DRINK OF CHOICE

“THE ORIGINAL”
A GOURMET CUP OF JOE- favorite of CW2 Hendrix, pilot, coffee bartender

“THE DOUBLE EXPOSURE”
CAPPUCINO – War Photographer Jim Natcheway’s drink of choice while
covering the Original Dustoff for National Geographic

“60 MINUTES”
SINGLE, DOUBLE OR TRIPLE ESPRESSO – favorite of SSG Stephenson, interviewed by 60 Minutes and keeps you ticking for 60 min

“ZERO 6”
CHILLED COFFEE, CREAM, SUGAR SERVED ON THE ROCKS–favorite of MAJ Rose aka Dustoff 6

“DIRTY JOE”
CHILLED COFFEE, CHOCOLATE MILK, SUGAR SERVED ON THE ROCKS – favorite of SGT Dunbar, aka Dirty Joe
“CHAI”
SERVED HOT WITH STEAMED MILK , CHILLED WITH MILK, OR FROZEN WITH ICE AND MILK – mysterious spicy flavor

“COCO LOPEZ”
CREAM OF COCONUT MIXED WITH PINEAPPLE JUICE BLENDED WITH ICE– the virgin Pina Colada, this frozen concoction leaves you wishing you had 2, one for each hand

“CASF”
BANANA, STRAWBERRIES, MILK SERVED FROZEN AND TOPPED WITH RASPBERRY SYRUP – favorite of SGT Ramos, interviewed by San Antonio TV News during our nightly CASF run

“P.O.I.”
PINAPPLE AND GRAPE JUICE BLENDED WITH ICE, STAWBERRIES, BANANAS, TOPPED WITH RASPBERRY SYRUP – P.O.I is the acronym of “point of injury”, or otherwise called a “dustoff mission”

“SOUTH VIC”
CHILLED ESPRESSO, CHOCOLATE MILK, BLENDED WITH ICE AND TOPPED WITH CHOCOLATE SYRUP – favorite of CPT Huggins, named after a exciting flight to South Victory Pad in Baghdad

“COCOA CHILLER”
CHOCOLATE MILK, COCOA MIX, CHOCOLATE SYRUP. BLENDED WITH ICE. TOPPED WITH DARK AND WHITE CHOCOLATE SYRUPS
Truly a chocolate lover’s dream

“MORTARITA”
ON THE BOARDER MARGARITA MIX SERVED WITH SPRITE – Although this is the virgin sister to the real thing, its very thirst quenching and can be served on the rocks or blended

A PLACE TO ESCAPE

A Place to Escape

You may wonder how a coffee shop in the middle of Iraq offers a place to escape to. I will tell you a way that I have experienced. I am sitting on the couch watching two fellow Soldiers play Xbox 360, drinking a coffee with raspberry syrup, and talking to some friends about where our next PCS move will be when my radio goes off, I'm 1st up, Chase, urgent mission. I quickly head out the door, leaving my conversation and coffee, and head to Operations to check on the mission, where we will be going, and what the injuries are. Point of Injury mission, out on the MSR near Balad, one urgent litter. The patient has shrapnel injuries to both lower extremities and to the abdomen. We head to the aircraft and are off the ground within 7 minutes of the initial radio call. Its pitch black outside and our aircraft is blacked out. We can see only with the aid of Night Vision Goggles. I make a call on the radio letting them know we are 2 minutes out, we can see a burning vehicle. Our aircraft comes around and we land in the middle of the road. I jump out and run towards the huddled Soldiers gathered around a litter. Burning flames light the night, in the for-front of my mind is the danger of a secondary IED or an ambush set up for the helicopter. Security is two HUMMWVs on either end of the road, stopping traffic, .50 caliber weapons at the ready. As I approach, I notice that the patient has bandages on his injuries and he is alert and oriented. The medic on the ground try's to yell the injuries to me, but the aircraft is so loud, it is difficult to hear. I quickly assess the patient and motion to the ground medic to grab onto the litter. We move the patient to the aircraft and are off the ground. Three minutes is my goal for time on the ground, and I just made it. On the 7 minute flight back to Balad and the Air Force Theater Hospital, I check the patient's vitals and make sure all life saving measures are holding. I make the call to the hospital, and we land and unload the patient. I follow them into the ER and give the doctor the information that I know. Then it's back to the helicopter and to the Original Dustoff Compound. Once the aircraft is shutdown and refueled, I fill out the needed paperwork, and go to the coffee shop to find my cold cup of coffee. As I sit I look at my watch, less than 45 mins have passed. I review the mission in my head as I sip my coffee, fast and furious, no room for mistakes, mission complete. I have found my place to escape.
I can only speak for myself, but I would not be surprised if others felt the same way. If our little coffee shop can provide some kind of sanity in an insane environment, then we have accomplished our goal. The acronym MWR stand for morale, welfare, and recreation and I think the Original Java fits it to the T.
Tomorrow is Independence Day in the United States. This Holiday is very special to all of us in the military, and we are celebrating it here in the Kelly Compound with a BBQ. A smile comes to my face as I think of the future of Iraq, will there be a National Holiday similar to ours, honoring the Democratic Independence of Iraq. Knowing that I had a small part in their freedom plays heavily in my heart. Serving beside my bothers and sisters in arms, I am humbled. Happy 4th, God Bless.

SSG Simmons

THE ORIGINAL DUSTOFF