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DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, 35, of Los Angeles, Calif., was killed on Nov. 23 in Baqubah, Iraq. Menyweather died of his injuries after an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. Menyweather was assigned to Company C, 588th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Hood, Texas.
Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 24, of Pikeville, Ky., was killed on Nov. 21 in Balad, Iraq. Coleman was on patrol when the vehicle he was driving flipped over into a canal trapping him inside the vehicle. Coleman was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Carson, Colo.
Capt. George A. Wood, 33, of New York, N.Y., was killed on Nov. 20 in
Baqubah, Iraq. Wood was on patrol when his tank rolled over an improvised explosive device. Wood was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Hood, Texas.
These incidents are under investigation.
(Let us keep the families and fellow soldiers of CPT Wood, SSG Menyweather, and CPL Coleman in our thoughts and prayers).
To the best of my knowledge, we are caught up on all 4ID KIA's and are not waiting for any more DoD announcements of 4ID death notifications.
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US troops launch home improvements in Saddam palace
By Dean Yates
TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein would be horrified if he saw what U.S. soldiers from the 1-22 Battalion's reconnaissance platoon are doing to one of his finest palaces in his hometown of Tikrit.
For the last few days a few men from the platoon have swapped their rifles for circular saws and hammers to create what a home away from home.
Under the direction of Sergeant Joseph Dalessio from Baltimore, Maryland, they have built 15 double wooden bunk beds to sleep 30 men in one of the opulent but bare rooms of the Saladdin Palace, perched high above the Tigris River.
Dalessio and his crew have made wooden lockers and shelves for each soldier to store weapons and helmets, along with racks for duffle bags. Next on the drawing board is a lounge area to watch satellite television.
"My end state is that for each of the guys here, after a mission, we can say let's go home and feel that it's something like that," said Dalessio, 22, stripped to a brown army issue T-shirt and desert-coloured fatigue pants as he worked.
"We figured we'd get some wood and other stuff and live the way we want to."
Few U.S. troops in Iraq are as cosy. "We just want to live comfortably, have some space. No one wants to live six inches from the next cot," said platoon leader Captain Chris Morris, from New Jersey.
The smell of freshly cut wood wafts through the vast room. Three large chandeliers hang from the ceiling, out of reach of the looters who stripped most of what could be carried away after Saddam's overthrow. The U.S. military has got more use out of the complex than Saddam ever did.
Some 3,000 soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division are based at the walled compound of dozens of palaces in Tikrit, 150 km (90 miles) north of Baghdad and scene of some of the toughest resistance to the the U.S. occupation.
The marbled halls buzz with activity. When not on missions, soldiers work out on gym equipment.In the Rest and Recreation hall, movies are shown three times a day on a large screen.
Fearful of assassination, Saddam stayed on the move and rarely enjoyed these rooms. U.S. commanders said a caretaker here told them Saddam had always slept in minor palaces, not grandiose ones like the Saladdin.
Dalessio said the opulence of the building had slowed down his home improvements. He broke 30 nails trying to get through the floor.
"I've come across fake stuff, but this is real marble, probably an inch thick," said Dalessio.
When troops are not on patrol, one huge ballroom in the Saladdin palace often becomes a hockey field, with soldiers whizzing around the marble floor in dusty boots and swinging wildly at a makeshift puck.
11/24/03 05:26 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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New release from CentCom dated 11-25-03:
4ID PATROLS NET MORE WEAPONS, EXPLOSIVES
TIKRIT, Iraq – 4th Infantry Division also known as “Task Force Ironhorse” has over the past 24 hours, conducted 199 patrols, seven raids and captured 18 individuals.
One of those captured was wanted for anti-coalition activity. Thirty-three of the patrols were joint operations conducted with the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and the Border Guard in an effort to continually improve the safety and standard of living for the Iraqi people.
Weapons and equipment confiscated in raids and patrols throughout the Task Force Ironhorse area of operation include (17) AK-47 assault rifles, one machine gun, (11) rifles, one pistol, three rocket propelled grenade launchers, (24) rocket propelled grenades, (53) grenades, (50) blasting caps, 6 containers of artillery propellant, (60) 120mm and (250) 60mm mortar rounds, (10) blocks of C4 explosives, (10) sticks of TNT, (50) mortar fuses, (40) spools of wire, used to detonate improvised explosive devices and five improvised explosive devices.
