August 13th email from Shane

13 August 2005
Well got up this morning with the sun at 0530 in the morning getting ready for the trip to Dog Patch. Got up and got dressed and grabbed my bag that I packed the night before (a trick I learned from you my loving wife) and headed to go and get ice and drinks for us to take out there. We got everything loaded up and everyone got in place and we pulled out about 0740 and headed to Dog Patch.
Got there and of course the first thing to get unloaded was a .50 Cal machine gun to go up on the roof and then the ice. I actually got just a little to much ice. Well filled up the big cooler which is the size of a deep freeze the we use to keep our drinks cold (and it works great you stick you hand down in there to get something to drink and your hand freezes and the drinks down out the bottom actually have ice in them). Then we had more then enough ice to fill 6 or 7 other ice cooler like what you use at home and had about 20 bags left that we couldn't do anything with. Better to have more than not enough in this case. Started a new book at Dog Patch while I was waiting for my turn on the roof. We pull two three hour shifts on the roof looking out over the village (and yes love, I took pictures and soon as I finish off the camera I will send it home to you).
The book was called They Were Soldiers.
it is about a National Guard Unit getting ready to deploy overseas to an Hot Area. It is fiction but a lot of some of the things they are talking about in the training up process we went through the something. Except this book is fiction and we aren't.

I stand duty with a guy name David Reynolds, he is about 22 years old and just got married last August before we deployed. So he hasn't had much time with his wife. He seems to be a pretty nice guy. A matter of fact the whole Squad is a very good bunch of guys as for as I am concerned. While we were on duty we had the 1700 to 2000 shift (5:00 to 8:00) and the 0500 to 0800 the following morning. But while we were on duty they brought chow out to us.
it was chicken, rice mixed with vegetables. So I didn't get any.

I took some soup out there, but had it for lunch and took the chicken in rice you sent me for dinner. They might have been good if it was microwaved, but setting it out in the sun it wasn't very good. After we got off I went down and read some more from my bible and yes I am back to reading my bible. I have been doing it everynight since I have came to Bravo Company. Got to bed about 10:00 P.M. and woke up very very cold this morning. But it is much better than waking up in a pool of sweat.

14 August 2005
Woke up this morning about 0430 for my shift on the roof at five. Me and Reynolds was back up there again this morning. Man we both had a tough time up there this morning. We both stood just about the whole time to keep ourselves awake. Our relief was right on time, SFC Odom is great about not being late. We left there and today was our patrol day, so we used the HUMMER that they brought out and the two tracks that we brought out to do our patrol. Me, DOC Smith, Rose, and aboard were in the hummer. We got about 5 or more miles down the road on our patrol and found out the hard way that our fuel gauge in the Hummer didn't work. Yes we ran out of gas. So we got pulled back in front of OP 3 where we had somebody cover us with the other tracks went and got fuel cans to fuel us back up. This added about an hour of more to our patrol. But that was the most that happen on that patrol. Which in my mind is a good thing. But we did the next crew a favor that will be using that Hummer and filled it up for them. We got back to the FOB and I have Detainee guard tonight from 10:00 P.M. to 6:00 in the morning. I am on it with Dueitt and Buddy Rose so I will be in good company tonight.

So after making sure that they knew about it I went and took a shower and back to the tent where I had two Package waiting on me from Sissy tell her thank you for me please. I got in a couple of hours sleep because I know I am not getting none tonight on Detainee Guard.

Tomorrow the Squad has QRF but me and the two guys on duty with me will be sleeping.

I love you and can't wait until we get home.
I love you and keep the home fires burning for me I will be home before you know it.
To My Lover and My Best Friend
Shane