A Post From Adam

I know this post is long overdue, and I’m sorry for that, but I’ve been either too busy having fun being back in America and getting back in the saddle OR getting ready to start training for my 2nd tour back to Afghanistan probably in April or June of next year.

 
My mother and I and talked it over and I think the best way for me to do this post is by just answering the questions I’ve been asked the most. (and maybe some of the ones people have been afraid to ask.)

 
I am always getting asked...Was it scary? That one is hard to answer.  We did get into firefights—Rockets, Mortars and Machine Guns, but a lot of the time NOTHING happened. We would go out on missions and come back. When those firefights come--those brief 10 - 15 min periods of intense adrenaline--you don’t have time to be scared and think about what’s happening. Our training kicks in and we do what we need to. That is the best way I can describe it. I got a little freaked afterward when I had time to slow down and compose my thoughts.

 
Next up....What was the best part?  HA!!  I can’t even begin to explain the shenanigans that happens when a group of 25-50 marines ages 20-26 are stranded in a desolate country with no booze and no women. By far my favorite part of Afghan was the camaraderie and brotherhood you build (I know it sounds gay but if you have been through it you would understand).

Next obviously is… What was the worse part?  It’s hard to believe but once you get into a routine of walking 5 – 10 miles with all your gear and a lot of extra weight, it becomes...like a said a routine so it’s not horrible. The worst is when the weather won’t cooperate. A regular mission that may be hard enough physically...a 15 kilometer movement in full gear with my mortar system...is one thing...that same mission during a dust/lightning storm quickly becomes the "worst part of being deployed."  But that is where the brotherhood and camaraderie come into play. I know all of you readers know I have tattoos and I think a new one is going to be " camaraderie through misery."  It is the truth. 

 
How do i feel about going back? To be honest it is a different life than being a Marine here on my base training and dealing with all of the "customs and courtesies" and other traditions that Marines live by when we aren’t deployed.  So i am OK with going back.  I’m happy I have some time stateside, but it’s a more outdoorsy living and surviving type of thing on deployment.

 
A question my mom asked was “Did I feel my training was enough to keep me safe?”  In a one word answer...YES. The training works. If you want to know how to fight a war, join the Marine Infantry and we will teach you--I promise.

 
Last question --  How do I feel about being a Marine now that have been deployed?  I feel like I fit in more. I felt like I was still not truly a Marine "Grunt" or a "Salt Dog" until I had a deployment under my belt and earned my Combat Action Ribbon (CAR).

If you have more questions please ask me on the blog and I will answer them....probably not right away as I am now very busy getting my new junior marines and unscrewing them.  I should hopefully be attending MLC (Mortar Leaders Course by the end of this month, which is a program to take the knowledge I have of my weapon system (a 60mm mortar) and make me an expert with it.

Thanks again to all of you for reading and following my time in Afghanistan.  And special thank for all the packages you sent.  My buddies and I really appreciated getting them, and I’ll be sure to send my address to all for the next deployment.

 

This is the Weapons Company-I am last one on the right in the bottom row

Homecoming in California

Due to the volcano eruption in Iceland, Adam's homecoming was repeatedly delayed. The original "window" was April 24-26, but he actually came home on Wednesday, April 28.  Jason, Gary and I met at the Palm Springs airport on Tuesday afternoon.  After checking into the Best Western Hotel, we surveyed the Twentynine Palms neighborhood and found only a few restaurant offerings. We settled on a rib place that turned out to be quite tasty.

Early Wednesday morning, we woke up bright and early, ready for the scheduled 5 am return of India Company only to find out that once again there was a delay, this time until 11 am.  With so much time to kill, we met the Dorseys and Melanders for a leisurely breakfast.  Colin and Corey are both friends of Adam's and it was really nice to share stories about our boys.

Finally at 10 we all drove over to the base, which was about 15 minutes from our hotel.  Along the road that lead up to the base was a fence on which numerous "Welcome Home" signs of every shape and color were affixed. Each one welcomed back a different Marine.  Sarah Dorsey had been kind enough to make a sign for us, and we stopped and got out of the car to see it.  Take a look at the phenomenal job she did.

Just as we were getting our visitor passes at the main gate, someone shouted "The buses are coming!" We all ran out just in time to shout "Welcome Home" as two two huge buses with waving arms extended through the windows greeted us.  We were advised that the marines still needed to check their weapons at the armory before they would be brought back to greet us in person at the homecoming site, which was a gymnasium on the base.

After waiting around for another hour, an announcement was finally made -- "We take great pleasure in welcoming home the Marines of the Weapons Platoon of India Company"  In they walked --  each one searching the crowd for his loved ones as we searched back.  Gary found Adam first and yelled to him.  I saw him next and ran over as he scooped me up for a big kiss and warm embrace.  Close behind were Gary and Jason, who got their hugs next.  I looked around to enjoy the special moment shared by so many other families.  They were home, and it was worth the wait.

 Nathan and Adam

We drove Adam to a fellow Marine's house where some of his gear had been stored for the last seven months, and then we drove to his new room in the barracks. There was lots of unfiltered Marine humor as well as the scent of some nasty smelling sea bags as they were opened. Lot of very strong looking Marines seemed to be floating around, and there was a constant flow in and out of his room by buddies enjoying their first, second and third  beers in seven months. They are quite a group -- after living in such close living quarters for so long they actually act like old married people --  reliving a lot of moments from their deployment together and bickering over minutiae. We had a really good time meeting many of them and getting to know Adam's mortar team, Jake and Matt, as well as his new roommate, Nathan.

Pretty soon we were driving away from the base with our Marine. He was off until the following day at noon and he was spending the rest of the day and night with us.  We talked and looked at his pictures and videos. He told us many stories and relived some of the last seven months for us. Adam has indeed grown up so much during his deployment to Afghanistan.  He seems more confident, self reliant and independent. He is looking forward to mentoring the new "boots" after he returns from his leave, and I feel confident that he will be a positive role model and "senior" to those who are assigned to his team.

Adam's leave officially begins this Monday, May 3. After spending some time in San Francisco, he will return to New Rochelle for some much needed R&R where I hope he catches up on his sleep and enjoys the freedom of civilian life.  This Mother's Day will mark his second anniversary in the United States Marine Corp and I feel so blessed to be able to spend the day with him.

He's in Leatherneck and He's Clean!!

For the last few days, I've been waiting patiently and checking often to see if Adam is online. I haven't heard from him in 10 days, but I know that seeing him online will mean he's arrived in Camp Leatherneck--a base with showers, food and internet!  And this afternoon it finally happened.

