interesting

gtmo trials





45 days

120 down 60 to go*

*approximately 60, who knows when I am actually getting out of here. Although the first company of reliefs manned up out of Gulfport last week, so they are on the way. Our reliefs (Bravo company's that is, the company that I am in) should be leaving for Washington sometime soon. Turns out there is light at the end of the tunnel. There isn't much else to report on that I can talk about, just a few frustrating days at work. Oh well, stories galore when I get back, can't wait. See ya.

still here

Well, the hurricane missed us. Those pictures of the cliff are good though. That's a pretty high cliff and the sea spray came up over the top when the waves hit the cliff. That was pretty cool. As my senior chief says "it's all fun and games until one of those [waves] comes over the cliff." Anyway we all fared well and nothing was seriously damaged where I am. Hopefully I can say the same for my car in a couple of days.

So --

How's the weather?
Strong winds and surf buffeted the U.S. detention camp for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, on the island's eastern end, where a guard tower was washed into the sea. There were no reports of casualties."
.........
The U.S. detention camp at Guantanamo escaped the brunt of the storm. Heaving surf tore away a lifeguard tower at Windmill Beach and winds destroyed a bus shelter. A few power lines and tree branches were knocked down and there was minor flooding.

American troops fixed metal shutters over the steel mesh windows of some prison cells overlooking the sea at Camp Delta, which is just 150 yards from the ocean.


and from the Navy these excerpts:
Waves crash against the southern coastline of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, just east of the base lighthouse. Hurricane Dennis passed the station, between 1 and 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7, sustained winds were recorded at 35 knots, gusting to 47. At that point, the eye of the storm was 87 nautical miles southwest of the station. Seas at the mouth of the bay were cresting at 10 feet, and were 12-14 feet offshore. The base suffered minimal damage and there were no injuries.

Oh Danny Boy

I know that you have been fretting about what to get me as a souvenir from Cuba (or from the Navy in general). Luckily, I have been fretting about this also and I now have the answer to your problem.
A chair. Not just any chair, a Navy chair. While at the less than local Burger King (a year ago, and besides, I didn't inhale), I noted a very striking aluminum chair. I have been looking around for something similar and believe I found not a duplicate but even better, the inspiration for the BK chair. It is an Emeco aluminum chair, Navy version (really, not making this stuff up). They utilize a 77 step process, a WWII design and they're made in Hanover PA.
I looked on ebay where they are scarce and costly, and new where they are way costly so I'm afraid you'll have to check around the base/ships/subs/officer homes/thrift shops/whatever. Feel free to pick up the matching child's chair and stool if it is convenient.