Big Red One

Just a quick update. Yesterday we started wearing our combat patches. Now where ever we go from here we will always have the Big Red One in our hearts and on our shoulders. The weather here is still nice and everything has been going well. There is still no company internet but our company gym looks like it should be set up soon. I have been making a list of all the people who have sent me cards and will post a thank you by name as soon as I can update again. Keep the prayers and good thoughts coming.

Quick Update

Quick update, we have not received the company internet so I am still fighting the crowds to get to the internet and update my site. I just received another package from my sister and also 5 birthday cards from people I don't even know. I feel really blessed and would like to thank everyone that has written me and sent packages. It makes me feel at home in a foreign place. Our platoon has been playing volleyball in our off time trying to stay in shape. Everyone is doing well. Just a not there are 1/30 Inf attached to our company. So if you know someone in 1/30 you can e-mail there name if you want and I can give them a message or possibly post a picture when our company internet is up and running. Once again thanks to everyone and keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank You

I would like to thank everyone who commented on my site or e-mailed me on my birthday. It meant a lot to me, Thanks! I had three route clearance missions to do so I was pretty busy. I was hoping to make it online to chat with my wife and family but I was not able too.
Good news, rumor has it the company's internet will be up today so I will be able to post or e-mail pictures. I will try to update more and start answering everyone's emails. Once again I want to thank everyone, especially my beautiful wife, for making this a birthday I won't forget.

Help, We Are All Going Insane!

Ok maybe not insane but close too it. Our platoon is craving entertainment. We have no television to watch so we watch DVD's on our laptops. Problem is we have watched everything we have. Every DVD has been passed from room to room and back again. The only DVD's we can buy here are bootleg copies that were filmed in movie theaters. This is of course illegal but I am sure copyright infringement is not enforced here in Iraq. If anyone would like to donate new or used DVD's it would be greatly appreciated. We are looking for boxed sets such as ALIAS, The Sopranos, CSI, The Wire, basically any set that has multiple episodes. Anyone who donates a boxed set to our platoon will receive a platoon picture personally thanking you for saving us from the looney bin.

Everyone is doing well here, we just got a new soldier attached to us. He is a SSG and is going to go to officer school to become an Armor Officer. We all just got back from a mission together this morning. Keep praying for us and our new addition.

SGT Jeremy Satterlee
B Co 2/34 AR
OIF3 FOB Normandy
APO, AE 09397

The World's Best Camp (It's Not Here)

We just got back from a mission in which we drove 3 1/2 hours down south to Camp Victory to escort detainees from Abu Ghrahib to Baqubah to release them. Camp Victory is heaven on earth. They have two large lakes in the center where soldiers can fish and sail boats. They have probably the largest PX in Iraq as well as the best Dining Facility I have ever seen. In the DFAC they have the standard short order and main lines as well as a sandwich island where they will make you a hoagie sandwich of your choice, a pasta bar with pizza available, two ice cream stations where they will even make you shakes and sundaes, and much, much more. The service at this camp was excellent. Even though we were on a mission it seemed like we were on R&R for a day.

We are back to FOB Normandy now, not as great as Victory but it is still home. I still have no word on the Internet but I am hopefully something will be worked out soon. We should be starting QRF again as well as doing some company missions.

Take care everyone, I'll update soon.

I have been bringing my personal laptop to the MWR until a few days ago when THEY said personal computers are not allowed. So I will not be able to send pictures to anyone or send any attachments by mail. The computers are locked so you are only able to e-mail and surf the web. I am looking into getting my own internet dish so that I can start updating the site more and start posting the hundreds of pictures I have taken. I am hoping I will be able to purchase a dish without selling a kidney. If I can get the money and install internet I would make available for everyone in my company to use. One of the problems with the computers at MWR is that you cannot update software on the system. I use MSN Messenger to chat with my family but I cannot log on to most systems because the software is out of date. This is extremely frustrating.

We just finished a week of guarding the FOB. I had to work the 2100 to 0600 shift. While on guard I got to see EOD explode an IED. It is good thing no vehicle ran over it. The explosion was huge and I believe no one would have survived the explosion. Everyone on the FOB is safe and sound. No attacks or injuries. We have been lucky here and hopefully it will stay this way.

R&R starts at the end of this month so soldiers we be coming home for 15 days. I am not sure when I will be leaving but I will post the date as soon as I know it.

Keep praying for us and I will update soon.