As a lot of you may know, Gov. Daniels went to Iraq. Here is a link to some pictures from him visit. I recognized a lot of the guys, but Zac wasnt in any of the pics =(
http://www.in.gov/gov/3522.htm
Just to clarify, SPC Ford that passed away, was not with Zac. He was part of the 76th Brigade from Indiana, but out of Evansville.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Please say a prayer for the Ford family
Nightfighter Family,
I hope this update finds everyone well, we are all in good shape and good spirits over here. I say that with a note of sadness due to the loss of a fellow 76th Infantry Brigade soldier from 1-152. I am sure most of you have already heard the news about SPC Ford from C Troop 1-152 who was killed last Saturday in an accident while conducting a mission. It brings back into perspective the dangerous environment we operate in... not that we allow any of our guys to forget that anyway. Keep SPC Ford's wife and parents in your thoughts and prayers while they grieve the loss of their loved one. We will continue to be vigilant with our preparation and execution of our missions, that is all we can do. I can tell you I have not seen one bit of complacency set in, which is good. The weather here continues to be crazy with quite a few of our missions getting delayed or some of our convoys getting stranded at other locations. If you go a few days without hearing from your soldier on what has become a normal time, it might be because they are at a different base waiting out the sand storms. I hope everyone has fun plans for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, maybe spend some time with family and friends. We will celebrate it over here to the best of our ability even if it is only to have a moment or two of silence in honor of our fallen comrades from past conflicts.
Proud to Serve with YOUR Soldiers
LTC Jerry Hadley
Nightfighter 6
I hope this update finds everyone well, we are all in good shape and good spirits over here. I say that with a note of sadness due to the loss of a fellow 76th Infantry Brigade soldier from 1-152. I am sure most of you have already heard the news about SPC Ford from C Troop 1-152 who was killed last Saturday in an accident while conducting a mission. It brings back into perspective the dangerous environment we operate in... not that we allow any of our guys to forget that anyway. Keep SPC Ford's wife and parents in your thoughts and prayers while they grieve the loss of their loved one. We will continue to be vigilant with our preparation and execution of our missions, that is all we can do. I can tell you I have not seen one bit of complacency set in, which is good. The weather here continues to be crazy with quite a few of our missions getting delayed or some of our convoys getting stranded at other locations. If you go a few days without hearing from your soldier on what has become a normal time, it might be because they are at a different base waiting out the sand storms. I hope everyone has fun plans for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, maybe spend some time with family and friends. We will celebrate it over here to the best of our ability even if it is only to have a moment or two of silence in honor of our fallen comrades from past conflicts.
Proud to Serve with YOUR Soldiers
LTC Jerry Hadley
Nightfighter 6
Friday, May 16, 2008
M.I.A.
My computer got a virus and I havent taken the time yet to reformat it yet....I am going to work on it this weekend.
I always ask Zac is anything exciting happened on his missions.....his last answer, one of their trucks broke down and a wrecker had to tow it. And on the way back from their mission, it caught on fire!!
I sent him a video camera.....he is going to take videos and email them to me. I will post them here as soon as I get some. =)
I always ask Zac is anything exciting happened on his missions.....his last answer, one of their trucks broke down and a wrecker had to tow it. And on the way back from their mission, it caught on fire!!
I sent him a video camera.....he is going to take videos and email them to me. I will post them here as soon as I get some. =)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Nightfighter Family,
I hope everyone is hanging in there and getting along well. We continue to plug away every day, getting a little bit better at what we do and a little smarter about time management. We continue to try to work a patrol cycle that allows at least a day between missions for the soldiers... we are getting better but we are not there yet. I have now been able to go out a least once with every company except Golf, they start missions here very shortly. I can tell you we have very well trained, disciplined soldiers in every formation. While each company does things a little different, which is good, there is one trait obvious in every patrol and that is professionalism. Our soldiers are showing respect on the road for the local Iraqis that are just trying to make a living. While at the same time staying vigilant to stop the small percentage of insurgents that are trying to disrupt that. We are asking young soldiers to make a lot of split second judgement calls and they are responding and doing a great job. I have total confidence in every patrol going out, that they are going to be respectful, ethical and vigilant to sort out the good from the bad. That is all I can ask for as commander.
LTC Hadley
I hope everyone is hanging in there and getting along well. We continue to plug away every day, getting a little bit better at what we do and a little smarter about time management. We continue to try to work a patrol cycle that allows at least a day between missions for the soldiers... we are getting better but we are not there yet. I have now been able to go out a least once with every company except Golf, they start missions here very shortly. I can tell you we have very well trained, disciplined soldiers in every formation. While each company does things a little different, which is good, there is one trait obvious in every patrol and that is professionalism. Our soldiers are showing respect on the road for the local Iraqis that are just trying to make a living. While at the same time staying vigilant to stop the small percentage of insurgents that are trying to disrupt that. We are asking young soldiers to make a lot of split second judgement calls and they are responding and doing a great job. I have total confidence in every patrol going out, that they are going to be respectful, ethical and vigilant to sort out the good from the bad. That is all I can ask for as commander.
LTC Hadley
Monday, May 5, 2008
I am still here.....
Just nothing new to report.
Zac's last mission went well....except for the fact that some Iraqi kids threw rocks at the convoy and cracked some windows in the civilian vehicles.
They lost power and had no AC for two days.....ugh!
Zac's last mission went well....except for the fact that some Iraqi kids threw rocks at the convoy and cracked some windows in the civilian vehicles.
They lost power and had no AC for two days.....ugh!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A few things.....
