Dear Friends,
We'll start off today with a "progress note" from Jim Moffet. He describes the Thanksgiving visit.
Dear Friends,
First, an addendum to yesterday's update (because I had a brain cramp and forgot). Julie and I talked to Dr. Champagne about the team meeting last night on our way out of the hospital . We discussed Scott's desire to go on a pass for at least two weeks. She said they seldom went with more than ten days on passes, but discharge had been discussed at the meeting. No set dates were given but she was waving her finger over December 17th on the calendar. (My guess at the time was sometime between the 15th and the 21st.) Julie asked her if she had found any research about cranioplasty and neurological recovery. She said she found two articles and gave them to me.
I guess the Stryker really is an all-terrain vehicle.
Photos by Brian Lepley
The November 29 edition of The Olympia Observer is available for download.
Theres another batch of 1-24 INF soldiers on patrol at Yahoo! News today. Individual links - one, two, three, four, five.
Greetings everyone. Great news from the land of Walter Reed. Michael was discharged from the hospital and is now an outpatient. HOOAH!!! No more IV's and noisey hallways when he tries to sleep. Now the hard work starts I guess. Lots of OT and PT to be done in the coming months as he learns how to use his body and muscles to control the different prosthesis devices.
A couple military officials in Mosul are quoted in the following story.
Link to Full Article
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. and JAMES GLANZ
MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 29 - Iraqi police and national guard forces, whose performance is crucial to securing January elections, are foundering in the face of coordinated efforts to kill and intimidate them and their families, say American officials in the provinces facing the most violent insurgency. [...]
In the northern city of Mosul, almost the entire police force and large parts of several Iraqi National Guard battalions deserted during an insurgent uprising this month. Iraqi leaders had to use Guard battalions of Kurdish soldiers to secure the city, kindling ethnic tensions with Arabs. Police stations in western Mosul have perhaps several hundred officers in an area that is supposed to have several thousand.
For those brave enough to come to work, "right now, all they're doing is looking out the window and making sure the bad guys aren't coming to get them," said an American military official in Mosul, who did not want his name to be used.
Our prayers are with this soldier and his family as he recovers.
Link to Full Article
Associated Press
ALBERT LEA, Minn. -- A soldier from Albert Lea was recovering at a stateside hospital Tuesday after being seriously wounded in Iraq.
Sgt. Scott Heilman, 36, is a paratrooper with the 194th Infantry Detachment of the Iowa Army National Guard based in Johnston, Iowa. He was stationed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul when he was shot in the head by a sniper Friday.
After surgery in Iraq, he was taken to a military hospital in Germany, then transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
Dear Friends,
First up, a nice note from the Quilter's Guild of Southern Maryland to someone (okay, it was my sister) who sent them a contribution and card to thank them for their anonymous gift of a nice quilt that ended up being given to Scott at Walter Reed.
(TFO Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (November 30, 2004) – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 9 people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities during operations yesterday in northern Iraq.
Special Iraqi Police Commandos from the Ministry of Interior and MNF Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment conducted joint cordon and search operations in Tal Afar and detained six people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities. The suspects are in custody undergoing questioning with no MNF injuries reported during operations.
While conducting a patrol in Tal Afar, soldiers from the Iraqi National Guard came under small arms fire by anti-Iraqi insurgents. Iraqi soldiers quickly engaged the enemy and forced them to flee into a nearby building. 2-14 Soldiers responded and searched the building, detaining three individuals suspected of firing on Iraqi troops. The suspects are in custody undergoing questioning with no MNF or ISF injuries reported during operations.
Link to Full Article
By Staff Sgt. Carmen Burgess
WASHINGTON (Army News Service Nov. 29, 2004) -- Within two days of being sworn into his new position, the 19th secretary of the Army began his term by visiting installations in Alaska, Korea and Hawaii over the Thanksgiving holiday.
