end up the way they do.

I lie on the top of a tracked vehicle staring at the stars in the desert sky. I try to motivate for another intense mission. I ponder the above thoughts. Think? Don't think! Just execute! This is the life of a deployed soldier in Iraq.

Just wanted to say hi again. I hope everyone had a good 4th of July weekend. Usually I celebrate Independence Day by seeing fireworks. This year the "fireworks" were a little different. Very explosive nonetheless!

Thank you for your emails. I realize I have been delinquent on many replies. Whenever a soldier dies here all communication is cut off until the family is notified. Although there has been progress with internet cafe here I find at times it is several days before I can make it there and when I do the computers often do not work or are very slow. Kind of like the state of this country...in the process of rebuilding but not quite there yet. Nonetheless, thank you for your emails and support. It is so much appreciated!

The Iraq situation is often portrayed negatively. Soldiers dying. 12-15 month deployments often without mid-tour leave (as in my case). Unbearable climate. Many locals taking what we are trying to give them with one hand and attempting to kill us with the other. The media and recent movies have pointed out the explosions, death, and darkness. There is definitely truth in that. But even through the harshest of combat environments some positives do pop up here and there. I thought I'd change the tone of this email and try to point out some of the positives, both on a larger level and for myself. It is the things below that help me through these times.

The Larger Glass is Half Full:

Optimism: Iraq is "free". The local Iraqis can hopefully shed the cloak of dependency and assume taking more matters in their own hands.

Optimism: Bad Aim. People firing mortars have terrible aim. Worse than a doctor with an M16 machine gun! Their misfires make for fewer casualties (and interesting stories!).

Optimism: Rebuilding of a nation. Millions of dollars have been put into repairing sewer systems, taking trash off the streets, and renovating buildings. We live by a circular road which troops had termed "stinky circle". It is now a little less stinky. Even our area of Baghdad is more livable. My building is no longer severely rat infested. Painted, shattered windows repaired (until they are shattered again). Plumbing fixed. Fewer power outages. For a while there the electric wires were crossed with showers so we were getting shocked when touching the faucet!

Optimism: Rebuilding of local hospitals and clinics.

Optimism: More children immunized.

Optimism: School textbooks don't mention Saddam Hussein for the first time in 30 years.

Optimism: Interacting with local physicians. "Emergency Medicine" is not a specialty here yet. MUCH needed.

Optimism: Reaching out to the youth who will hopefully one day like Americans. More smiles, waves, handshakes. Hopefully they will enjoy the life I one day hope to return to once deployment ends.

Optimism: Caring for 2 children with a life threatening blood disease and trying to arrange for their care in the United States.

The Smaller Glass is Half Full:

Optimism: I am still physically and mentally and emotionally healthy. I wish we could all say the same. If I make it home without any injuries and am sane I cannot complain.

Optimism: Knowing this hell is only temporary

Optimism: Recognizing happiness does not come from material goods or money

Optimism: An uneventful day.

Optimism: Watching DVD movies on those uneventful days. Saw "Fahrenheit 9/11" 2 days after it came out in the States! Interesting (and much more relaxing) seeing the raids in Iraq on a computer screen rather than in life. The copies are bootlegged versions taken by someone in the local theaters with a camcorder. You can hear popcorn crunching, people whispering, and often see people walk in front of the screen! It's like being in a theater!

Optimism: A shower, laundry, and fresh change of clothes. This does not occur for us everyday. Most of us only brought three uniforms for the whole year.

Optimism: Powder-for those other days. (I have more than enough and don't need anymore-thanks)

Optimism: Getting sleep.

Optimism: Not getting crazy war dreams during that sleep.

Optimism: Life. Saving a life.

Optimism: Killing a nasty bug in my room.

Optimism: Trying the local food

Optimism: No diarrhea after the local food (a.k.a. Saddam's revenge)

Optimism: Having V.I.P as a patient. (A very famous bearded man now on trial). Now that he is on trial I am allowed to share that I helped take care of him. It was fascinating sitting in the same room over six hours with this man. Cannot say where I cared for him. Cannot say for what. Patient confidentiality.

