Soldiers ship out for training, Iraq
Guard families take part in big sendoff
By Cindy Corell/staff
ccorell@newsleader.com

WOODSTOCK — They stood in two lines along the long walls of the armory's drill room, while their families sat sweating in metal, folding chairs. Soldiers of Bravo Co., 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were ready to leave for Camp Shelby, Miss., where they and those from four other companies would train for deployment to Iraq. It was a drill most of them had seen before. Most of them, like Evelyn Elliott of Churchville, knew what to expect. Her husband, Tony, was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for more than a year. Others in the Bravo Company spent nearly a year in Afghanistan in 2004. Practice may make perfect, but it doesn't make it any easier. "I just learned that you have to be independent if you're married to a guardsman," Elliott said. "You have to be strong, to be a soldier." "Today Virginia's infantry is moving out on a grand and noble mission," said Major Gen. Robert B. Newman Jr., adjutant general of the Virginia National Guard. He thanked in advance the families for the support they will show the troops during their yearlong mission. "There is no more supportive group of Virginians than you, the families of the guardsmen," he said. Lt. Col. John Epperly, battalion commander, was much more direct when he spoke to the families. A year from now, he said, there would be a reunion. "My best advice to you," he said, "is to keep your heads up and your eyes on the horizon because we will be home soon." Outside under a high-noon and blazing sun, soldiers hugged family members. Fathers held small children; sweethearts gazed with teary eyes. Brittany Lovell of Staunton held a flower while she watched her husband, Seth, stand in formation before boarding the bus. They were married June 9. Not far away stood her sister-in-law, Katy Herr Lovell. By Tuesday evening, she would watch her husband, Eli, leave the Winchester armory for the same deployment. He is Seth's twin. Also saying goodbye was Sgt. Randy Chandler of Port Republic. A veteran of the Cuba deployment, he was held back this time because of a health issue. He visited with several of the guardsmen, taking time with each. "I don't like this," he said. "I don't like this at all. Telling these guys goodbye is harder than it was telling my family goodbye when I left.

Cindy Corell/The News Leader Seth Lovell hugs his mother, Jan.

‘Angels’ to watch over local Guard
Troops will get support from home

By Erica M. Bush
The Winchester Star

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Winchester — When the Winchester-based unit of the National Guard mobilizes on Tuesday, the soldiers will leave home knowing that someone is thinking of them.

They will also depart with a guardian angel to watch over them.

Lillian Peck (from left) and Kristina Robinson, members of Girl Scout Troop 381, get some help from Katie Peck while preparing Soldiers’ Angels care packages on Sunday. (Photos by Ginger Perry)

On Sunday afternoon in Jim Barnett Park, volunteers from Soldiers’ Angels — a national organization whose mission is to provide aid and comfort to members of the armed forces and their families — prepared care packages for the local soldiers.

The packages, which include angel pins, cards, and a soldier’s prayer, will be given to soldiers in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division of the Virginia Army National Guard at their mobilization ceremony at Shentel Stadium on Tuesday evening.

“It just lets them know that there is an angel in their pocket,” said Winchester resident Cindy Roach, a Soldiers’ Angels volunteer and leader of Winchester Girl Scout Troop 381, who also helped with preparing the packages on Sunday.

The local National Guard unit was federally mobilized on Saturday.

After a ceremony on Shenandoah University’s campus on Tuesday evening, they will be sent to Camp Shelby, Miss., for additional training for three months before being deployed overseas to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Girl Scout Lillian Peck, 10, said it’s important that soldiers know someone is thinking about them when they are away from home.

She sat on a bench under one of the park’s shelters on Sunday afternoon decorating brown paper bags, which will hold the goodies for the soldiers, with stickers and green ribbons.

Peck said her troop adopted a soldier not too long ago who is serving in Iraq. The girls send a card to their soldier once a week and a package once a month.

Volunteers from Soldiers’ Angels gather on Sunday in Jim Barnett Park to prepare items for the Winchester-based National Guard soldiers who will be deployed to Iraq. Pictured from left are Anna-Sofie Hickson of Arlington and Bethany Rice and Anita Austinson, both of Gainesville.

“It’s just so awesome,” Roach said about the Girls Scouts and Soldiers’ Angels efforts to provide support for the National Guard.

Soldiers’ Angels was started in 2003 by the mother of soldier who was deployed in Iraq. The soldier expressed concern that his fellow soldiers were not receiving any support from home.

Volunteers of the organization from Northern Virginia wrote cards on Sunday that local soldiers will be able to take with them when they leave.

Anna-Sofie Hickson, a volunteer from Arlington, will give the cards and care packages to local soldiers at their mobilization ceremony on Tuesday.

Hickson, who served in the Army from 1999-2003, became involved in Soldiers’ Angels after her best friend was killed in Iraq in 2004, she said.

She said the organization relies heavily on the Internet to find other people who are interested in helping to send care to deployed soldiers and their families.

Roach said on Sunday that Soldiers’ Angels and her Girl Scout troop will prepare care packages for the local Guard unit again in September before they deploy for Iraq.

The local National Guard unit has been deployed before, serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from July 2004 until July 2005.

The mission sent the unit to Afghanistan, where two members of the company — Staff Sgt. Craig Cherry, 39, of Winchester, and Sgt. Bobby Beasley, 36, of Inwood, W.Va. — were killed in August 2004 when an improvised explosive device struck their armored Humvee.

From the Associated Press: June 24, 2007

BAQOUBA, Iraq - The U.S. commander of a new offensive north of Baghdad, reclaiming insurgent territory day by day, said Sunday his Iraqi partners may be too weak to hold onto the gains. The Iraqi military does not even have enough ammunition, said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek: "They're not quite up to the job yet."

His counterpart south of Baghdad seemed to agree, saying U.S. troops are too few to garrison the districts newly rid of insurgents. "It can't be coalition (U.S.) forces. We have what we have. There's got to be more Iraqi security forces," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch.

The two commanders spoke after a deadly day for the U.S. military in Iraq. At least 12 soldiers were killed on Saturday from roadside bombings and other causes, leaving at least 31 dead for the week.

How long have we been training the Iraqi Army? How much longer do we have to wait for the Iraqi's to do their own fighting? How many more American Soldiers have to die?
All the pundits say there isn't a military solution to this war...there has to be a political solution. I don't know much, but it seems to me there needs to be a religeous solution. In a land where you are Sunnis hate Shi‘ite and Shi'ite hates Sunni just because of who they are and what they believe I don't see a political solution. It's in the hearts and souls of these people and politics won't change this - we won't change them.

This article appeared in the Sunday, June 24 edition of the Staunton News Leader. A second article she wrote is several posts below. Cindy is one of my favorite writers as well as a wonderful person. Read and enjoy!


Twins' wives make plans to cope with separation
Cindy Corell
Connections

Jan and Ed Lovell have three grown sons. They are quite blessed. Josh is the oldest, and Seth and Eli are twins.

It's been a hectic time for the Lovells this spring. Seth and Eli's National Guard units are deploying to Iraq, leaving for training in Mississippi this week. Eli married his sweetheart in August, and Seth was planning to marry his June 30.

The deployment moved that family event up. Seth and Brittany Lovell were married June 9. I met with both couples earlier this month, and this is what I learned:

As mature as the 22-year-old twins are, their brides are even more impressive.

Both Brittany and Katie are headed into the medical field. Brittany is a student at James Madison University studying nursing. Katie recently graduated from Bridgewater College, and she has been accepted to Elon University, where she will work toward her doctorate in physical therapy.

Facing the deployment of their husbands, Brittany and Katie have plans for how they'll cope. They have two trips tentatively planned — one to see Lovell relatives in Colorado, and another to Manhattan.

"We're using all their family for places to stay," Brittany laughed.

And both will be working and studying to stay busy.

Brittany was a high school senior when she endured Seth's first deployment. While her high school classmates worried about fashion and dates, she tried to make it through news broadcasts from Afghanistan.

