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| February 15, 2005
Hey guys,
just wanted to drop you guys a line saying that im here in Iraq and that I am safe, we still haven't moved to our final destination yet but soon. well time is short, go to go, i will write soon, love u guys!
Chris
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February 15, 2005
Dad,
Things here are going okay, not any real problems we still haven't met up with our company yet, but they say they are working on it. I ve been playing a lot of ping pong lately, and sleeping and watching movies. Bravo company doesn't need us so we just hang around, but i might as well take it in now cause who knows when the next time will be. From what ive been told we don't get the trailers engineers get the tents at Warhorse, who knows, it is sure better that sleeping without anything over our heads. The FOB im at now is huge, we got hit last night at the front gate for 40 min. and i didn't hear a thing. We are some miles away from the gates so we are pretty safe. Although warhorse is different they get hit every night, mortars and small arms fire but for nearly as long. The hajis like to stir up the hornets nest then run away like a bunch of scared 12 year olds. I just itchin to get on some equipment, and start working this sitting around stuff is only fun for so long. The food is not bad here, we had steak and crab Army style. That is it look like it, smelled like it and maybe tasted like it a little but sure as did not settle like a steak and crab dinner should have if you know what i mean. Not much else is going on just playing the waiting game, i will write to guys later the phones are a little harder to come by some e-mail is where its at until i get to warhorse.
Love you guys, and i'll keep in touch. Love, Chris
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February 18, 2005
Hey Dad,
Well still here, all the guys that are stationed here have already been out on missions and they've said its scary but nothing has happened yet. One of my buddies back from home went on a recovery mission to fetch a hummvee that had flipped. He told me he was more worried about the dogs running out in front of him doing 60mph than anything else. I just cant wait to do something.
Well I have got to go my time is up, I will write to you soon, Love you guys. Your Son, Chris
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February 19, 2005
Dad,
You are right about the training, the funny thing is the stuff they taught us at Benning was so short, so it will more OTJ(on the job)skills that we will utilize. But as an operator I'll be fine I go in after the shit hits the fan to clean up the mess. I don't mine cleaning all that much.
These next couple of days are going to fairly busy for me so don't be alarmed if I don't respond to the e-mails right away, we are moving camps, and I will finally be able to get on some equipment. Heavy Junkers, that's what they call us operators and we are going to be pushing our way through this hell-hole they call Iraq. Well, I will keep in touch when I can and as often as I can, maybe next time I will have something exciting to talk about.
Always safe, Chris P.S. HEAVY JUNK RULES!!!
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March 4, 2005
What's up Dad?
So how was your day? My day was pretty exciting, we found an IED, searched a building, got shot at, and almost got attacked by a pack of wild dogs, Oh yeah and went four-wheelin in the hummvee in some HAJIs field. All in all it was a good day and night. We were supposed to do two missions today, one four mission and one three hour mission. Our four-hr turned into seven and our three turned into a four-hr and today was my first time driving with NVGs. Now that's a trip to take, its really like playing a video game. Well its late and I'm pretty worn out so Ill write to you guys later.
Your son, Chris
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May 9, 2005
Hey Dad, Have I been busy! I got to watch some news today and it seems like we are starting to quicken the pace on things around the whole country. Yesterday, our 1st plt, had an attempted ambush on them but nothing really happened. The haji's planted a fake IED on the road and when the buffalo went to check it out they starting firing at the patrol. I talked to one of the guys that was in the buffalo and he said that as soon as he heard the first RPG go off all you could hear was radio chatter then the .50 cal's started to sing. Needless to say the hajis tucked their tails and ran.
We went out this morning to search the area and I found a remote detonator made from a hand held radio, the CO is going to give it to intel to run some tests to maybe find a print. All I know is that is one more device that wont be used against us. All in all "we" as a bunch of reservists are doing a mighty fine job completing our mission, and I am pretty damn proud being able to do the thing! s that I am doing.
I have keeping notes on all the cool things that have happened so I will have plenty of stories to tell you old guys . I know now that this is where Iam supposed to be and this is what I am supposed to be doing, its such a rush being a Trailblazer even with all the hazards. We as a platoon have built a close bond and really work well together and it helps because our missions run smoothly. So I guess I can say everything is going alright for now. Well its time for bed I have another mission in the morning, I will write later.