Optimism: Working out. Now I understand why prisoners lift weights! Much of my free time has been spent doing this.

Optimism: Unbelievable trauma experience.

Optimism: Having my friends reassure me I am not "lanky" and "dorky." Thanks guys! You're the best! This is how a recent front-page article chose to describe me. Although, around 6'5" infantry guys I probably do come off that way! For the record, I did not join the military for purely financial reasons and it was not an "accident." Nor is Baghdad a "utopia." Definitely an interesting read...

Optimism: Writing a book and hoping to publish (looking for willing publisher)

Optimism: Getting to appreciate why I really went into medicine.

Optimism: Air conditioning-when it works-to bring the temperature down from 120 degrees to a nice "cool" 90 degrees.

Optimism: Earning several military coins as awards. "I went to Baghdad and all I got was this lousy t-shirt!"

Optimism: Learning Arabic (well not really but I know some words). "Alem" means pain. This is the word I most commonly encounter.

Optimism: Care packages

Optimism: Letters

Optimism: Emails

Optimism: Support from family and friends have been unbelievable. Even from those I have not spoken to in years or have not even met! Childhood, High School, Undergraduate, Med School, Residency, and Work friends! Like a reunion (kind of). Thank you guys!

Optimism: Support for my mom, dad, and sister in the States (in many senses this is much harder for them than for me). Thank you again.

Optimism: Receiving a "thank you"

Optimism: Recognizing life is short and even one year can change the course of life forever.

Optimism: Receiving emails from animal activists questioning why I dislike rats and spoke badly of them on my last email. Made me chuckle. I do not dislike rats. They have their home and I have mine. We just need our space!

Optimism: Realizing "it's already been a week." Although it seems to be going a lot faster for the people who email me and say "Six months already? Wow that was fast!" Uh huh...

Optimism: Porcelain toilets - hard to come by.

Yes this is miserable. But at times good can come out of even the worst of situations. The glass is half full not half empty. 6 months down. I will be a happy man when I get to go home! And that is something definitely positive I hold on to!

Take care!

Sudip

"It Could be Worse"

Dear Family and Friends,

Once again greetings from Baghdad! Just wanted to send you all another update to let you all know I am still doing okay. Hope things are well for you all too.

I ponder what to write this time. Reminds me of when I would come home from school back in the day and my parents would ask.... "How was your day? What happened in school today?" I would always answer "nothing much." No matter what happened to me the day seemed uneventful from my perspective. Just the same old routine. "Another normal day." I guess here too I have fallen into the "same old routine." My life is so different from that just 5 months ago, yet things seem to be becoming more "normal." Things that I would never have imagined myself doing are becoming "normal."

-Blackhawk helicopter whizzing overhead.... "normal."

-Tanks driving by constantly.... "normal."

-Explosions.... "normal."

-Providing medical support for daily and nightly missions.... "normal"

-Buzz of army acronyms over our radios.... "normal"

-Saw a porcupine trying to enter my building (lizards, scorpions, rats and other unwanted guests not welcome in this home).... "normal."

-Another packaged lunch.... "normal"

-Cross under a bridge while taking a quick glance overhead that there is no one throwing grenades from the top.... "normal."

-Another window shattered.... "normal."

-Put on my Kevlar helmet and my 40 lb bullet proof flack vest and protective eyewear to venture out on a convoy.... "normal." I cannot imagine going anywhere without this gear on me. I wonder if I would recognize myself in my old clothes and longer hair anymore!

-Sweat.... "normal." It is getting extremely warm out here. July/August reaches 125 degrees in the shade from what I am told! Temperatures as high as 150's last summer! That's okay though since it's a "dry" heat!!!

Getting into the groove of things and realizing the luxuries of home which I missed so much earlier are becoming less and less of a craving. Life out here is becoming "normal."

As June 30th approaches (the date for "turnover" of Iraq) my schedule seems to remain the same. Unfortunately this upcoming date does not mean a plane trip home anytime soon. I hope this deployment will be one year total (end in January 2005??!!), however I am expecting anything since recent units have been extended. Who knows, maybe one day I will become a permanent Baghdad citizen! (No thanks). From a personal standpoint, my job will be the exact same on June 29th as it will be on July 1st. So will most of ours. If anything, it may become busier for us as more uprisings are anticipated.

From a medical standpoint, things have been steady. My patients encompass a broad spectrum mostly consisting of U.S. troops in Baghdad. With my physician assistant on mid-tour leave, I am pretty much the only front-line provider on this north side of the city. At the Combat Support Hospital I see most of the trauma cases in Baghdad as well as occasional trauma patients from Najaf, Fallujah, and other nearby towns (Army, Marines, etc). I regularly care for Iraqi prisoners of war (treated nobly may I add....sorry to disappoint but won't see pictures of me with abused prisoners on TVJ), Iraqi civilians, U.S. contractors, and occasional V.I.P. patients...maybe one day I will be allowed to reveal who. Just as thought provoking is taking care of detainees as they glare, spit, and curse at us. Many have routine complaints. However, daily trauma care too is becoming "normal."

The other day I saw a patient with a shoulder injury. "How did you injure your shoulder?" I asked. This soldier fell asleep on his cot in an awkward position. His left arm fell asleep. In the middle of the night his left arm lay across his chest, heavy without sensation. In a state of grogginess he awakens to feel "a heavy arm" lying across his chest. Frantically he reaches for his knife to stab the arm which he mistakens to be someone else's limb. Perhaps the enemy's arm reaching for his weapon? Luckily there is no knife in proximity. He pulls his left arm violently with his right arm and nearly dislocates his own left shoulder! Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Tylenol. Rest, ice. Call me in the morning. "Normal" combat stress.

Another soldier comes to me and hands me his M16 weapon. "You must take this from me doctor, or else I am afraid I will do something I will regret." His wife had recently informed him she was going to leave him for another man. Many marriages and relationships suffer the rigors of a 15 month deployment. Unfortunately another "normal" patient.

I pronounced Sergeant XXX dead at 0130 in the morning on the concrete. His intestines protruding from his abdomen he lie lifeless after an attack from a rocket propelled grenade to his vehicle. My trembling medic informs me "I was supposed to be in that vehicle!" His mission had been recently changed due to unforeseen circumstances. This was fortunate for the medic or he may have met the same fate. He could barely hold his composure. It is not usually the soldier with the bullet holes that suffers from the combat stress. It is his friend or acquaintance who nearly missed becoming a casualty. A "normal" reaction.

I guess overall not very fun out here... but unlike several others I have seen I still have my arms, legs, and vision. No new holes in me. Hopefully, it will stay this way. Fortunately this is temporary and will end. I cannot complain. One day I will look back at these "normal" days as an abnormal memory.

Take care, thank you for hearing my stories and for your support! As always you are in my thoughts!

Sudip

Deployment Motto: "It could be worse"

Family and Friends,

3 AM Baghdad time.....

Thought I'd share my uniquely proposed "Bose's Exit Plan From Iraq before June 30th" with you all today.....I understand the Bush administration and nations are debating the future of this country.....below is my humble solution based on a very eventful day:

The day began caring for an entire bus full of Iraqi civilians who were open fired upon. Yes... a bus full of patients with gunshot wounds!!!

THEN....the day REALLY started....

A prison filled with criminals was mortared in Baghdad today and all of a sudden... "Bose, we are receiving up to 50 patients." Absolute chaos. Some dead and never even arrived to me. Several others near-fatally injured.

Now here is the irony. This was a prison filled with Iraqis suspected of anticoalition activities....the ones who were firing mortars at us trying to kill Americans but somehow got captured and put in prison. Now the same people who they were working with fired mortars at them! Firing at their own "teammates!" Not only are these select crazy people trying to kill us but now they are succeeding at killing themselves! Insane!

