7 September 2004 - Ok, not a lot to say today. I've been super busy getting Awards and Evaluation reports completed, so my time has been spent mostly in front of a computer (shocker!!). This is more of an announcement, albeit a little late.

On August 21st, Rich & Kristen announced the birth of their daughter, Courtney Samantha! Born at 7lbs, 7oz, and 20 inches long, she is a the third daughter to the happy parents, and ever growing family! Wow...talk about a busy year for babies around us. This is the second baby born into the family, and I know of one more due late this year!! Well, with no more adieu, here is Courtney Samantha.

Don't know about you all, but I would kill for a pillow that cradles me like that. Talk about comfortable looking!! With that dark hair, and those squinty eyes, she looks a bit like Rich, doesn't she (just kidding about the squinty eyes Rich). CONGRATULATIONS to Rich, Kristen, Kayla, and Heather on their new arrival!!

29 September 2004 - Wow! Didn't realize that it's now been almost 3 weeks since I last wrote anything. I'm sure some of you are wondering if I fell off the face of the earth. This month has been what I call "Paper Month". Since we're still a National Guard unit at the core, we still have to follow the timelines and guidance as set out by the State, which includes having to complete NCO evaluation Reports (NCOER) within a specific timeframe. In the Guard, NCOER's are due based on what rank the NCO is, and since my commo chief is now a Master Sergeant (MSG), his evaluation is due into State this month. So I've spent part of this month working on getting that squared away. Not to mention that now Brigade has asked that all award recommendations, especially Silver Stars, Legion of Merits, and Bronze Stars, are all submitted at least 3 months in advance, so I've been filling out awards all month. Anyone who has ever been in the military knows from experience that an award never makes it through the first submission without needing some corrections. Well, for me, I had great bullets and strong justification for the awards I put in, but since they had to go through the my "favorite" Company Commander, he was quite picky about formatting and all that. I've had to redo awards at least every few days just to fix what he says has been wrong. Not that big of a deal, b/c these awards are worth the headache to get them put in.

Planning for operations has been very busy the last few weeks, although I can't say what they're for. The city has been like a wave...periods of calm followed by extreme violence against the Iraqi Police and Iraqi National Guard. Pretty much the same stuff that has been happening for the past few months. Shelling against the base has been sporadic at best, although there has been an increase in small arms fire against our guard towers. No injuries thank goodness. So that's it for operations and the state of our area.

We have a temporary XO while our actual XO is out of the Area. MAJ Dunn is our S2, but is filling in as as the XO. We both get along quite well, and while he is an eternal optimist, we still work well together. I'm sure everyone knows an eternal optimist. Always looking at the positive side of things, no matter how bad they get. He's been on a crusade to save all of the staff from absolutely hating other officers in the Battalion, and he is meeting a lot of resistance. For those of you who know me very well, then you know that I am one of those causing the resistance. It's hard to overlook certain faults in people, even though we should. I guess there are just some impressions that cannot be changed no matter how hard a person tries. Also, lately, I've started to drive more convoys. No...not run them...as in being the convoy commander. I've taken a step backwards and have been a driver on a number of convoys. I haven't told Kathy about these b/c you know she'd worry her cute little head off. It was one of those spur of the moment things where we were short on drivers b/c of the summer flu that is hitting people here, so I offered to drive since I have a Humvee license and I've never had the opportunity to drive out in the city. It's a big difference sitting in the drivers seat instead of the passenger seat. Normally I man the radios and handle the jockeying of vehicles as we come to danger areas and what not, but this convoy crew has been out with me a lot in the past and they know what I look for, so it wasn't a problem. My soldiers were kind of taken back when they saw me hop into the drivers seat, but I like to do that...keeps them on their toes. So, I was surprised at how much more aware the driver becomes of the surroundings. Saw more people and vehicles sitting in alleyways compared to normal. I guess that's b/c I spend more time watching down the road a few blocks and watching windows and rooftops. The adrenaline rises as you speed through the city, downshifting to get that heavy truck to move, swerving in and out of traffic, cutting off civilian vehicles attempting to pass your convoy, waving to the children on the side of the road, glancing left and glancing right all the while trying to not hit the truck in front of you b/c they stop suddenly and you miss it due to hard-to-see taillights. BUT...it makes for a hell of an effect on the locals when the tires screech while trying to stop. Yup...this happened to me. I would blame the brakes, but I did hit the pedal harder then I expected to. Scared the living jeepers out of the soldier manning the gun in the vehicle in front of me. Said she thought she was going to get thrown form the back of the truck when she heard my tires lock up. And of course...to stroke my own ego...I feel like I managed to manhandle that beast of a truck and not hit anything pretty well. Made all the guys in my truck wake up and take notice. Alas, we all made it safe and sound with no issues. This now makes 3 convoys I've driven, one of them at night. When we first got here, the HHC Commander used to run all of the convoys out to the palace, and now I can see why. It's kind of exciting to be the driver, especially in my convoys. We all have as much fun as is possible when we head out into the city. I feel it helps calm the nerves of those soldiers who get really nervous. Pipe a little bit of Aerosmith across the SINCGARS net, and you can make anyone smile.

Oh...and thanks go out to the Sticklers and Sebastian for the recent care packages..and a hearty THANK YOU goes out to my extended family on the Cahill side! They sent me this mongo care package. 50 pounds of goodies...snacks....candy...jerky...etc. I grabbed my pickings from it, and then when I brought it out to my section, it was like feeding time at the zoo. See, I grabbed all the food and candy stuff that I know I won't be able to eat, and I brought it out to my soldiers. I wish you all could see the excitement when these guys get to dig through a huge moving box full of snacks. I know that they're friends and family send them goodies, but man...these guys shredded up that box and all the stuff in it. Ok...cookies and those little single serving bags of chips, cookies and crackers were the first things to go. I kept all the microwave popcorn...what can I say...I need something for my movie watching. Jerky has been a fan favorite, and the buffalo jerky I just ate was quite tasty. I am surprised that Kathy let them put peanut butter into my box considering her absolute disgust for the yummy, creamy, Jif! (Sorry Hon...had to say something.) There were a lot of other things in that MOAB (Mother Of All Boxes) that I did grab, but the guys had their day too. Actually, that box supplied a lot to about 18 soldiers who happened to be lucky enough to walk by. Man...I love this job sometimes!! And no...I am not going to go back on active duty no matter how much I love this!

Since I know that my father gets these postings to Chris, just wanted to let you know that I got all your letters you recently sent, and I am reviewing the documents that you sent. Your idea is very well fleshed out, and it is an intriguing one. I have a lot of opinions about it, and want to talk to you about them. When I am home for leave, I intend to come up and visit, so we'll have a chance to talk face to face. It is a very good idea...very labor intensive though, but a good idea.