This page www.a-1-8.org: /Docs/activeunit/10-14hearing.php last modified on April 12, 2005 10:42 AM
| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
Active Unit News
What our families are hearing:
Bob Babcock - "Deeds not Words"
President, Americans Remembered, Inc. - http://www.americansremembered.org
President, 22nd Inf Regt Society - http://www.22ndinfantry.org
Past President/Historian - Nat'l 4th Inf Div Assn - http://www.4thinfantry.org
babcock224@aol.com
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Another Mid-Tour Leave Report:
>From the Mother of one of our soldiers:
Yesterday ended my son's 2 week R&R. He is with HHC, 3/66 AR in Beiji and had been gone since February. He completely surprised us with his homecoming - rented a car at the airport and drove home! It has been an excellent visit - the first week especially. The dread of him leaving filtered into the second week as we made preparations and purchases to return to Iraq. We gave him an early Christmas present - a camcorder - so we had fun taking movies of crazy things, the pets and the guys dirt bike riding He plans on taking videos in Iraq and sending them home.
He did sleep a lot the first few days and we had steak many times during the two weeks. He had lost about 15 pounds and it was impossible to fatten him up in the two weeks! We tried not to plan too much - just let him have the freedom to do what he wanted to do and not do.
He left yesterday for Baltimore and will leave on flight Monday afternoon for Germany. It was a difficult goodbye, but he reassured me, "that it's not so bad, only a few more months and I'll be back."
Word of advice - since the troops must report back to Baltimore by midnight, they are most likely going to be in a hotel for overnight, so make sure they have some civilian clothes along for their last night in the US. To those who think it would be too hard to have them only visit for 2 weeks and then send them back, it is definitely worth it to the family and to your soldier to have some "real down time."
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I just wanted to let you know that I heard from my husband on Friday afternoon (B CO 1-22 INF, Bayji). He borrowed a satelite phone from a Swedish reporter! We were only able to talk for about 2 1/2 minutes before we got disconnected. But 2 1/2 minutes is better than nothing. He is doing well. Spirits are always high for him and his buddies! He said that they have been conducting raids all night long. They aren't getting much sleep, that's for sure. I just hope that the phones over there get fixed soon. I would love to have a phone conversation for more than 5 minutes!
2) I heard from my son, he is with the (204th bounty hunters at camp scunion). He was on a supply mission. He said it was nice he got some time off to kinda hang out. Everything was well, He said he got promoted to PFC, that was really great news. It is always so great to hear his voice, he hoped to call again tommorrow, I hope he can! I am so proud of my son. We all have sacrficed so much these last months, I am sure there are lots of proud parents and spouses! GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3) Just wanted to write to let you know I heard from my son's high school friend last night 10-12 @3:30 am. He's with C TRP 1-10 CAV. He hasn't been able to call till now after his last station. This round of duty is better for the guys...mostly checkpoints but he feels safer. He appreciates all my packages and my office collections of magazines and books. He especially likes the local newspapers to be able to keep up on the surrounding high schools victories in football and reading familiar names. He sounded great with a clear line for the call but had to cut it short after about 10 minutes since there was a line waiting for the phone. I sent him some of your updates and he says your pretty right on. Sometimes he has just heard something you wrote or he hears it in the next couple of days.......we are the home of the free because of the brave, and all those there fighting for all of us deserve our respect, gratefulness, thanks and prayers. God bless them all. ... Also ask your soldier what he wants...Vic said he gets Gatorade about once a week every 2 weeks and hot meals now once a week. I guess it depends what part of the country they are in.....no air conditioning anywhere around for him!!!
4) They are all supplied with plenty of TP. But as my husband would say- it's John Wayne toliet paper...... rough, tough and doesn't take s**t off of anyone!!! I send him a couple of rolls with every box. (Editor's Note: that's what I thought, we had toilet paper in each C-ration in Vietnam, wonder if MRE's come with TP).
5) Our son, B Company, 1-22 IN, who has been deployed since the first of February, recently called home every day during a two week stay in Tikrit. Until now, communication has been ‘hit and miss.’ He sounded tired but terrific: loves his job, is proud of his unit, and loves being a soldier. He told us that he misses us like he’s never missed us before. He’s overwhelmed with the support he’s received from everyone back home, and wanted to know how I know what to send before he knows what to ask for. I told him that 1) I have special “connections” – meaning Mr. Bob and all the great folks who contribute to this website, and 2) I’m his mother and that he should never forget that mother’s have special powers. He laughed and told me to thank everyone for their support. I told him, “Consider it done.” This is our family’s first real experience as a military family, and I have to say that I’ve never been more proud to be an American in my life. God bless our soldiers, their families, and their mission.
6) We heard from our son yesterday. He is in the 1/68 Armor and is currently on three days R&R in Qatar. He said there was a Burger King and a Subway there, but he forgot his PIN number for his ATM card, so he would have to wait until the next day to get some food. :o) Just his luck! He sounds like he is in good spirits. He said he was so far down on the list for possible leave that we shouldn't plan on seeing him before April. He was okay with that, though. He remembers how much it meant to him when his Dad came home on mid-tour from Korea. He knows it's important for the guys with kids to go home.
7) I heard from my husband Friday (HHC 1/68 AR) while I was on the way to his sister's house for the weekend. It's the first time we've gotten a call in a month & he said that the only reason he was able to call this time is that his track needed service so he was near a phone. Said everyone has internet access but "them" (not sure how many this covers), but they should be getting it soon. Can't wait because he's got an inbox full of pictures! He's got so many pictures I've sent to him that his wall is covered & he's sending some back!! He said he's safe where he is, won't get to take leave & probably won't be home until late Jan so we can PCS overseas by late Feb-doesn't sound like enough time to get it all done to me though! I got an earful for my bad letter-mailing lately & was told that that is the highlight of their day & week (depending on how often they actually receive their mail). He got to talk to our son too & I know our son loved it.. he keeps asking to talk to Daddy now. We got an entire 1/2 hour this time-the longest I've been able to talk to him since he left in April.
8) I received 2 emails from my son, HHC/1-8 IN, today. Boy did that make my day. He was fine. He wanted to know what we wanted for Christmas. He was going to order them off the internet. Just like him to be thinking about others when they have come under attack twice in 3 days. Needless to say, I told him we didn't want anything just for him to come home and then we will have Christmas. He would be our present. He also sent a email to me to give to our Pastor for Pastors Appreciation day. It was so sweet, just for him to take time out of his busy day to do that means a lot to me as I know it will or Pastor, but that is my unselfish soldier he always has thought of others first. I am so proud of him. I cry a lot but it is because of pride that I have for him and all our wonderful soldiers.
9) Bob, heard from my son today, they lost two more soldiers - one in Bayjai, and one in Tikrit. The one in Tikrit he took care of .... He said its very hard to see a fallen soldier. My husband and I just came back from Ft. Hood, we went to vist his wife and my grandchidren. The whole town of Kileen, Texas supports their soldiers. Everywhere we went and in all the stores they have things up on their windows supporting the soldiers, it did my heart good. I met a young girl there about 14 or so. She asked me if I had someone in Iraq and I said yes my son. She asked me to tell him thanks for protecting America. Now wasn't that great.
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