She didn't dance at her homecoming, because she said she wouldn't dance again until Seth was back in her arms.

When she graduated from Wilson Memorial High School, her beloved was in a foxhole 10,000 feet above the edge of Afghanistan.

And through that time, Katie watched her fiance cope with the harsh separation from his twin.

"I was pretty irritable," Eli said.

I noted that both young women are in the helping field, and Katie quickly pointed out that Brittany will work with blood and guts while she will provide therapy to the already-healing.

And in each other, Katie and Brittany will have a special bond — beyond that of friends and closer than that of sisters. They will lean on one another while they alternate sending care packages to a far off land to two lucky men.

So they sat at the table, these newlyweds, holding hands and waiting out the short time they had together.

Somehow I know that though in age they all are so young, they know something that most of us take years to learn. There's a closeness between these twins born seven minutes apart, and there's a magic in the beautiful women they've chosen.

Cindy Corell is the City Editor of The News Leader. E-mail her at ccorell@newsleader.com

The Long Goodbye

During the past week, Eli has been at the Winchester Armory and Seth has been at the Woodstock Armory. When we said goodbye last week little did we know that we would continue to say goodbye. Seth came home after Brittany's accident and they both came home Thursday evening. They got to spend Friday at home with Seth returning to the Armory Saturday morning for good. They will have some familiy acitivities on Sunday and then the Departure ceremony on Tuesday. Eli returns to the Armory Saturday morning to load trucks then gets to come home again. Every minute we spend with the boys is wonderful, but the long goodbyes are wearing. We know that Tuesday we will say goodbye for an extended time - we dont have information on any leave possibilities after the training in Mississippi. Tuesday will be another difficult day. I'll have pictures from the Departure Ceremonies. Seth's ceremony is Tuesday at 10:30 AM and Eli's is Tuesday at 7:00 PM......another day of goodbye's......

From the Winchester Star...June 21, 2007

Guard gets ready to go
Local soldiers heading to Iraq by way of Miss.

By Drew Houff
The Winchester Star

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WINCHESTER — A local unit of the National Guard will take an official step toward Iraq on Tuesday with a mobilization ceremony at Shentel Stadium.

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division of the Virginia Army National Guard begins its efforts on Saturday when the unit is federally mobilized, beginning activities to prepare for the full deployment.

ABOVE: Members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division of the Virginia Army National Guard check their supplies and equipment on Wednesday in a field next to the National Guard Armory on Millwood Avenue in Winchester. BELOW: Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Clarke calls out the Army-issued items that his fellow soldiers will need when they are mobilized to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Photos by Rick Foster)

“We’re being mobilized to support Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Staff Sgt. Jason Bowen said on Wednesday. “The training will be theater-specific, helping them to handle the different environments and the different ways to use difficult technology.”

He likened that specialized training to efforts during World War II, when troops who fought in the Pacific campaign had a very different war from those in Europe.

Tuesday’s departure ceremony from Shentel Stadium on the Shenandoah University campus will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the public is invited to attend, Bowen said.

Once those events conclude, the National Guard will be sent to Camp Shelby, Miss., for additional training, said 1st Lt. Brian Ostrowski.

“We go on active duty next Tuesday and begin training for three months,” he said. “We then will support Operation Iraqi Freedom for the next nine to 12 months overseas.”

Bowen said he was hopeful that a large public turnout will greet the troops. “We really appreciated the support we got last time. The entire Winchester area seemed to be involved.”

The local National Guard unit has been deployed before, serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from July 2004 until July 2005, Bowen said, adding that the soldiers were mobilized in March 2004.

The mission sent the unit to Afghanistan, where two members of the company — Staff Sgt. Craig Cherry, 39, of Winchester, and Sgt. Bobby Beasley, 36, of Inwood, W.Va. — were killed in August 2004 when an improvised explosive device struck their armored Humvee.

“The combat veterans know what to expect,” he said. “The key is that they all return safely home.”

The War and the Warrior

One of the gratifying events since Seth and Eli learned of their deployment has been the support they have received from our community. Most people are quick to voice their opinion of the war or Little George (usually negative) and equally quick to voice support for the troops. Many people have offered that they voted for George, but feel betrayed by his actions. One of Seth and Eli's favorite teachers at WMHS noted that he's a life-long Republican, voted for Bush, but now feels like an idiot! There has, however, been no confusion between the war and the warrior. Hate the war, love the soldiers who are being called to do their duty and support them in every possible way. The Depot Grill gave the boy's free meals after learning they were being deployed. A professor at Bridgewater College paid for Eli and Katy's meal at Red Lobster after running into them and learning that the Eli would be leaving shortly for his deployment. Leaving the parking gararge after a meeting downtown, the garage attendent sent them on their way without collecting a parking fee. Grand Piano Furniture Company gave me a generous supply of bubble wrap when I explained I wanted to make extra padding for Seth and Eli's computer cases. We kidded about using the "Iraq Deployement Card" but our community is behind the soldiers even though most are not behind the war. How about a t-shirt that reads "Hate the War.....Love the Warrior!"
You know that's not a bad idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Washington Gets Something Right!

Associated Press | June 16, 2007

WASHINGTON - Legislation passed by Congress would require all federal agencies in a state to comply with a governor's request that they fly their flags at half-staff to honor a fallen service member.

The bill, which now goes to President Bush for his signature, was crafted by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., who was upset by what he said was the "inconsistent, patchwork display of respect" in his state toward troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The House passed the bill in May and the Senate approved it late Thursday - Flag Day - on a voice vote.

The measure would amend federal law with regard to the flying of the national flag at half-staff to allow a governor to require that federal facilities in the state lower their flags when a member of the armed forces from that state dies while on active duty.

It is named for Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks, a 22-year-old from Rapid River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who was killed in Iraq last year.

Stupak said there were several instances in his state of federal facilities ignoring the governor's request to lower flags, and this was particularly painful in rural communities when funeral facilities pass through multiple communities, some with lowered flags, some without.

In the Senate, the bill was backed by Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., who said that flying the flag at half-staff was "one of the most powerful ways we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."

More than 3,800 Members of the military have died as a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Brittany and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

When the boys were little, one of their favorite books to have read to them was "Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." It's the tale of a little boy who suffers one calamity after another making for a very bad day. Brittany experienced that day yesterday. Early Monday morning, Brittany said goodbye to Seth as he left to report to the Woodstock Armory by 7:30 AM. As if that didn't make the day bad enough, she was rear-ended while running errands Monday afternoon. She suffered some mild whiplash, but the accident did bring Seth home for the evening allowing for one more meal, one more visit to Kline' s for ice cream, one more night at home and one more goodbye!
Eli is currently at Fort Pickett and Seth departs for Pickett tomorrow. News Flash......just got off the phone with Seth. He goes to Pickett tomorrow and will return to Woodstock on Thursday. He should be released Thursday evening and will return home. He reports back to the Armory on Saturday morning.....the long good-bye! No word on Eli. We also know that the departure ceremony for both boys is Tuesday the 26th. That's the day they will depart for Camp Shelby, Mississippi and the real training begins!

The Meaning of Bittersweet

Up until recently I thought "Bittersweet" was a kind of chocolate.........It has only been in the last month where I have learned the real meaning of "bittersweet." Bittersweet is buying your first house and moving in knowing that you won't live there for with your wife or husband for the next year. Bittersweet is marrying your sweetheart knowing that a week later you will be leaving for an extended period of time.

Katy and Eli purchased a house in North Carolina and we spent Memorial Day weekend moving them in. It was their plan to move to N.C. after graduating from Bridgewater College for Katy to pursue her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Elon College. They're following the plan even though Eli won't be with her in their new house. Knowing that their immediate future includes a long seperation made the move bittersweet!

Seth and Brittany wed on June 9. They had been planning on a June 30 wedding, but Uncle Sam and George "the youngster" had different plans. Bittersweet is marrying the love of your life and knowing you have nine days to enjoy each other before leaving for deployment. During his toast, Eli noted that there is a country music song for every occassion. As he was considering the lyrics to "I can make a full-time job out of loving you," his cell phone rang. As he infomed the crowd George was calling to remind Seth that he had a full-time job for the next year! Eli then spoke from the heart saying that their song could be Bill Withers classic "Lean on Me." For the next year we'll be leaning on each other at we again endure the worry and frustration of having children, husbands and brothers in harm's way.

Twins ready for deployment
Brothers to report to armories Monday
By Cindy Corell/staff
ccorell@newsleader.com

They admit it was unusually impulsive joining the Virginia National Guard with little if any discussion beforehand.

Twins Seth and Eli Lovell, 22, aren't generally spontaneous when it comes to major life changes, but once one of them was in, both of them were in.

"Seth had been talking to the recruiter, but I hadn't," Eli Lovell explained. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do."

So one April afternoon, the 18-year-old Wilson Memorial High School student walked into the recruiter's office, asked some questions and signed on the dotted line. He didn't say much when he got home.

"I didn't tell them that day," he said. When he told their father, Ed, he heard the expected, "I can't believe you did that without talking to us." Their mother, Jan, cried. Older brother Josh was surprised, but supportive.

When he told his twin brother, he got the expected response as well.

Seth joined up with Uncle Sam, too.

"We've always been competitive," Seth explained with a grin.

Both serve with the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Eli is a medic with a forward support battalion out of Charlottesville, and Seth is a member of Bravo Co., 3rd Battalion out of the Woodstock armory.

On Monday, the Lovell twins will report to their respective armories to prepare for deployment. On June 26, they will depart for Camp Shelby, Miss., for more training before heading overseas.

They've been busy.

Seth married his sweetheart, Brittany, on June 9. They had planned to marry June 30, but the deployment changed that. And in their honeymoon phase, the newest Mrs. Lovell is sharing Seth with friends and family before he departs. Eli's wife of nearly a year, Katy, is doing the same thing.

Eli had gotten word in April that he would be deployed. He was in class at Bridgewater College when a sergeant called his cell phone. He was assigned to ship out with a cavalry unit in May, he learned.

It didn't take long for him to realize that his brother's infantry unit would be deploying as well. Separate deployments and separate departure dates could place them in different parts of the Middle East.

But first, he had to tell his wife. He left campus and took a walk by the North River. When Katy called, he asked her to come to the river.

"I tried to tell myself that wasn't the reason," Katy said. "I could see by the look in his eye what it was."

The next step was trying to transfer into Seth's unit. So far, he's in the same battalion, but the two are still in separate units.

"We'll try again when we get to Mississippi," Seth said.

The first time the twins were separated for more than two nights was when Seth went to James Madison University and Eli headed to Bridgewater. Basic training and more extensive training was planned for the next February, so they would be together on their birthday as usual, but the family would miss out on it. As it turned out, Seth was in the hospital with pnuemonia, so he stayed home for the Feb. 11 celebration, but Eli was gone for seven months training as a medic in Texas.

Then came Seth's first deployment — he left in 2004 for 18 months, with nearly a year in Afghanistan.

Accustomed to speaking by phone several times a day, they only were able to speak for a few minutes maybe once a week. Phone calls from war zones are limited to calls through satellite phones at the military base. If they aren't deployed together, phone calls between the two will be difficult at best.

Older by seven minutes, Seth is the source Eli looks to for advice for his first deployment — from what to pack to what to expect.

And their brides are going through the same adjustment. Older by three years, Katie Lovell looks to 19-year-old Brittany for ways to cope with the deployment.

"She's just a wonderful person, so it will be easy to talk to her," Katie said. And this time Brittany will have a close friend who will understand the impact the separation takes on someone.

"I'll be able to cry to her," Brittany said.

Here We Go Again....and Again

It's been several weeks now since we learned that Seth and Eli would be deploying to Iraq. Eli called first with the news. He called me at school and I could immediately tell that something was drastically wrong. He started talking then silence, then tears. He was called just as he was walking into class at Bridgewater College and informed that he was to report to SRP (Soldier Readiness Program) at Fort Pickett for eventual deployment to Iraq. Seth's news came a little slower giving us hope that he wouldn't be caught in the surge of troops into Iraq that is calling on so many Virginia National Guard soldiers. Seth eventually got the word that he would be deployed along with Company B from Woodstock - the same group he served with in Afghanistan.
Although there is still many unknowns what we do know is that Seth and Eli will depart on June 18 for Fort Pickett, from there to Camp Shelby, Mississippi for a period of training before leaving for Iraq.
The blog is active again.......some things to share in future blogs:

1. Katy and Eli just moved to North Carolina to a house they bought in Gibbsonville where Katy will attend Elon University.
2. Seth and Brittany will marry on June 9

Both of these items are so bittersweet....buying your first house should be exciting - knowing that Katy will be living by herself with Eli is so incredibly sad. Getting married and knowing you're leaving nine days later for Iraq. What joy you have is tempered.

Vactioning in Ashville, North Carolina......welcome home Seth!

Home at Last!

Seth arrived back at Fort Bragg on Saturday July 23. We were in Ashville, NC on that date for the start of a family vacation. Eli and Brittany picked up Seth and along with Josh they traveled to Ashville on Sunday. We spent three wonderful days together until Seth had to return to Fort Bragg for the demobilization process. He'll return to Woodstock, Virginia on the 29th and we'll pick him up on the 30th to bring him home.

Independence Day

Boy, I've done a bad job updating this Blog recently. Not that there wasn't lots to report. Seth's time at the FOB in Ghazni has been very busy, filled with patrols. His last patrol that just ended on the 30th of June lasted eleven days. The majority of his time at Ghazni was spent on patrol BUT he is now safely encamped at Bagram Air Field awaiting transportation home. The 3-116th should be departing Afghanistan as early as the 11th of July. We are hopeful that Seth will be home in time to participate in our family vacation in Ashville, NC. It depends on the Demob process and when leave is granted.
Seth is getting out of Afghanistan at a good time. There have been 56 soldiers killed in 2005 with most of those deaths coming in the last three months. The death toll mounts as President Bush claims victory and Dick Cheney reports that the insurgency in Iraq is in it's last theros. If you repeat lies often enough some people will believe it. The insurgency in Afghanistan is building and the blame can be placed squarely on Bush and company. If they hadn't forced an unjustified war in Iraq all of our assets could have been focused on Afghanistan and the goal of nation building could have been fulfilled. As it is, neither Iraq or Afghanistan is stable and won't be stable for a long, long time if ever. I'll be happy to be wrong on this assessment.
I apologize to any readers for the political bent this post has taken. I support our troops 100%, but feel in my heart that the political leadership has let us down. How many more of our men and women must die for Bush's mistakes?

Polyphasic What?

