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Dear all,
IT has been busy with our USO people here. We have gone from one meeting to the next brain storming this that and the other and working hard to finalize our plans and begin to get this center up and running. We will have a United Through Reading Program and we will need books, books, books! I am thrilled. Sherri, I NEED you!
Balad is like a little city. Picture a rectangle that is about 4 miles by five miles. All around the preimeter is a tall, tall chain link fence with the big round sharp wire around the top. I never leave the interior area of the base. I will never see out side the walls or wire. It is like a little city. The car rental place and airport where I picked our USO people up is all right here within the wires. For the most part all the streets at paved. It is very hard to figure out what is what as all the building have ten to twelve foot concrete barriers around them. They are about six feet away from the buildings. The openings are covered by another overlapping barrier they comes out another four feet. So kind of piture a bit of a maze to get to any building. No big signs announcing what the building is and very little lighting at night. Safety you know!
Okay every one, I am sitting here writing you and the gentleman next to me is on the computer on the phone talking to his daughter. He is talking to his little princess and I am crying like a baby. It is so precious! The sacrifices our troops are making is amazing and I can't thank them enough. This conversation I am hearing makes be so proud of our troops and proud of their families at home that support them.
Back to Balad. We are in trailers. Each trailer is divided into three rooms. Some have two to a room and some just one. I am fortunate to have one to myself. I am slowly meeting my neighbors and they all seem very nice. Everyones hours are different so you rarely see anybody. Women are not to be alone outside after dark without an escort. Hence the slop bucket. It is even un-nerving to open your door at night as the doors open to the outside and so you can't just crack the door and look out, the whole thing has to be opened in order to see. For me, if they don't identify them self, I don't open. There is a porta potty right outside the maze of my trailer but I don't do there either after dark. I admit it I am chicken, to go out after dark to get to the porta potty and go through the maze is a little scary for me. And I am not a big fan of porta potties anyway!
Lt Ramirez is incharge of the heliopad and has invited me to come and spend some time out there. I can't wait! That is where they bring in the wounded and also where they out process the troops that they are transfering either back home or to there units after being here in the hospital. He says there is a big, big need for assistant there and he would love the USO to be a part. You can just imagine how much I want to help there. Those wounded troops coming in need a mother and certainly the ones going back out need a mother to love up on them.
One more thing...girls you will hate me but I did not get Hard Body pictures. Being a judge was way more serious and important than I thought or knew about. I mean I had to learn the poses and count how many they did and there was not time for pictures. After is was over they all took off and I didn't get a one. They are having another in December and I will plan on getting pictures then.
I love you and miss you and appreciate so much your support.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Quiet Day
Dear all,
It was a quieter day here. We did some errands and worked here at the hospital doing just some general cleaning and assessing. We did drive to the east side of the base to the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation). They have the gyms and stuff like that for the troops. We work very hand and hand with them. In fact, they are having a Hard Body competition tomorrow night and Angela and I are judges for the event. The man in charge ask if I knew anything about hard body competitions and I told him that I knew the difference between a hard body and a soft body and he said that was perfect you got the job. Won't that look nice on my resume.
Our supervision and his boss are coming in tonight and we are thrilled. It was very last minute and it will be good to have them here to talk through some center decisions and issues. They don't get in until 1:45 in the morning. Angela and I will go together to pick them up. Anything after dark we do in pairs.
Oh by the way, for those of you who heard that the bathrooms might be co-ed, they are not! Now the first night I went down to shower and got all ready and decide to go to the toilet first and could not find the toilets....they are in a different trailer next door. You really have to plan ahead to take care of all those bodily functions out here. Never fear, my mom wins on the first care package here and guess what she sent me....a slop bucket so I won't leave my room at night! I love you mom and thank you. You are always so creative!
Yesterday morning I counted my steps to the bathrooms. It is 487 steps to the bathroom and that is not on a nice side walk but rather gravel and sand and big holes here and there. Many have ask about the food.....hmmmm!!!!! much different than I am use to. Very starchy, or fried and certainly not seasoned like I like home. I am craving a simple good grilled piece of chicken and a good salad. They do have a salad bar but then there is this packaged dressing to put on it....hmm!!! This is one trip that it won't be about the food!