While I was on Facebook, I got a message from one of his buddies alerting me that Adam was about to sign on to a computer.  And then I saw his username  --  yoitsadamf --  appear on AIM.  "Hey" I quickly typed.  "At leatherneck" he replied.  "YAY" I responded and breathed a big sigh of relief.  One more leg of this journey was complete.  We had less than 10 minutes to chat, and I learned very little about his anticipated return trip home.  He did manage to have a brief conversation with Gary and Jason at the same time, but he signed off very quickly.  The only real info I learned was that he had finally taken a shower and is now awaiting his orders.  And since he waited over an hour for a turn at a computer, I'm not expecting to hear from him again until he lands on U.S. soil. 

Later this afternoon, I received a message from our Family Readiness Officer. He gave dates for the return of H&S, Lima and Weapons companies, but not Kilo or India (Adam's company).  I was slightly disappointed, but in truth this means that we're making progress.  I called Verizon and had Adam's cell phone re-activated.  Now I just have to wait a bit longer to see his old, familiar number appear on my caller id.

One More Patrol

It's Sunday. The sun is finally shining, and Gary and I are thinking about making a visit to the Botanical Gardens. The phone rings, and it's Adam checking in.  He tells us he's been busy and he's working hard. He also announces that he's getting ready to make his last official infantry patrol before returning home. We are so excited by this news.  He confirms to us the exact day he expects to fly into California. We talk of our upcoming reunion, and we re-affirm our plans to be there when he arrives back on base.  Adam has decided he wants the four of us to spend a few days together in San Diego, and we are thrilled.  We speak of our month together in New Rochelle and Adam's plans to return to 29 Palms after his leave.  We tell him how much we love him and how proud we are of him. And then we end our short conversation with parental warnings - Be careful!  Don't get complacent!  No heroics!   After the conversation, I reflect a bit and just have to laugh.  He's been a Marine for almost two years, he's had intense training, and he's been living in a country at war for six months.  Yet we just can't stop being parents and issue those warnings. But Adam has indeed grown up, and he takes the warnings in stride.  "Yes mom," he answers, "I'll be careful.  Don't worry.  I love you too."  We hang up, and I try to follow his advice. I tell myself we've gotten this far.  He'll be fine.  But I will rest easier in a week, when I get another call from him that he's done.

To give you an idea of what a "patrol" is, read the article Marines Keep Vigilance High During Marjah Patrol.  And to get some idea of what Adam's specialty training is, read Mortarmen Bring 81s to the Fight.  Both articles are about different Marines in different bases, but they could have just as easily been about Adam and his unit.

QUICK UPDATE

Once again, we received a 1 a.m. phone call from Adam.  He sounded wonderful --a bit tired from all the patrolling he does, but cheerful and chatty. He still hasn't had a shower, but he uses lots of baby wipes.  His hair has been kept short so he doesn't worry about washing it too much. I asked him if he is still receiving any mail, and he told me that one day he received 13 boxes, far and away more than any other Marine in his unit.  He opened each box, carefully extracted a significant portion, and then shared the remainder with his friends. He was very grateful and asked me to extend his thanks to all. 

He does not yet know the exact dates of his return and thinks the FRO will be given this information before he gets it.  I confirmed that Gary, Jason and I will come to Twentynine Palms to meet him when he arrives, and he is eager for us to accompany him and a few other families on a little weekend getaway for his first "96."  This is a 96-hour leave he is sure to get right after he comes home.  He and his buddies will work out the details, and Gary and I have time to decide.  It greatly depends on when he actually comes home and how soon thereafter he gets his “96.”  According to Adam (and the FRO), we will NOT receive an exact date for his return, but rather a window of dates. Thus, we will travel to California, get a hotel near the base, and wait it out.  He will definitely get extended leave for the entire month of May, and he wants to visit Jason for the first few days before flying to New York. 

It was a great call, and I drifted back to sleep for a night of sweet dreams.

SPRING IS HERE!

Adam left on his deployment to Afghanistan just two weeks after the first day of Autumn.  Here we are welcoming Spring - the days are getting longer and the weather has finally started to warm.  I received a phone call from our Family Readiness Officer with news that an "Advance Party" of Marines will be back on US soil in early April.  I don't know how many Marines are in this "Advance Party," nor do I know if Adam will be among them. I am eager to hear from Adam and hope he will give me his own dates soon. I just can't wait to get those tickets and pack my bags. Regardless of when and what I hear from Adam, this is still excellent news. The Marines of the Third Battalion Fourth Marines are packing up their belongings and planning to transfer operations to a new battalion so they can make their trip home. Just saying it makes me smile and think about the big hugs I'll get every day from Adam when he's back home in New Rochelle.

In my eternal search for information, I found some great sites to pass on to you, as well as many pictures. 

Terminal Lance is a comic strip created in January 2010 by "Lance Corporal Maximilian Uriarte, USMC. The idea behind Terminal Lance is to poke fun at the Marine Corps much like Gunny Wolf’s old Sempertoons, but with an emphasis on the grunt Lance Corporal’s point of view."  I never realized how difficult it is to be promoted from Lance Corporal (that's Adam's rank) to Corporal, but apparently this is the case and it has inspired Max. The comics are cute, but I especially like reading the commentary below the strip. It's quite an education. In a Military Times forum, there was quite a lively discussion among others in the military about Terminal Lance. It is just fascinating to me that in today's world of constant and easy communication channels, there is an abundance of real-time opinions and discussions to be aired and viewed by all of us, and that includes so many in the military. I am confident that Terminal Lance will become regular reading for Adam and his buddies.

The Washington Post wrote an article entitled "At Afghan outpost, Marines gone rogue or leading the fight against counterinsurgency?"    It is about Delaram and the base on which Adam was stationed for the first few months of his deployment.

And now, the pictures---

 This is U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ryan Benson, with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment as he meets residents before a meeting in Delaram, Afghanistan, Jan. 9, 2010.  This is the Capt. Benson who posted on Facebook (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Albert F. Hunt)


An Afghan boy in Now Zad, Afghanistan, watches while U.S. Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment pass by Jan. 19, 2010. The Marines are visiting shops to develop relationships with their owners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel M. Moman

U.S. Marines with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment patrol a town in the Farah province of Afghanistan Jan. 26, 2010 as part of Operation Swift Change, during which Marines clear the area of Taliban forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Albert F. Hunt)

The following pictures are of the U.S. Marines assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment taken during their operation in the Buji Bhast pass.

