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Letter's & Photo's
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23 Aug 2007
Hello Everyone:
Not much new here. I'm sending some more pictures from last
week.
Today's pictures at the crossed swords area: Group of girls smiling for
the camera. Young man happily holding his soccer ball.
Group of children with some hard challenges (the girl in the wheelchair
(12 yrs old) with her brother and sister beside her. All
three have a form of dwarfism (don't know the less offensive term)
The younger ones can still walk but I believe as they get older, they
will be less mobile. I knew of and have seen the younger boy
before but this was the first time I saw the girl in the wheelchair.
Took me a little off-guard. She was in good
spirits and loved the camera. I printed some of the pictures
for her and am waiting for an opportunity to get back down there to give
them to her. The kids in the background are her cousins I
think). Happy girl standing in front of the camera (I think
she was playing with the water before I got there).
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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24 Aug 2007
Hello Everyone:
I know many have eagerly awaited these photos and so here they are. I am
happy to present Darth Vader in Baghdad.
Today's pictures: One of the OR staff (SPC Phillips) gave me some
trouble, but he soon saw things my way. When entering the
hospital compound, you have to clear your weapon (point weapon into a
barrel of sand and make sure there are no bullets inside); Even Darth
Vader had to perform this procedure (no exceptions). Darth
stands at the entrance of Baghdad ER (was having some difficulty
breathing)
Seven year old boy was terrified at first until Vader used his Jedi Mind
Trick (gave him a Ragu Soccer Ball).
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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28 Aug 2007
Hello Everyone:
What a week. In the past few days I have done a lot.
One day I went through all the clothing and sorted it out by myself
(couple of my soldiers wanted to help but only ended up playing dress
up). I organized it by sex and age. This took
forever. The next day I made the school bags.
That also took all day. I made 93 school bags. This
should help the kids out a lot when school starts. Finally,
I gathered up all the balls and pumped them up and then put together all
the stuffed animals. When this was all done, I loaded up the
truck and today I delivered it all. I did not get many
pictures at all of the event as we had to concentrate on the task at
hand.
This THU I go to freedom rest. I basically go to a place
nearby, turn in my weapon and rest for 4 days. I can't wait.
I hear they really take care of you there. You may not get
emails from me in this timeframe as I do not know how the internet is
there. I will take pictures while I am there (still here in
the Green zone in Iraq) and share them with you when I get back.
I need a break. My last couple days off were used getting
these school supplies and clothes ready. I truly appreciate
all
that everyone does in the care package department. What I do
on this end is similar to what you do on yours (maybe in reverse).
Today's pictures: Making sure every school kit has an equal amount of
paper, pens, crayons, toys, candy (Toys and Candy? I know ... I can't
resist putting these in the bags ... I do add a toothbrush and paste
though). School bags and boxes are packed and ready.
All the goodies are loaded up into the truck. Kids start to
line up with adults alongside
them.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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29 Aug 2007
Hello Everyone:
I will be out of the CSH for a few days R&R. I will still be
here in Iraq, but just down the street at a secure place where I get to
turn in my weapon and relax. Though many get to go to Qatar,
people in my section cannot because we barely have enough surgical techs
to run the OR so we can't lose people for more than a week..
Four days relaxing down the street is better than being here working.
I will try to take some pictures though I will be awfully busy relaxing.
I won't be able to access this email account until I return on MON.
Thanks again and may God watch over you all.
Today's pictures: SPC Rodriguez pouring some water into his bottle as
the kids watch. Talking with a local man as everyone begins to go
home. Boy at the hospital happily holding his soccer ball.
Packing the tough boxes and waiting for customs to inspect (even though
we don't leave until NOV, we are shipping our main boxes so that they
will be at Ft Bragg by the time we get there. Finally
starting to feel like I'm going home soon).
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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25 Aug 2007
Hello Everyone:
I know it has been awhile. I got back from freedom rest on
SUN but my work computer has been having some problems. Just
got fixed today. I go on guard duty for a week next week.
