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Keeping in Touch With Loved Ones

Apr-28-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Written by Staff Sgt. Steve Duga, 138th MPAD

For Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Courage in Mosul, Iraq, it is not always easy to find ways to keep in touch with loved ones.

Being thousands of miles away from home is hard enough, which is why many Soldiers make keeping in touch with loved ones back home their second most important mission while serving here in Iraq.

“I use the Internet to stay in touch with my wife,” said Michael Allen, operations specialist with Kellogg, Brown, and Root, from Rockingham, N.C. “I try and e-mail her at least once a day. Staying connected with family members helps lift [my] morale when we get to talk to each other.”

“I think it’s important to stay in contact and let them know you’re alright, and it makes you feel good to hear their voices,” stated Sgt. Richard Werschin, HHC Brigade, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Werschin is from Huntsville, Ala.

According to these Soldiers, it is necessary to keep morale up by keeping in touch with home. It also helps to ease the anxiety of loved ones back home so they also make it through these difficult times, according to Spc. Scott Hicks, 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery and native of Greensville, S. C.

“It helps you get through all the hard times,” he said. “I get a lot of letters, but I don’t write a lot of them. I usually send e-mails. My mom is worried about me, since I’m her only son, so it helps her to hear my voice; I usually talk to my mom for 30 minutes.”

No matter what base you may work at in Iraq, you can always find multiple ways to keep in contact with people back home, such as the Internet, land-line phones, or cell phones.

Good deals can be found right at the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation centers or United Service Organization centers found on most Forward Operating Bases, as they have discounted or free phone and Internet services.

(via DVIDS)


Comments For "Keeping in Touch With Loved Ones":

My husband tries to talk to me a couple of hours daily. He gets made fun of for it, but says it's what he looks forward to everyday. I'm pretty lucky. It does have it's downfalls, like the past couple of days I have not heard anything from him since he told me they got mortared and he had to roll out for a mission. So now I'm here, going insane because I know he'd call me or contact me if he had any chance. I love him so much and they are coming home soon, I just pray that the love of my life comes home with them.

Posted by: Steph [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 28, 2006 4:11 PM

Our son does call when he can and just to hear his smile is awsome, thank who ever is responsible for the soldiers to contact us back home as it helps us move on also. Godspeed to all our troops and return safe. We pray for all you.

Posted by: StrykerB"SMOM [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 29, 2006 8:02 AM

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