Your son, Chris
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May 5, 2005
Hey Dad,
I am sending you some images that that we would like to put on some t-shirts. Please forward them to Nick and Jeff to see if they would be interested in doing them. We are looking about 2dzn at first and maybe more later. E-mail me back at my address with the info.
Your loving son, Chris
May 6, 2005
Hey Mom,
I hope you liked your flowers, thanks for the e-cards they are all pretty funny. So I got an e-mail from aunt Nancy, she is hilarious, she said that she likes her new job and that she is looking for job for me. I tried going to the website but its kinda confusing. There are also a lot of guys here that would probably benefit from her service.
Its looking more like June that I will be able to come home, I frickin hope so Iam ready for a break. Our command has added a new route to our patrols which is longer and potentially more dangerous, but everywhere outside the FOB is dangerous. The weather has been really strange lately, in the morning it will be sunny and hot and by the evenings its rains like a monsoon. WEIRD!.
Other than that I am doing fine, if you could send me e-mail address from Backdoor board shop again I would like to write them to say thank you for the stickers. So how have you guys been? How are the dogs? Would you guys send me some new pics of the dogs I would like to see how big Shilo has gotten. Well tell every one I say hi and that I am doing just fine.
Love your son, Chris
May 9, 2005
Hello Mother,
Sorry I wasn't able to call you on Mother's day but we were on black out status. But a Happy Mother's Day all the same and I hope you had a great one even with out me. I really glad you liked your flowers, its the best I could do being this far away.
So how are you guys doing, is everything at the shop going well? How are the dogs? It has been really hot over here, and I have been working my butt off. Sorry this is so short but it is late and I have a mission in the morning so I will write more later. Love you, and don't worry I am doing just fine.
Love your son, Chris
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May 21, 2005
Hey Dad,
How's it going? Not so much is new here we have been busy doing missions but it has been fairly quiet in our AO. Today we were called out to investigate a IED explosion near one of our checkpoints and when we showed up it was like an episode of COPs. The explosion which we traced back to be a homemade personal mine killed an Iraqi civilian, but is was set off to help defuse a family feud. Pretty much, brother1 set a bomb up in the bushes waited for brother2 to come home, then blew brother2 in half. So we were told from the IA's and the Georgians, by the time we showed up the body was already hauled off. But we did the investigation and door kicking but came up empty handed.
That is really all the excitement that has gone on around lately. I made a purchase on friday of a set of turkish rugs for $950, I wanted to give you a heads up. The carpets are really nice looking blues which will match my apartment. the set i! includes a 9x12, 7x11 which is for you and mom, 2x8, and two 3x3. The cost included shipping so I should be getting them while I am at home on leave. How are the t-shirts coming along? Just curious. Well I will talk to you later.
Your son, Chris P.S. I m working on getting more pics to send you guys too.
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June 27, 2005
Hey dad,
So guess what? I am now apart of the Special Equipment Squad.Yippeee! Not! Its cool that I get to run all the special equipment but now I get to go on all the missions. Where as before I had a couple of days off, I now have one day off every nine days. Can you say busy, its really not that bad though because it allows for time to go by faster. It does increase my chances of getting hit more often but that goes with the job.
So Hawaii, well I think I can find a few extra hands to help with the labor. Australia then Hawaii I think next summer is going to be really fun. Its good to hear that all the projects are starting to run smoothly, and that you guys a staying really busy that will hopefully take your mind off of Emily going away to school. Well at least for you, I think mom is going to be bothered by whether or not she shows it. Well my time is running out so I will write when I get the chance.
Love, Chris |
July 6, 2005
Hey Dad,
WOW! That is really awesome how you guys handled the parade so well, I wish I was there to see it all go down. It has been kinda of hectic here too, we didn't have any fire works until last nite, but we sure did have a lot of IED's in the last couple of days. Our fire works consisted of 500lb. bombs, Apache gunships, M1A1's, RPG's and alot more shit. I cant tell you exactly what happen yet because of security reasons but it was pretty wild. This is really the first chance I have had to even get close to a computer for a couple days and not a lot of time. The gist is We are all doing good, yes it is still hot 130+, I have been extremely busy with the Special Equipment putting it all to good use. I will try to write as soon as I can but the Army doesn't work around my schedule. Love you guys and tell everyone I said HI!.
