Update on

Hello Everyone,

I know its been a while since I have blogged and given a date. Life just has been hectic and seems every time I come up with a way to get a break or something it just falls through. But besides a very busy daily life and missing Nick terribly we are holding up the fort well. Ben is now a big 2 year old And Cameron just turned 7 this week and had his birthday party today.  My parents came in for 2 weeks and I have been able to get some stuff done that I hadn’t had a chance. My wonderful dad, did all that handy man stuff that I either don’t get to or just can’t seem to do it myself. I have enjoyed my mom’s cooking as I always do. The kids have enjoyed time with them too, that was very well in need of.  Natalie also is now pretty much potty trained, which makes me very happy. Whoohooo!!! The girls started their one day a week preschool sort of program. They love it, just wish it was a couple of times. Cause the one day I have with just Ben is usually grocery shopping, run errands. I will be looking at some drop off babysitter or very part time. Mommy, is just feeling the need for a little alone, recharge time. I am hoping to come visit St. Louis in the summer. I had planned to come next week, but Cameron’s school will not let him miss, without holding him back, even though his grads are majority in the 90’s.

Now on the Nick front, he is doing ok. But his unit was given word  that they were moving. He was able to give me a call to give me a heads up. He just wanted to let me know it might be a while before I hear from him. He tries his best on doing that for my sanity, though other military wives will tell you. No news is Good News. I was somewhat aware, that the living conditions were much less then desirable. I know Nick has a away to down play things, always has. So, I usually can tell when he is trying to do this. Well, I just got the news letter and things are quite more limited then I think any of us can imagine. And as many of you are probably wondering, how do I feel about this? I honestly don’t know, worried, sad, but most of all proud. Nick has not once complained. He is always happy to hear our voices and hear from us. Never lets on to be living in such harsh conditions. He believes so much in the job he was entrusted with, that he just trucks on and never thinks of it as a job per say. He just sees it has something that just has to be done. I can’t possibly describe the pride I feel to be able to say I am the wife of SSGT Nicholas Cooper. Its not the rank or the uniform, its the man of honor, courage and commitment that he is.  

I am attaching the newsletter so you can first hand  read the reason of my concern and provide. And please keep him and the whole MTT in your prayers. I should hear from him by the end of this week. Just depends on their “work”

Dear family members of MTT 0130,

 

We sincerely hope all of you enjoyed the holidays. We appreciate all the boxes and gifts sent out to us. January was a very busy month for our Iraqi Brigade (Bde) and us. We were given orders on 29 Dec to move the Bde to Diyala Province for a 90 day deployment in order to support the 5th Iraqi Division in major combat operations. We were told that our movement to Diyala would have to be done by the 7th of Jan with combat operations beginning not later than the 15th of Jan. It was a hasty displacement from our home at the Alamo and we had to leave a lot of our comfort items in storage as we headed out in three separate convoys on the 4th, 5th & 6th of Jan. Convoys took from 12 to 22 hours, but every one arrived safely and the Bde was put back together to prepare for orders. Orders soon came and we stepped off on the 11th of Jan in Operation Iron Harvest to conduct sweep and clear missions of known enemy held villages to capture or kill the insurgents and provide safety and security to the population. The Bde and its battalions performed brilliantly, capturing some 80 suspects to date and killing three terrorists in an ambush as they tried to set up an illegal vehicle check point. The Bde has suffered no casualties so far. Most of the suspects and the operations to capture them were generated from tips by local people who are fed up with having terrorists living among them.  We have had hundreds of local men volunteer to join neighborhood watch groups to keep their villages secure. Defeat of the terrorists will only be complete when they no longer have a safe place to hide among the local people. Along with combat operations, we have conducted humanitarian assistance through food distribution and free medical assistance. The Iraqi army understands that the real war is in winning the people’s support and the 3d Bde works hard to accomplish that.
Your Marines and Sailors are also working hard. They have been mostly in the field since the operations began and have had little of luxury (even by Marine standards). The weather has been cold and wet, and we even got snow on our first day! They have been living out of their vehicles and out of some local buildings where they operate their Command Operation Centers (COC). Power comes from generators so there is no extra electricity for heaters. About the only comfort item that I see when I make my rounds is a coffee pot. Mail only comes once a week and it has to be brought up to us from a base two hours away. Internet and phones are in very short supply. Even hot food and showers are not regular events. But, the men are holding up remarkably well and their enthusiasm for their mission has only grown stronger since we went into the offensive here in Diyala. I am extremely proud of them as I am sure you are too.
We started sending our first guys out on their two week combat leave periods just this month (Feb). Those of us who are here for a year get two weeks, while some of the guys are here for seven months and will not get leave. Flights out of here to Kuwait are space available, so it usually takes several days of travel to and from leave. They catch commercial flights from Kuwait. Each team can only let a couple of guys go at a time because our teams are so small. We all look forward to seeing our families when it is our turn.
 
Sincerely,
 
 J. M. Morrisroe

Lieutenant Colonel, USMC     



Thank you all for your love and concern. I know a couple of you have emailed and I just haven’t been able to get write back. I will be doing that tomorrow. I would do it right now, but I am falling asleep as I type. I read everything, just that when I start trying to respond, little ones are in need of my help.

Love you all,

Melanie and kiddos
Missing Daddy soooo much.