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) This is an exerpt from a letter I received today from my fiance in the HHC 1-8. We all keep hearing about the bugs and we can only imagine how miserable they're making our guys but this made me feel a little better about the situation. The majority of this letter was the humorous account of an attempt to get good sleep... "Well Sweetie its another gorgeous day in Iraq and I'm overjoyed to be here. HAHA. RIIIIGHT! The bugs here are pretty bad, but mostly at night. The last place we occupied had flies like a plague or something. Here we dont have that problem...we have fleas. They come out at night and eat the hell out of any part of your body they, at the current moment, feel like eating. Bug repellent and covering up doesnt much help. If the fleas are determined, and they are, you will be feasted upon nightly. And suppose you do get away from the fleas by sleeping 100 miles up on top of a bunker? Yes! You've escaped the fleas!!! Congratulations! Whatawe have for our winner, Johnny? CHIGGERS!!! All the chiggers are redbugs he could ever dream of! Sweet dreams, lucky winner! He he, bottom line- if you're here, the bugs will get any piece of you they want if they so desire, and they do!" ............He said he got his first hot meal on the 19th (of June). Eggs, potatoes, and SPAM (he included: I know what you're thinking and YES spam is real food!!). He said that meal along with pineapple and apple juice made for some very happy soldiers. They hope to have at least 1 real-food hot meal a day from here on out....... I hope this makes some families happy! It did me!
2) We received a phone call from our son this morning. He is with the 588th, Charlie Company, from Ft. Hood and has been detached with the 3-67 in Baqubah. He sounded tired but fine. He said he is busy doing a lot of paperwork, not too exciting for him. He said he got to take showers (yeah!) and complained about the heat. He has finally started to receive his packages and was very happy to get them. The letters seem to be coming slower because he hasn’t received his sister’s letters yet. He asked for Oreos and a pillow to which I gladly told him I had already mailed out 2 weeks ago. We got to talk about 10 minutes and it was wonderful just to hear his voice. He said he should get to call back in about a week.
FYI, about 2 weeks ago we hadn’t heard from our son at all yet, and I needed to talk to him about a pressing family matter. I called the rear detachment officer at Ft. Hood and explained the situation; it wasn’t urgent, but needed attention pretty soon. The officer was very helpful and sent a message for him to call us--he called us back in 2 days. We were only able to talk a few minutes, but that took care of the matter. I was very impressed with the response time and the concern given to an ordinary mom needing help. (Ed Note: The rear detachment is there to help on matters that do require immediate attention - use them when your family situation makes it seem like something they can help you with.)
3) Received our second phone call on Mon. AM June 30 from our son with the 4ID 3/66 Armor. He sounds very upbeat, strong and proud to be serving his country. He made no requests for anything in particular in care packages, just keep sending what we have been. We keep trying to find different things he might like. He was more concerned with what is going on here at home. His call was definitely a boost to us just hearing his voice. He had also gotten to call his wife at Ft. Hood that morning. We continue to pray for the troops and are so proud of all those serving there for our country.
4) This is the first time I am contacting you, but I have been keeping up with your site since my fiance was shipped off in March. I received a phone call from him this morning at 5:30am. He is with the A Co 1-22 Inf. He claims they are still in Tikrit and he is being careful. He sounded the best he has sounded since he left. He was in high spirits and said that he should be able to use the phone every 3 days now as long as he isn't out doing something........... He also told me to stop sending babywipes, but canned food would be much appreciated like soups, chef boyardee, etc. Other than that we spent the rest of the 10 minutes we had saying how much we loved one another and missed each other. He also wanted to make sure I was going to still marry him when he got back. I responded by telling him that he didn't need to worry about that because nothing was going to stop me from marrying him. I guess while they are out there so many fears pop up that are normally shot down by reassurance and out there they can't get the reassurance as quick as they need it.
5) Hi, my son is at this time attached to HHB 3-29 FA. He is out of Fort Carson, Colorado - usually with A Co. 1/8 Inf. 3 BCT. I received a telephone call from him at 4:45am (Pacific Time) on Sunday morning. The connection was a little bad because there was very strong wind where he was. He said he is at an airfield but did not disclose exact location. Said he is very used to the heat (thank goodness). Also he said they are able to shower and are eating hot meals now. Thanked me profusely for the 3 cartons of cigarettes I sent. Also for the pictures of his new baby that he has yet to see.
About 10 minutes ago I noticed a missed call on my cellphone - yep...he was calling and I had the ringer turned off. That won't happen again! Word of advice to other families - be ready ..... those calls are coming! (Ed Note: I bet even your minister would understand if you left your cell phone ringer on during church - know ours would).
6) Received a letter from my son who is in the 3rd BCT B Co., 1-8. The letter was dated June16th and he wasn't too happy about their living conditions. They are on two MRE's and two bottles of water, constantly moving around, sleeping in the dirt and not getting any mail. Other than the complaints about his comfort, he's very proud that their unit has been attached to the 173rd Airborne (he thinks they're pretty cool guys) and they have captured 12 of the 55 most wanted people and have detained 50 Fedayeen. I worry about him when I don't get any news and I worry about him when I finally get a letter.
7) It was a wonderful day yesterday everyone in the family (all 4 families!!) got at least one letter from our soldier (1-17 FA out of Fort Sill, attached to 10th Cav). Most of the letters were dated on 3 June. The letters to his wife were dated 10 and 16 June. Obviously the mail is getting much better!! He wrote he was reading a letter that he had just received on 16 June-- it had been written 1 June. So for him the mail appears to be just over 2 weeks. We know he is northeast of Baghdad in an old fort or garrison. He wrote "I leave the CAT hotter than hell and come back looking like I have just come from the gym or got done running. . .someone said it was 127 degrees outside [of the CAT]. Although he did not say much about what he was doing (he would rather talk about home) he did say he had been on TCP "looking for weapons and bombs." He wrote he wished he was wearing his Nikes and drinking cold Coronas with lime. He was drinking an 8oz. Iraqi Pepsi.
