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Jeremy's Iraq Updates Jeremy deployed with his 4th ID (Mechanizd) armor battalion in late March 2002 on a desert camping trip to Kuwait and Iraq. This page includes stories and photo updates received from around their campfire.

News from the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) 4th ID (Mechanized) Army Home Page for Iraq Updates 4th ID (Mechanized) Unofficial News Updates Overview and History of 4th ID (Mechanized)
Jeremy's Photos Click each picture for a large version. WARNING: May take awhile to download depending on connection speed.
Jeremy's Updates Subj: Hola Date: 4/11/2003 8:16:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: jeremy.patrick@us.army.mil To: kapatrick@aol.com CC: patrija@hotmail.com Hey all, Just wanted to say hi and see what was going on. I saw the fam site, but the pictures were all screwed up on there. Mom you might need to send the pictures to jason so that he can put them on the site. Nothing new really going on here. We haven't received any of our mail yet and not real ly sure when we'll start getting some It actually cooled off here today but the winds been kicking pretty strong. Anyway, there really isn't much to talk about at the moment. We're just getting our stuff ready. At the rate things are going up north it may be over before we get up there so who knows. Anyway, we'll still be here for a long time I'm sure lol. Well I have to get back to working so I will write more later. Miss ya Jeremy *********************************************************** Subj: Jeremy April 16, Jeremy called and asked me to let you all know that he is leaving tonight with an advance troop - could not tell destination, and to put on the homepage that no one will be hearing from him for awhile because he has no access to a phone or computer. But to keep the letters coming. he will get them eventually. We will get the pictures up soon, so you all can see them., and I will write more again as soon as he is in touch. He also said to take care. ********************************************************* May 3rd, This news came from one of the Ft. Hood wives. They are a few cities north of Baghdad, they have no ability to use a phone, but some of the mail is finally getting through. Thanks Heavens!. *********************************************************** May 11th, Well, we finally got a letter (I am writing this on May 27th and have heard nothing further) The letter was dated April 26th so they are really slow. From what I can gather from my sources at Ft. Hood. They are about 100 miles away from Baghdad - living off generators, no internet or phone service. The mail is starting to get there slowly so they will have much reading and good eating when they get all these things that have been sent. I know it is not much news but it is all I have, I know he is safe and that is what is important. Still working on the pictures. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. May 31,2003 We have received our second letter and from the envelope I know that he has started receiving packages too. I am so glad. The letter was written on May 4th, so the mail delivery is getting up to speed. I think his brother did an super jpb with Jer's site and Jer will be impressed if he ever gets internet or phone serviceJer will also. In his letter, though it was old. Jer was telling us about the difficulties there are in returning stability and maintaining order in Iraq and finding those left over who still want to fight. You never know what awaits inside a building or behind a door, But they must follow down every lead because one day one will pan out. It was great to hear from him and we look forward to more letters. Again please keep the troops in your prayers/ If anyone else hears form him, please let me know how he is doing . We are ar KAPatrick@aol.com.Thanks. June 9,2003 Hello Everyone, Today we received another letter from Jeremy. This one was written on May 20th. Since today is June 9th, the mail system is getting better over there. He has just opened another package from us and inside he found a very valuable item. I had sent him a bath towel, just in case. He was so grateful, his only one had recently been lost in a sandstorm...so I am going to get another one out to him. My next words are from his letter. He is " deeply touched by all the things people have been sending him. It really helps my morale to know how much everyone cares.. There is not time to write everyone but know you are all in my thoughts and I thank each of you and really appreciate everything." I have to get him some stamps, because he cannot write to anyone out of the US until he has some. He also has requested envelopes, eye lubricants (from the irritation of the sand), army socks, medicated foot powder and to keep the goodies coming. They are better than the MRE's .I will get those out tomorrow. He misses everyone, they (higher ups are...do not know if Jeremy knows this yet or not but since they have retained the third infnttry because of the troubles)are now talking March/Apr /04 till they come home but in this letter he sounded much more like himself than in the other two. He said they are finally after 2.5 months a little more established as a base camp and now they actually have some free time to themselves once in awhile..in between work There were some shots exchanged with them recently but they dealt with it. So that is it. Please keep him and the other soldiers in your prayers. Till next time, my thanks. Kathy June 23,2003 Jeremy called tonight, Last week while I was up in Pa with my Dad, he called twice and talked to the answering machine, which made me feel awful. Tonight, I picked up the phone never thinking and there he was. It was wonderful to hear him, a great connection and we talked to each other for almost a half hour. It was after 2:30am over there and I asked why he was up so late and he said they had just returned from a mission. I did not ask any further questions about that. They are in a very unfriendly area, are not even allowed to taste any of the Iraqi food from the market or use the ice purchased from them to make their drinks cold, only to put in towels around their necks. He said half the time they are stoned by the people and the other half shot at. We moved on to nicer subjects. He is well, asked for more beef jerky, Frisbees, Gatorade mixes (to replace the electrolytes they are losing), white heeled socks (guess what Jim is losing as I pack a box tonight)! canned fruit with plastic spoons, and generic visine for eye lubricant from the sand. He said that the packages are getting through faster than letters because the PO is doing the mail in bulk.........and it takes a lot less packages to make up a load. But the letters are also coming and he appreciates each one even though he does not get to write to everyone. I had sent him an old towel previously and he was so happy to receive it because his had been lost in a sandstorm. Recently ,and it just arrived today, I got the idea to send him a pillow. I figured at least part of him should be comfortable when he sleeps! It was like I sent him gold.....he is the only one to have one and he said everyone is jealous. Morale over there is pretty good now that the mail is getting through and though they are still working off generators and rigged up showers and still no regular food and hard times getting a phone, they