RE: Checking in from Kuwait

[Diplomat]

 
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.

[CamperJones]

 Diplomat
Diplomat -
 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!

[tlhdoc]

 Diplomat
Jeff great to hear from you.  Take care of yourself and have a safe tour.  I will keep you in my thoughts.[]

[kathybrj]

 Diplomat
Great to hear from you. We hope you re doing well. Stay safe and we re thinking of you!![]

[birol]

 Diplomat
Have 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 []

[Trlrboy]

 Diplomat
Kick Ass.

[fivegonefishing]

 Diplomat
Great to hear from you and Thanks
 
 Tammy

[wiininkwe]

 Diplomat
Thanks for dropping in to the board.  My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and all 6,000 of your friends.
 Toni

[Ernhrts3n8]

 Diplomat
May 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.

[gr8grandpa]

 Diplomat
Hello,
 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

[g-whiz]

 Diplomat
Nice 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.

[sandykayak]

 Diplomat
Boy, 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.
 
 

[oldmoose]

 Diplomat
I 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.

[Kelly]

 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]

[Mahaffey-Family]

 Diplomat

I 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.