In Bob's Words

Things Bob wrote to us...

Christmas Card, Christmas 2003 from Iraq

Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year...I am doing well. The holidays are full of activity. Strange things happen when an army used to being at peace is deployed at length in a combat zone...I cannot complain though, all of my soldiers are alive and I do my best to keep them in good spirits and on their toes. Our Christmas celebration will be the best I can plan. We will see what happens, but I predict it will not be bad at all. We will have our true Christmas upon our arrival home.

I am sorry for all the good moments I was not present for. My choice and dream was to be a tanker in the best army in the world. Here I am through many obstacles and side tracks. My only regret is that I will have to buy a lot of beer and Buffalo wings to make it up! Tomorrow the fight will go on. We will go on. Let us never forget the things in life which are truly important. That was my gift this year, and I will never forget. Let us all have a great Christmas and I will see you all soon!

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Email from Iraq, June 21, 2004

I just wanted to say Happy Fathers Day to you Dad...Because of you (and Mom) and your hard work and sacrifice, my sister and I are here now. All of the experiences we have had as a family made us who we are today and have made us strong to face the challenges that arise in front of us...Everything that has happened....teach us about the joys and sorrows of life. While the news and popular media extol the soldier as the cornerstone of our society, soldiers are just one piece of the foundation of our society. Without parents there would be no soldiers...without excellent parents there would be no great soldiers, doctors, scientists, etc. I love you Dad and Mom. I have seen...in Iraq...and I thank God that He saw fit to bring me to you. All you guys have helped me so much, from the packages you have sent to the advice and good wishes. For the prayers and the thanks, I am in debt to you all.
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Email from Iraq, April, 27, 2004

Hey guys, Still hangin in there. Things are still rolling along for us. Hopefully you guys are not worrying too much. We are all fine in Bandit Troop, and will continue to be fine until we leave....again....I have heard of some popular strife and political fighting about Iraq of late. Please stress to your friends that this current spike in resistance is a test of our resolve and we must not be weak in the face of adversity. Perhaps the fight was not here when we arrived, but it is now and we must remain strong to fight back. This is in the tradition of honor and everything the United States supposedly represents, no matter what the politicians may say to twist the truth to their advantage in a petty electoral race. This fight has grown into one for freedom against the tyranny of terror and evil and we must stop it here and now lest we open up the shores of our home to its darkness. God Bless us all and especially my soldiers, who are so young and yet fight here for something that they have yet to understand or enjoy themselves. I love you guys and will call soon-Bob

11-21-1999 (sophomore year Brockport)--list of goals he wrote:

I am going to be: