Josh Siefert

July 29, 2008

I haven't AIMEd with Josh in over two weeks, hope to hear soon, but if you want to know more about what they are doing (this has even been in the news) go to

Stars and Stripes...

If you are a history buff, this is it in the making and make give you a better idea of what is happening there.. To honor Josh's wishes, if you would like to know more about who and where he is in these reports, email me..

June 30, 2008

AIMed with Josh yesterday. He is now in charge of a platoon, out on mission today. His address has changed a little.. He seemed as steady and ready as God made him...

April 7, 2008

Well, Josh got back off mission, but given that there were only a few days we heard from him and nothing recently I suspected they are back out...

There is some news, he was promoted to First Leutenant on April 1.

What I would like to share mostly with you is what those soldiers lives' are like. I am giong to paraphrase what Josh told me but for all of those of you who support the soldiers regardless of your view on the war, here is what a "mission" is like"

They were gone in and around the Dyala Valley for almost a month. The mission was one of getting rid of insurgents in the area, which seems to be a fulltime job. The soldiers are supporting the Iraqi Army and they seem to have formed bonds and respect with each other. The soldiers sleep in their equipment, be it Bradleys or tanks or whatever. Those pictures you see where the soldiers are just out in the middle of nowhere sleeping and shaving, those are real. Josh said he hadn't bathed for the month. How could they, their aren't any accomodations for that. And, as much as Josh is not one to talk about bathroom actitivties, even he had to describe to me how they do poo.. Basically you crap into a bag and then feed a big bonfire. I asked him if he was president, what would he do.. he thought for a while and in the end he said "I don't know what I would do, but i know this. Iraq has to want this for themselves, there is only so much you can do to help another person, in the end they must do it themselves."

They have had too many casualities, in their group, the 3rd ACR. I don't even want to look back and count how many. I recieved yet another announcment just today. My Josh is just one in 130,000 over there. read an article the other day about McCain. He has a son that served in Iraq, a grunt basically. McCain generally refuses to speak about it, the article was from a friend to whom a reporter asked what McCain felt about his son going. McCains emotions were an echo of all of us who have family serving. I am NOT advocating any political person here. I just wanted to share the breadth of the concerns of families for our loved ones serving their country. It tocuhes a lot of people. One of the female soldiers I had met will leave sometime to do her own service in an area frought with danger. I will pray for her every day. Each soldier has a family who spends each day with thought to encourage and help and support their loved one. Our soldiers, our army is working so very hard and with good will, and with hope, and with bravery, and with courage, and with determination, and with the vision of coming home again. Pray for them all and the Iraqi people.

March 25, 1008

Finally got instant messages from Josh about two days ago. They are still out on mission. It's very hard work, seldom in FOB until this mission ends and the 'Soap for Soldiers' boxes had been wonderful hygeine relief for the guys. (they have been bringing them out to them in the field. To the Browns: I had to tell him about the game players and games and I think the soldiers are really looking forward to that! Josh said, he was overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. He asked that you continue to pray and he misses Texas!

February 12, 2008

Please remember Grim Troop, all the soldiers, including my Josh but especially, please pray for the family of Corey E.
Spates, 21, of Lagrange, Georgia. Pray for recovery of Specialist Joseph K. Perez, 24, of Douglasville, Georgia and Specialist Thomas K. Caudill, 20, of Chiefland, Florida, IED incident, Dyala, February 9, 2008.

Soldiers were hard and long hours. Josh says thank you so much for all the comfort gifts coming their way.

February 4, 2008

Josh and Grim Troop are back at Caldwell!!! As of today around 6:30 pm his time. Josh said they were all very happy and never dreamed they would have been gone so long. ITs not clear how long they will be back at the FOB, but he said that the boxes and generosity from Neva Brown and her kids, made the soldiers day! It was a beautiful welcome for them and one they very much appreciated. Josh said there were boxes waiting on them that reached the ceiling.. Mail call was glorious and Josh is busy figuring out how to dessiminate the "comfort" sent their way.

Soap for Soldiers sent 130 packages to FOB Caldwell this past week, under the generous and effective spearheading of Carolyne Fox. This soldier's mother's heart is so grateful to people who continually find ways to support our soldiers. Thank you!

Other than being tired, he feels like they are making a difference over there and he says for everyone to please stay safe and keep supporting the soldiers with prayer:

January 28, 2008

It feels like such a LUXURY.. I have heard from Josh two days in a row. He got a ride back from wherever he was to Caldwell on a Blackhawk helicopter and had a chance to get online. It seems like they are working non-stop on their mission and he had to come back to provide inventory information so they can continue. You can make fun of President Bush's "working hard" phrase, but indeed, those soldiers over there ARE working hard. I think that is a good thing for them though because if not, the time would pass much more slowly. In a change of focus, Troop G (which is Josh's troop) is heavily involved along with 6000 other soldiers in humanitarian aid and build up of local infrastructure to improve conditions. From what I understand they have been distributing kerosene and flour.

http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=15466

Josh says he has had little time to write, he doesn't know when he will return to FOB Caldwell, but said that the soldiers are SO thankful for the support in the form of packages they are receiving.

To the Brown coalition, he asked me to post on here a special thanks to you. The plan is to intiatie a DVD library with your group's gift to make sure that every soldier there gets the benefit.

January 7, 2008

Well things are much better with Josh, at least as far as I am concerned. The FOB has and improve computer setups and internet now and we are hearing from him a bit more often than every 18 days or so!!!.. Yahoo!!!!!

He is reporting that he has a bald spot where his "cyst" was (see the below picture, in a before and after.. okay well, an after and after... after the cyst was removed in theatre and then an after-healing photo) and its really cold on the base. (Maybe not such interesting news, but its all about the chit chat when your soldiering ;). They stay VERY busy, working 7 on, but I have heard it makes the days goes by, if in a blur. He said to tell everyone how MUCH the many care packages and letters are making him and the other soldiers feel very appreciated. The boxes keep coming to all the soldiers and while they are trying to get a store on base, they have set up a "free" shop where soldiers can come get toiletries that are being sent, free of charge. Josh says the food is plentiful and good, but most of all the US civilians manning the mess hall really go out of their way to offer their kitchen expertise and dining to provide solace and caring for the soldiers.

Please remember our soldiers in your prayers. Three soldiers from the ACR have given the ultimate sacrifice since their Iraqi deployment in November: Captain Rowdy J. Inman, 38, of Houston, Texas, and Sergeant Benjamin B. Portell, 27, of Bakersfield, California, who died on December 26th in Mosul, Iraq and Lt Jeremy Ray from HWB, 1/3 ACR, from Houston, TX and Aggie grad.

http://www.anysoldier.com/WhatToSend.cfm

https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/higher-fire/2004-November/000445.html

http://soldiersangels.org/

To all you troop supporters !!!!: The squadron that Josh is with, Sabre Squadron, has begun something very intereting. We are walking/running to the troop in Iraq! What this means is we are collecting the miles all the friends and family of the Sabre Squadron soldiers are running or walking here in the U.S., with the goal of accumulating 7,400 miles. You can even count the steps you do in the normal course of your day. ( Using a pedometer to keep track of cumulative steps, 2,000 steps will equal 1 mile.) You can count your steps on your treadmills! A lot of you know that I gave up sweets when Jake was deployed and I am doing the same for Josh. It turns out to be a very easy thing to do, the motivation makes it a mental no brainer. Although I do this for the soldiers, my way of sharing in their sacrifice (kind of lame I know). I am going to use this idea of "steps to Iraq" in the same way. If you are interested in getting into shape, you are the kind to make a New Year's resolution, join me and lots of others from Grim Troop (Josh's smaller contingent within Sabre Squadron), use the time you are walking to pray, meditate, and think and support our troops. You will probably be the winner in the end! Email me at siefert@rice.edu if you are interested in doing this and I will tell you how to log your miles!