Hello all. Today is my first time on-line since I left on 17 Jan! I get 30 minutes and I had to wait 2 hrs to get a computer.[:)] I am presently in Camp Doha making a PX run and scrounging things my unit needs but can t get.
We are all doing well, well trained and ready for what ever mission is (or is not) assigned us.
If you have seen the news showing pictures of large camps with ice cream, hamburgers and pizza you have not seen where I live. We do live in a large camp with 6,000 of my closest friends but without some of the amenities that you might see. The Marine Corps has better things to worry about than internet access and ice cream. Our showers work and, chow is, well,... chow. We are doing well and morale is very high.
I think of you all often and can t wait to get home to my cable modem, 24 hr lights, running water and my PU! My family is doing well, they are planning on attending the SoCal Round Up in May with or without me.
Just in case we make the news; I am in 3d Battalion, 11th Marines (an Artillery unit). We are attached to 7th Marine Regiment (an Infantry unit) which is part of 1st Marine Division. 1st Marine Division is the Ground Combat Element of I Marine Expeditionary Force (commonly called I MEF) based in Camp Pendleton, CA. My Battalion is based in 29 Palms, CA.
DiplomatDiplomat -
How wonderful for you to say hello to everyone! Thank you from my family here in Tampa for your service and love of country to be there in Kuwait! Just had a best friend s husband get deployed out of Ft. Bragg to Kuwait two weeks ago and he is an Army Supply Sargent. We know so many that are either there or heading your way so know this........you are in our prayers! My uncle is a retired Marine Drill Sargent that was based in Camp Pendleton in CA and Marine blood flows through his veins and I know that you re one heck of a bunch of tough folks! Take care and may you soon be back home with your family and camping in the luxery of your camper and not in an emcampment tent in Kuwait! GOD BLESS, BE SAFE and THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!
DiplomatJeff great to hear from you. Take care of yourself and have a safe tour. I will keep you in my thoughts.[:)]
DiplomatGreat to hear from you. We hope you re doing well. Stay safe and we re thinking of you!![:)]
DiplomatHave a great tour and be safe. We look forward to seeing you back here with us !
I can t help saying, at least it is hot and not snowy there [:D]
DiplomatKick Ass.
DiplomatGreat to hear from you and Thanks
Tammy
DiplomatThanks for dropping in to the board. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and all 6,000 of your friends.
Toni
DiplomatMay God bless you and keep you safe. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for protecting us and our wonderful country. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
DiplomatHello,
I sure hope that you do not have to go to war. If you do have to I wish you good luck. I have a grandson over there. He is on the USS Valley Forge. I too wish you a safe return.
gr8grandpa
DiplomatNice to see you again here on PUT, Diplomat. I ll be sure to look up your family when we attend the SoCal Rally in May. You are in my thots and prayers. Thanks for your dedicated service.
DiplomatBoy, you know someone s got the popup bug REAL BAD when they sign on to the PUT board from the desert.
I lived in Kuwait for 2.5 years in the early 70s. Guess there have been a lot of changes...but the desert is still the desert. We used to go on picnics to the desert...lots of lovely little wildflowers ... like iris.
When we were posted there, I was told that the Arabian Gulf (if you put Persian Gulf on the letters they were sent back or simply disappeared) was the ******* [rectal cavity] of the Middle East and Kuwait was the pimple 5 inches up.
That said, it was by far among the best places for expatriates to live (except Beirut at that time). We were not harassed, women could drive, and I even went to the souk alone. Had a few " situations" , but nothing serious.
My son was born their (my ex-husband was a British diplomat at that time). After Desert Storm he was glad that people FINALLY would stop asking, " Where were you born?" and then say, " Where s Kuwait?"
Unfortunately, after 9/11...I m now scared that some idiot is going to have a negative reaction because my son s Place of Birth on his US passport says: Kuwait. He left when he was two months old!!! And both parents have British (EU) passports.
Good luck. Here at the Miami-Dade Police Department, I m involved in the campaign to send collect stuff and send care packages to the troops. We received a wish list from the son of one of our officers. Let me have some feedback as to whether I should post the list as a separate thread.
DiplomatI was surprised to see the header. Thanks for helping to keep our country safe. I m sure the ice cream will show up sometime, despite the weather there. Like g-whiz, we ll look up your family at the May SoCal Roundup.
Diplomat[font=" comic sans ms" ]Another reminder of what a wonderful family we all have here at PUT.
My thoughts, prayers and thanks are with you and with all who serve this fine country. Be safe, Jeff.[/font]
Diplomat
QuoteI am presently in Camp Doha making a PX run and scrounging things my unit needs but can t get.
Hello Diplomat,
My son was at this camp before going to his undisclosed location. Thanks for sharing the real Kuwait to us. I kept telling people about my son and they looked at me like, they have what they need. But, the T.V. doesn t show the reality for all. I see that you have no running water or electric either. I was telling people about this and the Px, they just looked at me and said on TV they have what they need. But, anyway I will pray for your safe return. If you or your group need anything sent me an e-mail I will do what I can to get it. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.
DiplomatI keep hoping we don t have to go to war but if we do I know you guys are tough, strong, dedicated and determined. Please know you will be in my thoughts and prayers and in the thoughts and prayers of millions of our fellow Americans and world citizens as well. May God bless and keep you and bring you home to your family VERY soon. We owe our freedom to you and to others like you. God Bless.
DiplomatGood to hear from you. I pray that you will have a safe tour. The radio station that I listen to, a contemporary christian station in Charlotte, NC, is listing names of men and women who have been called to serve on a prayer list so that they can be prayed for by name. If you would like to have your name listed, I would be glad to add it to the list. Just e-mail it to me and I will add it.
My husband was (and still is) a Marine (one of the reasons I married him) and he was over at Iran when the presidental election was going on, waiting to see if they would go to war. After President Reagan was elected, things changed and he did not have to go. But he was pumped and ready to go. I liked what was said earlier, Kick A**!!!!!
God Bless to you and all of your buddies[:)]
DiplomatFight the good fight!
You and all your buds are in my thoughts and prayers.
~CathyAnn
DiplomatDiplomat,
I was just thinking about you a couple days ago. Thanks for checking in and Godspeed.
DiplomatJeff, I hope you got my e-mail. Your note here and the one from the Mahaffey s brings this war direclty into all our homes and hearts. I am praying for you and the Mahaffey sons and for all those who are now--and who soon will be--In Harm s Way. May God speed all of you safely home to the arms of your loved ones.
DiplomatGood luck and God speed for your safe return for you and your 6000 closest friends. I was in the region during Desert Storm, and my hope is that you get to finish the job if it goes to war. Again, Good luck.
DiplomatThank you for risking your life and well being for us. We support our troops wholeheartedly and are proud to call you our protectors!
Jennifer