Then it hit me! A brilliant idea! These people are killing everyone! They are even killing themselves now! If they continue to do this maybe all the "bad guys" will take each other out and there will be none left. The other good Iraqis can live happily ever after and we can smoothly exit the country....

At the rate things are going this may all even occur before the proposed June 30th deadline!

Just a thought.....
You are in my thoughts......

Good night,
Sudip

Family and Friends,

Thought I'd send out a hello to update everyone about life in Baghdad. 2 months 20 some days into deployment so far. Feels like an eternity yet not even 3 months. The novelty is gone as we settle into our "routines." Troops struggle to keep morale up. Now we look ahead only to see and endless tunnel of time. Maybe 10 more months (hopefully), maybe 15 more months. Nobody knows. Time just keeps ticking. And ticking. And ticking. And ticking.

Days here seem to just turn like the pages of a book exposed to an unpredictable wind. On one page I take care of several marines. They have been getting hit pretty hard as well. On another page we prepare for missions attempting to arrest an Anti-American leader here who is stirring up much of our troubles. Another page caring for ambushed civilians or prisoners of war and children. Other pages are about preparing for possible convoys into nearby town Fallujah for upcoming operations due to recent events. This morning I ate breakfast and saw a new friend of mine. We exchanged hellos. This evening I pronounced him dead and saw the contents of his breakfast in his ruptured intestines. This book gets uglier and uglier...and the ending does not seem happy.

No new bruises for me thankfully. No more getting pelted with stones. Unfortunately cannot say the same for everyone else. Plenty of injuries. The enemy is faceless and cowardly. They set up explosive devices or fire rocket propelled grenades from a distance and are often never to be found again. Only to leave someone blinded, paralyzed, permanently disabled, or lifeless. Things have been exploding left and right here. Bombs in hotels. Bombs in cars. Bombs in trucks. Bombs in soda cans. Bombs in dead animals. Bombs in tree branches. Bombs in potholes. Bombs in people. Anti-American protests everywhere. Some Iraqis are pro-American. Some are not. Probably more eventful here than the news ever portrays....then again I do not regularly get the news here...

Recently we (the 1st Cavalry) participated in a series of intense raids called Operation Iron Promise aimed at catching people firing mortar rounds at us and seizing their weapons. Raids happen daily and nightly here. Often I accompany. Often I stay back on the street corner in my vehicle waiting for patients. Often I wait in my aid station and patients are evacuated to me. Often I am at the 31st Combat Support Hospital in the Green Zone of Baghdad. All I know is that I am keeping busy...Often....

Few weeks ago we moved into a new building about 1 block away from our last building. It is located about a block west of the Tigris River. This river has a lot of history behind it and was supposedly once one of the origins of human civilization. Our building looks like it has been there since then! It was in a state of shambles. Several days spent sweeping, mopping, cleaning, trying to fix plumbing and electricity, putting hinges on doors, and painting (actually a nice break from seeing patients). The buildings are filled with rats and these are no ordinary rats. These are Darwinian rats... "survival of the fittest" rats. They are nearly a foot long with long tails and they pop out of nowhere! We place mousetraps with peanut butter on them and they lick the peanut butter and walk right over the traps! They climb walls and gnaw through food containers. They can be heard running above our heads on the other side of the ceiling panel and sometimes they fall through and land on our beds. We have been getting used to being attacked by mortar rounds and bombings here in Baghdad....but frankly at times I think the rats freak us out more! In the states you see the movies where people jump on the couch and scream when they see mice. Here the rats jump up there with you. Thrilling....

Experience here is truly enlightening. There are several things I miss....things that I often took for granted.

