Finally!

Trey is home! He and the other men of 1/7 Charley Co. arrived safely at the base at 29 Palms around midnight, August 11. Mom, Abby and I were able to be there to greet him - what an experience!

He is on a few days of leave now, then back to work. He will be coming back to Athens on August 22 for an extended leave.

Thank you all again for your support - it has meant the world to Trey ...and to me.

Love,
Nancy

Homecoming!

Hi all!
Well, he is finally coming home! 1/7 Charlie Co. will be on the ground in the continental U.S. by August 12. I spoke with him yesterday and he is anxious to see his family. If anyone is interested in going out to attend homecoming, please contact me directly. There will be a special commemoration of Sgt. Mac during the homecoming festivities. Trey will have ~ 3 weeks of leave late August thru early September, so we will all get time to spend with him then.

Thank you all for your prayers and support during the last few months. Please continue to remember all of those serving overseas, esp. Robert Love and the soldiers of the 1-121st Infantry in Afghanistan.

Nancy

News from 29 Palms...

Dear Spouses, Family Members, and Friends,
Our mail cut-off date is July 15th. Please do not send any mail overseas after this date.
We do not have our homecoming dates yet.
Next week we hope to receive estimated windows for the advon team and possibly main body from the Command.
Any questions please email or call me.
Yours
Ruby

Great news, friends! Please keep praying that they all come home safely, and remember Robert Love and the men of the 1-121st Infantry as they fight in Afghanistan.
Nancy

News from the sandbox

I heard from Trey yesterday and he is doing well. He sends his love and thanks for the letters, emails, facebook notes, and packages.

The temperature there now fluctuates between 125 and 135 degrees, but he says after it gets to 110, it's all just %@$# hot. They don't often get off the base now. The IP (Iraqi Police) are taking care of business. Hopefully they will be home soon.

For those of you who know Trey's friend, Robert Love, he has arrived in theater and is doing well.

Please keep them in your prayers - our boys are still in a dangerous situations.
Nancy

New pictures

Trey called today and sounds good. He says it is so hot there now that it is like living inside a hot blow dryer. Anytime he is not on duty, he wants to sleep.
He says to tell everyone hello and to thank you for the letters, packages and prayers....and to please keep them coming.

Details...

Trey was able to call this morning and I asked him about Sgt. McIlvaine. "Sgt. Mac" as they called him, was Trey's section leader. He was killed while they were out on patrol by an IED that they thought had been disarmed. There were others killed - another Marine, a Navy Seal, and many Iraqi army soldiers. There were three people injured. Trey and the rest of the patrol had to apply first aid and call for evacuation of the wounded.

He sounds ok...but it must be an experience that changes one forever .

Keep them all in your prayers - esp. Sgt. McIlvaine's family. He leaves behind two small children.

Sad News from the FRO at 29 Palms:

Hello everyone
I am sure that many of you are aware that very sadly 1/7 Charlie Co did have one casualty last week. Our hearts go out to Sgt McIlvaine’s family in this time of grief. Our Battalion is working hard in reaching out to Sgt McIlvaine’s family as well as taking care of our Marine’s and Sailor’s of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during this extremely sad time.

I will be flying out to the funeral with Mrs. Fosdal our Battalion Commanders wife. I will be back in the office on Thurs May 14th– but you can still reach me by my cell phone and email during this time.

If you have an emergency during that time please call our RBE on 760 830 5777/6056 for immediate assistance.

The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the
Sgt James R. McIlvaine Memorial FundMiddleburg Bank, PO Box 2250, Purcellville, VA 20134
The newsletter should be out by email in about a week – I am waiting for some changes and additions that the companies are making to their updates. Once I get those I will be able to put it all together and email it out to you all.

As always if you have any questions or concerns please contact me directly.
Yours
Ruby

I have no details, but this is a sobering reminder that they are still in danger. Please continue your prayers and support.

Nancy

Pictures!

There are a few pictures up that Trey sent this morning. He will send more later.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

More form Iraq

Trey was able to call again. He said he thought he ought to call back and let me know that we were disconnected by a power outage and not a bomb (he knew I was worrying!). It is hot there now. Trey describes it as comparable to standing around with a hot blow-dryer on your face. He is doing well and asks that everyone keep writing - he will get back to you soon!

News!

Trey was able to call this morning. He sounded good and we spoke about the recent suicide bombings reported in the news. He had not heard about them. He said the Iraqi Police were doing a good job handling suicide bombers and IEDs and were not relying on the American troops much now for support. Unfortunately we were disconnected....

As always, please keep the letters and packages going.

Nancy

Word from Iraq...

Trey called this morning (6:30 our time!). He sounded in good spirits, but tired. They still haven't had the down time he thought they would have - and whenever they have had a little time off, he sleeps. He said he was looking forward to a few days off, just sleeping and working out in the gym.

The seasons are finally changing. It is springtime (for the most part). He says the sandstorms are frequent and horrendous, and that it never fails to rain after one....so it rains mud.

He is going to send some pictures soon. I will post them here so stay tuned!

Please, please keep sending your letters, packages, and prayers. He looks forward to them every day!!

Thanks to you all...
Nancy

P.S. It looks like homecoming will be August or September!

Update...