This news analysis explains the ethnic complexities at work in Mosul. TFO and 1/25 commanders are quoted.
Link to Full Article
By Thanassis Cambanis, Boston Globe
MOSUL, Iraq -- After Saddam Hussein was ousted and his security apparatus collapsed, many Iraqis predicted ethnic war. They feared ethnic militias like the Kurdish Peshmerga would fill the security vacuum and engage in a bloody power struggle.
Such dire predictions failed to materialize in the 18 months following Hussein's fall. But the recent explosion of violence in this ethnically divided northern city has deteriorated to the brink of widespread ethnic conflict.
The rising tensions spilled over last week as the corpses of Iraqi soldiers, many of them Kurds, continued to pile up in the streets of Mosul. Most of them were killed by single gunshots to the head. Some were beheaded. The prime suspects are Arab Islamists allied with local Ba'athists, operating in the Old City on Mosul's west bank.
Blackfive has all the details on how you can vote for Pat Tillman as Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year". My man Lance Armstrong is also nominated, but this year no one is more deserving than Army Cpl. Patrick D. Tillman.
Link to Full Article
By Doug Hunt
A local Army infantryman was recruited by the chain-of-command to be spotlighted on a short CNN Headline News segment, said Daniel Suiter, a 1995 North Montgomery High School graduate.
Suiter related his momentary stardom and the job he does in Mozul, Iraq. The first story was reported Saturday in the Journal Review.
Caroline Suiter, his grandmother, had first seen the segment at 2:45 p.m. Thursday.
Link to Full Article
By C. Mark Brinkley; Army Times staff writer
MOSUL, IRAQ — Forget about rain and sleet and snow — Army Sgt. Edmund Savedra had to brave a car bomb to make his Thanksgiving afternoon delivery. Savedra, a truck driver with 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, was less than 10 minutes away from a remote post outside of Mosul, where he was set to deliver hot turkey dinners to dozens of soldiers with no access to the government-contracted chow halls.
Without warning, an explosion shattered the windshield of his rig and showered the three soldiers inside with glass.
“I guess they wanted the turkey,” Savedra, 33, of Honolulu, said with a grin, just minutes after he pulled into the post. “I didn’t want to stop.”
This is one of the articles featured in the most recent edition of The Olympia Observer we linked to previously.
Link to Article
Story by Spc. Aaron Ritter
MOSUL, Iraq -- Soldiers with Company C, 25th Brigade Support Battalion, have been in Iraq for over a month now, but the training doesn’t stop for them. The combat medics conducted a mass casualty exercise Oct. 31 to further hone their medical skills.
The “Cyclone” Soldiers are part of 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) and are responsible for the operations of the medical clinic at Forward Operating Base Marez in northern Iraq. When the daily sick call duties are complete and patients are sent on their way, the medics use the opportunity to train in preparation for the challenges they may face while serving in Iraq.
Yahoo! News has a number of new photos from Mosul taken over the weekend.
Many of you who live in the Puget Sound region have probably seen the holiday greetings from soldiers in Iraq currently airing on local television stations. Su Ring at KING 5 was kind enough to forward a list of scheduled appearances for this week (see below). If you see your loved one's name, but miss the clip, let us know and she can forward the clip to you via email. As new schedules are compiled she will send them to us. Thanks Su!
MOSUL, IRAQ (November 29, 2004) – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 24 people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities during operations yesterday in northern Iraq.
Soldiers from the Iraqi National Guard and MNF from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment conducted a joint cordon and search operation in Tal Afar and detained 14 people suspected of planning and conducting attacks against MNF and ISF. All suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment conducted a series of cordon and searches in small villages south of Mosul suspected of harboring and abetting insurgent fighters. During the searches, Soldiers detained ten suspects and confiscated a large sum of U.S. money. All ten suspects are in custody undergoing questioning with no MNF injuries reported.
