Christmas in Baghdad - 2004

Even though the conditions were austere, we always seemed to make the best of things as a team. I really miss that about Iraq. Like all of my public videos, everyone depicted here returned home safely after the tour.
In this clip, the platoon settles in for Christmas Eve while covering Quick Reaction Force duties at our forward outpost in eastern Baghdad. This was a rotating duty as the designated infantry platoon to assist any units in the area that came under attack and call for help. We would stay here for a week or 2 at a time while assigned to cover this duty, then return to our main Forward Operating Base (FOB) and return to normal patrolling. This video highlights what was much of our day-to-day life Iraq in 2004 whenever we weren't out on patrol.
Enjoy, and please continue to show some class in your comments. My videos are not a commentary on the political or strategic (or even combat-specific) aspects of the Iraq war, just the human side of life there at the time.

[@stgpayne5821]

Dude was doing the daily vlog before KZbin was even invented

[@gcon.807]

amanita333, Yeah, but daily vlogs were uncommon to nonexistent.

[@GloriousSwag]

Its called home videos. People been doin it since the 80s

[@marksman8907]

@@GloriousSwag you right ,,every home do this

[@breastmilkgaming]

That dude tom hanks recorded an entire movie about him saving now famous matt damon

[@trylikeafool]

“Vlogging” happened before KZbin, it’s just that the videos weren’t uploaded anywhere. You had to play them back on your TV.

[@randomest_youtube3542]

That stare and the “get the fuck down and give me pushups” is pure terrifying gold

[@tygrenvoltaris4782]

3:17

[@ExplosiveLandmine]

@@tygrenvoltaris4782thanks fam

[@Luck00001]

they deployed shrek into iraq

[@nasvsan6191]

This video was a successful vibe check of the whole squad

[@Festivex1]

Vibe Checking during 2004

[@wall7103]

gtf down and do push ups

[@thefinestgames]

No

[@themoosee]

3:17 That stare got me trembling and I wasn't even there

[@AhDollar]

you gotta admit though, the cameraman's push-ups after that are impeccable

[@vecremser2226]

​@@AhDollaryeah but near the end he was faltering a bit. Wasn't doing full reps.

[@pineappleginseng1557]

A lot of people care more about footage that captures contact with the enemy, but this video is the kind of shit that people should want to see. We watch it for the comaraderie and the experience of the cynical and jaded military humor. For me, I suppose my words would have little value, since I was a POG in the Air Force (Security Forces/Police). I also didn't experience any of the hardships you guys had in the mid 2000s, but I feel as though material like this is far more entertaining and relatable, and watching everyone shoot the shit down range, much less knowing how volatile your situation can get, gives some feeling of solace. So, thank you for uploading your memories here, and I hope there may be some more in store for the future. If you're still in, I hope your career is bringing you great opportunities and fulfillment, and that your leadership has been able to foster positive morale and effectiveness within your unit(s). If you're already out, I hope that the VA is taking great care of you, and that you have found your peace and fulfillment. Thanks for paving the way for us younger guys. Godspeed.

[@Sidnfjdkdndfbd]

Very well said. I watch these videos because I like seeing them joke around. Its also kind of interesting to the places they stayed at and the food they had eaten. People shoulnt want to see death because thats sad and we see enough of it on the news. I really like to see the smiles and hear the jokes, and see the games they played and the food they ate. I thank you for your service aswell as this man

[@user-jh9xk1bp9l]

Nice joke about the VA taking care of you, there lmao

[@pineappleginseng1557]

Thank you for the kind words, Bevin. Will K, there are some locations throughout the country that have provided many of my friends and I with a positive experience, but I can agree with what you're saying as a general statement. Some friends of mine aren't so lucky, and are still disputing some claims. It is definitely a shame that they've developed such a harsh reputation in general, especially with veteran suicides being a huge issue. Many good people I know work within the VA, but unfortunately, like the DoD (or most sections within any level of government), overhead/leadership politics can do a great job of fucking up the reputation of their organization and frustrate people they're responsible for or are taking care of.

[@user-jh9xk1bp9l]

@@pineappleginseng1557 yeah. VA needs to put vets as their priority. But that will not happen because reform is not in their future

[@darrenho600]

Thanks for your service you guys. Was deployed to Syria (Ghouta) in July 2017 as part of the force to gather intel for the allied troops in the region. And this aspect of down time is what I feel most nostalgic about. Just looking at these footages sends me way back to all the goofy stuff me and the boys used to do wen we had down time. I dont think anyone who has ever been deployed will ever catch the full feels of having to make the best of that spartan living conditions. Thank you once again for your service to your nations, all those past present and future soldiers.

