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) Yesterday was a good day, our son who is medic with C BTRY 3-16 called. He is north of Bagdad. He just wanted to let us know that he was alright. They finally have electricity at their camp now which means they also have AC - Yippee. No running water yet. He received a card his Dad sent him in just little over a week, so the mail is getting to them pretty fast now. He says that they are still going out on daily patrols and raids, and that he is using his medical training more than he ever imagined. There are daily attacks, so they are being very careful. No word on when they might get any R&R. He has been able to call his wife every Tuesday now for the past 3 weeks by satelite phone, so hopefully this will continue. Can't wait until April, and for the big homecoming they will all get.
2) I did get to talk to my husband this morning for a about 20 minutes today. He is in A Co. 2-8 out of Fort Hood and he says that they are doing fine but have had some injuries last month but no casualties. He says that for now he has more baby wipes then he needs and is running out of places to put them. He did request that I send money so that he can use the phone more often and a new CD player. He is still disappointed that he won't be home until April and is going to miss the whole NFL season!! He wanted to make sure that he thanked everyone especially the families and other wives for the support and to keep the letters up! Some guys are not hearing from the families as much as they would like, so if you have written your solider lately now is a good time to send one out! God Bless our troops!
3) I just wanted to share that I had received 3 phone calls from my husband (B Co 1-22) yesterday. The first call was around 5 am. He sounded very upbeat and we were actually able to joke and share some laughs! It was great to hear his laugh! The second and third calls came around 4 pm. Unfortunately, I missed those calls b/c I am use to only getting the one phone call every two weeks so I wasn't expecting the others! He did leave voice mails and I was able to share them with the kids, which they have played over and over! So does this mean Baiji has phones now? I find it hard to believe that he was lucky enough to use a satellite phone that much.
4) heard from my husband yesturday he is in C 1/44 ADA out of Ft. Carson. He is doing well he says it is very hot. He also asked if I could send him an air mattress. Because he is tired of sleeping on a cot. Another thing he wanted was some of those pickles that come in a bag. He also said that their e-mail is still down and he dosent know when they will have it back up. My prayers go out to all the families and soldiers who are serving in Iraq.
5) My nephew is with 4ID 3BCT HHC out of Fort Carson. There are 8 families from my nephews maternal branch that are sending packages to him. I'm not keeping track of his paternal side or what his wife's family is doing but it is a sure thing that we have been keeping the post office busy and making the stock holders of various merchandisers richer. From the beginning we wanted to send plenty for him to share & he has been doing so. Some of us have sent other packages directed to specific soldiers that have sent thank you notes to one of us. I received a letter from one of those soldiers August 4th. It was post marked July 20. He was very humble and genuinely happy to be receiving support from our families. He spoke of having respect and love for us even though he does not know us. He also said "Its a great pleasure to work with a man with such a loving family." He also said the packages were a "lifesaver". This is also what we had hoped for. It was my thinking that if we could boost morale and make them more comfortable due to the items we sent that it could possibly make them more alert & in a better frame of mind to do their job and get home alive.
6) I have received two letters from my soldier in 5 days, both took 10 days to get here. He's witb B 3/29 FA out of Ft Carson. One letter said that they had been shot at a few days prior to the letter being written, and was very short....the letter I received today was much longer and he sounded in much better spirits. They are very busy, and don't have a lot of time on their hands right now, but all are doing well. The only thing he has asked for are more magazines, cd's and drink mix. Hopefully he gets his two birthday pacakges around the date of his birthday. One was ordered from a military care package website and the other I packed from home..I sent little snack cakes for his bday cake along with candles, party blowers, balloons, even water balloons, confetie, you name it...along with special gifts. God bless our soldiers and keep them safe.
7) My fiancee just called (8/6- 2am) and now I can't go back to sleep.... so I thought I would let you know what he said... He said it has been nonstop lately and he didnt want me to worry so he called me to let me know he was ok because he didnt know if I get any news. I told him about you and your information and how helpful it was because he knows I hate the TV. The soldiers are awake 24/7 because the Iraqis are getting brave especially at night and since they blew up that bradley... My fiancee said they were able to get everyone off/out of the bradley before it blew up. Sgt Anderson is doing OK in the hospital in Germany. Also it was very tragic about Lt Nott. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. ... They are having some Iraqis build a Building sort of place so at least they have some walls.. still no shower but they just pour water on themselves from a jug so keeping the wipies and lots of other mail keeps them going -- pictures are the best and letters too... mail is getting there within 2 weeks which is good and when I asked what he needed he said OFF bugspray and powdered drinks.... They don't have room to keep a lot of stuff. He sounded so good and so positive but he wants to come home. That is the fourth time I have talked to him since he left and maybe he will get to call more often now. The phone they have set up is far from where they are but it is there for them when they end up at the headquarters for whatever reason.
