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

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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I just wanted to share something from a letter I received from a buddy of my son. it was postmarked July 14 and I got it the 31st. They are in C-3/16 FA. We met him when they graduated from boot camp together at Ft. Sill and he became an instant part of the family then. He write's......"Don't worry about (your son), he's a high speed soldier and I got his back." It made me feel really good reading that. To know that despite the hardships that my son continues to concentrate on doing his job. And was nice of his friend to take the time out to write me and let me know that.
2) For the person wanting ideas to send for their soldiers birthday. If your soldier and your soldiers buddies have a sense of humor and are childlike sometimes. I had sent my husband party blowers, party hats, cameras (so he could take pictures of them being goofy), i got some little debbie snacks as his cake. Then I sent him some games, books, videos. And for the food I got stuff that I could find that was related to "party" chex party mix, party mints, then I just added in like beef jerky and stuff.
3) My son who is with 4ID 1/22 HHC IN BN called this morning at 6:32. We had about 3 minutes to talk. It was nice and clear with just a little delay. He said they are staying in one of the buildings of the palace complex in Tikrit now. They have a/c when the city power is on, about 1/2 the time. They just got back from 10 days in the mountains where they went to guard some detainees. He said when they left they were told to pack up and that was hard with all the packages he's been getting. Thank you to everyone for sending packages he said. He said to please send things in small packages so they don't go bad before he gets a chance to eat all of it. He also said to please not send any more Jolly Ranchers, he has tons of that. He has very little or no contact with the locals, so can't give them to the local kids. He asked for more cigarettes. Their scout was shot, but it wasn't deadly. Their track took a mortar round. He didn't say anything more about that. I asked if he has lost weight and he said he has managed to lose a lot. Everybody is so tired of MRE's and C-rats that they are all losing weight. They have been going into the city for check points and providing fire coverage for the raids. He has been dropping mortars and he is glad that they are all doing infantry type stuff finally. There are about 20 guys in his company. They have all heard a rumor that it will be awhile before they get home. I confirmed what I had read was the official word on that. He said he wasn't happy about it, but that's the way it goes and they'll live with it. The complex has a phone center and it goes by rotation who gets to use it. The last couple of times it was their rotation they were out and couldn't use it. He has some phone cards for when he does get to use it. If anyone sends reading material, he likes science fiction and fantasy type books. I told him about the guy who hadn't had a shower in 57 days and hoped he wasn't one of them, he said no they get one on a regular basis now. That was about it. He sounded upbeat, but tired. It was so nice to hear from him.
4) We received a 4AM phone call from our son today in Qatar, where he is on two days R&R. He was very upbeat, saying that moral is high and his guys are doing great. He told us about Leif Nott and I could also detect an understandable note of sadness at the loss of his friend. He also said that they are helping the locals set up businesses and reestablish commerce. Iraq is the last place he thought he would be applying his college degree (Economics) but he is getting a lot of satisfaction out of helping these people get back on their feet. (No unit given).
5) An update for supercargo "boat" soldiers and R&R in Qatar. My husband (C Battery, 2/20 FA) was one of the "lost boat soldiers" of the 4ID that cruised the Med for 55 days. As a result of deploying in February, he was in the very first group of soldiers that went to Qatar. A few hints for R&R: Make sure the soldier has some money in the bank to spend. My husband had to purchase new clothes and such while there, plus he greatly enjoyed the food. He said Subway had never tasted quite so good, and it was the most enjoyable beer he ever had (they are allowed three beers at the club there). He was able to use a 500 minute Wal-Mart phone card and a DSN number that allowed us to talk for about 6 hours over the two days and he still had minutes left on the card. He had the best success calling me about 2:30 AM their time since there were no lines at the phone center and we could talk as long as we wanted.
6) Our son (1/67 HHC - Ba'qubah) called last night about 7:30pm PT. This was the first we had heard from him since July 1st. We only spoke for about 3 minutes and then lost the conection. He was allowed to call because of the incident at the hospital in Ba'qubah. The men were from his patrol. They had split up. Some were guarding the hospital and some were guarding the radio tower. They had been switching off. This just happened to be his turn at the tower. He said the guys were taking it hard but they have been kept busy to keep their minds off of it. It has been pretty "hot" over there with gun fire every day.They are not fighting an orangized force. It is just civilians doing stupid things. They have a small room setup with a TV and a DVD player. So my next care package will be filled with DVDs and maybe some popcorn! He hasn't had any R&R yet, but has talked to a couple guys who have. He sounded tired so I hope he gets some soon. God bless all our troops, guard them and protect them and bring them home safe and sound.
