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


A Few Words From Bob:
1) I continue to get a fair number of notes about water and concerns if our troops have plenty of water. Let me give you my thoughts on this topic, for what they're worth.
Armies have been supplying their troops with the most basic requirement - water - since the Stone Ages. Humans can't live without water. Our Army has been successfully supplying water to our troops for over 227 years - and Iraq is no exception. The Iraqi people have water or they couldn't live where our troops are operating. The Tigris River flows through our AO.
It is true that bottled water is rationed, but purified drinking water is in ample supply in water buffaloes (water trailers) wherever our troops are located. Also keep in mind, part of the reason our troops ask for koolaid and gatorade is to cut the taste of the water that has been run through purification plants.
So - from here on out, when I get questions on water, I am going to delete them and not respond. If I believed there was a water problem for our troops in Iraq, I would be the first to let it be known up our chain of command. If you haven't checked the water story on the 4ID web page, you should do so.
Maybe some troops don't like the taste of water that isn't in plastic bottles - but have them check with our WWII and Vietnam vets and see where we got our water - ditches, rice paddies, streams, farmers wells, etc come to mind. And it didn't do us any harm. That's why the Army issues water purification tablets to soldiers.
And as my favorite philospher, Forrest Gump said, "That's the last thing I'm going to say about that."
2) I love getting the updates from the unit commanders that many of our FRG leaders are sending me. I will keep those for our archives for future generations to benefit from (and Ceilia Stratton, director of 4ID Museum is also keeping them in her archives).
Because they are typically quite long, if you want me to include excerpts from them in the updates, I ask the FRG leaders to please take a few minutes to summarize them down to one or two paragraphs with what you think the key message is. If you don't have time to do that, send them anyway and I'll just save them for the archives. Time does not allow me to do my own edit of each one that I get.
What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) My son is with the 946 Transportation Company with the 4th ID. He has been in Kuwait doing missions into Iraq since April. Today, he is moving permanently into Iraq to a camp between Basra and Bagdad (Camp Cedar?). Thank God for cell phones, I was able to hear from him about every week to week 1/2 but now that he is in Iraq permanently, we won't be able to hear from him like we have been.
I have a co-worker who has someone over in Iraq also, she did some research and with trial and error, found out that the AT&T phone cards from Walmart are the best to buy. Most of the others don't work. She also told me that when you buy a 500 minute card, you actually only get an average of 250 minutes because of the international rates. I don't know if this will help your other readers or not. (Ed Note: I would be interested in other experiences on best buys on international calling cards from Iraq. Consumer advocate Clark Howard (on the radio here in Atlanta and in many places around the country, is a strong proponent of cards from Sam's Wholesale Club (Walmart) and Costco Wholesale Club. I have no personal experience with any of them).
2) My son ( 4th ID 1-12, FT CARSON) called to my suprise on the 4th of July approx 2:30 AM their time. He sounded a little weary but reassured me it was because of the time and heat......... I had sent him a kiddy inflatable pool, raft, water guns, lemonade mix etc for a 4th of July pkg. He said the raft was great for sleeping on as his Bradley doesn't have a back rest and it strained his back while driving so much, the pool they were doing laundry in and they had so much fun with the water guns! Boys will be boys no matter where they are I guess. He REALLY enjoyed the hometown newspapers, and misses home so much. He said someone came in and grilled out steaks for the day and it was a VERY welcome treat. We got cut off mid-sentance after that, but no return call. Sure do miss my boy.
3) Our son is with 4th ID 3-66. We had not heard from him till he had been gone nearly 3 months, but he has now called about 1 time a week for the last 3 weeks.The last time he called was early Saturday morning, this time he was able to talk to his Daddy, my husband had not heard his voice since he left, this was a real joy. He is handling the heat okay. His morale is good. He has received every care pkg we have sent him. His wife is expecting their 1st baby in late Sept, so our son is anxious to hear how the pregnancy is progressing, how the doctor visits went. Of course he wants to be home before the baby is born, we're hoping for his, but we are also realistic in that he will be home when they say he can come home.
4) I received a letter from my husband, attached to 1/67 in Baqubah. It was sent on 6/24 and received on 7/8. His letter mentioned his interaction with the Iraqi kids. About 30 of them would come up to his Humvee and say, "Mista, Mista, what's your name?" His standard reply is, "My name is Mike (not correct), and I am NOT from Texas!" "T-e-x-a-s?" "Good, Texas," they would respond. He says that this is always the same banter and he thinks it's pretty funny! (We do understand that most of the 4ID is from Texas.) He enclosed a picture of him on the Tigris River. That is so awesome because we are fascinated with the Biblical history of this land.
5) I just wanted to let you know that I received a phone call from my husband about 15 minutes or so ago (Wednesday afternoon) and he said that all is well. He is with the 4ID, 1-12 Inf, Bravo Company out of Ft Carson. He said that they ran in to some problems a while ago but they were fine and everyone was fine. He said to keep the letters and everything coming they are wonderful. He also said that chapstick and a shower (the bag showers you get at sporting good stores) are good things to send to them. I am praying for him (and everyone else that is over there) everyday and hoping that he comes home soon so that we can PCS (Permanent Change of Station) to Washington.
