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APRIL 20, 2004 -- I TALKED TO JOE TODAY. HE IS DOING GOOD, STILL A LITTLE SORE FRO MTHE BRUISING AND ALL, BUT NO LONGER SICK AND SLOWLY CATCHING UP ON HIS SLEEP. STILL NO OFFICIAL WORD ON HIS R&R BUT THE SOLDIER WHO GOT TO GO BEFORE HIM LEAVES TOMORROW SO WE WILL SEE. EVEN THOUGH HE IS COMING HOME YOU CAN STILL SEND HIM MAIL AND HE WILL GET TO OPEN IT WHEN HE GETS BACK, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. OTHER THAN THAT HE IS GOOD. IN A BETTER MOOD, NOT SO STRESSED. IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY QUIET BUT STILL REGULAR PATROLS AND ALL. HE MISSES CHOW HALL MOST OF THE TIME, SO IF YOU DO SEND A PACKAGE SOME FOOD/SNACKS WOULD BE GREAT. DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT TO SEND - IF HE DOESN'T LIKE IT, SOMEONE WILL.
APRIL 15, 2004 -- OKAY, I HAVE TALKED TO JOE AND HE IS OKAY. HE HAS SOME PRETTY BAD BUMPS AND BRUISES, AND SOME BANGED UP RIBS, BUT WHEN HAS HE NOT. HEARING HIS VOICE HELPED TO EASE MY WORRIES A LOT. IN HIS LAST EMAIL HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A TYPE OF FOOD POISONING AND HAS BEEN THROWING UP A LOT TOO, WHICH I AM SURE HELPS HIS RIBS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT HE IS OK. HE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH FIX WHEN HE WAS SHOT AND ACCTUALLY CARRIED HIM OUT OF THE FIGHT AND BACK TO THE AMBULANCE. HE ALSO HELPED TAKE CARE OF GOEDE AND GODWIN AFTER THEY WERE INJURED. HE SAID THAT HIS TRAINING WAS DEFINETLY WORKING AND HE FELT GOOD ABOUT HOW THEY HANDLED THE SITUATION. HIS SQUAD WAS OUT IN FRONT OF THE REST OF THE COMPANY AND TOOK CONTROL OF GOT DONE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. I AM SORRY I CAN NOT REALLY GO INTO GREATER DETAIL. THEY ARE POSSIBLY GOING TO BE REWARDED FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, BUT THAT IS NOT FOR SURE YET. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT CALMER, BUT STILL ON EDGE. I WILL HOPEFULLY HEAR FROM HIM THIS WEEKEND. ON MONDAY I GOT AN EMAIL FROM ANDREW FIX. HE WAS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AT A HOSPITAL THERE. THEY HAD REMOVED A SMALL PIECE FROM HIS ANKLE AND HE WOULD BE GOING HOME TO HIS PARENTS HOUSE IN NEW YORK FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN HE WILL BE HERE IN HAWAII. HIS GOAL IS TO RECOVER FROM HIS INJURY AND GO BACK TO IRAQ. HE WAS MAD THAT THEY MADE HIM LEAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE. SAME OLD FIX.
JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. THE JUNE DEADLINE IS QUICKLY APPROACHING AND THINGS MAY BE REALLY TENSE HERE FOR AWHILE. I KNOW JOE HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL SITUATIONS LIKE THIS ONE AND I ONLY EXPECT MORE TO COME. SO PLEASE IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING IN THE NEWS AND HAVE QUESTOINS, FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME. I WILL ANSWER WHAT I CAN AND WORRY RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU. THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE, AND WE NOW HAVE PROOF THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING AND I ONLY ASK THAT YOU KEEP OUR GUYS IN YOUR PRAYERS AND WE WILL SEE THEM ALL SOON. AS FOR JOE COMING HOME ON R&R, IT IS NEVER FOR CERTAIN, BUT I HOPE HE WILL STILL GET THE CHANCE TO. AS OF NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I DO.
