Deloyment Day 14

Leroy called today from Baghdad. Linda was home but I was at school doing a walk through with the Board of Trustees. Leroy reports:

• snowed yesterday in Baghdad ("and you know what snow and dirt make!" Leroy)
• received combat patches yesterday in a ceremony out in the snow - has an eagle on both arms
• worked today - did nothing
• tomorrow works from 6 - 4 in the mailroom then has tower duty the next day and then has a day off
• midnight to noon will be his regular hours
• at the new FOB (Forward Operating Base) he will be doing casualty reports
• today was up to 58F.
• has free postage for sending mail
• mail takes 4-5 day to and from Iraq
• from the air it looks like the midwest landscape except for really old ruins and occasional patches of desert
• Suni areas nice because Sadam took care of them
• Shiite areas not so well taken care of
• Suni's are cooperating with us (multi-national force)
• during his downtime he watches movies, goes to the rec. room
• there is no time for PT (Physical Training), but soldiers go on their own to the gym
• he power walks 2 miles to work each day - likes to sleep in
  
• taking pixs on 2 disposable cameras and will send home for Kristen to develop
• stomach ok, but no appetite - never hungry - easts because he know he has to, but getting better
• still feels jet lag - gets sick feeling when playing video games
• bosses taking good care of him
• works with a lot of brass - getting to know his captain - a very relaxed atmosphere in the office
• may get leave in June
• only 6 people working in the office
• on the humorous side a staff sgt. locked another one out of the office, Leroy had one sgt. telling him to let him in and the other telling him to keep the door locked, eventually Leroy let him in
• calling card ran out of time, so this is all for now from Leroy

Kristen update

• spending time with wife of other soldiers
• missing Leroy
• has been attending FRG (Family Resource Group) meetings which has been helpful
• the FRG is headed by the wife of Leroy's captain and Kristen is getting to know her well
• she is thinking of getting a job
• her friend Amanda (wife of another soldier) if moving close to Kristen and Leroy's place

Thank you for continuing to keep Leroy and Kristen in your prayers. Remember you can use the comment area to write messages to Leroy and Kristen, but remember these are public so anyone can read them.