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Cyalume ChemLight Military Grade Chemical Light Sticks, White, 6" Long, 8 Hour Duration (Pack of 10)

The Cyalume ChemLight is a white military grade chemical light stick measuring 6" long, for providing instant 360 degree illumination, that can be seen up to a mile away for up to 8 hours in optimal conditions. The ChemLight is waterproof, non-toxic, and non-flammable. To activate the light stick, bend, snap and shake the tube. The light stick has a hook and gate top, for hanging or attaching the light. The ChemLight meets Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) specifications, and National/NATO Stock Numbers (NSN) are printed on each product. Each light stick is individually foil-wrapped for protection from light and moisture, and has up to a four-year shelf life from date of manufacture.
The durable, waterproof, external body of the light stick is made from low density polyethylene (LDPE), and is phthalate free for safety. The internal illuminating chemical substance is non-toxic and non-flammable, and the components of the light stick are recyclable. The light stick floats in water and works best between 40 to 80 degrees F (4 to 27 degrees C), and although the light stick works at higher or lower temperatures, it is less effective in colder temperatures.
All sticks are tested at a temperature of 72 degrees F (22 degrees C) to determine the illumination duration. Each 10-degree C (50-degree F) increase or decrease in temperature doubles or halves the reaction rate, and therefore the brightness and duration. For example, the same light stick that emits approximately 30 lux (a unit that describes how much light is visible over a square meter) at 15 minutes after activation at 24 degrees C (75 degrees F) will be half as bright but glow twice as long at 14 degrees C (57 degrees F). At 34 degrees C (93 degrees F), the same light stick would be twice as bright, but glow half as long. Storage at elevated temperatures (above 120 degrees F or 49 degrees C) will decrease shelf life and start to soften the plastic tube, and increase the risk of a leak. Exposure to cold temperatures will not affect the light sticks if they are warmed above 40 degrees F (4.5 degrees C) before activation, unless they are frozen (which occurs at -15 to -20 degrees F, or -26 to -29 degrees C). Once light sticks have been frozen, they will still produce some light, but performance will not be as reliable. Humidity and atmospheric conditions do not affect the light sticks.
Light sticks are chemiluminescent substances in plastic tubes that provide hours of illumination in a number of safety, industrial, and military applications. Light sticks are waterproof, non-flammable, and non-sparking, which makes them useful in hazardous situations where sparks or flame could cause an explosion. Duration is determined by the chemistry of the formulation. Brightness is affected by temperature: the warmer the temperature, the brighter the light will appear. All sticks are tested at a temperature of 72 degrees F to determine the illumination duration. Viewing distance can be affected by temperature, moisture, and other elements. Exposure to direct sunlight can reduce shelf life and effectiveness.
Cyalume Technologies manufactures chemiluminescent products used for safety, industrial, and military applications. The company, founded in 1970 and headquartered in West Springfield, MA, makes products under ChemLight and SnapLight brands. ChemLight products meet military specifications, and the company meets ISO 9001 standards.
What’s in the Box?
10 individually foil-wrapped light sticks

Dunkirk (French: Dunkerque, pronounced: [d??k??k] or [d??k??k]; Dutch: Duinkerke [?d?ynk?rk?] ( listen); French Flemish: [?dy?kark?]( listen)) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.

It lies 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the Belgian border. The population of the city (commune) at the 1999 census was 70,850 inhabitants (71,300 inhabitants as per February 2004 estimates). The population of the metropolitan area was 265,974 inhabitants as per the 1999 census.

Its name is derived from West Flemish "dun(e)" (dune) and "kerke" (church). Until the middle of the 20th century the city was situated in the Dutch language area; today the local Dutch dialect (West Flemish) can still be found but has been largely replaced by French.

Dunkirk was first mentioned in 1067 as Dunkerk (Dutch: “Church of the Dune” or "Dune Church").

The area was much disputed between Spain, England, the Netherlands and France.