 

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chad J. Pulliam

 

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Albert F. Hunt

 U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chad J. Pulliam

 The construction of tents and shelters at Buji (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Albert F. Hunt)

A U.S. Marine watches the horizon during a patrol through the Buji Bast Pass in Golestan, Afghanistan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Albert F. Hunt)

Area residents watch as U.S. Marines patrol through town (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Albert F. Hunt

Have a great weekend and enjoy our good weather. I hope my next post has reports of a phone call and some dates.

Beginning the Countdown

     When the phone rang at 11:30 PM on Friday night, I glanced at the caller ID to see what is becoming a familiar number.  Gary was almost asleep, but I jumped up to answer the phone, knowing that Adam would be on the other end. Things were quiet in Afghanistan and he decided to spend some free time calling home. He was in a chatty mood, and seemed to be in good spirits.  He told us that he had received lots of packages since the last call and that there were rumors of bringing internet to Camp Buji. The weather is getting better, and everyone is settling into a routine.
     They work in 6-hour shifts patrolling the base, always on the lookout for an unexpected attack by Taliban fighters. They also spend time in the villages, and Adam expressed how much of a difference he believes they have made for the Afghan people.  He told me that for many years the Afghans were unable to use the road (if you could call it a road) by the mountain pass because it was too dangerous, what with Taliban and buried explosives. Camp Buji was erected very close to this road, thus creating a safe path on which to travel. The people are very grateful to the Marines. It was the first time I heard real empathy in Adam's voice toward the people. I think he has been in more contact with the villagers since landing in Camp Buji, and he has been able to get a better glimpse of their lives. 

     Ryan Benson, the Company Commander of the 3/4 India Company, took the time to provide us with an update on Facebook.  How amazing is that? Officers in the US Marines communicating to families via Facebook.  Here is an edited version of his post:

Alright, I've accepted the fact that this seems to be the best venue to touch the majority of the friends and family of India Company.  I happened to be close to a regular computer that can reach out and touch facebook at this time.

I'm currently spending time with the Marines of 3rd Platoon at the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) in Delaram, but over the last two weeks I have visited all our Marines across India Company's battlespace. They are all doing quite well and are excelling at their assigned missions. I will also tell you that they are all anxious to to get back to their families, but at the same time, they don't want to leave any stone unturned. I have been working them pretty hard and I can guarantee that they will be ready for a break once we are done here. Let me switch gears while I'm on here and address some of the questions that have been brought up.

Some of you have been asking questions with regard to mail. Let me start to answer by explaining that two of the outposts that India owns, FOB Golestan and PB Buji, receive the majority if not all of their logistics via air. Why that is important is that sometimes, due to operational priorities in other parts of Regional Command (RC) South, air can get rerouted or can be completely shutdown due to bad weather. When that happens, something has to give and the logistics on hand (water, fuel, food) are not replenished. That makes the next resupply even more important.  When that next lift comes, something has to be shifted in order to allow for the increased load of logistics. Sometimes that item that gets shifted is mail. Believe me that all your mail is getting to Afghanistan, and there have been times when entire flights or convoys have been dedicated almost completely to mail. Every position has received mail in the last week and a half and will receive it again in the near future.  We are always doing everything possible to get Marines their mail, but we also have to resupply food, water, and fuel so that they can continue to excel at their mission.

The next issue that I would like to address is the date of your Marines return. First of all, please don't post any dates on facebook. Correct or incorrect, it is a violation of operational security and at best those posts will just be erased. What many don't understand is that when you make those posts, you can also be placing your Marines in danger, so please, do not post dates on any type of social networking website. Second, I don't have the date of return for India Company. When I am allowed to publish the dates of return I will pass that information to the Marines and they will be allowed to call you and tell you. Now those dates are ALWAYS subject to change. I call it a date, but it's really just a window of when you can expect your Marine to be back on deck in beautiful 29 Palms. There are many factors and events that play into that date/window that don't always flow exactly as planned. Many of you recall just how long it took us to actually get to Afghanistan. We had some mechanical trouble with our airplane in Germany, which had a chain reaction down the line with specific places and specific dates. All I can tell you is to please be patient. I've seen dates published as much as 3 weeks out, I've seen them published as late as 3 days out. We'll have a rough idea the closer we get.  Make sure that your itinerary remains as flexible as possible and that you either purchase refundable tickets or you purchase travel insurance.

Alright, I think I've gone on long enough. I need to get back to work. Your Marines are doing great things here and Afghans from Delaram through the Golestan Valley are living a better life thanks to your Marines. Thank you for all the love and support that you've given us over the last five months. The care packages have really kept us motivated and we honestly cannot say thank you enough. Until I get a chance for the next Update. Semper Fidelis and we'll see you soon.     

     India Company was highlighted in two recent articles:  The first, published on March 1st, 3/4 Preparing Afghan National Security speaks of how India Company trains the Afghan Army and Police; and the second, published on March 8th is about the clearing of the Buji Bhast Pass, entitled 3/4 kick starts effort to hold the Buji Bhast Pass.

      That's all for now.  I continue to spend my online time corresponding with my Marine family friends and looking for photos and news about the 3/4 India Company.   Hopefully I will soon be looking for airline tickets to Palm Springs for a most eagerly awaited "family" reunion!!

A One AM Phone Call

In the years before Adam joined the Marines, I remember the cold fright that took over if the telephone rang at one in the morning.  It usually meant trouble. These days I know it is Adam calling to check in and tell us he's fine.  I never dreamed that getting a middle-of-the-night call could bring me joy and that I would eagerly jump up to answer it.  Go figure.

It has been 18 days since the last call.  And I've been counting every one of them.  Though it was 1 am here in New Rochelle, it was 10:30 am on Adam's side of the world.  He had just finished a patrol shift atop the mountain, and he took his turn with a SAT phone to call home. Unfortunately, we got cut off three times, but he did manage to tell me this:

There is still no hot water, and he hasn't showered in over a month.  Apparently the only way to shower is to hang a plastic container filled with cold water upside down attached to a tube.  In Adam's (and most of the other marine's) opinion, it isn't worth it.  And so they are all pretty dirty.  And smelly, I would guess. After the call, I wondered about his clothing, but I forgot to ask. 

He hasn't received any mail in almost a month.  The weather had been so rainy that the supply trucks were repeatedly delayed.  As the weather slowly improved, the planes and trucks were moving again. However, there were more important items that took priority over mail, namely food, water, and supplies.  I guess the USPS motto "Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep the postmen from their appointed rounds” doesn't apply to Afghanistan.  Adam thought the camp had finally received a truckload of mail while he had been up the mountain on his post and that a bed full of packages awaited him.  He reminded me that the last day they want us to mail packages to him is March 1.  And he told me how much he was looking forward to coming home.

