I am long past due in updating you fine folks on Eli, my young friend deplyed to Iraq with the Army National Guard.
http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/vie ... sc&start=0
Correction: OUR young friend.
I was reminded of this over the weekend as I attended a going away party for an old schoolmate's 17 year old son who leaves for Fort Benning this week for basic. He'll go through his ten weeks there and come home, attend his last year of high school, while doing his one weekend a month, and then, who knows. "W" has had his heart set on military service since age 12 or so. Had him over last night to give him a little head start on the rifle.
Anyway, back to Eli. He's fine, running fuel convoys and very busy. As I've mentioned before, he's not the gushing communicator type, and as I understand it his internet access is spotty at best. I am mailing him the occasional package with reading material etc., and I did get a nice letter from him. He once again expressed his gratitude for the efforts of LTW members. He may not say a lot, but he does know how to say the right things. Our pleasure, Eli.
Seems there was an incident...... something about the convoy was stalled, and a tire or tires on Eli's vehicle was going flat...... the re-inflation system was not keeping up due to low RPM's as they sat waiting for the traffic jam or the threat, whatever it was, to clear. Eli was concerned that when the signal cam to move, he would be unable due to the flats.
Somebody made the decision to violate SOP and get out of the vehicle to check things, with his SAW gunner providing cover (as it was not, shall we say, a good neighborhood).
Somebody crawled under the vehicle and found the problem and fixed it with duct tape. Now this doesn't sound like much but it must have been a relief to the part of the convoy behind the troubled tanker since, when they got back to the base and this violator of SOP walked into the chow hall, he got a standing ovation!
He is making good use of the donated items and what was left over of the money, I gave to him in the form of a debit card.
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