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Letter's & Photo's
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At 04:50 AM 9/28/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Busy day for me so I have to keep it short.
Today's Pictures: A couple of the children's mothers smile for the
camera. Little girl holding onto a rabbit. Young man with a bag of
goodies. Group photo of me with one of the families I visited that day.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 07:47 AM 9/29/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
I just finished packing 13 humanitarian boxes for some families.
It took me a while to sort through everything. I was able to get the
ages and sexes of the family members so each box was customized.
This should be my last major delivery and then I will concentrate on fixing boxes.
I also made some bags for each family. This should be just in time for the end of Ramadan which is when they have Christmas like
celebrations where the kids get gifts and clothes. It amazes me just how
much these people have warmed up to me. I can remember about a year ago
hen they would just poke their head out of the doorway to see what the kids were making a fuss about.
Now the adults come out full force and talk with me.
Again, I can't thank you all enough for all the help you gave me
throughout these 14 months. I am truly blessed to have such support.
Today's Pictures: Little baby in the ICU x2 pictures (one with me
putting her pacifier back in). A brother of a baby girl just born in the
hospital carries a bag of goodies. The younger brother of the new baby
happily holds a soccer ball. SGT R (on gate guard duty) holds the new
baby at the gate while the family waits for their ride home.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 06:35 AM 10/2/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
It is getting closer to my departure. I took out my last shipment today.
I passed out a bunch of humanitarian boxes and bags and gave the kids by bridge some Beanie Babies.
I took LTC Tis with me to show him what I do. He has helped me pack some of my bags and is willing
to take over after my departure. I hope what I started as a project to
pass the time grows to something even bigger. You never
know... it grew so big in just the year I was doing it.
Today's Pictures: Me putting some pumpkins up. SGT Rice taping up
a storm. SPC Bennett plastering up a witch. SPC Lullen going through a
box.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 07:07 AM 10/3/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Same thing...different day. I will be on guard duty next week, so I will see if I can send any email out during that time. This should
be my last guard duty. It should also help the week go by faster.
I will
send some more decoration pictures later.
Today's pictures: Various kids in the hospital getting toys
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 08:23 AM 10/4/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Well, it is starting to get spooky up in the OR in Baghdad. We still have some more decorations but we don't want to give up all our
surprises to the other sections. Case load has been greatly reduced and
we haven't had mortar attacks in over a month. Things seem to be slowing
down but all the redeployment home tasks and training are kicking in.
I go on guard duty next week and this should be my last one.
I am finally getting all my OR supply tasks done so it looks like my last few weeks
will be easy... though I am always ready for anything.
I again thank everyone for all the help and encouragement I received in the last 15 months.
It was a roller coaster ride at times, but I would ride it again. I will continue to send updates and pictures
until I leave in NOV.
The costume contest is coming up and I still have soccer balls to give to kids in the hospital.
I also hope to fix some of the kids bikes this weekend. Dr Tis looks like he is up to the challenge
and will keep it going.
Thanks again and may God continue to watch over us all.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 12:32 AM 10/7/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
I just want to send a reminder to please not send anything else to me here in Iraq.
We have already turned in our change of address cards for
redeployment and soon anything sent to me will be forwarded to my
address in San Antonio for the first week or two when effective or
returned to sender thereafter. Please send packages to LTC Tis instead.
His address is as follows:
LTC John E. Tis
Task Force North
86th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
Ibn Sina Hospital
APO AE 09348
As always, I thank you for all the support you have given me.
Today's Pictures: Me and SPC Lullen went by the swords kids area and
fixed a couple of bikes and passed out some of the photos we had taken
in the past. They love photos as you will see.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 08:03 PM 10/8/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone: Still on guard duty. Sending some quick pictures.
Today's Pictures: Some more pictures of the last time I went out. These
kids wanted pictures on the bike.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 05:33 AM 10/10/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Just another quick hello.
Today's Pictures: More pictures of the kids the last time I went out.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 11:56 PM 10/13/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Today is my last day of Sergeant of the Guard (SOG). Whew!! That
job comes with a lot of drama and a lot of walking. I did at least get
to give some things to kids at and visiting the hospital. I have
tomorrow off and don't know what I will do with it. I will probably send
some of my personal stuff home at the post office and maybe eat some
lunch at the palace since I will be down that way. The food there is far
superior to what we eat at the dinning facility by the hospital.
I have finally given out all the soccer balls and barely have any toys left.
I still have a bunch of tires and tubes and will try to get them out next week or the week after.
I have found that the Iraqis are fully capable of fixing the bikes themselves, they just don't have
the tires / tubes. I have already identified several children that need
some and I will get to them soon. LTC Tis has told me that he has been
receiving items, so I am sure he will start something up soon. The
upcoming Halloween dress up is sure to be a blast and I will get some pictures for sure.
Reminder: Please don't send anything to me. We have already
turned in our change of address cards so mail sent to me here will soon
be diverted to my home or returned to sender.
Today's Pictures: Me with a young man and his yellow soccer ball.
Little girl with arms full of beanies. Me with a little girl holding her
soccer ball. Visiting boy happily holds his new soccer ball.
Thank You all for all the aid you have given me past and present. I
don't know how to say "cheese" in Arabic so you know the smiles are
genuine.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 06:27 AM 10/16/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
It has been feeling cooler in the mornings here. It is a lot easier for me to go out for a run.
