Sign in to follow this  
Krissy Phaserman

An E-mail from the front!

Recommended Posts

Hey guys,

 

Well, I've been in-country for a few days now. Yesterday I went on my first patrol. Standard issue for the Patrol was Kevlar, body armor, rifle, 150 rounds of 5.56 Ammo, 2 grenades, a flashbang, four or five flex-cuffs, and enough tootsie-rolls and suckers to fill the cargo pockets on my uniform. The kids here love us. When they see us coming down the road, it's like the Ice Cream Truck back when we were kids. We toss out candy to the kids, and take pictures with them occasionally.

 

Some things around here are pretty standard. When you are outside, you've always got your kevlar (Helmet for the Civis who might read this), Body Armor, and a weapon. They're like a Visa Card, you don't leave home without 'em. Yesterday, I was in line for chow in PT gear with my battle rattle on. Felt weird to be wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and all the armor and the weapon. But, 1st Sergeant said you get used to it.

 

It's kinda surreal over here. Sometimes, you just don't quite believe you're in a warzone. All the smiling faces of kids, old men offering us tea, but then you see a burnt out car or a building with a massive hole in it and you remember where you are. These folks have it pretty rough over here, but it seems like they want to clean up and get on with their lives. They want the fighting to end as much, no probably more so, than anyone in the states. These guys see it first hand, every day.

 

Anyways, I gotta go. I'm on in 10 minutes. I love you all, and I'll see you guys in a few months.

 

Love,

 

Tom.

 

PS: Say hi to the lounge peeps for me.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The miracle of modern war, LMP. These soldiers, unlike their fathers and grandfathers, have almost daily access to the internet and E-mail. Soldiers with Tommy's unit knew about John Kerry's "joke" within an hour of it hitting the news, and could watch the election coverage play out more or less live. And yeah, there is alot of violence there, but there are alot more people just trying to get on with life.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please wish Tommy the best of luck and to please be safe until Nancy Pelosi forces him to abandon his mission............

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Genuine?

 

How come American soldiers have it so sweet when ours get blown apart? this wasn't our war, until that brown nose Blair got us involved.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey, ARMS, He's been there for less than a week. I imagine not many of his E-mails will be so rosey.

I hope your wrong.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey, ARMS, He's been there for less than a week. I imagine not many of his E-mails will be so rosey.

 

I just hope the emails don't stop coming.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey, ARMS, He's been there for less than a week. I imagine not many of his E-mails will be so rosey.

 

I just hope the emails don't stop coming.

Exactly.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hope he gets an 'easy' ride of it all. keep us updated as much as possible, its nice to know he is 'safe' and well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for sharing the email, Krissy! I'm glad he has the opprtunity to keep you, his family, up to date on how he's doing. Please tell him Hi! May all his emails be good ones!

 

Not to pry, but does some of his unit have previous experience over in Iraq, like his first Sargeant, for example?

Edited by trekz

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think alot of the E-4s (Specialists) and almost all of the E-5s (Sergeants) and E-6s (Staff Sergeants) are on their second tour with the unit. Infantry Brigades tend to rotate through on a 10-15 month deployment, then train and reform for 18-24 months, then redeploy again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We got another one, I'm just gonna give you guys the basics.

 

Since last we heard from the forward-deployed Phaserman, He's sampled a few of the local "customs" if youn can call them that.

 

One of his pairs of ACU trousers (the new pixellated BDU the Army uses, Advanced Combat Uniform) is now missing part of the "cargo" pocket. Anyone with a pair of cargo pants knows the pocket. Right around knee level. Shrapnel from an IED missed his leg barely, but tore a hole in the pocket. He wouldn't say if anyone in his unit was injured, all he said was that he's got a hole in his pants.

 

Also, from an unrelated incident, he had the (mis)fortune of field-testing the body armor he was issued. Appearently, it works. A round from an AK-47 hit the ceramic ballistics insert (known to soldiers as the Chicken plate). Appearently Tommy didn't even know about it until the Company 1SGT noticed the damage to the front of his body armor. Dispite two very close brushes with incoming projectiles, our favorite soldier remains pretty upbeat. again, no word on any casualties.

 

He also wants to send Christmas wishes to everyone, and reminds everyone that He'll be home for Christmas, so please have snow, and mistle-toe, and presents under the tree. He'll be home for Christmas, if only in his dreams and in our hearts (actually, he will be home by Christmas 2007, more than likely.), the 3/82nd is most likely going to rotate back to the states sometime early next summer, or late spring.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

god speed to the Phasermans.

 

dare i say, it's lucky none of our boys are over there in the thick...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please send warm Christmas wishes right back to him. I wish I could send him some snow. :assimilated: My thoughts and prayers are with him. I'm glad to hear he remains upbeat. Thank goodness for the armor (and that it works well).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Christmas is in the air in Iraq! Tommy informed me that he will be standing a "Santa Watch" tonight, keeping a lookout for a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer, and will be standing by to provide security for Santa when he makes his rounds with 3/82. He also wanted me to tell everyone here that he wishes you all a merry christmas, happy new year.

 

By the way, when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas when he called yesterday, the answer might or might not surprise you.

 

He didn't ask for a trip home, or even a day without a patrol. He said all he wants for Christmas is a kiss from Nikki, and for the Packers to make the playoffs!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My best wishes go to Tommy. I'm hoping he makes the best out of the holidays that he possibly can and please pass on my sincere thanks for his service to our country!.. :laugh:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told Tommy he needs to settle down...he had another close call with an IED. No shrapnel wounds, but appearently he got his bell rung a bit.

 

 

Isn't that like the third time he has had a close call in the short time he's been there? He needs to be WAY more careful!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please tell Tommy he remains in our thoughts and prayers, and, as they used to say on Hill Street Blues "Let's be careful out there!"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this