Leaving Texas..........

Eli is now back in Mississippi. Here's an email he sent before leaving Texas:
Hello once again,

Tomorrow will be my last day in Texas, and as much as I complained about the humidity and all the rain, I will be sad to leave because of what I'll return to.......heat and mosquitoes. Camp Sheldy is not much to look forward to I'm afraid. However, I do look forward to being with Seth again, but I really enjoy being around all of the medical staff, and so I will be sad to leave.

Tonight we ordered Chinese and then ended up having a big water fight with some water guns some of the medics bought. There is a hose in the bathrooms, and so we lured the "bad guys" down to the bathroom and then proceeded to soak them. For the first time since coming on this deployment I felt normal, even if normal meant feeling like a kid again, it felt good!

The past several days we have been out in the field waking up at 3am and starting our training by 4am. Although 3am is way too early to start work, it was good training. We did a lot of simulated combat medical exercises with simulated gunshots and mortars going off, we used each other as the casulaties and put on fake blood and gore, bandaged eachother up, drug eachother around to reach "safety", and so pretty much we just played. The only thing that was not play was the IVs, which I gave several of and received several of. We went around talking to each other saying, "in the real world, how do you feel" or "in the fake world, how are you".

We'll "graduate" tomorrow and then leave at 2:00 in the afternoon and reach Shelby at 4am on Thursday (just in time for some infantry training!). It will probably be awhile before I am at a computer again, but thanks for all the e-mails people have sent me while I was here at Texas. When I get a chance I will update you from Mississippi. Take care,

With Love,

Eli

September Leave

Plans are in place for a family get-together in Mississippi in September. Seth and Eli will have leave from September 5 to September 10. We've rented a condo in Gulfport, Mississippi where we will gather. Jan and I will fly down on the morning of the 5th. Katy and Brittany are planning on driving at this point in order to get a little more time with their husbands. Josh will join us for the weekend, flying from Newport News into Gulfport on Friday the 7th. We'll be staying in some new condos that have been built since huricane Katrina. I understand there's still a fair amount of devestation in this area, but we're not going to Mississippi as tourists....we just want to spend time together before Seth and Eli depart for Iraq.
Many soldiers are coming home for leave (on their own dime.....no military transport for leave!) Seth and Eli felt that they've already said their goodbyes to everyone and it would be too hard to say them all over again. Getting together on the Gulf will allow us uninterrupted time to say goodbye.

Taking Mrs. Lovell and Mrs. Lovell to the Lake!

Katy and Brittany traveled with Jan and I to Lake Wiley, South Carolina to spend a few days with good friends. Great friends, good food, good skiing and tubing.....the only thing that could possibly be better is Lake Wiley with good friends AND Seth and Eli - maybe next summer!

Another email from Texas

Well, last time I wrote I was complaining of the heat, now I want to complain about the rain. I spent 18 weeks in Texas in 2004 and I thoroughly enjoyed my time (well, thoroughly might be pushing it, but I have fond memories of that time) and so I realize what a Texas thunderstorm can be like, and I am starting to realize all over again! Katy keeps saying to me, "everytime I talk to you, you say its raining!" Well, that's the truth. We have had a lot of rain lately, and I'm not talking about a gentle rain storm that lightly saturates the soil, I am talking about a hellacious thunderstorm that drenches through military uniforms and has cut off our power, including our window AC units in the classroom!

Other then the rain there is not too much exciting to report. We have finished our crash course in EMT-B training and I passed the written and practical exam and will be able to renew my EMT license for another two years. We have been playing lots of volleyball in the evenings which is a great stress reliever. We have lit courts and so we will play for several hours. I haven't let my volleyball playing cut into my phone time with my lovely wife, however I have let it cut into what little sleep I was getting and my time to study. I always was good at prioritizing.

Tomorrow marks one week left in Texas, and we start our combat training. We will be in "full battle-rattle" starting tomorrow. That consists of my ACH (army combat helmet), IBA (individual body armor), camelback (hydration system which holds 3 liters of water), and our pro masks (gas masks). We will carry around "dummy" rifles since even though we are medics, we are "soldiers first".

