August 19 -21 From Shane

19 August 2005
Had OP duty with SPC Havard on the 19 of August from 0100 to 0700 that is OH GOD EARLY MORNING (1:00A.M. to 7:00A.M.) So I guess it was the morning of the 20th. We spent 6 hours making sure no one came up behind Dog Patch and the no one was coming up to the FOB. That is what we are put there for. It can be a very boring job put it is a very important one. These are the jobs that keep us safe and sound in the FOB.
You know the fun and exciting things are running mission running around chasing the bad guys. But they are spaced out far and few between, Thank God for that!
The OP, PAD duties, and Present Patrols are routine and boring, but that is what keeps us safe and sound at night. It keeps the insurgents away from our FOB and from putting IED out on us.

20 August 2005
So me and SPC Havard got off duty at 7:00 in the morning on the 20th. I got back to the FOB and he went to his new platoon in Bravo Company, which will be 1st Platoon with SFC Odom and his crew. I threw my stuff together and got ready to go to Dog Patch.
We got out there and after everything got unloaded and set up, I went to sleep for a couple of hours. Man was I tired.
I didn't have a shift until the very last one from 0430 until 0800. So I had a nice and restful day waiting for my shift.
We had steak and shrimp for dinner it is was good even though it was a little on the cool side because of the time it takes to get out to Dog Patch.
I had duty with SPC Jackson, SPC Hattiensten and myself, it was a nice clear and bright night you didn't even need any night vision to see what was going on.

21 August 2005
Well our relief showed up on time but we had to wait for CPT Lyons, 1LT Rowland, and SFC Monte to go and do a cache search. But when our relief showed up they told us that Charlie Company had hit an IED and had one man down. I felt a sick feeling deep in down in my stomach because I know everyone in Charlie Company. So I was stuck to the radio in our track for more information. And found out that they MEDIVACT him out and that he was going to be O.K.
See when something like that happens, everyone not just QRF rounds people up to go out. And to search the area. Every company in the FOB had patrols out there. After everything closed down and Charlie patrol got back to the FOB, we were told to Return to Base. So we got back to the FOB and I found out who it was and that he was O.K. One of his forearms is broken and got shrapnel of course that broke his arm.
1LT Rowland told me that he was in good spirits and was feeling pretty good when he was Medivact out. It might have something to do with the Morphine the Medics gave him you think?
22 August 2005
Today has been a lazy day for me. I don't have anything going on until 2300 or 11:00P.M. tonight when I go to OP duty. I have it until 7:00 tomorrow morning and I then go out to Dog Patch that morning.

SEND MORE SOUP!!

I love you and really miss you guys. I cant wait to see you guys again.
Tell the boys that I love them and how proud I am of both of them.

To My Lover and My Best Friend
Shane