The former Iraqi VIP building on FOB Q-West showing Cruise missile damage.

Oakes and his men preparing for their first convoy from FOB Q-West to Balad in April 2005.

Iraqi civilians looking for work just outside the gate of FOB Q-West.

Iraqi cemetery along MSR Tampa between FOB Q-West and FOB Balad.

Part of the Samarra bypass, a wall built around a hostile Iraqi town for protection of the convoys.

Convoy traveling down MSR Tampa. On-coming traffic has stopped to permit the convoy to go. Note that the convoy travels down the center of the road to avoid IEDs on the edge of the road.

Armored HUMVEE gun truck escorts from the convoy. The sign on the back warns of danger to stay back in both Arabic and English.

DURMO yard at FOB Balad. This is the area where all the discarded equipment is brought; everything from tanks to refrigerators.

Gypsy farmers in a field between Mosul and FOB Q-West

A flock of sheep and their herders.

FOB Q-West from the air. The white object in the middle ground is water palletized at the end of the runway.

AH-64 Apache ready-line at FOB Q-West. Oakes' unit's compound is just off to the right of the picture.

Oakes' superiors and Iraqi commanding general with assistant at a dinner at FOB Q-West in September 2005

Tigris river south of Mosul

Sandstorm approaching FOB Q-West

Spent shell-casings at the firing range at FOB Q-West. An M-249 LMG (Light Machine Gun) is in the background

IED damage done to a HUMVEE. The HUMVEE is loaded on a truck head south to FOB Balad

Iraqi guards at the rear gate of FOB Q-West looking south. Notice how flat the terrain is and the lack of distinguishing features.

Oakes at a refueling stop in Iceland on the way to Kuwait, the day after Thanksgiving 2004.

SSG Ortiz posing with the Iraqi Army soldiers guarding the rear gate of FOB Q-West