I have yet to travel to the Green Zone in central Baghdad to get my credentials, at which point I can officially begin reporting and publishing stories and photos. But after arriving this morning, I was taken to a camp where the 4-14 Cavalry and 4-23 Infantry Regiment are staying, the first two units I will be embedded with during my next two weeks.
It’s already comforting to see the Stryker vehicles and the Alaska flags and be able to banter with soldiers about salmon, Alaska winter and for at least one soldier, the excitement of the West Valley High School football team making it to semi-finals as he sipped coffee from a WVH mug.
October 4th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Hi Margaret, sorry I missed you before you left. Stay safe out there and I look forward to reading your entries and seeing the photos! If you see my husband, tell him that I love him!
October 4th, 2006 at 10:32 pm
Margaret!
Glad to see you made it there safely. If you see Shane Allen give him our love, from Becky especially. Tell him we’re proud of him and glad to have him in the family. Tell him we’re proud of Becky because she has brillantly caught on to being an Army wife.
And we pray daily for Shane’s safety and for those with him. And now you, my dear. I’m proud of you.
Say hello to Lavic, if you see him, too. and Chris Bower. I’m sure he’ll show you his battle scars, if you ask. probably even if you don’t.
DC
October 5th, 2006 at 2:18 am
Great to hear that you are back in country, we look forward to reading your entries, we will look for you as you make your ventures with the many Units of the 172D Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.
October 5th, 2006 at 7:39 am
Stay safe. If you happen to run into a Sgt. Erickson in the 4-23rd, tell him his big brother says hi.
October 5th, 2006 at 7:41 am
WELCOME BACK MARGARET, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE FROM BACK HOME CARES ABOUT US AND WHAT WE DO. ITS GOOD FOR OUR PEOPLE BACK HOME CAN READ ABOUT WHAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
WELCOME BACK AND GOD BLESS YOU AND SAFEGUARD YOU OUT ON THE ROAD!
WE CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK HOME TO OUR LOVED ONES!
SGT RIVERA, VICTOR
172D BSB
October 5th, 2006 at 7:58 am
I followed your blog the first time you went over and felt like I was closer to our son. I will be looking for new entries daily. Thanks for making a second trip. If you see our son, SPC John Froneberger, give him our love and remind him how proud we are of him.
October 5th, 2006 at 10:07 am
YAY you made it! So glad to see you are there and getting back into the swing of things. Look forward to reading your work again. Please PLEASE let us know if you need anything!
Thanks for all you do Margaret!
October 5th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Please report the truth. Fluff does nothing for those men. I fear they are being driven crazy by their mistreatment. Investigate,and you will find other instances, besides the extension. I am prepared to list them for you if you wish.
Proud father of Sgt. Willy Worthington, 4-23
October 5th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Good to hear your safe, if you run into a SSG Sikkenga in Alpha company 4/23 INF tell him hendo says hi and come back safe we have some bowling to do.
October 5th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Margaret, I’m sure you’re in good hands with the 4-23. We’re hoping to get a true and accurate accounting of what’s going on in Baghdad.
Please stay safe. If you see our son (you can’t miss him, I think he’s the biggest guy in the 4-23), give him our love, tell him we miss him.
Stay focused and stay safe PFC Francis Provenzano, 4-23.
October 5th, 2006 at 9:29 pm
Hi Margaret; thank you for visiting our soliders with the 172nd Styker Brigade. If you get a chance to see my son SSG Gilbert Romero with the 117th Inf Reg, please say hi for me. We look forward to reading your articles.
October 5th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
Margaret - As comforting as it was for you to see the Stryker vehicles and the Alaska flags when you arrived in Baghdad, it is even more comforting for me to know that you are there with our soldiers. I actually felt a sense of relief when I found out you were going back, like you being there would bring me a little closer to my husband. (BTW, when you get to 2-1, give my love to my dear husband, Chaplain Steve Dunn.)
Thank you for your dedication to our guys and gals. God bless!
October 6th, 2006 at 12:26 am
Hey Margaret! I look forward to reading your articles…if you see Scott, give him a big hello from Fort Wainwright! See you when you get back!
Tracey Murray
October 6th, 2006 at 5:01 am
Margaret I too look forward to reading your articles. Like the others I trust you will give a true account of what is going on.
If you run into my son PFC Stovall with the 4-14 would you give him a hug from his mom
God Speed and stay safe.
Psalm 91 OUT
November 2nd, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Hey Margaret ! Thank you for all that you are doing . As a family member of the Styker Brigade family it was a God sent for me to find this site while searching for an article for my son . He Lt. Dames with the 4-23 .If you or any of your readers no anything about an article or picture that was published recently in Fairbanks ,please send it to my E-mail address .or post it here , the info were I might find it. To Shirley Stovall, we to Pray Psalm 91 for Our Hero and all whom he serves with !!! Our Prayers also extend now to the 4-14 and the rest of the 172 for safe return Home!! to Family and Friends that are Proud of them and Love them
God Speed and Psalm 91 and a Warriors prayer Psalm 144