WebWalker's Blog

In a message dated today, September 22, 2005, David writes: Hello all, Well, we officially took over the flight today, and I have standby duties. So we are rolling right into things and it’s great. For those that haven’t heard, the shop here is great. We don’t have to stay in Tent City with everyone else, we have our own bunker we acquired from the Iraqis. It’s very nice and very cool underground. Most leadership have their own rooms, and the airmen have a roommate. I have one roommate - a guy from my home shop. We are in a semi-central location on base, so traveling is usually on foot. I keep finding things out about this base everyday that I LOVE. Just a few: laundry is FREE with a ONE day turnaround, we have an awesome relationship with everyone around base (we work with everyone from the Brits, the Italians, to the Army and the Marines), and I love standing on top of our bunker and looking down on the lowly mortals living in Tent City! If you didn’t know, we have plenty of computer...

Here's what David had to say in his first email from Iraq: Sept 21, 2005: Hey, I FINALLY made it here to Ali Air Base! We had to go to some training in Kuwait before coming here (completely worthless crap that we all already know) so that’s why it took so long. And let me tell you: THIS PLACE IS HEAVEN COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE! Mark, the Army B L O W S !!!!!! Of course I already knew that after that CST training in Colorado, but this was ridiculous. So on an up note, this place rocks and as long as I am stationed here (I will be going forward to another base soon to support units that are swamped with work) I will have email contact every day right here in the shop. I don’t have some email addresses, so maybe you guys could help me out ASAP. Mom, I need Karen’s work one, and a CURRENT one for Jason. Grandma and Grandpa’s too. Mark or Dad, could you get Bethany’s and Faith’s? You guys were the only ones I could remember from heart. Well, I’m pretty tired so I’m outa here. Oh! FYI, ...

Well I can breathe again. Finally heard from David last night, by email. He's been deployed since the beginning of September but could not contact me till last night. He is presently located near An Nasariyah at the Ali Air Base, but will be moving to a forward operating base (FOB) soon. Even after he moves, though, his mailing address will remain the same. Here's his address for any family/friends wishing to write him: SrA Whetstone, David 407/AEG/ECES/EOD APO, AE 09331 If you want to send him care packages, I'd suggest you use the flat-rate priority mail boxes which cost $7.70 to mail, no matter how heavy they are. The boxes are available for free at your local post office. I will of course be sending him care packages too!! But most important will be letters - that means so much when you are deployed far from home, just to hear a word of encouragement from someone who cares. Many thanks to everyone for their love and prayers during his deployment, as he serves his C...

September 09 -- Efrat Whetstone September 12 -- Scott Allen Tate September 22 -- Janice Weston September 20 -- Deborah Whetstone

August 25 - yep, the day of the party... Jimmy had an angiogram, then angioplasty with placement of a few stents in his heart. Brought him home and he was conked out asleep in the back bedroom throughout the whole party! September update: he's doing fine, wonderfully recovered, and grateful to Dr. Ravi for adding some years on to his life. August 30 -- Everyone misses Sherry now that she's gone home, and we hope she'll comeback to visit real soon. Let's all make sure that Sherry doesn't forget about us by sending her emails - often.