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) Our daughter got a phone call on Sat from our son-in-law he is the 1/17 FA, SVC Btry attached to 4th. The phone call which lasted 40 minutes was the longest they have talked. He is now going for and carrying supplies from Tikkit, Balad and Baghdad to areas on the eastern side of Iran. He said if they are shot at it is the first vehicle the Iraqis target. He is situated in the middle of the convoy he said. He also told her they have all the comforts of home but indoor plumbling. He told her they would be home in spring according to the briefing they got earlier this week.
2) I heard from my husband this morning (7-27). He is in HHC 1/68 AR at Fort Carson, CO. He is currently in Balad. He said they were told a couple of days ago that they weren't coming home until March/April next year. He always sounds good when he calls. When he comes back in the Spring, that will make 2 1/2 years since he first left for Korea, then school, then Iraq. We have seen him only for 4 months throughout. This is hard, but we will get through.
3) We've been hearing from our son more frequently of late. He's with the 4ID 299th Engineer Battalion, platoon leader, 1st Brigade, Bravo Co. Right now, he's VERY happy - a bunch of people from the battalion were flown down to Qatar for 4 days R&R - it's beautiful, restful, great food, swimming in the beautiful Persian Gulf, massages, restaurants, shopping! A real vacation. His spirits are always good, the focus is on the mission, doing the job, looking forward to re-deployment March 30. His main thing is frustration in not being more part of the action - we're thrilled about that, of course.
4) My husband of B Co. 1-68AR from Fort Carson, CO called this morning. He said they are still in Balad near the airport. He sounded pretty good. We got to talk for about 10 minutes. He said they have all heard the news about redeploying and that they are just relieved to have a date. He said things have been kind of boring the last few days. Just watching a lot of movies. They have a swamp cooler for that tent. He received 3 boxes in yesterday's mail call, so that made his day. He said he loves the battery operated fan I sent him. I really helps. (I won it on ebay for anyone who is wondering where to find them. It was 12.95 plus 3.90 for shipping, they sent it straight to him too.) ........... It was really great to hear his voice and just know that he is now mentally prepared for the next 8 months. God Bless Our Troops.
5) I received a letter from a friend of mine in B 4th FSB which is attached to 3-66 of 4 ID dated July 5th. He hadn't even heard of Peninsula Strike, but they are doing a lot of raids and guard duty. He is part of a maintenance platoon that has 90 members. They had all received the 4th of July bags we had sent (candy and fun stuff to take their minds off of the every day grind over there) and they really appreciated that we sent stuff to everyone. The mail is getting better-sometimes as little as ten days for the mail to get there or here. He received two letters I had sent on the 25th of June on the 5th of July and the letter he sent me was mailed on July 13th and got here the 23rd. I wrote back and told him that we have heard now that it'll be another 8 months, but our support will not diminish. I promised the next big projects will be Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas for extra goodies for everyone. Remember, even though they aren't kids, it gives them something from home to enjoy at those times!
6) I am the girlfriend of a 1-66 "Iron Knight" soldier who took a chance and started dating an incredible guy the day they got their deployment orders, turns out to be one of the best days in my life. Being accepted with open arms by the FRG and the unit family, I also have since taken a trip and met his wonderful family. I am not thrilled by the deployment but it has allowed me to develop a very special bond with a great guy, not to mention an incredible Soldier. Best advice out there, keep up the support, pray for all and be ready to greet them with lots of love when they get home!! I for one will be there with open arms no matter how long they are gone!!
7) 27 July 2003-- Received a phone call last night from my husband who is in the 3 BCT, TF 1/68. He confirmed that the soldiers who were killed at the Children's Hospital in Baqouba were indeed from the 2 BCT. Baquouba is about 15 km from where the 3 BCT is currently located. He said everyone is doing great considering the conditions. He also said to pass on his thanks to all of the folks at home who are sending much needed items (i.e., Gatorade--which makes the water from the water buffalo more tolerable)! magazines etc. Thanks for supporting our troops!
8) My husband, with 1-12 HHC, has been able to call me once a week for the past three weeks. I have now been sleeping with the phone on Saturdays because it is always when he seems to call. Of course it is usually at 3 in three in the morning, but what better to way to be waken up. He said they are finally staying put for awhile. They had been on the move every three to four days since their arrival to Iraq. So he was very excited to settle in a bit. He mentioned he had bought a DVD player and they were getting "bootleg" movies from an Iraqi man. They had already seen The Hulk, T2, and The Matrix 2. I promised him I would head to the discount bin at Wal Mart to find a bunch of older comidies for them. I also wanted to include I went to one of our local Blockbusters and spoke with the manager there. He has agreed to provide a few "previously viewed vidoes" for me to send over. It is so nice to continue to have support for our guys from the local civilians. So, in case you need a new idea, I hope that helps. May God continue to bless our troops.