8) I'm the wife of the Physician Assistant who just received the Bronze Star and Combat Medic Badge. Thank you for including that in your update, as I KNOW you made my father-in-law even more proud of both his and his son's service to our country!
About sending laptop computers......I just bought a laptop and sent it about a week ago. I bought it from Dell.com and they are willing to ship to an APO, for FREE provided that you buy a warranty with the computer. They also give a discount....you have to click on words like 'government employee' and then 'DOD', I think. Search that website until you figure out how to qualify for the Department of Defense discount, or call them directly (800 number on the website). For those who may not know, Dell computer is near Fort Hood, TX and they do their part to support our military. My husband hasn't received the computer yet, but I can email you when he does. (Ed Note: As a retired IBMer, I can't believe I'm including this advertisement for Dell - am I fair or what? Sounds like a great service they are providing for our soldiers).
9) Letter from son in 4ID 1-67 Armor dated July 12: Last box arrived (about 3 weeks ship time) and please send more mint tea. Okay, on the way today, with 35 pounds of other goodies. Glad you are in semi-permanent barracks now and out of the tents. He says several local convoy ambush attempts successfully stomped on from get-go, with counter-attack and losses for fedayeen, no Coalition injuries (beyond racing adrenaline pumps, I expect). We pray for everyone's safety and a quick ramp up of local civilian police and security, so you all can come home early. We honor those lost guarding the hospital in Baqubah, and wonder what emblem of civilization will be attacked next, to try and scare us all into giving up. Message to the fedayeen: Boy have you got a lot to learn about Americans.
10) Got to talk to my son(1-12 Fld Arty attached to 4 ID) again this morning. That's twice this week. The connection was really bad this morning. We tried to talk for approx. 30 minutes before the phone went completely dead. Tomorrow is his birthday, he said he would call again so I could wish him Happy Birthday. He said not much is going on right now. Said he was bored which is a good thing during war time. The only thing he asked for different was plastic containers of already made koolaid. Said he was getting tired of gatoraid and tang.......... I pray all our soldiers could come home now. I will continue to pray for this. God Bless Our Soldiers
11) just got a letter from my son, 1-22 in bayji. he says your updates are cool and i should keep sending them to him. he also says drink mix is gold because it makes the warm water they usually have to drink go down easier. the letter is dated 7/24. it takes about three weeks for packages to get to him, two weeks for letters. today is his 28th birthday; i hope he got the birthday party in a box i sent him. he also said not to expect phone calls, they get very little phone time. he has had a total of 6 minutes phone time and used it to call a girl he insists is not his girlfriend(!). he also said not to worry if we don't hear from him for a while because if anything is wrong, we'll hear pretty fast.
12) I got a letter from my husband today! He's doing well, missing home of course. He mentioned (which is why I'm writing) that one of the wives of his soldiers has refused to write to her husband until she gets a letter back from him. He told her he hadn't been writing because there's nothing to write about (Thank God!!) He showed the letter to the other guys, he was so upset by it. For anyone getting discouraged because their soldier's not writing-please write anyway! I know how much my husband looks forward to our letters from home. We've got email, phones, cars to go visit-they've got each other. Please don't stop writing!! (Ed Note: I agree - two wrongs never did make a write. Soldiers should write home even if they don't have anything to say but "I'm ok" - but they definitely need to receive mail from the home front. Trivial and mundane things you do each day are important for them to hear about).
13) Received a call from my son, B Co 1-67 in Baqubah. Also got an email from his ROTC unit from college, they received a letter from him today. They regularly send packages to all their deployed soldiers. He said he still needs Gatorade, bug stuff and junk food especially, but nothing that melts. He wanted the ROTC unit to thank the girls field hockey team, who sent them stickers, (I have no idea what of) and those are now attached to the tanks of 2nd platoon. Imagine.
