Dad is living and working on Sather Air Force base. The Palaces in the pictures are on two Army bases: Camp Victory and Camp Slayer. These were some of the first targets when Baghdad was hit. The Baath Party House Palace was hit with two missiles while many of Sadam's men were there. They missed Sadam by 15 minutes. Dad's unit is restricted to the Air Force base and the Army bases. If they go off base, they have to have their gun with them in case they had to protect either themselves or the base from attack. The water supply is all handmade/manmade lakes. Sadam used 8 of the city’s 10 water pumps to fill all these lakes for a long time--taking away water from the city of Baghdad and the farmers, whose fields dried up. Sadam had walls built around the lakes, and farmers right outside the walls did not even know there was water and lakes there. Sadam did it just to look good to the other Arab’s. In the desert water supply is seen as power. There are many sad stories related to Sadam's brutal dictatorship (many abuses to the people, young women and even small girls) Dad said, "Some of the nasty stuff we heard on the tour from the tour guide sure makes you think we did the right thing getting him out of here; numerous killings; even his own relatives; and anyone who threatened him. He also killed many young girls..."
Thank you for your service, Dad!
On the tour of the palaces: The Victory over America palace, Victory over Iran Palace, and Baath Party Palace
This chair sits where one of the missiles hit (Typical dad style)
We all love and miss you, Dad!