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This was sent several days ago and I overlooked it:
Another Mid Tour Leave Story
My husband is sleeping up stairs right now; his newborn son is sleeping next to him. Everything is perfect and at peace in our home right now. He came home on Nov 1st for R&R, and life has been so many things since he's been back. When I saw him come down the stairs at the Austin Airport and I could finally tell our 2 year old daughter to go get her Daddy ... and I watched her pudgy little legs run up to him with such excitement...That was pure BLISS. She screamed "Daddy, Daddy!!, and just melted in his arms. Then when I presented his 6 week old son to him, I broke down. I didn't know what to feel. But I suppose it was an eclectic mixture of PRIDE in him for the sacrifices he's made to be over there, LOVE for him because he'd help make this perfect little life, and COMPLETE JOY because the time had finally come for him to meet his baby boy for the first time. With our daughter in one arm and our son in his other, and me happily squished right up with them, we were a family again.
On the ride home, he felt the support of Texas as people honked at us. I had written on our minivan "Daddy meets his newborn son today!!, Honk if you're happy!" Well, we got honks!! Thanks Texas!!
Things were funny but kinda sad when I watched him jump and react to silly things. The tissue box fell off the night stand on his first night here, and I swear before it hit the ground, he was ready to defend himself and destroy this enemy! The next morning, he'd opened an unfamiliar door in our house. (We had moved on post while he was away, so he didn't know what anything was.) It was the closet where I keep the ironing board. He'd mistaken it for a stranger hiding, and drew his arm back to punch the life out of it, and protect his family. What was sad was that the war, and his time in Iraq had made him like that ... and soon I'd have to send him away to that Place again.
Having him here has helped us both in many ways. It's given him a break from the danger, and monotony of the day-to-day in Iraq, and a new perspective on raising a 2 year old! Hehe! It's given me a break from recovering from a c-section, and trying to be supermom to the kids...the terrible two's are just as bad as everyone says they are! It's also let me appreciate how blessed I am that I'll never know what it is that caused him to get anxious over a tissue box, or punch that ol' ironing board that lurks in our closet...
My husband is with CCo. 124 Sig., he's stationed in Balad. Soldiers, I am so proud of you guys! And I appreciate all the sacrifices you've made to defend freedom. God Bless and protect each and every one of you!
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) To the father from Kenya - My heart breaks for you as you ask about calling cards and such. As far as calling cards go the AT&T from Sam's works the best . I am sure there is not a Sam's store in your location but you may be able to get the AT&T
phone cards there at some other store. There are so many people that would be willing to send one to your son if only we could but we all know it would not be wise to send the address to someone you do not know (I have been preaching about this for the past 9 months). You may also be able to contact AT&T and they could charge it to your credit card. We appreciate your sons dedication and love for the USA. We are so proud of all the troops and pray for their safe return. (Editor's Note: And if any of you wondered about the stamp question from the father from Kenya, mail from soldiers in Iraq to foreign countries requires postage - letter mail from Iraq to the US does not).
2) I was strongly moved by the story in Friday's update about the soldier in D Brty, 2-20 FA who gave up his two week leave to another soldier so that the second soldier could see his new baby. The first soldier was then in a convoy that was ambushed and saved the life of another Delta Battery Soldier! These young Men are something! I am so very proud of them. They look too young to be soldiers, but then when I look at pictures of when we were in Vietnam, we had the same baby faced appearances. The first part of this past October, I was in Washington, D.C., to move my son back to Missouri. He took us on a tour of DC which included "The Wall". As I walked down that "WALL", I stopped about half way and picked up two little 3 X 3 pictures of a young Marine pilot, that had been left there sometime that day. They really caused my eyes to water. He was so young looking and could have been any of us! I thought of a friend, whose LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) had crashed and when he stepped out of the LOH, he was dazed and walked into the blades. I carefully placed the pictures, back at the base of the "WALL" standing up with the young Marine looking out....I mail monthly packages to a Platoon Sgt. in the 2d Brigade's Re-Con Troop as a small thing to help. I must apologize for this turning into a rather lengthily message.
