Will in front of his Humvee. Taken Summer 2007.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Bridge Patrol
Sent 06-12-07: View from under a bridge over the Tigris River. He and his men are "pulling security"
My POD
Sent 06-10-07: This is Will's room/POD at the FOB (forward operating base), Taji. He stops by here once every few weeks to shower and relax. I think they are called PODs because that is exactly what they look like from the outside.
Life in a Humvee
Sent June 10, 2007: The first picture is of Will in his humvee ("my truck") and the second picture is from his humvee on the approach into Camp TAJI, the FOB (Forward Operating Base)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Teammates at Taji
Sent May 26, 2007:
"I'm doing alright, but its getting hot over here, 115 degrees. The other day Seth Nieman was up here on a mission and I got to spend some time with him. We went to get a bowl of ice cream at the chow hall and I got a picture in front of the Army jersey there. It is the same number and same year design as Anthony Miller my teammate who died when I was a freshman and he was a sophomore. I look at it and think of him every time i'm in the chow hall. Please send one of these to the coaches, I know Coach Waugh will especially like it.
Ok I got to go, I just got a call on my snitch phone."
Ok I got to go, I just got a call on my snitch phone."
My New Home
Sent May 15, 2007:
Al is one of Will's West Point classmates and his roommate back at his house in Killeen.
"I attached a picture of Al and I in front of the new place I live, theTaji IP station. The showers are there and hooked up but some of thepipes are leaking from the damage of transporting it, the lightsflicker and there is no Fre-on in the AC it all should be fixed bythis weekend.
I'm also overseeing a project to rewire the wholebuilding and bring in a 250K generator which will make a bigdifference since we only have about 4 hours of electricity and have a15K generator to run the mission essential eqiupment.
Yes there where a couple VBIED in my sector the other day, my guys andI are alright. We were the first ones to arrive on scene and see a 25foot whole in the bridge near us. There has been on ongoing operationto cover the whole with a military transportable bridge since itoccured two days ago. Needless to say i've been busy."
Monday, April 30, 2007
Entire Troop on Patrol
Sent April 30, 2007.
"Here is a recent picture of our troop doing a dismounted mission. Don't let the dimness fool you it was 1100, 90 degrees, and so bright the flash didn't work. We walked about 4-5 miles total for this mission. It was tough but exciting.
Things are going alright, but the extension has definitly dampened some of the attitudes of my soldiers as this should be our half way point."
Things are going alright, but the extension has definitly dampened some of the attitudes of my soldiers as this should be our half way point."
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Iraqi Fisherman on the Tigris
Sent April 6, 2007
"SSG Tienert, Jack my interpretar and an iraqi fisherman who uses a canoe, car batteries, a metal pole and a metal net to fish. He told us he throws the net in the water, and then uses the batteries to charge the metal rod and then charges the metal net thus killing any fish in the net. Needless to say he does very well and he enjoys it. "
Will with Little Girl
Sent April 6, 2007"me and a little iraqi girl, their house is right on the tigris. It was the first time I had seen a rose over here. "
Thank You Letter from Will
Sent April 6, 2007.
To all who have been so supportive,
Thanks to every one who has supported my platoon through mail and prayers. I have been overwhelmed with your all’s kindness and love which is why I am writing this letter to show my thanks and appreciation to every one. I try to write every one back, but too often I am unable too.
Life here in Iraq is tough and makes one appreciate even the smallest things. As you may know my troop operates in the twenty mile area north of Baghdad called Taji. If things where different I would write about how interesting it is being in the birthplace of civilization and tell you about how I live 3km from Tigris River and 4 km from the Gates of Baghdad, but this is a war torn country far from being any sort of tourist destination. Life in war, make no mistake there is a war going on over here, brings all emotions to their peak. We have had our ups and downs, especially through the holidays, but we stay focused and help each other get through this long year. My soldiers are missing their anniversaries, kid’s birthday, graduations and one of my soldier’s might even miss the birth of his first son which makes your support so much more helpful.
Whenever I receive a package I bring it to my patrol base, an abandon house just north of Baghdad, and place it in the entry way, take any personnel letters and then let the guys take whatever they want. My packages usually don’t last more then a few minutes before the contents are all gone. Letters are distributed at our command post on Taji and always bring a smile to a soldiers face no matter how simple the letters are. It is helpful to all soldiers, young and old, to be reminded that people care about them and respect what we are doing. My soldier’s don’t write back too often because they themselves are some time embarrassed to write letters, but they always come to me and tell me how much they appreciate their mail.