Your son, Chris |
July 7, 2005
Dad,
Let me tell you, You do not want to Screw with the Army. We tore some Iraqi ass up yesterday, 1st platoon got ambushed with small arms and RPG's, my buddy Dan's truck got hit with a rocket. The rocket blew a hole in the engine so the truck was toast but Dan unloaded with his MK 19 remember that's a 40mm auto grenade launcher. He was telling me he went through an entire case of ammo which is 48 rounds. The other trucks maneuvered for suppressive fire and towed Dan's truck out of the kill zone.
Then three of the five trucks went back to engage the enemy, after about 20 mins of shooting the squad of M1's showed, which is about the same time our patrol rolled up, but the commander told us to stand down because of our special equipment. So we parked in a box attack formation just in case and watched from about 1km away with a clear view.
The tanks shot everything, I was looking through my NVG's watching tracers pound the crap out of the tree line. Then the Apaches gunships raised hell from above 30mm cannon, hellfire missiles all this for 6 insurgents. But that wasn't it, Hammer 6 the Brigade commander for our area brought in the Air force and they dropped a couple 500lb. bombs on the area which made for some cool fireworks.
It was all exciting I just wish that our element would have been able to move in and help our guys, but the tankers didn't want us to get in the way and I wasn't about to argue with them. All in all it lasted for about an hour and a half and none of our guys got hurt, so it was a good night. We had just found an IED but that was all forgotten about. It has been a rough few days, hot and miserable but we are still kickin ass and after what happened last night it should be calm for the next few days, I think. I have to go I think we are getting mortared, tell everyone I said HI and that I am safe.
Love, Chris
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July 10, 2005
Hey Dad,
Here are the specs on the Computer that they have at the PX, Toshiba M35X-51143
60gb Hard drive 512mb ram wireless internet all for $899 Do sent sound like a bad deal does it? Let me know what you think, and I am still working on some ideas for you.
Love Chris |
July 21, 2005
Hey dad this is going to be short.
You are correct I have been very busy IED's car bombs etc.Once again our internet is on the fritz so communication is few and far between, I will try to contact Darlene when I get a chance, and ask Carl and Beth more about there CEO friend, that would be a great contact after I get out of here. Well everything is fine I am doing well, Its still hot. We got a newer version of the Buffalo the other week, same design just new add-ons, which we are putting to the test of course. I have also been taken up as the unofficial caretaker of it as well. Maintenance and operations all seem to go through me, what I mean is my Lt.,and PLT SGT. come to me if something needs to get done with the buffalo. Its my new best friend so to speak. That's it for now time is almost up, I will try my hardest to write.
Love your son, Chris p.s. thank for the packages i got both of them. |
July 23, 2005
Hey Dad, I like it, what about adding an outline of a bomb underneath the cross hairs to give a better sense. Also what about the t-shirts? I ll pitch it to some of the guys here to get some more ideas.
Talk to you later. Chris |
July 25, 2005 hey Dad,
yeah it looks good, we could experiment with different fonts and colors but I like the design. A couple more guys have ben asking about the t-shirts again so I was wondering if I could get at least 20 confirmed shirts what Nick and Jeff would say. I think that it would only take a few of them for the rest of the company to follow.
Let me know. Love, Chris |
August 3, 2005 Hey Dad,
Geez I thought you didn't like me anymore or something. Anyways here is my plan: Scheme 1 Blue - Tshirt White/w black outline - text/skull Red - crosshairs Black - 155mm round Scheme 2 Red - tshirt Blue/w black outline - text/skull white - crosshairs black - 155mm round
Scheme 3 White - tshirt Red/w black outline - text/skull Blue - crosshairs Text : left front chest: TRAILBLAZERS (Image) A. Co. 467th En. Bn. OIF III 1/2in letters Old English or font that is close to it. Back: APACHE- 3in. (image) IED HUNTERS - 2in or size to fit. I want to stick with the patriotic theme(red,white,blue) send me 24 for right now, 12 Larges/12 x-larges. I have 14 for sure orders, but I don't want to take a huge hit if nobody else wants any. And if I need more I will let you know hopefully this will open up a good resource for us but I want to take it slow and small at first. These guys are looking for deals because "we are soldiers" so $20 a shirt will be kinda high and not everybody will be willing to pay that price. Well let me what you can do and when you can get the final proof posted let me know. I am still working on other ideas as well but my brain can only handle so much at one time. Thanks again and I will soon.
Love, Chris |
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August 6, 2005 Hey Dad,
Before final print changes on the artwork. can we move the "apache" text out of the skull and put that above and get rid of the 155mm round completely. Allowing the skull image to be larger. Also about the ordering, I didn't take into consideration that each person wants more than one shirt color and size. So, how do you want me to send the orders? Other than that tings are good, our buffalo is back after getting some cosmetic work down. It got hit the other week shredding the hydraulic lines but that is it. And as usual guard duty sucked. I was in a tower with a guy who was a compulsive liar , it drove me up the wall. But that is all over now and I am back on the road. We also have a reporter from the New York Times riding with us this week. We'll see how that goes.
That's all for now, talk to you later. Love, Chris |
August 24, 2005 hey dad,
We have only gotten busier since I last talked to you, we got hit the other morning which was pretty hectic nobody got hurt just a little rattled. I have been chosen to speak with the 42ID Sergeant Major for whatever reason so time to turn on the charm. Time is definitely ticking away we only have a couple of months left which is fine by me, I think I did my part making an impression ont the people of Iraq. I don't have any hard feeing towards too many of them, just the ones that have tried to blow me up.
Well talk to you later. Love, Chris |
August 28, 2005
Hey Dad,
Yeah it sounds good, does it have wireless capabilities?Other than that it sounds like a good deal. Everything here is gong well, just the same ol' stuff our patrol got ht again last night but no damage. We got a new remote camera put onto the Buffalo which is just about worthless. It has no night vision capabilities so we cant use it at night. And we still don't have sufficient lights on the damn thing because the company's mechanics say they don't deal with lights. Frustrating, very frustrating, but what do I know Iam just an E-4.
Don't worry about my toe, its fine if it hasn't killed me yet than I can wait a little bit longer to see a real doctor. Well I am goin to get some sleep, I will write later and the computer deal sound good.
Love, Chris |
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September 8, 2005
Hey Dad,
We have been counting down the days but we all put it at the back of our minds cause we still have a mission to accomplish. Even though things have gotten pretty rough you will be happy to know that I have gotten an unofficial promotion. I missed the cutoff for this months promotion board but my PS has not taken that into account, he see's me fit to be a TC or Truck Commander. Majority of the time I am running the buffalo but I have TC'd a gun truck a few time already. Its pretty nerve racking but I am confident in my self and the guys that are with me so that takes a little of the edge off.
So I took your advice and checked out the PX and bought myself a computer, its a toshiba A85-s107. It has a celeron M processor, 1.4GHz, 15" screen, 256mb ram that is upgradable and a 40GB harddrive. Iam pretty excited, I think it was a good purchase for only $740.00 even. I am actually writing this e-mail from it, cool huh?
So hows everything back home? How are the t-shirts coming? Some of the guys are getting antsy so I thought I would check on them. I just hope that after all this is said and done I don't go crazy being at home, its will be nice to be home and walk around knowing that there isn't a bounty on my head, or drive down the street without the fear of missing an IED that can potentially kill me or my fellow soldiers. Its rough over here right now but these SOB's will get their judgment, sooner of later. Well I will write later tell everyone I said Hi and that I am doing fine.
Love Chris |
September 11, 2005
Hey Dad,
I did feel a lot better after I talked to you the other night, thanks for listening. I needed an outside source to talk to, its has been really crazy the last couple of days. We found another one today that makes 11 in just as many days. We thought we had the guy today so we pumped some Mark19 rounds into our surrounding area to maybe scare the guy out of hiding but nothing. Then a sniper team came to pull security for us but we didn't stick around long enough to see what happened. I'm sure we will hear more about it tomorrow.
So tell me more about these kiosks, what are your locations in SD? And what is Uncle Jim's part in all of this? It sounds like a great idea and definitely a good project for me to work on when I get back. Well I have an early mission in the morning so I will talk to you later.
Thanks again for listening and I will remember to take it easy. Love, Chris |
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September 15, 2005
Hey Dad,
I think I'm going to go with the Blue shirt with white text and image, remember just the skull not the picture of the round. I'm thinking two packages of 48=96. Groups of 32 for the sizes, L,XL,XXL that will cover the orders that I have already and then once the rest get here the extra 48 will cover any extras.
So I have become an internet Icon, interesting, maybe I should do some bikini pics to bring in the younger crowd hahahaha. Just kidding, but look forward to some more pictures we have some really knarly ones of when both our Buffaloes were hit. Its amazing you look at the damage of these vehicles and think holy crap and everybody walked away. But know we are up and running again and taking it to these bastards. Think December as to the time that I will be coming home we still have to wait for our replacements to relieve us. Tell everyone that Iam doing fine and that I say Hi.
Love Chris |
September 20, 2005
Hey Dad,
I like it lets get started on the shirts as soon as possible. I've got some good news too, I am putting in my packet for E-5 again but this time another Battalion staff will be going over our papers so that might up my chances for getting it. Well that's all the news for right now I'm glad I got to talk to you and Mom the other day is was good to hear you guys. I will keep you updated on my promotion, wish me luck.
Love Chris |
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October 2, 2005
Hey Dad,
Well we have a lot in store for us this month, Rammadaan and the elections. As trailblazers we haven't seen an influx in much but alot of the infantry guys have. As well as other parts of the country. We found one last night and we got really lucky, it was surfaced laid which is no big deal but after we had cleared the surrounding area and moved about 150-200m it blew. Our warlock system saved our ass big time. We also had a new medic(female) and it was her first find and hit so she earned her CAB(combat action badge). For us it was just another day.
It will be interesting to see what is going to happen in the next few weeks, gotta keep our guard up. In regard to what happens when I get home lets discuss that when I get closer to being home, of course I am up for the challenge but I want to be prepared for it instead of jumping in to it. I have so many things I want to do when I get back its kind of overwhelming to think about now. Thanks for everything and thanks for getting those t-shirts out for me it will be a good deal.
Talk to you later. Love, Chris |
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October 4, 2005
Hey Dad,
Awesome,awesome,awesome, sound like everything is going great. I am excited to get the shirts, so are the guys that ordered them.
Well we had a pretty hellacious day, on our second leg back to the FOB we came upon some IA's who said that they had a car bomb up the road. So we called into American EOD and they came out to check it and blow it up, its really cool we have some video of it I'll send you a copy of it if I can figure out how. So EOD blew the crap out of the car but the car had 9x155mm in the back and only 4 were totally destroyed.
And that's were I come in, we loaded into the Buffalo along with the EOD NCO to check the wreckage. The initial blast spewed rounds all around the wreckage and road so I got the task of finding and bringing all the loose rounds to a central location to blow. It took a while but I did it as well as rescued the bombbot and placed the charge for EOD. So our 4hr mission turned out to be 9hrs and now I get to go right back out and do it again in about an hour but I wanted to write before I left. I get some pics and video its pretty crazy.
Love Chris |
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October 6, 2005 Hey Mom,
You are really spoiling Shilo I hope ms. rose isn't getting jealous. Thanks for picking up the shirts all the guys are really excited to get them. Its that time already for the ornaments, that's crazy, and its a different design from last year that's awkward.
The weather is starting to cool down a bit now, at least at night. Most of our missions are either in the early morning or late at night so I sleep during the day. Really the only time I go outside is to the bathroom or to the gym or maybe chow. But winter is on its way and the rain and cold will be here soon and then we have to worry about not getting sick. Iam staying pretty healthy so I am not to worried. Other than that things are really good keeping my head down and eyes open. Within the last couple of days my record for IED's has gone up and now I think I have the most found in the platoon, cool huh. Out of 40 ied's I have only had seven go off on me and only 2 were direct hits and that's not to shabby.
Well talk to you later tell everyone I said Hi.
love ya, Chris |
October 6, 2005
Hey Mom,
I wish that I wouldn't find any more IED's also but that's not going to happen. But guess what I was awarded a coin by the Brigade Colonel for excellence so all my hard work is being noticed. Its nice to know that our higher echelon realizes what we are doing. Well I just wanted to write to tell you guys that. Nothing else is happening except for more patrols. Talk to you later.
Love, Chris |
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