He was very proud of this last piece of news:  Adam was recommended to attend an Infantry Mortar Leader Course upon his return to the US.  The course will run from July through September and he will travel to North Carolina to complete it.  I am so proud of him and will be overjoyed to have him on the east coast for the summer.

That was about all he had time to tell me before our connection was lost. I lay awake for a long time, with many un-asked and un-answered questions still forming in my head.  But the most important question of all had indeed been answered.  He was safe.

Below are some pictures posted on the 3/4 facebook page.  Though they are not specifically of Adam, they were taken at his new base, Camp Bhuji.

The End is in Sight!

I haven't heard from Adam since last Monday, but I have heard from the Family Readiness Officer of his battalion in Twentynine Palms with important news.

The final date for packages and mail to be sent from the US is March 1st. Any packages sent after March 1st may not make it to Adam, and they will be returned to the sender. The feeling is that it takes three weeks for mail to reach the base in Afghanistan, and they will begin the process of bringing the marines home in early April. It will take 2-3 weeks for all the marines in Adam's battalion to get home, as they travel in groups. We will receive an actual return date approximately three weeks prior to his return, and we can expect a 30 day period of leave.

Now all we have to do is get through this last leg of his deployment and bring the boy home safely. If you have been saving up things to pack and send off to Adam, now's the time to fill those boxes and send them out. It seems like they won't have any mail for the last few weeks of their deployment.

Many of you have commented to me that you have enjoyed shopping and sending out boxes to Adam and the other marines as a way of feeling involved and showing your support. As you may have read in my previous blog posts, there is another marine from New Rochelle who was just deployed. His name is Bryan Dalbon and his mailing address is

PFC. Dalbon Bryan P.

CLB 6 ENGR Co.

UNIT 73874

FPO AE 09510-3874

There is yet another New Rochelle marine who is enroute to Afghanistan this week, but I don't have an address for him yet. This is his first deployment to Afghanistan, and he has already served two deployments in Iraq.

Adam has always told us how your packages make such a difference to him and all the guys. They have a really tough job and there's nothing better than coming back to your tent after a hard day or night in the field to see a big box on the cot just waiting to be opened. Please consider continuing to send packages to these two marines even after Adam is home safe.  You can also help by shopping for OSOT.  I will continue to help OSOT in packing and sending boxes, and we can always use donations. You can drop off anything you've purchased at my house and I will happily bring it with me. The next packing date is Monday, Feb 22.

Here are some pictures I've recently found of Adam. They were all taken prior to the move to his new base.

They really give him a gun! 

 

Adam and his mortar team member, Jake

 

Adam and his other mortar team member, Matt

Their phones are working.

Bright and early this morning I received a phone call from Adam. Their SAT phone was finally charged, and Adam quickly "borrowed" it to call home. It was hard to wipe the smile off my face as we enjoyed our first conversation in 17 days.

The miles between us melted away as I learned much of what he's been up to.  The operation they were on was called "Operation Swift Change."  Here is what Gary and I read read yesterday in the 3/4 February Newsletter that had arrived by email:

January saw India Company conduct its first major named operation. . . (in which they) cleared a crucial piece of real estate of enemy influence between Delaram and Golestan and established a new patrol base. This patrol base dubbed Patrol Base Buji is centrally located in the Buji Bhast Pass which has historically been a Taliban refuge. Through the hard work of your Marines, India Company has brought security to the numerous Afghan villages which are located in this region. In an area which previously had little government influence or protection, the Marines of India Company have brought hope and the possibility of a better life.

Adam told me the four walls of his new base are up, but that's about it. He is living in one "corner" of a triangle of mini-bases. With this mission he has been reunited with all the members of the other companies of the 3/4, many of whom were in Golestan for the last 3 months. He and his fellow marines have all set up their tents and were busy getting things organized. The weather has been utterly terrible since they got there. It has been extremely rainy and when they go up the mountain on "watch" it is very cold. Due to the rain, there haven't been any deliveries of mail or supplies since they got there but they were hoping for one today or tomorow.  Everything will have to be trucked in to them in their new location, including water. They are living on MREs and there are no showers.  In other words, they are really roughing it.  To Adam, it must be just like when he went camping with the cub scouts--it always rained on those occasions too.  Oh, he also told me they adopted a stray puppy. He's not sure where he came from, but "Puppy" now has a home with the marines.

Despite the hard work and adverse conditions, he sounded really good. He is getting anxious to be done with his deployment and told me he really wants a cruise upon his return.  He's not sure when that will be, but probably sometime in April.

I will continue to keep you up to date whenever I get news.  I am hopeful this call was just the first of many to come and that we will get back to our schedule of weekly conversations.  I don't know if they will ever get their internet up and running; but if anyone can get that done in record time, it will be the Marines.

What a Difference a Day Makes

I have had news -- good news.  One of Adam's buddies, Colin, was sent back to the old base for a week to help transport supplies. That very nice young man emailed us.  With some minor editing on my part, I thought you'd like to read what he wrote:

I'm Colin D, Adam's friend,
He just wanted me to tell you that he's fine and dirtier then ever, he misses you alot but is enjoying his time with everyone in his new location.  They have no internet or phones and I don't know when they will get some, hence the message I'm sending you.  He does request some items of course such as dip, and cigarettes, other then that he said he's good.  But I recommend baby wipes since we haven't been able to shower and we're all starting to smell. Anyways he hopes all is well with your family and can't wait to contact you. He also wants you to give his dogs kisses, or something like that.

In a subsequent message, I learned that none of the marines with Adam expect to have the means to communicate with us until April, just around the time they are expected to come home.  This is disheartening, of course, but I am still enjoying the relief at knowing they are safe right now.  I have a sense they had a mission that has been accomplished, and I think they are staying and maintaining control in this new location.  Of course, this could all be more rationalizing on my part.  But for now, and maybe for a long time to come, this will have to do.

It's Been Quiet -- too quiet

It's been almost 4 months since Adam left for Afghanistan.  From the beginning, we have been fortunate enough to speak with him on average of once a week.  Many other marine families have not had this same luxury. Some marines are based in remote areas with poor facilities and others are on the move so often they can't call home.  I am afraid that Gary and I will be joining their ranks.  It has been more than 10 days since any of the marines in Adam's company have logged on to Facebook or called their families.  I have conferred and emailed my various marine contacts, and the feeling is that our guys are not able to communicate with us right now, and they might not be able to for quite some time.  

