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


What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I received a phone call today. He is a LT for 4FSB out of Fort Hood. He was away from camp so he couldn't disclose his location. We talked for about 45 mins. only because he was on a pay phone(70 cents a min). He had called his parents last Friday from a satellite phone, but the connection was horrible. He said that he was receiving my mail in about 2 weeks or less. His mail to his family and I is taking about 3-4 weeks. He said that it is hot, averaging about 110 a day. He has no idea of a return date yet. He sounded in good spirits, but gave a list of things he wanted.
2) My husband is in Co. B 890th Engineering Battalion. (Miss. National Guard). Saturday afternoon the wife of one of the guys in my husband's unit called and told me she had spoken to her husband around noon that day. He said they were pulling guard duty and were fired at. Naturally, I became a little anxious about my husband knowing they were under fire. I asked her if they were equipped with bullet proof vests or anything and she said she didn't know.  Personally I was doubtful that they were since they are an engineering group, not infantry. Then last night at 11:30 pm my cell phone rang and it was my husband. We talked for about 13 minutes. He said he has been trying and trying to call but every time he tries he can't get a line out. This time was a fluke, he said. He wasn't even in line to make a call and an officer handed him the phone when he was finished and asked him if he wanted to make a call. He sounded good. Pretty upbeat. He got all seven boxes that I sent a week and a half to two weeks ago. That's encouraging. I guess they are doing a little better on the mail situation. First thing I asked him was "Are you doing guard duty?" When he said no, I was skeptical so asked him why his buddies were doing it and told him what my friend told me. He said he doesn't do guard duty because he's an E-6 (sergeant). He did say that they do have and wear full "battle rattle" when outside. That is also good news. He still has no idea when they are coming home. He and I are both resigned to the fact that it could be a long haul so we are taking things one day at a time. It's so frustrating to not be able to plan for the future, no family outings or vacations or anything, because we don't know when he will be coming home.
3) I had just climbed into bed at 1 am last night. I was waiting for a call from my husband in 1-66AR 4th ID. Sunday marked the tenth day from his last call and although I knew better than to expect it, I was hoping. No sooner did I turn out the light and pull the covers up and the phone rang. Woohoo!!! It was wonderful to hear his voice-well what of it I could actually hear. The lines were awful, cutting in and out and delayed. (I guess we got a little spoiled last time on the crystal clear satellite phone!) He had 10 minutes but I don't think we actually understand more than about 5 sentences and spent the majority of the time saying "what?" and "Say that again please?" Still, it was apparent that my usually jovial husband was pretty bummed out, tired, hot, and ready to come home. It takes quite a bit to get him down so I know things are pretty rough there. The good news is that the 2 ambushes that involved our battalion last week, that we were worried had involved him, they had not even heard about until a couple days ago. He also requested that soap not ever be sent in the food packages. I guess the pack of soap I sent him in his first package (which he finally received) caused all the food to taste like soap, but, he said, "We ate it anyway".
4) My brother called us on Saturday, but we missed it! He sounded disappointed, but said he would try to call again next week. He is a medic in E Co, 4th FSB, 4ID out of Fort Hood. We had talked to him the week before for only a min or two because the connection was lost. His letters are trickling in, but it sounds like he's getting our packages and letters quicker than we're getting his... which is good. We've been sending him your updates, and he passes them around because they don't always hear what's going on. A quick side note - I did a search for the infamous camel spider, and found this link off the Air Force page: (see story above). They're pretty scary looking, but they're not as bad as the stories that I've been hearing.
5) My daughter in law received 3 letters from my son today. Two were written May 19th, the other May 30th. He is with 1/17 FA home base Ft. Sill, Ok. Said they were all fine just ready to come home. His only request was for razors and drink mix. We have sent him tons of razors and about 15 can of drink mix so he should have received most of them by now, (and for other family members that worry about their loved ones getting plenty to eat, if my son didn't ask for something to eat they must be getting plenty to eat because my son likes to eat). He did say it was 125 degrees, sounds hot to me (I have sent him a fan and misty unit so maybe that will help). He did not say where they were at but said eveyone says they are in God's country and in his opinion God must have been in a real bad mood the day he created that place. Said he never knew God got that mad.
