When I was no more than 11 years old my Dad got a phone call. It was the U.S. Army Reserves calling him to serve in Operation Desert Storm. His bags were quickly packed, self-started business put on hold and he was gone for what seemed like an eternity. For the next 6 months my mother, sister and I were all without a key part of our family. No playing catch in the yard, one less fan in the bleachers to watch my hockey games, no homemade pizza, one less wealth of knowledge to help me on my homework and one less positive influence in my life at a key point in growing up. My mother did a superb job holding down “the fort” while my Dad served his country but something was still missing. All of this had left a bitter taste in my mouth for a while. The Army had taken my Dad from me and I didn’t like it. I also didn’t like my Mom crying when he left. We all sacrificed and we all felt some pain because of it.

This thinking all changed when I visited Iraq. It took well over a decade to come to the realization that sometimes you need to take your skills and bring them outside of your comfort zone in order to do something great. My Dad’s skills needed to be taken outside of his self-started successful business and into a greater effort. This parallel’s with BMX in this case, sometimes what you learn at your local skatepark in the Midwest can have the opportunity to do a greater good halfway across the world. After the very first show we ever did in Iraq I suddenly realized exactly what my father was doing over 15 years prior. He was stepping outside his realm of comfort and home to step into a world of satisfying discomfort. Something we BMXers know all too well.

For the second time in less than a year BMXers from the USA ascended upon the war torn lands of Iraq and show their appreciation to the troops who make sacrifices for us at home each and every day. The first trip could be described at new, exciting, unprecedented, insanely hot, inspiring, eye opening and life changing. The second trip can be described as crazier, exhilarating, adventurous, intense, sleepless, insanely hotter, progressive and even more rewarding. I’ve said it before in past blogs regarding our first visit but this is about as real as it gets. What once was innocent kids doing wheelies in their driveways are now adults ,in the middle of a war, using their childhood passion as a way to entertain and thank the people that make our lifestyle possible.

Thanks to Nate Wessel, Christian Schauf, Trovato Entertainment, the U.S.O. and many others I was again given the chance of a lifetime. The 12 days in the Middle East were nothing short of epic.

 

Here are some highlights from Bikes Over Baghdad 2: (Brian’s bullet points pun intended)

- It was hot. 120+ degrees many of the days. It’s like being surrounded my hairdryers in a sauna. No joke.

- Our main mode of transportation was Blackhawk helicopters. The pilots, gunners and crew all kept us entertained and on our toes. As huge as those guns are they still smell like the cap gun I had when I was kid, but much louder and more deadly.

- Nate Wessel and Ron Kimler can build a ramp better than Betty Crocker can bake a cake. Those guys build ramps on, next to, up to or over a wide variety of vehicles and other common things found on base. Every day was something new.

- Being able to high five the pilots of your plane while at 30,000 ft. doesn’t happen every day.

- We took a convoy out to the Ziggurat of Ur. Something that might be impossible for most civilians to do and see. All the while we had 30+ of the U.S. Army’s finest as our security guards.

- We fished off the back patio of Saddam’s palace, which also happens to be where we slept. I went to be every night thinking “If these walls could talk…”

- The “Wounded Warriors” were some of the most light-hearted, friendly people we met over there. To have the balls to return to a place where you lost a part of your body is something unimaginable. If those guys can take time out of their day to laugh and not dwell on the hand they were dealt, we all can. They can teach us all something about how to be grateful for what you have.

- We got to walk through almost all of the remains of Saddam’s palaces. Some were still in great shape (like where we slept) and others were almost completely destroyed. Again.. if those walls could talk..

- Hellfire missiles are no joke.

- Unmanned aircraft is crazy to see in person. These things are so high tech yet the version we saw wasn’t even the latest and greatest. These things are so carefully designed and so precise. Impressive stuff and also contain the most expensive camera I’ve ever seen in person. ( 2 million dollars… I wonder how many megapixels that thing has?)

- Jumping over a tank was fun.

- The folks who work in the MWR division were super cool and did a wonderful job of keeping us having fun even despite heat that makes it hard to smile. The soldiers appreciate all your guys/gals do for them.

- We saw so much crazy stuff in one day that we almost forgot that we met a child who got bit by a viper. (Yeah… What?)He was on the mend and in good spirits in the hospital. Glad he’s ok. He was stoked on this DK t-shirt even though it may be a decade or two before it fits him. Inspiring seeing the medical staff helping him. Hopefully he’s able to play with his friends again by now.

- We came to Iraq armed. Armed with 8 DK bikes, 250+ DK t-shirts, 90 GoPro cameras with special mounts, skateboards, Ridebmx DVD’s/Magazines, posters and tons of other stuff. It was insane how much stuff we had to give. Our goal was for every to leave the show with a smile, a laugh, motivation and a maybe a momento. We succeeded.

- Ron Kimler threw up during our “combat landing” in the C-130. Helmets double as effective and environmentally friendly sickbags.

- Saddam bred some fish that are vicious as hell. “Saddam Bass” are like a cross between a pirana and a carp. Ugly and mean. Would you expect anything less?

- From the patches soldiers give you off their sleeve to the coveted coins presented to us by a 3-star General, these servicemen and women are extremely generous and thankful. We appreciated all of the amazing gifts and kind words. You are all a collective class act.

- I just came up with about 30+ more bullet points but I’ll spare you the details and share a few photos from our visit. Last but not least thanks to everyone on this trip who I am lucky enough to call some of my best friends. Nate Wessel, Ron Kimler, Catfish, Jeremiah Smith, Keith Mulligan and Christian Schauf. Good times and job well done guys!

Sincerely, Brian Kachinsky

P.S. As a Thank You for all you do, two of my sponsors DK and Action Village have teamed up to offer a 20% discount on any complete DK bike from now through the end of 2010. Like all of us they greatly appreciate your efforts and protection. To get your Military Discount go to www.ActionVilliage.com pick out your favorite DK complete bike and call 1-888-679-4327 with your Military ID handy.