Robert Update

Happy Sunday, October 14, 2007

We spoke with Robert for about 30 minutes this evening at 6. He had a very busy, but good week.

This past week they were sent out on a 15 mile Rug March to a training camp for 4 days, to use all the training that they had learned, in different training games. Robert’s Company, (Alpha), was sent out in Squads, (15 people), for what they call the Gate Game, Robert was Squad leader for his group. Alpha group was positioned in a make shift city, the Bravo Company was positioned in the woods outside. The opposing DS tried to use intimidation to get Robert and his assistant to give away too much information and to let him get too close. He slipped a bit at first but then got tough right back. He said it was hard considering this was one of the DS in their face yelling, and having to do EVERYTHING they said for the last 2 months. The first night his Squad was on guard duty when they got attacked. Using a lot of good team work and the skills they learned, 6 of them kept the enemy busy at the front of the city while Robert sent his assistant with 8 of the others to surprise them from behind (coming out of the woods). They were able to capture 9 and they killed 32 others. They spent another day doing what they called ‘Civilian City Fighting Training’. The whole city and the people look and dress like Iraqis. They had three missions: retrieve a POW, a weapons cachet, capture terrorists, and save civilian casualties. He did not have time to go into all the details with this one but said it was very interesting. While in this training they were attacked at night by having a CS can thrown into their tent (4 guys). A DS yelled a warning “gas, gas”, Robert said he woke from a sound sleep and had to put on his gas mask VERY fast, get his weapon and get to his post. He said he got out ok, but his skin was burning really bad from the gas. They went back to the tent 2 hours later and he did not have his mask on, walked in, and ended up right back outside throwing up, he said it hurt REALLY bad. They all had to sleep with their gas masks on the whole night.

They have a busy couple of days coming up, cleaning the buildings and ALL their equipment, a Lieutenant Colonel will be inspecting everything Wednesday.

He is looking forward to starting school. The next section of 18 weeks of Combat Medic training starts Nov. 2nd so he may get to come home for a leave (we are hoping but not counting on it). He should then know where his permanent post will be when he finishes his 56 weeks of LVN training/schooling. He has chosen in this order, Germany, Maryland, Italy, Alaska, at all of these posts he will be able to go on and get his RN license. He will only be deployed if his group is called, he has requested to be put in as a Medevac nurse. He will continue with school till he gets his RN and then he will try out for Special Forces.

We will be taking lots of pictures and I will post them and an update when we return from seeing him for his graduation.

A friend sent me this video link http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1. Remember.

Have a wonderful week.

Love and prayers,
Loretta