Spoke with Jon yesterday

Yesterday I IM'd with Jon. His internet service has been down for a while now so he went to the Gym and used the computer there. He said all is fine. There is a sand storm going on, but it wasn't too severe - just makes it harder to breath. He said the weather hasn't been too hot there (I think its stayed below 110 F). Recently, he worked at one of the entry gates and checked vehicles as they entered the base. He said the day goes by pretty fast there.

Welcoming The Troops Home at DFW

This is a great website that talks about welcoming troops home at DFW. There are flights coming in daily and they always have groups of people there to welcome the troops and shake their hands.

http://www.welcometroops.com/

Nick Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Nick is leaving today for Rockhampton, Australia. He will be flying non-stop from Anchorage on his 17 hour flight. His Unit will be flying there aboard six C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Info on the aircraft is available here.



His flight will take him 6,900 miles to Rockhampton near the East NE coastline of the Great Barrier Reaf. Temperatures currently are 50-75° F. - about the same as Anchorage. There is an 18 hour time difference between the two locations.


Rockhampton, Australia

Nick Going to Battle Crocodile Dundee

Nick leaving in a couple days to Australia. He will enjoy a lengthly flight aboard a military trasnport plane from Alaska to Australia accompanied by a jump into the Outback to invade and take over an air base. He will enjoy 10 action packed days with 180 of his closest battle buddies battling Ausi Insurgents to capture their "Barbe".

He said there will be six aircraft and they will have to make two passes to allow everyone to jump off the planes. Sounds like a wild ride.

Two New Articles in Dallas Morning News

Two new articles appeared in the Dallas Morning News recently.

The first is about a unit in the 56th BCT (Jon's Brigade) looking for IEDs.



The second is about a Sgt in the 111th Engineering Battallion (Jon's Battallion) fishing in Victory Lake. (You may recall that Jon sent several pictures of Victory Lake - see April 18, Pictures from Baghdad)

Mowing Grass in Iraq

This photo and text is from one of the soldier's families of the 56th BCT. Its amazing what we will do for reminders of home.

"Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq, stationed in a big sand box. He asked his wife to send him dirt (U.S. soil), fertilizer and some grass seeds, so he can have the sweet aroma and feel the grass grow beneath his feet.If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of a scissors. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted. "


Mowing Grass in Iraq

PV2 Nick's New Job

Spoke to Nick briefly. He now has a stripe so he's a Private 2nd Class (PV2).

He also has a new job - AG (Alternate Gunner maybe?). He's the guy who carries the rounds and the tripod for the M240 machine gun. Another guy carries the machine gun and additional rounds. Nick's job is to feed the rounds to the machine gun and point at the targets for the gunner to shoot at.

Jon's and Nick's Addresses

Here is a reminder of the mailing addresses for the boys...

PV2 Jonathan Schriefer
B Co. 111th EN BN WPMUB0 (<-- zero)
APO, AE 09342-1400


PV2 Nicholas Schriefer
FCO 1st BN, 19th INF
618 Access Drive
Mailbox 28
Fort Richardson AK 99505


Tips:
I have found that USPS Priority Mail is the best method to ship packages to both of them. A Priority Mail envelope takes about 1.5 weeks to reach Jonathan and a Priority Mail package takes about 2 weeks. For Nicholas, Priority Mail takes 3 days - plus its cheaper and faster than UPS or FedEx ground services (taking 5-6 days).

You can get free Priority Mail boxes in various sizes for free from the Post Office and online at usps.com. There are several sizes, two of which are flat rate ($7.70) and are the cheapest way to ship if over 2 lbs. Shipments to Jonathan must also have a Customs Declaration form (PS Form 2976) since it is an International package. All of these supplies can be ordered from the USPS website for free so that you always have them available and don't have to search at your local Post Office (takes 2 weeks to deliver them).

Mail going to Jonathan must be taken to the Post Office in person, but can be sealed prior. You cannot use online postage for International packages. Mail to Nicholas can be sent just like any other US package and you can print the postage online at USPS.com.

Quick Update - Nick

I've also spoken with Nick several times over past couple weeks, the last time during the Desperados game. There are some recent rumors regarding his deployment. Instead of waiting until mid-2006 to deploy to Iraq, they may be deploying in several months to Afghanistan for a while, then on to Iraq. I think he will be coming home on leave prior to deployment.

Nick went camping weekend before last and said it was a blast. He sent a few pictures (click on pic)


Camping Trip

Quick Update - Jon

I've spoken / IM'd with Jon several times over past couple weeks. Everything is fine. He went to a USO concert on base the other night to see Toby Keith (sings "American Soldier"). He said he had a good time, even though it was Country music.


Toby Kieth at Victory

Dallas Desperados

Sunday, the Dallas Desperados (arena football) provided 500 tickets to families of the 56th Brigade Combat Team (Jon's Brigade). Jill and I went, along with Jill's parents and my Mother. There were quite a few families there and we all wore t-shirts with US and Texas flags. They honored some of the soldiers on the field during the game and Channel 5 had a blurb about it on the news Sunday night - here's the news clip... http://photos.imageevent.com/schriefer/jonsvideos/Desperados_20050522.WMV

There's also some pictures I took at the game (click on the pic below). Sorry some are a bit blurry, but we were pretty far back. I tried to keep the boys in mind by including some cheerleader pictures too! ;)


Desperados Game

Jon's Units in the News

Here's an article I read about K-9 bomb sniffing dogs being used in the 111th EN (Jonathan's unit). http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/apr2005/a042805la1.html

An article appeared in Friday's Dallas Morning News about internet access and other comforts of home that Jon's units have. Click on the picture to download the PDF file.


