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babcock224@aol.com
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In the midst of our joy for our returning soldiers, we can not ignore the despicable actions in Iraq yesterday. I'm sure all of our 4ID/TF Ironhorse soldiers would gladly return to Iraq to stop this type of criminal action. But, we can rest assured the Marines will take care of the situation in Fallujah. Stay tuned - we'll see what happens over the next few days.
U.S. vows to 'pacify' Fallujah
By Thanassis Cambanis and Bryan Bender
BOSTON GLOBE
BAGHDAD - American military commanders Thursday said they would respond to the mutilation of four American contractors in the city of Fallujah by launching an overwhelming counteroffensive against Iraqi insurgents, but they would not rush in and make the situation worse.
Taking the unusual step of telegraphing their plans, military officials said that U.S. forces would soon return to the center of Fallujah, about 30 miles west of Baghdad.
They said they would rely on a combination of pinpoint raids and rewards for the local population that has helped quell unrest in some Iraqi cities.
U.S. forces recently ceded much of the control of the town to Iraqi police, even though it is in the heart of the so-called Sunni Triangle, which has seen the most violent resistance to the U.S.-led occupation.
"We will be back in Fallujah," Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said in Baghdad.
"It will be at the time and place of our choosing. We will hunt down the criminals. We will kill them, or we will capture them. And we will pacify Fallujah."
Kimmitt's pledge to catch and punish those who carried out the gruesome attacks and desecrated the bodies contrasted with the cautious U.S. response in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, when American troops did not intervene.
It also highlighted the conundrum Fallujah has posed through three troop rotations.
American military strategists have repeatedly failed to solve the puzzle of the Sunni Triangle insurgents, who have fought on relentlessly as commanders have tried to crush them with force, win them over with public works projects, woo them with political power, and most recently avoid them by withdrawing to the city's fringes.
Thursday, Marines continued to be cautious in their response to the gruesome attacks, staying out of the central city.
News reports said Iraqi police retrieved the charred remains of the four Americans hours later, at the request of the U.S. military. The Pentagon has not identified the victims, who worked for Blackwater Security Consulting of Moyock, N.C., which provides training and guard services.
But the Associated Press identified two of the victims as Jerry Zovko, 32, an Army veteran from Willoughby, Ohio, and Michael Teague, a 38-year-old Army veteran from Clarksville, Tenn.
A third victim was identified as Scott Helvenston, 38, by a family spokesperson who said the family would comment today.
Along with Blackwater USA, more than 35 other security companies from around the globe employ an estimated 15,000 private security workers in Iraq. Dozens more companies are competing for lucrative contracts there.
Thursday, three soldiers were wounded in a roadside bombing near Fallujah and six Iraqis were killed in a bombing in nearby Ramadi.
A U.S. military official in Baghdad said Thursday that Marines chose to stay out of Fallujah after the contractors were killed because they would have inflamed the situation.
"If they had gone in to get the bodies, they would have been attacked, and a lot of Iraqi civilians would have been killed," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But even while vowing to take aggressive action, U.S. commanders were trying to determine how to retaliate without further riling the civilian population.
"We are not going to do a pell-mell rush into the city. It's going to be deliberate, it will be precise, and it will be overwhelming," Kimmitt said Thursday. "We will not rush in to make things worse."
Officials said a primary focus of the long-term Marine strategy will be to pump more money into building schools and health clinics to win over the civilian population.
However, when the Marines do return in force to the center of the city, they can expect fierce resistance.
Fallujah earned its bloody reputation last April, shortly after the U.S.-led coalition took control in Iraq. U.S. soldiers killed 17 people after a crowd turned rowdy and shots were fired.
Since then, Fallujah has consistently been host to many of the worst clashes, even as violence has flared and subsided in other epicenters, such as Samarra, Baqouba, Balad and Mosul.
The city of Samarra was much quieter than Fallujah last summer, until the rate of attacks there grew to a worrisome level in December.
The 4th Infantry Division moved several battalions into Samarra in December, cordoned the entire city, and arrested hundreds of suspected insurgents.
Attacks against American soldiers have subsided significantly there but the frequent roadside bombings and ambushes in Samarra and its environs show that U.S. tactics have not fully diffused the insurgents.
In Samarra, Baqouba, and Tikrit, counterinsurgency operations benefited from the enormous amount of intelligence resources being brought to bear in the hunt for Saddam Hussein last summer and fall.
