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 received my first phone call from my soldier since he's been deployed. He's a mechanic 3BCT 1-12 out of Ft. Carson. He's said he's at an airbase right now with running water and electricity during the day. He said mail has been pretty slow but he figures it is because they have been on the move so much. He was supposed to ETS (Estimated Time of Separation (from the service)) in May but because of the deployment that was put on hold. A few weeks ago they told him he would be going home near the end of July, but last night he said they're now looking at the end of August, but the rest of his unit will be staying. It was so great to hear his voice. It's one sound I'll never take for granted again.
2) Got an early phone call this morning (Wednesday) from our son (HHC/1-12). He was in reasonably good spirits, but tired. Accommodations aren't too bad except for the oven high temperature (120 deg.) and large number of bug bites. He has enough drinking water, occasional access to a swimming pool, and a hot meal now and then. The phone call was a real treat. The last package he got from us was mailed June 16. He liked an earlier posted suggestion that we include gym shorts and socks for recreation in our next package. We will also send bug repellant this time.
3) Heard from our son a Sgt with B-Co, 2-8 in Baqubah at 5:00am this morning. This was his third call since arriving in Iraq. The conversation was the usual five minutes but this time the reception was quite clear as if he was next door. He said they are getting two hot meals a day now, breakfast and dinner. Everyone is really sick of MREs. Packages seem to be taking about 3-4 weeks and letters about 2 weeks. Told us to send more gatorade and if we send Kool-aid to send the pre-sweetened type since the other requires tons of sugar taken from MREs to make it drinkable. Also asked for any food items they can't get there, slim jims, jerky, summer sausage. Told him we have a box going out with salsa, Louisiana hot sauce, cereal, and various other goodies. Days are very hot with temps in the 110-120 and he says next month temps should go to 130! Things have calmed down a bit with most duty now night raids, guard, and road checks. Most is 1 hour on and 4 hours off around the clock. Has been made the LT's gunner on the Bradley. Rumors still flying about when they will come home ( I won't add to the rumor mill here).
4) We got a call from our son last night. He is with C Co. 1-8. They are in Balad. They move around a lot. Been to Samara, Tuz, Thalujah, Tikrit, and more in just a few weeks. He says they have not enjoyed the comforts we hear about; showers, A/C, hot food, etc. But his spirits are very high. He has become a Patriot; loves the USA, and thanks all who pray for them and take care of their families in their absence. Write to them often. They can't get too much mail. God bless these young men and women. We sleep better at night because they are willing to battle with evil men who would do harm to us and desire to destroy our freedom.
5) The phone rang at 6:23 am, it had been over 3 weeks since I heard from my husband which is with Charlie Company 1-22 from Ft. Hood...and I heard a broken "hello," it was him. It was a great surprise and a wonderful feeling waking up to his voice. He sounded like he was doing good, maybe tired but good. He was glad to receive his packages and letters I have been sending him. I haven't heard too much from him but he said he was busy doing things such as check points and that sort of stuff. We talked for about 15 mins, it was nice to be able to talk that long...every other phone call was a minute or 5 minutes.
6) First,I want to thank you for the soldier updates. It is like hearing from my son every day. Got a call from him yesterday. He is a SPC with the 2nd Bde., 101st Airborne. He is stationed south of Mosul and surrounded by a 4th ID Unit. My (only child) son is a communications specialist. He got orders in hand that he is coming back to the states 8/30 and reports to Germany 10/31. God Bless our soldiers on this and every 4th of July. He never complains, just has concern for the children of Iraq.
6) Received a letter from my son who is in the 1/12 Inf., 3rd BCT out of Ft. Carson. He said that they had been moving a lot and were attacked a couple of weeks ago in their assembly area, which had been considered a safe place. The enemy was quickly "neutralized", with no injuries to our soldiers. He mentioned sharing books and items with others in his unit and appreciated packages and mail. He said things were "not so bad" there, and remained in a very positive mood. They were to be in their current location for "awhile". His wife is with the 3rd ACR in Iraq and he has been able to phone her a couple of times. God Bless Our Troops!