One of the reasons Seth is happy to be at Ghazni is Polyphasic Sleep. A ployphasic Sleep Cycle is not a new idea, but trying it with the soldiers of the 3-116th was a new idea. In a few words it means compressing a day's worth of sleep into short naps. I looked it up and here's what I found:
Polyphasic sleep (also known as the Uberman sleep schedule and Dymaxion Sleep) is a sleep pattern specification intended to compress sleep time to 2-5 hours daily. This is achieved by spreading out sleep into short (around 20-45 minute) naps throughout the day. This allows for more waking hours with relatively high alertness.
This is an excellent method for using natural human sleep mechanisms to maximize alertness and where sleep time needs to be minimized, but requires a rigid schedule which make it unfeasible for most. It can work well for people who cannot afford sleep (e.g. sailors).
The theory is that ordinary monophasic sleep consists of many cycles, only a few of which is needed for survival. REM sleep, occurring quite late in the sequence, is commonly believed to be one of them. It is believed that after being deprived of sleep during an adjustment period, the brain will start to enter the required stages much quicker - with the result that each short nap contains almost solely of such sleep. Some theories of sleep suggest that REM is largely responsible for the mental rejuvenation effects of sleep, but the role of REM sleep has in recent years been disputed. It has been documented that depriving rats of REM sleep specifically leads to death in 3 to 8 weeks (that doesn't happen with depriving test animals of other specific sleep phases), but it has also been documented that humans survive without REM sleep. Since polyphasic sleepers get a lot of Stage 4 NREM and REM sleep, they may achieve higher alertness levels than those who do not know the art of catnapping.
Concern has been expressed about the long-term effects of suppressing the other sleep stages, although no long-term side effects have been documented yet. Some negative effects may be unrelated to this particular schedule, but to the general lack of sleep. It has been shown that lack of sleep weakens the immune system, decreases the amount of growth hormone produced and decreases the ability of the body to metabolize sugar, but since polyphasic sleep is completely different from simply sleeping less, it is difficult to apply such research to polyphasic sleep.
Several famous people applied catnapping to a large extent. These include Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison and Buckminster Fuller. Other figures said to be associated with polyphasic sleep experimentation include Nikola Tesla, Napoleon, and Winston Churchill. This method was also popularized on Seinfeld, where the character Cosmo Kramer attempted to adapt to a polyphasic sleeping pattern.
Boat racers use this technique to avoid dangers at sea. Astronauts use this technique during extended crises, and military personnel, especially marines, use this technique in training.
One of the leading advocates of polyphasic sleep research is Dr. Claudio Stampi (Founder and Director of the Chronobiology Research Institute in Boston, Massachusetts).
They don't try this at Ghazne......and Seth is happy!

Change of Scenery

Seth is now at the Forward Operating Base in Ghazni......We talked to him this morning and he's happy for the change of pace from Bagram. They traveled five hours by convoy to reach the new base. According to Seth they traveled through Kabul which was interesting. Since arriving at Ghazni not much has happened. When they are at the base they have a two hour duty to complete each day. Seth's duty right now is monitoring the Morale Tent where the telephones and computers are. It's his job to make sure that soldiers don't stay on the phone or on the computer longer than they're supposed too. Not bad work if you can get it ---a big difference from sitting in a tower for twelve hours. He said Ghazni is much more laid back and relaxed. The accomodations are not as good, the food is worse (he has a leaky roof in his hooch right over his bed) , but he's happy to be there. They'll probably head out on their first patrol next week but Seth's not sure if he'll be part of that operation. When they do go out they're out for days at a time.

Honoring the Fallen

Troops at Bagram pay tribute to fallen in Chinook crash; death toll rises to 18
Bodies will be flown to Dover AF Base for positive identification

By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, April 10, 2005

Michael Abrams / S&S Servicemembers and civilians line the road to the Bagram Air Base flight line as they wait for the procession of Humvees carrying the coffins of the 18 victims of Wednesday’s helicopter crash near Ghazni, to a U.S. Air Force C-17, seen in the background.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan — Hundreds of soldiers, airmen and Marines stood shoulder to shoulder Saturday to say farewell — and pay respect — to 18 fellow Americans killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash.

The death toll increased from 16 to 18 after the military found the remains of two more American soldiers among the wreckage.

Sailors, civilians and servicemembers from other countries were interspersed along the route. Those in uniform stood in solemn attention as each Humvee carrying a flag-draped coffin slowly passed by on its way to a C-17 Globemaster waiting on the taxiway.

The brief fallen comrade ceremony was the first base-wide event marking the deaths of the servicemembers and civilians who died Wednesday after their CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down near Ghazni, apparently after a severe change in weather.

More bad weather initially hampered efforts by the mortuary affairs team based at Bagram to reach the site of the accident, about 80 miles southwest of Kabul. The team drove to the site Friday and transported the remains back to Bagram.

The bodies were to be flown to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for positive identification, according to Navy Lt. Cindy Moore, a spokeswoman for the combined forces in Afghanistan.

Moore said the 18 remains were of 15 servicemembers and three U.S. civilian contractors. She said their names will not be released until tests on the remains are completed in Dover.

The roads around base were cleared of traffic Saturday morning before the ceremony started. Servicemembers were told where to line up via the “Giant Voice” intercom system that makes frequent announcements across the base.

Troops offered salutes to the coffins in each vehicle. The vehicles passed through the runway checkpoint and continued along until coming to a stop next to another large group of servicemembers standing in rows near the tail of the C-17.

The lines of troops on either side of the road broke apart after the convoy passed, but dozens of servicemembers and civilians walked past the normally closed checkpoint to see the rest of the ceremony.

The coffins were unloaded simultaneously and carried behind a color guard onto the plane. The plane’s ramp closed. The Humvees peeled off in two lines in a sort of formation of their own. Most of the crowd dispersed.

Some people lingered behind, tears in their eyes. Hugs were exchanged and shoulders were offered as support.

A few minutes later, a pair of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew off on a mission and traffic resumed on the base roads.

Laura goes to Bagram

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2005 – “We support you, we believe in you, and we’re proud of you.” That was the message first lady Laura Bush carried to U.S. troops at Bagram Air Base during her March 30 visit to Afghanistan.

The visit with U.S. servicemembers deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom topped off a six-hour, whirlwind visit through Afghanistan, during which the first lady offered support to Afghan women in their struggle for more rights and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to expanded educational opportunities for women and children.

At Bagram Air Base, Bush praised the troops for making these advances possible and thanked them for their service and sacrifice. “Every day you’re protecting the rights and liberties all of us hold dear,” she said. “You’re also bringing opportunity and security to people who have known years of cruel oppression.”

We talked to Seth early Friday morning. On the topic of Laura Bush he noted that the grunts don't get to see the VIP's - just the effects of them. Her visit just meant more hours on patrol to guarantee her safety and a general disruption of base routine. He said that most people just wish the bigwigs would stay away. Other than that everything is going well.......

FYI: Article from Stars and Stripes

Buildings going up at Bagram Air Base as U.S. forces dig in for the long haul


By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Michael Abrams / S&S Modular housing units on Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Most of the housing being built can accommodate two people per unit. Michael Abrams / S&S The new Pat Tilman USO center at Bagram Air Base is scheduled to open in early April. Michael Abrams / S&S The foundations are set for the first brick-and-mortar barracks building on Bagram Air Base to replace the B-huts now being used. More construction projects in works Construction at the main U.S. base in Afghanistan has vastly improved troops’ quality of life. Here are some of the projects built in the last year, under way or planned: The first brick-and-mortar Army housing is under construction. It has 38 bedrooms and indoor plumbing. Other such structures, and modular, metal, housing, are planned. A chain fence now encircles the perimeter, replacing concertina wire. Three dining facilities, two base/post exchanges, an Army hospital, offices and headquarter buildings have appeared in the last year. Burger King, an Italian pizzeria, two coffee shops and a Thai restaurant are serving troops now. Popeyes, Dairy Queen and Orange Julius are scheduled to open in the next few months. Besides the two exchanges, there are also a few shops selling local goods. Facilities for continuing education, working out and staying in touch with those back home have also been built across the base in the last year. Construction on the Pat Tillman Center, which will house the USO and a cafe for those coming in or departing, is underway. An additional runway is planned so more fighter jets can use the air base. Airmen volunteers built a post office, recreation room and library on the Air Force side of the base. Modern shower/latrine facilities are coming soon. — Kent Harris

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan — Whether you call it Bagram Air Base or Bagram airfield, the U.S. military facility in northeast Afghanistan is no longer just a glorified city of tents.

Slowly, but steadily, a slew of construction projects is providing troops with better housing and improved work areas as well as a handful of new shops for eating and entertainment.

“We’ve been in expeditionary mode, and now it’s sustainment,” said Air Force Col. Rita Meyer, commander of the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, echoing the comments of her Army counterparts.

For airmen, soldiers and Marines on base, that means better living conditions, though no one is promising an overnight fix.