[@johnglick9256]

3:16 the last thing the camera ever captured

[@Scott_M23]

We need a 2019 reunion with everybody

[@MrPresidentDogue]

Only half would show up..

[@ToxicJ12]

funny part all of them are alive iraq war isnt like ww1 and ww2

[@MrJames-qu4kz]

@@ornvjxgffks9047 actually he said "incensitive".. Duh

[@rookeva8688]

@@ToxicJ12 Yeah but it was still crazy as fuck

[@cherno8119]

@Tyler Durden doesn't it say in the description everyone depicted here made it home safely after the tour?

[@feuerjager6]

These videos are a treasure.

[@AroundElvesWatchUrselves96]

:^)

[@bloozism]

These guys are all old now. Whole new generation of young men have taken their place.

[@squeakyb.7709]

bloozism 30s and 40s aint really old

[@Sidnfjdkdndfbd]

@@squeakyb.7709 Yea i think he was 25 during the time they had recorded. Either he is 40 or 39 at this point in time. He says most of the people are ok but they did lose some. Its in the bio of one of his videos

[@bloozism]

@@squeakyb.7709 in the eyes of the enlisted cycle of life it is.

[@rider3878]

@@Sidnfjdkdndfbd He was 22 probably. I think I saw info about that - from him. So 37 is not that old...

[@web2506]

Bevin he mentions in another video’s desc he was 23

[@NgJackal1990]

Moral of the story: don’t record an E7 while he’s talking seriously 😌

[@CollegeSportsREVIVED]

Front leaning rest position MOVE

[@anse1774]

2004 and still better vloggers than 2019 youtubers.

[@MrWolfSnack]

Because the videos were memories of their time in the service and their friends and squad mates and made for fun. Not garbage shelled out to make money on advertising from being too lazy to get a job.

[@xforestx00]

that moment he realizes the camera and him lowering the cam haha

[@xforestx00]

3:17 / 3:18 to know what I am talking about haha

[@hoeduselectric]

xforestx00 gunny wasn’t playing 😂

[@anthonytober4662]

These videos have a weird appeal to me, and they're interesting to watch.

[@boxelderinitiative3897]

It's a time capsule of a time and place you've never been, but even in a time and place like this you've never been you can appreciate the humanity and comradery of it

[@JT666]

@@boxelderinitiative3897 its amazing to think i was alive during the time this video was filmed and now i wonder what i was doing as an infant while these guys were in iraq

[@uzairh8676]

@@JT666 bro that is so deep

[@helo8427]

Its like your with them

[@CzarYe]

To put it simply, it is called living vicariously.

[@Utonian21]

"I'm happy because I could be in Bastogne..." That's very true.

[@luismateo9]

Kohl being in the military now I think of that and appreciate where I’m at

[@rammeena6591]

Bastogne was one tough time, massive respect to everyone on the front line

[@PrimitivTool]

See you in 3 years when youtube recommends this Edit: holy shit this really Took off

[@trippybruh1592]

I was here

[@ClivonBarris]

Already recommended for me I ain’t subscribed

[@blackdynamite6055]

I'll see you soon, future dwellers!

[@user-mj2uc5ne2u]

@@ClivonBarris wow some are lucky

[@juhoolio]

i like garfield

[@dangernoodle7700]

When it starts snowing in Iraq, confusing everyone.

[@ahriman46]

Lmao and they go full on American mode

[@CherryBlossomOhka]

.....or Texas

[@astralpoops8977]

this footage belongs in a museum

[@Atom-Fire]

Its in an immortal museum, called the internet. lol.

[@jameshsu8303]

Yeah

[@romandude7740]

Thank you JP , your the best These are great 3:19 got me dead 😂 😆 first comment thx

[@randomdudewithagun928]

[@dynamoz5191]

3:02 Scott from Army chow

[@CollegeSportsREVIVED]

Scott's a friend we all need :)

[@varun6120]

I come back to these videos only for Scott.

[@markvincentlao3153]

I feel like my older brother just sent me a video about how hes doing, 20000 miles away fighting a war i have no idea why

[@RottingFarmsTV]

Him being 20,000 miles away makes him only about 5000 miles away. The earth is round mate

[@unpapelcascaron7463]

@@RottingFarmsTV he could be in a mission colonizing mars

[@justinfournette343]

The end had me rolling 😂 I live for this quality content, so cool to see the human side and like a time capsule of early 2000s

[@user-od8sk2gf7w]

Who cares, you are a failed Hungary 😏

[@ndamn1938]

Here before JD blows up.