I will attach a list of requests as well as what we receive from the Army in order to help with any care package ideas. Please don’t limit yourself to these requests because we always enjoy surprises.
Supplies from the Army:
Maxwell house coffee
Coffee Filters
Coffee Creamer and Sugar
Hot chocolate Mix
Liquid hand soap
bug spray
peanut butter
jelly
honey
batteries of all kinds
pens
pencils
notepads
Requests:
Dunkin Donuts coffee “flavored style”
Starbucks coffee
Movies: old and new
Candles
Brain games/mind puzzles
Magazines:
Motor Trend
Men’s Journal
Men’s Health
National Geographic
Popular Science
Maxim
Stuff
FHM
ESPN
S.I. (we’re already subscribed)
Other popular magazine subjects:
Home renovations, Travel
Real estate and Investing
A special request is for all the school classes that have written my soldiers to please send a list of the kid’s names, address of the school and the teacher name. I would like to put these lists on the wall, by a box of envelopes, to allow my soldiers to write these kids to start a pen pal program if they want. You can email me these lists at my email address below.
We are making a difference over here some highlights are the building of the first all girls school in Taji, bringing electricity and water to two different towns and putting numerous insurgents behind bars. The American soldier could not go through the stresses of war and still perform so well with out the support and prayers from back home. The most important gesture you can do for us over here is simply to pray for us. The power of prayer is undeniable and is truly evident every day over here. The true test of who you are is how your perform on your worst day and that is when the prayers matter the most and we have had a share of rough days but my guys excelled and continue to excel. I can’t thank yall enough for your support.
Thank You,
William Sullivan
1LT
HOOLIGANS!
To all who have been so supportive,
Thanks to every one who has supported my platoon through mail and prayers. I have been overwhelmed with your all’s kindness and love which is why I am writing this letter to show my thanks and appreciation to every one. I try to write every one back, but too often I am unable too.
Life here in Iraq is tough and makes one appreciate even the smallest things. As you may know my troop operates in the twenty mile area north of Baghdad called Taji. If things where different I would write about how interesting it is being in the birthplace of civilization and tell you about how I live 3km from Tigris River and 4 km from the Gates of Baghdad, but this is a war torn country far from being any sort of tourist destination. Life in war, make no mistake there is a war going on over here, brings all emotions to their peak. We have had our ups and downs, especially through the holidays, but we stay focused and help each other get through this long year. My soldiers are missing their anniversaries, kid’s birthday, graduations and one of my soldier’s might even miss the birth of his first son which makes your support so much more helpful.
Whenever I receive a package I bring it to my patrol base, an abandon house just north of Baghdad, and place it in the entry way, take any personnel letters and then let the guys take whatever they want. My packages usually don’t last more then a few minutes before the contents are all gone. Letters are distributed at our command post on Taji and always bring a smile to a soldiers face no matter how simple the letters are. It is helpful to all soldiers, young and old, to be reminded that people care about them and respect what we are doing. My soldier’s don’t write back too often because they themselves are some time embarrassed to write letters, but they always come to me and tell me how much they appreciate their mail.
I will attach a list of requests as well as what we receive from the Army in order to help with any care package ideas. Please don’t limit yourself to these requests because we always enjoy surprises.
Supplies from the Army:
Maxwell house coffee
Coffee Filters
Coffee Creamer and Sugar
Hot chocolate Mix
Liquid hand soap
bug spray
peanut butter
jelly
honey
batteries of all kinds
pens
pencils
notepads
Requests:
Dunkin Donuts coffee “flavored style”
Starbucks coffee
Movies: old and new
Candles
Brain games/mind puzzles
Magazines:
Motor Trend
Men’s Journal
Men’s Health
National Geographic
Popular Science
Maxim
Stuff
FHM
ESPN
S.I. (we’re already subscribed)
Other popular magazine subjects:
Home renovations, Travel
Real estate and Investing
A special request is for all the school classes that have written my soldiers to please send a list of the kid’s names, address of the school and the teacher name. I would like to put these lists on the wall, by a box of envelopes, to allow my soldiers to write these kids to start a pen pal program if they want. You can email me these lists at my email address below.
We are making a difference over here some highlights are the building of the first all girls school in Taji, bringing electricity and water to two different towns and putting numerous insurgents behind bars. The American soldier could not go through the stresses of war and still perform so well with out the support and prayers from back home. The most important gesture you can do for us over here is simply to pray for us. The power of prayer is undeniable and is truly evident every day over here. The true test of who you are is how your perform on your worst day and that is when the prayers matter the most and we have had a share of rough days but my guys excelled and continue to excel. I can’t thank yall enough for your support.
