August 27, 2005 from Shane

Sorry that it has been a couple of days since I have e-mailed you. Between the net being down and my patrol group going out to Dog Patch there hasn't been a whole lot of time. Everything is still going good here. Just got back from Dog Patch this morning every it was just the way I like it nice and quite. They day before we got there Patrol Group 4 and they made a by pass in front of Dog Patch where the people of the village would not have to go miles and I do mean miles out of there way to get from one side of the village to the other. See where the road was, It went right in front of us and with the barriers and other stuff that protects us we couldn't see the road.

so we had to close it to make sure that we were safe. We also could not move it back because there was a huge dirt berm right in the way and to go behind they we would have the same problems. So SPC Jones (aka Big Block) did a great job of attacking that berm with a bulldozer and take it down. So that made it possible for the new bypass. Now when I say bypass I mean it is a dirt road made with a bulldozer that the cars can drive on. Nothing great about it. But it will make it easier on the people of the village and we will be safe because we can see the road now. But my point is that we went out and marked the road where the people would know that it was safe for them to use. It only took about 5 maybe 10 minutes to mark it with cones.

Oh yeah the new DFAC (Dining Facility) is open, man is it nice. I ate my first breakfast in a long time and had eggs with cheese mixed in with them. MAN EGGS TO ORDER YEAH BOY, WE ARE MOVING UP IN THE WORLD!!!!! It is funny that small things like that can make our time here so much better. The things we took for granted back home. Like taking a shower and not being dirty again before you get back to your Can because the wind blows the sand all over you again. Drinking and eating without drinking or eating sand.

But back to the days events. After we got releived from Dog Patch this morning we did our patrol. There was not problems, a matter of fact, we didn't even see a dog which runs around the area a lot here. So we didn't have nothing to report except all is quite. Boy is that music to my ears.

A couple of days ago another Charile Company guy got hurt on a convoy, it was pretty bad at the time. But now he is doing very good and things are looking up for him. He is a very good kid so keep him in your prayers.

Got back to Dag Patch and finally got the Dog Patch dirt off of me and had mail waiting on me, what a pleasant surprise. Checked out my package of course, my loving wife done good again and I had something from the Myers. thank you very much.

Then it was time to go eat lunch. Lunch was great today. I had some veal and fires with cheese on it, yes love, I had cheese again. Man was it some good eating. Then I was pretty much off the rest of the day except for the little 'hey you's' that come up.
I have been in the military for about half if not more of my adult life and hey you are going to always been there no getting away from them what so ever.

Tomorrow I have OP3 from 1900 to 0100 (7:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M.). Then I am back out at Dog Patch the day after that. I am fixing to sign off for now I have been up since 2 this morning and it is 6:30 in the evening now so I going to eat and go to bed.

Love, Here are some movies I was telling you about that I would love to have. Most are John Wayne movies.

The Man Show Shot Libery
Valance
The Green Berets
Flying Tigers
The Fighting Seabee's
The Flying Leathernecks
McLintock
Mister Smith Goes to Washington
12 O'Clock High
The Expendables
Zulu
Four Feathers
They Died with Their Boots On
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
Fort Apache
The Fighting Kentucky
Starship Troopers 1&2
24 Season Set 1, 2, or 3

I think that should pretty much feel the bill on movies for a while what do you think. And suprise me with some also. I miss you and love you very very much. I can't wait until I see you and the boys again. You guys are the raft that keeps me a float over here. If it wasn't for you guys I would go crazy over here. Thanks for all your love and support. you don't know how much it means to me.

To My Lover and My Best Friend
Shane