1) Peace. I cannot imagine life in Israel/ Palestine/ other places in the world where people constantly live in fear of death/explosions/terrorism. For me it is only temporary and the memories will last for life. From personal experience, it is terrifying to be sitting in a room and have the window explode from a mortar round that landed few feet away...especially when I just decided to stick around in the building a few minutes longer and could have been outside right where it landed! Also terrifying examining the bullet holes through our ambulance door by the seat that I was going to sit in but decided not to (the person sitting there was not so lucky). Going to the grocery store or to our jobs without losing a limb is not something to take for granted. I pray that the world does not crumble to terrorism or other evil forces where this is taken away from us. We had a taste of this on September 11, 2001. Some people live it everyday. It is truly miserable.

2) Fast food. I never thought I would crave Pizza Hut and Taco Bell like I do. I think the first month I return will be a dedicated "fast food" month. The local food here is risky at times...several diarrhea cases...we have nicknamed the syndrome "Saddam's revenge"

3) Porcelain toilets (see Saddam's revenge above)

4) Showers. Warm showers. Clean showers.

5) Family and Friends...and thus I write this letter to you all. Thank you so much for your support.

6) Etc...etc...etc...

On the other hand, there are actually certain things I do not miss so much....

1) The daily "rat race." Things that I used to find "annoying" are not an issue here. For example, paying bills, filling up the gas tank, sorting through junk mail (all mail is good here), deadlines, routines, commitments, exams, errands around the home, etc... In a weird sense this is an interesting getaway with a whole different set of stresses. Puts an interesting perspective to prior stresses. Instead of worrying about the "rat race" I worry about rats....

2) Not having to prepare my food or figure out what to eat. There is one choice...the chow hall...take it or leave it. Like it or not. If it's moldy just don't eat it! Kind of like a college cafeteria (except you are getting shot at)

Everyday we try to find something positive, no matter how small, and try to hang on to it until bedtime. Sometimes it is the grilled steak night at the chow hall (rare) and other times it is the nice email or letter. We savor those moments and use them to drive on?..

Take care!

Keep in touch (and sorry if I cannot do so very well)! You guys are still in my thoughts.

Sudip

Hello from Baghdad.....Joy....another mass email from me (sorry for the mass email....internet still fairly limited here:)

What a day today! So I awoke zero-early A.M. in typical Army fashion. In a semi- comatose state managed to down some breakfast (not very tasty).... feeling a little under the weather. Around 10 AM there was a bombing/Rocket propelled grenade (who knows???) at a mosque in the Kadamiya area of Baghdad about 1/2 mile from where I spent the night. Absolute chaos! Our unit (1-5 Cav of 1st Cavalry Division) rolled out to the site. I was in an armored humvee. The streets were packed with thousands and thousands of people.....celebrating the holiday of Ashovara. This is a holiday in honor of Imam Hussein the grandson prophet of Muhammed. The Shiite Muslims feel he died in vain so mark this holiday by slaying themselves (cutting etc...) as a means of sacrifice. From our perspective this means more suicide bombings....

As we rushed to the site of the bombing the crowds began hurling rocks at us. I was in a humvee with M16 pointed out the window. The women in burkas spit at our vehicles. Hoards pounded on the windows. All there was was glass (windows halfway rolled down so I could have my machine gun out the window) between myself and thousands of angry mobs.....somehow they were under the impression that the bombing was the Americans' fault??!!?! Angry. Angry.

Security was posted (somewhat) and I exited the vehicle to treat patients (hundreds of patients some severely injured and some mildly). I was the sole doctor with a few medics. Rocks bounced off my kevlar (helmet). I don't know where the heck all these rocks came from.....as if they brought a dump truck filled with stones!!!??? I didn't think there were that many rocks in the whole city! AK47 gunfire was heard in the background. Save lives??? I couldn't even save my own if my life counted on it!!!! It was absolutely terrifying....

So several rock bruises and a slight limp later I write this email to all of you.....extremely thankful that these bruises were my only injuries (although it was painful).....Sticks and stones can break your bones!!! (Saliva, Arabic swear words, and gunfire overhead is not too pleasant either!)

