Mail system gets in gear just in time (Hillary's visit holds up the troop's mail)

The News Tribune - Tacoma, WA ^ | December 25th, 2003 | MICHAEL GILBERT

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Mail system gets in gear just in time

MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune

NEAR DULUIYAH, Iraq - For a while, the running joke at the Stryker base camp was that after U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein, the most elusive item in Iraq was the brigade's mail.

Postal delivery has been spotty since the brigade arrived in Kuwait in mid-November.

Sharon Armeni of Tacoma says that the importance of mail, both for the sender and the recipient, can't be overestimated. She is the mother of Lt. Damon Armeni of B Company of the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry.

"We've made tapes of his 15-month-old son (Dalen) so Damon can hear his son's voice, laughter and even his crying," Sharon Armeni said. "We have sent him many pictures of his son and the rest of the family. He's missing a big portion of his son's life and we'd love him to get pictures of him in a timely manner so he can experience as much as possible."

The brigade's personnel section struggled to get the mail started during the three weeks the troops were training at Camp Udairi, Kuwait.

All the brigade's early mail had been sent to Kirkuk, Iraq - which was to be the unit's eventual destination. But that changed even before the Strykers arrived in Kuwait, and all the mail piling up in Kirkuk had to be moved.

Much of it wound up at U.S. air bases in Germany, some back in Kuwait. Some family members said some packages they mailed were even returned to sender.

At one point, a load that was to be flown from Kirkuk to Kuwait was bumped off the flight when U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton needed the plane during a Thanksgiving visit to the troops.

Pfc. Brandon Williams keeps an eye on a pile of mail awaiting delivery on Christmas Eve day to soldiers in the Stryker brigade. Mail delivery had been spotty at first, but improved in time for Christmas.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Hillary screwing up the troop's mail, in a combat zone, during a war. This needs to get out. This should be screamed from the roof tops.

[jocko12]

MAIL TAKEN OFF A PLANE FOR A PIG.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Talked to my sister in law's brother this AM. He was calling from Baghdad. He said he's got his picture with almost every star who came through on the USO tour in the last few months. He only missed a couple. Was on duty when President Bush came there, but he had to work at Hillary's plane on the other side of the airfield. We said that nobody was happy to see her.

[CWOJackson]

And what will get screamed from the roof tops?

The President landing on a carrier.

[ladyinred]

I just hope that most of the mail got to them before today. The mail should not be bumped for Hillary! If it had been bumped for the President, the national media would still be discussing it!

[HighWheeler]

What was wrong with that carrier landing?

Nothing

[Lucy Lake]

If the mail had been bumped for the President, the dems would be talking of impeachment.

Another thread said they named Hillary Clinton's Helicopter "Broomstick One." hahahaha

[deport]

The Troops do have a spirit of humor among them even during times of hardships......

It has been said that they named the Blackhawk helicopter that was used to ferry Senator Clinton around when she was in Afghanistan as:

"BROOMSTICK ONE"

[malia]

The clintons and Democrats are very familar with the military and their mail - I will forever be outraged over their 2000 ballots being held up!!!!!

[Quix]

AND FROM EVERY STREET CORNER

. . . especially screamed at every HYPORAT political meeting.

TRULY!

[malia]

"What was wrong with that carrier landing?"

Because a a man with Heart! a man with conviction! a man of Honor! landed on that carrier! President George W. Bush landed on the carrier to welcome home and praise the men and women for a job well done! and the media became irrelevant, and they knew it!!!!!

[desertcry]

Hillary hates the military, she will do anything to undermine their moral.

[malia]

It was posted a few weeks ago of service people being bumped from their flights home for politicians - did the names of the poli's every get out?

[ChefKeith]

too funny!!!!!

"BroomStick One"

[Spotsy]

Has anyone determined where Ms. Rodham Clinton is spending her Christmas? Don't tell me that she and Bill actually were on the same continent for a holiday, let alone the same town, or the same house.

[StriperSniper]

"BroomStick One"

Hillary Clintons Helicopter "Broomstick One" email from a US soldier in Iraq

Well, off to dinner...

Merry Christmas!

[hoot2]

"What was wrong with that carrier landing? "

he "caught the first wire..."
don't you think that was a bit selfish n egocentric for a "republican president"?

[hoot2]

"It was posted a few weeks ago of service people being bumped from their flights home for politicians - did the names of the poli's every get out? "

nope; it was a "friend of a friend" in the military story...
haven't heard a peep about it since

[HighWheeler]

No, that first wire myth was debunked. It was the 4th wire, with the 3rd as the target. The side photo of the Viking over the deck showed the hook still a few feet over the first wire while still coming in.

[The South Texan]

You think that if this story would have been about a Republican that it would not make the national news and be the topic of scorn on NBC, CNN, MSNBC, ABC and CBS?

Somehow this "lady" always gets a pass. Thnak you stupid voter of New York for allowing this plague known as the Clinton political machine to conitnue to churn.

Merry Christmas!