The rumors fly among us -- they have moved; they are on a mission; they are extremely busy setting up a new camp. They will call in a few weeks; they won't be able to call until April before they come home. The truth is that none of us know anything. So we spend a lot of time coming up with possibilities and scenarios. Perhaps it is to make ourselves feel better, to help us sleep at night knowing the phone won't ring, to help us get through what may be an interminable amount of time until we speak to our son/brother/husband again. 

Routines help all of us feel safe.  A weekly conversation was enough to trick my mind into believing Adam was safe.  I could easily go without hearing from him week to week because it was "routine."  I didn't worry day and night --  I knew I'd hear from him on Friday or Saturday.  But now that routine is gone. So I find myself on facebook and email reaching out to my network of new friends, trying to piece together the puzzle of Adam's activities in an attempt to stay calm.  I know he is skilled at what he does and surrounded by people who love him, and this helps me stay optimistic that we will get back to our weekly calling routine one day, hopefully soon.

For some interesting reading, click on the links: 
One Dog, One Marine, One Mission is about Lance Cpl. Paul N. Krist, a dog handler for 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion and his black labrador Max, who has been trained to sniff for explosive materials.
 
Keeping the Convoys is an article describing the kinds of missions that I imagine Adam and his buddies undertake every day, the objective of which is to secure a stretch of road and find and destroy all IEDs.  They use a vehicle known as a “Husky” to detect anything metallic buried in the ground at a depth up to 18 inches. 

Marines Transfer Power in Afghanistan to the Army  is an AP article about the U.S. Marine Corps finishing nearly seven years in Iraq and handing over duties to the Army, who will supervise the withdrawal of American troops.  Won't it be great when we read an article like this about Afghanistan?

Happy New Year!

Happy new year to all of you.  We are almost half way through Adam's deployment.  As his time there pushes on, life for Gary and I seems to have settled into a routine.  Adam call us at least once a week and reports that "Things are good; The packages are great; I've been very busy."  Sometimes there are details, like the time the MRAP rolled over with Adam and his buddies inside.  Sometimes he is vague, like when he tells us "I'm going out for a little while; can't tell you much, but I'll call again when I'm back."  We rarely see him online these days and notice that his Facebook posts are fewer. I am thankful that some of his friends post their activity more often, and others will engage in Facebook chats with me. I have also been in closer contact with two other parents, and between us we piece together what goes on in the daily lives of our sons.  I know he has seen more action lately and been involved in more fighting, and thankfully no one has been harmed. 

I have a real "small world" story to share.  After Adam returned from Parris Island, his New Rochelle friend Bryan Dalbon decided to enlist in the Marines. Bryan left for boot camp a little less than a year ago and at this moment is en route to Afghanistan.  Here's the small world part:  Bryan's unit will meet up and share living quarters with Adam's unit!!  What are the odds of two guys who grew up in the same town both enlisting in the Marines and then winding up in the same area in a country as large as Afghanistan?  I would guess the odds are slim to none!  No matter, Adam is thrilled to have his buddy join him, and I am sure that Bryan will take comfort in seeing a familiar face as he adapts to his strange new home. 

My last piece of news for the day is this:  Rumor has it that Adam's battalion will be coming home to the US a few weeks ahead of schedule.  I am not sure why this would be so, but one of his buddies IM'd me that he thought it had something to do with the amount of combat pay they receive and our government's wish to keep the costs down. Whatever the reason, we're keeping our fingers and toes crossed that this rumor proves to be true.  Being a seasoned marine mom, however, I'm certain we won't actually find out the arrival date until a few days before they come home, thus necessitating last minute reservations out to Twentynine Palms to meet the troops as they return home.  And we'll be so happy to see them all, we won't even care!

Holidays Away From Home

The holiday season is upon us and winter has begun in earnest.  I have been reminiscing about this time last year when Adam was home in New Rochelle on leave.  As he had done for most of his life, he joined Gary and me at a yearly Christmas Eve party with friends. This year, Adam is very far from home celebrating the holidays with another family, one that has given him strength and a sense of belonging, and one for which I am very grateful he has found. I know the bonds he has formed with the guys he serves with will never be broken, and he is a better man for having found them.

Adam has called us several times in the last 2 weeks. He is very busy at the gym as he and his fellow marines enjoy a friendly bodybuilding competition. Seems to me like a perfectly healthy way to pass what I am coming to see as too much down time between the adrenaline rushes.  Though I am not privy to details of his "missions" I know he is out there doing what marines do -- often leaving late at night or at sunrise -- and sometimes getting caught in the crossfire that entails.  He seems to be thriving in his environment and proud that he is doing that for which he has trained. He is anxious to get back to 29 Palms and step into the role as mentor to the newer "boots." And he expects to be back in Afghanistan one more time before his enlistment term is up.

With each phone call, Adam asks me to send his thanks to everyone for the fabulous supply of packages he receives.  He has also received letters from the Solomon Schechter 5th grade and from Marcy's middle school kids.  When prompted for his favorites, he tells me that "It's all good" but he especially likes Cliff bars, energy drinks, fruit snacks and DVD movies.  If anyone wants to bake, the packages take about a week to get there and my brownies were a big hit. Nothing that is sent goes to waste; the guys share and share alike.

As has become my custom, I offer several links for you to click, each containing information I think you may find interesting and helpful in shedding light on what we are doing in Afghanistan and how the marines feel about their job. The first is on the official site of the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines (Adam's battalion), and if you click on the December Newsletter and scroll down to page 2, you can read the Chaplain's Corner, where he reports on the living conditions and daily life routines of Adam's unit.  I must add that the newsletter link works best in Internet Explorer and doesn't always open in Mozilla Firefox.  The second link is DVIDS (Digital Video & Imagery Distributions System).  Here you can see several videos of interviews about the just-completed mission known as Cobra's Anger.  After you watch Col. Newman, if you have some time, click on some of the other videos, as they are all very interesting.  The last two links for the day are probably the most emotional.  They offer insight by individual marines' of their experience in the Helmand province in June and July of 2009.  The first is a video narrative by US Marine Cpl. Jack Hausmann as he participated in a mission called Strike of the Sword.  The second is an AP video essay entitled The best and worst years of my life narrated by three marines as they tell what it is like on the battlefield. 

I wish all of you a very happy, healthy new year and above all, I pray for peace throughout the world so that Adam and his fellow marines can come home.

