While operating in Jilib, we stayed in an abandoned rice farm built by the Chinese. We "air assaulted" in, and occupied by force. I was on the initial recon, as the medical officer, and scoped the place out for health hazards, as well as looked for a good place for our aid station. We ended up setting up shop in what may have been an admin building or something. It worked really well. Was clean (eventually), and dry (during the few times it rained).
It was strange...here was an entire compound that was unoccupied. Each small unit of our battalion ended up with essentially a little bungalow. We really were blessed with great accomodations.
Unique Qualities: Abandoned theater that we used for "Somali Nights" variety shows. The Chaplain, Bill M. and I brought our guitars, and we would sing songs, and encourage people to show off any talents they had...juggling, jokes, poetry (yeah, right...in a light infantry battalion?), etc.
One night, we played the "Jilib Bowl," the soccer stadium in town...
Leave a Comment
Theme: Other
Phone: None
Address: 3 miles south of Jilib, Somalia
Website: Nope
email me
add as friend
on Jun 5, 2003
Comments for Elmsaafir about Somalia