At the beginning of the Eighty Years' War, Dunkirk was briefly in the hands of the Dutch rebels, from 1577 until 1583. But in the latter year the Prince of Parma re-established Spanish rule there and made it a base of naval operations against the Dutch, first by a small royal squadron of warships and later by a growing number of privateers to whom the Habsburg authorities in the Low Countries began issuing letters of Marque - launching the centuries-long career of the infamous Dunkirkers (known in the Dutch language as the 'Duinkerker kapers' (kaper = privateer)): private shipowners operated whole privateer fleets to intercept merchants from countries hostile to the Spanish Habsburgs.

The 1600 Battle of Nieuwpoort, one of major military engagements of the Eighty Years' War, was part of a major Dutch military effort to reach and conquer Dunkirk by land. However, though Maurice of Nassau on that occasion inflicted a crushing victory on the Spanish, he was unable to reach Dunkirk due to overextended supply lines, and the pirate activity from that city continued unabated.

The Dunkirkers briefly lost their home port, as the city was conquered by the French in 1646, but recaptured by the Habsburgs in 1652.

In 1657, as a result of war between Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth and the Kingdom of Spain, it was captured by English forces, and was awarded to England in the peace the following year (see Battle of the Dunes (1658).

It became definitively French when Charles II of England sold it to France for ?320,000[1] on 17 October 1662.

During the reign of Louis XIV, a large number of commerce raiders had again their base at Dunkirk; Jean Bart was the most famous, known for attacking Dutch ships. The Man in the Iron Mask was also arrested in Dunkirk.

The 18th Century Swedish privateer and pirate Lars Gathenhielm, and his wife and partner Ingela Hammar, are known to have sold in Dunkirk much of the loot from ships plundered further east.

In May 1940, during the battle of France, the British Expeditionary Force in France aiding the French, was cut off from the rest of the French Army by the German advance. Encircled by the Germans they retreated to the area around the port of Dunkirk. The German land forces could have easily destroyed the British expeditionary force, especially when many of the British troops, in their haste to withdraw, had left behind their heavy equipment. For some unexplained and still unknown reason, Adolf Hitler ordered the German army to stop the attack, favouring bombardment by the Luftwaffe. Some say it was because Hitler was still hopeful of establishing diplomatic peace with Britain before 1940 so the Germans could have a potential allied force against the Russians, while others contest that the unfavourable terrain (which was not suited to armoured vehicles) and a strategic German desire to retain strength for future operations was the real explanation. This lull in the action gave the British a few days to evacuate by sea. Winston Churchill ordered any ship or boat available, large or small, to pick up the stranded soldiers, and 338,226 men (including 123,000 French soldiers) were evacuated - the miracle of Dunkirk, as Churchill called it. It took over 900 vessels to evacuate the Allied forces. More than 40,000 vehicles as well as massive amounts of other military equipment and supplies were left behind; their value being less than that of trained fighting men. The British evacuation of Dunkirk through the English Channel was codenamed Operation Dynamo. It is only recently, however, that the historian Sean Longden has revealed the other side of the Dunkirk story in his book Dunkirk: The Men They Left Behind which focuses on the 40,000 allied soldiers (some who carried on fighting after the official evacuation) and were captured or forced to make their own way home through a variety of routes including via Spain.

The city was again contested in 1944, and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division attempted to liberate the city in September, as Allied forces

Colonel Willand, the liaison officer (LNO) for the Civil Affairs G.I.’s, and I are walking out of the Palace headed to the Civil-Military Assistance Center (CMAC) which is about a kilometer away. There’s no practical way to get a ride so we’ll walk. It’s within the Green Zone, so we forgo wearing our helmets or flak vests.

A G.I. walking towards us instinctively salutes the Colonel who instinctively reprimands him with,

“Soldier, don’t salute in a combat zone!” as we continue walking.

By saluting Colonel Willand, the GI just made him a target to any bad guys watching. While this would be unlikely in the Green Zone, it’s a negative behavior Colonel Willand is addressing now.

General Strock has asked me to be the point-of-contact within the Organization for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) for the reconstruction of Civil Defence stations in Baghdad. The Iraqi Civil Defence Department is under the Ministry of Interior, along with, among others, the Police Department. Civil Defence is inclusive of fire, air raid warning systems, shelters, and possibly emergency medical services.