6) We received our first call from Iraq, our son is w/HHC 1/12 INF 3rd BCT 4th ID. His father and I were both at work, so neither of us got to speak w/him. His sister was home. He told her he's doing just fine just very hot. Wants me to stop sending so much hygiene products, because he's still living out of the back of his tank w/4 other guys and not much room. Said to keep the junk food coming as well as the letters because he loves mail call. Nothing better than hearing from home and getting a care package. Says everyone shares. Informed everyone he loves us & will see us when he returns. Actually he hoped to speak w/his father because we're here at Ft Drum and his dad is leaving shortly for Afganistan. I pray constantly that God will pull the two most important men in my life thru this as well as all other service men & women. It was a great day in my house even though I wasn't the one to hear that voice I'd been longing to hear say "Hi Mom"! Please continue to pray for our service members serving throughout the world. (Ed Note: Another lady doing double duty for our country through her husband and son - I salute you).
7) Received a letter from my husband, in 1/44 ADA, Bravo Battery, 4th ID. He said he has been doing checkpoints and guard, and has even been a part of the arrests of a few Iraqi's that had weapons. He said how upset it makes him that some Iraqi's throw rocks at them and yell at them to leave, when they are just trying to help! He commented that he looks like he has the chicken pox from all the mosquito bites, so I will be sending more Off Spray. He said he has been receiving mail from me regularly and has received all of the care packages I have sent. He asked that I send a tape-recorded message of the kids and my voices. He mainly wants junk food and powdered drink mixes. I will be buying cool compresses, a small battery operated fan, and some mosquito coils or a mosquito repelling lamp. He is supposed to get to call every week now as a "morale" call, so that is great news!
8) My soldier is Florida Army Guard A CO 2/124 INF attached to 82nd Airborne with the V Corps (I believe) at Balad Airfield. I read your updates daily and it helps to read what others are hearing. ......... I'm sure there will be many interesting stories when he comes home and we piece together the puzzle. The Florida Guard was last activated for war in WWII, fought as part of the Dixie Division, the 31st Infantry, in a bitter campaign in Mindanao in the Philippines. The guards' main focus has been with Florida hazards such as wildfires, airport security and Hurricane Andrew. There is much discussion in Florida about the future of the guard, from mission to pay.
My son finally called Saturday morning.... His call was so wonderful - great to hear his voice and it was a good connection. He sounded exhausted at 1pm ( his time) as he talked. They now have cots and he could use more brown shirts, magazines and more news about what's happening at home..... He got his 21st Birthday box and said it was so appreciated. I sent a gag gift - a life-size Lucy Lu blow-up doll! He said they dressed her up and put her in the turet of the Bradley and drove it around. Everyone was laughing! That was the reaction I was hoping for!! That same day we got a letter - actually our first since February.... He says he is so exhausted - 9 nights in a row they are doing patrols in hostile villages, raids and riot control..... No one in his group has been hurt, but it was his unit that was guarding the gate when the young girl approached with taped explosives. He was so thankful it wasn't his watch. ..... Of course, just like everyone else he can't wait to come home...... Mail moving better also.
I found a website where you can order solar powered battery chargers - you might want to share that with your readers. . http://www.cetsolar.com/batchrgr.htm
Universal NiMH & NiCad Battery Recharger
Charges both Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) Batteries. This durable unit charges "AA", "AAA", "C", "D" or 9V batteries. Recharge your batteries, again & again, for just pennies a charge. $22.95...shipping was expensive - but it was the only charger I found to charge all types of batteries......Thanks for the info from your readers. I start my day with your updates - it's like indirectly hearing from my son "News from Iraq". Your editorials are always ON TARGET - I appreciate your cander. From a non-military family (prior to my son's enlistment), I welcome the teacher-approach you take with your readers. I have learned so much from your site. Take care and God Bless you and our troops everywhere! (Ed Note: Our National Guard and Reserve troops are equally as important as our active Army component, couldn't do the job without them. My hat is off to all our soldiers, regardless of component).

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