Saint Elijah's Monastery

Saint Elijah's Monastery is the oldest abandoned Assyrian Christian monastery in Iraq. It is located in Mosul on Forward Operating Base Marez.

Local tradition dates the monastery's beginning at approximately 350 AD. The original monks desired a location that would provide isolation, water, and arable land.

These reclusive Christians found an ideal location near a tributary of the Tigris River. For the first 250 years the monks toiled, prayed, worshiped, and wrote scripture.

These men established a significant social welfare system that provided food for the impoverished people of the region and a home for orphans.

Around the year AD 590, as well known Assyrian monk from the Byzantine Empire (modern Turkey) named Mar Elia learned of the humanitarian work and ministries of the monastery. Leaving the comfort of the world's cultural center, Mar Elia traveled to the austere Ninevah region in order to aid with construction, organization, and order for the monastery that now bears his name and that of the Old Testament prophet Elijah.

For over 1,150 years the monastery functioned as a benevolent microcosm of society. With a

spirit of sincere humility the monks embodied the phrase ora et labora, "there is honor in labor".

In the year 1743 a zealous Persian leader, Tahmaz Nadir Shah, ordered every person in his territory to convert to Islam or die. the monks were not exempt fro the persecution. A dispatched detachment of soldiers ordered the monks to renounce Christ and confess allegiance to Islam or be executed. As many as 150 monks and the sheltered orphans were martyred.

For over 250 years after the monastery massacre, committed Christians made annual pilgrimages to the ruins on the feast day of St. Elijah. The pilgrimages ceased in the 1970's when the facility became a base of operations for the Iraqi Republican Guard.

The Iraqis lived in and controlled the monastery until 2003 with the 101st Airborne Division

assaulted the position. During the battle, the eastern wall was struck by the turret of an Iraqi driven Russian tank. the 1,400 year-old chapel wall received considerable damage as a result of the impact. For a period of time, the 101st Airborne soldiers occupied the monastery without knowing the significance or history of the structure.

When a chaplain with the Screaming Eagles reported the religious, cultural, and historical importance of the area, General David Petraeus ordered the soldiers clear the area. US Army chaplains have been the guardians, historians, and cultural tour guides for the monastery since that time. The chaplains work closely with the local Provincial Reconstruction Team to preserve the integrity of the area.

There are weekly tours offered to the 47th CSH. It was so great to get to see this piece of history that I otherwise would never get to see.

Sandbags

This morning was another early Army morning as 1LT Robertson and I were assigned to the sandbag detail. Even though we do not belong to the 47th CSH's Alpha Co. our fellow RNs on the floor volunteered us for the detail. While the early rise was not pleasant we managed to make the detail sort of fun. There were soldiers also assigned that we would otherwise not have met. All in all, we did manage to have some fun.

The before shot with 1LT Robertson

Pulling weeds among the sandbags

Hauling the sandbags

Getting the sandbags to the roof

Sweeping the sandbags. Yup, he was sweeping them...

The after shot. Notice the dusty shorts.

Tikrit Mailing Address

Elizabeth Hultgren
COB Speicher
47th CSH
APO AE 09393


Snail mail is the greatest!!! hint...hint...hint

FOB Diamondback

I arrived safely and am getting accustomed to what my next two weeks are going to look like here in Mosul. Here are some quick shots of what it is like where I am.

Our sign right outside out ER entrance.
Machines used to save lives.

The Chaplain's Office.

A sign in one of our bathrooms.

The bunker just outside my bedroom door.
I don't think I am in Kansas anymore Todo...

Slight Change of Plans

So, I have had a slight change of plans for the first bot of my time in Iraq. Last night I flew on my first blackhawk up to Mosul. I will be spending the next few weeks working in with the 47th CSH Alpha Co. that is stationed up here. It is still ICU work but just a slightly different location. Mosul is super different than Tikrit, but the people are just as cool. Two of my friends from the WRAMC MICU/PICU are here and getting ready to go home so I am really enjoying my short time with them. Look really high on the map to see where Mosul is compared to Tikrit. Either way, I am safe.

Safe in Tikrit

Just a quick note to say that I made it safely to Tikrit today. I have pictures to share of my time in Kuwait (130* degrees) and of my flight to Iraq. As soon as I get some decent internet I will get back to my usual stories.

