Active Unit News

What Our Families Are Hearing From their Soldiers:
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


What Our Families Are Hearing from their Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Just got 2 letters this week from my son in Iraq. These are the first since he's been in that country. One dated 4-24 and the other 5-1. He's with the 1/67 Armor out of Ft. Hood, TX and at May 1, they were in Ba'qubah (just north of Baghdad). All was fairly quiet with their group. The one thing he mentioned over and over was that he wished that he had a camera. This is the first that I'd even thought of that item.
2) Received an email from husband with 534th SIG CO. Mail is getting better for them also. They now have email but are allowed on only once a week. Their phones have been shut down and they're not sure for how long. Hopefully that will be taken care of soon.
3) First of all-Thanks so much for the updates-I look forward to seeing them everytime I sign on. And it makes me feel just a little bit closer to my husband while he's gone and can't contact us. He is in Samarra with 1-66 (4th ID). The last letter I received on May 15th and was dated April 23rd. I did hear from him Monday (May 26th) morning finally-we are now averaging just one 10 minute phone call per month but I'll take every minute I can get! He said everyone is in general good health and well being, that it has gotten VERY hot, and that they were working long hours. He did say that they were planning to have phones installed out there by June 5th. And there has been talk of getting an R&R rotation to one of Saddam's Palaces. And he said mail is finally rolling in there-slowly but surely-including packages which have been great for morale. Also-a friend whose husband has been over with 3rd ID since the beginning of the war, said one of the most appreciated things she sent over to him was a misting fan. They are inexpensive and run on AA batteries. They look like a squirt bottle with the fan head (or some kinds without the fan have hand pumps) and can be found at Walmart or Lowes, etc.
4) I finally got my first letter from my husband today. He mailed it the first week of May, so it took about 4 weeks to get here. My husband is with B.Co.2-8 INF and from what he told me they are all doing fine. When he wrote this letter he hadn't received any of my letters yet, probably due to them being on the move. To all of you who haven't gotten any letters from their loved ones yet, hang in there. I know it's hard, but rest assured that you will hear from them soon.
5) I have heard from my son, he is in Tirkrit with the 1/22 HHC. He is a combat Medic. He is helping to rebuild the hospital there, he is doing okay. He wishes the mail would get out faster, they all long to hear from home.
6) I just wanted to let you know that I finally (thank goodness!) heard from my boyfriend in 1-68 Armor from Ft. Carson. He was calling from Kirkuk and sounded very well! He continued to express his eternal optimism, and mentioned that there's a rumor they might be able to head back home in late August or September. I wished him a very happy birthday, since it's coming up next week (our birthdays are right next to each other -- his is the 3rd and mine is the 4th :) and told him a big package is coming for him! Of course he was very excited, and he said that he's received many of my other letters and packages that I've sent, and the most recent he's gotten was dated May 12th. He actually mentioned there's a contest between he and his buddies to see who gets the most mail, and right now he's in the lead ;-). He also mentioned that he's actually (and surprisingly!) taking more showers there than he did when he was back home, so it seems he's in a good position and at least has access to the basics ;-). Anyhow, hope this helps anyone else who may or may not have heard from their loved one(s) in 1-68 Armor, 4th ID!! Continued blessings to all our soldiers over in Iraq and elsewhere.
7) My husband is in the 2-8 Alpha company currently northeast of Bagdad. He called me on Wednesday the 28th at 9:45 AM mountain time. He sounded really good and excited to hear a voice from home. He said that everyone in his company is alive and doing well. He is getting letters but no packages yet. He says that they are getting showers here and there but desperately needs more bug spray. He mainly just wanted to get across to me that what they are doing there is no more dangerous then what I do in everyday life. I know it is his way of softening any fears that I may have but from the sounds of it they are doing very well.
8) I finally heard from my son for the first time today. He is in "plans" with HHC 3rd BCT. He said they were moving every 4 or 5 days and since coming into Iraq, had been to Baghdad, Tikrit, Samarra and Kurkut-also in smaller territories around these cities. He said they are safe, in spite of hearing explosions every night and thinks most of it is our soldiers blowing up weapons caches. On 4/26 , they were at an Iraqi military airbase that they had seized "with no resistance whatsoever", and that they were using it to fly and land the spy drone planes. The planes were taking pictures of the next town over where they were going to be heading for the next day and had seen alot of weapons and young militia. He said they were all excited about it!! In his 2nd letter dated 5/5, he did not say where they were, but did say that it was "nice, electricity, water, everything"! (his words....I guess "everything" has a new meaning for him now!). They were preparing to move again, though. He sounds extremely upbeat, proud and doesn't seem real bothered by the fact that they have had no showers since Kuwait, the flies are terrible as is the heat, the are somewhat short on rations and the sandstorms keep blowing. He and all the soldiers were real upset when they went into one small town and saw children with no shoes, ragged clothing, all dirty, living in mud and clay huts just "looking at them with blank looks". So most of the soldiers threw them MRE's and even water "even though we, ourselves, were running low as well". My son even requested that I send small American bills he can give to the children. He is only 20 and not even a year in the Army and he is seeing so many things most of us will never see in our life times. He requested shaving cream, toothpaste, wipes-unscented, medicated powder, odor powder for his boots, AA batteries, Ramen noodles, razors, hand sanitizer, gatoraide powder, recent newspapers and twizzlers

Back to Active Unit Main News Page