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Unsung U.S. soldiers try to feel part of Iraq war
By Dean Yates
TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov 26 (Reuters) - When American soldiers fighting in Iraq swell with pride as commanders pin medals on their chests, spare a thought for Staff Sergeant James Hooks and the many other troops who plug away in non-combat roles.
Hooks processes forms for soldiers at the U.S. 4th Infantry Division base in Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit who want mid-term leave or need other requests met.
It might not be glamorous, but it can still be dangerous.
Hooks, from Atlanta, Georgia, said some of his colleagues had been wounded in mortar attacks on the base.
Like other non-combat soldiers who live inside dozens of Saddam's former palaces across this base, Hooks said combat troops sometimes unload their frustrations on him.
"They think we're living better. We get a hot meal and they're on MREs," said Hooks, 32, referring to Meals Ready to Eat, the rations troops live on when off base.
It was important for all soldiers to feel part of efforts to stabilise Iraq, Hooks and other non-combat troops said -- even if most attention focused on the soldiers in the field.
More than 3,000 American men and women soldiers live at this sprawling compound in Tikrit, a hub of anti-American sentiment about 150 km (95 miles) north of Baghdad.
Soldiers from postal workers to engineers carry M-16s or sidearms and wear their helmets outside. Women are no exception.
Mortar attacks are common and small-arms fire is often heard near the base. With many soldiers on a year's assignment to Iraq, maintaining unity and morale is vital.
GOING POSTAL
One woman who once had a specialised role but no longer does is Private Andrea Zimmerman, from Grafton, Illinois.
The 31-year-old, who calls herself Z, is the division's representative on nuclear, biological and chemical threats. But since no such weapons have been found and troops no longer worry about them, she got bored and volunteered for postal duty.
"I don't feel I'm part of it," she said of her original role. Working in the postal unit made her feel better, she said.
Some soldiers in support roles know how important they are.
"If it wasn't for us mechanics, they wouldn't keep rolling," said Staff Sergeant Patrick Wolf, 27, a swarthy, tobacco-chewing man from Crosby, North Dakota, referring to the broken-down Humvees sitting in his motorpool.
Wearing dirty green overalls, the motorpool foreman said he had little contact with combat troops, but said everybody had a sense of danger here.
Wolf should know. Nearly every day he downs tools for a run through Tikrit to a supply yard south of the town, sometimes manning a 50-calibre machinegun mounted on a Humvee.
"Fortunately, of the convoys I've been in, we've never been attacked," said Wolf.
Then there is Specialist Jeremy King, 28, from Dallas, Texas. With an M-16 assault rifle slung over his shoulder, King explains he is a chaplain's assistant.
King does not preach but feels he helps meet the religious needs of troops, along with taking care of his boss. "We're the ones who try to keep the chaplain alive," he said.
11/26/03 04:56 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
(Editor's Note: All jobs in the Army are important gears and wheels in the complex machine that makes up our American military. I salute those who serve in support roles, just as I do those in direct combat roles).
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A 4ID Vietnam Vet is Still Serving Our Nation in a Combat Zone
To the best of my knowledge, we only have one Vietnam era 4ID veteran currently serving in uniform in a combat zone. The following note from a colonel in the Rhode Island National Guard shows the pride that still exists in our two war soldiers. Though not serving now in the 4ID, he is very proud of his 4ID combat patch and is representing us well in Afghanistan:
Bob, Happy Thanksgiving to you also. I will be celebrating here in Kabul, Afghanistan with my new friends and comrads. That last time I celebrated Thanksgiving in a foreign country was in the hospital with malaria in Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam in 1969. I thought what we were doing then was right and I feel the same way this time. Danger here is not as constant or intense as Vietnam or Iraq but it is still there to remind you once in a while. Like the rocket attack on the hotel downtown the other night or the shooting of several demonstrators a few blocks away. Always wear my vest when out of the compound and carry my 9mm all the time even in the compound. Really miss the family and friends but feel it is worth the short time investment I will put in here. Once a grunt always a grunt. Or as they told me at Benning 34 years ago, grunt leader. Still trying to set the example. Some folks seeing my 4ID right shoulder patch thought I had just come from Iraq. Guess it's hard to believe some of us old timers are still around. Proud to wear the patch again. Will keep in touch. More from this front later.
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US forces seek cold, slimmer Saddam on run
By Dean Yates
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. troops hunting Saddam Hussein believe he is still in Iraq, but if they can't yet catch the ousted dictator they say they want to be sure he is cold, constantly on the run -- and preferably losing weight.
"My guess is he probably has a plan to keep himself nice and cozy during winter, while the rest of his people suffer," Major General Raymond Odierno said Wednesday.