Thank You,
William Sullivan
1LT
HOOLIGANS!
Thank you to School Kids
Please distribute to all the schools that have written my guys and I:
Jenny’s school in Boston,
Elizabeth Dete’s school in NYC,
Jenniger Gilligan’s class at Christ the King,
Sally Barnett’s school in Atlanta,
Crabapple school, specifically Anna Walker’s class
Tara Land’s school in Indianapolis,
the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf,
the Campus School at Middle Tennessee State University,
Mrs. Schefstad’s class and any of her friends who wrote me too
Most Importantly Mrs. Baxter’s class at OLA!
I have received many letters from classes and many bright young school children. I thank you for your support of my platoon and myself. I wanted to send this letter to answer some of the many questions I have received.
My favorite color: (seems to be the most asked question)
Growing up it was always Red, but my favorite combination of colors is Black and Gold they are my school colors from West Point and the color of my truck at home.
My favorite sport: is football, but I love all sports.
Pets: I grew up with cats but I look forward to returning home and adopting a Boxer (dog) from the Austin, Texas Humane society.
The Army:
I do enjoy being a soldier. It is something I take great pride in because I help people everyday and I get to do a lot of exciting things. It allows me to be a part of something bigger than myself and gives me a sense of purpose.
My Platoon, The HOOLIGANS:
My guys are from all over the county and all have different backgrounds. They all enjoy their job but miss their loved ones back home dearly. I have Bradley fighting vehicles and HMMWV gun trucks. The Bradleys are like tanks because they are heavily armored vehicles with tracks instead of tires, but they have a smaller gun and can carry passengers in the back unlike tanks. My gun trucks are up armored HMMWVs with a turret and machine gun on top.
Iraq:
Iraq is a third world country with potential. I live right by the Tigris river which is surrounded by Palm, Orange, and Date trees on both sides. There are beautiful blue skies and sunset’s everyday. Baghdad is a big modernized city with a university, zoo and museum. The people here are good people but have lived under Saddam Hussein’s oppression for so long that they are too scared to do a lot of things. Insurgents and Terrorist are trying to prevent the good people from Iraq from having the freedom’s they deserve such as education, food and the chance for happiness.
The children of Iraq don’t have the typical childhood of American boys and girls, death and violence are apart of every day life. Most of the kids go to school 4 days a week for 3 hours a day, boys from 9-11am and girls from 12-2pm. The weekend starts on Friday here as everyone spends the day in their mosques in prayer. Saturday and Sunday are typical leisure days that most people don’t work during.
Jobs in Iraq are scarce and majority of the people in my area don’t have jobs and can’t read. A lot of the people in my area are farmers. There is an intricate irrigation system set up, reminiscent of Babylonian times, which allows people to crop and harvest their own food to eat and sell. It is quite common to have farm animals fenced in people’s back yards much like American’s fence in their backyard for dogs, but the farm animals are chickens, cows or donkey’s that they actually use. There are many beautiful Arabic houses of all sizes around me, but the engineering and or the poor upkeep is causing some of the houses to collapse. Many of the intelligent and educated personnel in Iraq have left for Syria or Iran in fear for their own safety. The young children of Iraq who go to school and grow up around seeing American’s help them truly are the future and hope for their country.
Go Braves!
Go Falcons!
Go Jackets!
Go Dawgs!
GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY!
Thank you all,
1LT Will Sullivan
Jenny’s school in Boston,
Elizabeth Dete’s school in NYC,
Jenniger Gilligan’s class at Christ the King,
Sally Barnett’s school in Atlanta,
Crabapple school, specifically Anna Walker’s class
Tara Land’s school in Indianapolis,
the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf,
the Campus School at Middle Tennessee State University,
Mrs. Schefstad’s class and any of her friends who wrote me too
Most Importantly Mrs. Baxter’s class at OLA!
I have received many letters from classes and many bright young school children. I thank you for your support of my platoon and myself. I wanted to send this letter to answer some of the many questions I have received.
My favorite color: (seems to be the most asked question)
Growing up it was always Red, but my favorite combination of colors is Black and Gold they are my school colors from West Point and the color of my truck at home.
My favorite sport: is football, but I love all sports.
Pets: I grew up with cats but I look forward to returning home and adopting a Boxer (dog) from the Austin, Texas Humane society.
The Army:
I do enjoy being a soldier. It is something I take great pride in because I help people everyday and I get to do a lot of exciting things. It allows me to be a part of something bigger than myself and gives me a sense of purpose.
