Hillah, Iraq.

4th ANGLICO is hereby required and directed to redeploy back to the continental United States. We have to be in Diwaniyah on [CLASSIFIED]. Our flight is scheduled for [CLASSIFIED], plus or minus three days. The latest we can be in West Palm Beach is [CLASSIFIED].

Exact dates compromise operational security, but I can tell you that is it much sooner than December, when we were to originally rotate home. It is with utmost humility that I ask that no more packages be sent. I have received over sixty packages to date, a number that shocks and humbles me. I want to thank each and every one who sent something. I know it is a pain to buy stuff then go to the post office. The effort put forth by so many people, from family to people I have yet to meet, is profoundly meaningful to me.

I would like to thank my Beautiful Bride for keeping up running email discussions for five months. I know you are busy, but I loved hearing from you. I also thank you for the packages. I really needed all the stuff you sent. You are an amazing woman.

I would like to thank my mom and dad. I got two packages (at least) from them each shipment. Even without the wealth of great stuff and support, you really can’t do much better than a kind note from your parents to make you feel special. I always got one with all the appreciated good stuff. Thank you.

Steve H., you really went above and beyond. I always looked forward to mail call because I knew you sent something either cool, useful, interesting, or combinations thereof. The magazines were priceless, and my compliments to your cigar club. Thanks for the Texas flag, too. Let me heap even more thanks for the gold plated Texas Quarters that I used to pay Action/No Action debts to my gunners. Those are an incredible memento.

Bryan, thanks so much for the Valentina sauce, the coffee, the stickers, the Senseo, the coffee, the lime juice, the coffee, and all the other non Gringo stuff that we loved. And the coffee.

Lance and Clara, thanks for all the great gifts, in particular the photos. That Russian Mouthwash chilled down nicely. Please tell your daughter that I would appreciate further news updates on her tadpoles.

Randy, you are the heat. We are still working our way through all that popcorn, and I really appreciate the replacement Tevas. I needed them. I am not sure if I should thank you for helping me rediscover Jelly Belly products. Thanks for the support.

Tobin and Tara also kept me in delicacies, DVDs, news, slingshot making material, stickers, cocktail accents, and so very much more. The Austin Slow Burn was most, most welcome. Getting your packages was always cool. I know that you both have boatloads going on right now, and I am deeply thankful for taking the time to send me all those packages. Thank you.

Keith and Jane, I now have a cashew problem. Thanks for all the Trader Joe products. I really appreciate them, and taking the time to send them. And thanks for introducing me to Deadwood.

Tom and Lecia, your packages were always welcome: the news, magazines, the kind cards, the letters, and the overall tremendous support. Thanks. And thanks for the Deadwood DVDs. We had a lot of fun watching those in the team room.

Tim and Jenny, thank you very much for my wasabi pea addiction, as well as all the other good stuff. Thanks to you, I had one of most well provisioned lockers in camp. I really appreciate it.

Becky, thanks for your packages, and the Fandango DVD in particular. I am happy that you remembered, and took the time and effort. “Looks fast….”

Hemant, I am not sure which I appreciated more, the coffee or the beef jerky. Thanks for keeping me well supplied with both, amigo.

And many, many thanks to the Thiggins, for the multiple shipments of pool toys. Everybody thanks you for that. The pool parties wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun without all that great stuff. Sorry we kept breaking them.

My next door neighbor, Miss Jean, doesn’t even have email, but I definitely want to say thanks for the home made cookies. I know it is a pain to take stuff to the post office, box it up, fill out the forms, etc. But how about taking the time to bake home made cookies, and haul those down to the USPS?
Simply…awesome.

Mark N., I am amazed that you got all that stuff shipped while you were in Europe. The fancy snacks didn’t last long at all, I can assure you. To all the supporters of the Hearts and Minds Bags, and the Byerly Family and the Beard Family in particular: the local kids are well founded in good stuff.
You deserve a great round of thanks from all these kids who now have at least one nice thing. Generosity like this is one of the great strengths of the American People, and I am proud to count myself among such fine folks.

And to all the people who left me voice mails on my cell phone: thank you very, very much. It was incredibly comforting to hear all those friendly voices. Finally, I would like to extend my very sincere thanks for all the emails from so many kind and supportive people. I talked with everybody from family to friends I have yet to meet. Thanks for taking the time to write.