“In two to four years, we expect that everyone will be living in permanent housing,” said Army Lt. Col. Jim Anderson, commander of Facility Engineering Team-17 and the de facto director of public works on base.

In fact, the foundation for the first brick-and-mortar structure designated for Army housing has been laid.

Its first occupants will likely be members of the 12th Aviation Brigade from Giebelstadt, Germany.

Capt. Paul Salinas said the two-story facilities would contain 38 bedrooms, with the possibility of a single soldier or two soldiers sharing a room.

They’ll also have indoor plumbing — a rarity on a base that has virtually no sewer or water lines.

Lt. Col. Kurt Floyd, Anderson’s deputy, said that fact alone has made developing a blueprint for the base quite a challenge.

Trucks carry water to containers around the base and haul away sewage from portable latrines.

There’s also the matter of clearing any building sites for mines before any construction can begin.

Most troops live in B-huts — though no one on base knows what the “B” stands for — 18-by-36-foot structures made of plywood designed to hold eight troops.

Air conditioning units are installed. Some troops sleep on cots and some have beds.

Toilets and showers are in centralized locations that can be up to a long city block away.

Floyd said the B-huts are an improvement on tents, but not as nice as the SEAhuts — which stands for Southeast Asia Huts — in places such as Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.

The Army’s newer housing options, metal modular housing and the brick-and-mortar buildings, will gradually replace all of them.

Local nationals will build the brick-and-mortar buildings using materials they’re familiar with, Floyd said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Green, the top enlisted soldier in Bagram’s base operations group, said he’s seen a great deal of changes in his year in country.

“We went from tents to B-huts, tents to permanent structures for DFACs (dining facilities) and the pavement,” he said.

The pavement that Green referred to is a narrow strip of sidewalk that runs parallel to the main road on base: Disney Drive.

The road, which runs from the main gate in the south to the north perimeter, won’t always be the only paved road on base, Floyd said.

He pointed to a road under construction that will follow the base perimeter.

Another major accomplishment is the perimeter itself, Floyd said.

There’s now a chain fence with sensors along the entire perimeter, instead of just concertina wire that encircled it a year ago.

At present, all living quarters and the majority of base facilities are either located off Disney Drive or on small, dirt roads stretching from it.

On the Air Force side, Meyer said major improvements are being made on the existing runway, despite a constant, heavy influx of passengers and material.

New hangars are planned, but that wouldn’t come until maintenance facilities and other offices are built.

Airmen also are living in crowded B-huts, she said.

“We are not living in the best accommodations in the region and we’re going to get that changed,” Meyer said.

Anderson said construction might seem slow to some, but progress is being made rapidly across the base.

“I’d like to see some pictures in five years.”

Seth and friend.....his friend is holding a Russian AK-47

Ready for Patrol

Back to Afghanistan

It's been some time since the last installment of The Seth Chronicles. When I last wrote we were anxiously awaiting Seth's arrival for a fifteen day leave. I can report that he arrived home safely and we spent a wonderful fifteen days together before returning him to Dulles Airport for a return trip to Afghanistan. Some observations from his leave:

1. He looks good (skinny, but good), sounds good and has a good attitude about the experiences he has had and the experiences he will have.

2. There's much more going on in Afghanistan than he has led us to believe during our telephone conversations. We heard many stories that began "Mom isn't going to want to hear this, but......." These stories included the occasional rocket attacks on the airfield, patrols into areas where intel predicted possible ambushes and insurgent activity and movement in and around civilian areas where everybody has a gun.

3. He's the same skinny, white boy we sent to Afghanistan. He has the same wonderful sense of humor, the appreciation for family and friends, and a firm faith in God and belief that he is doing what he should be doing.

During his visit we ate all of his favorite foods (we did the full Thanksgiving feast) visited with many friends and lots of family, played cards and enjoyed each others company.

Seth's return to Afghanistan took a little longer than it should of. He left the United States on March 12 and arrived in Kuwait on the 14th. There were a number of soldiers returning to Bagram from Kuwait and about 30 had to stay in Kuwait - Seth among them. This group ending up spending several days in Kuwait when no other transportation was available to Afghanistan. In the end, Seth traveled to Qutar, and back to Kuwait before finally finding his way back to Afghanistan - a process that took one week. He arrived back at Bagram on the morning of the 19th (his time.) Now, for the interesting part. During his absence, the Army has figured out how to pack more fun into a day. In an effort (misguided as it may seem) to get the soldiers more down-time they have introduced the 28 hour day! A day at Bagram now consists of 28 hours. Seth returned to a schedule that is 12 hours on duty and 16 hours off. He does this for four days, then spends a day on Ready Reactionary Force (Patrols) then back to the 12/16 schedule. I'm not sure the Army understands the concept of a biological clock. Seth's reserving judgement on this schedule although he doesn't seem completely sold on it.

It continues to look like he will move the Ghazni, the forward operating base sometime in the near future. At Ghazni he will only be involved in Patrols. They patrol for days, or weeks, at a time, before returning to base for an extended period of down-time. Seth is looking forward to that move, although Jan and I prefer the relative safety of the airbase.

Be sure to scroll past the next post to find pictures of Seth's visit home.

Finally Home!

After numerous fits and starts, Seth arrived back in the U.S. of A. on the 24th of February. We have him until March 12 when he departs from Dulles for his return to Afghanistan. He had several departure dates from Afghanistan, which were changed for various reasons, but he finally left on Tuesday the 22nd. He trip took him through Kuwait, Germany, Atlanta and finally to Reagan International Airport in D.C. Even Mother Nature is happy to have Seth in the States! After months of complaining about the lack of winter weather and days off from school, the weather has cooperated beautifully. The 24th was a snow day, meaning Jan, Brittany and I didn't have to take off from school to pick Seth up. A major snowstorm starting Sunday night has given us Monday and Tuesday off school. Josh arrived home last night and we've been enjoying some wonderful family time together. Today we celebrated Thanksgiving......one of the meals Seth requested for his trip home. Scroll down for some pictures of the family. Seth brought lots of pictures home and I'll be posting them soon.

Not letting go! After the turkey dinner - you sleep!

The gang's all here!!!!

Thanksgiving Dinner - February 28. One of Seth's requested meals.

Katy, Eli, Brittany and Seth at Roanoke.

Seth and Brittany at Fudrucker's (a hamburger joint) in Roanoke after the ODAC Game.

At the ODAC Championship Basketball Game to watch Katy and Bridgewater play against Randolph Macon. Unfortunately, BC lost.

Coming home and other news!

It's Tuesday morning in Afghanistan. Seth leaves Bargram Air Field today for a couple of days in Kabul. He will be at the Presidential compound assisting with security for the Afghan president. Seth was unsure if this was a routine rotation or if there is something special going on that requires additional security. At any rate, he called today to tell us that he would be out of touch during the time he is in Kabul. And again, short on details he's unsure of how long he'll be there.

Good news.....Seth has informed us that his leave will begin on February 13. He anticipates two days of travel time, arriving at Dulles on Tuesday, February 15. He'll probably be home about ten days before returning to Bagram. He's given us a list of foods he's looking forward to eating, beginning with a his mother's traditional Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings. We'll gladly pamper him for the time that he's home.

When he returns from Kabul he will be going on QRF (Quick Reactionary Force.) During the two weeks of QRF he'll live in a hanger with his squad and some helicopters. They are on call for any emergency or incident that requires a quick response. Since they stay in the hanger they can be airborne in a matter of minutes. A couple of weeks ago he went out on support of the QRF when a helicopter crashed in bad weather. He said they set up a perimeter around the wreck while they stripped the copter of usable equipment, then blew it up. Any time there is suspicious activity of any kind near the air base they call the QRF to respond. Overall, he's looking forward to the next couple of weeks - going to Kabul then doing QRF - because it's a change in routine. QRF also has the added benefit of being able to watch more TV while they're sitting the hanger - just in time for the Super Bowl! He's looking forward to the opportunity to see the game. He was able to listen to both playoff games this weekend as he stood guard in the tower.