I am still eagerly awaiting the day I get to leave here.
I was feeling pretty sick the first 4 days of my
guard duty but I am finally rebounding now. I had to do a lot of walking
around on that guard duty tour but it should be my last one.
I think my baby girl has been getting ready to crawl soon. I can't wait
to see her and my other kids. They are looking so big in the pictures my
wife had been sending me.
I visited Dalia and her family yesterday. They are doing good and
getting ready for school which starts this Sunday for them.
Now that all my toys are about gone, I will try to send more pictures of
the workplace and IZ. The costumes will be on soon too.
Today's Pictures: A little boy in the lobby with a broken leg was
spoiled with attention. They young children sitting in a Army Ambulance
awaiting their transfer out, but leaving with the goods. Little girl is going to wake up to see Barbie and here friends.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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At 06:05 AM 11/1/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Well, my time here is nearing a close. I am very excited to be leaving
here soon. Here are some pictures from Halloween. We had a blast.
Thanks,
SSG Settles
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At 03:55 AM 11/2/2007, you wrote:
Hello Everyone:
Thanks to all for the kind remarks and well-wishes. I am anticipating a safe trip home soon. I mailed the last of my personal
stuff home today. We have moved into smaller rooms with cots so as the new people get here, they can occupy our old living areas. Small
inconvenience, but I'm going home (well to Kuwait for a few days then Bragg for a couple weeks and then home to San Antonio).
I got a few boxes of soccer balls and tubes from the Chicopee High School Boys Soccer Team and International Club. They must have made
it through before cutting our mail off here. I have already passed out some of the balls and aired up about half of them. I'll send some more
pictures next week.
Today I am sending some more Halloween pictures.
Enjoy and thanks again.
SSG Victor J Settles
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At 08:02 PM 11/10/2007, you wrote:
Hello and Goodbye
to everyone:
Please do not reply to this email.
It has been a good tour and I thank you all for the support given to me and my staff. I also am very ingratiated for the aid given to me for my
little projects. Helping the families in the nearby areas helped to pass
the time in this long tour and brought some smiles to a few troubled faces.
I will not be able to access this email address but if you want to continue to send a message from time to time I am at
rotkiv1@aol.com . Granted, I will probably not be able to get on AOL for a month.
I have to go now. Take care everybody and God Bless you all.
Thank You,
SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348
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God
Bless you Victor for a job very well done. |
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Aug 2008
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Hello everyone:
I hope this is received well. If you remember, I am the guy that used to fill up you ailbox with pictures from Iraq (SSG Settles – now SFC Settles).
I hope everyone is doing well and I thank you all for all the support you gave me while I was deployed and for the support you continue to give to troops downrange.
Update on me: I recently got promoted to SFC and am now the NCOIC of the Department of Anesthesia and Operative Services at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX.
I also got accepted to go to Nursing School for a BSN through an Army program and hope to start in the Fall of 2009.
I have gone on a humanitarian / missionary trip with my church in Reynosa, Mexico and have also been working with Habitat for Humanity in the San Antonio area.
Lately I have been focusing on school and attend courses after work at Wayland Baptist University.
My wife finished requiting duty and is now serving as a Platoon Sgt for military students.
The kids (Chris, Kaitlyn, Enrick, Michael and Elizabeth) are doing great.
My son Chris joined the Army and went to Basic Training last June.
He says he is having little difficulty but did not like the CS Gas (sort of like pepper spray but stronger) chamber (but who does).
If any of you would like to write him, I am sure he would enjoy it. His address is below:
(Ryan ? He is my step son but I helped
raised this boy (I mean man) since he was 4
PFC Ryan, Christopher
BTRY F, 1st BN, 40th FA
5611 NE Rothwell St. Unit F
Fort Sill, OK 73503
I also attached a picture of his graduation. When he finishes Basic he will become a Human Intelligence Gatherer (Interogator).
We are very proud of him and respect his decision to join the military.
Again thanks for all you have done for me. Bringing smiles to those Iraqi children was quite rewarding.
If I go back, I will probably be a nurse and officer and hope you don’t mind if I find need to call upon you again.
Thank You,
Victor J. Settles
SFC, USA
DOAOS NCOIC, BAMC
Wrk: 210-916-3126 Pgr: 210-513-4313
Fax: 210-916-4511
Home: 210-595-7459 Cell: 301-613-1869
Rm 213-12 Bedtower Elevators 2nd Flr BAMC
This communication and its attachments are confidential to the Military Health System, and to the intended recipient(s). Information contained in this communication may be subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. If you have received this email in error, please advise the sender immediately and delete the entire message together with all attachments. All unintended recipients are hereby notified that any use, distribution, copying or any other action regarding this email is prohibited.
Finally heard from Chris. He is doing great. Says he is having an easy time. The hardest part is trying not to kill half of his platoon.
Of course, he did say the gas chamber sucked but I don't know too many people who like that part.
He says hello to everyone. Here is his address in case anyone wants to write just know he hates writing and may not respond immediately.
Keep in mind he is scheduled to graduate August 29th after that he will move again.
PFC Ryan, Christopher
BTRY F, 1st BN, 40th FA
5611 NE Rothwell St. Unit F
Fort Sill, OK 73503
Here is a picture of him at his High School graduation.
Lucy
Image 002 |
Chris |
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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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