9) I heard from my husband this weekend. He is in the C TRP 1/10 CAV. He said he is doing fine. He called me on Friday to wish me a Happy Birthday. Then he called again on Saturday which was my birthday, to tell me Happy Birthday again. He said he is doing fine, he's still at the Iranian border. GOD BLESS ALL THE TROOPS, And their families.
10) I talked to my daughter twice 704 DSB "A" Co...1:45 a.m. PST and 6:30 a.m. PST. She wanted to tell me she received her birthday packages. (She was thrilled with the CDs and the battery operated fan, in fact she went to the PX to get more D batteries, and she loved the coloring book and markers.) When I mailed it, I didn't know that you shouldn't mail things with the batteries already inside...luckily, no fire. Also, she did tell me that her building is getting windows today and air conditioning is next! She asked for Raman noodles in packages not cups because they are full of salt and help you retain water. She was very happy to be able to call with the ATT plan that I have for a calling card. If parents already have one that bills to their home, they can get a 75 cents per minute rate (but they have to call and make sure to request it) if their soldier calls from Iraq (and knows their family's personal access pin number). My daughter knows ours. She said that she would try to call us twice a week now. She said she has to wait in line up to 20 minutes just to use the phone, but now she doesn't have to worry about running out of minutes (we just have to worry about running out of money :o) ) She said one thing about having to stay till Spring..."At least I'll have a boatload of money when I come back!!!" She also told us that she sang in a talent show! We're glad she still gets the opportunity to sing... she's good at it, too!
11) The phone rang at 3:15am EST this morning (Sunday, July 27) and it was our son who is with A Btry (2nd Plt), 1-44 ADA. This was the second call we received from him in six days. He had just been told that they would not be redeploying until March (that's what he was told). Our connection wasn't that good and although he sounded disappointed about the redeployment date he seemed to be in good spirits. I asked him if he had lost a lot of weight because I had been seeing lots of e-mails saying that soldiers have lost 20-40 pounds. He said he lost a little weight, but nothing like that, and that the guys are losing weight because they are sick of eating MRE's. I have been sending lots of food packages for him and some to share with the rest of his platoon. He seems to like the real food better (tuna and cereal) than the junk food. He also asked for canned fruit. We had a new Target store open up yesterday in our town and I found a little personal refrigerator that they had for $59.00. It's not much bigger than a shoe box, but he said it would be great to keep the parmalat milk in that I send him for his cereal. He said they now have rooms with a swamp cooler, so it seems that the living conditions where he is are improving. He still complains of boredom... but to tell you the truth I much prefer that he be bored than dodging bullets and RPG's continually. He said he works out a lot. I too have adopted two soldiers from the platoon who do not get many packages. My 4-H club has also written to our local churches explaining the current situation, soldiers needs, and what they can donate for care packages. If people and businesses understand what is going on, they are more than happy to offer support in any way they can. May God bless all of our military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Liberia... bring them home safe.
12) Yesterday I saw my husband who is w/the HHC Medics w/1-68AR out of Ft. Carson on FoxNews (the cable one, not the local Fox). He was lifting a wounded soldier into the helicopter. He seemed to look alright. The pants were a little droopy! Ha! But it was good to see his face. My mom had told me, so I watched all morning while having a tape prepared. I got him on tape. Yay! So everyone keep watching the TV. You may eventually get to see your hubby/son/etc.
13) For the person with the neck cooler information. Thank you so much. I called the lady and she was thrilled to know that someone is out there telling people about her. I ordered 3. I'm sending 2 to my husband and he can give one away and sending one to another soldier over there who is my husbands best friend in another area of Iraq. But as for the e-mail address...it was incorrect. She gave me the correct e-mail address to contact her to make the neck coolers. For all who tried to get in contact to her through e-mail and couldn't....try again with this e-mail address sunni1221@yahoo.com. And she said that she is working on them right now and will be sending them out tomorrow (Monday). GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!! (Ed Note: And here is a follow-up note from the lady who makes the neck coolers): Hello, I see you have in your email about the neck cooler. My husband and I make them and sell them and also do mail order. The person who gave you info on them is correct on all the information but the email address which is sunni1221@yahoo.com . We would be happy to mail to any who would like them and the cost for shipping is about $3.00 for one up to 10.. IF any one orders 9 or more will get one free. Thank you for posting the information in your emails. Pam Jacob (P&G Hair Accessories)
14) My son graduated high school with a great guy who enlisted and is now over in Iraq with the C-Trp 1-10 Cav. I have been sending him packages and letters weekly. He's called me about 3 times since he's been there. I always try to keep it light since I really don't want him to have to re-live anything harsh for me. He sound great each time, laughing and keeping upbeat. I can always hear guys laughing in the background. He says he loves everything I send, beef jerky, red licorice, m&m's and now local newspapers and magazines. We have a collection at work going on, everything from Time to 4 Wheel drive, People to Entertainment, he says keep sending them since when they have time off theres not much else to do. I have sent for the free calling card which he's gotten and I also sent him another one. I just want him to be able to call his family. They came over from the Phillipines in 1995 and he is making them proud by being in the Army. Since both my husband and I were in the service I know the feeling of being away, far away with no one to remember you. His parents are not familiar wirh Army ways so I try to be there for him.