A previous article appeared in the DMN about a school that the 56th Brigade helped build in Bahgdad. This is probably one of several Iraqi schools that the 56th is currently taking donations to help buy schools supplies (info at serveoursoldiers.us).

Nick's New Address and Phone Number

Nick sent me a couple pictures earlier this month and I'm just now getting them online. He said he has some more to send, but don't have them yet. Clicking on the picture below will take you to his photo album.

Also, here is Nick's new address and phone:

Pvt Schriefer
A Co. TF1 / 501st ABN
618 Access Drive, Mailbox 28
Fort Richardson, AK 99505-8105

907-223-7299
Nick's cell phone plan has unlimited minutes after 7:00 PM (10:00 PM Central) and on weekends.

Pictures from Baghdad

Friday, I received a CD from Jonathan with lots of pictures he has taken over the past few months. Here is a link to the album on Snapfish.com. There were videos on the CD as well - I will be uploading them in the next few days. -Tavis

"Hello from Iraq"

Update from Nick

Nick is now settled in his new room and so far looks like he has it to himself. He has now finished with his in-processing and is now starting to do training exercises and lots of PT (Physical Training).

My thoughts turn to Gomer Pyle out on the snowy tundra doing jumping jacks - I'm sure Nick thinks it was that easy. From what I understand, it is quite strenuous to run in a foot of snow, however he likes the moments when they have to "take a knee", putting one knee on the ground (packed snow) because it acts as an ice pack to his strained knee.


He has spent a bit of money lately buying and preparing his uniforms with the various patches and such. Seems they will provide the stuff eventually, but they will hound you until its done - so better to just do it at your own expense. As one of the "new guys", many of the NCOs give them shit for a while - sort of like a Freshman in High School, but instead of punches in the arm, they make you see how many push-ups you can do or see how long you can "pick cherries" (stand with your arms fully extended and touch alternating fingers to your thumb).

It looks like his unit is going to be quite busy. Here are the plans as he knows so far...

• Next week he is on a 4-day exercise on the base where they will drop in (parachute) and take over a mock city.
• Sometime before July they will be going to Australia and then to Thailand for additional maneuvers
• He will be home in July for leave - don't know how long yet
• Mid-2006 it looks like their unit will be going to Iraq for a tour of duty. Obviously this info will change 48 times before then as well.

I gave him a book before he left, titled "Generation Kill", that I started reading on my trip to Germany. He told me last night that he has been reading it a lot and really likes it (wow, Nick likes a book). I planned to send (or have Nick send) it to Jonathan after Nick was done with it.

All for now.

Message from Nick

Its pretty nice down here so far, ive heard many things bout the "hazings" that go on here when ur new to tha unit. I think it was last year when a SGT got in trouble for gettin a soldier all cut up and beat to hell. im not really to worried bout it. It also seems lik EVERYONE i talk to that has lived here thier whole life hates it and wants to leave. They say the Summer is great, but the winter SUKS! sooo cant decide if i like it or not until ive been here for at LEAST 1 winter.P.S.- I do know that im goin to the 501 INF Unit and it IS an airborne unit. SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

Nick called last night

Nick called last night. He will probably have his new cell phone by Monday. He said they are still building the dorms that he will be living in for the next 3 years - and he hears that they may have their own rooms. He said it doesn't feel as cold as the temp really is, probably because its dry. According to Nick, Fort Richardson is a very small base with only about 4 main streets. They have to go to Elmendorf AFB to go to the PX. He said that there are free transprotation around the bases provided by a wife's club. Sounds like he likes it there and the people have been very nice to him.

Desert Jon called today

Jonathan called today. Its getting warmer there now and apparently the mosquitoes are out in force. His Grandmother gave me some citronella candles to ship him and I will be adding a few movies to the box.

Everything is going fine.

Polar Nick has landed

Nick called me a few minutes ago. He has landed in Anchorage and said there is about 2 feet of snow. He said the mountains are beautiful. He also didn't waste any time meeting women and has already got a phone number. He was joined in Salt Lake City by several of his Airborne buddies who are stationed at Fort Richardson as well.

Nick Goes To Alaska

Here's an update on Nick. He graduated Airborne school on 11 March and came home for leave before going to his first duty station at Fort Richardson, Alaska (in Anchorage and next to Elmendorf AFB).


Fort Richardson

Looks like the "polar" opposite of Jon's current location. His cell phone won't work there because Sprint's "nationwide" service doesn't cover Alaska, so everyone that has his number, just hold on to it until you hear of a new one.

Nick leaves tomorrow and will probably enjoy the weather there since he is complaining that our 70 degree weather is too hot. Here are a couple links to the area with some pictures...

http://www.usarak.army.mil/
http://www.usarak.army.mil/framwr/photos.htm