From Al Taji, Iraq to Taji 100
In early 2004, about 2 months into a deployment to Iraq, I was awakened by my commander, Frank Lewis. He gave me the mission to assemble and deploy a team of Field Artillery soldiers from our camp in Baghdad, to a Forward Operating Base (FOB) about 30 miles north of the city in a rural area. The mission was to set up a firing point and provide counter fire support, as the base was taking rocket fire on a daily basis and needed additional protection. Other than that, not much else was known about the mission.
JJ and the crew leaving Baghdad, headed to Taji.
Al-Taji airfield, located in the volatile area nicknamed the Sunni Triangle, was originally an Iraqi Republican Guard base, which turned into a Coalition installation after the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Originally called FOB Gunner, then Camp Cooke (after it became more established), it was now commonly referred to by its inhabitants as simply “Taji”.
Gate to Al Taji.
While there are great stories yet to tell from my time there, that is not the intent of this piece. Rather, it is intended to share the common thread of running between my two separate Taji experiences over 20 years apart.
While in Taji, we set up a firing point on the north side of the FOB, located a little less than a mile from our living area, where we could most effectively target the insurgents who were shooting at us. Understaffed for the mission, we all took turns working 12 hours shifts, 7 days a week. I was the unit commander in addition to the shift work, and I made it a priority to visit the firing point every day while the other shift was working, to ensure everything was operating smoothly.
JJ and the crew after shooting their first live mission.
After a few weeks of us being in position, the insurgent rocket fire dramatically reduced, lowering the force protection level, and we were no longer required to wear body armor while we were on the FOB — a huge morale boost. But deployed life can be very unhealthy — the combination of MREs, late night chow hall food, lack of sleep, stress, and caffeine — left me feeling fairly run down after a few weeks. So as a lifelong runner, I decided I was going to start running back and forth to our firing point instead of driving.
Technically, this was not allowed — while you were permitted to do PT, you were not allowed to be without a weapon, or leave a weapon unsecured. Despite my better judgment, I began a daily routine of locking my M4 and M9 in my foot locker, and running to the firing point and back.
JJ at the firing point.
Initially the runs were demoralizing — the combination of desert heat, dust, and lack of cardio nearly forced me to stop and walk the first day. But I quickly got back in shape and soon found myself looking forward to the run. While I could have run much faster, I realized a moderate pace or longer route provided time for some much-needed solitude and reflection.
The desert spring quickly turned to summer, bringing soul crushing heat. Running earlier each day to avoid the heat, I often saw the sun rise over the desert, giving me a small piece of beauty to break up the monotony of a long deployment and the destruction of a wartime environment.
As abruptly as it began, my time at Taji came to an end with another call from my commander informing me that we were being relieved, and I would be returning to Baghdad. And with that shift, my running also ended. Neither my new role nor the operating environment back in Baghdad allowed for daily runs, and the routine faded into a memory.
Fast forward 20 years. While we (Team RWB) have partnered with the Taji 100 for a few years, I had not yet felt compelled to take part. That changed, however, this year. By sharing about my time in Taji, I uncovered that memory of running, and I have a newfound desire to take part in this event and share the experience.
So this year I’m going to run the Taji 100 during the month of February, and I’m fired up! In the same way that reflecting on that time in my life brought some realizations and memories to the forefront, I’m hoping that the miles and hours I spend pounding the pavement in February will do more of the same.
In fact, I have a feeling the experience this year will be similar to when I was in Taji, as I’m not in great running shape right now, and will be in the hurt box when I begin. But, just like it did 20 years prior, that too will pass.