This page www.a-1-8.org: /Docs/activeunit/9-25hearing.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 am glad to see someone sent the Top 20 to you and thank you so much for sharing with everyone! We, the wives of 1-68 Armor out of Fort Carson, literally had a blast putting it together! There were a lot of great laughs had! We will be doing another newsletter for our guys in November, January, and March. Our next newsletter will have "The top 20 ways we have spent our husband's combat pay" and "The worst advice we have gotten about deployments!" We had a lot of great contributions from everyone in 1/68 and the newsletter wouldn't be what it was without them! I am attaching a copy of the newsletter for you. It is 11 pages with no pictures. We had a great response from the guys too. Lynette Sawicky (editor of the newsletter).
2) Thanks for your advise on the hard decisions that many of us will be facing about the whole mid-tour leave issue. We for one will not be taking advantage of it. Our children are very small and neither of us can fathom trying to explain to the kids WHY daddy has to go back. We just both agree that with knowing what he would be returning to would make the 2nd goodbye even worse then the first. We have our count down going and when we reach the 180 days mark we are starting a chain made out of red white and blue construction paper. We will add a link for every day until April 1st and of course then some if he is not home by then. When he does get home the links will be used for decorations all over the house for his welcome home daddy party!! I do want to wish all those who are taking advantage of the leave a happy time with their loved ones. And to all those Daddy's who haven't seen their babies yet an even happier reunion!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS!!
3) Seems like the mid-tour leave is happening right on schedule, we got a call today from a friend whose husband is in 4-42 Arty and he is on the first flight out Thursday. He and his wife had a baby 2 weeks after they deployed. So he took priority. Lucky her. Lets all keep our hopes up that our soldiers will be next.
4) Thank you for sharing that eloquent piece by Rep. Marshall on the update today. Shares my long-held sentiments exactly. Grateful to you for these daily updates that make it so much easier on us.
5) Not only did the Top 20 list make me smile but the information is great. My son is with the 720 th BN currently in Tikrit. He called this AM. For the first time since last April he sounded upbeat. (except that he has a sore throat). He shared that conditions are improving daily for Iraq and for our soldiers. Staying until next April is sad but necessary for some units. It was great to hear his voice and to really know that he along with all our troops are making a difference. Hooah to our troops!
6) My soldier is in 1-12 (Scouts) out of Ft. Carson, Co. He called this morning about 7:30 my time. It couldn't have been any more perfect hearing from him this morning! He's called twice in the last week. (once for my B-day :) ) But I was able to see pictures of what it is like over there and hear first hand from two other soldiers what life was like over. It was hard to see my love still there while they were home, but helpful to see it first hand (as close as I will get at least.) But they wanted to make sure everyone knew just how important the letters, boxes, and every little bit of help are wonderful blessings for them! I just want to tell everyone else that I feel wonderful blessed to hear of others stories and calls and e-mails. Although I will never meet any of them, I am thankful for the connection and encourgement! So, thank you not only to the E-Mail guru himself but to all of you who read this!!!!
7) My husband (1/67 C Co, Baquoba) called me early this morning. He still hadn't heard about the mid tour leave approval and questioned the authority. I told him about the 60 percent chance and he said that sounded good. We both agree it will be a blessing from God if he will be able to come home, but if not we are patiently awaiting the arrival of Spring. I have not told my children or other family members yet about this approval, we will wait and see. No sense getting hopes up until we know for sure. He said he is doing well, it's cooling off considerably. He still hasn't received two packages I sent out end of August. I was able to tell him about our fourth visit to the ER for my son. Another set of stitches, haha. Boys. All in all a great chat with him.
8) The article by Jim Marshall "Media's Dark Cloud a Danger" Sept 22, Atlanta Journal Constitution was enlightening. What he saw is more of what our warriors are writing. Thought I'd share what my calendar for today has--Courage is fighting on, even if you have no plans of how you are going to handle the victory. Courage is what Task Force Ironhorse is all about. God bless-- from a 4thID 1-12 inf 3BCT proud Mother!
9) I heard from my son a Medic with C. Co. 4th ENG BN and he is on R&R in northern Iraq. He is at Lake Doha (sp?) He said it was one of the most beautiful places he has ever seen. We talked for 30 minutes and it was wonderful not to get cut off. He already knows he will not be one of the ones to get leave. (Darn it). He said that the guys with new babies and wives back home are some of the first. He said that was all right though. Things have not slowed down much for them and to keep the mail coming. He also said he appriciated all the support from everyone back home. I'm just glad he could relax without looking over his shoulder for a few days. These young soldiers sure do make us proud! God Bless Them All!
10) We received a letter from our son yesterday, it was dated Sept. 3. He is a Combat Engineer with B Co 4th Eng 1/8 TF from Ft. Carson. He said they had just returned from a mission. They were looking for #6 but came up empty. He was a little upset about the mission because he is the driver for his squad so he had to drive all the way to the raid and back, the rest of the platoon got to go by helicopter. He
said he really wants to ride in one of those. He said the only thing they really have to watch for are IED's. So for they have always found them and have been able to destroy them before they have done any harm. He's been getting our packages and really likes the cook stove, he just wishes he had more time to cook. Didn't ask for anything but address's for some of his cousins. God Bless our brave soldiers and their families.
11) Got an e-mail from my son this morning (1-12 FA BN 17th FA BDE out of Fort Sill). He told me not to get to excited about the mid-tour leave because he is on the bottom of the list(he is single). All in all he seems to be doing pretty good. He had no special requests. He said anything I want to send is okay with him. He is getting ready to go to the E5 board next week. I am so proud of my son and all our soldiers. GOD BLESS THEM ALL AND KEEP THEM SAFE.
12) We got a short email from our daughter who is with HHC 1-4 Avn Regt today. We had recieved 3 emails and a phone call about 3 weeks ago and then we didn't hear from her until Monday and then today. She mentioned that she had had some minor surgery, but didn't tell us the details. She said she would tell us later on the phone. However in the email today she said that she had had a piece of shrapnel in her tailbone. She thought she had pulled it out, but apparently a piece was still in there and a cyst the size of a tennis ball formed around it. So she had surgery and is on what they call "dead man's profile" for 3 weeks. She says she has a Forrest Gump scar now. Other than that she sounded pretty good. (Ed Note: And assuming she the shrapnel was from the bad guys, she will have a Purple Hart like Forrest Gump, too).
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