"But we're going to try to keep him running so he can't be comfortable and doesn't have enough kerosene...to keep warm. And I hope he's lost lots of weight," added the head of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division based in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit.
Odierno said there were no signs Saddam was playing a key role in guerrilla attacks. But the U.S. Army said Wednesday it had captured one of Saddam's former bodyguards in a raid on a house near Ramadi where guerrillas had been operating.
In a separate raid near Samarra, troops seized a wife and daughter of Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, who Washington accuses of playing a direct role in guerrilla attacks.
Odierno said he hoped the detention of the two relatives of Ibrahim, the second most wanted man in Iraq, would generate information on the whereabouts of top fugitives.
Saddam has a $25 million price on his head while a $10 million bounty has been offered for Ibrahim.
Odierno said Ibrahim could be playing a financing role in deadly guerrilla attacks against U.S. troops.
"We don't have specific proof that he is in fact in charge of running these operations but we do have some reports that he could be," he said.
Odierno said the quality of a recent audio tape purportedly from Saddam showed he was not hiding in comfort.
"Any one of my soldiers could produce a better quality tape than he's producing," he said.
"He's worried about being caught. I know he's moving a lot, he's not staying in one place."
Odierno said he had seen no indication Saddam was playing any central role in the insurgency, adding he believed it was still mainly locally controlled with few links between the different hotbeds of anti-American sentiment.
But he said insurgents were trying to bring leaders to Tikrit from other parts of the country because they saw Saddam's hometown as a key battleground in fighting U.S. forces.
The United States blames Saddam loyalists and foreign Islamic fighters entering Iraq for attacks on U.S. troops which have killed 184 American soldiers since May 1.
11/26/03 12:37 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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A Soldier's First True Thanksgiving
This is an email from a 588th Engineer Battalion soldier to his family, written the day before Thanksgiving:
I spent my time today wondering about Thanksgiving and I have come to the conclusion that this will be both my first true Thanksgiving, and not a Thanksgivng at all but simply Thursday.
First, I am truely thankful this year. I have been able to think of things to be thankful for in the past but this year it is literally all around me.
I am thankful that a car bomb attack on the local police station is a shock and horror for me.
I am thankful that all of the attacks and security precautions are not just part of my home town
I am thankful that when all of this is over that I will be able to go home.
I wish that these people could know a fraction of the security and freedom we have and take for granted. I wish the kids will never have to worry about getting shot in a street fight, or worry about going home to a bombed out building.
In other ways tomorrow will just be Thursday. The difference between tomorrow and a week from tomorrow will be that tomorrow I will be serving a slightly better meal to my soldiers. Other than that, we will still be running our missions, and doing the same job we have been doing for the last 234 days.
Have a great day, I will be thinking about all of you. Take pictures, I will.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) My boyfriend is in 4ID 1-12 Scouts. He was able to call last night (Saturday) from the 'airfield'. He's able to call either once a week or every other week. But he wanted to let me know that they now have internet where they are. How very exciting. I go to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs so I am always on the internet. This now makes it easier to talk to him as though he might be here. :) They are about 20 miles in some direction of Kirkuk with about 300 other guys and a gym. He said they were able to have a nice Thanksgiving meal like we saw on TV. But unlike what the papers here said he was not able to sleep in until 8am he had to get up at 6am to go on patrol. I don't see much about the Scouts so I thought I would let you know this so that others attached to them might know as well. Thank you again!!!!!!
2) My husband, a Sergeant in the 46th Chemical Co/2nd Chem Bn called me Wednesday morning at 1am. I was ecstatic! It had been a long while since I heard his voice. He wasn't in good spirits but what can you expect when Thanksgiving is the next day? He said that he was thankful for the polypros I sent as well as the flannel sheets and thick, fleece blanket. It helped on those chilly nights and made his airbed (the $3 airbed I mentioned in your updates back in May) a lot more 'homey'. He said they were having a lavish feast with all the trimmings for the soldiers, but he wasn't planning on attending. He said everyone was in pretty good spirits and that they were all thankful they haven't lost any lives in their unit. Many are home on leave, or planning on it, but as one of the unlucky few who don't get that opportunity we are just happy they are alive. Our soldiers are so courageous and are making the best of their situations. I am so proud of them all!
3) I've not sent information before but I've copied and pasted an email that I received Friday morning from my son in 2-20/FA. It was so good to hear from him. The emails are few and far between so it was a very pleasant surprise to find it in my in box Friday morning.....Thanksgiving wasn't too bad. It's been rainy and dreary for the last few days so all the dust was pretty sloppy. The DIVARTY commander had all of the battery commanders and 1SGs show up at the DFAC early and we all did a non alcoholic champagne toast. We then opened the doors and let the soldiers come in.
