Woodturning in Iraq-Final

[dave barnhart]

I was reassigned and didn't have access to my lathe nor this site for a while. But now I have both. I was able to finish one gavel for presentation, and a small billy club too. The little grizzly lathe, overall, performed well. Peace it breaking out all over Al-Anbar so it is time to leave. Though you would never know it, the Marines had been implementing a transition plan since 2003. Basically, buildup the Iraqi army and police (and the local trust in them), and phase the responsibility to them... We are now at the point to where the police are in full control of the major cities, the Highway Patrol covers the roads, and the Iraqi Army is in the desert chasing the bad guys. Baghdad is a different story, but that is not a Marine AOR.

I'll try to log in as I can. Thanks for all the support and suggestions!
Dave

[tim mathis]

that is great news ,
they both look great ,
be safe

[Bill Wyko]

Nice job Dave. How'd you get your hands on a lathe and the tools? Thanks for your service to our country, its safty and our allies. God bless our troops. :)

[John Shuk]

Thank You Dave. God Bless and stay safe.
Make sure you post when you return home. I'd like to send you a box of wood.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Dave - glad to see you posting again! Gavel and club look great! Thanks for the realistic update on the situation over there - stay safe and thanks for your service to our country!

[Greg Cuetara]

Great Job. Thanks for your service and come back to turn more beautiful pieces.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Great job Dave. Also great news. Thanks for your service.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Nicely done Dave! Great bonker!

[Dick Strauss]

Dave,
Please let your team know we are 100% behind them!!!

Nice gavel by the way!


Take care,
Dick

[Bill Bolen]

Cool gavel. And if I remember right a cordless drill powered the little lathe?! Great work. We love and respect all you guys & gals over there. Hope you get home soon and safe and sound!..Bill..

[D-Alan Grogg]

Great work on the turnings.

When the media stops 99% of their reporting on Iraq, we know that things must be going well. Good job, keep it up, and stay safe.

[Allen Neighbors]

Dave, all of God's blessings on you and your men.
Nice gavel and BC.!! How you did it with a drill and tailstock, I'll never know. :)
In spite of the peaceful signs, don't let your guard down!

[Paul Downes]

Ditto on the good news! I pray for your safety. Hope you can come back soon and exchange the sand for wood chips.

[Don Eddard]

Great-looking work, especially considering the less than ideal shop to work in.

Many thanks to you and your co-horts for the service. The fact that peace is breaking out is a testament you the work of you all.

[Barry Elder]

Besides the great work in the field, it's nice to see that the Marines do good work when not in the field. Looks great! Hope you get back soon!

[dave barnhart]

Thanks for the support! I bought the lathe and knives on line (grizzly.com), since we get mail regularly. I used a dewalt 18v Cordless to power the lathe. And you definitely need something, other than work-sleep-chow-& pt, to look forward to out here.

[Ralph Lindberg]

With all the obstacles you have there in the sand box, to have the time and energy to do the turning is amazing.

I hope you continue when you return

Ralph
(civ-navy-mil address not posted)
( the marine nephew's is just back, he got a FREEDOM pen from me, made from a tree his grand-father planted, with this clip (http://www.woodpenpro.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=914973%7C1277754&PRID=1564006). He's the WO that was recently profiled in Why We Serve)
(good friend is due back in just weeks, he got a FREEDOM pen/pencil set from me with his rank (http://www.woodpenpro.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=914973%7C1277754&PRID=1564004) and Sub-qual (http://www.woodpenpro.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=914973%7C1277754&PRID=1495926), why a Sub-qual Yeoman Chief when to the sand-box is an interesting question)