Operation Cowbell

I know many of you have been looking for updates on my friend Betty, who was deployed to Iraq this fall. So many of you sent boxes and good wishes to Betty and her soldiers, through Operation Home-In-a-Box. I hadn't yet posted an update, because I didn't hear anything for a while, and, to tell you the truth, I didn't want to think about why I hadn't heard anything. Most of me knew that Betty is incredibly busy under even normal circumstances, and that right now she probably barely has time to spit, let alone write chatty emails on the latest goings-on in Iraq. (She is still taking classes and dealing with homework in the midst of all this!) But of course there was a tiny part of my brain, the "what if" part, that worried.

Anyway, I got an update just before Christmas, and wanted to let you all know how much your boxes and kind thoughts were appreciated by Betty's section over there. She asked me to relay their gratitude, and what a difference it has made to the guys and gals over there. She has - as I expected - made their space into a nice Christmasey spot in the midst of everything. Unfortunately, the news is not all good. They have lost a soldier already and have some wounded as well.

Some of it I'm directly cut and pasting from the email, other parts I'll just relay, as I'm not sure about pasting some of the info - better safe than sorry. I guess I'm still paranoid about security from my clearance days, ha.

I hope your holidays are as happy as mine, I have prepared a nice Christmas day for my section, the office is clean and decorated with such nice festive decorations and warm feelings of blessings. Thanks to you, and our new Cowbell family. God has been so good to the soldiers here at FOB Kalsu.

... we've lost a soldier in the last week, a number of wounded soldiers. But the soldiers keep performing to such high standards and staying motivated, they're definitely going the distance here in Iraq. Can you please post this for me. Must close, need to do homework, midterm...still in the University.

I can't even imagine how that has affected everyone there. Of course, there are morale issues, which is to be expected, but Betty is on top of that, as she always is with her soldiers. Also, an Iraqi General, whom Betty really respected, was killed, which had a big effect on folks from both sides.

... I don’t want to start this message out on a gloomy note, but I have to let you know the truth. Last Sunday, we had a meeting with one of the Iraqi Generals and as he departed FOB Kalsu, within the hour he was killed, this week was a bit of a disappointment for both sides, because he was the actual glue that held each side together, which allowed both sides to continue to merge into one.

One of Betty's very close friends there is an Iraqi translator - "one with such a great heart and love for both countries". She had legally immigrated to the US, her husband passed away a few years ago, which is when she made the decision to become a translator with our forces. She apparently translated for several of the Generals, including the General who was recently killed. I'm sure that was very difficult for everyone.

The packages you all sent were so appreciated. Apparently they can feel isolated there, in their section's particular situation, so things from home make a big difference.

We have had quite a few black outs of [location code] for either deaths or wounded soldiers (KIAs os WIAs). When this operation runs throughout the FOB, Forward Operating Base; this means that we have no connection outside of this Base, beyond the T-Walls that encloses the Base itself.

... I have received quite a few care packages from quite a few generous people, and to let you know, I let one of the soldiers within the section open a care package when it came their turn…they were allowed to pick from the package first and then we shared the rest with the other soldiers in the section.

I’ve had one soldier (male….approximately 35 yrs old) who has received only one letter and it was from his mother. This individual is having a difficult time concentrating on mission, because he had to leave prior to the completion of a divorce, or reconciling with his spouse/family. If you would like to send a kind word to this person, he and I would definitely appreciate it. You can address this letter/package to Mr. Vil in C/O MSG Betty PerryBoehm; same address, I would see to it getting to him.

To my old friends and newly acquired friends via Operation Cowbell, I want to thank all of you for being so generous and kind hearted in a time such as this military operation. I know most of you are the general population of the American society, the part of society who has an opinion, but or fed information through the media channels…..listen to all and decipher what sounds right to you; I will tell you, a lot of good things or happening here to keep the Terrorists at bay and allow the continued freedom to the American people.

I will write to all of the participants in a separate letter, if it’s OK! I want to let the people of the Cowbell Operation know that it’s not necessary to send a package; you can just keep the letters coming, mainly with words of encouragements. If you continue to feel generous to my group of soldiers, please send warm socks (male and females) towels, washcloths, shower gels, lotions and Noxzema pads to keep the facial pores clean and free of the dirt and sand storms we endure here in the desert. These items will sure to be used and appreciated.

(Also, Betty wanted to let you know that the soldier she mentioned, Mr. Vil, is a warrant officer, so it's customary to address them as Mr./Ms. which is why it's written that way rather than with rank. Just address it in care of Betty, it will be sure to get to him.)

Again, I can't begin to imagine what they are experiencing over there, and I can't begin to imagine how important it is to feel support from home when a person is in that situation. I know people have a lot of opinions on the war, and in particular the way our current administration (G-Dubya and minions) is handling things, but the one thing easy to agree on is supporting and respecting the individual soldiers who are over there, far from home, doing their best in the face of everything. I, for one, am proud of them, and have the highest respect for them. I wish for them all to come home soon, and safely.

I can tell in Betty's letter, and in other soldiers' writings I've seen out on the net, that it is a concern, what the folks back home are hearing, believing, and thinking about what's going on there. What's happening on the ground is a whole different thing than what's happening in the hallowed halls of the Big House White House, and from what I see, most if not all of the folks who stop in regularly to my site are fully aware of that. From what I see, most folks wish that those walking the hallowed halls would give more thought to the soldiers than to what's on their own agendas.

So Betty, dear friend, the folks back home are rooting hard for you all, and care more than you can know. You all just keep on keeping on, take care of each other, watch your buddies' backs, and please come home safe.

I love you, friend. Stay strong, stay safe.