My daughter, left, and her Iraqi roommate before they left for Iraq. They are in the same platoon.
Posted on 11/10/2009 5:32:27 PM PST by Indy Pendance
I've been asked by many to repost this for Veteran's Day. This is what I have so far. Happy Veterans day to vets and active duty military. We love you and are praying for you every day! God Bless You!
As many of you know, my daughter is in Iraq. Here's a photo essay detailing some of her activities there. I hope you all enjoy......
My daughter, left, and her Iraqi roommate before they left for Iraq. They are in the same platoon.
A convoy...
A baby goat...
Nora, her 10 year old buddy...
Riding a camel...
Iraqi children...
Her humvee... (on the left)
The Iraqi countryside near Baghdad....
Her room....
The other side of her room...
The outside of her room.....
Here's a couple more photos...
Picture of Saddam :)
A couple hats...
Inside a humvee...(2nd left)
Driving her humvee.
More Iraqi children.
In the center....
Her and her group are doing very good, there have been a couple casualities, but they are positive and keep to their mission. Since they've been patrolling 24/7 in their section, IED's have dropped to zero! Whoo hooo! It's tiresome, it's dirty, it's long, it's their job. Your prayers and support mean the world to all of them. She often talks about FR and all the folks here who support them. The next report I'll post is will be from the Toby Keith concert at the Baghdad International Airport.... So far, her leave is scheduled for August, her sister's wedding, looks like it will happen, unless something dramatic happens, so, we're all looking forward to her coming home in the next month or so.... Pray for our military, they are the backbone of this country!
Many of you know I have a daughter serving in the army in Iraq who JUST ARRIVED HOME from Iraq this afternoon! Just in time for her sister’s wedding this Saturday.
A little background, they deployed February 1, 2005, the brigade’s second tour in Iraq, my daughter’s first. She called a couple weeks ago to let us know she was able to secure a leave to attend her sister’s wedding. As you can imagine, we were all thrilled at her pending homecoming. But, she wasn’t sure of her exact leave date. As the time inched closer and closer, she finally called to let us know, she’d be leaving on Saturday morning (August 6th), it usually takes 2-4 days to arrive to the States depending upon transportation and such. She thought she might be able to call from Kuwait with more details, but, for sure, she’d call from Atlanta or Dallas with her final flight times.
So, we were geared up for the wait mode. We waited and waited and waited, Sunday, then Monday, then Tuesday. We still hadn’t received any calls. Finally, Tuesday morning she called to let us know they were in Kuwait. They were delayed for almost 72 hours in northern Iraq due to a huge sandstorm. She said she’d call as soon as she got more information. Early Wednesday morning, 1:30 AM, she called from Germany, and told us, she’d be flying in at 4:00 pm on Thursday. Finally, we were going to reunite!
This morning, we were going about our usual routine, and anxiously awaiting her arrival, when she called at 9:45 AM. She was going to arrive at 11:40 AM; she got an earlier flight. Well, we called everyone who was going to the airport and told them, change your plans, our soldier snagged an earlier flight.
There were 6 of us able to get there at the last minute. When we arrived, we checked the arrival board, and guess what? The flight was delayed until 1:47 PM. So, off to Burger King for lunch and gas up the truck to kill time until her flight arrived.
Finally, after waiting and waiting and waiting since Saturday morning ... It was 1:46 ... 1:47 ... 1:48 ... 1:49 ... 1:50 ... I don't know why they don't have a special rule about military families and let us go to the gate ... 1:51 ... 1:55 ... 1:57 ... 1:59 ... What if she's not on this flight ... 2:01 ... 2:02 ... 2:03 ... 2:04 ... 2:05 ... 2:06 ... THERE SHE IS! OMG, you can't imagine how hard it is not to run through security to hug your kid! Well, I did cheat a little, but the security people were cool about it. THERE SHE IS! And what a hug she got! People all around saw, and there was applause, she's in her DCU's, she only has a backpack, but she's here and hugging her family!
All the crying and tears and hugs are finished, and now, it's off to the bridal shop for the bridesmaid fitting she doesn't know about. We lied and told her we bought her a cool dress for the wedding. We arrive at the shop and her dad and step mom are waiting in the parking lot. More hugs and crying and tears from all! What a wonderful sight to see your child who's in a war!
After that reunion, we all bombard the bridal shop. In all, a mom, 2 sisters, an ‘adopted’ daughter, her kid, a boyfriend, a dad, a step mom and our soldier. The dress shop knows we're bringing her in, and they know she just got off a plane. We phoned ahead to let them know we're coming. Plus, we’d been working with them since we found out our soldier was coming home and they went out of their way to work with us. But, I didn't realize the entire world would be showing up.
So, the alteration lady sets up a room for our soldier to try on her new “dress”. We all walk over near there to wait. Our soldier was so excited; “I get to try on real girl clothes!” But, the surprise is on her. By now, the entire shop was watching the commotion we were making. There was no one doing anything else but watching and waiting for her reaction. How many soldiers from Iraq straight off the plane get fitted for a bridesmaid dress? Anyway, now the dress was brought in to her fitting room and everyone heard it, "I'm going to be in my sister's wedding?" "I'm going to be in my sister's wedding?" "I'm going to be in my sister's wedding?" “This is soooooo awesome!”
