A Call Home

Brendan called home yesterday and we were able to talk for over 40 minutes which was pretty sweet. He's sounding good and seems to be able to keep himself busy. Most days start way too early in the morning with PT and training classes. He finally got to see the tanks in action the other day. I think he was a bit disappointed that they don't make more of a "BOOM". I'm sure the folks on the receiving end would beg to differ.
Brendan is one of only 2 infantry men in the unit so they've made a bond. Both are young privates and outsiders in the unit.One thing I've learned quick about the military is that everyone thinks they're better than the other. Brendan and his buddy spend alot of time working out in the gym and he's taking alot of protein to help him bulk up. As heavy as his bags are he's required to carry around he could use all the muscle he can get.
He bought a laptop before he left. Someone decided to use his bag as flooring and busted the laptop that was in it. That laptop is the one thing that keeps him in touch with Rachel and Caiden on a daily basis so he had to buy a new one.
Everyday plans seem to change as to when they are leaving for Iraq. It was next week , then it was next month then back again so who knows. Only thing for sure is that they'll be working along side the Marines. Love that considering how much the two always talk crap about the other. Since we are slowly pulling out if Iraq I don't see much use for tanks so I asked him what they would do. Just sit and wait for a need to blow something up? The answer is foot patrol.
He hasn't seen any combat pay or separation pay in his checks yet. Payroll always seems to be an issue in some way or another. With men moving from base to base and circumstances always changing it has to be hard to keep track of everything. Eventually it all seems to get straightened around. His leave days is another story. He came home as a hometown recruit after basic and was suppose to get those 14 days backs but he hasn't seen it yet.
Sobering news , these soldiers are also 1st Cav and left just weeks before Brendan did:

9-Feb 4 Lt. Col. Garnet R. Derby, 44, of Missoula, Mont. ,
Sgt. Joshua A. Ward, 30, of Scottsville, Ky.,
Pfc. Albert R. Jex, 23, of Phoenix, Ariz., and
Pfc. Jonathan R. Roberge, 22, of Leominster, Mass. died Feb. 9 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. This is a link to the article on these heros:
http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/02/19/17106-greywolf-battalion-commander-killed-by-ied-in-mosul-dies-alongside-three-of-his-personal-security-detachment-his-interpreter/index.html

Here is the website for the 1st Calvary:
http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/


Here is a link to a journal written by a soldier stationed at Camp Buehring which is where Brendan is at the moment. He's got some great pictures of the camp so you can see what Brendan sees every day.
http://www.serving-in-iraq.com/Main-Pages/Serving_in_Iraq_Journal_Camp_Buehring%20_Kuwait.htm

And here's a blog that a comedian did on her trip to the camp.
http://www.jenisfamous.com/2007/08/mideast-tour-camp-buehring-kuwait.html

Here are some newspaper articles with some good pics.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/1761497/US-Army-070423145228

And lastly a great slide show of pictures found on the Stars and Stripes website.
http://www.stripes.com/08/mar08/5iraq/