Boots Henry Family Christmas – 12/27/09

Happy New Year from Iraq… I wanted to tell you personally how much I appreciate everything the BCC have done for my family while I am gone. She refuses to tell me everything, but from what she has told me is more than I could ever hoped for. I don’t know the words to truly express how thankful I am to the Brazoria County Cavalry for all you have done. I have had folks tell me I am crazy, but I worry more about my family back home way more than my own safety here. I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay the kindness you have shown to me and my family. THANK YOU SO MUCH for everything.. If  the BCC EVER needs anything for the rest of my lifetime, please do not hesitate to call on me. I will be there. Samona said it best to me when I got to call her on Christmas. I did not know there were so many saints living in one city. The relief in her voice is evident. I have been deployed many times and this is the first time that Samona does not feel like she is alone in this. That alone is the greatest gift I have ever received. I cannot thank you enough.
 
On a different note, I cannot tell you exactly where I am due to operations security, but I will tell you what I can. Samona can tell you more about that. She understands who I work for and was prepared for the lack of information flow. I am in North Central Iraq right now and things are good. This is actually turning into one of my easier deployments. I got a pretty good thing going on here as far as deployments go. Except for the occasional mortar and rocket fire, this good duty. And since the insurgents shoot like crap, the mortar and rocket fire is more of an inconvenience than anything else. Most of the time they miss by 1K, but they have got close a couple of times. (DISCLAIMER: Please don’t tell Samona about that part, I generally glass over most of these things) The food is pretty good and the living conditions ain’t bad. Everyone is OK, morale is high and everyone is getting into the groove to get this thing done and come home.
 
I haven’t forgot your picture either. The connex that had the bag it was in just came in about a week ago. I have it in my possession and will be getting you a picture soon. I told Bob to apologize for me for the lack of background that you are going to get due to where I am, pictures are frowned upon, but I am working on that to at least give you some contrast. The hat alone has a story to tell. It went with me to Ft Bliss where it got packed in a connex. Next to the Port of Beaumont, on a ship across the Atlantic, thru the Mediterranean Sea, thru the Suez Canal to Kuwait, then on a truck North to me again. Samona told me you requested a US Flag and boy have I got a deal for you. A different flag is flown over this post daily and soldiers can sign up to receive that flag at the end of it’s 24 hour period. My name is on the list and I will have the date that it flew here when I get back. I have a few other ideas, but that will be a surprise. It is not much, but it is the least I can do for all you have done for me.
 
I have to go now and get back to it. Thank you again for everything. I told you when you gave me the send off that it is my family that has paid the price of my chosen career. The BCC has made this deployment a whole lot easier on me with the kindness and selflessness you have shown. Thank You so much. And thanks again for reminding me that there still are some great Americans left.
  
BOOTS T. HENRY
MSG
Operations SGT
Trp C 1-112 CAV