Link to Full Article
by JENNIFER JACKSON
PORT TOWNSEND -- Chris Loverro, the Army reserve staff sergeant who started two humanitarian aide projects during his tour in Iraq, returns to Port Townsend today to thank townsfolk who supported his efforts.
``He was so tired last time that he just wanted a quiet visit,'' says Carrie Pierce, Loverro's local contact.
``He's coming back to officially thank everyone.''
Demobilized in October, Loverro came to Port Townsend a month ago to visit Pierce, who he met last November at a Seattle restaurant before shipping out with the Fort Lewis Stryker Brigade to Iraq.
There, assigned to military operations and humanitarian assistance, he saw the need for warm clothing and blankets for war refugees. [...]
Link to Full Article
By ROBERT F. WORTH and RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 28 - Four Iraqi civilians were killed Sunday afternoon when a car bomb exploded 60 miles north of here in Samarra, and another was wounded, military officials said. In raids to the north, in Mosul, American and Iraqi troops detained 43 people suspected of being insurgents, military officials said. [...]
In Mosul, American and Iraqi forces detained 16 people after raiding mosques and other buildings during two operations on Saturday in Old Mosul, a densely populated district in the city center that is believed to be a haven for insurgents. In one of the raids, troops found a 55-gallon drum of bomb-making materials, money, anti-American propaganda and other documents intended to foster insurgent attacks on American forces, military officials said.
Link to Full Article
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 28 - At first the suspect was merely one of 115 Iraqis whom American troops corralled for questioning on Saturday night in a particularly nasty part of Mosul. But his belligerence stood out. And then he made his move.
Sitting where the troops had ordered him to sit - in front of an open-air cigarette store - the suspect flicked out of his pocket several folded sheets of handwritten notes. It was clear he hoped the pages would land unnoticed amid the clutter of the store just a step away.
They did not. A soldier scooped them up and handed them to an Iraqi interpreter working for the Americans. "Who has this? He is an insurgent!" shouted the interpreter, known only to the soldiers as Jeff the Fighting Kurd.
Even though Travis has been transferred to Georgia, I'm happy to know that we will still be able to receive periodic updates on his progress. Angel Moss (what an appropriate name!) and her family were able to visit Travis this weekend, and will hopefully be able to check in with him on a semi-regular basis. Provided below is an account of her visit, which includes a new "new" address for him. Thank you Angel!
Dear Friends,
Lazy start to the day. Scott went to Physical Therapy with "his girls" while I slept in a bit. Unfortunately, Julie woke up suffering from a food counter-attack and was on liquids all day. She ate the same meal Scott and I did last night and we're fine, so we're not sure about the nature of this insurgency.
Link to Full Article
By C. Mark Brinkley, Army Times
MOSUL, Iraq — These days, the violence in Iraq's third-largest city is more like The Sopranos than Black Hawk Down.
About 40 dead bodies turned up across Mosul last week. Most of them had been bound and shot in the head in hit-man fashion, then left in public for local residents to see. Nearly a dozen of the dead were identified as members of Iraq's fragile security forces. Some of the others were contract workers for the U.S.-led coalition. Many are still unidentified.
The message from insurgents to the public was simple: We're here, and we're watching.
Link to Full Article
BY KIRSTEN SCHARNBERG, Chicago Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - (KRT) - Soldiers joke that the Iraqis see Capt. Bill Jacobson as something of a deity, an omniscient authority in desert fatigues who sits high above them judging whether they have sinned.
The scene in a poor, insurgent-plagued neighborhood of Mosul on Saturday night only added to that perception. Soldiers had rounded up more than 100 military-age men, and Jacobson stood atop an armored vehicle as the Iraqis were brought, one by one, to stand before him.
"Let that man go!" Jacobson would yell, with a dismissive wave, at the majority of the terrified men.
But for a select few, the lanky 31-year-old officer issued a less benevolent directive: "Detain that man. Cuff him."