7) Just wanted to let you know I heard from my husband yesterday, 2 July. He's in 1/44 ADA, and has moved to Tikrit. He is doing well, was asking if we could afford a new computer when he gets home, in addition to the other things we had planned to buy, so I know he is feeling like himself. :) I let our twins hear his voice again, and they just laughed and luaghed. I also received a camera from him, I'm taking it to develop today. There are only 2 other guys from his battery with him, our best friend is no longer with him now. He sounded well, said they are staying in the guard's houses outside a palace, they have A/C and some other "luxuries" now. He said "Hon, I have some bad news...." I got scared, but it was just that he lost his wedding band. He had it on his dogtags so he wouldn't scratch it up, and the chain broke. He was REALLY upset, but I told him it didn't matter, it can be replaced. All I care about is his safety.More rumors on coming home dates, but I don't pay attention anymore.
8) I heard from my husband (HHC 1/68) yesterday! It was exactly two weeks to the day since he called last & I wasn't expecting another call for at least another week. I asked if he was allowed to say where he was & the phone died, so I'm assuming that's still a secret for now. He was able to call back & we got to talk for 10 minutes. He talked to our 2-year-old son, who's not much of a conversationalist ("Hi!" "Love you"), & was shocked by how much he's changed just in the last few months. He asked how my pregnancy is going (5 months now). Most of what we talked about was just family stuff, but he did mention to please not send anymore gummy things-they melt as soon as they get there. He said they have no idea when they're coming home. I do know that they're supposed to have a cookout tomorrow for the 4th-hotdogs & hamburgers according to what's trickled down from the LTC.
9) I received a phone call from my husband two days ago. He is in 1/44 ADA, Bravo Battery, 4th ID and is currently in Taji. We got to talk for a half hour! He said the mosquitoes aren't as bad in Taji as they were in Baquabah. He also gladly reported that they have a makeshift washing machine, with a separate spin cycle machine that can only spin one or two articles of clothing at a time. But it's better than a bucket of water and a scrub brush! He normally requests only junk food in his care packages, but this time he requested a lot more...boxers, socks, film, cd's, cd's with my and the kids' voices on them, a video of the kids and I, a pair of his old tennis shoes, powdered creamer, a Gameboy and some game cartridges. He also requested padded envelopes and customs slips to mail used film back to me to be developed.
I wanted to thank those who sent in the recipes for brownies in a mason jar! I went out and bought the jars and brownie mix and will be sending these to my husband in his next care package. I would also like to thank Mr. Babcock for adding these recipes into the email.
I got a cute idea from the lady at my post office the other day. You can go to Wal Mart or perhaps an office supply store and purchase Printable Fabric paper, this is cotton fabric that you can use to print out family pictures or artwork from your computer. Then you can iron or sew the pictures onto a pillow case, put on a pillow and send to your loved one. This fabric paper is found in the paper supply section of the store. I printed out pictures of the kids and of my husband and I and will be ironing them onto a tan colored pillow case. I will be sending this special pillow to my husband in his next care package. I think he will love it! Hope someone uses this idea to make their loved one smile, too!
10) We heard from our son Tuesday morning at 12:00am. He is with A Btry, 2nd Plt, 1-44 ADA. That was the second call we received since he deployed on May 29th. We got to talk for about 10 minutes. He said he will be able to call home once a week. We still have not received any mail from him but he said he finally received two packages that we sent him the first week he deployed. He said it is really boring. Said last week was maintenance week and that they would be starting patrols again. He sounded kind of tired and I asked him if he was getting much rest. He said that sometimes he is able to sleep well and other times he is not. In terms of needs and wants the only thing he asked for was more Gatorade mix and hydrocortisone cream. Said he has a really bad rash from sweating so much because of the heat. Also confirmed that the fleas are really bad where they are. He said he was bitten from head to toe.
