Please keep my son Bill in your thoughts and prayers during his upcoming deployment to Iraq, scheduled for April 4th. He will be in charge of a 4 person Civil Affairs Team.

For those of you who don't know the story, Bill attended West Point, graduating in '97. He put in his 5 years, first at Ft. Drum near here. Then he attended advanced training and was stationed at Ft. Polk, LA and attained the rank of Captain before getting out.

He then went back to school, got his MBA and a job working for the Feds in Arlington, VA. He had just been promoted to a job that it sounded as though he was going to enjoy. Then last October while preparing to leave for a week's job training at Ft. Bragg, he received his orders to report mid November to Ft. Jackson. Just a couple days before he was to report, after he had taken a leave from his job, given up his apartment, put his furniture in storage, etc., he received a phone call saying that he didn't have to go if he didn't want to. Apparently the Army was getting some flack about calling up folks whose reserve committment had been satisfied. (Bill's roomate has been out 12 years!) But Bill decided to go anyway, saying that if he didn't go he might be replaced by someone who was married with kids. Out of the 50 or so in his group who were called, only 5 declined.

Bill was one of 30 out of 500 going selected to go in advance of the rest of the group, the remaining troops going shortly after Easter. He goes first to Kuwait, then on to Bagdad.

I'm so glad I went down to see him this past weekend and feel much more confident about his decision after seeing him and talking with other military personnel I encountered, many of whom have already served at least one tour over there.

If any of you would like to email Bill with your well wishes I'm sure he'd appreciate it. Just say you're one of my lighthouse friends. He's lefeverlefever@yahoo.com. Thanks.

Not only will he be in our thoughts and prayers but he also has my ultimate respect for his reasons for his decision, Sue!

Sue and Paul

I most certainly will add him to my prayer list along with all the service men and women and wish him God Speed!

Will keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
HCS

Your son and also you will be in my prayers and thoughts. What a brave young man to go when he might have stayed home so that others could.

I'll also send him an email.

Bill will definitely be in my prayers. He is a real hero for choosing to go when he could have stayed home.

Sue, your Son Bill will be in my prayers also.

A man of such integrity Sue...blessings to him and all of the Troops!

Sue,

Your son will be in our prayers.

Mary and Jeff

May God assign an Angel to look over your son.

Mombo, sent a short note to Bill.

Sue,

Your son Bill will be in my thoughts. Sounds like you did a fine job with him - the World needs more just like him.

Dennis

My thoughts and prayers will be with you, Sue and Bill. I just had a close nephew (WP-Captain) return from his 2nd Iraq tour(a year)in February.
Bob

Sue,

Bill will certainly be in our thoughts and prayers during his deployment. Bill and others like him represent the very best of our country and what makes it so great.

Bill will be in my thoughts and prayers, Sue. God keep him safe during his tour.

My thoughts and prayers for Bill and you. It must have been a tough decision, but his basis for it, and his actions, are noble. We need more people with that kind of character.

Thanks everyone. Well it's the 5th and Bill hasn't left yet. Now he says it's to be either the 8th or the 11th. Here's Bill, complete with his body armor.

Can't be Mombo's kid - no beer in sight . . .

I pray that God will protect him and keep him safe.

You have my prayers and thank him for me, too!

Well Bill's been in Iraq for a little over a month now and has been sending a few photos. Here's one of him talking to the foreman of a work crew that's building a new school. Bill's on the left. Next to him is his interpreter, Tommy. And on the right is the foreman.

Sue, I've had Bill in my thoughts and prayers since you told us about him. God bless him and keep him safe. Loved the picture; please keep us posted on his tour of duty over there.

Bill will be in my prayers.
It is brave men like Bill that makes our county strong.

What an outstanding young man your son must be. My prayers will be with him, as well as with all the other servicemen who are over there.

A big thanks to Bill and all the other men and women serving their country in Iraq.

Always great to see a photo, Sue! Bill continues to be in our thoughts and prayers.
Bob & MaryAnn

Thanks for sharing your photo of Bill with us, Sue. He continues to be in my thoughts, and I pray for his safe return.

Well here's an update. It's a good news/but mostly bad news report.

First some time ago one of Bill's team of four got shot. His wallet stopped one bullet but another one hit him in the hip. He was not seriouly injured.

Then the fellow he roomed with while at Ft. Bragg was shot. Tom was also in charge of a Civil Affairs Team. Bill thinks he's currently at Walter Reed in D.C. He's got feeling in both his legs but needs a couple of operations before he can anticipate a full recovery.

Bill is on leave. He spent the first week in Sydney, Australia. While he was there he learned that his team's vehicle had run over an IED. One of his team was killed, one injured and airlifted to Qatar, the third suffered bumps and bruises.