A significant byproduct of that search was a vast library of information about arms dealers, guerrilla financiers, and former Baathists, many of whom were arrested in Samarra after Saddam's capture.
In December, commanders on the ground in Samarra worried that the dramatic show of force might have intimidated some guerrilla sympathizers but would not deter the most committed insurgents; it would simply force them underground or to more hospitable terrain, such as the area around Fallujah.
Now, in Fallujah, Kimmitt said U.S. troops "will go in, and just as they have done in so many other towns like Fallujah -- six months ago Samarra was a hot spot, Tikrit was a hot spot, Baqouba was a hot spot, and patient application of kinetic and nonkinetic combat power over time has proven to be the best measure for bringing these cities along." (For those who just joined us, those were all cities where 4ID and TF Ironhorse operated until recently).
At the same time, some military officials in Washington cautioned that Fallujah, a city of more than 200,000 people, may not respond as well as other Iraqi cities to the Americans' planned combination of raids and rewards.
"Fallujah has always been the center of resistance for whoever sits in Baghdad," said Col. Paul D. Hughes, a senior military fellow at the National Defense University in Washington who returned from Iraq in January. "They pride themselves on being the renegades."
Associated Press and Los Angeles Times contributed to this story.
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In Tribute to Those TF Ironhorse Soldiers Who Have Made the Ultimate Sacrifice On Our Behalf - Operation Iraqi Freedom - April 2003 to April 1, 2004:
As we close out our deployment, it is only appropriate that we take a moment in our own individual way to pay tribute to the fellow soldiers of TF Ironhorse and the 4ID who have given their lives in defense of our way of life since their arrival in Iraq. We should also take a moment of reflection to think about all those coalition military and civilian personnel, not listed here, who have lost their lives in defense of our freedom and the freedom of the Iraqi people.
To the families and friends of those who gave their lives, you have our eternal gratitude for the price your family paid for us and the Iraqi people.
Following are those TF Ironhorse/4ID soldiers who have lost their lives since arrival in Iraq in April. 1LT Osbaldo Orosco, C/1-22 Infantry, was the first KIA, on 25 April 2003. The most recent KIA (and hopefully the last one) was SSG Roger Turner, 1-10 Cav on 1 February 2004. The last non-battle death was SFC Henry Bacon, also of 1-10 Cav on 20 February 2004.
4ID / TF IRONHORSE DECEASED PERSONNEL (DNBD/KIA)
NAME, RANK, UNIT, HOME STATION, DATE OF DEATH
DIED NON-BATTLE DEATH (DNBD) - NON-COMBAT RELATED
1. Allen, Ronald Dean, SPC, 502 PSB, FT. CARSON, 25 AUG 03
2. Bacon, Henry, SFC, 1-10 CAV, FT. HOOD, 20 FEB 04
3. Blickenstaff, Joseph, SPC, 3/ 2ID, FT. LEWIS, 9 DEC 03
4. Boone, CW4, DISCOM, FT. HOOD, 2 DEC 03
5. Bradley, Kenneth, SSG, 588 EN, FT. HOOD, 28 MAY 03
6. Bridges, Henry, SSG, 3/2ID, FT. LEWIS, 9 DEC 03
7. Bush, Charles, PFC, 402 CA, New York, 20 DEC 03
8. Bush, Matthew, PVT, 1-10 CAV, FT. HOOD, 8 AUG 03
9. Caldwell, Nathaniel, SPC, 404 ASB, FT. HOOD, 21 MAY 03
