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 had a call from my son, 1-68 AR C Co., at 2:30 this morning. He was very upbeat and positive - took the knot out of my stomach for the time being! He said that they are all very happy about the fall of the Hussein brothers and that the civilians in the town where they are (Tuz) were really celebrating. They now have tvs and phones, still have to drive to Kirkuk for the PX. Told me they would be there till April, as everyone knows by now. He was fine with that. Said the hard part was not knowing. He asked me to send socks, cameras and CDs. He has been getting mail pretty good. He claims he's still writing me letters, even tho I haven't gotten one for almost 4 weeks. Overall, it was a great call and he had no complaints about anything. God Bless Our Soldiers!
2) My husband is new to 4ID as of June. He had just graduated flight school when he found out what unit he had been assigned to in Ft. Hood. He was excited to learn he would become a member of the 4ID aviation. He called ahead to speak to his new commander to introduce himself when he learned that his unit had been in Iraq for nearly 2 months. There wasn't a second thought in his mind, but to catch the next plane to Kuwait even though he was told he didn't have to go. He's been so eager to do his part in this war and finally he has his chance and I fully support it! He arrived in Tikrit yesterday so this is all beginning for me. I am so gratefull that I found this site.... I love getting these updates it really makes me feel connected. I am staying with family along with my 3 children and look forward to April with all my heart and am grateful that my wait is only 9 months instead of 12. I am so happy to be a part of the 4 ID family. Thank you again for such a warm welcome!!!
3) We received a phone call this morning around 5:30am from our son with the 733 Transportation Unit out of PA., it's been about 6 weeks since we heard from him, (he was calling about every two weeks, so this was the longest we went with out talking) He called a total of 4 times before we go to talk, kept getting disconnected, but then we talked for about 7-8 minutes then he had to go. Asked if he needed anything, said everythings fine, keep sending the drink mixes. Sounded very upbeat. GREAT way too wake up.
4) WOO HOO I GOT A CALL TODAY FROM MY HUBBY HE IS IN C TRP 1-10 CAV. HE IS DOING GOOD OVER THERE.HE SAYS HE IS GETTING MY LETTERS AND BOXES. WE GOT TO TALK FOR ABOUT 2O MIN. HE SAID OTHER GUYS WERE WAITING TO CALL HOME. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR HIS VOICE AND TALK ABOUT ALL THAT IS GOING ON HERE AT HOME.HE SAID HE HOPES TO GET TO COME HOME SOONER THEN APRIL BUT IS NOT COUNTING ON IT.HE SOUNDED REALLY GOOD ON THE PHONE. IT IS GREAT TO KNOW THAT HE IS DOING GOOD. GOD BLESS ALL AND PRAY FOR ALL THE TROOPS SAFE RETURN.
5) I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the updates. They always have a positive tone which I really like. Some other updates/newsletters/message boards are quite the opposite: criticizing everything and everybody. So, this one is quite a pleasure to read for a change! :-) It breaks my heard, though, when I read the letters that say there are troops who get no mail. I can't imagine being that far from home and never hearing my name called at mail call. It boggles the mind. We have to keep all of them in our thoughts and prayers. (Ed Note: I hate to hear about soldiers who aren't getting mail, too. I'm sure all of you are asking your soldiers for names of those not getting mail and are adding them to your mailing list - or passing the names to others who can take them under their wing).
6) I finally got my first call from my son with B 2/8. He was not able to go with his unit back in April because he was recovering from major foot surgery. So he finally left Ft. Hood last week and joined up with his platoon in Baquabah. He called at 2am this morning. He sounded good and I could hear him clearly. He said that from what he has heard he may be able to call in about another 2 weeks. I told him that doesn't excuse him from writing!!
7) I heard from my future son-in-law, a sergeant with the 4th ID 3BCT 1-8IN at around 9:30p last night(7/22). He had heard about Saddam's son's demise at around 3 am their time. It was sure good news! His guys are all doing well - they are south of where the shoot out w/ Sadaam's son's happened. They have been experiancing a lot of fire fights lately. One of his newest men had gotten shot in the arm, but is OK now. He said that they are going into a lot of villages and commented on how each village, even though only 5-10 miles apart, had very different feelings toward the US troops. He was glad to hear about these updates and that families could actually get better updates on their sons & daughters than the news media was giving. I told him about all the suggestions I was getting from this site on what families could send and he thought this was really great and hadn't thought of half of them. He wants more Gatorade! I told him I found a head net in the camping section of Walmart for $1.49 and he thinks that's great. He said my last package took 30 days to arrive. I am getting his birthday present in the mail this weekend for his 25th birthday 8/21. He is so pround of all his men and hopes all the families keep up their great support.
8) I appreciated your comments in today's update (7/24/03) We have been told from the get-go that our division would be gone for up to a year. Hopefully your comments will help reduce the outcry. We send your updates out to our FRG mailing list and they have been well-received by our members. The vast majority of military spouses and family members "suck it up", lean on one another for support, and actively address the issue of how to make the best of a tough situation. A positive attitude is key. Humor helps. My sons and I are proud of our soldier, and this is the least we can do for him. I think the whiners are getting more attention because they are noisy, but they certainly represent the minority opinion. Whether or not we agree with the current presidential administration, we support our spouses and the mission they are bravely and efficiently executing. :)
Here is some information one of our FRG wives sent on calling cards: AT&T offers a calling card plan called the Global Military Service Calling Card. This card is $0.80 per minute for all calls from Iraq. This is the best deal I could find, in comparison to other AT&T plans (see details below).AT&T Collect Rate - $1.37 per minutePrepaid Calling Card - I purchased 700 minutes for $60.00 at the Post Office. By my estimation, for calls from Iraq, this is approximately $0.93 per minute. If anyone is interested in applying for a Global Military Service calling card, they can call 1-888-725-8832. This number will get them to the correct department within AT&T. Then they will just have to mention that they are interested in applying for the Global Military Service calling card. Notification of whether or not they were approved will be received through the mail within 7-10 days.
9) Hi,my husband is a sgt in B co 1-22 in bayji and I got a phone call from him this week and he sounded pretty good. I was worried at first because he had been calling every 3 days or so and I hadn't heard from him in 2 weeks. He said he went to town to pull guard. His shoulder came out of place again. He said they almost sent him home but decided to keep him and let it heal up again (the doctor told him 2 yrs ago he needed surgery but he wanted to wait till our son was walking so he had a chance to hold him and he still hasnt fixed it). He said another soldier and him were walking on the side of the road when for some reason the other soldier looked down and they were walking next to a land mine. He said he knows he will be looking at the ground more often. He said keep sending the kool-aid,lots of magazines, and said he would prefer slim-jims instead of beef jerky, oh not to mention the whole time he has been there he wants me to send a picture of his car,lol. Im very proud of him and all of the other soldiers that are working so hard. My son is only 2 but he is great support when I start to cry he gives me a big hug says, "mom okay?",and then yells "daddy come home", its so cute that he makes me start laughing.
10) For your info if you have not already seen it, the July 28 edition of Time Magazine has a very good article featuring 1-22, specifically 1st Brigade. My husband has been home about a month now and he said that most of it had to do with before he left. Thought you might like to pick one up.
11) Heard from my daughter today july 23, C co 704th support out of ft. hood. She is at some airport out of Tikrit. I asked if she was at the palace in Tikrit, she said no mom we don't have it that good. Sending her some underwear and a pillow and sheet so she can have a little home. She loves the goodies sent from home, candy, cookies, doritos, etc. Just read she won't be home till April, I expected it. She also likes local newspaper from home. I'm so proud of everyone at ft. hood I think she is well trained and confident. I worry about her but she said she is doing fine and will get through this. She's tough and a great daughter.
12) My brother's girlfriend called today. He called her yesterday. He is with A-3/29FA and said they were told they would be there until March/April. He sounded ok about it and hopes it will go by as fast as the last 4 months have. He said to send more Spam! Said the guys in his unit love it! He said all the guys need underwear and socks, so you may want your readers to know that. As well as ATT phone cards. He also said that the Iraqi people he has come across is so interested in our way of life. They love to ask the soldiers about their families in America and to see pictures. Maybe it helps the Iraqi's realize that these soldiers aren't so bad after all and that they have people who love them and they love, too. Unfortunately, they still have gunfire almost every night. It's very strange to talk to them and hear explosions in the background! He also said that all his buddies share and trade their goodies and to keep it coming. We mailed him CD's, a football, and fans for his birthday.
13) Just wanted to let you know I got a call from our son who is in the 4th ID 1-12th. He sounded a little tired at first then seemed to perk up after a few seconds, seems he feel asleep in line waiting his turn for the phone, it was 1am there. He has really liked all the food items we have been able to send. They stay really fresh in the vacuumed pack bags I use with my sealer. Cookies may come damaged from time to time.. but very "home" like being sealed..........
He said so many of them are getting really thin, it is just too hot to eat. The bug spray is very welcomed since in his words,"some of us WILL come home with scars". That has been the biggest complaint being ate up, until we have kept him stocked heavy duty bug sprays. One other thing we found out that was really enjoyed by many of the soldiers there, was sending catalogs{thin ones} he was interested in looking at a" wish book" for some car speakers and so on... well all of them wanted to look and it and dream of their cars and things they may want to buy when they get back home. He said it was kind of like before Christmas when he was a kid, we was even circling things in it. So I guess auto world is next.
