Novembers letter from the commander

1 November 2005

Greetings from Mosul, Iraq,

This month, I would like to start out this newsletter by recognizing the soldiers who have been promoted since our mobilization. Congratulations to the following soldiers and their families:

PV2 Trinidad, Dan Roy, UT
PFC Brown, Cassandra Magna, UT
SPC Bement, Myron Ashland, MT
SPC Campuzano, Uriel Denver, CO
SPC Clark, Nicholas Evanston, WY
SPC Contreres, Matthew Sacremento, CA
SPC Granillo Cynthia West Valley, UT
SPC Greenwald, Michael Englewood, CO
SPC Henderson, Cole Boulder, CO
SPC Just, Simon Sandy, UT
SPC Kraich, Kimberly Fleming, CO
SPC Latu, Maika Salt Lake City, UT
SPC Miller, Matthew Roy, UT
SPC Nalls, Gary Woodbridge, VA
SPC Noorda, Kevin Midvale, UT
SPC Ouch, Suyet Lakewood, CO
SPC Parry, Justin Woodland Hills, UT
SPC Robson, James Sandy, UT
SPC Rodriguez, Jason West Jordan, UT
SPC Romeo, Craig Bristow, VA
SPC Tisher, Gabriel Ogden, UT
SPC Tomison, Justin Rock Springs, WY
SPC Uihamonhaano, Albert Denver, CO
SPC Warner, Daniel West Valley, UT
SGT Burbank, Robert Logan, UT
SGT Heisterman, Scott Heber City, UT
SGT Kiser, Bradley Lawton, OK
SGT Orton, Andrew West Valley City, UT
SGT Pugh, George Philadelphia, PA
SGT Stanton, Brian Philipsburg, PA
SGT Steele, Ronald Brookings, OR
SSG Alexander, Daniel Salt Lake City, UT
SSG Santiago, Erasmo Meadville, PA
SFC Barner, Harry Franklin, PA
SFC Brow, Shane Rolling Hills, WY
SFC Daniels, Johnny Ogden, UT
SFC Kerstetter, Leland Tooele, UT
SFC Robinson, Rebekah Hagerstown, MD
MSG Hamm, Terry Ogden, UT
CW3 Good, Todd Aurora, CO
1LT Marshall, Lynnette Colorado Springs, CO
1LT Young, Matthew Hyrum, UT
MAJ Clements, Harold Roy, UT

To date, the unit has logged over 48,800 miles providing vehicle recovery missions and gun-truck escorts to Third Country Nationals (TCNs is the acronym around here but they are Turkish truck drivers) to re-supply all of the Forward Operating Bases in the northern region of Iraq. We have also repaired 1,248 pieces of equipment.
We had a battalion Halloween party on 31 October. We were directed to have some mandatory fun by our chain of command. Some of the costumes were very creative. The vote for the best over-all costume went to Specialist Donald Altman who dressed as Dr. Phil. He did a very good impression of Dr. Phil. Specialist Justin Parry won the twister competition. Specialist Gabriel Tisher won the apple bobbing contest with nineteen apples in 45 seconds. Specialist Gabriel Tisher has also won every race that he has competed in. He has won three 5K races. We also had a semi-truck driving competition. Sergeant Andrew Orton took third place in the competition. Specialist Kimber Tolson was voted by her peers as the best overall truck driver. Specialist Loren Williams, Specialist Kimber Tolsen, Specialist Donald Altman, and Staff Sergeant Nathan Barchi all received back-stage passes to an Aaron Tipon concert.



Sincerely



Major Harold C. Clements
872ND Maintenance Company
Commanding

Christmas Gift Ideas

Most requested items in Iraq

1.Pictures
2.DVD's
3.C.D.'s
4.Homemade Goodies
5.Snacks

More ideas...

Photo card's
I-Pods
Micro tape player
hand held games
card games
love letters

T-Shirt Orders

The T-shirt orders have gone to the printers. We are expecting the T-shirts to arrive Monday the 28th. We will ship the orders out on Wed. the 30th. Thank you for your support of this fund raiser. All funds will be used in support of the troops of the 872nd and their families.

Christmas Ideas 101

How do you get through the holidays without your soldier?
Young children can send messages to the moon for delivery to Mom or Dad. Before going to bed, write a note to be left for the soldier on the window sill for the man in the moon to send to them. Children will be able to send daily messages this way. Let your soldier know so they can mention the messages from the man-in the-moon to reinforce the fun.
Build a ginger bread house to be placed in the frezzer until your soldier returns. Take a picture to send over now.
Walk a heart in the snow, take a picture of it from an upstairs window to send to your soldier.
Fill a stocking full of fun items for your soldier, send it in a decorated with marker box.
Write a Christmas story on the computer, adding to it nightly to send to your soldier to open on Christmas eve.
Take a trip to the dollar store for New Years Eve items to send for that night, keep duplicates for your celebration.
Double the fun—celebrate twice, once on his day, and once on yours.
Bake cookies and send them overseas—send extra's to share.
Shop after Christmas sales for your soldier, wrap and save for when he comes home on leave or even next year.
Visit a Veterans or retiree home. Visit an injured soldier in the hospital with small gifts or just to play cards.
Call a special friend to wish them Happy Holidays just as he/she would have.
Pick five special cards, send them for the soldier to send one back as your child's a special card for Christmas.

FRG Meeting

We will be holding the next FRG meeting at the unit. On January the 7th at 1400 hrs. We will meet in the upstairs classroom. As always this is a great opportunity to meet with other families of deployed soldiers and participate in supporting our troops.

Christmas Card Service Project

The VFW sponsored a service project to collect Christmas cards for the soldiers. The community donated over 3000 cards to be given to the soldiers from the 872nd and the 146th. Each soldier will be able to have 5 Christmas cards to send to their family and friends.

Op0eration Care Package

Thanks to all those who helped with operation care package. The FRG collected enough items for everyone to have their own personal care package. These included toothbrush, paste, floss, etc. The packages have all been sent out and the soldiers will be receiving them soon. The original kick off for this was sponsored by Orbit irrigation. They also supplied the packaging for shipping and paid most of the shipping cost. Thank you, to Orbit, their employee's and the families who were able to help with this project.

Christmas Party

This years Christmas Party will be held on Dec. 3rd from 1100 hrs. to 1300 hours. It will be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Ogden Utah. The address is 907 west 12th street. Take the 12 street exit and turn east, it is found on the south side of the road. There will be a Santa with gifts for the children. The VFW will be serving hot dogs and a potluck supper. Please bring your favorite dish to share. The party will be for both the soldiers and families of the rear detachment and the families of the deployed soldiers at no additional cost. The party will be sponsored by the VFW. Please take a minute to check your calenders and see if you will be able to attend. Please RSVP through the telephone tree or directly to Megan or Stormy.