Hello All,
Well Ramadan is practically over and we haven't seen any real excitement. Our motto here is a slow day is a good day. My boys are making some adjustments to the Combat Bun-Hugger environment, the strike vote didn't pass by the way, but overall things are going alright here in Iraq.
I would like to talk for a moment about the Hummer. The HMMVEE (it's too early for me to remember what the acronym stands for) is a pretty good vehicle for the most part, but here are some things that I would like to change.
First is Armor. The only way you can have too much armor on a truck is if it can't move and becomes a bunker. Speed is a shield in an ambush, but if it takes more than one RPG to knock you out, time will be your ally and allow you to return fire. You might have read about the 'up-armor' that is currently being deployed throughout the Army, and from what I've seen I'm green with envy.
Second is the space inside the truck. Not enough leg room for tall soldiers and the width of the seats is also too small after you pack on all your crap. Granted the reason for this is to keep everything important above the frame so we can drive through rougher terrain, but I'm gonna bitch about it anyway.
My third gripe come down to the heater vents. They're centrally located in the dash and while they work well, I feel like I should be on a spit for even cooking.
These aren't big things and are easily worked with/around and comparatively minor on the long list of things that irk me daily, but it's a slow news week and I wanted to get something out. I know that some of you might think that no news means trouble, but believe me when I say this... No News is Good News.
I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving. They are cooking up turkeys and stuffing and REAL potatoes (YES!) for us here so that will be nice.
I love you all,
Will
Hi Will,
Glad to hear you get real spuds for Turkey day.
Better than us here in California. Rumor has it that the teamsters are going to support the grocers strike so there may not be any turkeys or hams for Thanksgiving--or they'll be in short supply.
Don't worry though, we're glad they got yours to you first. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Maybe you can come up with some kind of vent diversion system until they can make some sense out of the Humvee. (See Army Intelligence!)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
We're adding you to our "I'm thankful for.." list on Thursday.
Keep up the great work. Kisses to that nephew...
A soldier's mom...
Posted by: Katherine on November 26, 2003 02:17 AMWill -- wishing you all a Happy Quiet Thanksgiving over there. I'll say a special prayer in hopes that you will ALL return to the U.S. soon.
Posted by: Theresa on November 26, 2003 06:30 AMHi Will, Thanksgiving is a time to sit back and reflect on our past and all we have to be thankfull for. Enjoy your meal, and have a happy thanksgiving. Thanks for the updates.
I am thankful for your service. Please pass our gratitude on to your people. Know that an old lady in Memphis keeps you in her thoughts and prayers every day.
Posted by: Karen Tynes on November 26, 2003 08:28 AMNo news is good news, but we want to hear from you anyway!
Keep up the good work, Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy "real" potatoes!
Like Katherine says, you're on our To Be Thankful For list.
Posted by: Mary on November 26, 2003 08:31 AMGod Bless You Will......here's hoping you have a uneventful Thanksgiving. Just let everyone know how thankful we are for people like you and the troops. God Bless you.
Keep writing even when not much is happening.
debby
Posted by: debby on November 26, 2003 08:53 AMHave the happiest and safest Thanksgiving possible!
Posted by: Kathy on November 26, 2003 09:07 AMGlad to hear you'll have a real Thanksgiving meal but I'm sure it would taste better if eaten with your family. I'm sure they will be thinking of you and will miss you greatly as you do them. I hope you have a good one anyway, Will. Stay safe.
Posted by: Kami on November 26, 2003 09:38 AMWill -
God Bless You and your unit. My son got back a few days ago, yes a true blessing and much to be Thankful for, there's a part of my heart that remains sad because I still have over 100,000 sons and daughters out there . I will continue to keep the faith, you my dear keep your head up and never lose your sense of humor (God Bless Your Mom!)
Many Blessings and Prayers going your way.
Keeping the Faith
A.
Happy to hear that you will be getting REAl potatoes! Have a Safe & as Happy has you can Thanksgiving to your family and your extended family over their!! From all of us here in Ca. Stay Safe & warm!!
And Will's Mom thanks for having such a neat son!
Ok, just one question...you say there's not enough leg room for tall soldiers - I am assuming you've heard this secondhand :)
I'm glad they are able to give you a decent meal for Thanksgiving. Won't be like the year I was in Cancun and we had some sort of "turkey loaf" - think Spam (spam, spam, spam - sing it with me now).
Here's wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving. There's a lot to be thankful for and you and the people who serve with you top the list.
P.S. Latest Husker update - rumors of Frankie getting the boot. We've got Colorado on Friday, could be another ugly one.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all our troops! God Bless you all! Enjoy your potatoes and stay safe! By the way, love your postings. I don't personally have any family over there, but know quite a few people who have loved ones stationed afar. We pray for you all often!
Posted by: Annette on November 26, 2003 10:59 AMWill,
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope it's a good day for you. I know it could be TONS better if you were home and surrounded by family, but take comfort in the fact that you are in their hearts - and in all of our hearts back home.
I, too, am thankful for you and all the other soldiers. Without brave people like you we wouldn't be enjoying the freedoms that we do. Thank you so much for your sacrifice. And Thank You to Will's family, too, for sharing him with us.
Take care, stay safe, and don't forget to stop off in Arkansas when you get back stateside.
Posted by: Joelle on November 26, 2003 11:56 AMWill,
I hope that you and your troops hae a great Thankgiving. You are all in our prayers especially on turkey day. Stay safe and warm.
I too would like to thank Will's mom for having such a neat son.
Jan
Posted by: Jan on November 26, 2003 12:22 PMWill,
I hope that you and your troops have a great Thanksgiving. You are all in our prayers especially on turkey day. Stay safe and warm.
