Signing off....

Seems that this blog is no longer needed for anything else other than nostalga. We all need to be thankful for that.
Welcome Home, Rod! I had some pictures from the Welcome Home ceremony at that school, but they are on my phone and I'll have to scrounge them up to put here.

Kyle

A Time for Celebration!

Carol has just heard from Rod:

Hello Family –

I just wanted you all to hear our wonderful news first hand. I received a phone call today from my husband and it is official that he and his entire company will be returning home early and are anticipating to be back in country the last week of September, no later than the first week of October…AMEN!! We are still very shell shocked by the news but I definitely want everyone to know that of course with the military there are no guarantees and of course may be subject to change at any time.

Please keep the prayers coming for a safe and early return!!

Love,

Carol

New Camp Bucca Address

Hey all,

This will be my new address for hopefully the remainder of the my Iraq Tour. I have not yet been there to see what the facilities are like. As soon as I see what it has to offer, I will e-mail whether the food and other things are necessary to send like you have in the past.

SFC Rod Vredenburg

B 194 IN

Camp Bucca

APO AE 09375

Thanks, I should be there by the 1st of July.

Rod

Possible Move, Don't send Mail or Packages

Hello all,

Everything is well, though it's getting hot out. I reached up to above 90 deg today. The boys are good, they are starting to filter back home for their leave. Time is going by fast by having the mission keeping us so busy and on our (camels) toes.

I need to ask you all to put a big WHOOOAAA on the packages until further notice. We got word the we may be moving back as a Company and taking over another mission in another part of Iraq. Even if we don't, the Marines that are here in this area are transitioning back to the States, and we piggy back off their address. So we will have a different address here anyway if we stay. I've been getting more stuff that I can use or even give away. So this will give me a chance to dwindle down my overstock. It's all greatly appreciated though. I just received 6 Packages from Mick and Kim today and 2 packages from Carols Mom and Dad. Thank You! I will put out a new address when I have more info and also a good to have Item list for packages and a "I have enough of this item list also". I'm thinking it'll be about one to two months before we can put to use anything new that is sent.

These Marines here think that my family is keeping the Postal Service at a profit this year. I agree..

The attached picture has the Euphrates River in the back ground, We found a weapons cache in that area that day and had the EOD (Explosive Ordinance Doods) check out a possible VBIED, it wasn't just wires coming out of the gas tank from a electric back up fuel pump.

That's all for now, Have a Happy Easter!

Later, Rod

Some Updated Pictures

Hello,

Some pics I need to explain,

-The puppy just came out of thin air and appeared at the guys hooch, we kept him! name is Dusty Bear.

-nap time, I was waiting for vehicle to get fixed at AQ.

-Mosque near Gannon.

-Old guys by HMMWV are Civilian US Cops that are here to help advise the IPs

-I had a Iraqi Traditional lunch one day with an IP Chief

-the two guys and me are my LT, Sherbina (from Russia) and one of my squad leaders Ranger Morris

All is good, Be advised, In a month I may be moving from this location. The big Army may pull our Company back together for another mission. That'll bite! It's not for sure, I hope not, the guys are settled and enjoy our mission here. Watch sending mail after a week or so. I will update as soon as I know.

Got to go, it's getting early! 0240 in the morning, just back from a night foot patrol mission.

We've been super busy and i've had little time to respond to e-mails and packages that have been sent lately, I should have a little time this week to send out some e-mails.

Love to all, Rod

Email from Rod 02/17/2007

Hello,

Pictures from Our Area of Operation,

This was at a school near one of the Police stations that my team is getting up and running. The little kids are like a bunch of mad bee's when it come to getting candy. I didn't have my interpreter near, I usually have them in line getting stuff one at a time, "Give them a little order" I made sure at the end that the little girl in the back got some to.

The other picture is of our interpreter and a couple of my guys, I have two terps that rotate out every week. It's quiet dangerous for them..

All is well here, the men are getting settled in. Just received about 6-7 packages from Missy and her Company Simpson Housing. Lots of good stuff, Coffee, junk food, a little of everything! I think the packages were mailed out on the 23rd, and they got here a couple days ago. SLOW! oh well, at least there's a mail service.

Missy, I'll send a thank you and a picture of my team from my team for your work soon! Thank you!

I'm planning on to handing out some of those beanie babies next week, Things are a little hectic this week around here.

I do have internet in my hooch now, I check my Army e-mails regularly.I get to talk to Carol on Instant Messenger also which is really nice.

That's all for now,, Later.. Rod

Picture from the Cross-Sabers in Baghdad Iraq

Hello all,

Thought I would send a few pictures that I took here in Baghdad. Some awesome architecture here or used to be. This city is pretty much destroyed. One of the pics shows the new US Embassy being built, 10+ Tower Cranes Wow! Looks like a job for a joint effort by:

KNUTSON/RYAN/VREDENBURG/BRUCE'S/FISCHER/MICKS SIDE JOBS INC.

Well everything is fine, the last info I got though was that my platoon is going three different ways. All out in the An-Bar provenance. I will be with one squad and my LT will be with another and my senior squad ldr will be on his own with his squad. There are three squads that make up my platoon. 12 men per squad. We will be helping the local Police in the area/city that we inherit. Not a bad mission at all.

Mail still can be sent to the last Address that's on the Blog. When we move again I will send out the next one, mail will follow or be forwarded to us were every we go now.

That's all for now, Love to everyone!!

Rod