Tomorrow we will forget about being EMTs because they are civillian medics. Tomorrow we start applying tourniquets, giving IVs, and forgetting about spinal compromise because if you're getting shot at, you don't strap them to a long board you just grab 'em and get 'em the hell out of there! During EMT training they pound into your head that you always have to check "scene safety" before approaching an emergency. If the scene is hazardous and not secure you have to wait until police, HAZMAT, or whoever is needed to secure the scene arrives. You never go to a scene that is unsafe! In the militaryits a little different, we help secure the scene, hence the M4s and M9s we carry. Oh the subtle differences of an EMT and a combat medic!

My prayer is it will be an uneventful year, and even though all this training is really good and will make me a better medic, it will be useless information for the next 12 months. I hope you all are doing well, I am thinking of and missing all my family and friends.

Love,

Eli

Dove Body Wash and Dauphin Island

When I talked with Seth yesterday he indicated that the tentative date for a pass before leaving for Iraq is September 4 through the 9th. Tentative? Maybe I don't have a good grasp of the complexities of moving thousands of soldiers and tons of equipment around, but it seems like they could do better than "tentative." The Army's motto seems to be, "We're never sure of anything until we're done!" I DO understand how difficult it must be to move men and machines and have them end up where their supposed to be, when they're supposed to be there.....but, some consideration must be given to the soldiers and their families. How do you plan a trip to see your soldier before they leave for Iraq when you're only given tentative dates? How do you make plans to miss work, reservations for travel and lodging?
Our "tentative plans" look like they involve driving to Mississippi on Labor Day, picking up Seth and Eli on the 4th and traveling to Dauphin Island off the coast of Alabama. Jan and I will miss four days of work and Brittany will miss school.
Jan and I were just discussing the fact that much of our travel the last couple of years has been due to our sons military careers...we've seen Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina and now will travel to Mississippi and Alabama. All things considered I'd be happy to have stayed in Virginia!
We put a package in the mail to Seth today...he requested two things - Advil and Dove Exfoliating Body Wash.........a tough soldier with healthy skin.

Editorial Letter from Poppa

Age of Irony and Hypocrisy

We are truly living in an age of irony and hypocrisy. Osama bin Laden, a professed devout Muslim, was responsible for the deaths of innocent people on 9/11. The Koran does not sanction the killing of innocent people. He did this to punish the United States and to discredit the president. However, his actions made Bush a hero and allowed him to be re-elected.

Then Bush, who is a professed born-again Christian and a devout follower of the Prince of Peace, returned bin Laden’s favor by embroiling us in a senseless struggle in Iraq. This has allowed al-Qaida and other terrorist splinter groups to become more sophisticated in their weaponry.

A president who was once a hero with a high approval rating is now seen as an incompetent president and his ratings are the lowest of any president. This is a president who is opposed to abortion and embryonic stem cell research because life is sacred, and yet his actions have made him responsible for the deaths and injuries of thousands of our military people and the deaths of countless thousands of Iraqi people.

His support comes primarily from right wing conservatives, who oppose government spending, but this war is costing billions of dollars and there are billions for which there is no accounting. Do you see the irony?

Glenn Felix
Bridgewater

Unpatriotic?.....or just Wimps?

You used to be "unpatriotic" if you questioned the war in Iraq or Little George's policies. Now, according to Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio you are a "Wimp." At least that's what he called fellow GOP lawmakers who have parted company with Little George on the war. As GOP defections mount in the run up to the 2008 elections Boehner has taken the gloves off and is getting tough. Next he might start talking about "yo momma." My guess is that John Boehner was one of those kids in middle school who wanted to watch the other kids fight, but kept a safe distance from the fray afraid to get his hands bloodied. In searching for information on Senators and Congressmen with children in the miliatary I could only find some admittedly dated information. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, May 11, 2003, only four of the 535 members of Congress had children in the military and only one, Sen. Tim Johnson (D., South Dakota) had a child who fought in Iraq. Of course, since Jim Webb was elected over Little George Wanna-be Allen the number of Senators with children serving in Iraq has doubled to two. Again, I admit these numbers may not be 100% accurate, but I believe it is safe to say that most Congressmen and Senators don't have children in the Military or serving in Iraq. Would Boehner feel the same way about the war if his children or grandchildren were being asked to sacrifice for Little George's war? My question: Is this war only worth the cost if it is fought with someone else's children? Wimp indeed....I challenge Boehner to a no holds barred game of paper, rock, scissors at recess!

An Email from Texas..........