Bill has changed his plans and is coming home for the rest of his leave. He is due to fly out of Sydney in about 3 1/2 hours and 23 hours later should arrive in Syracuse. He has to be back on October 2nd so he won't be here long but you bet I'll be glad to see him. Especially seeing how things are going over there. Once he returns to duty he'll still have another 7 months.

Please continue to pray for Bill's team, their families and all military personnel during these awful times. They need all the support they can get.

Sue,

You and Bill have been in my thoughts for some time. I'm told that "thoughts" are silent prayers. God bless you both. . . .

Sandy

I'm sure that you will enjoy that time with him. Bill and team, will be in my prayers. A big thank you to Bill and all that are serving in our armed forces!!! Enjoyed the photos.

Wow!

Bill arrived home last night as planned. He looks and seems good considering the events of the past few days. He and his Dad are going to play a little golf this afternoon. Of course I get to fold the huge load of laundry that was in the dryer when he left...

Waiting to hear back from my daughter Linda who may fly out here tomorrow. Tomorrow we're planning a get together here for dinner, family and a good friend of Bill's from high school. this morning we visited with neighbors.

Bill leaves Sat. pm, Syracuse to JFK to Heathrow to Dubai to Kuwait where he will wait for military transport back to Baghdad and then to his base camp.

The news of his team member's death was on our local news last night and in the morning newspaper.

"Army Staff Sgt. Carlos Dominguez, 57, died Saturday in Taji. A resident of Savannah, Ga., he was assigned to the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion in Utica (NY)." Utica is close to Syracuse so that's why the story was on our local news, as is news about those stationed at Ft. Drum, which is also close to Syracuse.

There is no age, sexual or racial discrimination in the lousy war. You may have read this morning of the death of 23 year old West Point graduate Emily Perez, who was killed earlier this month and buried yesterday at West Point.

Bill's hasn't yet received any further news on the other team members who were injured.

He did talk with his friend Tom at Walter Reed a while ago. He's got shattered bones in his pelvis and has to stay in the hospital mending for around three months. Then, depending on how he is, the doctors will see if surgery is needed.

Thanks for the update! Keep us posted and enjoy your son's visit!!!

Thanks for the update, Sue! I have been thinking of Bill since you first posted about him and pray for him every night. It is horrendous to hear everyday about the terrible casualties in Iraq. God watch over him and all the others involved in this war.

Glad to hear he will be home for a visit.
I will certainly add Bill to my prayers as well as his team and others fighting in Iraq.

I'm glad I saw this post...

BB

On December 30th I got an email from Bill saying that one of the soldiers in his unit had been shot by a sniper. They were in a market area and this fellow was standing about 4 feet away from Bill. Whew, a close call! The soldier wasn't seriously injured but was evaquated to the States.

Then today I received an email from Bill that contained the following article. So not all the news is bad!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. January 8, 2007


A Day of Caring for Others

By Sgt. Cheryl Cox
1st Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs


TAJI, Iraq – Building relationships with the local populations is the first step in building a safe, secure and stable environment for the people of Iraq.
The Soldiers of Company C, 414th Civil Affairs Battalion spent Jan. 7 doing just that by helping people, providing them with wheelchairs and sewing materials.
The day began with the Soldiers visiting the Taji Qada Qada (City Council Building) to deliver 19 wheelchairs to families in need.
“We have had these wheelchairs for a while, and have just been waiting for a date to deliver them to the families,” explained Capt. William LeFever, a team leader with Co. C, 414th CA Bn. “We are now working to get more.”
Due to severe injuries and a lack of vaccines, many Iraqi people, young and old, are unable to walk and need the assistance of a wheelchair to get around easily.
One family that received a wheelchair has a five-year-old girl, Fatima Abdullzahra, who will never be able to walk.
“Fatima was thrown by her sister when she was a baby and it injured her legs,” said her mother, Alham Hassam. “We have always just put her on the ground but now we can take her outside. I am so happy.”
It wasn’t just the families who were happy about the delivery. The Soldiers were also very happy about the reactions from the people receiving the wheelchairs.
“It is so good to see them smile after being immobilized for so long,” said Sgt. 1st Class Bonita Jones, of Co. C, 414th CA Bn. “All the older woman just smile and put their hands in the air as they sit in the wheel chair for the first time.”
As the day progressed and all 19 wheelchairs were handed out and it was time for the Soldiers to go to their next destination to hand out supplies to the Al-Assriah Women’s Clinic.
When the Soldiers arrived at the women’s clinic the unloaded several boxes that contained a sewing machine, material and other items needed for the women to sew at the center.
The Women’s clinic was designed for the women of Al-Assriah to have a place to work. The women can sew clothes to be sold on the local market or just sew clothes for their families.
At the end of the day, the Soldiers of Co. C said they felt as though they had a made an impact of the lives of many people and were ready to get back to Camp Taji to begin the planning and arrangements for future missions to assist the people of Taji and other local communities.

