This page www.a-1-8.org: /Docs/activeunit/9-15hearing.php last modified on April 12, 2005 10:42 AM
| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
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
Click to Send us your news
What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I did not purchase what I had mislabeled Heat Armor on the aafes website, but thought you may be able to get it there. Sorry for the confusion. I actually went back to clothing sales and looked for it so I could give better info. I then had to hunt it down on the web, and found this site http://www.underarmour.com/ua2/ua/default.asp
It is actually called Under Armour. They need to go to the right side of the top of the page, and it will say tactical gear. It is the 5084 Tactical Full shirt that I purchased him. Open the shirt for more info, and then click on the goldish beige button on the right, and the picture of the shirt turns army brown. They are 29.99 ( I paid $20 at clothing Sales) on the under armour site, so they may want to look at some of the other retailers that pop up when you do a search for Under Armour on the internet! Also there is a place where they can click underwear! They come in assorted styles and colors! By the way, my 124th Signal Bn hubby says he can't wait to get them!
2) From the CO of 1-67 Armor, an excerpt from the unit's newsletter: Speaking of extraordinary acts, our soldiers are leaping over tall buildings with every task. As Iraq changes each day, our requirements change as well. To meet the requirements, we must be flexible. Recently, we determined that we would need more dismounted forces to accomplish a particular mission. After some additional training, we were able to field more dismounts using armor crewman. Additionally, we outfitted our new dismounts with state of the art force protection equipment. The result was phenomenal. Several of our armor crewmen were able to fly on helicopters and safely conduct dismounted operations to a high standard. The soldiers loved the opportunity and enjoyed the change of mission. Our success results from high quality soldiers demonstrating their initiative and flexibility. Also, our support soldiers from Bounty Hunter assisted in enlisting Iraqi civilian volunteers for the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, which was a great change of pace for them as well.
The province of Diyala continues to evolve from an oppressed to a free state. We have councils established in all of our cities and the tribal leaders are stepping up to the plate to take responsibility for their people’s actions. The road has been rough, but the people are beginning to embrace their liberty. There are several patriots that I deal with to solve problems in the province. Like our forefathers, these men are standing up to those that oppose freedom in order to make Iraq a better place to live.
DEALER 6
3) I received a telephone call from my husband yesterday (HHC 1-68AR Medics). He sounded (as always) wonderful. He received his espresso maker along with the chocolate covered espresso beans our daughter sent him. The beans were melted when he got them, but he flattened them out, put them into his refrigerator (???) and made them into candy bars. I was actually amazed they have a refrigerator! I also mail him shoe inserts that I purchase through REI and he said they make his feet feel better. So once a month I mail them out and he is ever grateful! Ten minutes is never enough time, but I am so grateful to hear his voice. I do, after all, have it better than wives of earlier wars, mail flows, telephone calls do come every other week, and he is secure in the knowledge that we are doing fine here.....
4) For all the people who live in Fort Hood area I just wanted to mention that there is a school supply drive going on. They are sending school supplies over to Iraq for the Iraqi schools. If you would like to donate you can donate school supplies at the commissary's or the Killeen recruiting center. Also I believe they have to have these over there as soon as possible. I ended up going up to the commissary to give supplies and come to find out it was my husbands company 204th FSB that was doing this mission. I felt 20 times better about doing this donation only because I helped my husband in a way I thought never to be possible...I will be helping him get a mission accomplished by sending these donations. Although I loved doing the donation even before I found out it was his company. I will do anything possible to help our soldiers in any way I can. God Bless Our Soldiers.
5) I talked with my husband (HHC 2-8 IN) this morning (Sunday) about 3am. It was great to hear is voice. He is doing well, busy, but he sounds good. We hadn't spoken since August 15th. He said the satellite phone has been broken which is why it took so long. He asked about football and our pets. We were disconnected four times so our ten minutes went very quick. He told me to thank everyone for their support of all the troops. We are almost halfway!
6) I received a phone call from my son, 1/68 Armor, Charlie Co., last night (Sat) at 11:15 p.m. He is doing very well. He is currently in Tuz, they are supposed to be moving in the near future to another town. They had played a soccer game against the Iraqis in his town. Our team lost 5-1, but he said it was fun! He asked about how our beloved Chicago Cubs are doing, so I filled him in on that. They get ESPN International and he said it doesn't give American scores. I make sure he gets plenty of USA Today sports sections. He had received the "desert-safe" cookies I made him and said they were great! I didn't know how they would be by the time he got them, guess they were OK. He was also very concerned about the computer I had mailed to him. He now wants me to send computer games, so I guess I will get educated on yet something else I know nothing about! All in all he is doing very well and I am so very proud of him. God Bless Our Troops! (Ed Note: We're all learning lots of things - most parents of 19-21 year olds don't have a clue what they do with computers or listen to in music, at least I sure don't).
