This page www.a-1-8.org: /Docs/activeunit/10-29hearing.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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Email From A Soldier (299 En Bn) to his Dad:
hey dad, i have no clue what i am doing. i doubt this will even get to you. anyway
we got in this morning at 6am. i slept until noon then just sat around the rest of the
time. i saw wsu won yesterday they are sure doing well. i just wish i could catch
one of their games. it was good talking to you last night, i have so much more to
say, not about anything in particular - just stuff. there are many things i have taken
for granted in my life, and im going to try my hardest to enjoy all those things when i get home. i miss talking to you and mom, i miss the garage ( not getting anything accomplished and being totally happy about that ) i miss dinners together, long story short i miss alot of stuff. we all know things will never be the way they were before i left, but thats a good thing because that means i am growing up. its time for me to start my life, and go through the good and bad times on my own, just like you and mom have. im excited about it. i just want you and mom to know, this is as far away as i will ever be from spokane! whatever i end up doing in life im sure i will succeed because i was raised to succeed, we all were. you guys have done a great job in raising three hell-raisers. i just hope i can do the same for my kids. well dad im going to go, love you.
And excerpts of the Dad's reply to his son:
...You have made my day - my week - my life! To come to work on a typical Monday morning, log on my computer and the first thing I get is your message. How can anything be any better!!!! ....
It's always good talking with you. I at times have a hard time hearing you but I'll make it - it's that damn microphone that is on my hearing aid that I have to always have the phone at and hard sometimes finding the right spot. I can talk to you about "stuff" any time you want to. I am especially looking forward to all the talking we can do when you come home.
You hit the nail on the head what you say about the garage. My term is "shop". Isn't it great. The only thing that is terribly frustrating about it is ---- you're not there doing your thing while I'm doing my thing. I think about it all the time.
Yes - We are excited about your return also. You have no idea of the magnitude.
We know the "great man" that you are and will be at your side as you conquer life to the fullest.
I Love You, Dad
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Two Mid Tour Leave Stories:
I got to see my husband for two wonderful weeks. I spent a lovely time with him. Just having him lay next to me to sleep, I felt so secure again. I am sending this sort of late because I have two children, one of who was born on september 11th. He wasn't able to be here, like many of the soldiers, but he saw him and his eyes lit up.
I was so excited when he came home. He tricked me into believeing he was coming home a day later but in fact he came home sooner. My mom and I tend to leave the back door open during the day so we can wash and do things in the backyard. He knew it would be open so he came in through the back door and I thought I was seeing things. My mom asked me was that mijo(spanish for my son) and I said I don't know. He made his way to our room and when I saw it was him I grabbed him and I didn't want to let him go and I was crying so hard.
Other than that, I had a wonderful time. I hated to see him leave like any wife does and it was hard on me, but I kept myself strong so he wouldn't see me cry. I tried but I cried a bit. He saw me but he knew he had a mission to do so he left as brave a soldier as the first time he left.
He is strong as ever now knowing he has a wonderful family to come home to. Well, that is my little story about how wonderful it was to have my husband home. I hope all of you to get to experience the wonderful time with your husbands that I experienced with mine.
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My husband left about five days ago to go back to Iraq after his r&r. It was a very hard and great time. He got to see our 6 month old son for the first time and the bond that was there was amazing. I thought our son would cry, but he knew his Daddy. It was very wonderful to see him, and know that I could just reach out my hand to touch him. He has lost quite a bit of weight and looked very good. I moved back home a few months after the deployment because he wanted me to be closer to our family, and it does help to have help, but it made for a very difficult visit. His family tried to control all of his time home, we (my husband, son, and I) did not spend even one day alone. I wanted it to be a bonding experience for all of us, but it
turned into a very hard and difficult time to bear. I just wanted to let you know and tell the other families to make sure to give your soldier some time, we all miss them, but sometimes they need some times with their spouses and children, too. (Editor's Note: Great words of wisdom, let us parents listen to it...)
What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I send my husband (HHC 3/67 AR in Ba'Qubah) cookies in Pringles cans. I have to make the cookies a little smaller (so they will fit) and be absolutely sure they are completely cooled(or they'll stick together). A little unusual, but it works. My kids decorate a piece of paper to wrap around the outside of the can. I wrap the cans in bubble wrap, and they usually arrive OK.
2) Bob, I received a message from my husband this morning.(B/3-16FA) He is very sad at CPT Teal's death (announced in Monday's update). My husband and John were buddies and so it hit him hard. Here is a little of what he had to say about this great man: "...It really hit home because we were in fact close. He was smart, witty, and very full of life. A good guy to know... We were supposed to be training to do a triathlon together. I was looking forward to that adventure. I have been writing you snail mail about the whole thing and my other adventures. I don't have a lot of time so I will be brief. Today is the memorial service for John..." I just wanted to share this with you and anyone else if you decide to add this to the update. It is important to remember our fallen Heroes and celebrate them. Thank you.
3) Well my husband is home for the next two weeks. He is with B.Co.1-22 in Baiji,Iraq. I haven't seen him since last October. Our youngest was 3 months old then. I must say, within two hours all three kids took to him as if he never left. He is enjoying every minute of this stay. I'ts great actually being able to talk to him without any cut outs. His stories are great too. He tells of the beautiful birds there and what he and the guys do. He makes it sound fun, believe it or not. The other day we bumped into an Iraqi person and he told my husband how great he was. That assured my husband that they were doing the right thing. Well, I just thought you would like to know. Thanks.