Trouble is, the good deeds are overlooked all too often. Glad to hear Bill is safe, and great to read that their CA teams are able to make a difference for the people.

This is a great story...so why does this type of news not get headline news??? I'm sure you are extremely proud of Bill...as you should be...

Good news Sue.
Bob

Thanks for the update Sue. I'm sure glad to hear he is safe and well at this time.

Great Story, Sue. Great Son, too. Still in our prayers as are all those in harm's way.

Sue,

I haven't seen this post before now. My thoughts and prayers are with Bill and your family. It is the great man and women of our service and the families that wait for their return that make this country of ours so strong.

Thank you all so much for your support. This past year + has been very difficult. And we are just one family of so many in harm's way. There cetainly doesn't seem to be any easy or "right" way to solve the problems in Iraq or elsewhere in our troubled world. The enemy in so many cases is not easily recognized or defined.

I'm happy to report that Bill returned from Iraq today and is at Ft. Bragg in NC. Another couple of weeks and he'll be out of the Army...again.

Thanks to everyone who's had us in their thoughts and prayers. It's been a long year. And as previouly stated we're only one family of many. So we must continue to support and pray for all the others.

Great news, Sue. I'm sure you will be anxiously waiting to see Bill. These next couple weeks may seem like they take forever!

Great news, Sue! The rest of the troups can certainly use our prayers too. Terry's son who is in the army was supposed to come home in July after his year but now it won't be until November.

Great News Sue! Please thank him for us.

Bob

Great News !!!

Good to hear our troops coming home safe and alive !!!

Sue, I'm glad that Bill will soon be back home with his loving family. Please thank him for me and my family.

Sue,
We echo those same sentiments. Our soldiers are truly the heroes that deserve our prayers and support. Thank God for your son's safe return.
Grateful in Colorado,
Judy & Bill

Sue,
Great news! And definately answered prayers!
And I'll echo the previous comment...thank him for us for serving our country!
Continued prayers for the others for a safe return home soon!

Sue,

That is wonderful news.

That is great news. when you get a hold of him don't let go.

Tom Deierlein was Bill's apartment mate when they were in training at Ft. Bragg prior to their deployment to Iraq.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19441074/

A very powerful, well written piece. Will certainly have to be sure to go back each day to read the next installment. Thanks for posting, Sue.

Thanks for posting that, Sue. I'm going to read all the installments too.

Judy

Thank you Sue. A very powerful and well written piece.

My sentiments exactly! I wish they would think like that in this country.

If you have not yet done so, I would encourage you to read all five of the installments as well as the diary entries that go with each. This is the story of an incredible person, one who can be an example for all of us. His desire to help, to do good in the midst of so much bad speaks so much about him. His determination to continue and to recover from serious injuries should inspire. This is a story about all that is good about our country and our citizens, about what one person can do to help make a difference.

I generally do not follow serial stories like this, but the writer (Laura T. Coffey) has done a great job with this incredible story. Well worth reading.

Just to let you folks know - "Major" Bill is once again in Iraq, or on the way if not actually there yet. He left from Ft. Bragg last night and had a layover in Germany. Said sleeping on the floor of the plane wasn't the greatest. Funny when he went before he took a commerial plane. This time he's going as a civilian, on a 4 month rotational assignment for his job which is working for the Department of Defense Intelligence and he went on a cargo plane!

Bill will be in our prayers, Sue. Keep us posted.

We know how you feel Sue, Terry's son Michael just got back after his second tour there. He too is a Major in the Army and now stationed in Fort Lewis,WA with his wife and two kids. Bill will be in my prayers again too.

We'll keep Bill in our prayers. Hope the 4 months goes quickly and he's back home healthy, safe and sound.

Our prayers too are going with Bill !

Sue,
I was unaware of this thread until now.
My utmost respect goes out to Bill, Tom, and all of our personnel, both military and civilian, who are putting their lives on the line so that the rest of us here, and throughout the world, can enjoy a "normal" life. That respect and gratitude also goes out to all of the families of these brave Americans, (and those in other countries, as well, who are part of this fight), who have sacrificed EVERYTHING for our way of life to continue.
I agree that today's media focuses on an "agenda" to bring forth only the sensational and focuses the country on only what they want you to know. I believe strongly that too many times deeds like Tom's and Bill's are being performed throughout Iraq and other places that are totally ignored by most of the media because they don't want all of us here to know the entire story of what's happening over there.
Please, thank Bill for every one of us here in the states, and also everywhere in the world where their efforts are helping to improve our lives. I thank all of them immensely, and though it may not be a popular sentiment in this country right now, (at least from a media's standpoint, anyway), I wish them Godspeed to continue the fight and finish up what they started. Yes, it's true, every news of an American who doesn't make it back is disheartening and troublesome, but if the job is left unfinished, there will be many more 911's, USS Cole's, etc.
God bless all of them!