Well, I have to run. Going to try and get a little sleep before going to the airport to pick up my boss.
I love you all dearly and appreciate so much your support.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
It was a quieter day here. We did some errands and worked here at the hospital doing just some general cleaning and assessing. We did drive to the east side of the base to the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation). They have the gyms and stuff like that for the troops. We work very hand and hand with them. In fact, they are having a Hard Body competition tomorrow night and Angela and I are judges for the event. The man in charge ask if I knew anything about hard body competitions and I told him that I knew the difference between a hard body and a soft body and he said that was perfect you got the job. Won't that look nice on my resume.
Our supervision and his boss are coming in tonight and we are thrilled. It was very last minute and it will be good to have them here to talk through some center decisions and issues. They don't get in until 1:45 in the morning. Angela and I will go together to pick them up. Anything after dark we do in pairs.
Oh by the way, for those of you who heard that the bathrooms might be co-ed, they are not! Now the first night I went down to shower and got all ready and decide to go to the toilet first and could not find the toilets....they are in a different trailer next door. You really have to plan ahead to take care of all those bodily functions out here. Never fear, my mom wins on the first care package here and guess what she sent me....a slop bucket so I won't leave my room at night! I love you mom and thank you. You are always so creative!
Yesterday morning I counted my steps to the bathrooms. It is 487 steps to the bathroom and that is not on a nice side walk but rather gravel and sand and big holes here and there. Many have ask about the food.....hmmmm!!!!! much different than I am use to. Very starchy, or fried and certainly not seasoned like I like home. I am craving a simple good grilled piece of chicken and a good salad. They do have a salad bar but then there is this packaged dressing to put on it....hmm!!! This is one trip that it won't be about the food!
Well, I have to run. Going to try and get a little sleep before going to the airport to pick up my boss.
I love you all dearly and appreciate so much your support.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Changing of Command
Dear All,
Another amazing day here! We ran some errands this morning, rented a car and met up with Angela's husband. We had a meeting with a Col who is going to be a hug help to us! He is trying to set up another meeting with several significant people here to help us get things going.
We have a meeting in the morning early with the staff here to get a better feel for what their expectations are for us. This will not be in any way shape or form a traditional USO. We are trying to figure out what we need to do and how to best expedite that.
This afternoon while Angela spent some time with he husband I came back to the hospital to work a little bit. I was returning some email and they announced over the intercom that the bus was leaving to take those who wanted to go and see the "Changing of Command" ceremony. I thought why not so I picked up my stuff and headed on out. It was out in this hanger name Tuskegee Army Airfield. This was the changing of command for the Tuskegee airman 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group Squadron. They started with a welcome then the National Anthem and I started crying and did not stop through the whole thing. It was just so special being there and witnessing and hearing the stories of what these troops had experienced in the past five months. They have had a 98% survival rate. I got to meet and talk to the General Fields and many of his staff. That is who we are working with at the hospital. Once again I was just so proud and honored to be there and be apart of honoring those who are giving so much!
I don't have my computer....it is over at the Information Technology lab being imagined and made ready for me to use on base. Security you know! Hopefully I will get it tomorrow and can download the pictures I have taken and start posting them on here for you.
Tomorrow we will begin to start the makeover of the space we have here and sketch out what we need and want. Our first task will be to find furniture and a way to get it here. We are looking for comfortable chairs/recliner type and sofas. We are going to have built dividers for the computers and booths for the phones.
Time to get this done.
I love you all and thank you for your support.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Another amazing day here! We ran some errands this morning, rented a car and met up with Angela's husband. We had a meeting with a Col who is going to be a hug help to us! He is trying to set up another meeting with several significant people here to help us get things going.
We have a meeting in the morning early with the staff here to get a better feel for what their expectations are for us. This will not be in any way shape or form a traditional USO. We are trying to figure out what we need to do and how to best expedite that.
