This page www.a-1-8.org: /Docs/activeunit/10-17hearing.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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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) 3am and the phone rings. I KNOW who it is because I have been "willing" him to call. He is with C Btry 6/27 FA out of Ft. Sill. He was very upbeat and we got to talk for a long time before the phone went bad. We talked a lot about what we see in the media vs. what he sees. His exact words were, "I am amazed at the progress that has been made since I've been here". He says the kids are playing on a soccer field the Army built for them and the women are dipping water from a well the Army dug for them. They are working TOGETHER with the Iraqi people....so much so they have become familiar with each other and it is not unusual to greet each other by name as they pass by. It is also not unusual to have the Iraqi people show them scars or tell them stories of family members executed by Saddam. They are all joyous at his loss of power. The Air Force has moved in to their base and the facilities are crowded right now but he laughingly said, they will bring their money too so we should get some amenities. He was thrillled that the chow hall now has ICE CREAM. He has received all my many packages and says he is in need of nothing....only more homemade cookies as some of his buddies have offered to PAY me to make them. I will continue to send enough to share. The days are cooler and the nights very comfortable. The satellite is working and they get to keep up on the current news. He sent 14 rolls of film and I got to SEE him and he looks great. Prayers go out for all.
2) I just heard from my twin brother, who called twice today! (C-CO 1/8 IN) He had just gotten off R & R but had to go back to Anaconda for "important reasons". It was great to hear his voice! He mentioned he was #35 on the list to come home for a two week leave but wasn't sure when or if he would be coming home. He said that he would give up his spot for those who are in more need than him. A bunch of his friends have been deployed three or more times and he wants to make sure they have a chance to go home before him. I LOVE THIS GUY! ..... He asked for some things: goldfish crackers, peanut butter, Combos, and any other junk food I can get my hands on. It was so good to hear his voice. I'm so proud of him!!!!
3) I just received a phone call from my fiance. He's a 2LT with the 1-67 Armor BN, C Co. It was a short call, but so wonderful to talk with him! He said the phones were working again at Camp Scunion and that he was tired, but doing okay. The temperatures are cooling down, which is helping a lot. He's been very busy with missions and mentioned that some of his soldiers are home on mid-tour leave. He won't get mid-tour leave, but we expected that, so it was no surprise. He was happy to hear that my friend's 3rd grade class wrote letters to his platoon. I'm picking them up today from her and mailing them to him tomorrow. God Bless Our Troops!
4) I know it's very earlier in the season, we haven't even had Halloween! Due to the soon to be mad Christmas mailings, starting in November, last night I pulled out my unused/left over Christmas cards from last year (I've always stock up each year after the holiday). I started to address, put the APO return address on the envelopes for mailing, so my son won't have to. I know he doesn't have the time or the resources to do this. So I started it for him. I will mail the stack of addressed cards to him and he can sign, seal and mail to all of his family and friends here in the States. This way he can slowly start to work on his Christmas cards when HE has time. I know he wants to thank so many folks for all the support they have given him thru out the past several months. I'm also mailing him his 24-inch artificial Christmas tree today. He'll have it long before Christmas. It just helps him and us prepare for the holiday. We all know how long the mail takes to get from your hands to theirs. Hope this suggestion helps. My son is with 1-67 Armor, A Co. God bless and happy holidays. Ho Ho Ho
5) My husband left today to go back to Iraq. It was WONDERFUL having him here for the 2 weeks and I didn't want the 2 weeks to ever end. But unfortunatly it ended. He had his guard up for the 2 weeks being here. If he heard something he would jump up and look around and ask me what that was when it was just a truck running over something outside our window or the people downstairs making noise. He told me some stories but I'm sure there are still some stories for him to tell that will take time before it comes out. Also the first couple days he was in a daze. He would stare in a daze for hours. So if your soldier does that don't worry, its normal for the first couple days. We had a buddy of ours do the same thing. Our 2 year old son was excited to see him as well. Only seeing his dad once in a while since he's be born makes each moment with his daddy even more exciting. Now I'm back with you all again worrying and praying each and every day. Although I still prayed for our soldiers still out there these past 2 weeks. God Bless Our Soldiers!!! (No unit given).
