Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Smell of Diesel Brings Back Army Memories


"Deuce and a Half" trucks spewed black clouds of diesel.

During the 23 years I was a civilian before I re-enlisted in the Army, the unexpected smell of diesel that would take me back to the Army in a flash of memory.

In the 70s and 80s, the primary vehicle--the Jeep--had a gasoline engine. but most everything we drove had diesel engines. Tanks, Personnel Carriers, Howitzers and trucks all had diesel engines. Now the Humvees are diesel just like all the other trucks. On all of bases in this barren land of Iraq, power comes from generators. Huge generators, small generators, in-between generators.

Last month in the motor pool one of the mechanics grabbed a 110V drill to work on a 5-ton truck. He had to drill a few holes while he worked on the truck. He fired up a 150hp 6-cylinder diesel generator that happened to be close to his work site. It ran continuously for the entire time he worked on the truck.

On this morning's 5k run, I ran past several howling generators in containers outside the housing areas. Every time I turn on a light, charge a computer battery or go the chow hall, one of those generators is making power for me.

A diesel generator sitting in a Conex roaring day and night is not the most efficient way to provide power, but it is what we have here on Camp Adder, Iraq.

Just a whiff of diesel from a passing bus would remind me of eating on the back deck of our M60A1 tank or the driving in long convoys on the Autobahn that spewed black clouds of diesel from tanks and trucks.

When I get home I will smell diesel and think about those huge generators outside every facility, puffing clouds of smoke and keeping me well-fed and on line.


6 comments:

  1. I never even thought about how you guys might get your power. They say that clean diesel is the future for greener cars, too-- who would've thought?

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  2. Maybe some solar panels with some Li-ion batteries. I hear the cost of a gallon of fuel by the time it reaches the front lines is over $100/gallon. Not a whole lot in comparison to a $80,000 javelin missile, but still....

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  3. how fun.when your back in the states,and riding your bike,and see a playground sandbox you think of Iraq. stay safe

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  4. Dennis, was that a supposed to be condescending? How about a more through comment. Officers in Iraq requested solar panels because too many of their convoys carrying diesel were getting blown up. Maybe you don't think of people logistics people getting blown up because of unnecessarily wasteful use of diesel. But then, thats how simple minded people work.

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  5. well now let's see i reread my post.and no i am not condescending.it is more of tongue in cheek.in the main post.(at the bottom) and by the way my grandson is at the same camp as Sgt Gussman is."convoy escort" driver.so i do care.but what the hell i am simple minded

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  6. Sarah--diesel can be efficient because of the design of the engine, but we do not use energy efficiently.
    a411--they use solar panels on a lot of security applications at remote sites. Down here there is so much dust they would have limited utility in power applications.
    Dennis--you are right. I probably will look at sandboxes and think of this place for years to come. Your grandson sees sand that goes for miles with nothing on it. I am sure he will be happy to see grass and trees again. I know I will.

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