Hello All,

I have not had internet access during my stay in Mississippi, but here I am now in the wonderful state of Texas and they have an accessible computer room for us. I don't know why they say God Blessed Texas, because boy oh boy is it hot down here! When we got here it was 98 degrees, and don't get me started on the humidity. That would be fine and well, but we're staying in wooden shacks with no AC! It should be fun. My last experience at Camp Bullis, which is about 40 miles outside of San Antonio, was in July 2004 and it landed me at BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center). I was bitten by a brown recluse (they actually thought it was a scorpion bite at first) and my knee swelled up twice the size it should and I could not bend it, not to mention the bite mark had turned a black color and had grown to the size of a quarter. I still have a scar on my knee to show my Camp Bullis experience. This is our first day down here and classes start tomorrow. We rode 13 hours on a bus from Mississippi. We drove through New Orleans and Houston (I waved to my Houston crew as we passed). It sounds as though we will not get a break while down here, so I guess I'll just have to come back to Texas and enjoy it some other time.

As our bus passed downtown San Antonio we saw the alamo and I was remided of the time Katy and two of our best friends, Jessica and Chance (both were in our wedding) drove 23 hours to spend a long weekend with me over Memorial Day. That is one of my best memories. I also was remembering when Ryan, Heather, Tom, and Bev (the Houston crew) all came down and we enjoyed the river walk. Good times in the army.

Speaking of good times in the army, I am in the same platoon as Seth and so we have been able to enjoy Mississippi together. We do all our training together, spend our free time together watcing movies, and go to all our meals together. Wake up is 4:00am, we do pt twice a day (physical training) and then we usually don't call it a day until 5:00pm. We have been doing lots of "theatre specific" training as they call it. That has consisted of a day of Combatives (beating eachother up) IMT (individual movement techniques) which include low crawling and high crawling through dirt with all your gear on, and the gas chamber! I sincerely hope none of those activities are truly "theatre specific". I would like to think I have done all those things for the final time. These things were not too awful though. Combatives brought back good memories of the beach as we fought in a sand pit. When I showered that night I was washing sand out of every crack and crevice in my body, just like the beach! and the gas chamber did a great job of clearing my sinuses! So there are some positives to everything.

I have made this e-mailing list a lot larger from my first one I sent while I was with headquarters company in Winchester, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting e-mails from you all that replied to me. Again, if you know of anyone else I can e-mail to keep up to date on all the happenings of this deployment, please let me know. Thanks to everyone for all your love, encouragement, and support. You all mean the world to me! My one battle buddy saw a scrap book Katy had made me lying on my bed and asked if he could see it. After looking at it he said, "it seems like you left one hell of a good life back in Virginia," to which I replied, "that's one hell of a good life I absolutely can not wait to get back to!"

Love,

Eli

Pay as you go..........the war that was going to pay for itself

I try to stay away from political discussions (but do a poor job) however this administration simply begs for comment. The Iraq war was supposed to pay for itself with oil revenue. Just like WMD's this has never materialized:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The boost in troop levels in Iraq has increased the cost of war there and in Afghanistan to $12 billion a month, and the total for Iraq alone is nearing a half-trillion dollars, congressional analysts say.

All told, Congress has appropriated $610 billion in war-related money since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror assaults, roughly the same as the war in Vietnam. Iraq alone has cost $450 billion.

The figures come from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, which provides research and analysis to lawmakers.

For the 2007 budget year, CRS says, the $166 billion appropriated to the Pentagon represents a 40 percent increase over 2006.

We are squandering American lives and American capital! When will enough people stand up and say enough is enough!

Mississippi and Beyond

We've had regular contact with Seth and Eli as they have settled in at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. When they first arrived they were housed at a FOB (Forward Operating Base) which seems to be Army talk for sub-standard housing. Seth noted that in four years with the Guard he has experienced many different living situation and this was by far the worst! While at the FOB they experienced shortages of water, food and toilet paper. Now you could claim that the Army is trying to get them adjusted to possible deprivations they may face while in Iraq, but I don't think there was any reasoning behind this other than a total lack of preperation. So far, Mississippi doesn't have much to recommend it other than hot, hot, hot, humid, humid, humid and daily rain showers.
The good news is that they are now housed in air-conditioned barracks and can at least get a decent night's sleep - no minor thing. Seth and Eli are together now and are in the same barracks. They get to spend a lot of time together, eating meals and relaxing in the evening. Seth notes that they look the same again with matching uniforms and haircuts. Eli will be leaving on the 11th for Texas to brush up on his medical training. He is supposed to be gone about a month. Seth has been asked to be the RTO for his platoon. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but Seth was very appreciative of the confidence his Lieutenant expressed in him by naming him RTO. RTO stands for Radio Transmission Officer and in past wars was the guy running around with the big radio. Seth notes that the job entails much more now and is in many ways an administrative position. Whatever....he is pleased to be asked to assume this responsibility for his platoon.
If anyone wants Seth's address, send me an email and I'll get it to you. Seth and Eli have the same address, but Eli will be leaving for Texas and I don't have a new address for him.
Oh by the way...........Happy Birthday Little George.........I don't think they offered birthday cake to the soldiers.

