This past week has been one of reflection and of some much needed rest.... The command decided to dedicate a wall in the ARSIC-S Headquarters to all the fallen heroes that have died in combat since the implementation of the command. The wall is a tribute to the supreme sacrifices paid by these warriors. I take my hat off to CSM Bobby Albert and COL Thomas McGrath for establishing such a fitting tribute to these warriors. (SSG Roy Lewsader, CPT Joshua Steele, SFC Christopher Henderson, SFC John Hennen, SGT Edward Philpot, SSG David Bullard, and SFC Johnny Walls).
COL McGrath, Chaplain Roy Butler and CSM Bobby Albert officiated in this tribute. They really made this dedication special, as they reminded us of why we are here, and why these warriors lives will not be forgotten. What a great tribute to quote GEN George S. Patton as we honor not their death, but their lives.
I was finally granted a much needed Rest and Recuperation pass to Doha, Qatar. This place is Iraq and Afghanistan premier destination for soldiers to get away from the stress and rigors of war and down-shift a bit..... I am so thankful to have had this opportunity.... I truly feel rejuvenated for the next and final leg of this deployment. Pictured below is yours truly in Qatar.
More pictures of Qatar, the famous Clam Shell.... Qatar is famous for its history in pearls, both fresh and salt water pearls are in abundance here. Prior to their wealth as an oil nation, they were a country with a huge fishing industry, but mostly famous for its pearls.
Here in Doha, you go casual. The post have tours that soldiers can sign up for like golf, water sports (jet ski rides and other boating activities), Doha City Tour, Island Sea Picnic, Shopping Malls, and an assortment of restaurants. The tours are priced between $25-35 dollars depending on the tour. It is just great to allow troops this opportunity to relax for four days. With the advent of oil, Qatar is a rich country. Its citizens are spoiled, they do not work, have maids, drive luxurious cars, pay no electric bills or medical bills, and free college education for every citizen. The government shares its wealth with those that are Qatarian, they give them a monthly stipend in excess of $7,000 a month in many cases. They are a closed nit society, in order for a company to come in and do business one of their citizens must sponsor the company and be the principal owner with 51% of the business, you get 49% and do all the work... WOW, what an arrangement.... and what a novel idea.
This country is largely Islamic and even though you see the lavish lifestyles of its people, you can also see how women are treated as well.... I respect this country, for what they do for its people, but there is still "no place like home" The workers are imported here from the Philippines, Pakistan, India, and other places. They are like slaves, they make so little, they live in terrible conditions, doing what no one else wants to do, but realize that it is better than the alternative, (no job, no food, and no way to provide for their families)....
The large camels smelled really bad and had a tendency to slobber and spit, so I kept my distance. I did get to feed a new born camel, that still have part of his umbilical cord attached....
Qatar has so much construction going on which is a sign of progress. They are trying to get the Olympic games in 2016, so you see new buildings and roads going up everywhere. Above is the cross sabers leading into downtown. Though the malls are very Western, with US style restaurants and clothing shops, most Qatarians have only the white robe for the men and the black robe with hood for the women. Most of the females have nice designer handbags to go with the robe. I got a kick out of this store, I had to take this picture....
I am on my final day in Qatar... I went to the mall for a break, mainly for the restaurants, (McDonalds, KFC, Krispy Kreme, etc). The Villagio Mall was really majestic, designed on the Italian theme with its buildings, gondola rides, a nice break...
No comments:
Post a Comment