sgtdub

17 April 2007. Well, I'm still at work at the moment. I'm about to sneak out so I can go to the gym and workout. It looks like the next week will be rather busy but it does make the time go by faster.
I slept a good 7 hours last night and felt pretty good today. I mainly worked on straighting up the new office spot I have acquired as 1SG R left today. I'll be combining his duties with mine.
The night before last, the city decided to tear up the road in front of the camp to resurface it. This makes a lot of sense and I believe they have been trained by the Oklahoma Dept of Transportation. It was the smoothest piece of road in a 5 mile area and they haven't finished any other part of the road they have been working on in the last year we have been here. They have remained out there for the last two days and at least appear to be doing something. We will see how it goes.
The biggest piece of news I have at the moment is a letter my daughter wrote. As a class assignment they were asked to write a Any Soldier letter and they would be mailed out. She thought the letters would go to Iraq. Well, a Major serving in the Bde here was the recipient of the group of letters and he recognized of course the unit and the last name. Major E brought the letter over to LTC Y and then they showed it to me. I was able to scan it and sent it to Mrs. Dub. I gave her a little bit of grief saying she could write to another soldier but not to me. Of course, I was just joking with her and I was very proud of the letter she wrote. Prior to our first deployment we went to an awards assembly at her school. I didn't know anything about what her project had been at the time until we arrived at the school. I found that she had been awarded 1st Place for her painting of her hero, me. This made me cry then and swell with pride for my daughter. The letter yesterday did the same. Here is what it said:
"Dear U.S. Soldier,
My name is ______, and I would like to thank you for all that you have done for our country. I know what your family is going through with you half way around the world, only able to talk to them every few days, sometimes longer. My dad is with the 45th infantry and the 180th infantry from Oregon. This is his second tour to Afghanistan. I really appreciated everything you are doing to help keep this great nation free.
I hope you and your comrades are kept safe. Our prayers are with you and the rest of the troops. I deeply cherish the sacrifice you make on a daily basis to be away from your family, friends, home, and country. I know it's hard, but you seem to always keep strong and never give up. This country may have some people who don't appreciate what you are doing, but know that everything you do is for a good cause. To keep America the land of the free and the home of the brave.
when you troops come home, you help make it the home of the brave. I don't go to at night without praying for you and the others serving with you. I can't wait till you and your comrades can come home to your families! It will be such a joyous reunion.
So, with that said, I thank you again for everything you have done in order to keep this great nation free. You of all people know that freedom is never free. I hope God keeps you safe throughout the rest of your deployment.
God bless you, your comrades, families and everyone else serving to endure and protect freedom."
I've got a pretty good kid on my hands. MAJ E said he wanted to keep the letter to frame it. I was fine with that.
Be safe and have a great day.