The November 22 edition of The Olympia Observer, the official newsletter of Task Force Olympia, is available for download. As always, there are a number of in depth articles provided by the public affairs office.
This article profiles a Task Force Olympia soldier home on leave.
Link to Full Article
By ROB DAVIS
The first explosion came close to the cargo plane lifting off into the moonless Iraqi night.
Then came another jolt. And another. And a fourth.
The soldiers inside the pitch-black belly of the aircraft were silent, packed shoulder-to-shoulder in full gear, camouflage and Kevlar.
Potholes, an officer said.
MOSUL, IRAQ (November 28, 2004) – Special Iraqi Police Commandos from the Ministry of Interior and Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 43 people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities during operations yesterday in northern Iraq.
Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment conducted a cordon and search operation in Hammam Al Alil and detained 20 people suspected of planning and conducting anti-Iraqi activities. During traffic control point operations near Hammam Al Alil, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment detained five anti-Iraqi suspects and confiscated weapons. 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment Soldiers detained one person in Hammam Al Alil wanted for anti-Iraqi activities. Special Iraqi Police Commandos also detained one person for anti-Iraqi activities in Hammam Al Alil. All 27 suspects are in custody undergoing further questioning and investigation with no MNF Soldiers injured during operations.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24 Infantry Regiment conducted cordon and search operations in western Mosul to disrupt insurgent activity in the area. During the operation, Soldiers detained 16 people for suspected anti-Iraqi activities while also confiscating intelligence documents and a 55-gallon drum of bomb-making material. All suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported during the operation.
Link to Full Article
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's deputy prime minister said holding elections in January will be ``a serious challenge,'' but he insisted Sunday they must go ahead as scheduled. As part of the effort to address security concerns, U.S. troops and Iraqi paramilitary police arrested 43 suspected insurgents in the northern city of Mosul, the military said.
In Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, a car bomb killed six people and injured five others. Two American soldiers were injured in an attack on their convoy in Baghdad. [....]
Members of Task Force Olympia -- which is responsible for security in Mosul and northern Iraq -- and Iraqi police commandos conducted a series of raids throughout the city on Saturday, the statement said.
This article mentions the 56th SBCT, the only National Guard unit to convert to a Stryker Brigade. Although the article implies the 56th already has the Stryker vehicle, I have to admit that I don't know if that's the case. Anyone?
Link to Full Article
By Dawn House, The Salt Lake Tribune
About 500 Utah soldiers in the 222nd Field Artillery Battalion have been placed on alert for possible deployment in January with one of the nation's six newly formed combat brigades. The brigades are more mobile than the Army's traditional heavy-tank fighting forces. [...]
The Triple Deuce is likely to be attached to the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, one of the new Brigade Combat Teams unveiled by the Army in October 1999. Five units have been formed from regular Army active-duty troops. The Pennsylvania brigade is the only combat team comprising citizen-soldiers.
Dear Friends,
Today had us waking to a steady snowfall. I haven't driven in snow for many years so I had to go through the mental checklist before getting in Jim's car. Fortunately, it's a red car! The plan was for Julie to go to the VA hospital with Scott while I took Tiffany and Alyson to Children's Hospital. We went to the Fisher House and picked up Scott. I dropped Scott and Julie off at the hospital and then went back for Tiffany and Alyson.
The following is a lengthy article describing the ordeal of one Task Force Olympia soldier to recover from his wounds at Walter Reed.
Link to Full Article
BY MICHAEL MARTZ, TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
The physical-therapy room was filling up when Dean W. Schwartz walked in, a slight hitch in his gait from the blue titanium leg fitted to his left thigh.
The leg was temporary. So was his time here, six months after a rocket-propelled grenade blew off his leg on a bomb-pocked road in Mosul, in northern Iraq.
Sgt. Robert Faulk motioned toward an empty cot next to an older veteran with graying temples and no right leg. "You can have a spot here if you like, next to Superman," Faulk said.
