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Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Dateline Iraq
Well hello all sorry its been so long since my last note on whats goin on but things have been both hectic and well not much short of boringÂ
Early last week we got very tragic news that one of our teams was hit by a VBIED (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) two of our soldiers were killed and 5 injured. One killed was a lieutenant colonel of whom I was only associated with in passing, he had only 3 days left in country before he was to go home after serving a year here. The other was a young doctor a captain I had the pleasure to have spent my last month in the real world with and flew here to Iraq, he was a member of the public health team, a staunch Vikings fan, and a very nice fellowÂ
they will both be missed and my prayers go out to them both and their families.
There were also with them 5 soldiers wounded most critical, and for the most part the whole of the Public health team was wiped out. It will be hard to replace them. With the exception of that incident there has been little other news of exception.
We have gotten out little as we are in the midst of a TOA (transfer of authority) from the unit that was here when we arrived to the unit we had been training with over the last year in Ft ???????. It was very good to see them as I know most of the officers and NCOs, they are a very good bunch of guys and we have for the most part worked well together. They bring with them a more hands on way of doing things and I believe they are a better fit for my team than the Battalion that we have for the last 6 or 8 weeks been working with.
Oh I nearly forgotÂ
as of the 17th of Oct. I was allowed to drop another notch on my PT test due to my advanced age of ??. ThatÂs about all for now. Along with this letter I will be sending my new APO address so you can all send us goodies. I have asked my beautiful wife to send some individually wrapped candies and small packaged toys to give out the the children in the area. They are very sweet children ! and I believe that if we leave them with a positive impression of us then the next generation may not be so interested in making things as dicey for our troops.
Thanks for all the mail and as always I'll send a pic or two along with thisÂ
one especially for my wife, and chuckÂ
they will know which one im talking about.
Love R?????
Only those soldiers who have shed blood for this fight have the right to end it
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