7) I recieved a call from my husband in Bco 1-8 INF from Fort Carson last night. It was not his night to call just yet, but he was brought in special to call me on the account of giving me the info to send paper work to him for his promotion., talk about a command who cares about their soldiers!! That was uplifting. He said that the condition of life is improving for them. They have air-conditioning in the building they stay in and one of the sergents has a laptop and they can watch dvd's on it. Someone sent them the series of sopranos, and they are hooked!! Things are getting better for our men, ladies!! He said it feels like it might start to cool off. But now with the cool air, the heat feels like a brick wall when they walk out into it. They come in and out of camp about once a week or every other week so they get phone calls and sometimes a trip to the PX. There is a satelite phone traveling around and they get a free 10 minute phone call on that when it comes around. He sounded well, very bummed considering all the things he will miss, but proud of who he is and of what he is doing. Our second baby will be born the end of september, our son will be two the first of november, my birthday and his, etc. etc. all that. He bought a huge American flag and it hangs on the door of there building now. That lifted all their spirits too!! Keep praying, writing and sending packages. They all wait IMPATIENTLY everyday he said. :)
8) Hello, I heard from my husband on the morning of 07/30/03. He is assigned to c-fsc 3-67 armor out of ft.hood. I received fliowers to my work that day. My husband sent money to his mother to send me roses because he misses me and loves me. He has sent us pictures, is losing a lot of weight. They got ac. He asked me to send him plenty of canned goods, a lot better than MRE. I am so proud of him, they are all the best soldiers. They stand proud and do there job well. I hope and pray the next few months go by fast.
9) I just received a telephone call from my Son who is with the 4th ID 1/4 AVN REGT stationed somewhere around Tikrit. He has asked for the usual things and he also told me the letters I am sending him are getting there to him a little faster. He`s doing ok and his morale was really good especially since we got Saddam's two sons. He said the hunt is on for Saddam Hussien and he is really hoping, along with the others he is serving with, that the 4th ID will have the priviledge of going down in history of getting him. He also asked me to thank everyone for all the support they are getting from back home. All of this makes me one proud dad. God Bless America!
10) Bob the attack that happened on the convoy was the 1-22 . And Fox news showed it all day today (Saturday). Well it showed the medics coming out of the palace with the litters of wounded soldiers. One of the medics was my son. I couldn't believe I saw him on tv doing his job. To me he looked great.
11) Bob I read in your update, think it was Friday. A Lady was looking for something to do for her son for his Birthday. I got this idea from another mom on your updates. My son’s birthday is Sept x. And I sent an e-mail out to everyone in my address book. My boss sent an e-mail to every Kroger Grocery Store and subsidiaries, my husband is a dragracer and when my e-mail went to the guy at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway he forwarded it to a couple hundred racers. All I said in the e-mail is please help us celebrate our son’s 21st birthday he is in Iraq and I went on for a minute, then I put our home address on the bottom and a deadline as when to get the cards sent by and I have received hundreds. My little girl is eight and her teacher had her class each make a card and the word spread around her whole school and by the end of the week the entire elementary school had made cards. I have a friend who’s a dealer at the Mirage Hotel and she put a box with a note on it and my son’s military picture and everyday she goes in and its full of cards and toiletries and candy etc. It has really snowballed. I hope it lifts my son’s spirits. I know it has mine. Thanks once again for your updates and letting me ramble on. HHC 1-67 Mom
12) Hi Bob, Just wanted to let you know I talked to my son today. I ask him if they received the information about the brownies and cake in a jar. And he said yes. He did not receive his package yet that contained cake in a jar. Thank you so much for getting the word out there so quickly. Not only to us here at home, but most importantly our soldiers over there. And I'll keep praying for all these guys/gals to stay safe and to come home soon. (Ed Note: the thanks go to the caring 4ID leaders who took my note and distributed it to the troops so quickly).

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