Operation Cobra's Anger

Adam has called home several times in the last two weeks, mostly late at night with a duration of about 5 minutes apiece.  He is in good spirits and has continued to receive many packages from us, his relatives, and our friends. Thanks again to all of you for being so generous with Adam and his fellow marines. He tells us the weather is rainy and getting cold. He and his buddies have started spending some serious time working out in their gym and he tells me he will look "really buff" when he returns home. His bunk mate loved my homemade chocolate brownies and I will certainly bake some more.  The guys are trying to stay in shape and have requested less candy.  Granola and power bars along with energy drinks seem to be requested most often, and I am beginning to think "hand warmers" are a good idea.

Gary and I went to an OSOT (Operation Support Our Troops) Christmas stocking stuffer event last week.  About 30 people gathered in Bonnie Eilen's home to stuff Christmas stockings and pack boxes.  What a rewarding night for all of us as we packed, schmoozed and exchanged some stories.  In her "thank you" email to everyone, Bonnie wrote "We packed 91 boxes, we packed 673 Christmas stockings, there will be some very happy soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan because of all of you. . .  We anticipate our next mailing to be sometime in January, I am not sure when yet, but it will be a Valentine packing."

Anyone who is interested in helping OSOT should start buying small items that can be sent.  The list from Bonnie includes toiletries in small sizes like purell, baby wipes, deodorant (non spray), Mach 3 and Fusion razors, vitamins etc; NEW magazines like fitness and entertainment and sports; DVDs, especially new ones that have come out since they were deployed; power bars, little packs of coffee, nuts and dried fruits, toothpaste in the plastic squeeze bottle and toothbrushes; new twin sheet sets, new towels in any size, gloves and mechanics gloves, good quality flashlights with batteries, iTunes and ATT international phone cards, crystal lite, power energizer drinks, beef jerky, tuna in foil pouches, Pringles and foods or fruits in cans that have the flip top lids. I will be helping to pack, so if you buy any of these items, feel free to drop them off by my doorstep and I will be sure they are utilized.

Since President Obama delivered his speech, about 1,000 Marines and 150 Afghan troops have begun "Operation Cobra's Anger" in the Now Zad Valley of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.  Adam will certainly play a role in this surge very soon, but right now he is still at his FOB in preparation.  There are many places online to read about the offensive:  Marines Launch their First Post-Surge Operation and Marines Launch Offensive in Taliban stronghold and Hammer, Meet Anvil.  I am hopeful they get the job done and make a difference in the lives of these people. They all seem to believe in what they are doing and Adam himself is not at all unhappy to be there.  He is always upbeat, confident and very positive, and this helps to calm my nerves.  

It seems we aren't the only ones worried about Swine flu - read Marines Battle Taliban, IEDs and the Flu.  And one of my favorite sites, "The Sandbox," has several interesting posts to read.  Be sure to scroll down to THE END OF HEARTACHE and THE CASE FOR AFGHANISTAN where you can read the opinions of our military about their mission in Afghanistan.


Below are a few pictures posted by one of Adam's fellow marines.

Adam

 

Living quarters

 

Adam and friends

     

3/4 In The News

This was the first Thanksgiving without either Jason or Adam at home. The house was especially quiet, but I was thankful to spend the day with my family in Rye--great food, catch up time with my nephews and neice, and a chance to see my mom and in-laws along with my sister-in-law's dad and sister. I brought along a laptop, and after dinner I connected with Jason through Tokbox so that Jason could video chat with all his relatives. Not quite the same as sitting in on the lively conversation, but much better than a mere phone call. This morning, Gary spent some time IMing with Adam. He reported that turkey was served for lunch and that he feasted on steak and lobster for his Thanksgiving dinner. He has received several more mail packages and asked us to thank everyone again for sending them.

Adam told Gary about the interpreter who is working with his company. He is an Afghan who became a Hollywood actor and has returned to Afghanistan to help. Here is a very interesting video about the man: From Hollywood to the Front Line

By setting a Google Alert for "Delaram" and "3/4 Marines," I am now getting regular updates on many news items and videos. I learned that the mission on which Adam went last week was called Operation North Star. I read Marines in Afghanistan Not Waiting for Obama's Strategy, which discusses the difficulties and strategies of the 3/4 Marines in the Delaram area, and watched an accompanying ABC video entitled Training Local Forces in Afghanistan about the training of the police force mentioned in this same article.

Hope you find the links interesting reading during your Thanksgiving weekend.

P.S.  While I have been busy reading and posting, Gary has been busy honing his Photoshop skills to merge the picture of Adam you see here with a new background!!  I think someone should make it into a poster.

We Survived Our First Mission

Last Saturday, Adam called us on the phone to wish me pre-birthday greetings. For the first of what I imagine will be many times, he told us he wouldn't be able to call for a while and that he would contact us again as soon as he got back. Though he couldn't tell us where he was going, his conversation was upbeat but with a seriousness to his tone that we hadn't yet heard since his deployment six weeks ago. I settled in for the wait, which turned out to be until Wed when we saw a Facebook post from one of his friends. Adam called on Thursday for a quick "I'm back safe" call and then again for a longer conversation on Friday at about 1:30 AM. If you're wondering where marines sleep when they are out in the field, the answer is in their MRAPs, which get pretty cold in the middle of the night. He didn't provide us with many details, and at 1:30 AM, I'm not sure I would remember anyway. After the call, I turned over and fell into a peaceful sleep thankful for his safe return.

On Saturday night Gary and I attended an OSOT (Operation Support Our Troops) fundraiser. Flanked by our very supportive friends, we mingled with a crowd of about 75-100 people. We met fellow parents, along with their friends and supporters, all of whom were there to raise money and give support for the men and women in the military. The proceeds of this fundraiser will be used for an annual holiday mailing to 600+ deployed troops. It looks like my volunteer days with the PTA may be replaced by OSOT. It was a lovely event, and I went home the winner of several silent auction items.

As I was getting ready for the OSOT fundraiser, I thought about how many friends I have made as a result of my children's activities. In the earliest years, Adam and I made friends by joining play groups. More friends came from scout activities. Soccer and baseball games brought more people into our lives. And of course there were many acquaintances made all throughout twelve years in the New Rochelle schools. Once again, I find myself making new friends through Adam's activities -- this time a military enlistment and deployment. I regularly email and speak with Sheila, the mother of Adam's mortar partner who lives in North Carolina. Sarah in California is the sister to another one of Adam's buddies. And I believe that my participation in OSOT will introduce me to people right here in Westchester. Though we live in different places, we share a common bond upon which to base our new friendship. I hope to continue to build relationships with each of you.

The Information Out There is Astounding

I haven't heard from Adam directly in several days. But I know he is safe because my instant messenger screen tells me "yoitsadamf was last seen 1 day ago." Adam also posted on his Facebook page on Monday. For now, these one-way communications ease my worries and give me some peace of mind.