She was so surprised, the dress fit perfectly, all we needed was a hem. So, the alterations lady adjusted it. The dress will be ready tomorrow at noon. When I was wrapping up the paperwork, I asked the alterations lady, how much will this cost? She said, "no charge. This is a Thank You for daughter for serving."
So, this was our day. The next 14 days are going to be great. I’ll try to update you all on new developments, photos, and possibly be able to convince her to post a thread herself. We’ll see how the time goes. Thank you for letting me share my story.
More Photos of my soldier in Iraq (Lots of photos)
Driving her humvee.
On patrol.
The pool at Freedom Rest, an old Republican Guard palace in Baghdad.
Aerial view.
Craig, their adopted dog.
Stray dogs.
Putting barrettes in a little girl’s hair.
Her ‘boyfriends’.
A sandstorm.
Home sweet home.
Nora, right and other girls.
Checking weapons.
A village.
Soldier handing out chalk to boys.
On patrol.
Another village.
Iraqi’s waiting to leave. They were stuck here for 10 hours.
Going to the Toby Keith concert in Baghdad. (on left)
At the Toby Keith concert, nice seats.
Toby Keith holds an autographed football signed by the six soldiers from her platoon who went to the concert.
Toby Keith shakes hands with soldiers.
Toby Keith concert.
Toby Keith concert.
Hanging out at the pool on base (4th from left). The two white guys are from the Australian army
Taking a break from a long day’s work.
A canal. See the people crossing the bridge, it's the Grand Canal that irrigates the area.
At a market.
This is just a cool photo of her group.
Iraqi’s on patrol with her group.
Sandstorm blew the porta-potties over.
In a village.
Just some wild and crazy soldiers. See the red cone?
In the turret. Another shot of the red cone. Highly visible target
Tired of dragging the 'target' cone everywhere, they decide to burn it.
Cone on fire.
A captured truck. They call them Bongo’s.
A quarry.
Inspecting the quarry.
Weapons cache found buried in the water.
Eating dinner.
Another sandstorm.
A bomb crater.
The crater was so deep, it drew water.
Air support.
The Iraqi who sells cold sodas to the troops in one village.
Standing guard.
Her ‘boyfriends’.
The softer side of men.
Just a photo of a tank.
IED patrol.
A village.
Heading home for leave.
On leave.
ON leave at her sister's wedding. She cleans up nice.
GReat photos!!!! What a beautiful daughter you have raised. :) You have reason to be proud.
I’ve been in manufacturing for years. I’ve learned a few tricks about marketing. Lead with an eye catching photo. So, I’ve lead with my beautiful daughter! (She is really cute here, don’t you think?) Thanks! I’m sure you’re as proud of your kids as well. Happy Vet’s day to you and your family!
Just wonderful photos of your daughter! Thanks to you and her!
Much love to your daughter and thanks for her Service!!
Sgt. McMullen
USMC- Vet
HOOAH
Happy Veterans Day!
Thanks for the photos. Brings such joy to this gal’s heart to know that there are such great kids out there doing brave things. I can see in the pictures why you are so proud of your beautiful girl.
Please tell your daughter thank you from this military family.
mrs
GOD BLESS ALL OUR TROOPS !!!
I hope all you love this post. Thanks for your support!
I’m saddened by the lack of support for this thread. Where are the patriots? Anyway, Happy Vet’s Day.
Thank you for posting you must be so proud—I know I am
God Bless America and our troops :)
I was asked by many, repost those photos, repost those threads. Every time I look at these photos I think, ‘what great kids we’ve raised’. I look at this thread hundreds of times, I still think, this is the hope we can believe in. In my wildest dreams, I never thought any one of my kids could do this, but she did. Don’t give up! MY KID, would do this. Can you imagine your kid in these photos? Our family is just a normal family, yet, I produced this woman. I’m not apologetic, I’m extremely proud of her. America is not lost if we refuse to not believe it’s lost. There are millions of us that won’t let it perish. Happy Veterans Day! God Bless America!
Your daughter is a brave woman. Be proud of her.
My son crossed into Iraq on 3/20/03. “First Forward” - 299th Engineers.
Ain’t our kids great?
F**k Obama and his commie cowards and freaks.
Thanks! She’s as brave as you or I, she’s young. Don’t you wish you could relive your youth as you have knowledge now? Thank your son, he’s a hero to me.
As for the dems, I’m ready, willing and able to revolt. Bring it on suckers, you’re dealing with Americans, not the French. We left Europe, we’re not going to embrace what we left 300 years ago. So, in your eliquant words, F em.
What awesome pictures, thank you! Let her know that we contiue to pray for her as she serves and protects our great country. Blessings to her!
God Bless you, your family, and your daughter, tell her thank you from this family
Sgt. Major B - Army Ranger
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.