Wayne's World 2005: Day 117

Staff SGT Donald Wayne West, Jr., enlisted in the United States Army National Guard on September 11, 2001. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Company A of the 150th Combat Engineers served active duty Aug 29, 2004, until Dec 30, 2005. SSGT West returned to college in January, 2006. He married Lauren Ritchie June 9, 2006, at Seaside, Fla., and they have three children. SSGT West completed military service at Camp Minden, LA on Aug 23, 2009.

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Day 117 - Barefootin' It

Here's the latest news from Wayne's Forward Operating Base (FOB):

1. The area had three big sandstorms Thursday.
2. One hour after they were scheduled to perform, the USO show called to cancel.
3. The first phones arrived, but there is no power to run them.
4. Temperature in the tents is 106 degrees.
5. One soldier found a scorpion crawling on the wall of his tent yesterday.
6. A truck driver bringing supplies to the base was killed by an IED yesterday.

Here's the latest news from Wayne:

1. The chow hall has new chairs and tables.
2. The base is getting a new workout area.
3. The Iraqi children need shoes.

"The skin on the bottom of their feet is nearly an inch thick," he marveled. "It has to be, so that the children can walk on the rocks and hot sand. To have shoes is a very big deal. I wish we could collect some shoes."