When the line finally started to die down we jumped in at the end. Food was good
had roast beef, ham, turkey, honey glazed cornish hens, mashed potatoes, gravy,
green beans, stuffing, boiled shrimp, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, blueberry cobbler
and some other things. The problem was there really wasn't much turkey to go
around --that went to the DFAC in the first two hours it was open. I got a small
piece but it ran out after that. Plenty of ham and roast beef though which is something we haven't had a lot of either so the soldiers did appreciate that. Most of my guys were out on the gates that they guard so we ran hot plates out to them and took pictures and that sort of thing. I haven't gotten any Christmas presents from you yet. Like I said it's been drizzly and rainy the last few days (sun is shining today for a change) and the Chinook supply/mail runs haven't flown in lately, since it's cleared out I expect them to come in with mail tonight. I had a soldier who got a
bottle of Crown Royal in the mail and we had to pour it out. Very saddening experience.
4) My finace came home for 2 weeks R&R..he wasn't supposed to be here until the 15th of Nov...but surprised me on the 14th....with a honk and a knock on the door. These past 2 weeks have been the best days of my life so far....just the fact that I got to see him and see what I was missing out on was the best. The first night he was squirmish in his sleep and talked a lot...acting like he was still in Iraq. I just let him go though...I didnt want to wake him.. He did gain back a lot of the weight he had lost while he was there. The 25th came around. He asked me to marry him. I said YES of course, so were united in marriage...and its the best thing ever. He left this morning (Sunday) to go back to Iraq, and it was by far the hardest thing I've done in a long time, worse then the first time. Having him here though makes every tear I cry now worth it. And its only days before he and all the other soldiers get to come home...God Bless all the soldiers...(No unit given)
5) My husband called his parents Saturday morning and me Saturday afternoon. He is with 4-42 FA they are stationed in Al Daur. He sounded pretty good but said it feels really cold there, has been damp. He has a very bad cold, sneezed through the entire call but had a good connection otherwise! He said they had a great Thanksgiving dinner, they had turkey and shrimp and plenty of pies to choose from among other things. He said he hopes they get the same meal for Christmas! He did say that my stuffing was better but overall it was a good meal. He said mail has been stopped for about 5 days, no idea why. That about sums it up.
6) My husband is in 1-12 IN Bn and he was able to come home for two weeks of R&R where he got to meet is 2 and 1/2 month old daughter and see our two year old son that he hadn't seen for seven months. we were so happy to have him for that
little bit. It is funny how 15 short days can affect your life. We were well adjusted to him being gone but in the time he was here we were reminded of how great it was to have him home. He is the strength of our family and it did seem harder to say goodbye to him the second time. We did have the oppurtunity to see the president while he was here and what a great treat that was. He is a great asset to the country and I think that it helped the families and soldiers left here at home. We sure needed that morale booster at this time. What a treat it was for the troops over in Iraq to get to have Thanksgiving dinner with the pres. My husband flew out on the 26th and spent Thanksgiving on a plane back to Iraq. But we were so thankful for our time
together. We are so proud of him and we and are thankful for all the support. He said that people were so good to him in baltimore where he had to spend the night. One woman even stopped him to pray that God would watch over him and I know he will........ I also know how important it is for him to be over there. He is making this world a better place for his babies who are his life.
7) My husband (Chaplain's Assistant, 14th Engineer Battalion, near Tikrit) was able to come home on Emergency Leave for the birth of our 5th child. While he missed the actual event, (he was layed over in Paris at the time,) he was there 18 hours later and helped to welcome our new son into the world. It was so wonderful to have him here for the brief time that the Army allows. It gave me a much needed break from Mommie duties and him a much needed break from the war. He rested, showered, slept and ate when he wanted and what he wanted. The hardest part was saying goodbye again after only 14 days. He is a very good soldier and doesn't get too emotional in front of me and the kids. He is strong so that we will be strong. Our unit is now no longer offering "Emergency Baby Leave" but they are incorporating
it into the two weeks given for R&R, with the stipulation that someone has to give up their spot for the new Dad. At first, I was concerned for the other pregnant Moms in our FRG, thinking that some soldiers may not want to sacrifice their leave time for others. I don't have that concern after reading these stories. I am touched by the sacrifices that our soldiers make every day, and deeply moved by their willingness to give up the opportunity to spend time with their own families so that some fellow
soldier may spend time with a new son or daughter.
8) Today (11/26) was a really good day. A friend of my husband and mine, who is in the same unit as my husband (B.Co. 2-8 INF 4th ID), came home for good. He is ETSing in February. Even though it wasn't my husband who came home I was really happy when I saw my friend get out of the cab and start walking towards our house. To celebrate he took me out to have a drink and we had a good time. Since Thanksgiving is coming up I invited him to join me for Thanksgiving dinner, if he decides to stay here for the weekend. Hopefully I will be able to celebrate the return of my husband soon too, because I really miss him a lot!!! GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND A HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!
