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| 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
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) I also wanted to let you know that my husband (BCO 1-12 inf 3 BCT out of Fort Carson) sent me a letter with a few Polaroid's attached. I sent him a Polaroid camera and 4 packages of film about a month ago and it made it over there without melting or damaging any of the film (this was during the 135-145 degree heat wave). I can't express how good it made me feel to finally get to see what my husband looks like right now. It's been 7 months since I last saw him so I'm sure you can imagine how different he looks. I'd guess he's lost about 15-20 lbs that he didn't have to lose. He is soooooo skinny!!! But he looks healthy non the less. Since we don't get to talk but MAYBE a couple times a month his scattered letters are what I have to depend on to keep me going. The one thing that helps me know that deep down inside he's alright is that he hasn't lost his sense of humor. He can still make me laugh out loud after all this time out there:) To all of the families, keep your eye on the prize. One of these days we'll get our soldiers back and have plenty of time to make up for the time they were gone...always remember that time is never lost until you give up!
2) I received a phone call from my husband (1/67 Armor HHC Mortar Platoon) Saturday September 13 at about 2 am Eastern Standard Time. He called to wish me a Happy 21st birthday. It was the best birthday present ever!! I hadn't heard from him in almost 3 weeks due to the phones being broken. He said that he was doing well and he was in good spirits. He said the living conditions were improving. He and a few of the other guys received A/C's. That made them very happy. There is a website www.OperationAC.com you can go there and request an A/C for your soldier. He said to send pictures and Campbell's chunky soup. To all of the fellow wives Keep your heads up and we are almost half way there!! To my husband and all of our other soldiers keep up the good work and take care of yourselves. United We Stand!! Go Hellcats!!
3) This is for the family member that was asking about the vacuum sealing. You can buy small sealers at Wal-mart, Target or the PX. I bought one on clearance for $40. It's real easy to use and my husband liked the brownies I sent because they stayed moist.
And another one about the vacuum sealing systems:
Bob, to the mother that had wanted info about vac sealing. I have been using the foodsaver vac sealer for my son (4th ID 1-12th Ft. Carson) since he was in basic at Ft. Benning, during the hot summer months there. It has been such a wonderful tool. You can seal almost anything, from cookies, to personal care items. I always make sure his foot powder is sealed in the event that the postal office may have an anthrax scare if the package would get damaged. This way I feel I am doing my part, keeping it from being mistaken for something dangerous. If you are doing an item that is soft, I have learned to flip the vacuum switch so that it does not "crush" (example cookies). You will become an expert before you know it. This really helps to make more room in the box, as well as prevent spillage. Another way of vacuuming is to use your shop vac and very sturdy trash bags for large items such as pillows and so forth. A large item will fit into a very small box. And lastly, the funny story you will most likely get back from your soldier when they tell you how amusing it was to watch the item "fluff" back to life!
Bob, wanted to get back to you with the info. on the vacuum sealers. The best place would most likely be Walmart to purchase one. There is two differ brands that I am aware of, *Foodsaver*(which is the one I have) and *Black & Decker*. You can see some of them at Walmart.com. There is different prices depending on the size you get,and what it does(some do jars). There is cheaper ones at Walmart on the shelves. The most basic one is all you need. I get my bags in a bulk box at Sams, they seem to be the cheapest. They also can be bought in smaller quantities at Walmart as well. The bags are for freezing, boiling,and the microwave for preparing your food. I might add the sealers are a bit of an investment, but well worth it for all you can do with them for your soldier, as well as the uses at home. The ideas are endless. I hope this helps some of the families. I know I am so thankful to get the countless ideas from this site.
4) We got a call from our son Wednesday night. He's with the 1-10 Cav, HHT. He's doing well. They are now receiving cooked meals twice a day, breakfast and dinner. They have an air-conditioned room where they eat and have access to a TV and movies. His job is repairing the generators that constantly break down. He says the tempature is now cooler and he actually had to sleep in his sleeping bag because it was 85* and it felt cold to him. We haven't heard anything from him for 5 weeks, and it was great to hear his voice and know that he's doing well. We are so proud of him and all our soldiers! Keep up the good work, troops!
5) I received a call from my husband Tuesday. He is in HHC 1-22 IN BN in Tikrit. He is doing well, just missing home. He has been able to call home at least once a week, which is wonderful compared to a couple of months ago, when I would go weeks with out hearing from him. I got some pictures from him which gave me some insight of how he was living and what it was like in Iraq, it is pretty interesting. The only things he asked for was to send him a pillow and some more rice krispie treats. I had sent him some more weight gain powder drinks and some weight gain vitamns. He said even though they are gross he needs them since he has lost over 20 pounds since being there. He says he just cant wait to get home and I cant wait until he gets home. God bless our troops and keep praying for them!
