Anyone who follows deployed Troops soon realizes they come up with all sorts of humorous ways to entertain each other. YouTube has plenty of videos with pranks, songs, and dances. TB and a few buddies have been filming short newscast videos. They call it I.E.D. News - International Entertainment Daily. TB ordered wigs, a moustache, and some fake microphones to add to the effect. He has been excited about posting the videos to his Facebook page. Due to the slow Internet, it takes a long time to upload each one, so he has only added a few.
I don’t understand “friends” who send him emails with comments such as “Don’t you have anything better to do?”, “How come you guys aren’t working?”, “I guess you don’t have it so bad over there if you have time to play around.” Seriously??? These guys have no days off. They miss holidays and birthdays. I won’t go into the hardships they’ve endured since I’ve addressed them here many times. They can’t have a few minutes of fun to keep morale up? The videos are less than two minutes each. If they spend 10 or 15 minutes a day goofing off they’re branded as slackers. This is one of those “shaking my head” moments.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Food
TB’s unit is based with soldiers from a European country. I won’t say what country it is, but it’s important to know that it isn’t one most people would think of. Most Americans probably wouldn’t even be able to list it as a country in Europe. I’ve heard complaints from our soldiers about these guys from the beginning of the deployment….the way they hog everything…the computers, the showers, the food. TB never mentioned it, so I asked him about it one day. He said, “Yea, it’s pretty bad.”
I noticed similar postings on Facebook pages from half a dozen guys mentioning how hungry they were because these other soldiers were taking all the food. Rather than just eat their meal and leave, apparently they stuff food in their pockets, pretty much clearing out everything. So, when our guys get back from missions, there’s no food left. Wow! That is very upsetting! Our soldiers have dealt with the extreme heat of summer, no heat in winter, living out of vehicles, and receiving mail every 4 to 6 weeks. They shouldn’t have to go hungry because soldiers who are supposed to be fighting side-by-side with them are hoarding food!
I noticed similar postings on Facebook pages from half a dozen guys mentioning how hungry they were because these other soldiers were taking all the food. Rather than just eat their meal and leave, apparently they stuff food in their pockets, pretty much clearing out everything. So, when our guys get back from missions, there’s no food left. Wow! That is very upsetting! Our soldiers have dealt with the extreme heat of summer, no heat in winter, living out of vehicles, and receiving mail every 4 to 6 weeks. They shouldn’t have to go hungry because soldiers who are supposed to be fighting side-by-side with them are hoarding food!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Weather Again
Last Monday I tripped and fell just as I was leaving for work. I landed hard on my right knee. It still hurts like the dickens. I must have tried to brace myself with my left arm as I fell because that shoulder is very painful. I mentioned it to a few people, but didn’t say anything to TB. No need to concern him. Besides, he was leaving the next day for an extended mission. As it turned out the mission was postponed due to bad weather. Someone must have snitched, because I received a 3 AM call from the remote mountain outpost this morning. The first thing TB wanted to know was if I was okay. He also wanted to let me know he was at the outpost since he hadn’t been able to update me before leaving. Due to the weather, they couldn’t take the vehicles which means they couldn’t take as many supplies. Again, because of the weather, this may be their longest mission yet, so I hope he has enough. The snow is knee-deep and TB said getting their clothes and feet dried out was going to be a real problem.
It’s times like this that I get a knot in my stomach. Is he warm? Is he dry? Does he have enough food? There’s nothing I can do about any of it. I’m frustrated by that! All I can do is pray and trust him. He’s tough and strong and smart, so I know he will get through it. I just wish he didn’t have to.
It’s times like this that I get a knot in my stomach. Is he warm? Is he dry? Does he have enough food? There’s nothing I can do about any of it. I’m frustrated by that! All I can do is pray and trust him. He’s tough and strong and smart, so I know he will get through it. I just wish he didn’t have to.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Weather
Snow, snow, and more snow. Not here, but in Afghanistan, at least in TB’s area….snow, ice, rain, mud, cold. The weather can be a real issue for our Troops. Of course, we’ve all heard about the extreme heat, especially in Iraq, and many of us have seen photos of huge sandstorms. The weather interferes with mail and resupply. They get stuck out on missions at mountain outposts for days beyond what was planned. (Readers will recall that the outpost is where TB’s squad sleeps on the ground.) Soldiers returning from leave find that it takes weeks to get back to their units. All due to weather conditions.
On a lighter note, one of TB’s buddies told me his squad was in a village they frequently patrol. They were throwing snowballs and “the lil league of 8 yr olds came out to play. There were more snowballs in the air than I have ever seen before in my life. These kids were good! They were not only accurate, but they throw hard! These snowballs hurt! I think they were packing ice in them! And the 4 kids we started this snowball fight with, thinking we could win, multiplied! We had a whole neighborhood out pelting us with snowballs! I put my hands up, screamed ‘break contact’, and ran. The ANA soldiers covered our movement back to a little bit of cover but it didn’t help. These kids didn’t stop. They were out for blood! So the next day my squad figured we’d go in teams and flank them, but the kids were smarter than we were and stayed inside.”
On a lighter note, one of TB’s buddies told me his squad was in a village they frequently patrol. They were throwing snowballs and “the lil league of 8 yr olds came out to play. There were more snowballs in the air than I have ever seen before in my life. These kids were good! They were not only accurate, but they throw hard! These snowballs hurt! I think they were packing ice in them! And the 4 kids we started this snowball fight with, thinking we could win, multiplied! We had a whole neighborhood out pelting us with snowballs! I put my hands up, screamed ‘break contact’, and ran. The ANA soldiers covered our movement back to a little bit of cover but it didn’t help. These kids didn’t stop. They were out for blood! So the next day my squad figured we’d go in teams and flank them, but the kids were smarter than we were and stayed inside.”
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Valentine's Day
Since TB sent flowers, balloons, and two adorable teddy bears last month, I was caught completely by surprise yesterday when I came home to find two dozen roses, candy, and a lovely white teddy bear from him. I'm touched by more than the gifts. TB often mentions how slow the Internet is there, so I know he probably had to use one of his times online just to place the order. As well as I know him, I still shake my head at the mix of tough, war-hardened infantryman and sensitive, thoughtful man.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Children
I look forward to TB’s photos after a mission. They travel to remote villages and TB always attracts the kids. He’s like Santa, opening his pack, to give them little toys, candy, pens, and so on. He has learned to have the interpreters get the children to line up, otherwise they overrun him. Something that strikes me in the photos is the way TB gets down on the same level as the children. He is either sitting or on a knee. I’ve noticed too, that he makes certain the little girls are provided for, even though they are very shy and not as likely to hold out their hands as the boys.
TB gets a great deal of joy from interacting with the children. He always tries to teach them something, whether it’s soccer, jump rope, or juggling small balls. If he gives them pen and paper, he teaches them how to write his name. If they get coloring books and crayons, he shows them how to color. A child how receives candy also receives a toothbrush and toothpaste and is taught how to use them. TB never leaves a village without showing the villagers the heart of an American soldier.
TB gets a great deal of joy from interacting with the children. He always tries to teach them something, whether it’s soccer, jump rope, or juggling small balls. If he gives them pen and paper, he teaches them how to write his name. If they get coloring books and crayons, he shows them how to color. A child how receives candy also receives a toothbrush and toothpaste and is taught how to use them. TB never leaves a village without showing the villagers the heart of an American soldier.
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