This afternoon while Angela spent some time with he husband I came back to the hospital to work a little bit. I was returning some email and they announced over the intercom that the bus was leaving to take those who wanted to go and see the "Changing of Command" ceremony. I thought why not so I picked up my stuff and headed on out. It was out in this hanger name Tuskegee Army Airfield. This was the changing of command for the Tuskegee airman 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group Squadron. They started with a welcome then the National Anthem and I started crying and did not stop through the whole thing. It was just so special being there and witnessing and hearing the stories of what these troops had experienced in the past five months. They have had a 98% survival rate. I got to meet and talk to the General Fields and many of his staff. That is who we are working with at the hospital. Once again I was just so proud and honored to be there and be apart of honoring those who are giving so much!
I don't have my computer....it is over at the Information Technology lab being imagined and made ready for me to use on base. Security you know! Hopefully I will get it tomorrow and can download the pictures I have taken and start posting them on here for you.
Tomorrow we will begin to start the makeover of the space we have here and sketch out what we need and want. Our first task will be to find furniture and a way to get it here. We are looking for comfortable chairs/recliner type and sofas. We are going to have built dividers for the computers and booths for the phones.
Time to get this done.
I love you all and thank you for your support.
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Balad, Iraq
Dear All,
Hard to believe that I am in Balad, Iraq. What an adventure getting here. We started at 4:00 am Monday morning trying to get a flight out to here. We got bumped from the one we were blocked on. We were bumped from all the flights that day. Long day sitting in a big room with a couple hundred other soldiers and contractor who were trying to do the same as us. Some were coming back from R&R and others were units going over for the first time. At one point a young man came up to me and said "I see you got the job in Iraq" he had been through on R&R back in June and had talked to me in my office. That was fun.
We finally got a flight out on Tuesday at 1500. What an adventure that was. We had to meet for a briefing and have all our gear. Of course we had lots of gear as we were going for a full year and it was our first time. So picture me, two BIG suitcases, one carry-on size suitcase, a big back pack, my flack jacket and helmet and it was 112 degrees.
We meet Col Russ who befriended us and helped us get our jacket and helmets on right and made sure they were tighten right. He coached us through the process and I will be forever grateful for his help and encouragement. They marched us out to where we put our bags on pallets and then packed us on buses. The buses have curtain so you can't see out and no one see in. Security!!!! We drove out to the air field. As we pulled up and got off the bus I see troops coming out of the back of a C1-30. As soon as they were off we all marched on. It was everything and more that I could imagine. We are in rows length wise. No windows except for a couple rounds ones that were up real high. Fortunately we were not full so we did not have to be side by side crammed in there. We strapped in and put our ear plugs in and fairly quickly the big huge ramp or the rear part of the plane closed shut. The take off was quick and straight up it seemed like. There was no talking our visiting as you could not hear. The first half of the flight I was so hot that I felt light headed and then it colded off and I froze the last half. It only took and hour and fifteen minutes to get to Balad. Landing.....WOW! We took a hard right then a real had left and whoosh straight down and landed. It was incredible. I was afraid I would get sick but not at all. All I could think about was the hundreds of thousand of troops who have done the same and landed not knowing what they would face or what was ahead of them. I wondered what John Micah was thinking when he landed at his final destination three years ago.
As quickly as they got us on we got off and went inside a big building. We had to watch a briefing on safety there on Balad. It taught us all the different alert sounds and what to do when we hear them. Mr Kelly met us there and helped us with our bags and took us to our sleeping quarters for the night. He then drove us all over to see the base and took us to the hospital where we got our first glimpse of what will eventually be the first USO in Iraq. We have lots to do!
Today we went strong all day. First to the hospital to meet our points of contact there. While I was there a young man named Willowsbe came by and said he came to tell me hi.He was a friend of Mary Margaret from Meet and Greet. That was great. We then got a tour of the hospital even into the OR where we saw a surgery going on. My heart was about to beat out of my chest. We then went to get our housing which is very much like the pictures I had and not a football field away from the bathrooms...but TWO football fields away. I have decide not to bath as by the time I do and get back to my room I will already be dirty again.
We drove around to the other side of the base. The road goes along the fence and at one point right there in eye shot we could see two helicopters involved in a fired fight with something or someone on the ground. So hard to believe a war was happening right outside this fence. At first I thought it was just the reflection coming off the helicopter but then figured out it was gun fire. We knew it was far enough away that there was absolutely no fear for us.