15) My son is a 2LT Platoon leader with 4ID 1-68 Armor, Charlie Company in Tuz and I finally heard from him on 7/25 at 11 p.m. my time. He hadn't called home in over a month, so of course I was going crazy not knowing what was going on. He told me he hadn't called because he wanted to wait until my birthday! My birthday was 7/26, so it was the best gift a mom could ever receive....... We had a great 10 minute phone conversation and I look forward to his next call. I am at the Post Office at least 3 times a week, and he is receiving all of our boxes in approximately 2 weeks. My husband has a deal with the local shoe store to save their boxes for him! He collects them weekly and we fill them up with everything from food to batteries to cameras to the daily sports section out of our local paper. He loves being kept up on the local news. I'm sure I could write more, but I will close for now....
16) I read in one of the emails about sending a recorder and microcassettes to the soldiers. Just a tad bit of info i want to pass on . . I have a husband thats apart of 2/20 FA and we have sent him tapes and blank tapes as well, the only problem is he WASN'T able to send tapes back. When I talked to him he had said he gotten the letter back ripped and the tape was gone . . . he also said he received the tapes we sent him. Just a lil FYI that needs to be passed on. (Ed Note: You may need to send padded or reinforced envelopes so they won't break open. Mail is tough on thick items in regular envelopes, even here in the States). I also got to speak to him WED 7-23 at 1 03 am . .. the phone kept cutting off and he was able to call minutes after that . .. He was upset about the rotation plan as was I but we both kept reassuring one another everything was going to be OK.
17) My husband is with the 4th ID, HHB Divarty out of Fort Hood, TX and he just recently returned home due to some medical problems that needed surgery so he is home to take care of that and then he is returning back to Iraq to be with his unit. Anyways, I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy reading your updates, and every time I read "What our families are hearing from our soldiers" I get all worked up and cry because even though my husband is here now with me I remember how I did feel when he was gone and it just puts joy in my heart when I hear that a soldier contacted his family and the joy it brings to the family member. My husband has told me many things that he had to deal with over there and he told me that living conditions are improving daily and to just keep sending those packages. My husband said that when he received his 1st packages it was like "Christmas in May" and he said it really boosted his morale. Also to the woman that was talking about Christmas and other holidays we are all going to face without our soldiers, what a great idea to everyone about getting started now to make sure each soldier is taken care of.
18) Just wanted to let you know my son with the 1-12 FA attached to the 4th ID called this morning. I was at work and missed the call but he got to talk to his stepdad and sister. They said he sounded really good and upbeat. ATT and the Army has furnished them with cell phones. The calls are real clear. The clearest the have been since arriving at Balad Air Base also known as Sustainer Air Field. My son said he would try to call again in a couple of days. He is getting his letters and care pkgs. They are taking approx. 3 weeks to reach him.
19) It is 2:00am July 28th. And my Son just called from Bayji, Iraq. He is with the 1-22 Infantry 1st. PLT. 4th ID from Ft.Hood. We got to talk for 10 minutes this round and the phone was real clear. It sounded like he was right here with us. He said he had just got in from some raids they had done and was very tired. But everything went well and everyone was okay. The wind was blowing there and he said they were getting sand blasted. And then laughed and said, " You know Mom, like the wind and dirt blows in west texas but just a little harder." He seemed to be in good spirits and sounded good. He asked for his cd player and cd's and gator aid. He also said the phone would come back around to them in 3 weeks. He got to talk to his Dad for the first time since he has been gone. And that was so wonderful. My husband had a stroke in 1996 and has been disabled since. And it was such a blessing for the two of them to get to talk for a few minutes. Well just wanted to share this with everyone. And I have everyone of our Troops in prayer everyday and also their family's. God Bless Our Troops & All The Family's..........

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