Re: Iraq

The soldiers like action, suspence that type of thing, but are glad for most any reading material. Comedy sometimes. There are female soldiers too you know, so I bet the occasional romance novel might even be appreciated. No one keeps them, they just keep passing them around. When their tour is up, the incoming people get what they leave behind. Thanks for thinking of them.

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- From: <raider843@earthlink.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 6:40 AM
Subject: RE: [CHAT] Iraq


Kitty, I will keep him in my prayers. What kind of books do you think he'd
like? I'd be glad to send some.
A

Andrea Hodges
Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue
www.blueridgeboxerrescue.com
Beaufort, SC Zone 8b
raider843@earthlink.net



[Original Message]
From: Kitty <kmrsy@comcast.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Date: 4/10/2006 10:28:31 PM
Subject: [CHAT] Iraq

From my sister, re my nephew...

Well...let me tell ya' some of the stuff going on over there.  If you
remember when Sam was over there in 2003-04, communications were often

shut

down when any Americans died or were severely wounded.  Still happening

that

way which is why Sam has only called twice since he's been there.  Every
time he tries to call, the system gets put on hold (including Internet
access).

On top of that, there are 2 phone systems in his camp.  The AT&T phones

with

cards that can be replenished are about a 10-15 minute walk from Sam's
place.  When your day starts at 5 am and ends @ 10 or 11 pm, that 1/2

hour

walk is unbearable. So Sam uses the other phones.  A card costs $20.00

which

should be good for an hour & 40 minutes.  Unfortunately, using these

cards

(non-renewable) takes 15-20 minutes just getting the connection.

Any way, Sam is suffering survivor's guilt right now.  He's back on

patrol

instead of being a radio operator (how did I know...).  He was in the 2nd
squad but was replaced when he didn't leave with everyone else.[because

of

his broken hand]   Now that he's in Iraq, he's been placed in the 3rd

squad.

2nd squad was hit by an IED last Thursday.  The team leader took shrapnel

to

his knee and broke his arm.  The driver (who took Sam's place) lost one

leg

but they're still hoping to save the other one.

Sam is devastated to say the least.  He knows it's not his fault - even

his

Sgt told him that.  However, as he said, his brain can't always rule his

gut

and he feels guilty.

Since communications are down so often, Sam has started reading again and
watching DVDs.  If you're not too worried about being forward at work,

see

if anyone has books or movies they'd be willing to send to Sam.  After

all,

this IS Iraqi Liberation Week according to Ken Mehlman, et al.

Sam gets one meal a day:  dinner.  They leave too early in the am to get
breakfast.  Lunch is usually local food.  Sam is among the guys who won't
eat local food.  I don't know if he's heard too many Viet Nam stories

about

ground glass in the Coke or if he doesn't want to risk Montezuma's

revenge.

Then again, he could just relish being stubborn and not giving anything

to

the people of Iraq.

They get in late, get dinner, and go to bed.  Hell of a life.

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5

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