It is so sobering being here at the the hospital. Twice since I have been typing this they called for Emergency room backup and people to the helo pad. I could hardly stand not going back to help as I can hear the helicopters coming in and knowing possibly there were some of our wounded troops on board. I will be able to go to the patient ward and visit with troops and will start doing that when we are settled in.
I can't begin to tell you what we need at this point but will let you know as we figure it out. Thank you for supporting me and these troops.
I love you all,
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Hard to believe that I am in Balad, Iraq. What an adventure getting here. We started at 4:00 am Monday morning trying to get a flight out to here. We got bumped from the one we were blocked on. We were bumped from all the flights that day. Long day sitting in a big room with a couple hundred other soldiers and contractor who were trying to do the same as us. Some were coming back from R&R and others were units going over for the first time. At one point a young man came up to me and said "I see you got the job in Iraq" he had been through on R&R back in June and had talked to me in my office. That was fun.
We finally got a flight out on Tuesday at 1500. What an adventure that was. We had to meet for a briefing and have all our gear. Of course we had lots of gear as we were going for a full year and it was our first time. So picture me, two BIG suitcases, one carry-on size suitcase, a big back pack, my flack jacket and helmet and it was 112 degrees.
We meet Col Russ who befriended us and helped us get our jacket and helmets on right and made sure they were tighten right. He coached us through the process and I will be forever grateful for his help and encouragement. They marched us out to where we put our bags on pallets and then packed us on buses. The buses have curtain so you can't see out and no one see in. Security!!!! We drove out to the air field. As we pulled up and got off the bus I see troops coming out of the back of a C1-30. As soon as they were off we all marched on. It was everything and more that I could imagine. We are in rows length wise. No windows except for a couple rounds ones that were up real high. Fortunately we were not full so we did not have to be side by side crammed in there. We strapped in and put our ear plugs in and fairly quickly the big huge ramp or the rear part of the plane closed shut. The take off was quick and straight up it seemed like. There was no talking our visiting as you could not hear. The first half of the flight I was so hot that I felt light headed and then it colded off and I froze the last half. It only took and hour and fifteen minutes to get to Balad. Landing.....WOW! We took a hard right then a real had left and whoosh straight down and landed. It was incredible. I was afraid I would get sick but not at all. All I could think about was the hundreds of thousand of troops who have done the same and landed not knowing what they would face or what was ahead of them. I wondered what John Micah was thinking when he landed at his final destination three years ago.
As quickly as they got us on we got off and went inside a big building. We had to watch a briefing on safety there on Balad. It taught us all the different alert sounds and what to do when we hear them. Mr Kelly met us there and helped us with our bags and took us to our sleeping quarters for the night. He then drove us all over to see the base and took us to the hospital where we got our first glimpse of what will eventually be the first USO in Iraq. We have lots to do!
Today we went strong all day. First to the hospital to meet our points of contact there. While I was there a young man named Willowsbe came by and said he came to tell me hi.He was a friend of Mary Margaret from Meet and Greet. That was great. We then got a tour of the hospital even into the OR where we saw a surgery going on. My heart was about to beat out of my chest. We then went to get our housing which is very much like the pictures I had and not a football field away from the bathrooms...but TWO football fields away. I have decide not to bath as by the time I do and get back to my room I will already be dirty again.
We drove around to the other side of the base. The road goes along the fence and at one point right there in eye shot we could see two helicopters involved in a fired fight with something or someone on the ground. So hard to believe a war was happening right outside this fence. At first I thought it was just the reflection coming off the helicopter but then figured out it was gun fire. We knew it was far enough away that there was absolutely no fear for us.
It is so sobering being here at the the hospital. Twice since I have been typing this they called for Emergency room backup and people to the helo pad. I could hardly stand not going back to help as I can hear the helicopters coming in and knowing possibly there were some of our wounded troops on board. I will be able to go to the patient ward and visit with troops and will start doing that when we are settled in.
I can't begin to tell you what we need at this point but will let you know as we figure it out. Thank you for supporting me and these troops.