APRIL 8, 2004 -- HERE IS THE LATEST INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMANDER'S WIFE
Hello WWWs and Wolfhound Family, From mid day until the late evening (Iraqi time) on the 7th in Iraq, our soldiers (Alpha, and Bravo Company) were involved in small arms fire. The small arms fire started after a city council meeting ended up in a protest. Protesters opened up fire, and our Wolfhounds were fired at. FIRST AND FOREMOST...THIS NOTE IS GOING OUT AFTER OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO THOSE SOLDIER'S (THAT WERE INJURED) NEXT OF KIN WERE NOTIFIED! So, please, rest assured, that you would already know if your Wolfhound was injured! Here are the names of the injured: From Bravo Company: Spc. Clinton Davis - Gunshot would to the left leg.....He was taken to a hospital in Balad. From Alpha Company: Sgt. Wegesend - Gunshot would to the left elbow....he was taken to a hospital in Balad - Spc. Godee - shrapnel wound to the forehead...Treated at battalion - PV2 Godwin - Shrapnel wound to leg...treated at battalion - Sgt. Fix - Gunshot would to left foot....treated at batallion. If anymore information is given to me, and I get the go ahead to pass it on, I will do so ASAP!!! For now, please pray for our soldiers during this time of great uncertainty in Iraq. If you need to talk about the incident or have any questions you can email me or call me. I may not have the answers to your questions, but I can at least be an ear for listening! God bless our soldiers! God bless our Wolfhound family! Lynn
AN UPDATE FROM MY END - FIX AND GOEDE ARE IN JOE'S TEAM. FIX IS HIS TEAM LEADER, AND A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF OURS. MOST WEEKENDS OUR COUCH HAD HIS NAME ON IT. BOTH HE AND GOEDE ALSO LIVE IN HIS CONTAINER OVER THERE. I HAVE BEN EMAILING FIX'S MOM AND SHE HAS SPOKE TO HER SON AND HE WAS GOOD, JUST MAD HE HAD TO LEAVE THE OTHERS. HE WAS MEDIVACED TO GERMANY AND ONCE STABILIZED HE WILL BE SENT BACK TO THE STATES. HIS INJURY WAS FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND AND HE HAS DEEP TISSUE DAMAGE, THAT LUCKILY MISSED THE BONE. THAT IS ALL THE INFORMATION I HAVE FOR NOW. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE INFORMATION I DO GET MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ACCURATE. ON OUR SIDE, WE ONLY KNOW WHAT WE ARE TOLD, SO TAKE EVERYTHING WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU HEAR ON THE NEWS. MANY ARTICLES ARE SEEMING TO HAVE MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM JOE YET, BUT WHEN I DO I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET AN EMAIL WHEN I MAKE SERIOUS UPDATES (LIKE THIS ONE AND WHEN NEW PICTURES ARE ADDED) TO THIS WEBSITE PLEASE SEND ME A SHORT EMAIL AND INCLUDE WHAT EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO SEND UPDATES TO. THAT WAY I KNOW WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET EMAILS AND WHO WOULD PREFER TO LOOK AT THE WEBSITE WHEN THEY CAN - THANKS.
APRIL 1, 2004 -- Http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dispatches/stories/033104 okay - i did get to talk to joe yesterday, but not for long because the phone cut out. first i asked him if he had heard about kirkuk. he said he had but asked me if anyone had been killed. i told him the paper reported 11 injuries, but no death. here is what he told me about what happened. he said a car was driving toward the gate and when it didn't stop they fired warnings and then opened fire on the vehicle. he said that the car exploded, from a bomb being inside it, and went off before it hit the gate, so it did do some damage to a crate like what he lives in, but it may just be for those who work gate guard and not be one that s lived in, but he wasn't sure. he said of the car had made it through the gate that it wold have hit some of the housing containers, so those that were hurt were more likely pulling guard or just happened to be in the area, but the guy on the gun did his job and prevented a lot. i did not ask him if he had heard of the other situation in fallujah. i know that he hears about events, but only what he needs to know most of the time. i did not know how he would react and did not want to upset him. but they have been targeting what he has called a terrorist cell not locals who are upset. he says they have other motives and just plain hate for americans and they are no where near a majority. in his area they have helped open schools back up and things like that so they are well like in al huwijah, but other smaller villages near by have a completely different outlook. he says the difference is spooky. When we talked he had just gotten back from a raid. i asked how he was and said the raid had been a hard one. i asked how and he said lots of shots fired. so i know he is under stress, even if they are fighting unskilled rebels. there is a chance he will get r&r. it all depends on what happens over there, but the wolfhounds are looking to get 80% of the guys a break from noe till they no longer have the chance. he will get to fly to either here or kansas and we will decide that last minute depending on when he gets to come home. i will be in kansas may 29th to june 7th for kara and lauren flaherty's wedding. it will be pretty expensive for me to buy a last minute ticket to kansas, so we will play it by ear. if he does come here, i have a cmaera set up on our computer and you could all be able to see him if we instant message.