First, a picture of some of their vehicles.....picture title, "Mission Preparation." When they arnt on a mission, they are getting ready for the next. Zac said the base is so huge, that they take a bus from their sleeping quarters, to the motor pool (where they work).........
And secondly, another update:
Good Evening Nightfighter Family,
Thanks for all the nice comments about the updates I am glad everyone is enjoying them, we will keep them coming. The weather has been crazy here causing a lot of delays with our missions (sand storms), but we are back and running, trying to play catch up. I am sure many of you have heard we had an explosive land right in the middle of our housing area a few mornings ago. NONE OF OUR SOLDIERS WERE HURT! Many of our soldiers were among the first on the scene. Our housing is surrounded pretty well by barriers which greatly reduces the risk during such an event. Our soldiers remained calm throughout the ordeal and very quickly had accountability formations to ensure everyone was okay.
Everyone is continuing to improve their working and living conditions, making it feel more like "home". There are some Indiana Flags flying over motorpools (which is nice) and of course the Jolly Roger Flag hanging in our headquarters. We have started two contests for the soldiers: one is to design a Task Force Nightfighter Coin for the end of the deployment and the other is to design a Task Force Nightfighter PT Shirt. The winner of each competition will be given a 4 day pass to Qatar. Qatar is a small country not too far from here where soldiers go for short R&R trips. They set up excursions for the soldiers.
I have come up with one complaint since I have been here and it is pretty serious... The mess hall is out of chocolate cheesecake, and has been for over a week. I don't ask for much but chocolate cheesecake and pralines and cream ice cream have become a staple in my diet (and amazingly I am still losing weight). In all seriousness we have really nothing to complain about here, except missing our families. The living conditions are very nice (other than a few explosions). We are still working to create a more predictable schedule for everyone, so we can ensure everyone is getting enough rest between missions. The majority of the soldiers still have very little down time, they are usually on mission, preparing for a mission or sleeping.
This Sunday Toby Keith is going to be here doing a concert, hopefully we will get a few of our soldiers over there (the ones that are not out on missions).
Well I am going to go check on the nightly missions in the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) and catch up on paperwork. I will provide another update in a few days.
Follow Us
LTC Jerry Hadley
I would love it if Zac won one of the contests, and got a mini vacation.....he isnt the most creative person when it comes to this kind of stuff, but his wife isnt too bad.....HMMM......=)
And the concert would be awesome too!!!
Zac said he is getting so much stuff! So much more than last time. So the letters coming!!! I know he loves getting letters from back home. He misses it so much.
Last night I was a loose canon. It was the first time I cried that hard since Sery died. I was mad. I was screaming, sobbing and praying. I kind of scared myself. I want Zac home. I want him home NOW. And I want our Sery back. I hate this. I put up such a front for everyone. I am scared for people to see how I am actually handling it, so I build a wall. And then there are times that it crumbles down and I lose it. That is what happened last night. I miss Zac, I miss Sery and I want them both back in my arms.
And secondly, another update:
Good Evening Nightfighter Family,
Thanks for all the nice comments about the updates I am glad everyone is enjoying them, we will keep them coming. The weather has been crazy here causing a lot of delays with our missions (sand storms), but we are back and running, trying to play catch up. I am sure many of you have heard we had an explosive land right in the middle of our housing area a few mornings ago. NONE OF OUR SOLDIERS WERE HURT! Many of our soldiers were among the first on the scene. Our housing is surrounded pretty well by barriers which greatly reduces the risk during such an event. Our soldiers remained calm throughout the ordeal and very quickly had accountability formations to ensure everyone was okay.
Everyone is continuing to improve their working and living conditions, making it feel more like "home". There are some Indiana Flags flying over motorpools (which is nice) and of course the Jolly Roger Flag hanging in our headquarters. We have started two contests for the soldiers: one is to design a Task Force Nightfighter Coin for the end of the deployment and the other is to design a Task Force Nightfighter PT Shirt. The winner of each competition will be given a 4 day pass to Qatar. Qatar is a small country not too far from here where soldiers go for short R&R trips. They set up excursions for the soldiers.
I have come up with one complaint since I have been here and it is pretty serious... The mess hall is out of chocolate cheesecake, and has been for over a week. I don't ask for much but chocolate cheesecake and pralines and cream ice cream have become a staple in my diet (and amazingly I am still losing weight). In all seriousness we have really nothing to complain about here, except missing our families. The living conditions are very nice (other than a few explosions). We are still working to create a more predictable schedule for everyone, so we can ensure everyone is getting enough rest between missions. The majority of the soldiers still have very little down time, they are usually on mission, preparing for a mission or sleeping.
This Sunday Toby Keith is going to be here doing a concert, hopefully we will get a few of our soldiers over there (the ones that are not out on missions).
Well I am going to go check on the nightly missions in the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) and catch up on paperwork. I will provide another update in a few days.
Follow Us
LTC Jerry Hadley
I would love it if Zac won one of the contests, and got a mini vacation.....he isnt the most creative person when it comes to this kind of stuff, but his wife isnt too bad.....HMMM......=)
And the concert would be awesome too!!!
Zac said he is getting so much stuff! So much more than last time. So the letters coming!!! I know he loves getting letters from back home. He misses it so much.
Last night I was a loose canon. It was the first time I cried that hard since Sery died. I was mad. I was screaming, sobbing and praying. I kind of scared myself. I want Zac home. I want him home NOW. And I want our Sery back. I hate this. I put up such a front for everyone. I am scared for people to see how I am actually handling it, so I build a wall. And then there are times that it crumbles down and I lose it. That is what happened last night. I miss Zac, I miss Sery and I want them both back in my arms.
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