My Platoon, The HOOLIGANS:
My guys are from all over the county and all have different backgrounds. They all enjoy their job but miss their loved ones back home dearly. I have Bradley fighting vehicles and HMMWV gun trucks. The Bradleys are like tanks because they are heavily armored vehicles with tracks instead of tires, but they have a smaller gun and can carry passengers in the back unlike tanks. My gun trucks are up armored HMMWVs with a turret and machine gun on top.
Iraq:
Iraq is a third world country with potential. I live right by the Tigris river which is surrounded by Palm, Orange, and Date trees on both sides. There are beautiful blue skies and sunset’s everyday. Baghdad is a big modernized city with a university, zoo and museum. The people here are good people but have lived under Saddam Hussein’s oppression for so long that they are too scared to do a lot of things. Insurgents and Terrorist are trying to prevent the good people from Iraq from having the freedom’s they deserve such as education, food and the chance for happiness.
The children of Iraq don’t have the typical childhood of American boys and girls, death and violence are apart of every day life. Most of the kids go to school 4 days a week for 3 hours a day, boys from 9-11am and girls from 12-2pm. The weekend starts on Friday here as everyone spends the day in their mosques in prayer. Saturday and Sunday are typical leisure days that most people don’t work during.
Jobs in Iraq are scarce and majority of the people in my area don’t have jobs and can’t read. A lot of the people in my area are farmers. There is an intricate irrigation system set up, reminiscent of Babylonian times, which allows people to crop and harvest their own food to eat and sell. It is quite common to have farm animals fenced in people’s back yards much like American’s fence in their backyard for dogs, but the farm animals are chickens, cows or donkey’s that they actually use. There are many beautiful Arabic houses of all sizes around me, but the engineering and or the poor upkeep is causing some of the houses to collapse. Many of the intelligent and educated personnel in Iraq have left for Syria or Iran in fear for their own safety. The young children of Iraq who go to school and grow up around seeing American’s help them truly are the future and hope for their country.
Go Braves!
Go Falcons!
Go Jackets!
Go Dawgs!
GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY!
Thank you all,
1LT Will Sullivan
2nd Platoon Apache Troop - The Hooligans
Sent April 6, 2007.
The picture was taken at Taji after we completed a training lane in ordet to allow the officers and NCO at brigade to understand how we operate and judge our level of proficiency. The Brigade planning staff said we were the best and after a month they still compare other units to us.
First row,
SSG Grisham, SPC Powell, SPC Fyfe, SPC Dooley, SSG Fournier and SGT Bunch laying down (he is our senior medic filling in while Lecompte took leave).
Second Row:
SFC Walker, PFC Kendle, PFC Desmond, PFC Cruey (all three kneeling down), SPC Perez, SPC Yarbrough both squating down, SGT Mangler, SGT James
Third row:
PFC Kuhl, SPC Nichols, SGT Tienert, PFC Falk, SGT Uren, SGT Greenlee, CPL Dick, 1LT Sullivan
Bashab School
Sent March 21, 2007
We recently delivered 50 soccer balls and a bag full of t-shirts to a school where they don't like us too much. The school hours are boys from 9-11 and girls from 12-2. The principle stood at the gate with a 4 ft long stick beating away the other kids trying to get in. They go to school 4 days a week Mon-Thurs. Friday every one spends the day praying in the mosque and saturday and sunday only a few people work.
Also, two weeks ago the villagers of one of our towns stood up against a terrorist cell leader and killed him unfortuanatly at the cost to some of the villagers too. Since then there have been less attacks as the terrorist cell is fighting over who will be the next leader as well as running and hiding from us constantly. This is a great news story that happens quite frequently in Iraq but you never hear about it back home.
We recently delivered 50 soccer balls and a bag full of t-shirts to a school where they don't like us too much. The school hours are boys from 9-11 and girls from 12-2. The principle stood at the gate with a 4 ft long stick beating away the other kids trying to get in. They go to school 4 days a week Mon-Thurs. Friday every one spends the day praying in the mosque and saturday and sunday only a few people work.
Also, two weeks ago the villagers of one of our towns stood up against a terrorist cell leader and killed him unfortuanatly at the cost to some of the villagers too. Since then there have been less attacks as the terrorist cell is fighting over who will be the next leader as well as running and hiding from us constantly. This is a great news story that happens quite frequently in Iraq but you never hear about it back home.
Bashab School: Students
Picture of Iraqi Army handing out Tshirts at the Bashab School (see Bashab School Post). Taken March 21, 2007
Bashab School - Sgt Junior James
Picture of Sgt Junior James at the Bashab School (see post about Bashab School). Sent March 21, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
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