9) A letter from a soldier with Charlie Company, 204th Support Battalion: "There are no words to describe how it feels to be back with my family. Nothing can express what it felt like to hold my 5 month old daugter for the first time. Fifteen days is not a long time, but I was the happiest man in the world. It was worth all the hastle it took for me to get here. Playing with my children, cuddling with my wife and to look into the eyes of my innocent 5 month old. Being able to pick up the phone and call my family and let them know that I love them. It's upsetting to know that not everyone will get to enjoy the leave not everyone will get to come home. But knowing that we don't have that much time left in Iraq, knowing that finally we will be able to come home for good, makes everyone have something to look forward to. But our job still isn't done, we still have work to do there. And I am thankful to the army for letting me have those 15 days at home. I feel rejuvinated and ready to go back to work so I can help finish the job, so I can come home for good. Continue to pray and write the soldiers that are still there and for the ones that are coming home.
10) To the lady looking for the yellow ribbons, here are three sources, it was the 720th MP unit that was in a previous update:
WWW.OPERATIONSANDBOX.COM under fundraiser
The 720th Military Police Battalion is selling the yellow ribbon magnets for your car. They are $5.00 ea. and say either "Support our Troops" or "Pray for our Troops". We also have Red, White, and Blue ribbons that say "God Bless the USA". All of the proceeds will go to a HUGE welcome home party for the 720th soldiers. If you are interested in purchasing these please send a check made out to "HHD FRG" and mail to Lynne Poirier, 6835 Todd St., Ft. Hood, TX 76544. Thank you.
We are not the original FRG that started selling the magnets but we are selling them too (A/1-67 Armor). We also have a Website http://1-67animals.com/ where we are selling the Hurry Home Bears. We also have pictures on there from our guys in Alpha Company. ... If anyone is interested in the bears all they have to do is click on the pic of the bear. It also has our P.O Box address on there.
11) We finally received three letters on the same day from our son, 46th Chemical CO. in Taji. He sounded upbeat and says he now has a mirror in which to see himself while he is shaving! Oh, the little things! We hadn't heard from him in five weeks and what a long five weeks it has been. The letters were dated with three different dates, so I know he is writing, it is just taking so long to get them here. He is in some barracks now that used to house the Iraqi army and says it is not half bad, however they still call it the ghetto because of all of the dirt roads that lead to everything. This Thanksgiving will be hard, last year he was at basic training and this year look where he is! What a difference a year makes. Thanks to all of those precious men and women in all of the overseas arenas right now. We forget there are still service men and women in Afghanistan, Bosnia and such. Godspeed to all of them.
12) My nephew who is part of B Co 4th EN BN with the 1/8 (The Beast!) will be returning to Iraq on 29 November after recovering from being wounded in action last June. He will be rejoining his old unit and looking forward to seeing everyone. They will be returning back home in the April time frame and we're all looking forward to it. It's good to know that he will be returning with his old unit. We're all worried, but very proud of him. I know everyone will be keeping him, his unit and everyone serving in Iraq and other parts of the world. His battle buddy's parents sent some pictures of their son. One of them had a picture of him and my nephew together the day he was wounded. It was good to see the picture and I'm sure there will be more coming.
13) I heard from my fiance 2 days in a row! He is with HHC, 2nd BDE in Baqubah.
He called on Monday and told me about the mouse problem they were having. He finally moved into the containerized housing from his tent and was hoping to get away from them. According to him, "with all the bad things around here, I am scared of some stupid mice!" We laughed a lot and he sounded really good! Much better than the last time we talked. I can't help but worry though, because he seems to be working 18 hour days, 7 days a week. He called again yesterday to wish me a happy birthday and to be sure I got the stuff he sent. Somehow from all the way in Iraq he was able to send a balloon bouquet to work and flowers to my home. I asked him how he did it, and he said "I have my connections." Now if only those connections could bring him home. Happy Holidays to all military friends and families out there that are "celebrating" these times missing someone special to them.
14) Bob, just letting you know I finally get to e-mail my son, C co., 2/8 Inf. It is almost as nice as talking on the phone. The phone is better,I can hear him. But this way I know how he his quicker.They are all doing good,but we still miss him. We are proud of all the soldiers serving our country, may God keep all of them safe.
15) From a family member of HHC/1-67 Armor: GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BUSH! I am so impressed with his surprise visit to the troops in Bagdad to carry the message of our support and thanks for the job they are doing. No matter what your political affiliation, you must admit it was a very heroic act on his part. Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and all our guys and girls got some turkey!
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