Words from Dave

 Dave sent me an email the other day, I thought I'd share this part with you...interesting!

"Interesting day today - attending the Provincial Security Council and a
Taliban fighter turned himself in ... they have a program that allows
them to do this as long as the village accepts him back and swears they
will watch him ... should be interesting to see what happens."



 Also, he sent me this link about them in the news.......if you don't already know, they TF Redhorse....
 
http://cjtf101.com/en/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/4005-redho

Thanks from Dave

Hi all, not much to post, just wanted to say hi to everyone from Dave.  He was finally able to read my blog, and wanted me to tell all of you thank you for keeping up with him and our family!  He also says thanks to everyone who has sent cards, letters and boxes.  He did say that he is going out in the field more than I have mentioned....I told him that not everyone wants to hear that he is going out there in the thick of things when he really doesn't have to...some like to just like to have the picture in their minds that he is sitting safely behind a desk! 
I also wanted to show you this cool organization called Pro v. Gi Joe....it is a program to help wounded soldiers rehabilitate.  I didn't really see any soldiers who were terribly wounded, maybe this is after they are out of the hospitals, it didn't really say.  Anyhow, look at the video and see these Gi's smiling and having some fun!
http://www.tvkim.com/watch/414/kims-picks-helping-out-wounded-troops?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=dotd&utm_content=2011-01-14-rct&utm_campaign=f
Hope all of you are doing well, more later!  P.S. Don't forget to wear red on Fridays to support our troops!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello everyone, hope you all had a great Christmas (etc.) and New Year.  Christmas was a bit quiet around here without Dave.  Not that we have rip roaring time when he is here, it is usually just family if we stay in Illinois and simple.  But it just wasn't the same with out him here.  When he went to Kosovo, he was able to fly back for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but he opted out this year.  I know he wanted to be home, but it is also not good for the LTC to be taking leave either!  I think that it is a bit easier on the kids to not see him again though, it would be hard to have to say good-bye yet another time! 
On Christmas day, Dave went out in the field to wish all of his guys happy holidays.  If you now Dave at all, you know that he really wants to be with his guys at all times, and also be where the "action" is.  I know that he is a bit upset that he isn't out there enough, but being higher up in rank means being in on the planning of things, which means sitting around a desk sometimes!  He says to thank all of you for your cards, letters and care packages, he appreciates them!  Just know that when you send him goodies, he will share them, not just keep them for himself, so don't be upset if you hear that all the guys enjoyed your stuff! 
We really aren't hearing much from him that often, mostly it is via email.  The phone lines are often tied up, and with the time difference, it is hard for him to wait in line for a phone when he could be sleeping.  He hasn't even had time to go and look into Skype yet....(you think he could delegate better!)  Naturally, he won't tell me much about what he is doing....not sure if I even want to know all of it, or the extent of it. It is easiest to just sit here and think that he is sitting behind a desk ordering people around!!  (I dream big!)
As usual, I will pass on anything that I can when I hear it.  It is hard being in Illinois and not where all of the stuff is going on in Iowa.  I guess they are having some kind of "build your soldier a care package" thing going on, and many other things planned.  I don't like driving this time of year, and making one of the get-togethers would be a hard thing to do!  I also have the disadvantage of not knowing any of the wives, so I am out of the "gossip" loop.  Actually, that may be a good thing!  If I hear of anything interesting for families, I will pass it on to those of you in Iowa!

Well, tata for now, talk soon!  Love to all of you!  :O)

Send a card to a soldier from Xerox!!

This is s cool thing to do....you can't send it to a specific soldier, but it will be sent out with your name and town on it!  Pass this on to everyone you know!  Jack (and all of the kids in his class) did it in his computer class at school! I love it!

saythanks.com/Home1280.html,

TF Red Horse (Dave and his guys) in the news!

 Hey guys, cool article...even looks like a pic of Dave near where they have his quote!  You might have to scroll around to find things about them, just look for TF Red Horse or 1-113th out of Iowa.



http://www.cjtf101.com/en/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/3759-t
http://www.cjtf101.com/en/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/3822-t

Hello

Hi guys!  Dave is doing well. We haven't heard much from him, he has been very busy! (Although, he just told me that he ordered a poker chip set, so I am assuming that he is thinking he will have some spare time some time!) We get emails here and there, and they are usually short. He is a bit upset with the fact that he isn't able to go out on patrol with his men every time they go out.  Just like Dave...he wants to be out there in it too!   He hasn't been able to look into Skype yet.  ***If you guys don't know what that is, and don't have it, it is a wonderful free video/audio way of talking to people from afar!  We love it!  We chat with our friends in the Czech Republic and Greece as well as Iowa sometimes!****If he wants to do it, he may have to pay a fee of $70.....I don't remember if that was a one time fee, or what.  I will let you know if he does get it!  Although, they are 9.5 hours ahead of us, so it would take some planning to do! 
The kids and I are planning on spending a quiet Christmas here at home.  My sister Terry, (who moved in with us about 4 months ago) is braving the Illinois and Iowa winter and driving home to Spencer Iowa to be with her kids and hubby for the holiday!  We will see if she makes it back!  Any bets????
If I don't post again before hand, be sure to have a great Christmas (or what ever you celebrate) and New Year!  Think of Dave and all of the guys over there, and maybe have a toast for him while eating dinner!

Love to you all, take care!  :O)

President in Afghanistan

Hi all, in an email, Dave wrote:

"If you did not know, the President came to Bagram Airfield. As Bagram
falls in the Province of which I am the battle space owner I and my task
force were responsible for the security of the ground around the field.
We spent a few days with increased patrols and then really stepped it up
before the arrival.

Must have worked - no rockets or mortars while he was here ... of course
the fact that it was windier than heck certainly does not help the
accuracy of the incoming fire ;)"