[@lincolnpilley7241]

Ndamn'19 Very poor choice of words lol

[@JosefDrake]

Lincoln Pilley lmao

[@mwnda]

I mean not really, you're kinda here during the process lmao

[@a.t.l.r.8969]

OH THAT WORDING

[@ramiro9660]

3:01 the guy we all love!

[@unkowngamer_946]

Its scott!

[@LilPGKing]

@@unkowngamer_946 ikr!? Scott’s back to tell us more about the chow hall

[@raphmaster23]

3:17 omg that look made my heart drop 🤣

[@bp837]

Bastogne, Trenton? Corporal Fletcher knows his US military history.

[@TheJerseyNinja]

I live in Trenton so when he said that I was weirdly like “ayyeeee shoutout” lmao

[@zaynadickson4691]

Honestly love this, shows a much simpler, real life view of things. I'm glad you recorded these and kept your platoon's spirits up.

[@saladin1975]

i feel like i’m going back in time

[@SatireDaily]

Nothing like having AC and a Daewoo TV in the desert!

[@darkstargaming6600]

girls locker room: eww i hate gym its sweaty boys locker room:

[@Mar.1634]

Hilarious. But far from truth. Also the joke is old and overused my dude, find another one.

[@darkstargaming6600]

@@Mar.1634 shut up n word. and its not that word

[@Mar.1634]

@@darkstargaming6600 huh?

[@darkstargaming6600]

@@Mar.1634 i said shut up N word.

[@finnxs3664]

@@darkstargaming6600 what are you eleven?

[@romandude7740]

And first viewer! I’ll speak for almost all the comments We love and and find these vlogs hilarious and great insight to the war life

[@BarackObama-ek5pm]

Hahahahahaahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhaahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha *no*

[@romandude7740]

Lol fbi

[@Nykoo_-]

Idk how hilarious these are some parts are pretty funny but otherwise can't imagine some of the experiences they had out there

[@jpuggles2]

Both of my brothers have served in Iraq and Afghanistan several times each. Thank you for your service and I do appreciate these videos as it gives an insight into what they went thru and did during their time overseas.

[@john5150.]

15 years ago now... The world has changed. This is some neat footage. I was 12 years old during this recording.

[@ItsNotAProblem]

I enjoy watching this more than the war footage. These videos of yours give us a more human perspective on the soldiers. This is another time capsule that makes me feel amazing. Thank you for uploading this.

[@Freemoney1000]

Thank you for sharing these! Hope everybody in these videos made it out safe

[@oreofireboy]

This is the best video yet, the squad vibe check and the push ups at the end with him laughing is just too funny 😂

[@doni5938]

You think it's a funny video, but what about the Iraqis that your American army has destroyed and killed their children?

[@benito2056]

@@doni5938 🤣

[@Gohdahel]

Thank you for sharing these videos

[@G31M1]

These feel so immersive for some reason. Everything is so authentic! Thanks for sharing those my dude!

[@cameron538]

This is entertainment gold, hopefully there is more to come.

[@Isaiahjcooper]

Upload more man I’m enjoying the shit out of this kind of content, it’s so nostalgic I love it.

[@PrettyLovex3]

Thanks for sharing these videos with us, and thank you for your service as well.

[@Vexington]

I love these videos so much. It's like... vlogs before vlogs were a thing. So interesting to see this perspective.

[@user-fy6du3nc7w]

Thank you for this videos!I really like that you show us normal life of soldiers,this footage is kinda rare.

[@adityalindson]

he knew about making vlogs before vlogs existed, respect!

[@zeyfuller]

just finished watching the first one and saw one uploaded 18 seconds ago. nice.

[@Ezyez_196]

These videos are so wholesome and I love it

[@kawecksshenanigans8010]

J D thank you and your brothers in arms for your service and continue making YT videos... They are absolutely amazing and a good insight to some of the stuff you guys go through on the daily.

[@galingtar]

I reeeeaaaally appreciate these videos. Thank you for your service.

[@youcantcme2]

Thank you so much for your service and these videos sir.

[@thepatriot6645]

I love how he told him to push at the end lol. Merry Christmas to my fellow soldiers!!!

[@dan7446]

Thanks for uploading these videos, gives you an inside look at the war in Iraq like no other. Hope to see more!

[@michaelaye8635]

yes!! dude these are the best! Keep it going and thank you for your service!!

[@gracedonfield1047]

I just wanted to say thank you for your service. You severed in a war that was fought in the first years of my life and before my siblings were even born without your service we may not have been able to grow up in the free country that we did and continue to take advantage of the rights you and the many other men and women like you have earned us. I would love to see an update video on how your life is now and what effect serving our country had on you/what you did after. Please know it is people like you and your platoon I continue To have in my prayers thank you again and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

[@pachiramen4605]

Thank you for your service JD. Glad you all made it home safely. Because of you and the people in this video, we are safe back home. Thank you.

[@carzy673]

These videos make me think and wonder and this is amazing!

[@KING-bt1tm]

Honestly, videos like these are much more effective at making me want to join the military than actual military advertisement.

[@synchronic7827]

The ending was amazing great videos glad you're back and doing well

[@K1Nd0m]

I look forward to more of these holy shit I love these vids so much. Merry Christmas

[@1987FX16]

J D! Glad to see you uploading. Thank you for your service.

[@GodShake]

I genuinely hope you post more of these videos.

[@UsGuy1103]

Really interesting vlogs. Thanks for recording and sharing, JD

[@romeoblue768]

Please keep uploading these videos because they are a great insight into the troops during OIF II

[@thesavagecabbage6731]

this is so cool man thank you for sharing your experience

[@jeremy..-]

this footage is so sick, thank you for sharing it.

[@tx0001]

What is this youtube algorithm. Good video though but i was JUST watching your channel and you uploaded this. Strange

[@nasvsan6191]

How does that have anything to do with the algorithm being strange?

[@tx0001]

@@nasvsan6191 it was a recommended video from a channel with only 2 uploads but steadily gaining subs and getting a ton of views.

[@joshr6626]

Thank u for ur service keep uploading we love it

[@robj387]

This is my new favorite channel. Keep it going, dude!

[@amelialock7]

Thank you for releasing these JD

[@adrianofavre7655]

Just found these videos of yours out man, they're really awesome

[@lucascon9696]

Honestly, I love this. Just shows how much you guys knew each other.

[@freshmjc1369]

Keep em coming man! Really enjoy

[@THECHOSENUND3AD]

These videos are legendary tbh

[@crimsonwolf739]

I support your decisions and thank you for your service these videos are amazing

[@AustinAOkay]

Thank you for these

[@thisistheglasshouse]

I love these videos thank you for posting more

[@latewizard301]

i was 3 years early for this one.

[@williamwoodliff5466]

Please upload more vids! These are so entertaining to see un moderated footage from early 2000s

[@ImGonnaFudgeThatFish]

That ending was great

[@devolutionone]

Sending you all much love from Canada! 😊

[@MoMoneyHo]

actually one of the best videos ive seen

[@Deleted1]

I love these videos they are so interesting

[@kelpygram4133]

i love these videos, these are really cool to see!

[@aminghanbari9953]

Hey man keep posting youre awesome and tnx for your service brother!

[@soundcrave9490]

This series is better than any Netflix show ever

[@snot8633]

Fax

[@cold-wolf]

You can really feel that warm atmosphere

[@kawakiyang7049]

thanks bruh, these videos brings bak memories as u was there when iw as just diff base, i was FOB Warrior, baghdad, we literally was NEXT to BATALLION lol....................

[@Tbalec]

Genuinely great content.

[@moldypizza420]

glad ur still posting

[@RawSauce338]

Really nice to see your guys' day to day :)

[@claytonbaden950]

Love your channel bro !

[@rc123theycallme]

I was on an OP in Northwestern Baghdad Christmas Eve 2004. Donald Rumsfeld had flown into the Baghdad Airport which was nearby. That night, out of nowhere, the sky turned bright like the sun was rising. A yellow glow across the entire sky. Then the blast came. A 53 foot taker vehicle born improvised explosive device detonated several kilometers to my east. For about one second it was near daylight. I knew Donald felt it and I remember hoping he was scared.

[@maxcaulfield5500]

Please upload all of those films, they show the reality / how it's inside, I love it

[@jasonkashefi8241]

Wow man thanking for posting

[@ChromeMaxim]

Please keep these coming

[@Unknownuser017]

Your videos have given me motivation to join the army, Thank you for your service

[@lol70721]

years from now, videos like this would be watch in history class

[@Sin4loa]

I love this guys videos

[@willysmith]

Please upload more!

[@doni5938]

؟

[@Levy2k9]

I watched my fair share of people getting blown apart ( online, at least ). It's nice to this side of things, just the day to day life of the soldiers. I've subbed in the hope that more content gets posted 🤞

[@noahhh328]

I love this channel

[@bradquinn4500]

This was 15 years ago today, and somehow I ended up watching this. It really shows how some people aren’t able to be around their families.