You are sooo funny!! Maybe you'll get the answer my husband got, "We know when you are not going home." He asked, "When is that?" and they replied with, "TOMORROW". I thought that was just terrible. Keep your your head up and hopefully it won't be long until you're home. Maybe it will be a nice early surprise we hope!

God Bless you and all your men, Lord knows we miss you all back home. Be safe out there in the sandbox, steer clear of leery towel heads. :D Thank you for continuing support of a much needed effort out there.

Much love,
Em

what else is new, eh? *rolls eyes* (again)

SNAFUR defined once again. The scary part is that the US Military is most likely the best organized of our government institutions. It is starting to sound like someone doesn’t want to release some soldier assets but don’t really know what to do with them until events unfold to clearly define what task they should perform.

I just had a thought. Do they have Sergeants on the General staff?

I just realized people outside my circle of friends don't know SNAFUR. This term originated in an email I wrote some time ago. The official pronunciation is still out. The two most common are Sna-'Fur or Sna-'Foo-er. SNAFUR = Situation Normal, All Fouled Up - Repeatedly! Proper use has not been established yet either, but the first foul up is a SNAFU. After two or three attempts fail to fix the SNAFU, it is a SNAFUR. Some have suggested that an R be added for each management cycle. Thus a SNAFURRR (or SNAFU-RRR) would represent 5 or 6 attempts to fix the situation. This has not caught on too much because once the situation evolves to SNAFUR, everything after is just “Groundhog Day” or Deja Vue all over again. (Pardon my French.)

I sit here and can only see you saying "do you want to see my surprised face". That in itself makes me laugh.
At least you have crossed the half way point(hopefully). If you could have only gotten there earlier instead of playing with General Winter for a couple of months. Not that I wished you there at the time but considering how the rules have changed it sure would be nice to have the countdown at closer to 133 (how's my math?).
Thursday night Husker game going on tonight so let out a little cheer a bit early (hooray).

Miss you!

I heard that some are coming home for 2 weeks then returning to the sand box. I hope that will be the case for you also. Take care!!

Thank you for all you are doing...

Keep up the good work, and come back soon...

God Bless!!

Hi Will,
Glad you're keeping your wonderful sense of humor through all this. I can't imagine how this must test one's patience. I think I would have gone bonkers by now.
Many people out there have you guys in their thoughts and prayers. I'm glad to hear you're "over the hump" so to speak, with over 6 months in country. I too hope that maybe they'll send you guys home for 2-3 weeks for an R&R.
Hang in there and stay safe.

I have to agree with Dawn... the more I read of your blog and the blogs of others, (turingingwheels, Soldiers paradise, etc) I am amazed by your situation and perserverence. I had thought at one time that you were an officer... for that I apologize.
Just a note for JG... something that is SNAFUR or worse has been known as FUBAR (Fouled up beyond all recognition)
Hang in there, Will, we're trying to get you home as soon as we can.

Hello Will,

Things are unpredictable aren't they? It rather confusing for me. I even stopped wonder what is going on in over there so I don't have to worry about for nothing. Althought, I really wish that I could know when my bf coming home. I'm sure your gf feel the same. Oh, I heard that Iraq soldier will get brief R&R. (OK, I admit I'm still wonder about things). This is a great news isn't it? At least they will get to be home for a while soon.

P.S. Thank you very much for sharing your feelings in the web site. My bf won't talk about anything related the war and your comments are easing my mind in some level.

Stay safe,

N

I just stopped by on a chance since I like reading about people I hardly know about and getting a sense of what type of person they are. Speaking from a little experience in Military life myself I hope that things work well out there for you. My father was a marine himself not very imaginative but that is a tradition in my family that has followed to this day. Every firstborn dedicates his life to at least 5 years or makes a military career out of it. Great Grandfathers view was that its a way to give back to something that happened way before us and to remember the fallen hero's of our past... I have never once seen my grandfather cry because he was a hard and relentless man but I know when my grandmother died a little piece of his happiness was gone because after that he never smiled!!! I have recently read the letters he wrote my grandmother while in the service. I never got to see this side of my grandfather so full of hope and life because he was seriously affected by all that he saw when he was younger. But he use to write some poetry to my grandmother that I thought was beautiful. The letters he written to her held so much humor and loneliness of just being home with her and missing his life.