10. Carl, Richard, CPL, 571st MED, FT. CARSON, 9 MAY 03
11. Cataudella, Sean, SGT, 3-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 30 AUG 03
12. Faunce, Brian, CPT, 1-12IN, FT. CARSON, 18 SEP 03
13. Gukeisen, Hans, CW2, 571st MED, FT. CARSON, 9 MAY 03
14. Ivory, Craig, SPC, 503 ABN, ITALY, 12 JUN 03
15. Jordan, Curt E. Jr., SGT, 14 EN, FORT LEWIS, 28 DEC 03
16. Lucero, Robert, CPT, 4 ID ROC, Casper, Wyoming, 26 SEP 03
17. Mitchell, Keman, SGT, 4 EN, FT. CARSON, 26 MAY 03
18. Sahib, Rasheed PFC, 2-20FA, FT. HOOD, 18 MAY 03
19. Schultz, Christian, SPC, 3-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 11 JUL 03
20. Tyrell, Scott, PFC, 299 EN, FT. HOOD, 21 NOV 03
21. Van Dusen, Brian, CW3, 571st MED, FT. CARSON, 9 MAY 03
22. Wesley, Christopher, SPC, 3/ 2ID, FT. LEWIS, 9 DEC 03
23. Yashinski, Michael, SGT, 501st, ITALY, 24 DEC 03
1. Civilian Interpreter, N/A, 20 AUG 03
2. Civilian Prackasan, Olukaran, ESS, 10 AUG 03
3. Civilian US, KBR, 5 AUG 03
Total - 23 TF Ironhorse, 3 Civilian DNBD
KILLED IN ACTION (KIA) - COMBAT RELATED
1. Acosta, Genero, SPC, 1-44ADA, FT. HOOD, 11 NOV 03
2. Arriaga, Richard, SPC, 4/42FA, FT. HOOD, 19 SEP 03
3. Barnes, Jonathon, SPC, 1-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 26 JUL 03
4. Barrera, Michael, SGT, 3-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 28 OCT 03
5. Bernstein, David, 1LT, 508IN, ITALY, 19 OCT 03
6. Biskie, Benjamin, SPC, 5 EN, FT LEONARD WOOD, 24 DEC 03
7. Blankenbecler, James, CSM, 1-44ADA, FT. HOOD, 1 OCT 03
8. Brassfield, Artimis, SPC, 1-66 AR, FT. HOOD, 24 OCT 03
9. Campoy, Isaac, SPC, 3-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 28 OCT 03
10. Cabralbanuelos, Juan, CPT, 4 FSB, FT. HOOD, 31 JAN 04
11. Christiansen, Thomas, SSG, 652 MRBC, FT LEWIS, 25 DEC 03
12. Coleman, Gary, CPL, 1-68 AR, FT. CARSON, 21 NOV 03
13. Coulter, Alexander, CW2, HHC 4ID, FT HOOD, 17 NOV 03
14. Davis, Rapheal, SPC, 223 EN, FT HOOD, 2 DEC 03
15. Dervishi, Ervin, PV2, 1-22 IN, FT. HOOD, 25 JAN 04
16. Esparza-Gutierrez, Ana, PV2, 4FSB, FT. HOOD, 1 OCT 03
17. Fletcher, Jacob, PFC, 503 IN, ITALY, 13 NOV 03
18. Gabrielson, Dan , SFC,652 EN, Ellsworth, Wisconsin, 9 JUL 03
19. Halling, Jesse, PV2, 401st MP, FT. HOOD, 7 JUN 03
20. Haight, Charles G., SPC, 14 EN, FORT LEWIS, 26 DEC 03
21. Haro, Anatacio, SGT, 3/16FA, FT. HOOD, 2 JUN 03
22. Hart, John, PFC, 508 IN, ITALY, 19 OCT 03
23. Hattaner, Steven, SSG, 652 MRBC, FT. LEWIS, 25 DEC 03
24. Herbert, Justin W, SPC, 508 IN, ITALY, 1 AUG 03
25. Johnson, Rashan, PFC, 299 EN, FT. HOOD, 3 NOV 03
26. Lawton, Mark, SSG, 555 CEG, FT. LEWIS, 29 AUG 03
27. McGeogh, Holly, PFC, 4 FSB, FT. HOOD, 31 JAN 04
28. Mennyweather, Eddie, SSG, 588 EN, FT. HOOD, 23 NOV 03
29. Methvin, Daniel, SGT, 1-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 26 JUL 03
30. Minersandoval, Elinu, SGT, 4 FSB, FT. HOOD, 31 JAN 04
31. Minucci, Joseph, SGT, 503 IN, ITALY,13 NOV 03
32. Mora, Jose, SPC, 1-12 IN, FT. CARSON, 24 OCT 03
33. Norquist, Joseph, SPC, 588 EN, FT. HOOD, 9 OCT 03
34. Nott, Lief E., 1LT, 1-10 CAV, FT. HOOD, 31 JUL 03
35. Orozco, Osbaldo, 2LT, 1-22 IN, FT. HOOD, 25 APR 03
36. Orr, Cody, PFC, 1-44 ADA, FT. HOOD, 17 JAN 04
37. Palacios, Gabriel, SPC, 588 EN, FT. HOOD, 21 JAN 04
38. Paliwoda, Eric, CPT, 4 ENGR, FT. CARSON, 2 JAN 04
39. Panchot, Dale, SSG, 1-8 IN, FT. HOOD, 17 NOV 03