8) Hi, just wanted to let you know that I received a phone call this morning at 9:23 am. It was my boy friend, he is with A.Co 1/22. He called Sunday morning also at 1:30 am. He sounds in good spirits, and these last 2 phone calls that I got have been the most clear. Sounds like I'm talking to him in the same room. He got 2 packages today that I sent him two weeks ago. I think that's about it. Other than that he just said to please keep the letters and packages coming, that is what gets him through everything there. Take care, A Soldier's Girl.
9) I got a phone call about 1:00 am from my boyfriend. He's with B CO 1/8 out of Ft. Carson. They were in Balad trying to get showers and ran across a phone. He said he was miserable but doing fine. I think part of that being miserable was because he hadn't got mail in 2 weeks. He has been getting letters everyday. I'm not sure why he hasn't got mail, I write everyday. He said they are doing patrols and some are at check points. They are still not saying when they might be back. I also got a few letters within the last couple of days. One was written June 4 but postmarked June 20, the other written on June 12, postmarked the 23rd, and the last one was written June 22 and postmarked on the 23rd. So the mail is definetly getting here sooner. I asked if I could send him anything else, and all he said was letters. I feel awful because he hasn't got mail lately but I know all the family writes him all the time. Thanks to everyone who posts on here, I always look forward to see what they are doing, and on the news only seems to be showing the negative stuff. Thanks and everyone take care and keep sending our soldiers the things they need.
10) Finally I got the call I've been waiting on. My son from Fort Carson, 1-8 C co. He sounded wonderful and that they now had a satellite phone now, and were somewhere near balad,don't know about the spelling, said he had lost a lot of weight, and for me not to believe everything I heard in the news, said the Iraqi people were nice and glad we were there. Told him what a fine job all of them were doing and GOD bless them all. His mail still comes out of order, but am getting more all the time, this just made my month for me. They were in Balad trying to get showers and ran across a phone. He said he was miserable but doing fine. I think part of that being miserable was because he hadn't got mail in 2 weeks. He has been getting letters everyday. I'm not sure why he hasn't got mail, I write everyday. He said they are doing patrols and some are at check points. They are still not saying when they might be back. I also got a few letters within the last couple of days. One was written June 4 but postmarked June 20, the other written on June 12, postmarked the 23rd, and the last one was written June 22 and postmarked on the 23rd. So the mail is definetly getting here sooner. I asked if I could send him anything else, and all he said was letters. I feel awful because he hasn't got mail lately but I know all the family writes him all the time. Thanks to everyone who posts on here, I always look forward to see what they are doing, and on the news only seems to be showing the negative stuff. Thanks and everyone take care and keep sending our soldiers the things they need.
10) Finally I got the call I've been waiting on. My son from Fort Carson, 1-8 C co. He sounded wonderful and that they now had a satellite phone now, and were somewhere near balad,don't know about the spelling, said he had lost a lot of weight, and for me not to believe everything I heard in the news, said the Iraqi people were nice and glad we were there. Told him what a fine job all of them were doing and GOD bless them all. His mail still comes out of order, but am getting more all the time, this just made my month for me.
11) My husband is with ACO 588th EN BN. He was in Camp Normandy, North of AL Baqubah. On Father's Day, my mother (the soldier's mother in law), who was staying with us was rushed to a local hospital in the Fort Hood area. She had pneumonia and kidney failure and landed in critical condition at Scott and White in Temple. She was placed on a ventilator and the ICU prognosis was grim. I called The Red Cross the following day and they sent an emergency message for him to come home. Red Cross followed up with me daily until I confirmed that he had received the message. Over there, a very concerned captain really stepped up and helped convince the others to let my husband come home to help with the situation. He arrived almost 2 weeks later and is here now. It does go to show that there are commanders who really do care about our families and will try to help us when we are in need. A big round of thanks goes to him. Also, after a harried couple of weeks, mom is pulling through and surprising everyone. She is not out of the woods but has made amazing progress. Having my husband here has really eased the stress on the family. Best Wishes to all out there.
12) Here's a clipping from the email sent out from our FRGs at 4th ID 1-66 AR: Our quality of life in Samarra is rapidly improving. Every building in the Samarra compound is in the process of having A/C units installed. Also, numerous freezers, refridgerators and wash machines that will eventually be hooked up (when the A/C is done). The intent is to have an indoor, air-conditioned place for every soldier in the Task Force to live/sleep. In addition, we now have email capability in the Battalion TOC. A MWR computer is set up so that all soldiers can have an opportunity to access email. Also, as clarification on the telephone procedures. Each soldier can use the phone once every ten day period. That does not mean that every soldier will call every tenth day. If I use my phone call on the first day of one period, and the last day of the next period, then twenty days may have elapsed. NOT RECEIVING A CALL EXACTLY EVERY TEN DAYS DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE SOLDIER HAS BEEN HURT OR STOPPED LOVING YOU!!!!!!!!! ...That's about all, it's still very hot.
13) The phone rang at 1:00 a.m. it was my Soldier calling from Tikrit 1-22 out of Ft. Hood. It was the first time I have heard his voice in 3 months, the connection was not the greatest but I could hear most everything, he asked for more meat! and packages. He said send marlboro's!!! and any canned meat like vienna sausage, beef jerkey summer sausage, even spam! And he wanted more pictures from home, he sounded a little tired but good, I was so thankful for that call. He was trying to tell me something when we were cut off! I told him I loved him the first thing, he is my youngest son, god bless them all. Even being cut off is better than no phone call at all.

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