14) I heard from my husband again a few days ago. He is with the 204th 2nd Brigade 3-67 Armor out of Ft. Hood. We actually were able to talk for almost 12 whole minutes. This is the longest we have talked since he has been there. He sounded pretty up-beat. He really wanted to here all of the current news from home and discuss plans for whenever he will come back. He said all he can think about is coming home and finally being able to live together. ( He was on a year tour in South Korea returning only three weeks prior to deployment, so in our 2 years of marriage we have yet to live in the same country, state, or house) He was able to call again breifly later that night. He said that he is getting his mail and packages and to keep them coming because he really looks forward to getting any mail. I try to write him a letter everyday- I have turned it into my journal that I mail off each day just discussing everyday thoughts and events going on here. This has really helped me to be at peace a lot and when he receives them it brings him peace and comfort as well.
15) I figured the timing would be around April. My son is with the 1/66AR from Ft. Hood. Your words of settle down and relax and SUPPORT our troops made me feel better. My daughter in law will be back Monday, she is from Ft. Hood (medic) but was assigned to the 3 ID Support Command, She took the 35 convoy and ran RPG alley without defense and it paid off, that night was went they sent mortars into the Medics tents and wounded 20 and if I am not mistaken killed 1. Then they postponed the 3 ID coming home. She said they ran RPG alley going full blast at a whole 35-50 miles an hour and did not stop once. Fueled while traveling. She has a 13 month old daughter she has not seen since she was 4 months old. See the prayers are answered. Well, my son called Monday night around 1:30 Am but he didn't say much I guess it was about 4 minutes he sure sounded tired and out and for the first time I asked what he needed and he really did not answer, usually he has a list (not bashful) AS WE SAY, MAYBE NEXT TIME, he will sound and be better. Thank you and your family for being there! I hope what I read in your "Hear from our Troops", he wants because all the hints help. I sent about 6-7 boxes every two weeks.
16) It was a long and sleepless night last night after hearing the official news about the 4ID's April return, although it was something that I had suspected for some time now. Seeing it in print however, brought the reality home very fast. My boyfriend is in 3-16 Field Artillery "Rolling Thunder" battalion (HOOAH!...(smile) which I believe is located somewhere in Baqubah, Iraq. The last time I heard from him was four weeks ago (June 27th) when he called me on my cell phone driving home from work...isn't technology amazing! I had not received a letter from him since June 12th which took over a month to get to me. So I had started to stalk my poor mail man (just joking!). However, today after playing a mental game with myself about whether or not to go to the mail box and be disappointed now or later...I went.....and thank goodness I did, because I found a long letter from him with some pictures. Today, felt like Christmas! :) He said that "life in Iraq has been extremely hard...the Iraqi people are interesting, the kids are just great, they run out from their mud homes with big smiles, waving and greeting each convoy that passes...the kids are so adorable." He has been shot at almost daily and their camp was recently mortared five nights in a row. One night, three motar rounds were fired into "Thunderland" (the name of his camp site) and one of the three impacted 15 feet from where he was standing, talking to some soldiers. He said, "I am lucky to be alive because that round didn't function properly, only the fuse functioned; the other two rounds rounds functioned properly...thank God no one was injured". I am so thankful! The picture of his camp site is very primitive: tents on dirt and gravel...it looks a very harsh environment to say the least. Their satellite phone is broken, which is why he has not called at all and he said it might take 30 or more days for them to get another one. They are awaiting to get A/C units, TVs, DVDs, fans, weights and coolers to help enhance the soldiers life while in Iraq. So I am thinking that movies would make great gifts for our soldiers. He said that they do not get much news at all and look forward to getting mail, just like we do...except we're not living in a 24/7 crisis situation!! We need our soldiers to keep faith and keep strong...which means we need to do the same, as hard as that may be at times. Letters and mail to them about anything are so instrumental to helping to keep them positive, focussed and most importantly safe so that can return home to us. The military life experience is very new to me, but I am so grateful for being able to read this daily email (Thank you Bob) and to be able to try to catch a glimpse of what our soldiers might be experiencing so far away from home. There have been days when I have felt a little lonely and lost, but the voices of others sharing their news has lifted my spirits and encouraged me. Although I miss my soldier and his cheeky smile beyond belief, I have faith in him, his abilities and in mine. So, now we have a time line...April....I know he can hang with it...and if he can, you know I can do it just as well!! :)

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