40. Parker, James, PFC, 588 EN, FT. HOOD, 21 JAN 04
41. Perez, Wilfredo, PFC, 1-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 26 JUL 03
42. Pirtle, James, SPC, 2-8 IN, FT. HOOD, 4 OCT 03
43. Polley, Larry, SPC, 2-20 FA, FT. HOOD, 17 JAN 04
44. Powell, James, SPC, 1-22 IN, FT. HOOD, 13 OCT 03
45. Randle, Edmond, SGT, 2-20 FA, FT. HOOD, 17 JAN 04
46. Soelzer, Christopher, CPT, 5 EN, FT. LEONARD WOOD, 24 DEC 03
47. Splinter, Christopher, MAJ, 5 EN, FT. LEONARD WOOD, 24 DEC 03
48. Sutter, Micheal, SSG, 745th EOD, CAMP GRAY, MI, 26 DEC 03
49. Teal, John, CPT, 2BCT, FT. HOOD, 23 OCT 03
50. Thomas, Kyle, SPC, 503 ABN, ITALY, 26 SEP 03
51. Thompson, Anthony, SGT, 4/42 FA, FT. HOOD, 19 SEP 03
52. Turner, Roger, SSG, 1-10 CAV, FT. HOOD, 1 FEB 04
53. Wheeler, Donald, SPC, 1-22 IN, FT. HOOD, 13 OCT 03
54. White, Steven, SGT, 4/42 FA, FT. HOOD, 13 AUG 03
55. Woods, George, CPT, 1-67 AR, FT. HOOD, 20 NOV 03
56. Wright, James, SPC, 4/42 FA, FT. HOOD, 19 SEP 03
57. Wyatt, Steven, PFC, 1-1 7FA, FT. SILL, 13 OCT 03
1. McJennett, Brent, Civilian, Global Security, 17 NOV 03
Total - 57 TF Ironhorse, 1 Civilian - KIA
TOTAL IN TF IRONHORSE WHO HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE SINCE ARRIVAL IN IRAQ = 80 (plus 4 civilians)
As of 4/1/04
If you see mistakes in this list - names missing, misspelled, or other errors, please let me know so it can be corrected.
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See You at the Gazebo on April 22
Many of you have asked how you can find me in the crowd at Fort Hood on April 22. Being the believer in rally points that I am, I thought it was easier to have an easy to find place than to try to pick me out of a crowd. With the cooperation of the 4ID Museum Director and the 4ID Welcome Home planning officer, I have been given permission to use the Gazebo outside the 4ID Museum on April 22 as my place to be to meet those of you who want to see in person the guy you've heard from almost every day for the past year or so.
For those new to Fort Hood, the Gazebo is just outside the 4ID museum and about 100 meters to the west of Cameron Field, the 4ID Parade Field where the Colors Uncasing Ceremony will be held at 10:00AM on April 22. You can't miss it, it is adjacent to the Wall of Honor that was dedicated to our 4ID Medal of Honor recipients in August 1999.
I will plan to be there immediately after completion of the Cameron Field ceremonies that kick off the day of celebration and will be there for as long as required. I'm looking forward to meeting many of you.
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Clarification on R&R leave reimbursement policy
At the Town Hall Meeting at Fort Hood, an issue concerning payment for travel during R&R leave was discussed. A question had been received on air on who pays for R&R leave travel.
Congress recently made changes to R&R leave travel payment and reimbursement only for soldiers serving in Opertions Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as follows:
1. R&R leave travel is now paid for by the U.S. Government to the airport closest to the soldier's leave point.
2. Soldiers who paid out of pocket for authorized R&R travel since 19 December 2003 can submit for reimbursement for the cost of travel to the airport closest to the soldier's leave point.