National Public Radio offers an audio report from Mosul. Click on the "Listen" icon in the upper-left corner to hear it. Summary:
U.S. soldiers are attempting to train new Iraqi soldiers outside Mosul, but threats of violence and anti-American sentiment make the job a daunting one. Some of the soldiers say few in the U.S. understand the complexities or the scale of the insurgency they're confronting. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.
Yahoo! News has more photos of 1-24 INF operating in Mosul today.
Link to Full Article
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
MOSUL, Iraq, Nov. 26 - American troops have discovered 32 bodies here in the past two days, the latest sign that insurgents in the north are increasingly focusing their efforts on killing and terrorizing vulnerable Iraqis, especially those working with American forces.
Seventeen bodies were found Friday, after 15 were discovered Thursday, according to a military spokesman here. In the past eight days at least 65 bodies have been found, and one American commander says more than 20 have been confirmed as members of the new Iraqi security forces.
No identification has been made of the newest bodies or whether they were Iraqi soldiers or national guardsmen, said the spokesman, Lt. Col. Paul Hastings. But he called the new killings part of the insurgents' "campaign of fear, intimidation and murder, and doing whatever they can to disrupt operations here." [...]
Dear Friends,
This morning I drove Jim and Audrey's car over to get Scott at the Fisher House. I figured he would still be pretty tired from this morning's exertions with Alyson and would appreciate the ride.
MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) - A "Stop or we will shoot!" sign written in Arabic hangs off the back of the eight-wheel Stryker armoured vehicles rolling down Mosul's streets as US soldiers seek to impose their military might while trying to win people's hearts.
But while the vehicles may save soldiers' lives, residents say they are just another example of US military heavy-handedness.
"It's a light infantry vehicle on steroids," raves Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kurilla, 38, about the Stryker, which is the US army's newest medium-weight combat vehicle developed to fill a gap between light infantry and tanks.
MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) - Holding elections in parts of Mosul could be a challenge, a US military commander for northern Iraq admitted, saying that insurgents are bent on targeting Iraqi forces and fomenting ethnic strife.
"I think clearly there are some areas in the city where elections can be held today. There are some parts of the city where we have significant challenges ahead of us before elections could be conducted," Brigadier General Carter Ham told AFP at the main US base in the city.
"We have a lot of work to do. I am more optimistic in areas out in the province, outside the city," he said Friday.
With so many correspndents in Mosul right now Yahoo! News has many new photos of 1/25 SBCT soldiers. Here is an index page where you can view thumbnails of all the pictures.
There have been a number of articles covering the unit's homecoming yesterday in Michigan (see below). Welcome home!
Dear Friends,
Well, what started as a lazy day had a pretty dramatic finish. Julie and I were at our hotel while Scott was at the Fisher House with "my girls." About 4 p.m., they came over to the hotel to spend some time with us before Jim Moffet came over to pick us up for Thanksgiving dinner at his home. We talked a bit and watched two football teams with atrocious uniforms on television (Chicago and Dallas). Soon it was time to depart for dinner.
There is additional information on Mosul buried in the following article.
Link to Full Article
By MARIAM FAM, The Associated Press
[...] Meanwhile, U.S. forces found 13 more bodies in and around the northern city of Mosul, the military said Friday, bringing to 35 the number of corpses discovered in the past week in the area shaken by an insurgent uprising.
Eleven of the 35 have been identified as members of the Iraqi security forces, who have been targeted by insurgents. The others have not been identified.
"It's a continued campaign of threats, intimidation and murder by insurgents to spread fear into the public. Their campaign has been directed at what appears to be Iraqi security forces," said Lt. Col. Paul Hastings, a spokesman with Task Force Olympia.
Link to Full Article
Chicago Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Spec. Chris Espindola had just groused - "Who plans missions on Thanksgiving?" - when the first mortar hit. Then came a rocket-propelled grenade, small-arms fire and another mortar.
