Ten days of sweat and dirt
Going one day without a shower is grim but do-able. Two days at a push (even in hot weather) is foul but it’s not going to kill you.
Three or more days, however, is properly nasty. At least that is what I thought until I spent some time at Patrol Base Murray in Arab Jabour, south of Baghdad. Here the soldiers I spoke to typically go seven and even up to 10 days without washing.
“After three days you don’t feel dirty anymore,” one young private told me, noting that he went commando to avoid the hassle of needing to change his underwear.
Others aren’t so conscientious.
“I keep the same pair (of briefs) on until my next shower. It doesn’t make that much difference,” said a second soldier.
After going on a patrol for 10 hours every day in the searing summer heat, the only thing the troops say they want to do is eat and sleep before getting up and doing it all over again.
“I am just too tired to shower,” the second soldier said.
Murray, unlike some small outposts, does have a shower that functions fairly well, though I must admit to falling into the give-soap-a-miss category while staying there.
On the morning of the second day I definitely smelt bad but – to my surprise – by the afternoon the odour no longer bothered me as much.
The soldiers on Murray rotate off the base every week to 10 days to spend a bit of time at Forward Operating Base Falcon, a vast camp a few miles away, where they can reacquaint their bodies with clean water and shampoo.
I unfortunately left Murray after just 48 hours so missed out on a chance to test the three-day-dirt-tolerance theory. Maybe I’ll give it a go next time.
Symptomatic of the decadent West: not being able to take a shower seems to be a major issue. The majority of people in this world would be happy to have clean drinking water, but what we report on is showers?!
We are strange people. I guess the aim here is to show what tough cookies these soldiers are, and yes, they are. But then, so must most of the poor people of this world be, including most Iraqis, because they also don't take showers. Eh?
Posted by: Arjan van Doorn | 24 Jul 2007 14:37:04
Yes, everyone deserves clean drinking water - that should be a top priority. However, if everyone in the world could take a shower every day, and be provided some deodorant as well, then they'd all probably get along MUCH better.
Posted by: Rick Hepner | 25 Jul 2007 05:31:33
Most people reading this blog will usually be able to wash daily (whether they choose to do it is up to them!). Showing that our troops in Iraq either cannot or choose not to because they are so exhausted by the job and heat is a valid point, and a good way of illustrating a major problem in the area through one minor, identifiably personal issue.
Posted by: Sam Tana | 25 Jul 2007 14:17:51
Showers? How about some insights as to the progress of the surge? There's a war on out there!
Posted by: Walt | 25 Jul 2007 20:04:09
When are the peasants revolting? In the summer Effendi, but who isn't?
I don't wish to know that, kindly leave the stage, make that theatre.
Posted by: Andrew Milner | 26 Jul 2007 22:50:23
Why report on the fact that our troops are living in these conditions? Because it highlights the dire conditions our troops are having to deal with in soaring temperatures. I can not believe that there are people out there who want to ignore these issues when our soldiers are out their fighting for others and their own lives. Our soldiers do not tell their loved ones about their conditions but with the courage of these reporters their plight is highlighted for us and others to see. Please keep up the good work.
Posted by: Donna Morris | 2 Aug 2007 01:07:45
10 days? Easy.
Try 3 months. Lets just say that fine sand shouldnt be physically able to go there.
But, kudos to you. Maybe some of the folks at home will be able to get an idea of life in the great dust bowl.
Stay safe, my God watch over you.
(And yes, I am "decadent westerner" and will die or kill to stay that way)
Posted by: Djinn77 | 15 Aug 2007 00:01:44
I have just discovered your blog, and from reading through, it "tells it likes it is". That is the sign of a good reporter and I admire you for your guts.
Ignore the comments from the "loony left" who think Saddam was a great chap, that al-Qa'ida are a freedom-fighting, liberation organisation and that if the coalition were only to pull out the Shita and Sunni will again be brothers in Islaam.
These commentators have other agendas (which I happen to despise) -- so keep on reporting how it is. We need to know.
Posted by: Gaijin | 19 Aug 2007 17:57:15