I am so upset for my friend S. The 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry is the division that her husband is in and he was supposed to be home in March. Now it will be weeks or months later and they found out thanks to a newspaper article in the Star Tribune. Orders came directly from President Bush.
S received this e-mail a few minutes ago about the change in plans and had already heard from her husband this afternoon. Nice eh?
I have been made aware that the 1/34 BCT will be extended in Iraq for an unspecified period of time. We have not yet determined how this decision will affect the mission of the BCT, but will provide as much information as possible once the unit has been able to analyze any mission change and determine what information is appropriate to disseminate while maintaining operational security.
The President has given his message and the troops currently in Iraq are being extended. This includes 1st BCT!
Is this a raw deal? Of course! We have every right to be angry, but thereality is that the long awaited homecoming will be pushed back.
The message I want to give is that now, probably more than ever, is the time\nto reach out to each other and through mutual support, weather this set-back.
I will be asking the State of Minnesota to step up to help the families of our soldiers. My hope is that this would help ease the burdens.
I am so proud of our soldiers and airment and their families. We owe all of you so much and will do our utmost to help you through this change and disappointment. Please be sure to send this information to as many family members as possible so that they are receiving the information from our family vice hearing about it through the media.