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 Their Soldiers in Iraq:
1) From a 3-16 Arty wife: Letters have been sporadic and not in date order. Just received letter dated May 6: "It took us two days, but we made it - we are a few miles north of Baghdad. No words can describe what I saw driving through the city. These people live in poverty - there are little kids from the ages of 2-10 that stand on the side of the road screaming for food. It is a really sad sight. We stopped outside the city to rest and a little girl, age 6 came up to me speaking English. She asked my name, then if I was married when she saw my ring. I could tell she was hungry, so I gave her 2 MRE's. She thanked me and started to cry. It breaks my heart to see these kids living this way."
2) I just wanted to let you and every one else know that I received my first letter today Saturday June 7. My Best friend is with the HHC 1-8 Inf. out of Fort Carson The letter was dated May 5 and post marked May 27. He thanked me for the 2 care packages that I sent him. (I sent a total of 9 to this date) He didn't say where exactly he is. He seemed very upbeat said that he is working guard for 4 hours every 12 hours. He also talked about the people from Iraq that he is meeting. He has been able to talk with some of them.
3) Hooah!!! I heard from my husband the other day who's in the HHT/1-10 CAV/ 4ID. I almost dropped our little boy when I heard his voice. I WAS SO HAPPY. He said it would only be 3 more months at least till they come home. I said as long as you come home to me. He's doing good, he made friends with an Iraqi family there and he said they always want to see the pictures I send him of our son and me. I hope they come home soon. All American Wife..
4) Well I just got a phone call from my husband this morning it almost made it to 10min. He is doing okay and is getting mail now and has been for a couple of weeks, I didn't get a chance to ask which was the latest date on the letter he received though. As per our FRG they are in Jalaulah. He's with C Co/2-8. I had found a picture of him on ArmyTimes.com and was able to ask him if he was in the area and got that confirmed. It was really comforting to hear his voice again, it's been over a month since I last got to talk to him, and this time the kids got to talk to him for a short while.
5) Got an e-mail from my husband in the MS Amy National Guard 223rg EN BN assigned to the 4thID, Tikret, and they have gotten the hospital rebuilt and busted up some old regime people who were charging folks for admission to the hospital. He has negoiated runway repairs for the air strip and they finally have phone access. I spoke to him for the first time in 9 wks and it was the greatest one minute yet. Hooah. Coming from a military family I know communications can be scarce, but those minutes are precious. Thanks for your up-dates on the whole division, it makes the picture 360.
6) We have a son serving with “A” Company of the 1-12 Inf(M), 3rd Brigade out of Fort Carson. He is driving a Bradley for the headquarters platoon. We have received two letters so far and they continue the theme that I am reading in some of your excerpts. When they were close to Baghdad there were kids by the road selling cigarettes and dinars. My son said they paid a dollar per 1000 dinars and was sure they had been taken but had a nice souvenir. We received a phone call on Wednesday (6-4-03) after his group had driven to Kirkuk. It was about 12:45 p.m. CDT and he said it was 9:45 p.m. There. He couldn’t tell us exactly where they had driven in from. The boredom is rampant and he wanted an official rule sheet for Monopoly as they seem to play it a lot and there is a bit of disagreement about the rules.:) He asked for the CD’s etc. as I have read about. He said rumor had it they would be back Sept. or Oct. or maybe by Christmas. Unfortunately we were cut off in mid sentence by the time limit.
7) I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I GOT A LETTER FROM MY HUSBAND LAST WEEK, ON TUESDAY JUNE 4TH 2003, IT WAS DATED MAY 12TH. HE'S WITH B CO 2/8 INF. OUT OF FORT HOOD, TX. HE JUST LET'S ME KNOW THAT HE'S OK BUT, THAT THE WEATHER IS UNFORGIVING. THAT THERE'S NO SHADE AND WHEN YOU DO FIND SHADE IT'S STILL REALLY HOT. HE ALSO SAYS THAT THEY SEND THEM ON MISSION'S AND THEY GET THEM DONE QUICK AND EFFECTIVELY. HE TELLS ME THAT THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY IS WHEN HE RECEIVES LETTERS FROM US HERE BACK HOME, HE SAID HE SHOWED EVERYBODY THE PICTURE THAT OUR 2YR. OLD DREW FOR HIM OF SUPERMAN AND BATMAN AND TOLD THEM THAT HIS BOY WAS AN ARTIST. HE WAS PROUD. HE SAYS THAT MAIL FROM US KEEPS HIM FROM GOING INSANE IN THE DESERT. HE ALSO MENTIONS THAT FOR THE MUNCHIES, WIPES, RAZORS, AND SUNBLOCK TO KEEP COMING. :-) HE FINISHES BY TELLING ME TO LET EVERYONE KNOW TO KEEP SENDING THE PRAYERS THEIRE. THAT HE LOVES US ALL AND THAT HE CAN'T WAIT TO HOLD HIS SON IN HIS ARMS AGAIN ( HIS MAIN MOTIVATION).
8) My husband called this morning. He is with 3/66 AR of 1st BGE 4th ID out of Fort Hood. He said it is very hot there and that powdered drink mixes are a must. I have sent "screens" from Lowes, in a previous package which he said were a life saver!! The mosquitos and flies are amazing. The mail is getting better and he said the last package he received in about 2 weeks. I wish I had more news to share with the group but it was something. My heart and sincerest sympathies goes out to the families who have lost loved ones there and in any foriegn lands while protecting our freedoms.
9) No unit info to report but I thought this was a neat note and wanted to forward it: We finally got a letter from our son on Sat June 7th on his B-day while we were having a big party to celebrate his B-day.The letter was dated May 7th! Also during the party there were 2 military jets flying overhead and we don't even live near a base. We thought it was neat and felt like he some how knew we were all thinking of him. He say's being there has really changed (for the better) and he feels what he is doing there is the right thing. He asked us all the pray for him and all the soliders. We can't wait for him to come home!
10) My boyfriend is in B Btry- 3/16-2bct and I finally received a phone call late last night. He says that he is doing well and that the speed of mail is improving. And it sure is because I am receiving mail from him at least 2 times a week.
11) Last night I received 2 phone calls from my son. He is 4th ID, 3rd BCT. These were the first phone calls in 7 weeks and it was wonderful to talk to him. He is north of Baghdad, Kirkuk area. He was very upbeat and positive, had really no complaints about anything. He is a tank mechanic and said he has been working a lot - somewhat stressful. They are getting one hot meal a day plus 2 MREs. He was impressed with Kuwait, said Iraq is a whole different story. He said he has gotten lots of mail and had gotten yesterday a package I mailed May 19. Not bad! Just hope the mail starts coming this way now. It is still amazing to me that he is halfway around the world working in this situation. It makes me so proud, as I know we all are proud of our soldiers.
12) We received a letter from our son dated May 12th, He's a medic w/1/12 3rd BCT 4th ID. Says they go from town to town providing medical to people. Says a few days earlier they treated a whole Iraqi family that had been injured,but he never went into detail of how or what the injuries were. Said they weren't able to save the 9 month old baby and this really bothered him because they did all they could possible to save this baby. He is very fond of children. I knew of all the dangers he would face that hurt or dying children was going to be the worst for him. However says he's doing fine, says everyone hugged and shed some tears over that one. Goes to show you our soldiers are great human beings. God bless and take care of them all and return them home safely. I really believe in a higher power. Mom of a 4th ID soldier.

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