On the receiving end was a convoy of U.S. Army officers who were traveling around increasingly unsettled Mosul, visiting American soldiers throughout the city to wish them a happy holiday.
Link to Full Article
By C. Mark Brinkley, Army Times
MOSUL, Iraq — Forget about rain and sleet and snow: Army Sgt. Edmund Savedra had to brave a car bomb to make his Thanksgiving afternoon delivery.
Savedra, a truck driver with the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, was less than 10 minutes away from a remote post outside of Mosul, where he was set to deliver hot turkey dinners to dozens of soldiers with no access to the government-contracted chow halls.
Link to Full Article
By ERIC LIPTON, The New York Times
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 - The Army commanders in Iraq knew roughly where they wanted to position their men in Mosul, but first they had a few questions for Chief Warrant Officer Jason Feser. What alleys might turn into ambush routes? Were there any nearby minarets that could serve as sniper lairs? Where would he place troops to avoid possible friendly crossfire?
Taking soldiers into any urban environment is hazardous. But the Army has been using a new tool before going into Iraq's restive cities, like Mosul and Falluja, that helps officers answer critical questions and make their missions somewhat less unpredictable.
We wanted to share this message from a soldier that was posted on our Bulletin Board:
The dining facility prepared a sumptuous feast and kept it open for 8 hours so that everyone could eat. Actually.....we also flew the meal out to people at remote locations so no one missed out. I am not a master chef or terribly picky about what I eat, but I certainly think that this meal was a very good and tasty one. We had tons of turkey, ham, stuffing, vegetables, pie.......basically anything you would eat at a Thanksgiving in the states.........and the ice sculptures and exquisitely carved pumpkins were a nice touch on the side. There was football playing on the big screen TV (granted, a college game since the NFL games won't start for another hour or two). We even had "festive" Thanksgiving napkins...........kind of weird to be 8000 miles from home but still have "Happy Thanksgiving" napkins.............a nice thought nonetheless.All in all a great meal considering where we are and what is going on around us. The unit commander thanked the troops for the great job they have been doing and personally served troops chow for the last few hours of the meal (an Army tradition that was certainly not ignored here).
I am sure we would all rather be sharing this day with families and loved ones back in the states, but please know that your sons/husbands/daughters/wives are with their sisters/brothers in arms and certainly not alone, nor underfed.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
You can also see a photo of the spread in our gallery.
We mentioned yesterday that "Good Morning America" has a crew in Mosul right now. I still don't know if the segment will be aired today, tomorrow or next week, but keep those VCRs primed.
Jacksmom also sent me this:
I just watched a live report on CNN from Camp Freedom!! The reporter showed clips from a mission he went on last night, embedded with some of our troops. Then he reported live from the Mess Hall, showing soldiers getting their Thanksgiving dinners. He stressed how hard our soldiers are working, commenting that the soldiers that he was with last night got back to camp at 3AM and were up again at 5AM, ready to go. He made mention of the Stryker vehicles.I do not know whether this specific report will be repeated, but when a major cable news network has a reporter in the north, I would bet that he will be making more reports from that area.
Also, there seems to be quick clips of specific soldiers wishing their families a Happy Thanksgiving and I have already seen 3 who said that they were from Ft Lewis!!!
There are several articles today regarding the Thanksgiving holiday and what it means for military families.
UPDATE: We've added a couple new ones.
(TFO Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (November 25, 2004) – Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained three people suspected of anti-Iraqi activities during operations early today in northern Iraq.
Multi-National Forces from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment conducted cordon and search operations in a west central neighborhood in Mosul where they detained two individuals. Soldiers positively identified one of the subjects as a member of a terrorist cell.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment conducted similar operations in Mosul’s eastern neighborhoods in an attempt to locate other suspected terrorist cell members. They positively identified and detained one individual also wanted for anti-Iraqi activities.
