I was lying in the rack two nights ago talking to my lovely wife on my Iraqna cell phone and getting ready to say goodnight as I had to be awake again in about five hours. Just before I did so, I heard the sound of gunfire. This is certainly not a rare experience, especially at night, but tonight the amount of fire was unusually high, and close. I initially did not think much of it, as I told my wife, but the volume of fire seemed to continue to increase. She encouraged me to just get some sleep and not go out to check it out. I initially agreed, as our perimeter is more than adequately manned, and we said our goodbyes. After I hung up, I laid there pensively in bed for a long 10 seconds as the volume of fire did not die down as it usually does. It continued to increase. My Soldier's instincts got the better of me as I got up and started to put my gear on over my t-shirt and shorts.
I chambered a round into my M4 carbine and began to open the door of my hooch when the announcement came over the camp PA system. "ATTENTION! THE ***** BASE IS NOT UNDER ATTACK. I SAY AGAIN, THE ***** BASE IS NOT UNDER ATTACK. IT IS ONLY CELEBRATION FIRE. Needless to say, I took of my gear and went back to bed. Apparently, Iraq had beaten Syria in a big soccer match. Several Iraqis told me the next day that the streets were packed with people chanting victory slogans, singing songs and firing into the air with AK-47's. This is not the first time I have heard or witnessed celebration fire, but it was definitely the largest outburst of it that I had heard and seen. There were a lot of tracers visible that night.
The problem is that what goes up must come down. Soon after the shooting began, the 7.62mm rain began. A total of 46 people went to local hospitals over the next 24 hours for treatment of their wounds from the falling bullets. No Americans were hurt, but I can't think of a more useless and preventable way to get shot. This happens all to frequently. Thunder 6 has another story of celebration fire gone horribly wrong here. Luckily, there was a happy ending. He posted that here. Would somebody please send something safer like bottle-rockets or firecrackers...??
I was thinking the same thing...
Someone ought to introduce them to fireworks...
Keep up the great work.
Highest Regards,
Keith
Posted by: Keith, Indy | December 14, 2005 at 10:01 PM
While I was there of OIF I a young kid leaving a messhall took one in the head from celebratory fire. He died. Truly a waste. They need to come up with something else
Posted by: cptham | December 15, 2005 at 12:43 AM
How about party favors and whistles?
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: PseudoIntellect | December 15, 2005 at 12:56 AM
Yah they need to be intoduced to poppers, streamers, fireworks, and flares!!
Stay safe, and come home soon
Margaret
Posted by: Margaret | December 15, 2005 at 03:06 AM
Funny how we are not allowed to send Soldiers or Marines anything "that is a fire hazzard or could explode under pressure" including soda or even a lighter. Seems to me they need a huge shipment of Bottle Rockets... show them the safe way to celebrate and not at the expense of others. Imagine the profit to be made if a fireworks shop opened up...whew...wish I could get in on that deal!
Posted by: Pamela | December 15, 2005 at 03:28 AM
Cap guns!
Posted by: PebblePie | December 15, 2005 at 08:41 AM
Los Angeles is famous for the celebration fire sent up by its Hispanic population on New Years Eve. But it appears from this site that the Iraqis have LA beat by miles, and more than once a year.
Posted by: Insufficiently Sensitive | December 15, 2005 at 07:11 PM
Fireworks that is a great idea. I wish we could send stuff like that.
Thank you for the awesome writing about what is happening.
Posted by: Wild Thing | December 15, 2005 at 08:11 PM
you should have seen it the celebration fire when saddam's sons were killed every iraqi in baghdad was firing tracers straight up
Posted by: beau | December 15, 2005 at 08:36 PM
if you only knew how many people get killed in the islamic world, while "celebrating," you would wonder how there are any people left. and it's everywhere in the islmic world not just iraq.
weddings-everyone bring your AK, stand in a circle and fire straight up.
parties-same thing
sports victories, or when goals are scored- same thing
many holidays-same thing
walking as a group, and someone says something like allah akbar-everyone unload a clip from your AK.
and on and on.
absolutely crazy. but as long as you're not around, let them do it. they hurt themselves and unload ammo.
Posted by: anon | December 27, 2005 at 05:54 PM