I'm in the final packing throes and all that entails and I haven't really given this much thought, but here's some reasons why I won't miss this place:

10. The heat

9.  The dust

8. the architecture:  Most US military bases are a maze of large concrete barriers (designed to keep us from getting killed by a rocket, good idea, just ugly as sin)

7.  The drinking water: our drinking water is from a local factory and it has a "flinty" taste to it, I heard awhile back a rumor (wars always have good rumors) that is causes gall stones in men, of course, every guy to have a gall stone regaled us with how nasty they are.  Either way, I put powered mix in mine to help the taste. 

6.  No music: the only music I get is during the occasional truckride I've taken and listened to the 2 stations we get here. Also, later I found out on our computers, we had access to some music files and that really helped pass the time in front of the computer. But I miss not having some tunes in my room.

5.  Inability to have a cold beer: I understand, and pretty much agree with GO #1 (General Order Number 1) which prohibits drinking of alcohol, but I have to tell you, a cold beer every now and then would be a real morale booster over here.

4. The rocket and mortar fire:  Every now and then, some one who doesn't like us here let's us know his general displeasure by sending some high explosives our way.  It's pretty much a nuisance but of course, when it's your time it's your time whether it's from the rocket, the truck running you over, or choking on a chicken bone.  It is kind of funny watching the contract "third country nationals" running like hell for the concrete barriers when the alarms go off.  Once again, I'm no hero, if it's your time, oh well. Nonetheless, I wish our counterbattery mortar crews and helo/ground patrols great success finding these neer do wells. (sp)

3.  Opening the door at 1 in the afternoon and being assaulted by the heat, the dust, the dirt, the light (see numbers 9 and 10) When you work a mid shift and get up in the middle of the day, it's almost impossible to open your eyes it's so damn bright. I won't miss staggering to the toliet/shower trailer in the morning.

2. The FREAKING Gravel! Nearly all military bases over here have gravel covering the dirt and while I've never been here in the winter nor seen a real rainy season, the gravel is meant to keep the dust down which it does.  But it trashes your ankles, boots, and is a general pain in the ass.

The number 1 thing I will not miss in Iraq is very simple: I will not miss walking past a flag pole and seing the flag at half staff knowing someone, somewhere, paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Any number more than zero losses is too many and the number we had was more than zero.