All three suspects remain in custody with no injuries reported during either operation.
I wanted to take a moment to recognize some of the people and organizations that have been particulary generous to the soldiers in the Stryker Brigades, and their families (see list below). I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to visit their sites and learn more about the incredible work they do. Thank you.
Holiday shipping advice from a 3/2 chaplain.
Link to Full Article
By WENDY ISOM; jacksonsun.com
Letters, photos, socks, personal items make long time away from home easier. To soldiers serving in Iraq, receiving a care package filled with some of the comforts of home often means the world to them.
Soldiers are very grateful for gifts, Army chaplain Capt. David Curlin said.
Curlin is a 36-year-old Jackson native who spent the past year in Mosul, Iraq.
''It's really humbling to know that people took time out of their busy lives to send a care package,'' he said. .....
Link to Additional Information on This Story
MGS A Co., 1-5 INF just added new photos to their album that might change the assumptions you made about the weather in Iraq - at least where they are.
Dear Friends,
First, let me wish all of you safe travel and a great weekend. We're going to miss being with the rest of the family, but we're going to be just fine this weekend.
This morning Julie and I arrived and found Scott with Tiffany and Alyson. He was very hungry and bored with waiting for someone from surgery to come get him. Julie, Tiffany and Alyson left about noon to go to the Fisher House. (Julie had to make some pies for tomorrow's dinner at Jim and Audrey's.)
Word has it that ABC's "Good Morning America" will air a segment from FOB Marez in Mosul tomorrow morning. Tune in and find out.
The following are two recent articles from The Guardian, which currently has a correspondent in Mosul.
Link to Article with photo and graphic
Spc. Corey Strand, Fort Wainwright PAO
FORT WAINWRIGHT – Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team will soon save valuable time preparing for their upcoming deployments when it becomes the first Army unit to try out the effectiveness of the Authorized Stockage List Mobility System.
“This system, which will be eventually distributed to all Stryker Teams, is being tested by the 172nd because they are next on the list for deployment,” said Maj. Carlos Correia, assistant product manager, Force Sustainment Systems.
He added that the 172nd has been recognized as the best warehouse in U.S. Army Pacific for the last three years and the data can be applied in future distributions of ASLMS for other Stryker Teams.
Link to Article
By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2004 -- With so many military families scrambling to ship holiday care packages to their loved ones deployed around the world, the U.S. Postal Service is stepping in to make things a bit easier.
It's offering a package of free packing materials, including 10 boxes, 10 customs forms with envelopes, 10 "Mili-Pac" shipping envelopes, which are specially printed to reflect the complexities of military mailing addresses, and a roll of Priority Mail tape.
Link to Full Article
By JEFF LESTER, Senior Writer
Dozens of Southwest Virginia National Guard soldiers took on a crucial mission as U.S. Army and Iraqi forces retook government buildings occupied by anti-government fighters in the northern city of Mosul.
Three members of the 276th Engineer Battalion were wounded slightly but returned to duty quickly, according to Capt. Chris Doss of the battalion's Bravo Company.
Here are 3 photos from Army Images and Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson that I've not seen elsewhere. The 1-24 is featured in photos one and two while a soldier from 1-5 is pictured in photo three.
This article contains quotes from 1/25 commanders. A free subscription to the Chicago Tribune on-line is required in order to view the entire article.
Link to Full Article
Kirsten Scharnberg,Tribune correspondent
MOSUL, Iraq -- Almost every morning for the past several days, American soldiers have made the gruesome discovery. Sometimes the bodies are partly burned; sometimes they are dismembered; sometimes they are shot in the head.
When two more victims were found this week slumped on a busy street corner, Lt. Col. Erik Kurilla finally lost it. The Army commander, a bear of a man who usually is the first to crack a joke even in the most dire of circumstances, stormed across the street and began chastising the Iraqis gathered there.
"Why do you not have the common decency to clean them up?" shouted Kurilla, who