Reflections on Departure Day

A couple of thoughts on the Departure Ceremonies held for the Virginia National Guard at Woodstock and Winchester, Virginia.

1. It seemed just a little ironic that the American flags that were handed out at both ceremonies said "made in China!" An American celebration indeed.
2. Neither Congressman Bob Goodlate or Congressman Frank Wolf made it to the ceremonies. Both cited legislative duties. We all know how hard our congressmen work, but I think they should have made time to put in an appearance. Both sent representatives. Frank Wolf's representative was an older gentleman with no prepared remarks. He stammered on for a few minutes without really saying anything.
3. Everybody should attend one of these going away parties. What they would see is what we are doing to families. Watching husbands and wives hug and cry....watching small children with tear stained faces....watching parents saying goodbye to teenage sons.....every person should witness this.
   

Keep Your Head Up and Your Eyes on the Horizon

What a long, hard day! Departure Ceremonies at Woodstock and Winchester. On the road at 8:00 AM and returning home around 9:30 PM. There were so many hard things about the day but the most heart wrenching would be watching my two beautiful daughter-in-laws eyes fill with tears as they said goodbye. By the end of the day I wrapped my arms around Joshua and he held me while I sobbed.

Soldiers will carry the community’s support

By Drew Houff
The Winchester Star

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WINCHESTER — At least 1,000 family members, friends, and others turned out to see them go.

With such support, the troops from the Virginia Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division left Shentel Stadium on Tuesday night with their heads held high.

Such a morale boost should help in the coming year, which will include about three months of training in Mississippi and then another nine or more months in Iraq.

Sgt. Michael Tomlinson of Lynchburg talks with his 4-year-old son, Tyler, before leaving Winchester on Tuesday evening with his fellow National Guard members. (Photo by Jeff Taylor)

That was the sentiment of many people who attended Tuesday’s departure ceremony.

“It’s real important — it means a lot to them,” said Maj. Mark Nelson, the unit’s former company commander. “It means everybody has thought of them.

“It keeps morale boosted for the long road ahead. Every little bit carries them through, as long as the community stays involved. I know how important it was when were were in Afghanistan.”

Community support plays a large role, helping the soldiers and families to cope with the challenges ahead — and some of those challenges are not pleasant.

During Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, 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.

Tuesday’s ceremony was designed to show support for the troops.

Purcel Jenkins, a veteran of the Vietnam War who lives in Winchester, said it was crucial to do right by the soldiers. “The Vietnam veteran didn’t get that. It’s very important [to be at the ceremony].”

Heath Phillips, a first lieutenant with the unit who lives in Rockingham County, said the ceremony meant a lot.

“This is great,” he said. “They filled up the parking lots and are now in the overflow. This is a pretty good crowd to wish the guys well.”

The new deployment is the second for 1st Lt. Thomas Claytor of Chesterfield County, and he said it was great to know that the citizens were behind them.

“The community has been good all week, saying ‘Thank you’ for what we will be doing,” he said.

Brittany Green, cousin of Guardsman P.J. Wenner, said: “[Attending] was very important to me because I don’t get to see my cousin much.”

Sgt. Thomas Barr of Winchester kisses his 2-month-old son, Cameron, before leaving for three months of training in Mississippi and another nine or more months of duty in Iraq. (Photo by Jeff Taylor)

Tuesday also marked the start of work for others who will remain in their homes, such as Judith Barker, the chairwoman of the Family Readiness Group serving the soldiers and families of the Guard unit.

“We’re a support group made up of volunteers,” she said. “We hold fundraisers because we don’t get money from the government, so we operate entirely from donations and gifts. We are a resource for families, able to tell them where to go for help when they need it.”

Barker, who has been serving in that capacity, said she understands the need to obtain assistance. After all, her husband is Capt. Douglas B. Barker, the company commander.

