Greetings from Balad

Nightfighter Family,

I want to start by saying I am sorry it has been so long since I have written, time has slipped away from me here. We have been extremely busy with many moving pieces and a mission operational tempo that continues to increase. We are not complaining though, at least I am not, I like keeping everyone busy it makes time go by faster. I am suresome of you have heard by now that we had to move one of our companiesto another location. Team Bravo is no longer working here with us,although we do still have a command relationship with them for awardsand other administrative actions. They are now located at a baseseveral hours south of here conducting the same type of missions. Our higher headquarters decided the unit that is replacing us was going toneed to have an additional unit south, so they decided to put our guys down there so they could train them when they come in. While it was definitely a hardship on the soldiers to pack up and move, Team Bravodid not complain one bit. The soldiers and leadership did a great jobclearing post here and then very efficiently moved south.CSM Cox and I will be heading down south in a few weeks to check on them and hold their end of tour awards ceremony. Up here we continue to prepare for our replacement unit, and no we do not know dates they will be here, any dates you are hearing are rumors. I can tell you there have been dates floating around but trust me they are not locked in stone AT ALL. Please do not get your hopes up for an early arrival home (prior to December). While there is a slight chance it could happen there is just as big of a chance it might not. Do not buy tickets or schedule vacations that lock your soldier in too early inDecember. We are at the mercy of a lot of forces we do not control, most importantly the air force and contracted commercial aircraft. I have told my family I will be home just as soon as the Army lets me outof the mobilization site. Please be sure to attend the State reintegration briefings that are being scheduled. I believe there a couple in Fort Wayne this weekend. They will give you information on how you will learn when we are coming home; I promise you they don't know when we are coming right now either. Any one that tells you they do is misinformed. As recently as a few hours ago I received information that moved dates around. Enough on that subject we will all be patient and get through this together. Let me change the subject and brag on Team Echo for a minute.I went on the longest mission I have been on yet last night with the"Stormbringers". It was not supposed to be that long but circumstances changed our plans. Bottom line after being on the road over 14 hoursour soldiers were still alert enough to locate a very well hiddenexplosive device on the road. It was rendered useless by an EOD Team(explosive ordnance Team) while we secured the site. I was so impressedwith our soldiers’ ability to stay focused after being on the road solong, trust me it is not easy. 14 hours in a gun truck with heavybullet proof vest and helmets on will take its toll on you. I had notbeen out for about 5 days before last night due to administrative requirements here, after rolling with them last night my batteries arerecharged. Our soldiers are AMAZING! They never cease to impress me and make me proud to be in their ranks. Well I will write again soon.
Proud to Serve
LTC Jerry Hadley
Nightfighter 6

(continue reading the next post below, I forgot one!)