6) Bob, this is in regard to the person that wanted information on the battery operated electric razor.. Braun is the only one that we were able to find that really works well. Our son says it works great. You use it until the blades get dull and throw it away. It uses "AA" batteries. We had to order it direct from the Braun web site.
7) I'm so excited! I finally get to report that not only did I read about the 404th in today's update, but just after that, my son e-mailed me (8 pm PDT). Then at 3:15 am he called!!! We talked about 30 minutes, great connection. Good attitude, great morale, lots of laughs! He's with the 404th DASB at Camp Speicher. He's planning on re-enlisting but hopes to change his MOS. I send him postcards in between letters and packages and he enjoys those. He doesn't need socks, t-shirts or stuff like that. Loves the junk food. Wants a blow up doll (LOL). I sent an e-mail update out to my friends, including his address, and suggested they drop him a card or note when they do their holiday mailings. So very proud of him, miss him, told him how much I loved him...dear God, keep him safe, he's a good kid (25).
8) Doing the Snoopy dance -- got a letter from my Nephew in B Co 2-8. It was mailed on the 8th of Sept. He said he loved all the pkg.'s that he is getting.....He met with one of the soldiers we've adopted and said he really enjoyed his pkg. They have a vendor now that is selling all kinds of stuff. His company just received the Combat Infantryman Badge and he is real proud of that. He sounded so upbeat and proud. So you know more pkg's are being sent in the AM. God Bless Our Toops. God Bless the USA.
9) I just wanted to mention that I think it is so sad that the stories such as “Grand Opening of School in Al Asriya" don’t’ make the nightly news. These types of stories not only serve to boost support for this war, but also morale for our troops. Shame on them! Makes you wonder what else we are missing. (Ed Note: Couldn't agree with you more).
10) Hi, just got a letter from my son in the 2/8 Bravo and a picture from his girlfriend. He looks great, first time I have seen a pic since Jan. Says they are busy and that the squad got a playstation 2 and wants all his games. They are on the way. He sounds great, makes my heart feel a little better knowing he's okay. I am proud of him and counting the days till I see him again. God Bless the Troops.
11) I received a phone call from my son this morning. He is with the 1/68 AR B-Co. He sounded a little down but said he was doing okay. I was so happy to hear his voice and right away asked him "what do you need?". He said he could use some new pants and shirts, so they will be on the way, along with socks and underwear. He also said he received the microwave oven that I sent him and the guys are loving it! I sent him a bunch of microwavable meals and popcorn and he said the Dinty Moore roast beef dinner was best meal he's had since he's been there. He said send more meals like that for him and the guys. It was so wonderful to know that he is okay and am now looking forward to the next phone call from him and I hope it's soon. God bless our brave and strong troops!!
12) We heard from our son who is with the 475th, supporting the 4th ID. We had a chance to talk for about a half han hour. His spirits seem pretty high considering the length of stay they where told they would be there. He just wanted to make sure his family was ok and that he appreciated the boxes we send him once a week. Loves his easy mac we send him.....
13) My husband is with 1-67AR,B 204th FSB I have not talked to him in about 3 weeks and we were told at our meeting on Tuesday night that it would be about another month before the phones were up. But I am proud to say that I heard from my husband today and I was so excited, because today was our 11th Anniversary. And I had the biggest smile on my face becasue he said that he would do what ever it takes to call and tell me he loves and misses me and the kids like crazy. He is from Fort Hood, texas and he told me he was doing fine.... and to keep sending the goodies and letters and he would get through just fine knowing that we are here waiting for him. I just wanted to share that with you, and thanks for all your updates.
14) My son called at 4:00 a.m. on September 4 with an interesting story. He is a 2nd Lt. with the 3rd Brigade, 1-44 ADA, Charlie battery. He was in great spirits and told about the area in which he is stationed, an air base south of Mosul. He and his platoon have been protecting the families in this area from what he terms "the bad guys" and doing things to help the farmers in the area. One day they helped pull a pipe from the ground, which had been mistaken for a military target. One of his crew members gave "blackened" cigars to the patriarch of the group. He was so excited that he dragged the guys back to his house for dinner! They weren't allowed inside, as the women were there. They sat in front of the house and drank tea (chai) My son said he never dreamed there would be anything in Iraq worth drinking, but they have the best tea in the world! The youngest son brought out goats milk, but the guys stuck with water! Everything is very communal--everyone drinks from the same cup. Then the boy brought out rice with unleavened bread and okra. That was eaten with the hands. The Iraqi people don't use utensils and don't spill a thing! The family laughed at my son and his driver and gunner for making such a mess! He said that the army gave them a list of Arab terms that he has found nearly useless during his stay. He tried out some of the phrases with the Patriarch, and the guy understood very few of them! He said all communication was through gestures and facial expressions. They must have communicated well though!
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