During my many hours online, I often scour the internet in search of any news that keeps me connected to Adam. My search terms are usually "Delaram" or "3rd Battalion 4th Marines" or "Marines in Afghanistan." I have compiled quite a list of sites to which I routinely visit. I am mesmerized by the seemingly endless supply of information out there, and I didn't know any of it existed until Adam left for Afghanistan one month ago.

I have found several other blogs I thought you might find interesting. The first is by Staff Sgt. Luis Agostini of Haverstraw who is a military photojournalist writing regular updates on his experience in Afghanistan. He is actually assigned to Adam's unit -- the 3/4 India Company. You can stay view his photos by clicking Agostini's photos.

Afghanistan: My Last Tour is written by SMSgt Rex Temple who is on his fourth and final Middle East deployment currently in Afghanistan. He is in the air force and part of an Embedded Training Team (ETT) tasked with mentoring the Afghanistan National Army (ANA). He writes very well and his experience is extraordinary. Along the right side of his blog is a "Blogroll" on which he lists many interesting links to follow. In particular I enjoyed reading The Sandbox, a blog featuring comments, anecdotes, and observations from service members currently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Reuters Blogs was the fourth site to grab my attention. The Reuters Afghan Journal contains several posts each week from different reporters who have spent time in Afghanistan, each with a different style and perspective.

In addition to reading the news about Afghanistan, there are sites on the Internet with image and video libraries. DVIDS is a state-of-the-art, 24/7 operation that connects the media around the world with the military who are deployed. If you search for "3rd Battalion 4th Marines", you will see photos of Adam's unit. Another site is www.Defenseimagery.mil. the Department of Defense's imagery website. Their collection of images is mind boggling.

I hope to hear from Adam soon and will post with any news. Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers, letters and packages.

What a Nice Way to Wake Up!

On Monday Nov 2 we were awakened at 4 am to a phone call from Adam. It was really good to hear his voice, and since the computer room at his base was very quiet, he had lots of time to chat. He told us that a package from us had finally arrived, although it was not the first one sent, and that he had received at least one of our pieces of mail. He told us that while his company was providing security for a "re-supply convoy," they came upon an Afghan traffic accident and provided assistance to the Afghans involved. You can read about the entire incident at http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=41078. One of the marines quoted is Lance Cpl. Jacob Fournier, Adam's section leader. I looked through all 15 pictures, but I didn't recognize any of the marines.

We told Adam that many of our friends and family were sending him packages, and he was thrilled. He assured us that nothing would go to waste and that he is happy to get anything. Adam has been adopted by the fifth grade class at Solomon Schechter Day School, who will learn about the Marines and Afghanistan. The students will send Adam letters and care packages throughout the school year. I hope Adam gets to visit when he returns.

There is another Marine from New Rochelle, and his mom has contacted me. She has already been through two deployments and is very helpful and knowledgeable. She is involved with a group called OSOT (Operation Support Our Troops) and invited me to two events, which is open to all of you.

The first is a November 21 fundraiser to pay for many of the more expensive goodies OSOT will buy and send out for the holidays (iPod shuffles, special tactical socks and flashlights, boots). It is from 8-10 PM at Kol Ami, 252 Soundview Avenue, White Plains. Cost is $30 a person, $50 a couple and your check made payable to OSOT is tax deductible. The evening will feature desserts, drinks, hor d'oerves, music and a silent auction. I am told there will be lots of good conversation with good people and that I should bring my friends.

The second event is at 7 PM on Tuesday, December 1 to pack Christmas boxes for 600 overseas soldiers. These boxes will mostly be made up of filled Christmas stockings. You can buy a stocking, sew a stocking and fill it or just buy the fillings and we will stuff them that night. We need: socks, iTtune cards, ATT phone cards, unbreakable Christmas ornaments and decorations, cards addressed to "Dear Hero" and "Dear Soldier" and written out by you, Christmas candy, small articles of toiletries, dried fruits, dvd's, batteries, and new year's decorations. Use your imagination and fill your stockings!

If you would like to join us on November 21 or on December 1, email me for more details. I am hoping to attend both events. If you cannot participate but would like to contribute, please leave what you buy at my house and I will bring it with me.

Thanks again to all of you for your support and prayers. They really make a difference.

Getting Settled

Adam has settled in at his new base and his daily routine has become more "normal," if serving in Afghanistan can ever be normal. He usually goes on some type of patrol most days, and when he's back at the base he is free to use any "available" computer to phone or IM his friends and family. Gary and I received our first telephone call from Adam on Sunday. Hearing his voice was very comforting, but there is a definite "delay" in the sending/receiving quality of an internet voice call. Every time one of us began to speak, we realized the other hadn't yet finished; thus we kept interrupting each other. In that way, IMing is actually easier. He described the work he is doing and reported that he would be riding around in an MRAP instead of a humvee. We were quite relieved to hear this great news!

Adam also informed us that he was one of the few marines who had not yet received any packages from home. It was just like hearing from your child at sleepaway camp that all the other kids got goodies from their parents except him. My heart sank as I assured him we had mailed three packages and that he would receive them any day. After our conversation, I contacted the US Military Postal Service Agency, and I have learned the following: ALL PACKAGES GOING TO ADAM MUST HAVE A CUSTOMS FORM. Unfortunately not all postal workers know this fact and all three of my packages left for Afghanistan without one. So my packages that would have taken an already interminably slow 3 to 5 weeks to get there will be delayed further. I hope he gets them at all! Remember that if you send him a package, be sure to fill out a Customs Form. You don't have to be too specific in listing the contents, but you must certify you are sending a "gift" and not "merchandise."

Many people ask me what to send. I am sorry to report he has not been very specific. He mainly wants snacks to eat during the day while out on patrol. He has complained that his base is not providing a daily cooked lunch and thus he has been eating MREs every day. But he also tells us that a new mess tent is almost built and he expects the lunch menu to improve. Some of the things Adam used to eat when he lived home were chewy chips ahoy, brownies, croissants, muffins, beef jerky, cup of noodles, mac & cheese, granola bars, and pop tarts (the s'mores or chocolate chip flavor, not fruity the ones). He would probably like the small chef boyardee containers of spaghetti and raviolis, as well as those little cans of vienna sausage. Any food that is packaged in single portions would be a good bet. The truth is he will greatly appreciate your effort and will break into a broad smile as he hears his name at mail call. I just wish they had cameras on the base so I could watch him smile.