Soldiers who paid out of pocket for R&R travel should hold onto their receipts. Congress is currently considering allowing reimbursement for out of pocket R&R travel expenses prior to 19 December 2003. A Notice will be publicized if this is approved.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
2 April 1945 - D+301
Elements of CT 8 encountered small arms resistance east of Neidinsfeld early in the period. At 1400, the 101st Cavalry met determined resistance consisting of bazooka, rocket and mortar fire supported by direct fire from a tank or self-propelled gun in the vicinity of Osfeld. There was an increase in enemy air activity. An unknown number of enemy planes bombed at 0030 and between 1700 and 1745, twelve ME 109 and five FW 190 bombed and strafed the Division area. At least four enemy planes were destroyed by our antiaircraft artillery.
The 4th Infantry Division continued mopping up operations south of Wurtzburg with the 8th and 22nd Infantry. Over 1400 prisoners of war were captured. A bridgehead was effected across the Main river in the vicinity of Ochsenfurt by 2245.
CT 8 resumed operations at an early hour with the 2nd Battalion and one company of the 1st Battalion to clear scattered enemy resistance from Gullenberger Wald, a large wooded area southeast of Wuzburg. By mid-afternoon the 2nd Battalion had cleared enemy forces as far north as Hechberg. In the interim, the 1st Battalion advanced to the southeast and relieved elements of the 12th Armored Division in the vicinity of Oschenfurt. On fulfillment of the mission assigned to the 2nd Battalion, it returned to an assembly area in the vicinity of Rottenbauer closing prior to dark. Shortly after darkness fell, the 1st Battalion proceeded with operations to effect a river crossing in the vicinity of Oschenfurt and reported the mission accomplished by 2245.
CT 12 remained assembled in reserve in the vicinity of Hardheim.
The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 22nd Infantry, attached to the 12th Armored Division, continued their attack in conjunction with operations of the 12th Armored Division and succeeded in clearing enemy forces from the high ground in the vicinity of Konigshofer with a large number of prisoners of war being captured. Dispositions of the remainder of CT 22 remained unchanged.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) THANK YOU so much for the "heads up" about April Fools. People get me every year - because I never remember. I will now be on guard and not so gullible, and possibly fool some others. My husband is not home yet - he is still working in Kuwait to get everyone else home - he will be on one of the last flights - and that may be early next week!
2) Just wanted you to know that Wednesday my husband and I met our son coming off his flight in Bangor, on his way to Ft. Hood with the 1-67 AR. My husband changed his mind and made the trip with me to Bangor (I was going anyway as we live in New England, and my son couldn't be that close and me not try to see him!!). We arrived on Monday night and met several of the Veterans and their spouses who greet the flights and found out there was a flight due in at 12:30 am. Well, I was UP for that, as our son was supposed to be in sometime the next day. I was not going to let an opportunity go by to Welcome Home our guys. ... It was wonderful, the soldiers came down off the ramp, a line of Vets and just normal townspeople were there, we shook their hands and said welcome home, if a soldier held out his arms, I knew a hug was in order, so we hugged those guys and told them about the free phones. The 82 year old WW II Vet coordinator has 40 phones available for free calls to parents, wives, anyone the soldier wants to call. It was great to tell the men they could use those free phones and see their eyes light up ( especially the young guys), to hear the excitement as they woke up family. I remember one man at 1 am talking into an answering machine as loud as he could until his wife woke up and took the call!! ... It was 1 am and the snack bar was especially opened for these guys to get burgers etc. ... At 2 am I sat around with the Vets and wives eating leftover burgers, and since the next flight was scheduled for 8:30 am, we felt everyone could get a good night's sleep. Needless to say, at 6:30 the next morning I saw soldiers out my hotel window and raced over to the airport, in case my son was with that group. This was the 8:30 flight two hours ahead of schedule. But our faithful coordinator, Bill Knight, had gotten the call sometime after 2 am to alert him of the men coming in, and he was there with some of those hearty souls who left at 2 am. ... Finally, my son came in on the next flight, and we could see him coming down the ramp, I jumped into his arms, his Dad had tears in his eyes, it was terrific. Since we were not going to Ft Hood (until April 22) and live in New England, it was so worthwhile. You cannot say enough about what that local "Maine Troop Greeters" has organized and their dedication - 70,000 troops greeted so far, 377 flights, and some of the volunteers leaving at 2 am, but back there by 5:30 am to greet again. Some days they greet as many as 9 flights, averaging around 200 or more men and women per flight. Our soldiers were surprised and very happy to have those Vets shake their hands and thank them. ... This is truly a dedicated group, from the 70ish widow whose husband was not a Veteran and had no children, to the Vets from all the Wars and conflicts, to the grandmother who has a grandson in Iraq, to the regular folks who show up to help, it is amazing.