6) My Brother called, HHB 3-29FA, and said he's getting his copies of the Texas A&M football games that I requested from the 12th Man Foundation. I would like to say thank you to your reader that wrote in about a month ago and responded to one of my family updates and gave me this info. Now my brother can WHOOP while he's in Iraq! I record the Dallas Cowboy games each week and mail those to him, too, and that has also made him a happy soldier. He said to lay off the snacks because now he's getting fat! He says it looks like he might be coming home in Dec. for the 2 week leave. I sure hope so! Thanks for all the great info and ideas that your updates bring to us. I will print certain ones out and mail it to him. He thinks it's the coolest thing that there are so many people who care and worry about them and I know it makes him proud to serve his country!
7) Well we finally heard from my son today (A-Co 1-22)...unfortunately I wasn't home to talk to him, but his brother was. The call came around 3:00PM!!!! He said he sounded good, but really only a mother would know that. He said that they are really busy....lots of raids, house to house stuff. I keep a list of questions on the frige and he asked him all of my questions.....mostly if he has gotten certain items, what else he would like, and the big one......are you getting a mid tour leave? Unfortunately, he is not. Don't have any details as to why not, and I have to say I am very dissappointed, although with him being single and without children, I didn't think he would be high on the list. .... I was so upset that I missed his call, who ever thought it would come in the middle of the afternoon? I feel good though that he did get through and that he and his brother got to talk for a bit....it was about an 8 minute phone call....I will sleep a little better tonight, but you know that phone will be right next to my head once again...just in case. God bless all of our brave men and women and their families......
8) My son, 4th id 3bct 1-12, called me this evening. The first time that I have heard my son's voice in 6 long months. He sounds good. He says that he has lost a lot of weight and for me to keep sending him food. He says that they just got 11 computers and that is what he was talking on. There was an annoying delay. But who cares.. HE CALLED.. He received his birthday box in record time and the very next day he receieved a box of letters (about 150) from school children. He was happy to hear that I am sending him carbon copying paper. He said that time is passing fast and that he is 30 miles north of Baghdad. Not close to any larger towns. ( Just out there)
9) Bob, I received a letter from my son yesterday; his return address had a different unit on it. He was B-co 1/67 AR, now it said HHC toc 1/67 AR. .... He sounded in good spirits, talking about the weather being cooler, and thanking me for sending Girl Scout cookies that I had been saving. They were a big hit. He said he LOVES the pillow I sent. He mentioned that all the packages smell like home, he doesn't know what he loves more, the things IN the box or the "sweet smell of home" that is in them. No sweeter words could this mom ever hear from a son to think that he can still smell home all those miles away. He adds that he likes the smell sometimes most of all. I will continue to keep all of our loved ones in my prayers.
10) Hey Bob, Finally heard from my husband Wednesday. He is with B 3/66 AR, the connection was kinda bad, you had to wait like on a walkie talkie for the other person to hear what you said. It was a true Godsend because I had not heard from him in over 6 weeks. It was pretty nerve racking with 4th ID fatalities being announced so often. He sent me pictures of his trailer, they are nicely renovated large Connex trailers, with windows & doors cut in. He has a/c and a dorm fridge with microwave. He says it has really helped morale. He also said he sent me pictures of a hedgehog that runs wild there. It is really surreal talking to him sometimes, you would think he was camping with the guys. He is always upbeat. But he turned down the mid-tour leave..... I am really disapointed but will deal with it.
11) Received a email from our son today of the HHC 1-8 Inf. out of Fort Carson. He was doing fine. Had been on a mission earlier and had gone to work out. He said he had received a package today and thanked us for that. Said he had not been on R&R yet but hoped it would be soon. I an thankful for every email and phone call. Each one is very special. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS.
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