Which DUers have family or close friends in Iraq?

[southerngirlwriter]

I want to know how many of us have been directly affected. If you don't mind sharing, please let us know. If you have addresses where DUers could send cards or care packages, please post those, too.

[Rick Myers]

1. A friend of mine arrived home yesterday!!!

He was lucky! He's the co-pilot on a C-130 and he only had to be there 62 days... BUT, they can send him back for the next 10 months!!!

He's Guard, and I'm proud that he's also the Ohio State Rep for the district just to the south of where I'm living! He says they encountered no enemy fire, and he even got to fly Colin Powell and General Rick Sanchez!!!

Obviously he had a good situation, but he said he was amazed at the age of some of the kids he moved around. He's only 34, but he said the troops all look like they should be in high school!!!

His crew flew 10-12 hour days, sometimes doing 10 hops a day.

[southerngirlwriter]

2. YAY!! So glad he came home in his body

and not a body bag like so many of those children will.

I'm very happy for you and your friend!! :bounce:

[Rick Myers]

3. He's the 61st district Rep at the State House!

John Boccieri, we gave him his first political exposure!!! He may be governor of Ohio some day!!! Wonderful guy, great family!!!

We actually TRIED to get a call thru so he could be live on the air with us (talk show), but the Air force didn't want us to do it, and when they agreed thay said we could make NO mention of his Ohio House duties with 'on active duty.' We decided not to do it...

But he's back!!! I even saw his plane as it came in over town! Big old C-130, older than the guys flyin' it! But thay're great airplanes. When I was in the AF I spent MANY an hour rattling around in the back of a Herky...

http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/MemberDetails.jsp?DISTRICT=61

[Bertha Venation]

5. Thank god.

Congratulations, Rick.

[Bertha Venation]

4. a friend just left for Baghdad today, for his 3rd trip since January

He's in no danger; he's not a soldier. Still, he's serving honorably; since I know him I have no doubt of that. And he's in a vital position. He may work for the most odious administration in our history, but he serves honestly.

He assures me he's safe, but I still worry.

http://www.cpa-ig.org; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37345-2004Mar30.html
His name's Stuart. He's a dear friend.

[southerngirlwriter]

6. dear God, dear God, dear God

Please keep me posted, Bertha.

[Bertha Venation]

8. Of course, J.

Good to see you. :hug:

[m-jean03]

7. A friend. S. disappeared into the military machine

a couple years ago after accepting a position as a Arabic linguist.

He is serving overseas, I don't know where. He is not in touch with his hometown friends.

And I have a cousin who was in the Afghanistan conflict and is now in training in the US, preparing to head back over to the ME in good time.

[southerngirlwriter]

9. I will pray for him.

I hope he's okay. :scared:

[m-jean03]

10. Yeah, me too.

It's strange to not know where someone is or have any way of finding out. I don't even know where his family lives anymore. Tinoire posted some military addresses for me, but I haven't had any luck yet.

Thanks for the prayers, 'writer. :)