[Texas T]

Just got off the phone and he is now in Balad Iraq, and 0230 over there. They will be there for a couple more days then head up to FOB Normandy.
The Air Force flew them in country in a C-17. Charlie say it is very large. He was amazed at the amount of people and cargo got loaded into it. He said that when they get to Normandy he will have internet access and be able to respond to the PM's and post up on the big board.

He also said that some of the medics and others are volunteering to work at the Air Force hospital when not flying missions, to gain more experience in helping the troops.

Asked him to keep us informed as to what he and his fellow soldiers might need and so far the only thing he requested was a Hawaian shirt. His unit is going with the MASH look.

 

[Slip]

How very proud you must be of him. Here I sit worried about storms hitting where we live and they have so much more to worry about than a storm, and they deal with it every single day. How ashamed I feel, but still can't help but feel anxiaty over this storm. Can't figure why I feel so anxious, other than reminders of the past and although it was bad, we grew from it. These guys must either feel this daily or just get callused of the feeling. Hats off to your son and the others in harms way every day. Although a few pens may help lift their spirits, it just isn't enough. Some do it for various reasons. Some want the thrill or think they do, some for college money help or a job and other to serve others. Any one of these, deserve more than we can offer them. If these guys don't do the things they are told to do, it could always come back to the home front where our families would have to see the side of war we only read about and I know it is worse. I was not military and sometimes regret it (married at 19 years old and don't regret that either), but never the less, am so proud of our troops. It must be hard to have a son or daughter in harms way every single day. Thank you so much.

I have a nephew over there and he won't tell his mom and dad what he has seen as of yet but know some things are bad and has been shot at. Prayers to you and Charlie.

 

[Texas T]

I enlisted in the Army during Nam to beat the draft, believe or not. I was trained as a combat medic and served over there on an advisory team to the South Vietnamese Army. Yes you do get hardened to some of the things and ther is a lot of what they call ER (emergency room) humor develop. I know there are vets that hold it in and won't talk about it, but that is not good for them or others, who could learn a thing or two from what the vet experienced.

Charlie wantes to take a break from college and get his head clear after getting dumped by a girl. He enlisted in the Army National Guard and as they say the rest is history. When his unit went to Iraq while he was learning to fly the Apache in Arizona, they would not let him catch up to them over there. He made the decision "to not sit this one out on the bench" and transferred to the Medevac unit in San Antonio so he could get "into the game." To me that is just his way of paying back his country the same as I did in my time.