“They can come to me, and I can send them information to the appropriate resources for the help [they] need,” she said.

One of her roles will be informing families about any possible leave at the end of the Guardsmen’s time at Camp Shelby, Miss., before they are sent to Iraq.

She said Tuesday’s ceremony was a proper way for the soldiers and their families to say goodbye.

“It’s nice to give them the sendoff they deserve,” Barker said. “This also helps people talk to other family members, and they can support each other.

“The National Guard is so spread out that it makes it a lot more difficult [to get together], but I still want to have pool parties for the families. I hope to have a meeting to help the families cope.”

Barker said she also will provide advice, reminding the families to write letters and send packages to the soldiers.

Barker said Shentel Stadium offered the perfect setting for the sendoff:

“I hope we’re having this time next year a welcome-home ceremony. This is a nice venue. Shenandoah University is so nice to let us have it.”

Guard gets an emotional sendoff

By Drew Houff
The Winchester Star

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WINCHESTER — With cheers, hugs, smiles, and some sadness, local National Guard members officially departed on Tuesday for Camp Shelby, Miss. — and their eventual destination of Iraq.

The troops from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division of the Virginia Army National Guard were honored with an evening departure ceremony at Shenandoah University’s Shentel Stadium.

Cpl. Jonathan Fournier of Front Royal carries his gear to the bus that was waiting to take the National Guard members to Washington Dulles International Airport. (Photo by Jeff Taylor)

The event marked a transition for the Guardsmen, who will train for about three months before being deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Winchester Mayor Elizabeth A. Minor, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Clyde E. Cristman, and Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman of the Virginia Army National Guard sent the soldiers off with support, well wishes, and hopes for a safe return.

Minor, for example, told the soldiers she was not saying goodbye — “...until we meet again,” she said several times, explaining how no words could really capture the emotions of such a sendoff.

“Please know you have our hearts, our support, our prayers, and our love as you fight as part of [Operation Iraqi Freedom],” Minor concluded. “Until we meet again, thank you, and God bless you all.”

Cristman noted that the unit had answered the call before when it fought as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005.

Two members of the company — Staff Sgt. Craig Cherry, 39, of Winchester, and Sgt. Bobby Beasley, 36, of Inwood, W.Va. — died during that deployment.

Cristman said Virginians supported this second major deployment, and the soldiers had the gratitude of the entire state.

“We will stand with your family for your safe return in hopefully about 12 months,” he said. “Your work will help ensure the freedoms we Americans all hold dear.”

Newman, adjutant general of Virginia, said the 29th Division had long stood out in the military, often holding leadership roles in a variety of combat situations.

He said attending sendoff ceremonies throughout Virginia on Tuesday was the highest honor he could have received, in part because of the great confidence he has in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

“Thank you for your service of the Guard, our community, and our nation,” Newman said.

Capt. Douglas B. Barker, the local unit’s commander, told the soldiers that he was reminded of some comments at a recent Memorial Day service. He said that to answer the nation’s call and putting that duty above all else highlighted the next greatest generation.

Virginia Army National Guardsman Richard Shull of Elkton walks hand-in-hand with his wife, Kam, to Tuesday evening’s departure ceremony at Shentel Stadium in Winchester. (Photo by Jeff Taylor)

That dedication made this group so revered, setting an example for generations to come, he said.

“I offer my personal thanks to you and your families for the sacrifice you are making on the part of our nation,” Barker added. “Have confidence in your training, have confidence in your equipment, have confidence in your leadership, and above all, have confidence in yourselves.

“Gentlemen, ever forward!”

Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Clarke closed the ceremony, telling the soldiers to take a little more time with their family members and loved ones before getting on the buses to take them to Washington Dulles International Airport for their flight to Mississippi.

“Although we do not know precisely where we will go, I promise you this — we will serve with honor,” he said.

In a telephone interview before Tuesday’s departure ceremony, National Guard Capt. Dayna Rowden said about 810 soldiers from Virginia were being sent to Camp Shelby for additional training. She said they were to join about 200 members of the Colorado National Guard. Rowden could not provide exact numbers for the troops deployed from the local Guard unit.

The Virginia Army National Guard held four other departure ceremonies on Tuesday. The others were for A Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry at Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville; B Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry at the Woodstock Armory; C Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry at Heritage High School in Leesburg; and D Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry and F Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.

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

---

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.