It just does not seem to slow down around here. We expect it
to be busy during Ramadan so we are getting ready for that as well as
doing things in preparation for our movement home.
Freedom Rest was great. I swam almost the whole first day
and did a ton of diving off the low dive. I can still do a
double flip and gator as well (forward facing back flip). I
also did a lot of nothing and watching movies. The last
night I did Kareokee. The food was good and it was just nice
to get away from the usual schedule for a few days.
It looks like we are going to decorate for Halloween so if any of you
still want to send any decorations, please do. We have won
every decorating contest the hospital has had and we plan on leaving
undefeated. Most of the OR staff have also purchased Star
Wars costumes so expect to see many of the cast in a group picture (see
what I started).
Today's pictures: Doing a gator off the low dive (the intensity on
my face is priceless). Floating in the pool facing the
Freedom rest sign. Two group photos of me with some of the
swords kids from awhile back. Sara and Dalia stopping for a
photo together on the bikes we let them ride.
Thanks again everyone and God Bless. Please don't send
anything after the end of this month as they will be redirecting mail by
OCT. I am with the last group to leave (I have to be here
for the replacements to show them how things run) sometime in NOV but we
are asking to end mail a month before departure.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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8 Sept 2007
Hello Everyone:
I am off this weekend and I start guard duty for a week on MON.
Ramadan starts next week too and it has historically been very violent
during this timeframe. I am hoping it won't be as busy as we
had it last year at this time when we got here. I have a
feeling it won't be as bad. Nonetheless, I have overstocked the OR with
supplies so we shouldn't run out of anything if it gets bad.
I have boxes of stuff everywhere. I even have our metal
containers outside full. Be assured the troops here get the
best of care and we have made many upgrades to surgical supplies and
equipment. I have procured some equipment that is better
than you find in many civilian hospitals. Our OR staff is in
good spirits largely because we can see an end to this long 15 month
deployment. We have also finally had a couple easy days
where we saw very few cases (rare but very welcomed. especially with
what we are anticipating around the corner).
Please send nothing after this month as we will be getting ready to
leave in OCT. I have tons of school stuff and will make one
more large batch of school bags for the end of the month.
The only things we need are soccer balls, Halloween decorations, snacks
and beanie babies.
Please don't go to any difficulties acquiring these things as your past
support has been overwhelming and I don't know how I can repay everyone
for making this deployment so well "taken care of".
God bless you all and keep you safe.
Today's pictures: Fatima poses with her new lunch bag. A few of
the boys wave with their new soccer balls. LTC Williams mops
up her coffee mess (it is very rare to see an officer using a mop ...
she is an awesome nurse). SFC Bragg knocks on his door; SSG
Graves peers out to see who it is (they were doing some renovations to
the building we sleep in). This
little boy will wake up beside a soccer ball.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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9 Sept 2007
Hello Everyone:
I start guard duty tonight for a week. I will be in charge
of the US and Iraqi guards guarding the hospital compound. I
should be able to send quick emails with pictures before I start each 12
hour shift. This should let me catch up on sending some of these
pictures.
People in the OR are starting to get Star Wars costumes and we plan on
doing a tour before Halloween. Who knew it would come to
this?
Just another reminder to please not send anything after SEP (though
soccer balls, beanies and candy are always welcome and I can pass to the
next group - I know it is a mixed message). When I find a
replacement, I will let you know. The next CSH shouldn't be
here until OCT/NOV so I won't know until then. I don't know
or can't guarantee that they will be as detailed / thorough as me
Today's Pictures: Chewbacca is in the house. I and some
Clone Troopers had a disagreement (I later saw it their way).
Young man receiving some cars and a ball. Girl visiting
family receives a ball, some beanies and a bracelet. Little
man scores big with a truck (Siara) and a ball (toba).