It now looks like he will be going to Ghazni sometime this spring. As I've said before, nothing is ever certain with the Army until it done. Ghazni has been an on-again, off-again kind of thing. It now looks like it's on-again for sometime this spring. He's happy about going in the spring. Ghazni currently has about 3 feet of snow on the ground. The weather should be breaking about the time he has to go. Bagram's climate right now is very cold, but dry. They don't usually see much snow, although they did have about 4 inches last weeks. He was amused to hear about our recent days out of school due to our one-inch snowfalls.

I'll close for now with thanks for listening and thanks for your continued support and prayers. Seth thanks God every night for his family and friends and for the many blessings he has received.

East meets west

Post-Holiday messages

We've heard from Seth a couple of times since the holidays. We shared one long phone call last Sunday (talked for over a half hour) and Jan had a long conversation with him the middle of this week. His spirits are very good - I think attributed to the fact that Christmas is over - and he seems pretty content to be doing his job (even night towers!) He even noted that he expects a second deployment before his hitch with the National Guard is over and that wouldn't be so bad. He's hoping for a 2 week leave in April and has plans to meet with the middle school students at my school to thank them personally for their tremendous support. He's hoping to get his computer back so he can do a couple of powerpoint presentations with his pictures.

Some Christmas Thoughts......

Christmas is over, and in many ways, we're glad. Christmas without Seth left a lot to be desired. As the four of us sat and opened presents, there was a hole that couldn't be filled. We talked to Seth on Christmas morning when he called about 10 AM. It was 7:30 PM his time and he was planning to watch a movie and go to bed. He had the entire day off as the officers manned the towers allowing the enlisted men to have the day free. Seth opened presents in the morning, watched some movies, ate a decent meal of turkey, lobster and shrimp and generally did not much of anything. Talking to Seth is a double-edged sword. It's good to hear his voice, but leaves you feeling so empty. The pictures below are from a disposable camera he sent home this week. When we picked up the pictures at Walmart, Jan couldn't look at them because she started crying. She waited until we were in the car to take a look and cryed the whole way home. Upon arriving home we had a Christmas Card from Seth that I'll put on the Blog soon. As I read it to Jan we both cryed. In both our conversation with Seth and in the card he continues to sound good and seems to be keeping a positive outlook.......We know though that he just wants to come home and we also know that that day will arrive soon. Enjoy the pics.

All things considered.....I'd rather be in Virginia for Christmas

Armed and Dangerous

Seth on Patrol in Afghanistan

Most recent family letter

Here's the latest family letter:

Dear TF Normandy Family Members,

I apologize for this being delayed. It seems I say that too often. I hope everything finds you all well for the holidays. I know your loved ones are missing you very much this holiday season.

There was such a great response to the letter from the soldiers at Bagram, I have again included a letter from them. In the future, we are looking at possibly including letters from the individual companies or platoons. These “soldier letters” are created by the companies or platoons together and are specifically for you back home.

Everything continues to go well at BAF and at Ghazni. Thanksgiving was a big success with all the trimmings, both at BAF and in Ghazni. In fact, in Ghazni some local officials even brought us some turkeys to help us celebrate. The only problem is they were still alive so we didn’t have time to prepare them for dinner. There are plans now to use them for Christmas. At Bagram the officers and senior NCOs stood guard duty for the day. This allowed us to give some of the lower ranking enlisted the day off. We plan to do the same thing on Christmas day.

On December 7^th, the Afghans had a historic day. The first democratically elected president was inaugurated to office. And more importantly, there was virtually no violence to mar the inauguration. Several of our units supported security for the inauguration by helping local police with Traffic Checkpoints along the main roads to Kabul. At Bagram we conducted surge patrols near the base as part of the extra security required by the presence of Vice President Cheney and Secretay of Defense Rumsfeld at the inauguration. Two days before the inauguration our patrols helped to discover rockets that were aimed at Bagram. They were safely disarmed. This incident serves as another example of the contribution that our Soldiers are making to the security of Bagram. Several of our Soldiers even had the opportunity to have breakfast with the Vice President. All in all the inauguration was a great success.

We have been receiving additional heavy weapons and vehicles to better support our missions at Bagram and Ghazni. New armored vehicles have been provided for the Soldiers patrolling at BAF. The heavy weapons will be divided between Ghazni and BAF. We have also received some additional protective items to help us against IED’s and new body armor gives greater protection to the arms and sides. This was issued to us at the same time it was issued to all the active duty units.

In Ghazni we have started to get more and more rain. On occasion, it has turned to snow. One of our patrols had to return to base because they could not get through the mountain passes because of the snow. We are actually tracking the rainfall to compare it to previous years to see if the drought might be lessening. Ghazni Province needs water almost more than anything else.

The weather in Bagram is getting colder but we still have some nice days. A new system for manning towers and conducting roving patrols is providing a little relief from pure tower duty. Some of our Soldiers rotate between towers and roving patrols during their shift, providing them with some variety during the day.

Rotations of units between Ghazni and BAF are almost complete. There will be one more rotation after Christmas, and then we should be stabilized for a couple months.

As we prepare for the holidays, I want to thank you all for the support you have been giving your loved ones over here in Afghanistan. There has been such a great outpouring of support from you all, it reminds us all of how great America is.

Take care, may God bless you and your family and God Bless America.

LTC Blake C. Ortner

Battalion Commander

From the Soldiers at Bagram

Dear Family Members:

At Bagram Air Field, we have been very busy since the last letter. Various dignitaries here for the inauguration of President Karzai, including Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, recently visited us. Their visit necessitated increased patrolling in the area as we searched for rocket sites and any anti-coalition activity. Thankfully, the visits and the inauguration went off without a hitch. The local villagers are starting to be more helpful, and we have been finding weapons caches and rockets before they have a chance to use them on us.

When not guarding the perimeter, we have been taking advantage of the time to conduct training at the Urban Warfare (MOUT) site, which allows us to practice searching buildings and taking hostiles into custody. The training is very realistic thanks to the use of simunitions, which are like paintballs specially made to work with our rifles. The site has sound effects, as well as cameras and microphones to record our training so we can review it later. This training is both valuable and quite enjoyable to the troops who need a break from the monotony of guard towers.

Several platoons have rotated up from Ghazni and everyone is adjusting to life here. The amenities are certainly nicer here, and the schedule is far more challenging, but we make do as best we can with the mission we are given. The new MWR building is now complete, thanks to the efforts of several of our soldiers who volunteered their limited time to construct the phone and computer areas. We are now waiting for the base contractors to install the computer and phone lines for it to become operational.

With the holiday season upon us, the number of letters and packages rolling into BAF for our soldiers is astonishing. We are all very grateful, and it makes missing our families during the holiday season slightly more bearable. Know that we miss you all, and wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

The 3-116^th at Bagram Air Field

Mountain view through the scope

The local Walmart for all your shopping needs.

On patrol

Dressed for success

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!

Recent article in local on-line paper

A Lovell was coaching the freshman boys' basketball team at Wilson Memorial High School last night when the Hornets opened their season.

It just wasn't the same Lovell that accepted the job in August.

Seth Lovell took the job as head coach for the freshman squad. It was the first step toward accomplishing one of the dreams of the 19-year-old Fishersville man.

"He always had it in his head he was going to be a basketball coach," said Seth's twin brother, Eli, last week.

But when Stuarts Draft came to town last night, it was Eli, not Seth, calling out the plays and huddling his players during timeouts.

And while Eli was trying to figure out how to defend the Cougars, Seth was busy defending something a little more important - his country.

Seth is a member of the Virginia Army National Guard. In May, 2003, as a high-school senior, he signed up. So did Eli. The brothers looked at their decision as a way to help pay for college.

But Seth had another reason. In September he was asked why he enlisted in the National Guard.