3) From a soldier to his wife: Hello, it is 1030pm and I can't sleep. I really miss you so very much, not a day goes by that I am not thinking of you and how wonderful you
are. I can't wait for this to be over and then I can return home to you. I am careful everyday to ensure my safety and that of my soldiers so we can all go home to what is truly important - our families. It is with your support and caring nature that I am able to do what I do yet I am the one who gets the awards and medals, when they should go to you - you have the hardest job in the Army and I want you to know that I realize all that you do and go thru everyday and I am forever thankful and grateful to you for all that you do. If I haven't said it enough let me say now I appreciate everything you do, I know these are difficult times yet you continue on being the best wife and making it all seem easy. When I get home I want to pamper you and give you some time off so you can relax and go to a spa or whatever. I will take care of the house for you and you can get a break. Just as you have made my life better since I have been here, I want to do the same for you. I love you ........
And the following is from the wife who shared the letter: I am truly married to the most wonderful man, and I am ever proud to be his wife! Even in this terrible situation he goes out of his way to remind me of his love. He could be griping about what he is doing and why he is there, but he doesn't. He knows that we support him, and that his job is essential to the success that will soon come! (No unit given).
4) I had an e-mail from my son (unit withheld for security reasons) this morning restating that he was injured and was extremely sore but no broken bones. Was not being evacuated to Germany and was staying to finish his tour. The emphatic tone was evident even half way round the world! His driver is being evacuated to the U.S. and will not return to Iraq. I told my son that I never imagined that I would wish a broken bone on one of my children but a broken arm was looking real good to me!...
I also must add how impressed I was with the patient representative from Landstuhl (in Germany) who I e-mailed for information when we thought he was being sent there. Although, they cannot provide patient information because of HIPAA regulations, their reply was quick and kind and did provide information on what is provided to soldiers so they can contact family as soon as they become oriented. Very reassuring.
5) I know that I can't even express the joy and pride that I have of my son, B/6-27 FA and all of our troops. I was very fortunate to be able to drive 1400 miles to see my son's arrival with his unit this past Saturday. To watch 224 of them march into the hanger where all of us were anxiously waiting. He is changed, not only did he turn 21 last week he turned into a fine man and one that is so proud of what he has done by serving his country. This is a great Thanksgiving but yet our thoughts are not completly at ease because we know that there are others that are still in Iraq, away from their families and putting their lives at risk. Thanks Bob for your updates, I will continue to look forward to them. Tears on my pillow, pride in my heart.
6) Bravo! To the Dad from Kenya. I got choked up reading it and pride burst from my heart. My husband is 1-66 AR also and it was a wonderful testament to the character of some of these wonderful soldiers. Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
7) I was just reading my e-mail which talked about the two week R & R in December. I sure am praying that my son is one of those soldiers to come home. I have had many conversation with him and received lots mail from him. I miss him so very much. He is always on my mind. When he told me he was shipping out to Kuwait and Iraq I put him in the arms of the Lord to protect. I am so grateful to the Lord for that and hope that he will continue to honor my prayers of protection for my son and all the soldiers. He is so hoping to come home for R & R soon. He was not home last Christmas and we missed him so much. A candle will be burning and prayer said for his only present he wants ( to come home for a visit ).
8) I thought that it would be good this holiday season to not think about how sad we are that our husbands, sons, or daughters aren't with us, give thanks that because of our loved ones we can give thanks freely. We can get on a plane and fly to be with our families, jump in a car and go where ever we choice this holiday season with little to no worry. I know it's going to be different without or loved ones on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year but wollowing in it and pitying yourself isn't going to do anyone any good. I hope that at least for your soldiers sake that everyone is keeping a very positive attitude. I am going to Thank God for being lucky enough to have a man in my life with such high ideals that he would risk his life for his country. I'm also going to pray that he will return quickly and safely. I hope that the families at home will put on a brave face for there soldiers because it is going to be much harder on the soldiers than it is going to be on us at home. Just a little positive thinking this holiday season and alot of prayer will get us through this.
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