a Soldier's blog

Smiles Are For Everyone

Its been a while since we last gave kids gifts from America.  So, I organized a trip with another unit on my FOB, who was all about us joining them for a day.  The school supplies, beanie babies, and toys were piling up so much that we were running out of room in our hooch (will never call this home).  THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT THESE ITEMS!!  We decided that the best way to hand out things quickly and fairly was to make little gift bags.  I know, not brain science on that idea, but a good one nonetheless.   The night before the mission, we had a conveyor belt type operation to fill the gift bags.  SPCp and SPCd started off by putting two beanie babies in the bag.  Then SGTw and SGTm put some sort of toy in the bag and SPCt was in charge of writing utensils.  I was next in line and tossed some toilettries and/or candy in the bag.  The last stop was with SSGc who put white paper or construction paper in the bag.  He was also quality control (gotta have QA) and sent quite a few back for reprocessing.  In the end we had about 200 gift bags, along with two trash bags full of beanies left, and two boxes of candy.   As I packed the toiletries, we joked that we hoped no kids try to eat the soap or drink the shampoo like they did the last time we went out. 

The next morning we got up, had some coffee, drank a lot of water, mounted our weapons onto the hummers, did a map recon, got the radios in time, and received a brief from the company commander that we tagged along with.  The first town we went to was really quiet, and it was almost hard to find the children.  Once a few of them saw us and that we were friendly, they came out to see what was going on.  When we were done giving out items to a few families, we then drove down the street further and stumbled upon more children.  We pulled into this one courtyard and a little boy was buck naked from the waist down.  He was at first scared of us and ran away.  SGTm threw a few beanies to him.  He looked down at them, tossed everything else he was holding, and snatched them up quickly.  The little girl at the house was adorable too.  One of us gave her a gift bag and she kept dropping it cause she was so little.  Her mother quickly helped her out and picked up the bag.  They all had smiles once they figured out we were only there to help. 

The other half of the mission was complete, so we had to move to the next location.  It was more of a city, rather than a country town, but the children were still very poor.  We did a dismounted patrol and handed out the rest of our gift bags, beanies, and candy.  Once we handed everything out, then we headed back to the FOB.  I took six guys from my platoon on the mission, and each of them were thrilled at the opportunity to give presents to Iraqi children.  It was a great day here and at home.  Tiffany (my wife) had her birthday and three of her sisters visited my home to celebrate.  She was so excited to have them over as well as our nieces and nephews.  Also, my brother Gavin has that same birthday.  His girlfriend Erin and our friend Jenny threw a party for both Tiffany and Gavin.  Happy Birthday My Love!!!!!!  Happy Birthday Stinky (bro)!!!!

I gave the kids here a present from each of you.  So, in a way its their birthday as well.  Smiles for everyone on 25 June 2005!  :)

*i put more pics from the trip in my photo album...

I know in my heart that man is good.
That what is right will always eventually triumph.
And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.
- Ronald Reagan

Passing Time

As I look at the calendar, the days just seem to roll by and come to a end so fast.  I guess that is due to us being so busy here, or maybe its because we do what we can to avoid thinking about being here.  This past Monday we had a memorial service for SSG Mark Edwards, who died in his sleep.  That morning I was told that I needed to turn in a report asap, so I had to miss the service.  As much as I was relieved to not go through the emotions while saluting a fallen brother for the last time, I did want to be there.  Some of my guys tried to avoid going, but it was healthy for them to attend.  Closure is always needed during a death, even when its not someone you know personally.  In the eyes of others, I saw the joy that Mark caused.  Through their pain, I felt his loss.  Two Soldiers that I trained with at Camp Shelby came up from another FOB because they were previously in Mark's unit.  When I saw SFCb, his eyes were filled with tears like someone had stolen something/someone very important to him.  SGTb shared with me that he was Mark's best-man during his wedding (possible vise versa).  So, needless to say, they were very close.  Even behind those thick ballistic sunglasses, I saw his cheeks rising to keep the tears from escaping.  Knowing those two Soldiers' high esteem for Mark, he must have been more than just a great Soldier, but a great man. 

As the week went on, we did our best to get back to our routine.  I was walking back from the portojohn and saw a big camel spider (not technically even a spider).  It was the biggest one that I have seen so far in this country, so rushed to grab some others to see it.  One of my brave Staff Sergeants grabbed a glass container to catch it, and the chase was on.  Up and down the road he ran after that little sucker, and boy he was fast (spider).  With a little bit of help from others in the platoon, we caught her.  My platoon sergeant researched them a bit, and found out that it was a female.  The males have a more slender abdomen.  Here is a couple pics of it.  They are not poisonous, but do pack quite a bite. 

