Back from Iraq

[Gen Lew Wallace]

Just like it says.  Sure am glad to be home. 

[River City John]

Sure glad to have you safe back home, too. Hope all will return safe home soon.

[Reb Tyree]

Sir,

A welcome return.  Glad your safe!  Happy Turkey Day!

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Welcome home, General.  I had to welcome back a fellow Hoosier.  By the way, how's the book coming along!

You have plenty to be thankful for tomorrow ... as many of us do.

[Gen Lew Wallace]

Thank you to all for the kind words.  A special thank you to Lou Graham for the care packages during my trip. 

[Bristow Kid]

Welcome Home and glad you made it back safely.

[Major Matt Lewis]

Welcome home and glad to hear you made it back OK.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Welcome back, General. Thanks for your service.

Slim

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Welcome back, General. Glad you're safe, now, go find a bunch of turkey...........Buck

[Hill Beachy]

Welcome back from that cesspool !

[Bull Schmitt]

Welcome back General. Mighty pleased to hear you made it back safely and in time for the holidays. Thanks for all you have done for us.

Bvt Lt Col Bull Schmitt
Commander, Department of the Atlantic

[Trailrider]

General,

Good to hear you are home safe and sound!  Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

[Frenchie]

Welcome back, sir! As Lieutenant Commanding the Naval Detachment of the Dep't of the Atlantic, I felt it appropriate, on this most auspicious occasion, to issue an extra ration of grog to the crew and have so ordered it. The officers are already celebrating your return in the wardroom. A tight ship is a happy ship!

[Lou Graham]

General Lew!  Glad you made it back safe.  Welcome home and Happy Thanksgiving.

[US Scout]

Welcome Back!  Glad you returned safe and all in one piece.

I was wondering just how many in the GAF have served over there - I know there is Sgt Drydock and Lew Wallace.  Any others?

Lou, do you know?

Just curious.

US Scout
GAF, Commanding

[Major Matt Lewis]

I served over there in 91, but I don't think that's what you are referring to.

[US Scout]

Maj Matt,

You're right.  I was thinking in terms of those who are currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, or have served in those areas during the current war.

That is not to discriminate against those who have served in other theaters, or in other wars, conflicts or campaigns.  I know we have those who were in Desert Storm and Vietnam, and wouldn't be surprised to have some from Bosnia/Kosovo or Grenada.

One I forgot (shame on me as we visited several times since our bases were next to each other) is Manny Pistolero, who last I heard is still in Iraq. 

US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen, GAF

[Lou Graham]

I seem to recall some feller goes by the name of U.S. Scout spent some time in Iraq  

I don't know if they are GAF or not but some of the other cowboys I know about in addition to those already mentioned are Yukon, Cyrus Cassidy & Wild Billy Potts.  They all came home safe.

The toughest part of sending stuff to Iraq is getting our wonderful troops to tell me what they would like me to send.  I really have to press hard to get them to tell me.  Most of the time they finally ask for something for others in their unit.  What a remarkable collection of unselfish people.

If any of you know of a cowboy that is in Iraq or Afganistan or about to head over there, please let me know.    

[US Scout]

I seem to recall some feller goes by the name of U.S. Scout spent some time in Iraq  

I heard that, too!   

But that wasn't why I was asking.  Gen Lew Wallace's return caused me to wonder how many of our membership are or have been deployed in harm's way during the present hostilities.  Its pleasing to know that the GAF is not only interested in the military of old, but is also serving now.

I got quite a few care packages from several caring CAS folks.  I'd open them up to share with my co-workers, and most would only take one small item, often almost reluctantly.  Can't say I saw much in the way of greed or selfishness.  I have to admit that if there were any CAS oriented magazines (such as Shoot! or Guns of the Old West), I took them for the first review before passing them on.  In turn, a friend passed on back issues of Muzzleloader and Muzzle Blasts to me when he was done with them.

There are several lists out there of items our troops need or like to receive, so I won't repeat them here.  However, some of the more popular items I observed were powdered drink mixes to give the two-liter bottles of water some taste for a change, hard individually wrapped candies that could be sucked on to keep the mouth moist, beef jerky, microwave popcorn for them that had access to a microwave.  Pre-paid phone cards are extremely popular.  Small toiletries of almost all kinds were good.  Toothbrushes were always popular, not only for the obvious purpose but also for cleaning weapons and equipment.  I had some teflon lubricant that didn't collect dust or sand that I passed on when I left - you'd thought I'd given them the Crown Jewels.  But, overall, it wasn't so much what was in the care package as it was the good feeling it generated by knowing someone cared enough to send a package.  Even a card was well received.

US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen, GAF

[Gen Lew Wallace]

I will second that last comment sir.  The good feelings I felt when I received Lou's care packages were wonderful.  Of course my loving wife sent me packages often, and I received some from some very nice SASS folks out California way, and they were all received with a smile by myself.  I enjoyed passing them around the firehouse at the Baghdad Airport.  They would often ask me if it was about time to be getting another package.