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[Spanky]

Subject: Iraq Update #5 (final from Iraq) This is from my friend, now Colonel Jay George who is about to complete his 15 month tour. The majority of his time was spent with Iraqi forces. One prays that his optimism is justified by events.
Spanky


UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Family and Friends,



We are down to the last days here, God-willing. I am tired, but am rejuvenated every day that I think about kissing my wife’s beautiful face and holding on to my kids. I will not try to paint a rosy picture – these last two months have seemed to be the slowest, toughest, and most draining of the whole time we have been here. The great news is that I have seen some huge leaps toward independence by my Iraqi Army counterparts in the last weeks. The tangible progress has really given a sense of comfort and accomplishment for the team. I look forward to sitting with family and friends to tell you more when I see you, but will more than likely just want to sit with you and talk about you and catch upJ.



As always, I will be including pictures in this email to give you some of our events in the last two months. I was promoted to Colonel on 1 November and was able to share the moment with Kysa, Trey and Kyla over a VTC – truly memorable. The past two weeks have been tough on some of our counterparts who see Americans come and go, while trying to rebuild trust in relationships. I have made and lost some true Iraqi Army friends here who have put their lives on the line for me and other American Soldiers. They are growing and gaining a slow momentum. There are obviously miles to go before they sleep, but they are moving forward: It’s safer, the people are on the streets again, kids are walking to school and playing in soccer leagues, and many females are wearing more colorful outfits out in public. There have been peaceful demonstrations, food distribution, businesses opening, satellite media recently hooked up, electricity towers being installed, and the list goes on. It is 180 degrees different from six months ago when many parts of the city looked like a ghost town, and we counted on contact with the “bad guys”.



I think that the greatest thing I have learned here is all that I have to be thankful for in my life. I have taken so much for granted over and over again. When I would wake up in the morning back home, I didn’t really worry about whether it would be safe to drive to work, to talk to a policeman, to stop at a store, to sit with my family at a restaurant, or to serve in the military without threats to my family that very well could be carried out – to include death. As I get closer to Thanksgiving, I am recollecting all that I have and that I should be thankful. I sat with the Ugandans who guard or FOB today, in a church service today. I watched them take great joy in dancing and singing in worship of the same God I worship, and then I heard their prayer requests for help from the same God. It was refreshing, yet humbling to hear from another part of the world about how much I have to be thankful, yet the Ugandans found great joy in the midst of what most Americans would consider a meager living, and in tough conditions. Again, my thoughts went to how much we are blessed. It has been a real privilege to learn more about thankfulness, and our blessings.



I said goodbye to the drivers and gunners from our small team today. They have been a great source of laughter and peace. The joy of sitting with a Soldier over a plate of lunch, hearing about his family back home, and then hearing the stories or imitations of events or some of us leaders is enough to keep me going day after day. Today I sat with a young Soldier who shared some thoughts about how he was able to keep calm when getting shot at, or after a near miss with an IED – I could see how confident he was in his training, his leadership and his buddies. This particular Soldier, PFC Walter Hill, always shared how his G-Ma (Grandmother who raised him) would deal with some of the antics of other Soldiers if she were here, and how she had disciplined him as a young man. He was the youngest on the team, a PFC, but I had heard him directing helicopters, tanks, and Bradleys on our radio. I had also heard him sending in reports as second nature, and all this as a driver. Soldiers like Walter Hill amaze me. I cannot adequately create for you the picture of the confidence that I have in our Army after crossing life paths with a guy like Walter. I wish you all could see it as well.



Let me finally say thanks again to all of you for your cards, letters, notes, emails, goodies, boxes, and prayers. Your “packaged care” have been sustaining to me and to our Soldiers. I hope to see every one of you who have sent me something so I can tell you personally “Thanks You”. Please keep us in prayer over these last three weeks as we load out people and equipment, and that we would be safe.



I have included pictures of awards ceremonies, promotions, Soldiers doing Soldier things, and some food! Enjoy.



In His Grip,

- Jay





COL Jay George

2-5 IA MiTT

3HBCT, 1st Cav Div

(if anyone would like to see the pictures just send me your email and I will send them to you)