We turned around and sought shelter behind the walls of the compound before I really had a chance to treat any patients. 6 ft high flames were set around us and people attempted to climb the walls and we warded them off with our weapons.....Needless to say, I really earned my Combat Medical Badge today for providing care in the direct line of fire (and saliva, and rocks, and cussing)....My life would have been just fine without it but hey........ Absolutely nuts!!!!

I hope this goes down as my most terrifying day in Baghdad and these go down as my only injuries. I will consider myself extremely lucky.

For the most part the Iraqi people are very friendly. There are a small percent who are extremely anti-American. Today the whole mob turned anti-American. It absolutely baffles me how some of the most holy people in the world (praying over 10 times a day) attempt to kill us and injure us out of the same mosques they pray in......with the same hands they pray with.....

I guess, then again, every group of people has their extremists.....

So not everyday has been like this. On the usually calmer (yet still very eventful) days my time is split between shifts at the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad and providing medical coverage on patrols. Unfortunately still lots of trauma.....everyday.

On a brighter note, I was personally able to meet with the Secretary of Health from George Bush's Cabinet (Tommy Thompson) when he made his visit to Baghdad. I was also able to converse with Dr. Sanjay Gupta who provides the medical coverage on CNN television. Just conversation....no TV coverage.....no thanks.....not for me.....

Hope this email finds you all well. You are all in my thoughts and thank you for reading through my stories. Thank you for your support.

Take care my friends (and family),

Sudip

Address:
CPT Sudip Bose
Batallion Surgeon
HHC 1-5 CAV, 1st Cavalry Division
Operation Iraqi Freedom
APO AE 09379

Family, Friends,

Wow! I cannot even begin to put in one email what I have experienced here in Baghdad since I arrived on the 1st of February.

Anyways....the convoy went decently well....as well as can be expected. Flat tire on one vehicle from an explosive device. Gunfire in the distance.... who knows what they were aiming at. Some Iraqis shoot in the air for celebration so it's hard to distinguish. One of our medics shot an Iraqi man on a rooftop who was aiming a weapon at an Army vehicle while the tire was being changed. Luckily no major injuries....Probably the most heartbreaking thing was the little 3 year old children in the villages waving to us on the way and begging for food. We were ordered not to give anything because then the kids run in front of the military vehicles and injure themselves. Really hard to say no and tell them to go away...

However, on the way, many camels, sheep and desert miles later... we passed through the quaint villages with villagers in traditional attire....holding a can of Pringles potato chips and Swimsuit Issue of Sports illustrated......truly the Americans had arrived.......kind of humorous.

Then I arrived to BIAP (another happy army acronym for Baghdad international Airport). We then convoyed to the main camp/area we would be staying in. There is absolutely nothing there. No phones, internet, etc... It is a brand new prior unoccupied area. The one good thing is the rooms are trailers with heat (which is an upgrade from the tents we were in prior that I sent a picture of)....or is it an upgrade???? It poured the first night and my room completely flooded! My clothes stayed completely dry the whole trip up from the States and got soaked in my room in Baghdad! Go figure. Wore around wet stuff all day.
Kuwait was freezing. Baghdad is wet. Pick your pain!


Then came the idea that they want me to stay off the main base area in case of an attack there. In that case I would be the treating doctor. So I have been pretty mobile. Almost everyone else stayed on the main base. I moved out of my trailer and have been in different areas. I have been treating patients in the most random places. I saw a patient with a fracture that I treated in the butcher shop of Odai's (Saddam Hussein's dead son) palace. Once used to chop chickens and now used to manipulate human bones! I'm sure he would be proud. He has a nice swimming pool where he had all his parties but unfortunately no swimming for me :)


Now I am located just off the Tigris River. Myself and a select few were supposed to stay near the Iraqi Intelligence building (like their C.I.A.). There is an nice building that was once the General's home. Would be a nice place to stay but slight problem...the Americans ble