Missing a Friend

Some of you may be aware my brother was in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. It was a hard time for me. Communicating with him abruptly stopped several times and I had a very hard time with it. He was ok and in his smart-ass-younger-brother way chided me, explaining he "had a job to do" and would be out "working" some times, “Don’t worry” He said.

Now I (and we) have a friend in Iraq. The communication with him is not as constant, I still worry, looking almost daily for updates from him, from the sand box.

Last night these pictures were received from him.

(click image for larger view)

His sacrifice is without equal, pausing a personal and professional life to fight for a cause that many in America have lost the taste for. Yet he is there, they all are there. Through hardships we cannot imagine.

This is an excerpt from a recent e-mail.

When I came over here a lot of the literature spoke about the insect problems and other creatures. I had not seen any since arriving here. That is until last night! Holy crap! Every nasty pesky bug on the face of the planet came out. It's so bad that you walk away from all light sources because the ground crunches beneath your feet and they are pelting you as you walk. You do not turn on the outside light around your pod because of the bugs. You enter in the dark close the door and then turn on your inside lights. They are still all over in the daylight too. One kid got stung by something and his head blew up like pumpkin. He's going to be alright.

It's 14:30 (2:30 pm) and the temp is 92. It's supposed to reach 96 today. 105 attacks so far! [mortar attacks on the base he is in]


In the event he should read this;
Know, my friend, that you are missed.
You are continually in my thoughts and prayers.
God’s peace, God’s speed and my He keep you safe.

The silence of you not riding is much worse than the silence of your ride.