"I was a mediocre student. Mediocre athlete. I wanted to challenge myself at least a little bit. Do something worthwhile," said Seth, who is a member of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry based in Lexington.

Following a semester in college - Seth at James Madison, Eli at Bridgewater - the two headed for basic training in early 2004. This past summer, Seth got word he was being deployed to the Middle East. In early September, he boarded a bus at Staunton's Thomas D. Howie National Guard Armory and was off to Fort Bragg, N.C.

A month later he was on a plane to Germany and, from there, Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, where he's currently stationed. He'll be there for a year.

One of his first jobs after arriving in Afghanistan was to help secure election sites in the country. Recently, Seth's family received an American flag that the soldier carried with him during one of those missions.

That caused a few tears to flow in the Lovell household. As did the absence of Seth at the Lovells' Thanksgiving dinner and the annual cutting of the Christmas tree last week.

Said Eli, "The holidays are always tough."

And that goes both ways.

"He has his ups and downs," Eli said of his twin. "But he keeps a real positive attitude."

Before college, the two hadn't been apart for longer than two nights. Even that first semester, they made sure to see each other at least once a week. And they talked on the telephone every day.

While Eli misses Seth, he knows that it could just as easily be him in the Middle East. Eli is a member of a medical unit based in Charlottesville. Gov. Mark Warner has declared that the unit, as a whole, can't be deployed overseas. They're needed stateside to assist with emergencies, like hurricanes or other natural disasters.

Still, individual members of the unit can be drawn out for deployment. While Eli doesn't think he’ll find himself in the Middle East, he knows it could happen.

For the time being, Eli remains in the Valley. After all, he has a job to do.

Seth's deployment created an opening for a freshman basketball coach. Even though he was taking 18 credit hours at Bridgewater College, Eli asked for, and got, the job.

"I kind of thought this would be a way to keep me connected to my brother," said Eli, who spends his spare time watching his girlfriend, Katy Herr, play basketball at Bridgewater and sitting in for Seth when his brother's girlfriend, Brittany Campbell, takes the court for her senior season at Wilson Memorial.

Eli knows his coaching gig is temporary, calling himself a long-term substitute. He's merely holding a spot for his brother. When Seth gets back to the United States next fall, he will be in charge of the Xs and Os for the Hornets' freshman team.

While Eli can't wait for that day, for now, he's enjoying the role of coach.

Said Eli, "I'm having a ball."

Almost a puppy!

It's been awhile since I posted......lots going on and nothing going on at the same time. Seth continues in the towers and patrolling when needed. He's currently doing five days of patrols in the area around Bagram. When that finishes he has four more night towers and then goes back on days. He's been complaining of sleep problems and problems with his stomach. Mayber a combination of crazy hours and stress? I'm hopeful that a return to a more normal(?) schedule will make him feel better. We spoke to him Saturday afternoon (late Saturday night his time) and he told us that for 10 minutes today he was a happy guy. While on patrol his squad purchased a puppy from an Afghan national for $1.00. Seth sat in the Humvee for about 10 minutes holding the puppy before the LT told him that he couldn't turn a blind eye to the dog....it was against regulations and Seth had to return the dog. Holding a puppy.......what a wonderful feeling for 10 minutes in a crazy world!

The Christmas Treee is decorated. Wish Seth were here!

We spent time in the Poconos recently with our dear friends.

Family letters

Here's a copy of the latest family letter and a bonus letter from Bagram Air

Field. The Battalion Commander's letters seem to be more about Ghazni than

Bagram, so this time he attached a letter specifically about Bagram. We

continue to hear from Seth on a fairly routine basis (although Brittany

hears from him more than Jan and I - go figure) and depending on the day he

s either tired and grumpy or tired and sounding pretty good. The constant

seems to be tired. Night towers have caused a little biological time clock

confusion and he says he's averaging about four hours sleep per day. On his

day off (yeah right) earlier this week he was out on patrol, however today

it sounds like he had a real day off and spent the time hanging out with

some other soldiers watching movies all day. With the rotations back from

Ghazni he's managed to run into some people he knows from around home and

some guys he was at Fort Bragg with. I think that's lifted his spirits a

little. As mentioned in the letter that follows, he now has a combat patch

to wear on his uniform signifying that he's been in combat - a patch he

could happily through his life without. He continues to express sincere

appreciation for all the wonderful support he's received from family and

friends and he's trying to get cards out to as many people as he can. Even

if you don't hear from Seth, please know that he thanks God each day for the

wonderful people who have surrounded him with an incredible amount of love

from an incredible distance.

Here are the family letters we received today:

21 November 2004

Dear TF Normany Family Members,

Operations continue successfully here in Afghanistan. We have

begun to move into some areas that have not had a lot of US or Coalition

presence. It is very interesting to go to these areas. When we arrive the

population is very suspicious. There are no waving or smiling children and

the people stare at us. It is a great feeling that by the time we leave,

people are waving and smiling and asking us to come back soon. As I have

said so often, we truly are making a difference… in people’s attitudes if

nothing else.

We are also making a difference at Bagram. The work our

Soldiers are doing at Bagram is vitally important and they are doing it

extremely well. I have attached a letter from our Soldiers at Bagram that

describes their accomplishments. I could not be more proud of their

professionalism and dedication to duty.

This has been a big week for the troops at BAF. We had a visit

from a virtual constellation of generals. LTG Blum, the Chief of National

Guard Bureau, MG Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia and MG Wyman,

the Commanding General of the 29th Infantry Division. Though they had only

a short stay, they took the opportunity to talk to several members of the

security force at BAF. They were able to speak to two sets of guards

preparing for duty (both the day and the night shifts) as well as most of

the leaders.

Both LTG Blum and MG Williams said they had received great

comments about the work all our Soldiers were doing. In addition, they said

we were just as capable in our abilities as any other active duty unit.

This is possibly the highest praise that can be given to a reserve forces

unit working with regular Army units.

Though LTG Blum had to leave early the next morning, MG Williams

and MG Wyman were able to remain to participate in two important ceremonies…

the dedication of Camp Cherry-Beasley and the Combat Patch/CIB ceremony.

The dedication of the camp was to name it in honor of SSG Cherry and SGT

Beasley, two of our soldiers who died in an IED attack in August.

For the “Combat Patch” ceremony, the generals, as well as COL Simpson, the

Stonewall Brigade commander and COL Cheek, TF Thunder commander, awarded our

unit patch for our right shoulder to indicate that we have been in combat.

We had conducted the ceremony for Ghazni soldiers on November 2. The

generals also awarded Combat Infantry Badges and Combat Medical Badges to

about 30 soldiers.

The rotation of troops between Bagram and Ghazni continues. By

December, we should have completed this round of rotations and will be set

for the next few months.

In Ghazni, we have added additional water heaters so that we

should now have more hot water. In addition, the new well is almost

complete so we should have a generous supply of water soon. We have also

completed all the Tier 3 tents, so the living conditions should be set for

the winter. We are adding new generators which should give us more power as

well as more reliable power.

My last letter talked about Christmas mail. To be sure we get

it before Christmas, you will need to get it in the mail in the next two

weeks. Remember, it must be mailed no later than 6 December and we

recommend mailing by 28 November for Soldiers in Ghazni.

I also wanted to thank so many of you for the words of

encouragement you have been sending to the Soldiers… not just your own loved

ones. We receive a lot of letters from schools and churches and some who

just want to write and tell us how important what we are doing is. It is

always a good reminder of how great our nation is and why it is so critical

for us to be here.

Thank you all.

Take care, may God bless you and your family and God Bless America.

LTC Blake C. Ortner

Battalion Commander

Letter from the Soldiers at Bagram

Dear Family Members:

We (the soldiers of B Company, 3-116th INF, and attached platoons from A, C

and HHC Companies) are writing this in response to the number of growing

questions and concerns about the soldiers posted at Bagram Air Field (BAF).

