Update on Mike and some pictures
I heard from Mike last Wednesday. He sounds very tired, but he sounds like he is doing basically well. He shared some stories, and we had a nice 20 minute conversation. He has been on a lot of missions lately. I am always happy to see him log into AIM. We don’t always get to chat, but just seeing him log on is a nice touch to the day. His Internet connection is really poor.
We are going to video blog with each other back and forth. I have already sent him a small video, and he is sending one back to me. It is a great way for us to keep each other up on what the other is going through. Good communication from home is important for soldiers for when they come home and are facing the many changes that took place during their deployment.
So, with no further ado, here are some pictures with captions:
They were there for a while before heading into Baghdad.
Mike said they were in a van and could smell the camels a mile away.
This is in Kuwait at noon during a sandstorm.
Leaving Kuwait in a C-130.
He said it was running down the strip when he snapped this picture.
Mike in front of a Stryker. This is the primary mode of transportation for 4 Infantry Brigades in Iraq. A 5th Brigade is currently in training. I am so impressed with everything about the Strykers. They are built very well, and it has incredibly accurate fire power — not to mention many layers of good armor to protect the soldier’s inside. I do have to tease him though and ask him if there are any Jawas inside of it. It reminds me of a small sand crawler!
Mike’s Squad aka, “The True Geek Squad”
These are the guys who received the care packages
we sent over recently. I am preparing to send some more
tomorrow, and more in the near future.
headed off to BCT/OCS
Let me close with Eleanor Roosevelt’s Wartime Prayer (from RN):
Lest I continue
My complacent way,
Help me to remember that somewhere,
Somehow out there
A man died for me today.
As long as there be war,
I then must
Ask and answer
Am I worth dying for?
Thanks for sharing the pictures. It is great to see our guys able to have some enjoyment with each other over there.
That prayer is very moving. I copied it into a separate document and printed off for me to read every day. I might have to post that myself. Thanks.