4) Wow! I think I've got all the info I need to package and send some homemade cookies to my boyfriend, thanks to all of these great replies. Love your updates, THANKS!!!
5) I've been reading all the great emails about PVT Miller's Moms email. I too was touched by the letter and I am so glad she decided to share her thoughts with us.
I shared it with my sons friends Moms. (3/325 AIR 82nd ABN DIV). As the mother of a soldier and the wife of a soldier (64th CSG) I know there are so many days when I am just hanging on by my fingernails. I also have the teenage daughter at home who needs to have some normalcy to this year where her Dad and her brother are deployed in a war zone. Reading the letter made me realize more fully how we are all in this together even though most days feel very lonely.
6) I heard from my hubby (Alpha Co. 1/22 IN BN) on Sunday but we only got to talk for 10 minutes. I then got a letter from him on Monday. Today I got another phone call and we got to talk for 40 minutes! I was so excited! He says he is doing good but is ready to come home. He says it is finally cooling off a little. He said his European Adapter blew up only after a week of having it. Luckily his DVD player still works! God bless our troops!
7) My husband is with B/3-16 FA (Go Bulldogs!!). I sent him gingerbread men decorated in desert camo, cookies, and pecan bars. I put them in the Glad containers and taped them up with packing tape so they wouldn't come open. I also seperated each layer with wax paper and put a slice of bread in each container to keep them moist. I do suggest that yoou enclose a note telling your soldier not to eat this bread!!! My husband thought it was some "special" bread and realized only too late what it was in there for.
8) From a Vietnam vet reader: 34 years ago, my dear mother would bake brownies to send me in Vietnam. She used a coffee can to cut the cooled brownies, then wrapped each large, round brownie individually in cellophane. Next, she filled the coffee can with brownies (I'm sure there were extra layers of wrapping) and taped up the lid on the end real well. When that coffee can arrived, my squad in 3rd platoon 2d Bn (Mech), 22d Inf Reg't were all my best buddies and the rest of the platoon was circling our track, too. In those days when I was still an new guy, mom's CARE packages helped me get accepted among the combat veterans. She may well have saved my life with her love and devotion. All those who express admiration for my efforts to look after her now, as she deteriorates in a nursing home with Alzheimer's, don't realize I could never do enough for her. (Editor's Note: This one brought tears to my eyes, my mother also used the coffee can approach for cookies and brownies when I was in Vietnam - and she, too, is in a nursing home and doesn't know who I am).
9) Just got a telephone B CO 1-67 AR (which by the way is Beast Company) from my son at Camp Scunion in Baqubah. The phones are rotating as this is the 2nd call in 9 days. The call actually went to his girlfriend and she called me. He said that they are going on fewer patrols, that now they get 3 good meals a day so no need to send real food, but junk food is appreciated. Needed batteries and asked for an MP3 ripper (whatever that is, I will ask his college age brother to get it anyway) but nothing else. He said his platoon had come under fire, but no one in his platoon injured but that someone did get sent to Landstuhl Hospital from his company but not a serious injury. He was very upbeat, great attitude, said he is on the list to do stateside R&R in Feb., but he assumes that he will not come back as it is so close to redeployment. We never thought he would be on the list as he is single and no kids. Asked for a couple of DVD's. ... God Bless them all and keep them safe.
10) We heard from our son Sunday morning at 2:22 am! He's a medic with 1-67, Alpha Company, 4th ID out of Ft. Hood, Texas, currently northeast of Baghdad. The connection wasn't very clear and we did a lot of repeating but we got to visit for 58 minutes. He was tired but in good spirits. He said they were going on a lot of raids and missions and was involved in a particularly rough one last Friday. For the first time since he's been gone he told me that he's considering his reenlistment options. He sounded so mature for a young man barely turned 21; made my heart swell with pride. He said he works with a great bunch of guys and his CO is the best. He told me the three boxes of Twinkies he received were gone in less than an hour; and that the Halloween candy bags his grandma and I sent to him were a really
big hit with his buddies. It was so good to hear him laugh. He has an awesome attitude, always 'seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty'. I went back to bed with a smile on my face and tears of happiness on my pillow for being able to hear his voice. Also, thank you Bob so much for the message from Pvt Miller's mom. It was as though she was reading the mind of every mom out there, writing about our feelings, the similarities were amazing. Thank you for letting me share my joy, GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS, GO ANIMALS - HOOAH!!!
11) I got an e-mail today from our son. He is with C/1-44 ADA in Tikrit. He just received a hand held tape recorder that we sent several weeks ago. We are looking forward to getting a few tapes back from him; although he complained about finding uninterrupted time to make a tape for us. He reported that he has been receiving packages of school supplies from family and friends for the elementary school that his unit supports. He was able to watch the Notre Dame vs. BC game Saturday and was greatly disappointed by the final outcome. He is very upset about the death of his West Point Classmate. The whole 4th ID deployment area remains a very dangerous place for our soldiers. God keep them safe!
12) Bob... I wanted to share my mixed emotions. My husband, HHC, 1-68 Armor, out of Fort Carson, CO, just left after his two weeks of R&R. It was truly a blessing to have him home. Our daughter turned 3 months while he was home. I felt it would be easier to put him on the plane after having done it before. He had been stationed in Korea and at his mid-tour came home to meet our son. Little did I know that it NEVER gets any easier. But, I feel very blessed that the Army, DoD, has given us the opportunity for him to come and meet his daughter. Please continue to pray for all the soldiers and their families and remember that each day that passes is a day closer to them coming home for good!!!!!!!!!!!!
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