I love you all,
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Kuwait
Hi All,
What a busy day! I got to see three of the four military bases here in Kuwait. Hard to imagine my son was here a few years ago. It was a marathon doing everything that needed to be done. I am now the proud holder of a military ID, a lovely flack jacket and helmet and a slight sun burn on the top of my feet!
We were fortunate as the temperature here was down from the usual to .. 113.... There was a slight breeze so it really wasn't that bad. It was fascinating seeing everything. The military bases were colorless and bland but full of troops! Hard for me not to want to greet and thank each one of them. It also made me think of all those family and friends who were at home wondering and worrying about there soldier.
We leave out early in the morning to go in country and possibly won't have computer access for a couple days!
Hopefully when I get set up there I will be able to download my pictures for you!
Thank you for your support and love and keep greeting our troops it means the world to them!
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
What a busy day! I got to see three of the four military bases here in Kuwait. Hard to imagine my son was here a few years ago. It was a marathon doing everything that needed to be done. I am now the proud holder of a military ID, a lovely flack jacket and helmet and a slight sun burn on the top of my feet!
We were fortunate as the temperature here was down from the usual to .. 113.... There was a slight breeze so it really wasn't that bad. It was fascinating seeing everything. The military bases were colorless and bland but full of troops! Hard for me not to want to greet and thank each one of them. It also made me think of all those family and friends who were at home wondering and worrying about there soldier.
We leave out early in the morning to go in country and possibly won't have computer access for a couple days!
Hopefully when I get set up there I will be able to download my pictures for you!
Thank you for your support and love and keep greeting our troops it means the world to them!
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Germany
Hi All,
I arrived in Germany. The sendoff in Dallas was overwhelming. Saying goodbye hard but the encouragement and support amazing. As we left the pilot announced that there was a special farewell for Linda Robinson...about that time I looked out the window to see the shower of affection. Tears just would not quit flowing. The people around had no idea what it was but I was so touched by such love and affection. Thank you Dallas for your love to me.
The flight went well. We ate then I wrote for a little bit then laid down across me four seats and slept well for five hours. They served us breakfast and by then it was landing time.
I navigated the Frankfurt Airport easily and am now waiting to meet up with Angela.
All is well and I am a wide eyed wonder taking every little thing in.
Again thank you for supporting and loving me.
I arrived in Germany. The sendoff in Dallas was overwhelming. Saying goodbye hard but the encouragement and support amazing. As we left the pilot announced that there was a special farewell for Linda Robinson...about that time I looked out the window to see the shower of affection. Tears just would not quit flowing. The people around had no idea what it was but I was so touched by such love and affection. Thank you Dallas for your love to me.
The flight went well. We ate then I wrote for a little bit then laid down across me four seats and slept well for five hours. They served us breakfast and by then it was landing time.
I navigated the Frankfurt Airport easily and am now waiting to meet up with Angela.
All is well and I am a wide eyed wonder taking every little thing in.
Again thank you for supporting and loving me.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Night Before
Dear all,
The past couple of weeks have been fast and furious as I pulled things together to leave. I am not sure I am ready but tomorrow at 3:30 I will board a plane to Frankfurt Germany whether I am ready or not. Winter things have been shipped and my bags are basically packed.
In Germany I will meet up with my co-worker and we will board another flight into Kuwait. We will spend 24 to 48 hours in Kuwait doing some briefings and getting our military ID's. Once those things are accomplihed we will board a military flight into Balad, Iraq or Camp Anaconda.
I will try to update this blog as often as I can but it may take a couple of days once we are in country to establish our emial and things like that!
Thank you for your support and encouragement!
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
The past couple of weeks have been fast and furious as I pulled things together to leave. I am not sure I am ready but tomorrow at 3:30 I will board a plane to Frankfurt Germany whether I am ready or not. Winter things have been shipped and my bags are basically packed.
In Germany I will meet up with my co-worker and we will board another flight into Kuwait. We will spend 24 to 48 hours in Kuwait doing some briefings and getting our military ID's. Once those things are accomplihed we will board a military flight into Balad, Iraq or Camp Anaconda.
I will try to update this blog as often as I can but it may take a couple of days once we are in country to establish our emial and things like that!
Thank you for your support and encouragement!
In His Mighty Grip,
Linda
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