MARCH 23, 2004 -- I AM SO SORRY THAT I HAVEN'T PUT AN UPDATE ON HERE LATELY. THE PHONES OVER THERE HAVE BEEN DOWN FOR ALMOST A WEEK SO THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH NEWS ON MY END TO TELL ABOUT. I GOT TO TALK TO JOE LAST NIGHT ON THE INTERNET. HE IS DOING GOOD. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE POLITICAL PARTIES TO HELP STABILIZE THE REGION. THE DIFFERENT PARTIES HAVE STATED THAT THEY ALL WANT TO HELP BRING PEACE, BUT THERE HAVE STILL BEEN MORTARS AND ROCKETS FIRED AT AND AROUND THE FORWARD OPERATING BASE CAMP MCHENRY. JOE SAYS SOME ARE REALLY CLOSE CALLS, BUT ARE DUDS. LETS HOPE THEY STAY THAT WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS THAT HE MIGHT GET TO COME BACK HERE FOR REST & RECOOPERATION, BUT LIKE ALWAYS NOTHING IS FOR SURE. I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO HOLD HIM THOUGH. HE IS A PART OF TWO DIFFERENT TEAMS AND GETS SLEEP, BUT NOT ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE. I THINK HE HAS GOTTEN ENOUGH CANDY FROM ME, BUT PACKAGES STILL HELP. AND IF THEY GET TO HIM WHILE HE IS ON LEAVE HE WILL STILL GET THEM WHEN HE GETS BACK. I AM CROSING MY FINGERS, BUT NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LAST MINUTE PLANE TICKET PRICE! TALK TO YOU ALL SOON!
MARCH 9, 2004 -- I GOT TO TALK TO JOE ON THE INTERNET THIS WEEKEND. IT WAS STILL PRETTY COLD THERE, AND HE WAS VERY TIRED. HE GOT THE CHANCE TO USE A COMPUTER WITH A WEBCAM SO WE GOT TO SEE EACH OTHER. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER TIMES THAT HE COULD SEE ME, BUT THIS WAS MY FIRST CHANCE TO SEE HIM. HE LOOKED REALLY GOOD, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HIS FACE, BUT IT MADE ME MISS HIM THAT MUCH MORE. I COULD TELL THAT HE HAS BEEN GETTING TO WORK OUT QUITE A BIT. HE DIDN'T LOOK AS SKINNY AS WHEN HE LEFT, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. THE TENT HE IS IN HAD CARD TABLES SET UP WITH LAPTOPS ON THEM, AND A BUNCH OF GUYS SITTING THERE. MOST OF THEM WERE ALL WRAPPED UP IN COATS, IT WAS ABOUT 4 IN THE MORNING IRAQ TIME. ANDREW FIX WAS SITTING NEXT TO HIM AND I GOT TO WAVE TO HIM. MY ROOMATE CRISTINA PELATO ALSO GOT TO TALK TO HER HUSBAND SO WE BOTH HAD A GOOD WEEKEND. HE GOT THE CHANCE TO CALL ON MONDAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND HE HUNG UP SO HE COULD CALL HIS MOM. I HAVE BEEN SENDING HIM A BOX ALMOST EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES MORE, BUT HE LOVES GETTING MAIL. SNAIL MAIL, AS THEY CALL IT HELPS TO, ANYTHING, A CARD OR JUST A HELLO. THE EMAILS HE DOESN'T GET A CHANCE TO PRINT OUT AND KEEP WITH HIM, BUT THE LETTERS HE CAN CARRY WITH HIM. THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT IN HIS AREA YESTERDAY AND HE GOT STUCK PULLING EXTRA GUARD DUTY BECAUSE OF TI BUT NOBODY FROM 1-27 WAS INJURED. THREE SOLDIER FROM 1-21 WERE INJURED, BULLET WOUNDS, BUT LAST I HEARD THEY WERE LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION. THE FIREFIGHT THEY WERE INJURED IN WAS NOT AROUND JOE, BUT ANY EXCHANGE WITH THE ENEMY HAS EVERYONE ON EXTRA ALERT. CHECK THE LATEST ARTICLE FROM THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
MARCH 2, 2004 -- THIS WEEKEND I GOT TO TALK TO JOE QUITE A BIT. HE HAS BEEN PULLING GATE GUARD INSTEAD OF GOING OUT ON MISSIONS AND RAIDS EVERY DAY, BUT HE IS STILL ON CALL TO GO OUT ON RAIDS. LAST WEEK HE WAS ON A RAID AND THEY EXTRACTED THREE HIGH VALUE TARGETS. HE COULDN'T TELL ME IF THEY WERE FROM THE DECK OF CARDS, OR JUST TARGETS FROM THAT AREA, BUT THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG DEAL. HIS UNIT HAS ALSO HELPED RECOVER SEOM AMMUNITION CACHES AND DESTROY SOME STOCK PILES. SEE THE LINK FOR THE ARTICLE. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2004/n02272004_200402273.html HE DOES NOT MIND IF YOU EMAIL HIM, BECAUSE THE MAIL TAKES SO LONG, BUT PLEASE UNDERTAND THAT HE DOES NOT GET THAT MUCH COMPUTER TIME, AND MAY NOT REPLY. BUT IT IS NICE TO KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS THINKING ABOUT YOU. HIS SPIRITS SEEMED PRETTY HIGH, BUT I CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN HE IS COMING DOWN OFF OF AN ADRENALINE RUSH. I TRY TO KEEP HIM UPDATED WITH EVERYONE I HAVE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO TALK TO AND PASS ON MESSAGES TO HIM.
FEB 23, 2004 -- I GOT AN EMAIL FROM JOE, SHORT BUT SWEET. HE SOUNDED KINDA HOMESICK AND TIRED. HE WAS NOT SURE WHEN HE WOULD HAVE TIME TO CONTACT ME AGAIN, BUT SOON HE HOPED. IN OTHER NEWS YESTERDAY A GROUP OF US WIVES MET THE FIRST CASUALTY TO RETURN HOME FROM THE WAR OUT OF 1-27. HE WAS THE SOLDIER WHO HAD A CHIPPED ELBOW, I APOLOGIZE I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME, BUT HE WAS FROM JOE'S COMPANY. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO RETURN BACK TO WORK, BUT THEY SENT HIM HERE TO HAWAII. HE HAS HAD ONE SURGERY AND MAY REQUIRE ANOTHER. HE LOOKED JET LAGGED AND NERVOUS THAT ALL OF US WERE WAITING FOR HIM, BUT OTHER THAN THE CAST ON HIS LEFT ARM HE LOOKED PRETY GOOD. I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT GOING TO SEE HIM BECAUSE I WORRIED THAT IF HE WAS SKINNY AND RAGGED THEN I WOULD WORRY MORE ABOUT JOE, BUT SEEING HIM IN GOOD CONDITION HELPED A LOT, ALTHOUGH I AM JEALOUS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN SAYING HELLO TO MY HUSBAND, IT WAS NICE TO BE THERE FOR A SINGLE SOLDIER WHO DID NOT HAVE ANY FAMILY THERE TO GREET HIM. IT WAS THE FIRST SOLDIER FROM 1-27 SINCE VIETNAM TO RETURN FROM COMBAT, AND IT WAS NOT THE BIG DEAL WE HAD HOPED, BUT WE GREETED HIM WITH LEIS AND SIGNS AND SMILES. ANOTHER SOLDIER WILL SOON BE RETURNING HOME. HE WAS INVOLVED IN A HUMVEE WRECK AND HAS BROKEN BOTH FEMUR'S (THIGH BONES). HE WILL ARRIVE HERE IN HAWAII IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND I AM SURE WE WILL BE THERE FOR HIM TOO. ALSO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE HONOLULU ADVETISER LATELY, IT HAS SNOWED IN IRAQ, NOT SURE IF IT WAS AT JOE'S CAMP, BUT KIRKUK GOT A FEW HOURS OF SNOWFALL. MANY OF THE GUYS I KNOW HAVE NEVER SEEN SNOW, SO I AM SURE IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE. MY EMAIL AT HOME WILL BE UP AND RUNNING AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK, SO I APOLOGIZE IF I HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY MESSAGES. HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT WEEKEND AND HOPEFULLY I WILL HAVE NEW NEWS SOON.
FEB 20, 2004 -- I GOT TO TALK TO JOE LAST NIGHT FOR ALMOST 10 MINUTES. HE HAS BEEN DOING RAIDS AND BEEN ON GUARD DUTY. THEY HAVE TO STAY BY THE HUMVEES AND HAVE 2 MINUTES TO BE READY TO GO WHEN CALLED. LETS JUST SAY HE HAS KEPT BUSY. HE IS NOW RECEIVING MAIL AND SAYS THAT GETTING MY PACKAGES HAS BEEN PRETTY UPLIFTING. HE SAYS IT IS NICE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE BACK HOME, BUT HE HASN'T HAD MUCH CHANCE TO WRITE BACK, AND HE HAS ONLY HAD THE CHANCE TO CALL ME 4 TIMES SINCE HE LEFT. HE IS STILL IN AL HUWIJAH AND THEY OFFICIALY TOOK OVER POWER OF THE FORWARD OPERATING BASE ON 2/19/04. AGAIN THE BEST INFORMATION I HAVE BENE GETTING IS FROM THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER AND SOME OF THE OTHER WIVES. AS SOON AS I GET OUR INTERNET HOOKED UP AT MY NEW HOUSE I WILL HAVE SOME PICTURES TO PUT ON HERE THAT ANOTHER WIFE RECEIVED FROM HER HUSBAND. THEY ARE LIVING IN THE SHIPING CONTAINERS AND HAVE ELECTRICITY AND HEAT SOME OF THE TIME. THEY DO SEEM TO HAVE DOWN TIME WHEN WAITING TO BE SENT OUT SO READING MATERIALS LIKE MAGAZINES AND STUFF WOULD BE HELPFUL. SMALL SNACKS AND BABY WIPES ARE ALSO ON HIS WISH LIST. THEY ARE GOING TO BE OFF GUARD DUTY FOR AWHILE SO I WILL HOPEFULLY GET TO TALK TO HIM AGAIN SOON. IT IS GREAT TO HEAR HIS VOICE, BUT HE SOUNDS TIRED AND COUGHS A LOT BECAUSE HE IS SICK. NOT THE HAWIIAN WEATHER HE IS USED TO. IF YOU NEED ANY IDEAS ON WHAT TO SEND PLEASE EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW.
FEB 14, 2004 -- I JUST GOT A PHONE CALL FROM JOE, HE IS DOING GOOD. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING RAIDS AND PATROLS. HE HAS HAD A HARD TIME ADJUSTING TO THE TOWN, IT IS VERY DIRTY AND HAS NO DRAINAGE OR ANYTHING. HE SAYS IT IS HARD TO TELL IF THE PEOPLE REALLY WANT THEM THERE, A LOT OF THE SADDAM SUPPORTERS LIVE IN THE AREA. HE HASN'T SHOWERED FOR ABOUT 8 DAYS AND SAYS I PROBLY WOULDN'T EVEN WANT A HUG. IF HE ONLY KNEW... BUT THINGS ARE GOING GOOD. THEY HAVEN'T GOT ANY MAIL YET BUT THEY SHOULD SOON.
FEB 12, 2004 -- TWO MEN FROM JOES BATALLION HAVE BEEN HURT EXCHANGING FIRE WITH THE ENEMY. ONE FROM ALPHA COMPANY, A CHIPPED ELBOW AND WILL BE BACK TO WORK IN A FEW DAYS, AND ONE FROM BRAVO COMPANY WHO WAS HIT WITH SHRAPNEL AND TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. THEY ARE BOTH OK, AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. JOE HAS NOW REACHED HIS CAMP THAT HE WILL BE AT FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, AL HAWIJAH (SPELLING?) THE HAVE POWER, BUT NO SHOWERS AND NINE TO A BOX HUT THE SIZE OF A SHIPPING CONTAINER. BUT THE CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE ONCE THE UNIT THEY ARE REPLACING COMES BACK TO THE STATES. FROM THERE JOE'S UNIT WILL CONDUCT RAIDS AND NIGHT PATROLS. I AM NOT SURE IF THE WHOLE BRIGADE WILL BE AT THE CAMP, BUT I SHOULD KNOW SOON. IT MAY JUST BE ALPHA COMPANY. I HAVE NOT TALKTED TO HIM FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND MY LAST EMAIL WAS TUESDAY MORNING WITH NO NEW NEWS BUT THAT THEY WERE MOVING TO THE CAMP THEY ARE AT NOW. I WILL KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED.
FEB 08, 2004 -- JOE ARRIVES AT HIS BASE CAMP IN NORTHERN IRAQ
JAN 23, 2004 -- JOE ARRIVES IN KUWAIT
JAN 22, 2004 -- JOE LEAVES FOR OIF2
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