Home of the Soul Cookie

I’ve been delinquent in relaying this fantastic news!

From: Thomas Bender
Date: Feb 24, 2007 10:17 AM
Subject: I’m Going Home…
To: [a bunch of people]

Well everyone, my time here in Baghdad is about over. In fact, I leave here on Tuesday some time to fly back to Qatar with a return to the states somewhere around the 1st.

I must say that I am very happy to have experienced everything out here. It gives you a different perspective on things to be here where things are happening that you don’t get back at home. I am proud of the job we’ve done, and I’m proud of the jobs the men and women have done even more forward than I. It’s certainly difficult, and at times you wonder if it is even worth it. But then there is the one event that makes it all good. If you ever get a chance, ask someone who has returned from out here what they felt and how it has changed their life. One thing will always be the same…no one leaves here the same as when they came here.

More after the cut.

Read More…

From: Bender Morris T LTJG
Date: Dec 11, 2006 10:32 AM
Subject: [U] Where Does the Time Go?
To: [a bunch of people]
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

So I was catching up on Kevin’s blogs the other day and I realized that I hadn’t sent out an email in about a month. Time has certainly started to go by. Christmas is just around the corner, followed closely by New Years. At that point, I am half way home. For those I’ve promised names and addresses of in-need service members, I have my NCOIC actively working on that with the Command Sergeant Major. I should be getting a list in a day or two. I asked him for a list of about 15 names of varying branches.

In all, the routine has smoothed out. I get into work around 0800 local time (midnight on the east coast) and work for 12 hours. Now that we have a second Watch Officer that takes over during nights, I have less need to stay late. I usually wrap up any loose ends between 2000-2100 (8:00 - 9:00 pm) before heading home. I spend 2 hours winding down by reading, watching a movie, playing a computer game, or whatever before settling down to sleep.

Let me now stress that I am fine, and everyone I work with is fine. However, I must mention something that might make some of you a little worried. Again, I will stress that there is nothing really to worry about. A few days ago, there was some indirect fire against Camp Liberty, Camp Victory, and Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). Several rockets were fired and there were three impacts on the bases. Camp Liberty/Victory is next door to Slayer and is where the PX is located. We occasionally make trips there to shop or to eat at the fast food located there. One of the impacts was in the parking lot of the Dining Facility. I have included pictures that were taken on the scene just after impact. While there were injuries (some serious), no coalition forces (military or civilian) were killed.

These incidents are NOT a frequent occurrence. The most we usually get are in-town explosions or small arms fire on the other side of the outer wall. For those that have seen the pictures of the Perfume Palace, the wall on the other side of the lake is the INNER wall. The outer wall is quite a distance away.

Thank you all for keeping us over here in your prayers. It may seem like a small thing, but knowing we have the support of family and friends back home does help keep us going. Happy Holidays.

Tom

From: Bender Morris T LTJG
Date: Nov 23, 2006 8:38 AM
Subject: [U] Happy Thanksgiving
To: [a bunch of people]
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

All,

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We had a traditional Thanksgiving lunch (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams) as well as some not-as-traditional items (lobster tail, shrimp cocktail). I’ve been told that dinner is a repeat of lunch. If it weren’t for the fact that I skipped both dinner last night and breakfast this morning, I’d just pass. One meal a day is probably not good. I want to thank everyone praying for the troops out here and in other forward units around the world. We may not have our friends and family with us here, but they are always in our hearts. Not to mention we have all the friends we’ve made here to celebrate with. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. I expect most won’t see this email/blog until at least tomorrow once the tryptophan wears off. Hope you enjoyed the sleep.

Out here…

It’s an update from Tom!

From: Bender Morris T LTJG
Date: Nov 14, 2006 10:51 AM
Subject: [U] Where I Spend My Day
To: [a bunch of people]
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

I thought it might be a good idea to tell everyone a little about where I spend a large portion of my day. In actuality it is about half of my day, but since 8 hours (once I get adjusted to an 8-hour time change) is spent sleeping, it constitutes about three-quarters of my time. [If I lost you, trust me. If you don't trust me, I'll send you a PowerPoint presentation (we use the words "death by PowerPoint" often in the military) stepping you through the formulas and equations. After that, you'll learn to never doubt me again].

The rest, including an explanation behind the name of the “Perfume Palace” (pictured above) plus a really nice shout-out to my blog, after the cut.

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Tom sent out an “I landed safely” email to a bunch of people, which Scott was kind enough to forward to me, as he did with the “I’m going to Iraq” email I reposted here. Seems Tom was still using an old email address for me that I’d abandoned years ago after it started receiving thousands of spam messages that weren’t getting blocked at the server level. (This just in from “Duh!” Magazine: I hate spam.)

Oh, and I’m not sure if I knew and forgot, or if I never knew (thanks to the outdated contact info he had), but Tom has apparently earned a promotion to lieutenant junior grade in the last few years. Woo hoo!

Tom’s message from Camp Slayer is after the cut.

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As a public service for those of you who might not have received this news already:

Tom Bender is getting deployed to Iraq for four months.

From: Tom Bender
Date: Nov 6, 2006 9:43 AM
Subject: Off I Go…
To: [a bunch of people]

Everyone,

Some of you already know, but for those of you who don’t know, I am leaving this afternoon to head over to Baghdad, Iraq. I will be there for 4 months. I greatly appreciate the well wishes people have expressed to me and to Sarah regarding my trip. I am not going over there to be on the front line, and I will be within a secure compound the entire time. I expect Sarah will call on several people for assistance over the next few months, but if anyone is concerned, please don’t hesitate to give her a ring.

I will have internet access in my room, and will have a bed and indoor plumbing. In fact, I will be at Camp Slayer. Camp Slayer is the coalition name for Saddam’s former primary personal residence. Located right next to Saddam International Airport, our living facility is the former guest houses located along one of three man-made lakes. I will have full use of a Post Exchange, workout center, a Burger King, Pizza Hut, and, like I said, wireless internet from my room. It’s practically club med only in camoflauge.

I barely escaped being over there on my birthday, but will be there on Mom’s birthday, Thanksgiving, Dad’s birthday, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day, and Rhys’ 4th birthday. If anyone wants to send me care packages (or care packages for any other deployed soldier, sailor, airman, or marine…I can get lists of names of those most in need) my address will be:

Morris Bender (do not put rank)
MNFI C2, CSG
APO AE 09342

Take care,
Tom

You may recall that Tom received his commission from the Navy three years ago next week.

So, if y’all find yourselves in possession of an empty slot on your Christmas card list this year, you might consider sending something Tom’s way. Heck, like he says, there will be many servicemen and servicewomen who would, I’m sure, love to get something over the holidays.

My best wishes to Tom and Sarah and their families.