We appreciate all the prayers for Chris last week. I thought I'd post his latest email. I assume that he does not mind me sharing.

Hey gang,Yeah, it's been a hectic schedule with only so much time to use the internet, these computers and inet servers being so damn slow.Friday we were supposed to escort the ballots and poll workers from a warehouse up here down to Mahmudiya. We rolled at 6am, meaning the platoon met at 4am to begin prepping vehicles. We found out that morning that the "MITT" team, the ones training the Iraqi army, and Iraqi Army folks were escorting the ballots and workers, so we rolled about 1km ahead of them and had Apaches flying circles next to the convoy the whole way down there. On the way back, we had to escort a vehicle from our armor unit, 1-108 AR, carrying 8 detainees. One of them was a Syrian with strong reason to believe he was al Qaeda. From what I understand, during questioning he sang like a bird. We got back between 9 and 9:30 that evening.Saturday, they sent another group down the same time to sit at FOB Mike down the road from one of the polling stations to pull quick reactionary force if the other folks needed help. Luckily, I didn't have to go on that mission.Sunday, we went back down to the warehouse to wait on the MITT team to escort the ballots and workers back up here and make sure the ballots got secured. The side road we had taken in to the warehouse complex was blocked off and the IA guys told us we had to go around. We took that route and decided it was much too congested for them to drive down with that sensitive of an item. We told the IA guys to open up the road when the MITT convoy wasn't far out. They refused and told us not to move the barriers. We hooked up a wench from one of the humvees to the barrier and pulled it over and out of the way anyways and they didn't do jack. We sat around the warehouse complex for about 4 hours or so while they downloaded all the voting materials.I was supposed to go on pass today to Freedom Rest, a "hotel" in the IZ but the helicopter flights down there were canceled for other priority missions having to do with the elections. Oh well. Guess I'll go some other time. Well, that's about it for now. Love y'all.LoveBoo boo

Gene and I think IA means Iraqie (sp) Army.

Howie's family is coming to Norfolk this weekend, purpose is not to see us but Norfolk Academy is having a homecoming. There are several events to do with the soccer team. His former coach will be recognized.
They will get here around 10 - 11 Friday night, will be at school all afternoon and then Howie and kids will go to hockey game with Gene and me. Their plans are to be gone by noon on Sunday.

I guess everyone has heard, Joan is planning a birthday party for Dad this Sunday afternoon. I guess that changes our plans for the following weekend. I still plan to attend the homecoming.

See everyone on Sunday. Margaret