It has been brought to our attention recently that very little is mentioned

about us in the monthly e-mail updates and that you wish to hear more about

our activities here. It is our wish that this letter will shed some light

on our missions here at BAF and also list some of our achievements, of which

you can be proud.

First and foremost, please accept our gratitude for the support you have

shown us. The care package drive has been a huge success and has provided

many necessary supplies to the soldiers here at BAF. We also thank you for

your contributions to our coat and clothing drive, supporting our effort to

provide humanitarian aide to the local population in the villages

surrounding BAF. These people are very poor and their common complaint is

that there are not enough jobs to sustain them in this area of the country.

The over-all mission at BAF is perimeter security. This mission

consists of several parts – all of which are equally important to the safety

and security of this installation and the military and civilian personnel

stationed here.

The first part consists of manning the guard towers that

overlook the fence surrounding this post. This is the hardest task that we

have to accomplish here at BAF because it’s the one that requires the most

manpower. The towers have to be manned 24/7, two soldiers per tower. To

accomplish this, we have four platoons on the towers at all times, two

during the day and two during the night. Each shift is twelve hours long.

The soldiers on tower duty have a rough schedule. In addition to a twelve

hour shift, posting the soldiers to the towers takes an additional hour, and

reciprocally it takes an hour for a soldier to be relieved from his post.

So by the time a soldier is done for the day, he’s already worked 14 hours.

Add to that time to unwind or do PT, eat and conduct personal hygiene and

the soldier has now had a 17 to 18 hour day.

The perimeter security company also provides a Ready Reaction Force squad to

the post commander of BAF. This usually consists of a squad and an attached

machine gun team to respond to any emergencies here on BAF – usually in

support of a security breach along the fence line. The platoon on RRF duty

is on call 24/7.

About two months ago, we were tasked with conducting patrols through the

surrounding villages. These patrols were in response to rocket attacks on

BAF and were a means of deterring insurgents from setting up launch sites.

The squads met with leaders and spokesmen from the villages and the local

Afghan Militia Forces (AMF). Even in light of their poverty, the locals

we’ve visited have been very hospitable and have opened their homes –

inviting soldiers in for tea. The squads on patrol have been responsible

for marking the positions of numerous pieces of unexploded ordinance and

mines (mostly left over from the Soviets) – which greatly assisted the Air

Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams in their efforts to make the

surrounding countryside safer for everyone. Several weapons and munitions

caches have also been discovered, seized and disposed of.

The patrols also identify problems in the villages and pass these concerns

on to Civil Affairs. School supplies and candy are passed out in large

amounts to the local children. To date, the soldiers on patrol have

identified two villages that are requesting visits from the Afghan National

Army recruiting teams. During the elections, patrols were conducted to

prevent anyone from disrupting the polling sites.

As you can see, we here at BAF have been, and continue to be, very busy. We

still find time for important things like phone calls, e-mails and letters

home. We will try and get letters like this out to you more often so that

you may stay informed of the day to day of the soldiers at BAF. Again,

thank you for your support. Thank you for all the letters and packages from

home.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

The 3-116th at Bagram Air Field

Happy Thanksgiving to all and as always, thanks for listening.

Ed

Night time towers

We talked to Seth on Saturday and Jan talked to him today (Monday.) He continues to do well and maintains a positive attitude. He is finishing his first round of night tower duty and finding that there is something more boring than standing towers during the day. He is looking forward to a December move to the forward operating base at Ghazni and apparently this will be a good move for everybody involved. When the 116th was sent to Afghanistan their mission was base security at Bagram. The original plan involved the 550+ soldiers working at Bagram. Apparently the Battalion Commander volunteered the 116th for additional duties. Seth notes that most folks think he did this because it would look good for him and the Guard. Motivation aside, this split the 116th with approximately half the troops heading to Ghazni and Camp Tiger. Instead of 550 men for perimeter security at Bagram, we now have half the number needed. That has meant longer and more shifts in the tower and less time off. Of course the conditions at Camp Tiger were so primitive that all the men eventually ended up at Ghazni. Conditions at Ghazni are not quite as good as at Bagram (although that is changing). Those troops spend more time on patrol, but don't have to do the endless hours of tower standing so there is a trade-off on both sides. They have begun rotating troops from Bagram to Ghazni and the other way around. Seth is scheduled to head to Ghazni sometime in December and is actually looking forward to that move. Once the move is made, I don't think we'll hear from him as regularly. Here is the latest family letter from the Battilion Commander:

Nov. 4, 2004

Dear 3-116 Infantry Family Members:

I would like to welcome our newest Task Force members from the 229th Engineers out of Fredericksburg and augmentees from around the state.

The engineers have made an immediate impact by helping with construction on Camp Ghazni and by conducting operations. The new maintenance team was put straight to work fixing vehicles. The new staff members have jumped right into operations. All of our soldiers are benefiting from the skills and hard work of our new team members. They are very welcome arrivals.

Winter has arrived in Afghanistan. The weather is turning cold, especially up here in the mountains of Ghazni.

However, some areas are heating up.

In a province where we recently began operations, we have had some direct fire engagements with the enemy. There were no casualties on either side. When our soldiers were fired at, they responded with overwhelming firepower including mortars. We also called in A-10 attack aircraft and B-1 bombers and the engagements ended quickly. Our soldiers performed exceptionally well.

At Bagram [Air Base], our soldiers continue to perform the perimeter security mission. Their efforts will soon be enhanced by surveillance technology that will improve security. They continue to patrol in the vicinity of Bagram.

The rotation of troops from Bagram to Ghazni has begun. This will benefit every soldier. One of the greatest dangers we face is the potential for complacency when we do the same things in the same place day after day. Putting soldiers in a new environment keeps them alert. Changes throw off the enemy who looks for patterns of behavior in patrol areas and at Bagram. New soldiers seeing things for the first time, notice things people who have been in a place for a long time stop seeing. It is tough to pick up and move, but it is something we expected and are trained to do.

Yesterday was an important day for our battalion. We conducted our "combat patch" ceremony. We placed our unit patch on our right shoulder to indicate that we have been in combat.

This was a very proud moment because the 29th Division patch has not been awarded for combat since World War II. Even more profound, there will only be about 650 soldiers in the entire Army who will wear our combat patch.

In addition, we awarded Combat Infantry Badges and Combat Medical Badges to those who have been approved. The division commander made a very important point. He said that awarding the 29th patch was a historical moment, but we were taking part in even a more historical event. Last month, for the first time in its 5000 year history, the people of Afghanistan elected their leader.

I have received questions about Christmas mail. To ensure that mail is received in time for Christmas, it must be mailed no later than 6 December.

But if your loved one is in Ghazni, it takes about an extra week to get it from Bagram to Ghazni. You should mail gifts for soldiers in Ghazni by Nov. 28.

We are making plans to get all the mail that we expect to see down here. It will be a challenge, but we face challenges every day and never fail to meet them.

Living conditions in Ghazni are improving. We have placed heaters in all the permanent buildings and about 75 percent of Tier 3 tents. Within the next few days, every soldier will have heat. Additional water heaters are coming, which should give us more hot water, and so is a new shower facility. They are also going to start enlarging the dining facility and gym. Plans for more internet computers and phones are moving forward.

I know there has been a great deal of concern about vehicles. We just received five more up-armored HMMWVs [Humvees]. Other equipment is coming as well.

We are about three months into our 12 month deployment. I have talked to many soldiers and some say it has gone quickly, others say it is dragging on forever. All I can say is that we are one-quarter of the way through with a long way still to go.

The holidays are often lonely times for deployed soldiers, so the more you can write and keep in touch, the better it will be for them.

We all wish we could be home, but we will be home soon. Please know that our shared sacrifice is making a huge difference in the lives of the Afghan people and for the security of our country. Your loved ones are doing an amazing job.

Take care, may God bless you and your family and God Bless America.

As always, Thanks for reading. Ed.