Things I Miss
I miss waking up to you every morning
I miss you arguing with me
I miss the times you laughed
I miss your kisses
I miss you stealing the covers
I miss the smile you gave me
I miss you burning the cooking
I miss you losing all my socks
Most of all I miss everyting about you

:::sorry for the rant::::

You just reminded me what I have forgotten for awhile while going on with my daily life activities. I hope that you make it out safe from Iraq so that your mother has a son to look forward too. Too many have already died over there don't let the next one be you...

And as always my prayers and thoughts will be for you and your family so that you will be safe from Harm...

Sincerely,

Cassandra Ellis

Will,

Thanks for the good job you all do with the blog and thanks for your service to America. I'm sorry about the uncertainty re: your deployment.

Here's something that might make the time your there more interesting, meaningful or bearable ... I'd appreciate your help in making Americans serving in Iraq aware of Spirit of America. Following is some background information.

Spirit of America (SoA) is a nonprofit that helps Americans serving abroad make a bigger and more positive impact. We enable Americans serving abroad to make requests for goods that will help local people. SoA then finds donors in the United States to fulfill the requests, arranges shipment of the goods to the requestors and publicizes the results to donors and the broader public. We recently completed our "pilot phase" where we fulfilled requests from Marines serving in Iraq - one for dental supplies and one for soccer jerseys. All the goods included an insert to help communicate that Americans are friends and allies of the Iraqi people (see the attached). Getting that message across is a critical objective of ours and is one of the primary reasons we exist. We are now gearing up for our official launch in October and are able to accept requests from other servicemen and women. Our Web site has more information at www.spiritofamerica.net.

Anyone who would like to make a request can simply send me an email: jim-at-spiritofamerica.net - and we'll do the best we can to help. Please let me know if you can get the word out to those serving in Iraq. We're not looking for lots of exposure just a few emails to servicemen and women who may wish to make a request. Feel free to forward this message.

Also, I'd be happy to put you in touch with those we've worked with most closely in getting our system, etc. figured out - two Marines and one Army Special Forces Sergeant. They can vouch for what we're up to but the Web site will give you the idea.

Thanks
Jim H

Will and Friends,
We have a CD (or two) of songs, poems and essays in support of your efforts in Iraq.

There aren't more than 90 copies, but we're willing to send them to troopers (and trooperettes) on the lines, especially Iraq, Kuwait, Afghan...

They're homespun love, sung to your hearts and ears from our hearts and voices. Please respond TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS, with a valid name in-country, and this old ASA-Vet will forward a copy or two to you. We ain't gonna send any CD players, you gotta provide those yerself, but you surely got Walkmans and PC-desktops and laptops and other players...

Our way of supporting and sending some 'Attaboys' to America's best, serving in harm's way.

Straight-Talking Sharpshooter

Hello Will,
It could be strange for us apprehend your worry because we haven't a father,a brother,a boyfriend in this desert's earth.Instead our thought is for you.We hope that next plan is your return to home.Hey boy,you don't forget:stop to smoke.The life is a game to take seriously and the laugh is the distance more little between two persons,do you know this?Now smile:I'll disseminate rose's petals every step...I'll cover of honey the path....I'll trhow down scented oils slowly your way....safely berfore or then you'll slip!hahahaha..Perhaps our english is horrid how for trnslated?...help...
With love all you
Adriana and Milena

Hi Will,

Hope to hear from you again soon. It's been awhile. You know how we all worry. I imagine you must be really busy, and it's not like you can just get to a modem in the middle of nowhere. You guys are in our thoughts and prayers, and I hope wherever you are, you all are safe.

To all service personnel:
I know the uncertainty of your deployment length is probably wearing thin by now. Be strong. Not only for yourselves and your families, but for the rest of this great nation. We are forever in your debt. Though many are ungracious there are many more grateful. Don't forget. We love you all for the brave men and women you are. You are in our thoughts each day and in our prayers every night. Know you are not alone. I work in law enforcement and know that the ungrateful make the loudest noise. Do not listen to them. There are many millions of us that love this country and rely on the sacrifice of those much younger and able to sustain themselves throughout this hardship.GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS THIS COUNTRY!