are all super happy because they have heard that they might be getting Internet service in a few weeks. The priorities of the young!! Me, I would opt for the working regular showers and regular food! But it would be great if they were able to get on the Internet. We talked about the stop/loss, lifting because it definitely affects him and he said he realizes that it probably will be delayed and he will have to stay there awhile but he has put the paperwork out there and is OK knowing that it may or may not work.He sounded really good, I was so glad to hear that in his voice. Take care,Please keep the troops in your prayers, these are not good days over there. Kathy 7/14/03 We got an email from Jeremy yesterday with the news that things would be very busy this week and we would be seeing it on the news. It is called ivy Serpent, another mission. This one however comes at a time of three anniversaries and the US is concerned about increased attacks on the military. So they are taking precautions. Today around 5pm Jeremy called, he sounded good but tired. It was so good to hear his voice and it sounded like he was right here. Unfortunately we were disconnected before very long...so it was a rather short conversation. He said they were out last night doing some chasing of those they had been trading fire with for a while and captured them....telling them to get out of the vehicle and to get down on the ground. Get out of the vehicle they understood, but not the rest..so Jer and anot her guy showed them and they complied. Unfortunately Jeremy in the dark got his left hand stuck in a cactus bush...he said they gave no further trouble cause they could tell he was not in a mood to be made angrier! Today he had to see the medic get the needles pulled out and his hand is all swollen. He has medication, but I told him to be careful. He says he will be fine, but I told him to keep an eye on the marks; In other news, they had a viper in their building the other day, but it got away. They are the only ones there still on all MRE/s because they are the only ones there who do not have a refrigerated truck yet. The army is trying to get them one. Hopefully soon. Almost 4 months on MRE "s is a bit much! Mail and packages are getting thru quicker all the time. His latest requests are for the ramen noodles, the bowls of instant oatmeal and soup that you just have to add hot water too, no cans, these are made of some kind of covered cardboard. I have done the oatmeal, have to look for the soup. All they have to do is let the water do is sit outside and it gets hot.Also plastic spoons to eat with. We were cut off after that. I know he knows he is loved and missed but we were cut off before I could say that and I felt just awful...so from now on I will say that first. Please continue to keep all the troops and Jeremy in your thoughts and prayers. This is a difficult week for them. Until next time , take care. July 20,2003 Last Night night around 9p.m (5am his time)....Jeremy was able to call us. They had just returned to base and could not go to bed but had to see if the needed to go out again first. He was exhausted like he said everyone else was, but still in good spirits. It was great to hear from him, We got to talk for almost 45 minutes. There is only one phone for almost 700...but at 5am......it was easier to get it. Jeremy saidthat the village Baji (town closest to them is filled with a mix of people from all over. Some are friendly, some do not give a hoot (My word there) and some are openly hostile towards the Americans. You never know what you re coming up against. We are not sure we they go at night, to do their stuff, he could not say. They are fired upon at their base every night he said, so that is not productive for quality sleep. They did have their second hot meal since he has been there (the first was from Burger King on the $th) This was quesadillas and they really enjoyed them. *I guess anything besides and MRE would taste good) He has dropped quite a lot of weight as everyone has, but is happy about it, like most of them. They did not need to diet just go to the desert! His have is getting better all the time. Showers, toilets, are still of the primitive kind, that never improved,There is no a/c where he is. They have some fans but they do not do much good. Jer says it is getting hoeer all the time sometimes up to 129 degrees and that is before they put all those clothers and protective gear on, which adds heat. abut it is character building that is for sure. There is a rigged up work out place for the troops to work out in and this is good. They mail has been slow again due to all the attacks and things that have been happening. He obviously is in the host spot circle.....of the area from where Saddam is from, but he really be lieves he will be caught eventually, because he will run out of hiding places.(I so not think anyone will turn him unless America also offers them a safe haven here because they are afraid to because of retaliation on them or their families) After today, I am not sending anymore care packages for about two weeks, because Jeremy was supposed to get out last February before this came to a head, and his time is up. He has all of h paperwork in and is only waiting on one signature from Washington for him to be sent back to Fort Hood. That would be so wonderful. But we all know the army is slow. This has been in place for almost a month now. He could not go on leave but would need to begin the outprocessing and that takes about 30 days, If and when that happens, he will live in Georgia with his brother and wife for a while, take the FBI interview, try for a state dept. interview, and if those do not work study and take the GMAT and go to grad school at GA. Tech or somewhere lis that as a resident in 9/05. He would just get a job for the interim time so he could study. He really wants to work internationally, but we will see. It all depends on the army. His superiors in Iraq do not want him to leave but have all written letters for him and support his decision, just need that signature for DC and he scold be home in a matter of weeks. Lastly he said he will see what life is all about out here and then after a couple of years if he does not like it would go back into the army. He has had time to think about what he wants to do, this is good. Before he got off, he asked to too you all that he thinks about everyone often. Internet service is up and down there, and he has very little time, cause it is either sleeping or going out on raids or working or out with scouts (he likes this), but the people at home are carried with him all the time even though ha is not in touch much. and for you all to take care.\|Please keep him, that the signature comes back done, and the rest of the troops in your thoughts and prayers. Til next time August 10, 2003 We have wonderful news!. Jeremy came home I think in the longest way possible late on August 6th. All of our prayers have been answered...........he is here safe and sound and looks GREAT!!! I am sure he will be in touch as soon as he finds a computer or phone again and has a minute. He will be spending the next 2 months (approx.) outprocessing from the army and will be busy. But I wanted to write this so all would know and thank you all for your caring thoughts, prayers , letters, etc. during the time he was gone. I believe they were responsible many times for his safety. Take care.