I JUST LOVE THE INTERNET!!

Hoorah!  As I switched on to my computer this morning, there on the screen was a small AIM box with the word "Hey" from Yoitsadamf.  There it was --  proof that he was safe and he was able to IM me.   I quickly answered and we got to IM back and forth for about 15 minutes. What a world we live in.  Nowadays we take it for granted that we can communicate with someone who is more than 6,000 miles away and whose timezone is 9-1/2 hours later. But when the person is your son fighting in a foreign county, it becomes a miracle.

Anyway, he seemed just fine. He arrived at his base 2 days ago and has been busy getting organized.  He lives in a large tent with 10 people and he knows all of them.  Right now he says it has been quiet and they have been watching a lot of DVDs.  I asked him what he needs us to send but he seems to be well equipped with most toiletry items for now.  He wants DVDs --  TV series, movies, etc.  Of course treats are welcome, energy drinks, and cookies. He really didn't give me the list I expected.  I guess he's been there too short a time to feel deprived of anything much yet.  I'm sure that will change.

He purchased a phone card that allows him to use the Internet to call the US for $.04 per minute.  I think he has limited time on the computers there and he gets to decide whether to CALL or IM.  Today he chose to IM.  He said he will try calling us tomorrow.  Won't that be amazing if we get to talk daily??   I'm not getting my hopes up, and I will keep you all posted.

For now, the rainy day outside has brightened immeasurably.

No News Yet, but a Really Interesting Video

As is my custom these days, I go online every morning to look for messages from Adam or news from one of the other family members with whom I've "friended" on Facebook. Today I was invited to watch an online documentary entitled "WARDAK SOLDIERS" about the soldiers in Afghanistan. This is an amazing video - so eye opening. It spoke to me on many levels -- as a mother and as an American. I saw Adam in so many of the boys (men??) who were interviewed. There are eight segments to the documentary. I encourage you watch each one when you have time and click the "full screen" icon on the lower right corner of the video player. This was a positive experience for me -- not a depressing one -- and that is why I am passing it on to you in this blog.

Title: WARDAK SOLDIERS
Directed By: RAUL GALLEGO ABELLAN
Produced By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TELEVISION NEWS
Awards: APME 2008 Winner for Best Use of Video.
Nominated for the 2008 Concentra Award for Outstanding Videojournalism.
Honorable Mention for Feature Documentary in The Accolade Competition 2008.

WHAT IS IN THE MIND OF A U.S. SOLDIER FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN? Afghanistan April 2007. A Platoon of 50 US soldiers are trying to fight the Taliban by themselves in a vast and isolated mountainous region on the front line in the War on Terror in Afghanistan. And the only way to accomplish the mission is on foot. 10 soldiers explain to the camera their personal view of the insights on the front line of what they define as a ‘’forgotten war’’. A rare report where soldiers talk openly and sincerely about why they joined the Army, the fight against the Taliban, the way to accomplish their mission, their fears, hopes and how being a soldier affects their personal lives. FOOTPATROL is a 34 min and 45 sec documentary by Raul Gallego Abellan. Raul is working for The Associated Press Television News as a videojournalist. All the Copyright © of the images are from The Associated Press Television News.

WARDAK SOLDIERS-FOOT PATROL II What happens to a soldier when war becomes a frustrating fight against an invisible enemy? AFGHANISTAN 2009 The personal sacrifices. The hardships of daily life on the front line. The Afghanistan that other Americans don't see. How the thoughts and lessons of war weigh heavily on the minds of soldiers. Facing the possibility of their own deaths and taking others' lives. How the economic crisis and global politics are affecting American troops. FOOT PATROL... (read more)

His Address Has Changed . . . AGAIN!!

The last post reported that Adam was underway to his assignment "in country." (that's military jargon) Well, I had the unexpected pleasure of communicating with him and getting to "friend" many of his buddies on Facebook during the week of Oct 4th. Everytime I'd go on Facebook, I would see one of my new "friends" online with whom I could "chat." Ineveitably, they would go and fetch Adam so he and I could chat too. It was terrific - I could almost forget where he was. Well, today is Tuesday, Oct 13, and now the real silence begins. I think he actually flew to Afghanistan on Sunday. I am hopeful I will hear from him soon with news that he has safely arrived (isn't that what they call an oxymoron?)

Today I sent out my first package to him, and tonight I was notified that his address has once more been changed. It figures. But they promise that any mail sent to the "old" address will still get there. In an effort to speed up mail delivery to each company, they have assigned a different address for each company. His new address is as follows:

LCpl Freidman, Adam D
3/4 India Company
Unit 41610
FPO AP 96427-1610

For those of you who have signed up for MotoMail, you need to go to your Address Book and click the icon ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT (This is "EDIT") Then look for the same FPO AP 96427, but change the Unit to "41610 - 3/4 I Co"

I'll post again when there are new developments.

EN ROUTE

Adam's trip was delayed for 24 hours in Germany due to bad weather. The upside to spending such a long time in an airport sleeping on cots was that I got to IM with him via Facebook for a short time. He and his buddy had wireless internet for the day, which was an unexpected treat for me.

There are posts on Facebook of pictures from the sendoff in 29 Palms. It is attended by spouses and families that live close to the base. Don't know if you can access this link, but here are the rest of the photos: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=280568400180&ref=mf#/album.php?aid=116401&id=829437565&ref=mf

He must still have intermittent access to internet because he posted on Facebook today that he is in "some country near russia and afghan...kyrg something of other.." A Google search for this phrase revealed that he is probably in Kyrgystan, where the US has an air base. (See http://blog.taragana.com/n/kremlin-adviser-russia-aims-to-open-second-base-in-kyrgyzstan-also-home-to-key-us-base-124389/) For anyone wishing to send mail to Adam, I suggest you sign up for MotoMail (https://www.motomail.us/login.cfm?id=Re-Login) This is a free service where you are able to send mail to servicemen overseas. (http://www.marineparents.com/deployment/comm-moto.asp) If you want to send packages, here is his newest address (it was recently changed):

LCPL Freidman, Adam D

3rd BN 4th marines

India Company WPNS PLT

Unit 41600 FPO AP 96427-1600

I have done extensive research on what to sent to deployed marines, and I have compiled many lists, but I have also heard that it is best to wait a while and ask the individual marine what he really wants/needs. A lot will depend on his actual living conditions, and he won't know that until he gets there. When he tells me what he wants, I'll gladly tell you. Just wanted to keep everyone updated for the time being. Thanks again to all for your support. Gary and I are doing fine and are very positive and optimistic.

Pre-deployment pics