7) I heard from my boyfriend (B Btry 3/16 FA 2 BCT) very early this Sunday morning. This was the third time he called this week. I am so happy that he has been able to. Apparently the compound he is staying in has more phones available, but you can only call collect. This connection was so much better than the other two, but it still felt like we were talking by walkie talkie. There was a delay and so it was a little difficult to not talk over eachother. It was great to hear him in a better mood, I even had him laughing. He was really grateful for being able to call his mother and father this past week too. He hopes that everyone is doing well and he sends his love to everyone who has sent him letters and pkgs. The rest of the call was of course all mushy and then he had to go. He really wishes to be home to hear jingle bells but he knows he has a job to do....... God bless our troops for their hard work, and hopefully soon they will be home with their loved ones.
8) My husband is in C co. 104th MI-4th EN BN-3 BCT. I have been hearing regularly by email and he is saying that they need more morale items such as games, videos, footballs, etc....... Some of the guys have access to DVD players and VCR's. So, ladies keep sending those home videos. They love to see ya'll. But, morale seems to be up from a month or so ago. It's only a countdown now.
9) Just hung up from a call from my son at 1:00 am Monday morning ( 1-68 AR HHC Medic ). We got to talk for half an hour. Can't go back to sleep but I don't mind at all! He is still at an ammo depot/airfield they took over some time ago, about 8 miles outside Balaad. He thinks they'll be there for the duration. They do have electricity now and a microwave so he asked for his favorite, Kraft mac n cheese. It'll be on it's way. He says his whole group is doing very well, despite the nightly shots they are taking. Everyone around him is ok. They've made cubicles to serve as individual quarters and he's built 7 shelves in his cubicle to store all the food we've been sending. They are grateful to receive "real food". He likes the CD's his dad has provided so he can listen to his music. He said for everyone to keep writing letters and sending packages, it's what keeps them going. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND BRING THEM SAFELY HOME!
10) Got a call around 4 from my husband but it cut off in less than 2 minutes and there was a full 5 second delay in the conversation. The last thing I heard was that it took him 2 hours to get through. Luckily he was able to get through last night after he'd finished his shift. He's with 1-66 AR near Samarra. They've been busy with patrols and checkpoints but have not had any incidents in several weeks. He sounded in good spirits and said the pillow I sent, drenched in his favorite perfume was a big hit-he loved it and the rest of the guys passed it around because they miss the smell of their women-I thought that was very sweet. He wants more honeybuns and chips/salsa/nacho cheese. (Although these are carried at the PX, they sell out really quick) He said they are pretty comfortable now and even have a refrigerator..... God bless all the soldiers still over there and those left behind to keep the home fires burning!
11) I got a padded envelope from my son in Baqubah, B CO 1-67 AR. He had tried to mail film back several times, finally we got it, 6 rolls. Mostly sand, tanks, tents, but several of the men he works with every day and a few of himself. He looked terrific, and not as skinny as I expected and smiling all the time...... The letter was very upbeat, he is almost halfway done and cooler weather coming, doing a lot of missions and still wanting Gatorade, games and books, anything to relieve the boredom, especially since their sat phone is down and will not be replaced for at least a few more weeks, so keep sending those letters, quote from my son, "you would not believe how much we look forward to mail call and the letters and packages mean so much to us all"
12) My son, C Co 1-8 out of Ft Carson, called today. His four year active duty ended August 1st and although he elected to extend his duty I'm feeling very peaceful right now. He is doing very good compared to previous conversations, mostly because he is on a much needed 4 day R&R in a southern country. The phone service was wonderful, his voice sounded so much better, he was rested, and basically comfortable with his decision to stay. I'm so very grateful with this web site and that he is doing better. The last report of weight lost, continuous sore throat, violent stomach and intestinal illness, bug infestation, sleeping only from exhaustion, etc.etc. was hard to take. Thank you to God for giving them some peace and consequently me too!!!
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Another week is under way - another week in which to excel. Let's hope the news lull continues with the 4ID, no news is good news. Keep sending your news about your soldiers and I'll keep passing it on.
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