11) Hello, i just wanted to let everyone know that I got a call from my husband with B 2/8 inf out of FORT HOOD TX. the call came at 11:58pm yestarday (july 2nd) and lasted about 6 min. considering that it kept getting cut off. He seemed to be in high spirits, just tired of being over there already. He said he's doing good with all the things that i've been sending him, he's just (still) waiting for a package that i had sent him with his cd player about three weeks ago, I really hope it gets there soon!!! He said he put up all the pictures of our son that i've sent him on his wall, i was like, "you have a wall?!?!" :-) and he said yes that they were staying at a place that the buildings were like from the 1800's ! :-) but he also said well at least we have some kind of protection from the sun! He had given me a "close" date of him coming home, (since he's ETSING) but said that it was changed, AGAIN! so he wasn't so happy about that. I had also received a letter from him postmarked june 18th! (on friday) which isn't so bad although i'm still missing ALOT of letters in between. He said to keep the mail coming! that it makes it alllll worth it! well GOD BLESS ALL OUR TROOPS OVER SEAS! MAY THE LORD WATCH OVER THEM! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! ;-)
12) I just wanted to let you know that I got a call this morning from my brother who is in 1-68 AR from Ft. Carson, CO. I was so happy to hear from him. He woke me up this morning around 10:00am when he called. What the funny thing is I thought he was a telemarketer by how clear the call was and the way he said "Hello" and I almost hung up on him. But when he called my name and told me that it was him I jumped up in the bed and hollered out his name and asked him was he okay, where was he at, and do you need anything in about a minute flat. I was so excited to hear from him. He couldn't tell me his location but he could say that he was still in Iraq. The call was so clear and I had no trouble hearing him. He complained about the heat and said that it has been 110-115 easy. He wanted to know how everyone was and that he missed everyone. He sounded so homesick when I was telling him a little about the home news (and there is always some of that). He does sound in good spirits though and said that Iraqi people know how to cook. My brother said the food is wonderful over there. We only had 10 minutes to talk and it was the shortest 10 that I have ever had. But it was worth it all. My brother said that they have done a few raids but nothing dramatic. I am glad that God is keeping His hand on my brother and the rest of the 4th ID. Thanks for everyones prayers and support. I will not stop praying until my brother is back on American soil.
13) I got a call from my son, 1/68 Armor, in the middle of the night last night :o) He said they are at an air base and have a tent to sleep in with a swamp cooler, which he said is great. We live in Nevada . . . I can't imagine not having the air conditioning to come home to . . . and it's 10 to 15 degrees hotter there! He also said they have a small PX but to keep sending cigarettes, magazines, and baby wipes. That was about it, other than that he sounded like he was in good spirits, but hot and tired.
14) Well, good news! My son called 2 times once at 4 PM and again at 5 am. He is with the 4th ID Band in Tikrit . He sounded well and wanted lots of home PICS. Said it was 120 degrees there. Wanted more (skin so soft) said it really helps with the bugs. He is ready to come home but said still no word when. They are doing change of commands and the water got turned back on. Wanted more PT shorts and shirts. Some of them need cigs. too. Continue to send the coolaide he said. I am so pleased they can call sometimes. My prayers go out to them all. Once in a while he gets to send an e-mail, two so far. They all miss home and read their letters over and over so keep sending letters even if you get a call. The letters keep them going and packages from home. Hometown newspapers help too. But watch what you send. He wanted the sports section. So may they all stay safe and continue to keep them all in your prayers.
15) I heard from my son this morning, July 3rd, 4th Infantry 1-8th division from Ft. Carson. He sounded wonderful.......well, it was so good to hear his voice. They encountered RPGs last night about 30 min. after they had gone to bed. He said when he was going to bed he had an un-easy feeling........and then the rpg came. They were up for awhile but everyone was fine! He says the gaterade and crystal light is wonderful and to keep it coming....also the snack crackers. Underwear and socks are VERY appreciated!! ................Our son knows God is at work over there......and his attitude is wonderful but, as a mother.....I want my son back on USA soil. God Bless all our sons, daughters, husbands, wives.....and loved ones fighting for our freedoms and the freedom of the Iraqis.

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