I am not sure when we will definitely go home, but hopefully it will be before the Alabama v Auburn game.  Rollll Tide!!!  No worries to everyone at home, I won't be bringing any of these spiders home.  They are one of the many things that this country can keep for themselves. 

The other day I had a great morning devotion.  Some of you might relate with me, so here is what I read during it:

My Belovedness

"Who am I?" asked the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, and he responded, "I am one loved by Christ."  Herein lies the foundation of the true self.  The indispensable condition for developing and maintaining the awareness of our belovedness is time alone with God.  In solitude we tune out the nay-saying whispers of our worthlessness and sink down into the mystery of our true self.  Our longing to know who we really are--which is the source of most of our discontent--will never be satisfied until we confront and accept silent solitary moments with the Lord.  There we discover that the truth of our belovedness is really true.  Our primary identity rests in God's relentless tenderness for us revealed in Jesus Christ.  Reflections For Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning

"I lift my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven." Psalm 123:1

Gotta run!  Love you all, shawn

Sleep Tight My Brother

Another Soldier in my Squadron died recently.  Just a few days ago Staff Sergeant Mark Edwards died in his sleep.  We are all unsure of why he died, just that when others went to wake him up for a mission, it was too late.  I did not get a chance to meet Mark before he died, but heard about him from a friend of his named Heath.  Heath told me how great of a person he was, and how his kids loved him so much.   He has a teenage boy who adores him, and two step children who have really taken to him as their father.   I do not know his wife personally, but I know she is dealing with such an immense pain that we can not understand.   Mark was just 40 years old, and from Unicoi, TN.

An officer friend of mine was given the grueling task of inventoring Mark's things to be sent back home.  It broke his heart as he collected and logged each item.   The only thing he could do was put every bit of his energy into being respectful and thorough during the task.  It was something that he, nor I, want to ever have to do again.  We discussed what would be important to our families if we died here.  Pictures, books, letters, etc.  It brought us even closer to the realization of pain caused by a Soldier's death.  We asked each other if it is still worth it being here fighting for others' freedom as well as our own.  Yes, yes, and yes, but the struggle for Iraq continues...  Please keep Mark's family in your prayers.

Thank you Mark for your life and service to our country-- shawn

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050610-3646.html

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050611/NEWS08/506110334/1025/NEWS

Hopefully The Last Sad Day

I first want to appologize for not posting in a while.  I have been very busy and have strict rules about what I can write about.  Some operational aspects of life here are just too important for everyone to have access to.

I do want to write about a Soldier that was lost recently.  His name is Sergeant Alfred Barton Siler.  He was 33 years old, and an 11 year veteran of the 278th Regimental Combat Team.  He graduated high school in 1989 from Jellico High, TN.  He is survived by his parents and a three year old daughter named Mikkah.  How do you explain to a three year old that their dad is never coming home?  I simply do not know, and any attempt to try is unworthy, unless you have to explain it for real like so many spouses have during times of war. 

I heard about it the day the accident occured, and felt an immediate loss of a fellow brother in arms.  Though not knowing him, I did see the faces of the other Soldiers that were on the convoy with him.  They looked distraught and driven at the same time.  The convoy was heading to my FOB and was not far from making it here safely.  I do not know the details of how the accident occured, and only the investigation being conducted will have a conclusion.  I did hear a bit about it, and will share this unconfirmed story.  His HUMMWV might have been clipped by a civilian vehicle, which caused it to flip.  During the accident SGT Siler (gunner) died.  Again, this might not be how it really occured, but it was an accident nonetheless.  I hope and pray that this is the last sad day we have here.  All troops deserve to go home to their loving families.  As of today there are 1668 US casualties, 89 UK casualties, and 96 from other coalition countries.  So, the total count by icasualties.org is 1853 killed during OIF.  Please pray for the fallen, and rejoice for the free. 

Thank you Alfred for your life and service to our country.---shawn

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050528-3365.html

“If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.”  Thomas Paine

Rest in Peace my Brothers:

SGT Alfred Barton Siler, 25May2005, Tuz

SFC Stephen C. Kennedy, 4April2005, Balad Ruz (S of)

SSG Christoper W. Dill, 4April2005, Balad Ruz (S of)

SGT Paul W. Thomason III, 20March2005, Kirkuk

SSG Eric M. Steffeney, 23February2005, Tuz

SFC Paul D. Karpowich, 21December2004, Mosul

Articles about SGT Siler's death:

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/278th_news/article/0,2555,KNS_19816_3810099,00.html

http://www.timesfreepress.com/iwwl/pitts052605.html

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3397260&nav=4QcHaLI0