He sounded tired, but was upbeat, wanted to be sure we heard the news of them being there until April. he wanted to tell us himself, but we already knew of course. He said although vehicles do get shot at occasionally, apparently no one wants to mess with the tanks, so they do not get shot at (knock on wood). Says his men are all great and I am working on several of them being "adopted" as they do not get letters or packages from back home and he feels bad he gets so much, which he shares with everyone, but it is not the same as getting something yourself. God Bless all the men and women serving.
14) Just wanted to say I am so relieved to have heard from my son after almost 6 weeks. He is with 1/67 AR. It was so wonderful to hear his voice even if it was for a very brief period and we got cut off 3 times. He said he was doing fine. Special thank to all of you who write in with your news. It has been so nice to be able to read what other families are sharing on here. God bless each of you. My prayers are with all of you that they will all come home soon and safely.
15) This is for the lady who wanted to know about packing a laptop. I just sent one out on Monday to my fiancée. Packing material.....a box just large enough for the laptop and a standard pillow on top and bottom. I figure he can give the pillows to friends (as he already has one I sent earlier) but the laptop certainly did not seem as if it was going to budge. I'll know in about 2 weeks when he receives it though. I did not have too, but she could put some Styrofoam in for extra support when packing. As far as insurance...the post office will allow you to purchase insurance but told me it is a waste of money because they will not honor it as the packages are being sent to a war zone. Hope this helps.
16) All we have heard from our son is a message on our answering machine: "Hi Mom, Hi Dad, I love you." But it is great! Our son is a SSG. with Dco. 2-4 Avn. Bn
17) I received a phone call from my boy friend this morning at 1:00. He sounded soo good. He said he just got out of the hole and I didn't understand what he meant. I kept asking him what hole? I thought he had gotten into trouble!!! Silly me, he just meant the fox hole. He has an ETS date in Feb. or Mar. and he really can't wait to come home. I know he loves his fellow soldiers but he said he is ready to come home. Aren't they all. He is from 1-12, 3rd BCT, A-co from Fort Carson. He usually makes a phone call once a week now. He said it was probably 110!!
18) Got a letter from my husband today. He's in D BSC 204th FSB. He was in a bit of mess a couple days before the letter. His convoy went through enemy fire but nobody was hurt. There were close calls but thats it. THANK GOD!!! Other than that he is doing okay. A lot of mushy stuff was said but thats what makes the letter so much better after hearing about his experience. Says he wants to come home so bad and when on the phone with me the day before this letter I started crying and he said he had started crying to but he tried to keep his voice steady so I couldn't tell. He did a good job at that cause I didn't even know. He's always been the stronger one of us two. He requested a few things in his letters and requested stuff not to send. The stuff he wants is more Gatorade, more pens, his running shoes, calf length white socks, sunglasses, blank scetch book with no lines (he loves to draw) and some pencils with a pencil sharpener. He even requested drum sticks because he misses his drums. :) Things he said not to send anymore of was laundry detergent, candy, gum, cigarettes (he's quitting), and no more personal hygeine. That about sums up his letter. Lets keep praying for our soldiers! They need it.
19) About 830am Wednesday, heard from my hubby after 2 weeks, B/3-16 FA....like a lady I saw today, I thought he was calling per the Red Cross message sent last week- he had no clue. Says he is hot, tired and has "a bunch of red bumps on his arms" (I'm assuming mosquitoes, fleas or chiggers). Disheartened over his potential return date, but bucking up. Says he has disposable cameras to send back but doesn't want to trust the USPS-- I got him an IPOD disposable-type camera that will now print Polaroid like pictures- told him he better use it and no more excuses for no pictures! :-) Rest of it was mushy, but like you said, that's what he thrives on. Bulldogs!
20) My niece received a telephone call from her husband with A Company 3-66 this morning. He is doing well and asked that more "Top Raman", not the kind in cups, be sent along with more razors. Some of that has been sent already but more will be bought this week and mailed out. She reports that in her area, Fort Hood, they have collected donations of basketballs, footballs, web cams, shaving kits and other miscellaneous things for the FRG to ship. I have hit up a major grocery grocery chain and the office I retired from to contribute and am awaiting their response. Most people seem pleased to help, but some just look at you and walk away. That's what our troopers are fighting for, so that some may disagree.
21) My husband is with Bravo 204th FSC in Baqubah. I was expecting a call today, but I guess he was busy with missions. My spouse was one of the soldiers that left in February with Supercargo and we are fixing to hit 6 months deployed! This is also our first major deployment and it is awesome to see all of the support and hard work coming from our families. Continue your strength and hang in there!!!

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