My Little Brother

[Hoss]

Hey everyone, I thought it would be nice to share this first email from my little brother. He was sent to Iraq last week for 4 months. He has been in the Airforce on a surgical support team for over 20 years. He was helping surgeons as far back as when we invaded Panama. Far too many came back with broken legs from the jump.
He is now responsible for over 60 men and women and they are all taking their turn to serve in Iraq.
Seeing it on TV is one thing, but hearing it from someone you love and worry about is totally different. Please refrain from posting political comments.
God bless all our men and women over there.




Hey guys. I'm still here in the desert. I know I should have e-mailed sooner, but it's been crazy trying to get settled in. I'm finally getting to know where things are and am trying to get in a routine of things. It was a long flight over here. We stopped in a country called Qatar and was stuck there for a couple of days before we actually got here to Balad. What a miserable place that was. The heat and humidity was terrible, far worse than any humidity I've ever felt in Texas. On the morning we arrived there, it was already close to 100 degrees at 8:00 in the morning. I've heard the temperatures getting as high as 145. Here in Balad, it's warm, but bearable. It's not much different than San Antonio. I'm sure that the tempurature is around 100, but it's dry, and much more tolerable. I am, of course, working in the hospital here mainly assisting in orthopedic surgery. It is a busy, busy place and the patients that come here are nothing like I've ever seen before. We treat all patients, Americans and Iraqis. That's just the kind of people we are. They come in with bullet or fragment wounds to the face and head, and many come in without arms and legs caused from explosions. It's an amazing and gruesome sight to see. This is the real thing. My days are 12 hours, but they usually turn into 13 or 14 hours (not that it matters, because we can only do so much here). We work six days a week. Many times we are walking around in our uniform, flak vest (bullet proof vest on steroids), and a helmet. It's not so bad. We have large base here and there is acually a lot to do. There are several gyms so that I can come back in a little better shape. They try and put together many different kinds of clubs or groups to try and get people out of their rooms and involved with things. They have a theatre here with first run movies. They also have recreation centers with a lot to get involved in. They just want to get people busy so that they don't become hermits and just hang out in their rooms alone all of the time. Being away from your Loved ones is bad enough. Noone should dwell on it though. That's when people have problems. So, I'm doing okay. Life could be better, but it could be a lot worse. One, I get to stay in a trailer and not a tent like many soldiers and airmen in this country. Two, my deployment is only four months. Many of the army folks are here for an entire year. That is a long time. Three, we are pretty well protected by the security around here. This base is like a fortress. Yes, things may get in from overhead, but even when that's attempted, we intercept most of what's in the air. We are obviously in countrol here. I think that the biggest problem is the transition from our control to the control of the Iraqi police. The are in a learning process right now and are getting ther butts kicked. I think the American presence in this country will be here for a while.

Well, I've rattled on long enough. Don't worry, I'm doing well. I will keep in touch and let everyone know how things are going. When I find out how, I will send pictures. I also need to know what I can and cannot take pictures of. I wouldn't want to get arrested here.

Here is my address:
MSgt David T Hunter
332 AEW/EMDG/O.R.
APO AE 09315-9997

I Love you all and I will be in touch soon. Take care and fly those flags proudly.

[Trinity]

Thanks for sharing that.

[Avaris]

I don't think that I'd be able to stomach what you're doing, and I find it amazing that there are people out there such as you who are willing to do so. Best of luck Hoss, and godspeed.

Edit: Crap, I just realized it was your brother. Well, I wish him safety and godspeed.

[Yrrek]

Send your brother my regards!

[Naix]

I'll keep him in my prayers.

I have a cousin in the marines over there who is coming back in the next few weeks. (think he's in falujah right now)

We've been lucky, he's only been injured by a little shrapnel. Nothing too serious, but it could have been much worse.

I think your brother is doing a great thing.

The people over there have a lot more courage than i think i'll ever possess

[Hoss]

The people over there have a lot more courage than i think i'll ever possess

Amen

[*Princess*]

God Bless him and the rest over there. Ill keep you and your family in my prayers Hoss.

[Houdini]

thanks for sharing that H man that is very cool I bet you are mad proud.

[nonstop]

Sounds like a great guy Hoss. How much younger is he?

[BeerNut]

.... I think the American presence in this country will be here for a while.

Deep down, I know that this is the reality of the situation... But there is something very dark and sobering hearing it directly from the source.

Thanks for posting that Hoss... It's nice to get a glimpse of things from the perspective of a real person who is risking it all for his country. All too often these days, the views of the people seem to be shrouded by politics and agendas.

Best of wishes to your brother and your family... It's people like him that make this country great.

[Porkinator]

It is people like him that keep us free . Please send my respects and admiration to him.

[myxxplyxx]

hoss,

stories like that really make my problems seem pretty insignifigant.

It's good to hear he's doing good things in the hellhole... He must be someone really special. I hope you see each other soon. My cousin was a marine scout during the initial invasion...I thought this would be done a long time ago.

[-Jeta-]

Best of wishes to your brother and your family... It's people like him that make this country great.

Exactly my thoughts! Thank you for sharing w/ us

[Nytefyre]

yup, hes definitely one of the TRUE heros