The Brick Factory at Balad Ruz, Iraq

Short slide show of the brick factory just outside the perimeter of KMTB near Balad Ruz, Iraq. All photos courtesy of SSG Russell Lee Klika.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Iraq
• Russell
• Lee
• Klika
• Balad
• Ruz
• KMTB
• 278th
• RCT
• Tennesse
• National
• Guard

[Pudentame]

I was at Caldwell in 2004 with the 30th BCT. Retired in 2007.

Interesting the U.S. Army is still there. I thought it was turned completely over to the new Iraqi army when the 278th left near the end of 2005.

[tazmo2004]

Was turned over early in 2006 right when I left. I went back to Iraq in 2008 and it had been re-opened or at least re-augmented. Too close to the border with Iran I guess.

[matthewcody]

I was at FOB Roughrider (near Mandali) for 7 months, then moved to KMTB aka Caldwell to run ops in Balad Ruz. Seeing some flashbacks here, thanks for the vid. Hope all was well in Balad Ruz when you left.

[tazmo2004]

Was there until turned Caldwell over to the Iraqis. On my way back now. Glad you made it out ok.

[tazmo2004]

I loved Caldwell (to use the term loosely) I left Jan 2006 and was transferred to Al Asad, then to Spiecher, But best place was KMTB. So far out the bosses did not want to show up. You must have been cmatt or something like that. Wasn't hardly any GI's left there when I left. Glad you made it home.

[James37813]

Seems like yesterday I was there on my first tour. KMTB was great with the Ohio Mart and all. I enjoyed it there for the most part until the 101st came in.

[djpyre]

Just finished an 11 mo. stint at Caldwell, recently moved to a "super FOB" with reliable internet... hence I found this video. I'll never forget cruising past those stacks almost every day. Never actually went in the factory, but came very close a few times thanks to some misguided lead vehicles getting lost on the way back to KMTB. Looking back, I wonder how many of the people in the pictures I actually met face to face - or had chai with!

Thanks for the vid!

[RECONvict]

I'm currently stationed at Caldwell with the unit that replaced the 101st. I always see the towers wden we drive out the gate but I've never been to the factory. It's nice to see it up close. Like Bigbyoch said, when we see the towers coming back, we're almost "home." Excellent video.

[bigbyoch]

Very nice. We were stationed at Caldwell/KMTB in 06-07. I remember seeing the factory's towers every trip back from our operations in the DRV. It meant we were almost back the the closest thing to home in Iraq.