A Barstow firefighter walks out of burnt house on Maxine Avenue at the end of August. Firefighters responded quickly and contained the fire to only one room.
Photo by Aaron Aupperlee, Staff writer

A Barstow firefighter puts out the final flames inside a home on Maxine Avenue at the end of August.
Photo by Aaron Aupperlee, Staff writer

The sun sets behind a mosque in Jabal, an Iraqi village at Fort Irwin.
Photo by Aaron Aupperlee, Staff writer

A bunker protecting Jabal at Fort Irwin.
Photo by Aaron Aupperlee, Staff writer

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Unfortunately, we were running just behind schedule so we were loaded into a van and HUMVEE and sent straight into the middle of nowhere, or as they like to call it “the box.” The box is the outer area of the base used for training exercises. I had brought a muffin and Gatorade, but forgot them in Aaron’s car. Aaron ate a cereal bar and slammed a Java Monster on the way out there.

We made stops at various places in the box talking to troops, commanders and civilian contractors that were part of Bold Quest. Our final stop was Medina Jabal, a simulated Iraqi village, located deep in the box. There we sat waiting with our camera’s and recorders waiting for the forces to storm the town.

After two hours at the village — six hours at Ft. Irwin and eight hours since I last ate — everyone finally broke down and headed for the MREs or meals ready to eat. I ended up with the beef ravioli meal. It included beef ravioli, a powdered fruit drink, beef jerky, apple sauce, crackers, jalapeno cheese sauce and a brownie along with condiments, gum, a wet nap and toilet paper. Aaron got the grilled chicken breast meal with cornbread stuffing, a powdered vanilla cappuccino, a ranger bar, bread, jalapeno cheese sauce and M&M’s.

While I don’t think I’d want to eat it everyday that food tastes pretty good when your starving.

David Heldreth - Staff writer