Balad Redux
Back to the Desert

About

I’m a Medical Service Corps officer in the Tennessee Air National Guard deployed to Balad, Iraq. I deployed to Balad for the first time in May 2003 after spending nearly 2 months in Kuwait immediately after the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). During that rotation, I was a Captain serving as the Officer in Charge of an Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Team (AELT) assigned to an Army Combat Support Hospital (CSH) in Balad. On the current rotation, I’ll be serving in the Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Team (AEOT).

ps-after arriving here, i learned i would actually be in charge of this team.

8 Responses to “About”

  1. Michael…. Be safe and be good. I love you SO much and MISS YOU already…… and you’re leaving tomorrow! Take care….

    Love, Mom

    Mom - September 9, 2007 at 7:06 pm

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  2. Michael,

    I have your email saved on my work computer, but we wanted to send you a Happy Thanksgiving message and say that we are so very thankful for you and your service to this country as we know what a sacrifice it is for you and Deborah, Emma and Masie. We miss you and can’t wait to see you again.

    Jaime, Michael (Mike), Madison and Katie Cole

    Jaime & Mike Cole - November 22, 2007 at 11:35 pm

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  3. Hi Michael,
    My hopes and prayers for you and yours.
    I wonder if you know my son, Tim Woodall.
    He’s AF Reserve, stationed there.

    Take care and come home safe.
    Best wishes for the Holidays.

    Doug Woodall - December 7, 2007 at 7:10 pm

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  4. Major Michael,
    please contact me by email so that I can get an address to have Sparrow send the Deluxe Care Package to.

    I’m in the lead for the Haiku Contest and that’s the prize every week. The winner gets to designate the recipient of a Deluxe Care Package.

    Since Dr. Chris has come home to TX…that leaves you. My niece is still @ Camp Lejune for another couple of months, so she’s not in the running, otherwise, you’d be out of luck, but…her loss is you and your unit’s gain.The voting is open until Friday, 9 est, if you want to make sure I win. Go to to http://chromedcurses.com/allatwitter/

    HollyB - January 18, 2008 at 8:04 am

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  5. Just wanted to know if I could e-mail you to ask a couple of questions about housing and amenities there. I was in Talafar (west of Mosul) in 04-05. We had nothing and from what I’m getting now I’ll be able to get almost anything when I get there. Suppose to be in country around mid-08. Just e-mail me when you get a chance…..

    Thanks and be safe…

    Mike - January 21, 2008 at 6:25 am

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  7. Will be headed off to Balad as the AEOT OIC in Sept08. What’s the best way of contacting the crew that’s currently on board at Balad? Would like to begin speaking to them now to begin the knowledge transfer. Thanks for your help and service.
    Jim

    Capt Jim Landis - June 30, 2008 at 9:54 am

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  8. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

    I was there during the same time. I got in country a weeks after you arrived and left several months after you headed out. Your blog brought back a flood of memories. Especially seeing the green bean trailer – yes they were overpriced but boy did they hit that spot left by the Starbucks withdrawal. Also for some reason, the photos of the pools made me think about Turkish food. :-)

    After reading your blog, now it makes sense why immediately after I landing they ensured we were notified of G.O. 1b. Glad that it was because we (the AF) caused all the ruckus.

    I remembered seeing all the posters for the various USO shows but alias I was not able to see any of it due to opstempo.

    Once again, thanks for the memories.

    J - December 31, 2008 at 4:07 am

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