Flight into Iraq

Kristie and I got to sit up in the cockpit for our flight into Iraq. The flight crew was great about telling us about their jobs and some of the cool stuff they have gotten to do. Their jokes were pretty good too. While everyone else was crammed in the back, we were living large up front. It was a great opportunity to learn a little abou the aviation side of the Mission here. My big thanks to that crew!

Having some fun in Kuwait

CPT Lisa Joyce was one of my battle buddies while in Kuwait. She too is with the 47th CSH however she is stationed in Al Asad. The video is just a glimpse of the good times we had before we all split up to head into Iraq.

Pictures from Kuwait

On our last night in Kuwait we walked around to look at some of the murals that other Units had painted. This one was my favorite so I took a picture with my neighber John's coin.

And I had to give a shout out to my Burdine cousins!

With CPT Lisa Joyce and 1LT Kristie Miller at the range.

A beautiful pre-sunrise at the range.

Skype

When I do get settled in Tikrit I am hoping to get my Skype up and running ASAP. Look me up

eahultgren

Safe Arrival in Kuwait

After a 14 hour flight and a 6 hour layover in Ireland with an 8 hour time change I am here safely in Kuwait. Getting here to the Camp we are staying was the longest trip I could imagine.

Once we arrived in Kuwait it took another 6ish hours until we actually arrived at the camp we are training at. We got to camp in the wee hours of the morning. First on everyone's list was a shower followed by a hot meal. Our cadre (instructors) let us sleep for a few hours before starting our training for the day. For the next few days we will have some early mornings of outside training to try to avoid the heat before heading into air conditioned tents for some classroom training. I do have some pictures and a pretty funny video to show you. When I get to Iraq it should be easier to get Internet access so I will post them then.

The heat is amazingly brutal. I had heard from many how hot it gets here but August is an entirely different beast. Afternoon temps are in the 120's. Our tent cranks the AC so well that I am wearing some of my cold weather gear at night (it is great!).

We are here for a few more days of training before heading across the border to our actual duty stations. There are some really funny nurses and docs that I will be working with that I am training with now.

My goal during the next few days or weeks of training here and in Tikrit will be to update about safe travels as often as I can. Once settled in my new job and living situation I will work in getting some pictures up.

My week at CRC

This has been a crazy busy week of "Hurry up!...then wait..." Our mornings typically started at 0430 and we worked until 1500 or 1600. Some days consumed with Administrative SRP, Medical SRP, firing at the range, equipment procurement, and lots of training. My roommate and I were usually in bed by 2100 every night, we were exhausted. It has been fun to get to know some of the doctors and nurses that I will be working with. My new Head Nurse was in our group and I got to spend a little time talking with him. I am looking forward to working with him.

The main part of my "IOTV" body armor

SSG McAfee showing CPT Joyce how to assemble IOTV

Classroom lectures, a daily event.

Just wanted to give a shout out to Ben and Anita!

Fort Benning

I arrived to Fort Benning GA on Saturday to begin final preparations for deployment. I am here with about 30 other members of the 47th CSH. We are being divided up into three different locations in Iraq. As far as I know I am still headed to Tikrit but that can always change. Our days start early (0430 formations) but usually end around 1500. Yesterday we hit the gym after work and today we did some Tae Bo.

We are being issued a lot of gear to take over with us. Some is protective while some is for comfort (warm weather gear, sleeping bag...). Today we received a little less than half with the rest to come tomorrow.

I will try to get some pictures of what we are up to so you can get a glimpse.

I Still Don't Like Shots

remember lou bega's "mambo #5"? just hum the chorus while reading

A little bit of anthrax on the right

A little bit of typhoid side by side

A little bity bandaid is all I need

Flowers and Tweety did the deed

A little bit of smallpox poked and poked

Both my shoulders really hurt

A few more vaccines here to come

I can't wait to get them done

Those itty bitty shots protect from what's to come...

Moving Day

Last night was spent packing up most of my stuff in preparation for the movers that came today to store everything while I am in Iraq. It is a bittersweet day. While I am not excited about being away from friends and family for so long, I am eager to do what it is that I have been trained to. Last night and today are helping this all to finally sink in as to the unknown that lies ahead.