jd77
01-09-2006, 02:16 PM
Received this report from a friend of mine. His son just returned from Iraq for the last time. When he came home for leave a while back, people in the airport in Dallas mobbed his unit with cheers, standing ovations, kisses, hugs and offers of cash. It overwhelmed them.
Can we put our differences aside for just a moment and appreciate what those brave young men did for the people of Iraq and us?
Dear Family and Friends,
So many of you ask regularly about Pete, Jr. and how he is doing. I wanted to let you know that he is now home, safe and sound. All limbs are in place, the knucklehead scale is where it was when he left, and I sense he is very proud of what he and his comrades accomplished in the last year stationed at FOB Gabe in Baqubah, Iraq.
Twenty four great soldiers in his battalion were wounded in action and two soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice.
In spite of the losses, the soldiers of Task Force 2-34 Armor made a significant and tangible impact during its time in Iraq. The task force conducted over 3,500 combat patrols, spent over 20,000 man-hours outside the wire conducting full spectrum counterinsurgency operations and executed upwards of 100 combat missions that detained over 225 suspected insurgents.
They made their sector safer to travel, and made the villages safer for the people of Iraq. You won’t see it on CNN, but the people were very grateful and expressed it.
In addition to a two-week combat survival course at FOB Gabe that trained hundreds of Iraqi Army soldiers and Iraqi Police officers, the battalion's Military Transition Team worked closely with and mentored the 4th Iraqi Army Battalion. Additionally, the battalion implemented a Joint Security Working Group that met weekly prior to the Constitutional Referendum in October and the national election in December. At these meetings, leadership from the Iraqi and Coalition Forces coordinated security responsibilities in order to ensure that all citizens had the opportunity to vote in a safe and secure environment.
The 2-34 opened two newly constructed schools in Kahn Bani Sa’ad, and a new water distribution system in Baqubah, with countless other acts of public service.
Pete will be in debriefing for awhile now, but he is so grateful for all of your packages, letters, emails and prayers. He feels bad that he wasn’t always able to say thanks, but he will always remember each thoughtful act.
I am very thankful for his safe return, and for your support. I also shall always remember.
I am proud to know this young man and salute him and countless like him for their service to this country :bow:
Can we put our differences aside for just a moment and appreciate what those brave young men did for the people of Iraq and us?
Dear Family and Friends,
So many of you ask regularly about Pete, Jr. and how he is doing. I wanted to let you know that he is now home, safe and sound. All limbs are in place, the knucklehead scale is where it was when he left, and I sense he is very proud of what he and his comrades accomplished in the last year stationed at FOB Gabe in Baqubah, Iraq.
Twenty four great soldiers in his battalion were wounded in action and two soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice.
In spite of the losses, the soldiers of Task Force 2-34 Armor made a significant and tangible impact during its time in Iraq. The task force conducted over 3,500 combat patrols, spent over 20,000 man-hours outside the wire conducting full spectrum counterinsurgency operations and executed upwards of 100 combat missions that detained over 225 suspected insurgents.
They made their sector safer to travel, and made the villages safer for the people of Iraq. You won’t see it on CNN, but the people were very grateful and expressed it.
In addition to a two-week combat survival course at FOB Gabe that trained hundreds of Iraqi Army soldiers and Iraqi Police officers, the battalion's Military Transition Team worked closely with and mentored the 4th Iraqi Army Battalion. Additionally, the battalion implemented a Joint Security Working Group that met weekly prior to the Constitutional Referendum in October and the national election in December. At these meetings, leadership from the Iraqi and Coalition Forces coordinated security responsibilities in order to ensure that all citizens had the opportunity to vote in a safe and secure environment.
The 2-34 opened two newly constructed schools in Kahn Bani Sa’ad, and a new water distribution system in Baqubah, with countless other acts of public service.
Pete will be in debriefing for awhile now, but he is so grateful for all of your packages, letters, emails and prayers. He feels bad that he wasn’t always able to say thanks, but he will always remember each thoughtful act.
I am very thankful for his safe return, and for your support. I also shall always remember.
I am proud to know this young man and salute him and countless like him for their service to this country :bow: