BACK TO REALITY!!!
HI - I AM SO SORRY IT HAS TAKEN ME SO LONG TO GET ANY INFORMATION TO YOU. WHEN JOE WAS HERE WE TRIED TO LET THE REST OF THE WORLD DISAPPEAR.
RYAN GOEDE IS DOING GOOD. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT ALL HAPPENED TO HIM. HE BROKE HIS LEFT ARM AND HAD TO HAVE A BONE GRAPH DONE TO REPLACE THE BONE. HE ALSO BROKE BOTH LEGS, ONE HAS TWO BONES BROKEN. HE HAS BURNS ON HIS FACE AND HAS HAD TO HAVE SOME MAJOR SURGERIES ON HIS EYES AND EARS. HE HAS OK VISION IN ONE EYE BUT ONLY UP CLOSE AND STILL CAN'T SEE OUT OF THE OTHER. HIS HEARING IS GOOD FROM WHAT I COULD TELL WHEN I TALKED TO HIM ON THE PHONE. HE WAS HAVING A FEW MORE SURGERIES THIS WEEK IN TEXAS BUT THEN HE WAS GOING TO GO ON CON LEAVE (MEDICAL LEAVE) AND BE PUT IN A HOSPITAL IN THE TOWN WHERE HIS PARENTS LIVE IN ARKANSAS. THIS WILL BE FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS. THEN HE WILL BE SENT BACK TO TEXAS FOR HIS PHYSICAL THERAPY AND FROM THERE THEY WILL DECIDE IF THEY WILL BE SENDING HIM BACK TO HAWAII OR JUST STATIONING HIM THERE IN TEXAS. HE WANTS TO COME BACK TO HAWAII BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN INFANTRY UNIT IN TEXAS. HE WILL HAVE TO COMPLETELY LEARN HOW TO WALK ALL OVER AGAIN AND MAY NEVER RUN AGAIN, BUT HE IS A STRONG GUY AND I THINK HE WILL COME THROUGH BETTER THAN THE DOCTORS ARE THINKING. I HAVE HIS PARENTS ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER AND HIS EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND ANYTHING TO HIM. HE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO WANTS. HE HAS A FRIEND FROM HOME CHECKING HIS EMAIL IT FOR HIM AND TAKING IT TO HIM. BUT I WILL NOT POST IT ONLINE, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE THIS INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL ME AT MELBA20@MSN.COM GOEDE IS IN GOOD SPIRITS. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW WAS DOING HE SAID HE FELT LIKE A MILLION BUCKS! HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET TO SEE HIM SOON.
NOW ONTO MY GUY. JOE WAS DOING GREAT. I HAVE PICTURES OF HIS INJURIES TO HIS ARM AND LOTS OF OTHER PICTURES HE BROUGHT HOME WITH HIM. I WILL GET THEM POSTED AS SOON AS I CAN. IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE MOVING AGAIN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, BUT I WILL KEEP MY EMAIL UP AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. HIS BREAK WAS GREAT THOUGH. I THINK HE REALLY NEEDED IT. HE SLEPT ABOUT 16 HOURS A DAY THE FIRST FEW DAYS. SAD PART WAS I SLEPT ALMOST AS MUCH, PROBLY JUST RELIEVED TO HAVE HIM THERE WITH ME. IT WAS GREAT TO GET TO JUST HANG OUT. I GOT TO GIVE HIM A HARD TIME, I FELT LIKE I WAS TALKING TO AN OLD MAN BECAUSE HE WAS STILL HAVING TROUBLE HEARING OUT OF HIS LEFT EAR. BUT BEFORE HE LEFT HIS HEARING WAS COMING BACK AND HE IS GOING TO HAVE A CHECKUP UP WHEN HE GETS BACK AND SETTLED IN. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO GET TO GO TO VEGAS AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIS MOM AND SISTER AND HER HUSBAND AND MY PARENTS AND SISTER JOANN. I KNOW I KNOW, VEGAS, BUT IT IS A CHEAP PLACE TO FLY AND STAY AND IT IS AS CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF US AS WE CAN GET. HE AND I ALSO GOT TO GO TO A LYNRD SKYNRD CONCERT WHILE WE WERE THERE. HE LOVED IT. THEY HAVE SOME GREAT PATRIOTIC SONGS AND THEY USE SOME OF THEIR MUSIC AS PART OF THEIR MENTAL WARFARE IN IRAQ. SO HE WAS EXSTATIC WHEN WE SAW THEY WERE IN TOWN. HE WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS AND HAS A TON OF STORIES. LOTS OF TIMES HE WOULD JUST START LAUGHING AND THEN I WOULD BEG TO HEAR WHAT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT. THESE GUYS ARE FAMILY NOW AND I AM SO HAPPY HE HAS THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM THAT HE DOES. WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME IF JOE AND I HAVE KIDS I LAUGH AND SAY NO JUST A BUNCH OF ADOPTED 20-YEAR OLDS. I CANT WAIT FOR THEM ALL TO COME HOME I MISS THEM SO MUCH.
I GOT TO TALK TO JOE LAST NIGHT AND HE IS BACK IN COUNTRY. HE WAS AT KIRKUK AND WAITING TO CATCH A FLIGHT TO HIS FOB MCHENRY LATER TODAY. SO HE WILL BE BACK TO WORK WITHIN 24 HOURS AT LEAST. BACK TO REALITY FOR BOTH OF US. WE ARE HALF WAY DONE NOW IF THE RUMORS ABOUT THEM BEING HOME BEFORE CHRISTMAS ARE TRUE. IT IS ALL DOWN HILL FROM HERE, JUST NO MORE PURPLE HEARTS. I MADE HIM PROMISE BEFORE HE LEFT. JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, ONCE HE RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS THEY GAVE HIM THE OPTION OF COMING HOME. HE AND I TALKED AND HE IS GOING TO STAY AND FINISH WHAT HE WENT TO DO. I TOLD HIM TO GET IT ALL OUT OF HIS SYSTEM FOR AWHILE. THANKFULLY HE IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HAVE HANDLED HIS INJURIES WELL AND BOUNCE BACK. HE HAD TWO MAJOR WOUNDS ON HIS ARM FROM THE IED INCIDENT AND ONE OF THEM WAS SCARRING BEFORE HE LEFT, THE DEEPER ONE WAS ALMOST TO THAT POINT. SO HE IS IN GOOD SHAPE. HE WANTS TO GET BACK TO WORKING OUT. SNAIL MAIL WISE HE IS STILL AT THE SAME ADDRESS AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING MAIL THERE EVEN WHEN HE WAS GONE. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SHIPS STUFF. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT TREAT FOR HIM. HE SAID TO KEEP THEM COMING. I WILL WRITE MORE SOON - I HAVE RAMBLED ON FOR AWHILE NOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS JUST EMAIL ME!!!

joe home to hawaii for r&r on 7/3/2004
guess what!!!! Joe lands here at the Honolulu international airport today at 2:45. he called me at 4 am from the Dallas airport and let me know his flight time. i have known that he was waiting for a flight - but didn't say anything because they could still pull him back to work, but it is official that he is on his way here right now. oh my gosh - i feel like i have had like 6 cappuccinos and it is 5:30 in the morning. i am so excited!!!!!! he will be here for 15 days so he will probly fly on the 19th of july and we are arranging to meet our parents and siblings in vegas (kinda a cheap half way point for us) i apologize that we cant come home to ks, but i feel all the visitors would be overwhelming. ok - well i have to to get some sleep but just to let all of you know!!!!! yeah!!!!!!!! 2:45 is going to take so long to get here.........talk to you all soon!!!

short note on SPC GOEDE
JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW - I DID NOT GET THE CHANCE TO SEE GOEDE YET. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE LAST NIGHT ON A FLIGHT AT HICKAM AIR FIELD, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, AT THE LAST SECOND IN D.C. HE WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BE SENT TO A HOSPITAL THAT IS CLOSER TO HIS FAMILY AND OF COURSE HE DID. AS FAR AS I KNOW HE IS IN A HOSPITAL IN TEXAS (HIS FAMILY LIVES IN ARIZONA) THAT WAS CLOSEST TO HIS PARENTS. WE DINT HAVE AN UPDATE ON HIS STATUS AS OF YET, BUT ACCORDING TO THE OTHER SOLDIERS WHO SAW HIM IN D.C. HE HAD ON AN EYE PATCH AND SOME BURNS ON HIS FACE. BUT AS SOON AS I GET MORE INFO I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW. I WILL ALSO TRY TO GET A MAILING ADDRESS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND CARDS OR SOMETHING. I AM GLAD HE IS WITH HIS FAMILY, BUT I KNOW JOE WAS INTERESTED IN HOW HE WAS DOING. I WILL POST MORE INFO WHEN I GET IT.

UPDATE 7/1/04
JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW - JOE IS DOING FINE. HIS ARM IS HEALING AND HE IS BACK TO WORK JUST LIKE NORMAL. I APOLOGIZE THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATE EMAIL GOING OUT YET, BUT I WILL AS SOON AS I GET THE VIRUS OFF OF MY HOME COMPUTER. I WILL TRY TO SET IT UP THROUGH MY WORK EMAIL AND YOU MAY REPLY TO THOSE EMAILS BUT PLEASE NO FORWARDS. JOE IS STILL RECEIVING EMAILS - AND I WILL GIVE OUT HIS EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU ALL PROMISE NOT TO SEND HIM JUNK EMAIL. HE DOES GET THE EMAILS BUT HAS HARDLY ANY TIME TO RESPOND TO THEM ALL, BUT READING THEM STILL HELPS HIM. HE IS ALSO STILL RECEIVING SNAIL MAIL AT THE SAME ADDRESS AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT ADDRESS WILL NOT CHANGE. I ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL TODAY AND GOEDE WILL BE HERE IN HAWAII TONIGHT - JULY FIRST AT 9:30 AND WE WILL ALL MEET HIM AT HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE AT THE HANGER AND GREET HIM WITH LEIS AND HUGS AND SMILES. I AM ALMOST SURE THEY WILL BE CHECKING HIM INTO THE HOSPITAL STRAIGHT FROM THERE, BUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY MESSAGES THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO GET TO HIM JUST EMAIL THEM TO ME AND I WILL DELIVER THEM. I KNOW THAT HE HAS HAD AT LEAST 3 SURGERIES SO FAR AND I DO NOT KNOW HIS STATUS RIGHT NOW. IT WILL BE GREAT TO SEE HIM. WALKER IS ALSO BACK TO WORK ALONG WITH GODWIN. PARKER IS STILL NOT BACK TO THE BASE BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY UPDATES ON HIM YET. I WILL WRITE MORE AS SOON AS I CAN AND I WILL TRY TO SET UP THE EMAIL ALERT AT MY WORK TODAY! - TALK TO YOU ALL SOON

JOE INJURED 6/25/04
Hello WWWs, and Wolfhound family,
*HHC and Alpha Company sustained injuries last week from 2 different incidents. I was unable to report the incidents to you until all PNOK (Primary Next of Kin) were notified. They have been notified, and I am now able to report. I do not have the specific dates or times of the incidents, but do know that both happened during the week of June 20th.
Both incidents involved vehicles hitting an IED (Improvised Explosive Device)

1st incident involved *Wolfhounds from HHC :
SPC McGrath: (bumps and scratches)
SPC O'Neil: (chest wound).

2nd incident involved *Wolfhounds from Alpha Co :
1. Godwin David PV2: Shrapnel wounds to right leg and right arm
2. Herndon Joseph PFC: Major shrapnel wounds to right shoulder and minor shrapnel wounds to right side of body/ left eardrum ruptured
3. Goede Ryan SPC: (Only Serious injury of the 5) Shrapnel to face, left arm, both legs, neck, and possibly in both eyes (His prognosis for his eyes is looking better...he has already had surgery on his eyelids)
4. Walker Andrew PFC: Shrapnel to Right shoulder and ruptured left eardrum
5. Parker David SGT: Ruptured right eardrum, shrapnel to right and left leg, large shrapnel wounds in his right arm, possible fracture to right collar bone

WWWs, and Wolfhound family, I know that our Wolfhounds are very busy right now. When my husband is able to, he will write a note to you all. I know that he wishes he had more time in the day to not only take care of business in Iraq, but to keep us as informed as possible about what and how our Wolfhounds are doing in Iraq. However, I, along with Lt. Torres, will do our best to keep you as informed as possible with any information that is passed our way about our Wolfhounds. I thank-you all for your never ending support for our Wolfhounds! They are incredible men, doing incredible things and making incredible sacrifices for our country and for the Iraqi people. Please keep the prayers and good thoughts coming for our soldiers! God bless, Lynn M. Leith


OKAY - SO THIS WAS KINDA A LONG WEEKEND. LET ME FIRST TELL YOU ALL THAT JOE IS FINE. HE HAS ALLREADY BEEN BACK TO WORK AND BEEN ON A FEW MISSIONS SO FAR. THEY WERE ON A PATROL FRIDAY MORNING AND AN IED (IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVISE) WENT OFF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A WALL THEY DRIVING PAST. THE WALL WAS BLOWN INTO THE GUYS ON THE HUMVEE. THERE WERE MORE THAN JUST THE 5 GUYS ON THIS HUMVEE SO WE ARE LUCKY MORE WERENT HURT. JOE HAS LOTS OF LITTLE CUTS AND ALL ALONG HIS ENTIRE BODY BUT HIS MAJOR INJURY WAS TO THE BACK OF HIS ARM. HE DIDNT FEEL ANY MAJOR WOUNDS AND CONTINUED ON AFTER ANYONE RUNNING AWAY FROM THE SCENE BUT WHEN HE AND WALKER HAD THE CHANCE TO STOP THEY NOTICED THEY WERE BLEEDING PUT ON PRESSURE DRESSINGS TO STOP IT AND WERE SENT BACK TO THEIR FORWARD OPERATING BASE (FOB) FROM THERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO SEE WHAT HAD HIT JOE, THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE WHAT HIT WALKER AND PULL IT OUT OF HIS ARM THERE. THEY MEDIVACED THE 5 GUYS TO TIKRIT FOR ADDITIONAL MEDICAL ATTENTION. JOE HAD XRAYS DONE TO FIND THE PIECES IN HIS ARM AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THEM ALL. THEY PULLED OUT A SLUG AND A FEW PIECES OF ROCK. HE HAS 4 OR 5 STITCHES AND A PRETTY DEEP WOUND. SINCE THEN HE HAS HAD THE STITCHES REMOVED (IN THAT PART OF HIS ARM IT WAS DOING MORE DAMAGE BECAUSE THE KEPT RIPPING OUT) AND IS BANDAGED AND BACK TO WORK. HE IS SORE AND TIRED BUT READY TO GET BACK OUT THERE. WALKER IS BACK TO WORK AS WELL. AS FOR THEIR EARDRUMS THEY WILL HAVE TO JUST HEAL ON THEIR OWN WHICH WILL TAKE ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS, AND HE HAS BLOWN AT LEAST ONE OF HIS EARDRUMS BEFORE. I HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT UNTIL HE HAS FULL HEARING BACK HE WILL NOT BE OUT ON MISSIONS WITH A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE SO HE CAN RELY ON THEIR HEARING AS WELL. THERE IS NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO TO HELP HIM HEAL FASTER. BUT HIS HEARING WILL COME BACK GRADUALLY. I HAVE NOT GOT TO TALK TO WALKER YET BUT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HIS MOM AND HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT HER. I ACTUALLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FORM JOE BEFORE I GOT THE OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION FROM HIS REAR DETACHMENT COMMAND. HE CALLED ME FROM TIKRIT AFTER HE WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND I GOT TO TALK TO HIM THERE AND A FEW TIMES FROM HIS FOB MC HENRY THIS WEEKEND OVER THE COMPUTER. NOW AS FOR WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER SOLDIERS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH JOE YESTERDAY GODWIN AND PARKER WERE NOT YET BACK TO THE FOB. GODWIN HAD A DEEP WOUND TO THE BACK OF HIS THIGH AND HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT ALL HAPPENED TO PARKER. GOEDE IS ON HIS WAY HERE TO THE STATES, BUT MAY STOP IN GERMANY FOR SURGERY IF HE IS NOT ALLREADY THERE. GOEDE ALSO LIVES IN JOES CONNEX AND HE IS A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS. JOE SAID WHEN HE SAW HIM LAST HE WAS ABLE TO SEE OUT OF ONE OF HIS EYES, BUT WAS GONNA NEED A LOT OF WORK DONE, IT LOOKED LIKE HE HAD A LOT OF BROKEN NONES IN HIS FACE. HE TOOK THE BRUNT OF IT STRAIGHT TO THE FACE, BUT NO MAJOR INJURIES TO HIS NECK WHICH COULD HAVE MADE THINGS A LOT WORSE. GOEDE, GODWIN AND JOE ARE ALL RECEIVING THEIR SECOND PURPLE HEART FOR THEIR INJURIES. JOE WAS THE ONLY MARRIED SOLDIER THAT I KNOW OF (PARKER MIGHT BE MARRIED, I AM NOT SURE). THE NOTIFICATION TEAM WAS VERY HELPFUL, EVEN THOUGH AFTER SPEAKING TO JOE I PROBLY KNEW MORE THAN THEY DID. BUT REST ASSURED JOE IS BACK TO BEING JOE AND INVOLVED IN IT ALL. HE WILL HAVE A PRETTY NASTY SCAR, SO I GUESS HE WILL GET TO BRAG, BUT HE DESERVES IT. I WILL UPDATE YOU ALL AS TO THE STATUS OF THE OTHER SOLDIERS AS SOON AS I KNOW ANYTHING.

UPDATE
HELLO ALL - FIRST OF ALL HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL WHO ARE FATHERS! I HAVE BEEN GETTING TO TALK TO JOE SOME THROUGHOUT THE LAST 2 WEEKS, MOSTLY OVER INSTANT MESSAGE THROUGH MY CELL PHONE SO THE MESSAGES ARE CHOPPY AND NOT VERY DETAILED. HE IS DOING GOOD. THEY HAVE BEEN BUSY THOUGH. LOTS OF RAIDS AND PATROLS. HE HAS CALLED IT THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. WHICH I THINK HE IS STILL BUSY SO I DONT SO MUCH UNDERSTAND THE CALM PART, BUT THE TRANSFER OF POWER IS SOON. IT WORRIES ME BUT IT DOESNT, I DONT KNOW REALLY WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT THEY DO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HANDLE ON THEIR REGION. WE CAN JUST WAIT AND SEE AND PRAY FOR THE BEST. I JUST HOPE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE IS REALLY DOING OVER THERE. HE IS NOT JUST IN AN OFFICE OR WALKING AROUND A CITY LIKE YOU SEE A LOT OF SOLDIERS DOING ON THE NEWS. THEY DO A LOT OF STUFF HE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TELL ME ABOUT AND THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY, I HOPE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND. I KNOW IT MEANS A LOT TO HIM FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW HE IS NOT JUST DOING PAPERWORK. OTHER THAN THAT HE WANTED ME TO TELL EVERYONE THANKS FOR THE PACKAGES. I SENT 5 WHILE I WAS HOME AND HE SAID HE GOT 10 PACKAGES AT MAIL CALL THE OTHER DAY. HE WAS THE ENVY OF EVERYONE AND HAS HIS OWN LITTLE SNACK SHOP SET UP. THANKS SO MUCH. I KNOW HE APPRECIATES IT BUT I WANT TO SAY THANKS TOO. THEY NEED IT. EVERY LITTLE BOX IS LIKE A PRESENT TO THEM. IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT TO SEND OR WHERE CHECK OUT THE CONTACT ME PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK FOR HIS ADDRESS AND LINKS TO CAREPACKAGE LISTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT BY SENDING STUFF TO OTHERS TOO JUST MAKE SURE AND PUT A NOTE AND HE WILL MAKE SURE IT ALL GETS HANDED OUT. JUST ONE LITTLE NOTE, FRESH FOOD MOLDS SOMETIMES. THEY DONT GET REGULAR MAIL CALL AND SOME PACKAGES TAKE 8 DAYS SOME TAKE 3 WEEKS. THE LAST TIME I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE PURPLE HEART CEREMONY HIS RESPONSE WAS: THEY CALLED US OUT - I GOTTA GO. SO I KNOW HE IS SUPPOSED TO GET IT WHILE HE IS OVER THERE, BUT IT IS HARD TO SCHEDULE A CEREMONY WITH SO MUCH GOING ON. BUT I WILL KEEP YOU ALL UP TO DATE AND SEND PICTURES WHEN HE DOES GET IT. I WILL ALSO TRY TO PUT UPDATES ON HERE MORE OFTEN - TRY NOT TO MAKE THEM SO SPORADIC. I APOLOGIZE. I WILL WRITE MORE SOON - THANKS AGAIN! - MEL

UPDATE 6/10/04
HELLO ALL - SORRY IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I LAST WROTE - I AM HOME FROM MY TRIP AND NEED A VACATION FROM MY VACATION. JOANN IS HERE WITH ME AND LOVING HAWAII. I HAVE GOTTEN TO TALK TO JOE THE LAST FEW DAYS AND THINGS ARE GOING OKAY. ANDREW WALKER IS BACK WITH THE GROUP AND EVEN IF HE WONT SAY IT JOE MISSED HIS BROTHER. THEY WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER AND JUST SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE OTHER IS THINKING. MAKES FOR A GREAT TEAM. THEY HAVE HAD A FEW THINGS HAPPEN. FOB MCHENRY (FORWARD OPERATING BASE) WAS ATTACKED BY MORTAR ROUNDS RECENTLY. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO MANY OF THE CONNEXES (THE BOXES THEY LIVE IN) BUT NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AS FAR AS I KNOW OF. THERE WERE A LOT OF CLOSE CALLS, BUT AMAZINGLY NO ONE HIT DIRECTLY. JOE SAID SOME SHRAPNEL HIT HIS CONNEX AND WENT THROUGH THE WALLS TEARING SOME OF HIS CLOTHES SO I AM SENDING SOME NEW SHIRTS. THEY ARE NOW JUST CRACKING DOWN ON THE NEARBY TOWNS TRYING TO TRACK DOWN WHO AND WHAT HAPPENED. LOTS OF RAIDS AND PATROLS KEEPING THEM BUSY NOW. THERE WAS RUMORS ABOUT THEM STARTING UP THE R&R PROGRAM BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT THE CURRENT EVENTS WILL LEAD TO. HE HAS ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT AN AWARDS CEREMONY WILL BE HELD. HE WILL RECEIVE HIS PURPLE HEART AND HIS COMBAT PATCH AT THAT TIME. I AM TOLD THEY WILL TAKE PICTURES FOR ME AND I WILL POST THEM ASAP. THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOOT FOR AROUND TH 14TH OF JUNE BUT THAT ALL DEPENDS ON WHEN A GENERAL WILL BE THERE TO PIN IT ON HIM. A MEDAL HE PROBLY NEVER WATNED BUT A MEDAL ALL THE SAME. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING PLEASE POST YOUR MESSAGE IN RESPONSE TO THESE UPDATES, I GET AN EMIAL EVEYTIME SOMEONE DOES THAT AND WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN SENDING PACKAGES AND LETTERS AND EMAILS TO JOE. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT MEANS TO HIM. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND AM GETTING TO WHERE I AM NOT SENDING AS MUCH MYSELF AS HE IS GETTING IT FROM OTHERS WHICH IS A BIG HELP. THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS.

UPDATE 5/27/04
IT HAS BEEN A LONG WEEK, I HAVE NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO JOE MUCH, BUT I DID GET TO LAST NIGHT. THEY HAVE BEEN BUSY, NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT WORK, JUST THAT IT HAS BEEN REALLY HOT. HE SAID IT HAS GOTTEN UP TO AROUND 126 DEGREES AND IT GOT SO HOT IT FRIED THEIR GENERATORS AND THEY HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER FOR A FEW DAYS. WE ARE ALMOST HALF WAY DONE, BUT THIS IS NOT GETTING EASIER FOR ME, AND I KNOW HE COLD USE A BREAK. HE HAS BEEN IN PRETTY GOOD SPIRITS, BUT NO ONE IS HAPPY WHEN YOU ARE SO UNCOMFORTABLY HOT. I EXPECT HIM TO BE BUSY OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND THERE TO BE A LOT GOING ON. HOPEFULLY I WILL GET TO TALK TO HIM AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. I WILL KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT HE HAS BEEN UP TO. HE WANTED ME TO SAY THANKS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SENT PACKAGES AND MADE AN EFFORT TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HIM, HE WISHES HE HAD MORE CONTACT WITH THE GUYS THOUGH. I WILL WRITE MORE WHEN I KNOW MORE - I AM HEADED HOME FOR A SHORT VISIT AND MY BEST FRIENDS WEDDING, CONGRATULATIONS TO LOREN AND SOON TO BE KARA FLAHERTY!

5/17/04
HELLO EVERYONE - JUST AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING. I HAVE BEEN GETTING TO TALK TO JOE QUITE A BIT AND THINGS ARE FINE. HE IS GOING OUT ON PATROLS AND RAIDS JUST LIKE NORMAL. NOTHING MAJOR TO TALK ABOUT... EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE IS BEING HONORED WITH A PURPLE HEART. THE CEREMONY IS JUNE 6TH (OUR ANNIVERSARY) AND I HAVE ASKED THAT SOME OF THE GUYS TAKE PICTURES FOR ME. I BELIEVE THREE SOLDIERS WERE HONORED, (HERNDON, FIX, & WEGESEND) WITH A MEDAL THEY PROBLY NEVER WANTED TO GET, BUT IT DOES COMMEND THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM. HE STAYED IN THE FIREFIGHT UNTIL THE END AND HAS HEALED VERY WELL, AND IF YO UARE WONDERING THIS DOES NOT MEAN HE GETS TO COME HOME. HE WANTS TO SAY HI TO EVERYONE AND THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING WHEN HE DOESN'T HAVE THE TIME TO RESPOND TO YOUR EMAILS AND LETTERS. I KNOW SOME OF THE SOLDIERS OVER THERE ALSO LOOK AT THIS BLOG SO - HI GUYS! I MISS YOU ALL. THE NEXT WAVE OF R&R IS SUPPOSED TO START IN JUNE AND JOE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO COME HOME FOR AWHILE, BUT NOTHING PROMISED. SGT ANDREW FIX RETURNED TO THE ISLAND ON WEDNESDAY. HE HAS BEEN GETING TO SHOW OFF THE SHRAPNEL THEY REMOVED FROM HIS ANKLE AND HE HAS A PRETTY NICE SCAR. I HAVE ALSO SEEN HIS BOOT. SUCH A LITTLE HOLE DID QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF HE IS ENJOYIG HANGING OUT WITH ALL THE WIVES, QUITE A CULTURE SHOCK FROM BEING OVER THERE! HAHA! HE HAS RETURNED TO WORK WITH THE REAR DETACHMENT AND WILL BEGIN HIS REHAB. I AM SO GLAD TO SEE HIM DOING WELL, BUT JEALOUS THAT I CAN'T SEE JOE. THAT IS ABOUT ALL THAT IS GOING ON, FOR NOW. I HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE SOON!

A note from the 1/27 Wolfhound commander 5/7/2004
HERE IS THE LATEST UPDATE WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM JOE'S COMMANDERS. THE EVENTS ON APRIL 7 WAS THE FIREFIGHT THAT JOE AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE INJURED IN. IT IS GREAT THAT WE GET THE OPPROTUNITY TO RECEIVE LETTERS LIKE THIS. SOME GREAT THINGS ARE BEING DONE THAT THE MEDIA DOESN'T TALK ABOUT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE TALKING ABOUT IT.

Wolfhound Families,
? ? ? ? I want to once again thank you for your sacrifices to allow your soldiers to serve so proudly here in Iraq.? I know that the support you give them from home directly impacts their ability here in an uncertain environment.? Your husbands, sons, fathers are working everyday to make things better in our region of Iraq.? The news often shows the worst, and I guess they generate the most monetary gain from showing shocking images.? What they don't show is the steady improvement over here.? They don't show American soldiers interacting with people who's culture, religion, and language are quite different than our own.? They don't realize our main effort is to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure - not to kill anyone.? Our soldiers go forth each day with smiles on their faces and big hearts.? They watch each other and take care of each other, but they work toward a common goal - make this place better than we found it.? We are trying to erase 30 years of abuse and neglect by a dictator.?
? ? ? ? The largest city in our sector, Huweja pop. (80-100,000), doesn't even have a sewage system.? The electricity runs from hundreds of wires draped from house to house - no civic planning is evident anywhere.? Just an hour away, one of Saddam's palaces sits with marble floors and staircases - just one of many palaces.? The cost of anyone of them could have provided clean drinking water for our whole region.? It's amazing to look at a region so rich in agriculture and oil and to see the poverty.? So your Wolfhounds go forth each day and night with big hearts and attempt to make things better.?
? ? ? ? There are many in the country and surrounding the country who don't want to see a government of the people and for the people succeed here.? They see chaos as a better alternative.? They will fight improvement if it has won the trust of the people.? They will kill their own neighbors to upset the community - always blaming it on the Coalition.? They see it as honorable to attack the "occupiers."? It confounds logic.? They draw our efforts away from steady improvement in the community to militarily defend their government and ourselves.? The lies are everywhere.? Just remember the Iraqi Minister of News who was broadcasting about the dramatic and nearly total defeat of the coalition forces by Iraqi armed forces at the border.? His broadcasts continued right to the point where he had to run as the Americans rolled into Baghdad.? Lies were and are everywhere and with limited educations of many and limited news media the lies are believed.? An interesting environment.
? ? ? ? On 7 April we deployed for a normal day of working with the local government and visiting infrastructure projects throughout the region.? A call came from a platoon in Huweja about a peaceful demonstration in the streets.? We sent another platoon just in case things got out of hand.? It turns out that two of our cities were targeted to be part of a nationwide attack to discredit the work of the coalition.? Armed terrorists used the crowd to close within striking distance of the government building and our soldiers.?
? ? ?? A figure dressed in black with his face covered lurked a couple of blocks away with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher (RPG).? He popped out to take aim at the government building where our soldiers were securing a city counsel meeting.? A Wolfhound sniper prevented the launch with one clean shot.? Then many came in a preplanned attack.? The platoon on the scene held its ground under heavy fire from multiple directions.? Machine gun fire raked the area.? RPGs exploded all around.? Another platoon of Wolfhounds assaulted into the flank of the attacking enemy and began a house-to-house fight.? Within an hour nearly every soldier in the Wolfhound Taskforce was applying the training they had received.? Platoon after platoon joined battle with such aggressiveness and professionalism the enemy was never able to regain the initiative.? After a four hour running gun-fight, many weapons laid in the street beside those who would have done us harm.? Our soldiers fought like the generations of Wolfhounds before us.? At about the time when things began to slow a fight broke in another of our towns.? Our force began without hesitation to maneuver again and again we secured victory.?
? ? ? ? The fight was not without cost.? We had several soldiers injured.? God was once again watching over our ranks - every one of them will make full recoveries.? As I have said before no one moves without his buddies watching out for him.? This was the case on 7 April.? The only case where an injured soldier was not immediately surrounded by his team mates was when the injured soldiers moved to aid a young girl injured by terrorist fire.? They moved the injured child to safety without regard to their own safety or injuries.?
? ? ? ? There were several accounts of injured soldiers refusing aid during the fight.? Several of those soldiers refused medical evacuation till they knew their squad was okay.? We had soldiers flown back to an airbase where they were arguing with doctors to let them back in the fight.? They would not let their buddies fight alone.? Men with stitches from shrapnel of enemy grenades took over guard posts so others good join the fight.? I told you before that you have not seen in the movies the feats these men are capable of.? There are Hollywood heroes, but we have seen for real what movie writers dream they could produce.? I do not use the term lightly -Heroes walk in our ranks - the Wolfhounds continue to own the battlefield.? I am proud to be among them.
? ? ? ? There were several tense days following the fight.? It seems outsiders were trying to incite the locals into violence.? The friendships and trust we had formed with many of the leaders in the area worked to bring stability back to the area (that and the fact that many of the outsiders were no longer able to talk).? The Wolfhounds were back working to improve the lives of all around us - no grudges.? We are here to leave our region better than we found it.? I have absolute confidence in our Wolfhounds - in your Wolfhounds!
Sincerely,
?C. Scott Leith
?LTC, Infantry ?Commanding
NEC ASPERA TERRANT!
PS - thanks again for the Operation Iraqi Child (heart to heart).? The Wolfhounds continue to win the hearts of the next generation of Iraqis.? In a harsh environment where no child should be, your gifts make a difference - you are touching hearts.?