5) Got a call from our son this morning - he's part of Bravo Company, 14th Engineers, Triple Nickel. Said he's being sent "down the road" from Balad for guard duty starting today. They have been coming under fire and "the people here don't like us", and some kid stole his sunglasses. Says he has stopped eating MREs and he isn't eating much - it's too hot, mostly jerky and snacks. He's doing ok otherwise. Gee, reading over this sounds like kind of a downer but it's a tough time right now. Continue to pray for safety for these troops and extra help - I think they have a lot on their plates that they didn't expect. (Ed Note: Someone once said, "Tough times don't last, tough people do" - and we have lots of tough soldiers in Iraq. They'll continue to overcome any obstacle thrown in their way.)
6) Hi! I got a call from my hubby early this morning at 3:20am (july 9th) I was still up and he was very suprised. He's with B/2-8 inf, out of FORT HOOD, TX. He sounded in high spirits and very happy that he got to talk to me. He thinks there may be a "problem" again with the mail because he hasn't received a package from me that I sent him about 4 wks ago, but we'll see!? Hopefully he receives it because that's the one the cd player was in!!!! (and he really wants to hear some music!!!) Mainly the 1st question out of his mouth was " how's our baby doing?" I told him that our son had, had a ruff day with missing dada! everything he would see on t.v. was "look dada!!" with tears in his eyes. I had started to worry because they have been calling every 4 to 5 days and it had already been 7 days that he hadn't called. He says everyones fine and that he's just READY to come home already! He said he's pretty well off with the things that I had sent him and I told him good cuz there's MORE on the way! He just laughed! (how i miss his smile & laughter!! :*( ) Well I just thought I'd let everybody know!!! I'm so excited! oh ya he also told me that he had sent me some film and about 3weeks ago but i still haven't recieved anything! hopefully that mail "people" do the right thing and get it delivered to me!! GOD BLESS THE TROOPS AND BRING THEM HOME SAFE AND SOON!
7) My husband called this morning. He is with HHC 2nd brigade 4th ID. He sounded like he was doing well and he was in great spirits. You had a letter from a guy the other day that said he had heard from his brother. The brother said that they had a nice 4th and that this guy had played the guitar and sang Proud to be an American. That guy was my husband. He is an excellent guitar player and he loves to entertain people. My husband said that things are going well. He said what he needs more than anything is more bug spray and of course powdered drinks. He doesn't know when he is coming home. This phone call was a lot different from the last because the last time he called he was very down and sounded very homesick. This time he was able to speak with both of our children who are 4 and 2. He said that he had taken lots of pictures and was sending them home next week. Can't wait to see them. God bless all of our troops and may we all realize that the red, white and blue shines brightly in our skies because of the people in our military, now and in the past.
8) Heard from my fiancé (14th Combat Engineer Battalion, Fort Lewis, attached to the 4th ID) on July 7th. He said they'd celebrated the 4th of July for a few hours before returning to work as usual. They'd had burgers, steaks, and played games. It was very windy where he was calling from and difficult to hear. They had recently jumped AGAIN, were now settled in, and will have a phone. Yahoo! During our phone conversation he requested more cheetos, mint Oreos, and beef stew, all of which I am sending to him regularly. Additionally, to send another small package or two to a soldier who is over there in his company is something that is greatly appreciated and they are going out as well. I know that letters and packages keeps the guys morale up. I know receiving letters and calls keeps morale up here as well. Yesterday (7/8), I got three letters dated June 30th from him and the conditions at their new 'home' sound less than desirable, but they are making the best of the situation.
9) I received my first E.mail from my son July 8.He is 1/12 Sc Plt out of Fort Carson. He said that they had their first "cooked" meal on July 4. Awful hot dogs and horrible burgers but he said the ketchup was heavenly. They also had "fire works" that night in the form of mortar fire. So he said that his 4th was just like home.
10) I just wanted to let you know I've received 2 calls from my husband this week. He's in B 1/44 ADA. I had a death in my family, and had sent a Red Cross message letting him know I was going home. He called Saturday to check up on me, and we talked for a bit. He said he was doing well, in Tikrit, and not really doing too much of anything. It's frustrating to him to not really have a mission, he figures if he has to be over there he wants to do something "important." He called again yesterday, to make sure I'd gotten here OK, and things were the same as before. He's hot, bored, tired, and sad he can't be here with me. There are only 2 other Bravo soldiers with him, he's attached to Alpha, and hopes to go to the promotion board next month. But at least he's safe and in good spirits. Hearing from him really helped me in this tough time. :) (Ed Note: Sorry for your loss. Also, I'm glad our Air Defense Artillery soldiers don't have a strong mission - thankfully, we control the skies it appears).
P.S. I know you just read my last email, but here are some things I left out....I forgot to add he swam in one of Saddam's pools for the 4th of July. I told him he needed to take a leak in Saddam's bushes, and he said he already has. :) He also emailed me today to say "I love you and miss you." He is lucky enough to be staying in a guard house to one of the palaces, so he has A/C and a few other amenities.
11) The 299th Engr Bn of course is with the 4thID and they are out of Fort Hood, Texas. I saw an old movie on TV on the 4th of July with Jimmy Cagnie playing the famous Broadway Musical song writer from the WW I and WWII era, Cohan. Cohan wrote the famous song "Over There". There are a few words in that song that I think we all should be repeating so those who have died or have been injured over there did not serve in vain. Those words are..."And we ain't coming back until its over over there!" Security and Stability in Iraq are a must, even though I yearn for the safe return of my son-in-law and all our troops. My prayer is that peace and stability will occur in Iraq sooner than later. God bless our troops

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