Trey called today and he sounded really good! He sends thanks to everyone for their letters, love, and prayers and asks that you please keep them coming. They have been very busy and sometimes the phones and internet access are down for days at a stretch. Your letters (and emails) mean the world to him so far from home.

One of the items he asked for today was bar soap. What they are able to procure there is five million years old. He also asked for a paint brush to clean his weapons with - the sand storms are ferocious and the sand gets into everything.

And, yes, he really says the Iraqi kids are annoying. :-)

Nancy

News from Iraq!

Trey was able to call yesterday and he sounded wonderful. He is getting all of his mail and he asked me to thank you all for writing and to keep it up! Things are going to slow down for him during the next couple of weeks and he will try to respond to everyone.

He says the weather is cool there now, but as far as amenities go, his living arrangements are far superior to that at 29 Palms. Can you believe that? He says the food is great and they have cable television in all of the living quarters.

He has been able to interact with some of the local people and says the Iraqi children are a hoot! He was taught a enough arabic that he is able to communicate with them and they have a good time with them when they are out.

Letters sent through Motomail are the best way to communicate with him right now. If you need help setting up an account, please let me know. The packages that we sent took less than 2 weeks to reach him and everything arrived in good shape - if you would like to send a care package, please do. Keep in mind that there items that they are not allowed to have. He says they are going through socks like crazy!

Thank you for your prayers and letters!
Nancy

Note from the Family Readiness Officer for the 1/7

There is no guaranteed times to hear from your Marine. Some are in an area where access to phones and internet are not available. Please do not worry, everyone is fine - it all depends on their location. During my husbands deployments sometimes I have only heard from him 3 or 4 times during the whole 7 months whereas others heard weekly. I am afraid it is just one of those things.
I know it can be frustrating - just continue to write and send packages to him.
When he is able to I am sure he will call.
Ruby

News from Trey...

Trey was able to call yesterday and sounded in good spirits! He said the chow hall was 'awesome' and the gym was 'sweet'. He seems enamored with the landscape - it is lush and exotic. They are still getting settled and he has not yet received any of his mail.

I am passing along some websites that have been suggested for us to use:
*For info on what is happening at the base (CA) http://www.mccs29palms.com/
*For MOTOMAIL www.motomail.us
*A great family support website is www.marineparents.com (please follow OPSEC rules). Click on the link above then click on Marine parents, 1st Mar Division, 7th Regiment, 1/7.

For mailing packages, make sure you get a flat rate box from the post office and a customs form. You will need an itemized list of the contents of the box. Do not pay for package insurance. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for packages to arrive.

Please keep writing and praying.
N

News!

Just a short note to let you all know that they have arrived safely in theater. I had a short email from Trey this morning. They are short of sleep and the area 'smells funny', but , other than that, they are good - busy getting settled.

If anyone hears from him, please post a comment here so we can all keep up with the news. I am certain that there will be some good stories coming our way!

Happy Valentine's Day!
N

Remember - at the bottom of this site are two items that might be of interest: there are two clocks showing the time here and the time in Iraq, and there is a news map. If you click on Iraq you can read the current news there - in English!

Update...

Those of you that requested Trey's mailing address should be receiving it soon. You can begin sending letters and packages, if you like. I encourage you to write often. He will deploy shortly so get those phone calls in while you can!

Nancy

The latest...

I have received a verified mailing address for Trey. Email me if you would like to have it. As a reminder, we have been asked not to post these addresses publicly or on the internet. If you would like to send a care package, make certain that it does not contain any perishable food stuffs, any food stuffs of pork origin or any pork products (no Slim Jims!), no alcohol, and no adult reading material. Trey may not have ready access to a PX and will let us know what items he would be glad to get.

We have been notified that they leave soon. For security reasons, I cannot post dates and times here. He is excited and confident, both in his training and in the leadership in his unit. Pray for all those leaving with Trey. Keep a positive attitude.

Nancy

The latest from the FRO at 29 Palms

We have been asked not to post mailing addresses. I will email everyone with a mailing address as soon as it has been verified. We have been notified that flights will begin leaving soon.

From the FRO at 29 Palms:

Please disregard the mailing address that I emailed out. The address has been changed. I will email out the new address once we verify that it will not be changed again.

Stay tuned...

I think it is appropriate (as does Dana) that we start off the posts on this blog with a huge happy 21st birthday to Trey. As we speak , the 1/7 is preparing to deploy. Have the best birthday ever, Trey!
Luv ya!!
Mom

Happy Birthday Trey!

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Who We Are

It was early that morning,

Only a handful was awake.

The time was slowly turning,

Each of us waiting for a break.

We all were surely tired

Every bone in our body ached

Pain is nothing but a feeling

The mind can overtake

We serve our country so proudly

Our minds set only on the mission

Never heard of the word cowardly

For we do not know the definition

The enemy is plotting against us

Wanting us dead in every way

We give our bodies and our souls

For the freedom of the U.S of A.

Our children will look back

Wondering how and what we did

Some of them will read about us

The others will want it hid

For we are the fighting forceAmerica's 911

No one else can be like us

We will fight and refuse to run

We are defined as Devil Dogs

Our patriotism is so true

We defend the colors of our country

The Red, White, and the Blue

You can join the other services

But why settle for second best

Our boundaries have no limits

The hell with all the rest

We come from cities big and small

From families rich and poor

We are considered a band of brothers

In the United States Marine Corps

by Michael D. Fouraker