3) We have finally reached April 1st with 95% of our soliders of the 4ID and TF Ironhorse home. What a welcome relief! I, also, remember when you first started using the date of April 1st counting the days until my 70th Birthday. It has arrived with 100%. Tomorrow is the 25th Birthday of my grandson who is with the 4th ID at Fort Carson. So, since he is home and I have hit the 70th mark, everything is well.
4) We had 35 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Recon Team return home safely Tuesday afternoon. What a great day it was getting not only my husband back but all of his buddies as well. I had gone to a few homecoming ceremonies so I knew what to expect but I never imagined how much more the adrenaline would be when you know it's your husband who is gonna come running through those gym doors. It's gotta be better than winning the lottery. As I look back on the year, as rough as it was, it went by pretty fast. My brother just got to Iraq with his national guard unit out of So Calif. so even though I have my husband home I have to go through it still knowing my only brother is now over there in harm's way. I pray now for his safe return.
5) Here is the latest update on my son. He says the boats are fully loaded with the trucks going back but the boats are just not leaving, he says that is what is stalling everything. He says he has not seen so many troops waiting around to get to work. He hopes to be home around the 4th but he says that could change. My husband and I and my mother are flying out on the 14th to Killeen, we may miss his homecoming but I feel that is ok, it will give him time with his wife and time to get back to his old self with some R&R before we get there.
6) My story might be a little different because I do not live in the USA. I live in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and you can never imagine how happy my husband and I were when my son called yesterday morning to let us know that he had landed at Kennedy Airport and was boarding once more for Fort Hood. Although communication with him over the year was not always frequent we continued to pray and watch the news every moment we could. My advice to others who have loved ones out there is to continue to pray and never give up hope. Prayer is powerful. Although he is now safe back home I still long to see him and touch him, and hopefully we might be able to join him soon for a short family reunion.
7) My husband (HHC, 1/68) has been home for almost a week. We've not spent too much money so far, but we've had a good time! He came home & handed me a $100 bill & said it was mine to pamper myself with. I didn't spend it all yet, but I'm having fun deciding what to buy. He got to give our 4 month old son his first bottle on Tuesday. He didn't believe that I hadn't given him one yet, but when I told him how important it was for me to wait for him since he missed so many other firsts, he realized that I was serious. The baby wouldn't take it at first - weird to have Daddy feed him - but once he figured it out, he sucked it right down. From now on, Daddy will be home for most of the firsts!
8) My son is home. Our clock, having been set to Baghdad time since April 7, 2003 is now back to EST! All is well with our world.
9) My brother, A/1-22 IN, came home a couple of weeks ago!!! HURRAY!!! He is with the 4ID in Fort Hood. I haven't had a chance to see him yet, but I will be flying to Texas in mid-April. I am so excited to see him and am grateful that he came home. He says it's tough adjusting, but is taking it day by day. After worrying for about a year about my younger brother, I will be worrying for at least another year. My older brother, with the 1-7 Cav A-troop (I think I got that right) in Baghdad, also out of Fort Hood, left a few weeks ago. Again, I am so excited that the troops are home and safe, however, let's not forget those that are still out there. Keep praying for their safe return!!!
10) We were lucky enough to be able to go to Fort Carson to meet our son (1/68 Armor) last Friday and stayed with him for his full four days off. He is not married so we were thankful to be with him so that he didn't have to go directly to the barracks.
11) From a Vietnam vet: Just a note for the men and women of the 4th Division, a job well done and welcome home. And Bob if you add anything more for our troops taking over like the 1st Infantry Division, my heart just aches for the men who were blown up on the APC and killed, it just brought the flash backs back to me, like it was yesterday. I myself was on top of an APC in May of 68 when we hit a 500 lb bomb. They tell me I awoke 2 days later, all wired shut, left wrist fractured, spleen removed. War is hell and all the men and women that do their duty deserve a lot more than what our 4 civilian contractors received from those inhuman people, seems the USA is the only ones that abide by the Geneva Convention. Bob, just had to speak my piece and again a big welcome home to the 4th Love you all.
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