We’re now headed to meet a Major Gerald of the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, who is overseeing all of the needs of the Civil Defence Department, or, as I’ll refer to it, the Fire Department. I’m to fit in this additional duty with our ongoing assessment work.

When we locate Major Brent Gerald at the CMAC, Colonel Willand introduces me, noting that I’m representing ORHA, and leaves. Major Gerald looks like a no-nonsense type of guy. His gaze bores through me as I tell him,

“I’m here to help, not give you more work.”

I know already that ORHA does not have that reputation among the troops. I brief Major Gerald about our Forward-Engineer-Support-Team (FEST) and what we’ve been doing for the past week. I pointedly make a note that I’m a Department of Defense civilian. (“One team, one fight”, yes?) I finish by saying my goal is to assess the Civil Defence facilities and effect their reconstruction. While easy to say, I have no idea yet how we’re going to accomplish this.

Major Gerald tells me that he has been meeting with the Iraqi acting Director General of the Civil Defence Department, Dr. Ali Saeed Sadoon, coordinating all of the needs of the department. Dr. Ali is an Architect, which should come in handy on the reconstruction work.

Providing his own background, Major Gerald says that he is an U.S. Army reservist, called up for this mission. Back in the U.S. he is a fire fighter in a medium size city. (So, he knows the issues and is qualified to address them. That was good to see.)

Major Gerald notes that Emergency Medical Services are not handled by the Fire Department in Iraq, unlike in the U.S. In Iraq the hospitals have that responsibility. Fire fighting is their main mission, but also explosive ordinance disposal (EOD), some building inspections, and air defence. The Iraqis have 25 Fire Stations in Baghdad. All have been looted to varying degrees. Major Gerald is currently having his staff map their locations by Global Positioning System (GPS) readings and the name of each station.

Major Gerald and I agree to meet at the next Ministers Meeting, chaired by General Strock. These meetings, just initiated and co-chaired by an Iraqi Minister, are the first attempt to work directly with the Iraqis to identify needs and match up resources to address those needs. Major Gerald adds that he will have Dr. Ali attend.


14 May 2003

Another coordination meeting that I get to attend now is with the Army Civil Affairs and ORHA staff. I welcome this, as it’s my initial opportunity to hear first hand what’s going on, and not going on. This morning’s meeting is initiated with the comment,

“Civil Affairs (staff) are the key to success. They have their own transportation and weapons”.

How true. By making the connection with Major Gerald I can save a lot of hassle of trying to set up a convoy with the M.P’s.

There is a strong push to provide salary payments to the Iraqi Ministry staff. A simplified four-tier pay system will supplant the old ten-tier Iraqi format. Priority will be given to raising the average salary for teachers and police. Good idea.

Also, the top rate for the Ministers will be lowered and redistributed through the ranks. This is interesting. Sounds like Communism; from the Americans? No, I must be mistaken. We just don’t have enough money allocated to keep the old system.

An emergency payment of $20 per worker has been decided upon for immediate relief. $20? It sounds so pathetic. “Hi, I know we invaded your country and caused it to shut down, but here’s 20 bucks. I’m sure that will make you whole”.

Speaking of money, this reminds me that Russ reported that he was stopped from entering the rear of the Palace the other day. U.S. troops were hauling loads of U.S. currency up from the vault in the basement and packed into waiting trucks. Russ said it was all

Military Work Glove - WaterProof Winter - Extra Large All Black coloring with no Visable logos.The Perfect All-Purpose, Waterproof Winter Work Glove featuring a Fleece Liner, Waterproof Membrane and Form-Fit Outer Shell. Soft, Insulating Micro-Fleece Liner Warms Hand. Waterproof, Windproof and Breathable Inner Membrane keeps hands Warm and Dry. Durable and Form-Fit Outer Shell Maintains Dexterity. Flexible Clarino Non-Slip Reinforcement Grips in Wet and Dry Conditions and increases durability. Internal Knuckle Protection on Top of Hand. Double-Stitched Bonded Nylon thread for Extended Life. Supportive Cuff with Adjustable Velcro Closure locks out Cold. Terry Cloth Thumb for Wiping Sweat and Debris (or nose)