Waiting patiently.......NOT!

At this point the boys have been outside the wire for about six days. The anticipated length of their mission was never exactly nailed down, so we don't really know what we're waiting for. The only thing I think I know for sure is that they are 38 days away from leaving Iraq! It's getting harder to stay focused I think the weight drags you down a little more each day. Jan has said many times that she doesn't need the boys home as much as she just needs them on U. S. soil. I think their wives would want them home.
Seth was spending his time before this mission writing to different politicians about the problems with educational benefits for National Guard soldiers. Here's what he wrote to our local senator:

Senator Hanger,
My name is Seth Lovell, and I am a member of the Virginia Army National Guard. I am a member of B Co, 3/116th INF currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2004-2005 as a member of the same company I was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I have given up two years of my life to serve my country, and to represent my state. I have done so willingly and with great pride. The reason I am writing is to bring to your attention a great injustice that I believe is being done to our soldiers who have been deployed. Numerous soldiers like myself joined the Guard to help with the financial burden of attending college. The educational benefits that a National Guard Soldier is eligible for is the Montgomery GI Bill through the VA, Federal Tuition Assistance, and State Tuition Assistance. All three benefits help to greatly reduce the cost of college, and reward young men and women for their service to their country. I am writing because I believe there is a problem with Virginia’s current setup for State Tuition Assistance. I believe the program is flawed, as it does not take into account the frequent deployments that the National Guard has been dealing with recently. In the Code of Virginia 23-7.4:2 (b) it states that a soldier who is applying for state tuition assistance must have two years left on his contract in order to obtain funds from the state. This system is set up on the idea that Virginia National Guard soldiers are not being deployed, and have the first four years of their contract available to attend school. However in my first six years I have been deployed twice, and have missed five semesters of school due to this. Not only do I believe that there should be no requirement of two years left on one’s contract, but I believe that soldiers who are deployed should have that year forgiven, and allowed that time past their contract to obtain benefi ts. Because of my two deployments I am no longer eligible for state tuition assistance. There are many soldiers who are in a situation similar to my own. It is a shame that soldiers, who give so much, are given so little in their return. I appreciate the benefits that I receive from the government; however, I do not believe I should be penalized for my service. I believe I should have continued access to these benefits upon my return from two combat tours.

I am a strong believer in the power of politics. I have a lot of respect for you Senator Hanger, and you are the first person I have written. I would be honored if you would sponsor a bill to update Virginia’s benefit system for deployed soldiers. I would like to be involved in the process, and give any assistance that I can. I will be home from Iraq in April, and would love to speak further with you on this issue. I understand if you are not able to take this on at tlhis time, and I will seek assistance elsewhere. If you are interested in helping me with this cause please e-mail me back. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my e-mail and consider my problem, I look forward to hearing from you soon,

Sincerely,
SPC Seth Lovell