[Bulldaddy]

My nephew is a Captain in the 4-14 Cavalry of the 172nd SBCT. As indicated in the article, this four-month extension - including redeployment from the dangerous western part of Iraq to even more dangerous Baghdad - has been very stressful on the families. But they got this assignment for one principal reason - they're the best!

[Bulldaddy]

ping

[Ed25]

They'll bitch but they'll still get the job done because their the best!

[lilylangtree]

My sympathy is with them and their families. God bless each and everyone.

[dakine]

That sucks...

[rwgal]

When I was in the Marines, they used to say.."If the troops stop bitching, THATS when you should be concerned."
These guys are professional and they will do their duty... We could call upon the Demorats to change places with them, ..think they would go for that?

Meadow Muffin

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. Ping. BTTT!

[leadpenny]

These men and women will do their duty but that doesn't take away from the fact that this should not have happened to them on such short notice. At the Senate Armed Services hearing the other day I believe it was Gen Pace who said the decision was made after days of consultation among all the high level players involved. The chain of command knew the disruptions it would cause. It just points out how stretched the military is.

I've said it before but the dems are licking their chops over this for November.

[angkor]

This completely sucks.

I hope these guys are brought back to 100 percent equipment readiness before they head into Baghdad.

[Eagles6]

Was this written by AP, the terrorist newswire? Oh, sean naylor, never mind.

[Chgogal]

“We all volunteered, and sometimes these unexpected things happen to us,” said 1st Sgt. Roy Stoehr of 4-14’s A Troop.

“The American people pay us to fight and win the nation’s wars,” said Capt. (P) Tom Hart, 4-14’s fire support officer. “We deployed for a year, and at the end of that year they’ve asked to stay and fight some more. This is why soldiers serve in the military.”

Your nephew and Soldiers like your nephew are awesome. Please thank him for me and a big thank you to you and all your family for being such a great support not only to one another but to this country.

You have no idea how many millions of people Soldiers like your nephew have helped over the past two plus centuries. There is a special place in heaven for the American Soldier.

[Chgogal]

Just incase I was misunderstood I will share a letter I sent to a very special soldier.

This is a Welcome Home letter I wrote to a mother's son. He just came home from Afghanistan this past May. He's was with ______________.

"Welcome Home Sgt. M.!

It must have been a long four years. You must be so tired, excited, grateful and simply relieved to be home basking in the love of family and friends. You are probably missing your buds just a bit. After all in the past four years you have become a band of brothers, depending on each other for everything. I'm just a civilian grateful for soldiers like you. You see soldiers like you are important to the world.


About 15 years ago I treated myself to a wonderful three week-Southeast Asian Cruise and met some wonderful people. I lucked out with a most entertaining dinner table. One couple was pretty old and British and so very charming. Charming like only the Brits can be. They took a liking to me and invited me to a State Room (you don't say cabin BTW) cocktail party. And there I witnessed something interesting.

While chatting it up with the British couple, a gentleman wandered up and introduced himself. He had an Eastern European accent and had immigrated to the US and started his own company in California. He was originally from Hungary. Some how we got on to the topic of WW2. The Hungarian gentleman asked the British Gentleman if he had fought in the war. The Brit nodded yes and informed us that he was a retired RAF pilot and his last mission had been flying out of Budapest. His last responsibility was to deliver orphans to England. The Hungarian asked the Brit if the date was such and such. The Brit looked amazed and puzzled, he nodded yes. The Hungarian's eyes got real big. The Hungarian then asked if it was a morning flight? Again the Brit nodded yes. The Hungarian gentleman had tears running down his face and hugged the Brit, "I was 10 years old and an orphan and on that flight. You brought me to Britain and freedom." By that time we were all teary eyed and pretty awestruck.

What is the probability of meeting the military man who delivered you to freedom on the other side of the world on a cruise ship at a private cocktail party 46 years later? My father, who is originally from Holland, still remembers the first care package the US Military dropped. He cherishes the memory of that chocolate bar that was buried somewhere in that lifesaving box. He cherishes the freedom the Airborne brought to his homeland so many decades ago.

What would the world do without you soldiers? You are the most humble of men and yet the world would be such a very dark place without you. Joseph, you have experienced more in four years than most people experience in a lifetime. You have witnessed and felt things that we here back home safe and sound can only imagine. I want you to know that your service has been invaluable. We have worried about you fighting in foreign lands so far way facing dangers for our benefit. It is very humbling and we owe you a great deal. And maybe one day you will meet an Iraqi or Afghan who will hug you and thank you for all you have done for them. Then you may realize the miracles you and your buds performed for us and the rest of the world and how much you are appreciated. My family and I are grateful to you and each and every one of your buds. Welcome Home and Thank You for your service. You did it with élan, courage and class. You have our respect and undying loyalty.

Sincerely,
Chgogal

[Gondring]

One of the deepest "hidden" costs of this campaign...another is the extended parental absences. :-(

[Calpernia]

Stryker

[Radix]

This is a bad idea. For morale, and all of the obvious other reasons.

They need to rotate these Troops ASAP.

[RightWhale]

The 'Welcome home, soldiers' signs will remain up all over Fairbanks. The parades will be rescheduled.

[SuziQ]

Well, that was a major league screw up on the part of the Army. In WWII, weren't there some folks who were gone for almost FOUR YEARS? 16 months doesn't seem so bad in comparison.

The daughter of some friends is in this unit. I haven't talked to them lately, but they're a military family, and they know they have to be flexible.

[Sunsong]

Much of the frustration within the unit is due to the fact that even though the situation in Baghdad had been deteriorating over a period of several months, senior leaders waited until the last possible moment to change their orders.

The soldiers “didn’t like the fact of getting almost one foot onto the plane and being told, ‘You have to go back,’ ” Stoehr said. “Had we known at least a month out, it would have been much better.”

“Even if we could have known a week earlier, it would have made a huge difference to us,” said Capt. James Vogelpoehl, a 4-14 battle captain.

It is sad to read that.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

HHC 172 -- Now living on VBC in Baghdad. Needless to say it was a surprise, but that is part of life. We do our job, maybe someone else won't have to come over here later.

[PsyOp]

...if only the Defense Department had given them a little more warning.

I'm sure if Sadr had sent DOD a heads-up that he was gonna start more trouble, DOD would have done just that. this guy must be looking for a job with the NYT when he gets out.