I remember here in Arizona back in '93 it rained so hard the washes over ran, it took out whole parking lots near the washes, trailers, cars, huge trees whooshed by. Sitting watching the force of water crashing over pavement, peeling it up, as the rain sheeted down so hard you couldn't see your hand held out in front of you.

Take care and be careful,
Judi

We have had a few of those type of rains here in San Diego, I use to take my Brat & pull people out of the mud & sand from them, You are right it is funny to watch someone studk in the mud.
Sure hope you get to come home soon. They told my grandson he would be there till Sept. He went over there about the same time you did.

Best of luck to You Will.
My Prayers are with you & all the boys over there.
Love to read your e-mails. Thank you for helping to make light of thing over there every once in a while.

Hey Will - so is there ever a time when the conditions there are not "crappy". At least it is a change from the dust.
So how was your turkey dinner? And real smashed taters?
Well, they fired Frankie - shocked but not surprised by that move (even after we beat CO). More on that coming.
Glad you are able to relieve some stress and not get yourself stuck.
Please take care of yourself - thinking of ya.

Hi Will,
Glad you had a good time playing in the mud. I think the rain beats 120 degree temperatures any time.
I hope you had a nice (at least nice as can be in that part of the world) Thanksgiving, and got to pig out and then take a nice nap.
Pretty soon, you'll be able to count the days till you come home. We are all thinking of you guys. God bless you all.

Don't get so focussed on coming home that you forget to watch your ass, Ace.

I was sent this the other day and although it's a bit early decided to share.
Enjoy and pass it on,
Cami

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT;
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE:
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND.
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS...

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS...
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT.
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY.
I FOUND A HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING--
SILENT, ALONE--
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN DISORDER;
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHO I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO;
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THIS SOLDIER
WHO WAS WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON 'ROUND THE WORLD
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE.
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA, D ON'T CRY.
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE."

"I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE.
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT;
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL;
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK NIGHT--
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND WITH A VOICE, SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON, SANTA.
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL'S SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL, A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in
Okinawa, Japan. He makes the following request:
"Would you send this to as many people as you can?
Christmas is coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate this and other holidays. Let's stop and think of our true heroes who have sacrificed their lives or parts of
their lives so that we may enjoy our many freedoms."

I thought I would pass this on to a few of you and you
can pass it as you see fit.

Well did anybody ever tell you that you are not supposed to drive in a humvee alone??? You could invite us simple folks with you to get stuck in the mud anytime. Outdoor mud play has to be a blast specially if you are behind the wheels of a humvee.

Anyways I am seriously envious of your digging ways but at least you have to have some fun some time. Just remember that anywhere you are you are home so make the best of a bad situation and create a little fun here and there. Besides my personal favorite is playing minor and harmless tricks on my friends or giving them gifts to make them smile. Either way you are bound to put a smile on someone's face.

Muah Cassandra

Will,

I agree with the another, when it is said to watch your six. Even though blowing off steam is good to do, please do not forget that it not the States that you are in, but a foreign land with eyes on you at all time. be careful and see you when you get home.

Will - that is the filthiest, most dirtiest tale I ever heard a soldier tell! Tell me more!

Although I had to say the sexiest part was you smoking outside in the rain. Dayum boy! I would blow dry yer socks.

F-all if I could not have have told those clowns to just wait till the mud hardens up a bit to get that piece of stuck machinery unstuck. Course ~ I'm sure they were if they were lost were they were in one helluva hurry to get the helloutta there.

Havin a dry spell here~

Szaffie

Will?

I remember calling you something else when you took my supply truck and ran over the back of a snowmobile trailer. I just found out about this site, and am so glad that I can find out about what's going on with the xxx chem co. Those of us that got left here (for the most part) really wish we could've gone with you. It sucks feeling like we've let you go into harms way, but we've been told that we can't go with the people we've trained with for as much as 9 years(in my case). Please let everyone know that most of us, when top asked, immediately said "yes" when we were asked if we would volunteer to be caught up with the unit. We feel about as useful as tits on a bull, and most of us wish we could do something to help. Please pass my thanks on to the unit, for doing the job, for protecting me and my family, and for being there, even if I can't be with you. Tell everybody hello, and give the motor hole my hugs and kisses!

Chad

Hi all - I'm a new reader and just read thru all the archives I could find from Will. Love the writing. Definitely gives a perspective that CNN wouldn't be caught dead giving. If anyone has a mailing address for Will, could you please email directly? I would like to send him and his unit a care package. It won't make it there for the holidays - but I'm sure it's welcome at any time. I'm looking forward to Dec 20th and volunteering at the USO in the Atlanta airport. Can't wait to say thanks to all those soldiers.

Former Air Force Brat,
Stephanie

Hello Will,
consul...here is two weeks that rain and maybe we are fed up:-( .Considered that there are degre 11°C,you must know that Adriana already has put on the coat,hat and scarf.This means that she is freezing.Stop!We aren't degree 0°C still,then you'll ask :What she'll put on later?Will, lack the gloves! Milena tells to Adriana:'You are unrecognizable!I'll send you to Tropics for all winter!'hahaha.Adriana tells to Milena.' Laugh,laugh...!If you'll take your usual cold you arrange!'hahaha.Question:'Now you are of us...Don't smokers?Don't care if you don't answer,it is sufficient the thought,do you are smiling:-)?2° lesson:How are you?Come stai?How old are you?Quanti anni hai?I'm 30 yeras old?Ho 30 anni.
CIAO,return to home soon.
Adriana and Milena