Nothing calms a child here more before surgery than a couple of toys.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 09:28 AM
9/11/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Today's Pictures: Boy with a feeding tube gets a ball. Young man
kicks the ball around in the ward. Little girl will wake up to a
surprise. Little one trying to eat his car. My
baby girl Elizabeth concentrating on a video game back at home (never
too young to start playing).
Remember those who lost their lives this day..
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 06:15 AM
9/13/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Here are some more pictures of me and SPC Lullen with the kids by the
swords area. Got to go
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 02:21 PM
9/15/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
I am still on guard duty so I have to keep this brief. I
though I would send some pictures of staff today. Enjoy.
Today's pictures: SFC Bragg, SPC Martinez and CPT Korwiki eating some
lunch in the OR break room. SPC Bennet standing in front of
our instrument shelves. SSG Misplay eating some candy.
CPT Schell and SPC Parker at the OR front desk. SPC Phillips
picking up a instrument set while SPC Bennett wraps a set in the
background.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 08:11 AM
9/22/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Well, I put 80 school bags together today and I will hand them out on
TUE on my way to pick up medical supplies. I squeezed in
notebooks, crayons, pencils, pens, sharpeners, erasers, candy, toys and
stuffed animals. It took me about 7 hours to do but it went
smooth. I take my time when I do it as I am in no race.
I have tomorrow off too so I will probably relax and maybe go out and
fix some flat tires. Thanks again everyone for all the
things you sent. I thought I was done with school items when
I made the last pallet of school bags. Since then I
accumulated a lot more items and had enough to make another batch of
bags. Next weekend, I will go through the last clothes boxes
I have and separate them into equal bundles to deliver to some
struggling families that live nearby.
We have been doing a lot of predeployment stuff to get us ready to go
home. Hard to believe the end of this deployment is near.
Around 26 OCT, we will be having a section costume contest. The OR
is getting Star Wars costumes in left and right. It is going to be
awesome. I can't wait to send pictures of the costumes.
Today's Pictures are of some of the OR staff at work: SPC Lullen looking
sad on top of the trash can. Me and SPC Bennet looking at a surgical
drill set to see what is missing. SPC Bennet putting a set together. SPC
Morgan grabbing his weapn before going to his room to get some shut eye.
SPC Rodriguez and CPT Mellville working in the OR.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 02:21 PM
9/26/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
I took the pallet of 72 school bags to the kids by the bridge and
another smaller neighborhood. It was a good day and I got
some pictures. The weather has gotten a lot better and I will not
miss the heat as it goes away. All I have left is to go
through the remaining clothes boxes this weekend and make some clothes
and humanitarian packages. After that I should be done save
for when a little one has to come to the hospital. I also have
several bicycle tires / tubes and I plan on fixing some more bikes here
as I find them.
A bunch of Halloween decorations came in so we will be getting the OR
ready too. I'll send pictures of this when we get it ready and of
the costume competition in OCT. Our section theme is Star
Wars and the other sections have caught the bug and getting themes too.
I think one section is going to do super heroes. This should
be cool.
Unless you have already contacted me about sending any more items,
please do not send anymore items as I will be leaving soon.
I will try to have a contact address for someone here possibly in NOV.
Until then I thank you all for the support you have provided to me, my
staff, soldiers and the Iraqi people.
Today's Pictures: Picture of me in front of a pallet full of bags
containing school supplies. Little girl proudly wearing her
new back pack. Brother and sister smiling for the camera with
their new school bags. Young girl carrying her brother and a
couple of bags full of toys and school items. Cute little girl holding a
stuffed animal
Thanks again and God Bless you all,
SSG Victor Settles
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27 Sept
2007
Hello Everyone:
Today's pictures: A little one in the hospital with a car.
Me dropping off some supplies with the forklift. Me putting
away a drill set. If you fall asleep in the OR, you get your
face powdered as SFC Bragg found out.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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11 Aug..... No letter
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Prayer Wheel for our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Coastguard, and Airmen..
'Dear Heavenly Father,
Hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless
acts they perform for us in our time of need.'
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