I too would like to thank Will's mom for having such a neat son.
Jan
Posted by: Jan on November 26, 2003 12:23 PMHappy Thanksgiving to all of Will's supporters from his family!
As we give thanks for our blessings we remember all of you and your thoughts and prayers for our family. We celebrated Thanksgiving with Jacob and his family this past weekend. We missed having Will with us but are thankful that he is safe. Jacob is without a doubt the cutest baby ever (and Grandma is definitely NOT prejudiced).
May all of you have a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Will's family
Posted by: will's mom on November 26, 2003 01:08 PMHappy and peaceful Thanksgiving to you and all the rest of our American soldiers that are far from home. Our prayers are always for you and the other soldiers.
from the Big O
Sue
May you all be Blessed in many ways. I can't help but think of all you men and women over in a place that is unsettleing.
My son is 17 and that is all he can think about is how he is joining the marines. My heart is aching over what will be but in the end I will be proud no matter what he decides. So thank you for your updates and know that this mother thinks of all you sons and daughters. May god keep you safe.
Giving Thanks on this thanksgiving for our Freedom and those who are willing to Fight for it.
Will ~ Hope you and your guys have a great Thanksgiving and stay safe and warm. We're all thinking of you guys back here in the US.
Take care, Sammy
Posted by: Sammy on November 26, 2003 06:54 PMIt's actually HMMWV (High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle)......but who cares.
Be safe and good luck with the rest of your time there-
Posted by: DT on November 26, 2003 07:03 PMMy Dearest Darling Will,
I can live with the teamsters and grocers going on strike but I would surely die if your "boys" were to do the same.
"Boys" dont fail me now! America needs a set of "boys" like Will's. I'm thinking that the rest of the countries who are lacking courage to take intitiative to get in dere and get da job done ought to get a set too.
Will- For the love of cheese logs and kevlar nut cups don't let any harm come to those "boys!" If they are raving bout how cute dat Jacob is (and rightly so.) Well then let me just tell you how cute one of Will's little one's would be, ya know?
On Thanksgiving I will count you and all the troops amongst my many blessings. Wish you were here to stuff the turkey by giblet.
We really need to establish a countdown clock now dontcha think?
Posted by: SzaffireBlue on November 26, 2003 08:35 PMHi Will,
Happy Thanksgiving! I've been thinking of you guys. It's great to hear that things have been quiet in your neck of the woods. It's cold here in the frozen tundra, but no snow yet. I'm thinking of you guys and you all are in my prayers. Sometimes I feel a little depressed that you guys are having to be over there over the holidays. I want you to know that many, many of us appreciate so much the sacrifices that you all are making for our freedom. Your posts really show a very cool human side to what's going on over there. And I can't praise you enough for your sense of humor. You amaze me!
If you guys need anything, please let all of your rabid readers know. We would do just about anything for you.
Hang in there and stay safe.
Hi Will,
Happy Thanksgiving. Have a peaceful day and eat way too much. No Humming today. Just stay in.
Take Care
Williams family
Posted by: Williams family on November 27, 2003 03:00 AMHappy ThanksGiving! I love you...becareful
Posted by: Scarlett on November 27, 2003 07:57 AMHi Will!
I just wanted to wish you and all of our wonderful servicemen and women a very safe and happy Thanksgiving! I pray you will all be home soon, safe and sound, and that our mission in Iraq and Afghanistan will be a complete success. Thanks again for your dedication and sacrifices so the rest of us can be safe! You are definately NOT unappreciated!
Stay out of those helicopters!!
Sincerely, Connie
Will,
Today is Thanksgiving and our family just finished our meal. So many things to be thankful for... Our thoughts turn to you and your fellow soldiers in the sand. We love each and every one of you and pray for your safety and well-being. Please know that there are those of us here at home that stand firmly behind you and what you're fighting for. There are yellow ribbons on our tree in your honor. When our son came home, we just kept them up and added more in honor of the soldiers that replaced him. We never forget and we are very grateful.
The Sauls Family
A day late (or I guess nearly two for you), but ... Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: JrzyGyrl on November 28, 2003 07:01 AMWhooo Hooooo!!! You got some semblence of a Thanksgiving Dinner...yea!!
Keep your spirits up, Will.
Godspeed,
Judi
heh. turkey day. didja have that 'mandatory fun' they schedule? over at the 21st CSH near Balad, someone procured the hospital staff a live turkey--and it got loose. climbed up to the tent ridgepole and crowed, then came down and made a dash for the flightline thru contertina wire, with three officers chasing it pell mell thru said wire. they caught it before it reached the tarmac, wich is a good thing, because they didn't have the required clearances to be in the flight zone.[See REGS]
they gave the bird its own quarters, a tent next to the colonel, where it keeps him awake at night with its gobbling. [gosh, i hope he's a 'bird colonel"...] i told them ' well, see? this here's proof that you can, too, fly with the eagles, even if you have to live with turkeys'
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Will,
We are glad to know that you are doing well in Iraq.We have read our daily that have send you 50 tons of turkey in Iraq and Afganistain for thanksgiving,how want your tradition.Maybe it'll don't be good how the turkey cooked your mom.We think that things negative to change are much how you tell and considered that the celebration are joy 'celebrate it'.We are agree, no news good news.Considered our difficulty to read the english, and someone has said:'italian language is romantic',do you are interested to learn the italian?Maybe a day we'll make the questions you.1st lesson:-what's your name?Come ti chiami?-My name is...,Mi chiamo...-Where are you from?Da dove vieni?
Happy thanksgiving to all,return to home soon.
Milena and Adriana
Will is a pretty good writer and this is the collection of his writings. It'll be interesting to hear updates from a soldier's point of view, so I'll be posting them for all to read.
Take care Will