Messages From SSG Victor Settles

Goodbye from Iraq 11 NOV 2007

admin — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:25:19 +0000

Hello and Goodbye to everyone:

Please do not reply to this email.

It has been a good tour and I thank you all for the support given to me and my staff. I also am very ingratiated for the aid given to me for my little projects. Helping the families in the nearby areas helped to pass the time in this long tour and brought some smiles to a few troubled faces.

I will not be able to access this email address but if you want to continue to send a message from time to time I am at rotkiv1@aol.com . Granted, I will probably not be able to get on AOL for a month.

I have to go now. Take care everybody and God Bless you all.

Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles Task Force North 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) APO AE 09348

Hello from Iraq 2 NOV 2007

admin — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:23:05 +0000

Hello Everyone:

Thanks to all for the kind remarks and well-wishes. I am anticipating a safe trip home soon. I mailed the last of my personal stuff home today. We have moved into smaller rooms with cots so as the new people get here, they can occupy our old living areas. Small inconvienance, but I'm going home (well to Kuwait for a few days then Bragg for a couple weeks and then home to San Antonio).

I got a few boxes of soccer balls and tubes from the Chicopee High School Boys Soccer Team and International Club. They must have made it through before cutting our mail off here. I have already passed out some of the balls and aired up about half of them. I'll send some more pictures next week.

Today I am sending some more Halloween pictures.

Enjoy and thanks again.

SSG Victor J Settles

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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Hello from Iraq 1 NOV

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:13:44 +0000

Hello Everyone:

Well, my time here is nearing a close. I am very excited to be leaving here soon. Here are some pictures from Halloween. We had a blast.

Thanks,

SSG Settles

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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Hello from Iraq 16 OCT 2007

admin — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:52:59 +0000

Hello Everyone:

It has been feeling cooler in the mornings here. It is a lot
easier for me to go out for a run. I am still eagerly awaiting the day I
get to leave here. I was feeling pretty sick the first 4 days of my
guard duty but I am finally rebounding now. I had to do a lot of walking
around on that guard duty tour but it should be my last one.
I think my baby girl has been getting ready to crawl soon. I can’t wait
to see her and my other kids. They are looking so big in the pictures my
wife had been sending me.
I visited Dalia and her family yesterday. They are doing good and
getting ready for school which starts this Sunday for them.
Now that all my toys are about gone, I will try to send more pictures of
the workplace and IZ. The costumes will be on soon too.

Today’s Pictures: A little boy in the lobby with a broken leg was
spoiled with attention. They young children sitting in a Army Ambulance
awaiting their transfer out, but leaving with the goods. Little girl is
going to wake up to see Barbie and here friends.

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348

Hello from Iraq 14 OCT 07

admin — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:09:57 +0000

Hello Everyone:

Today is my last day of Sergeant of the Guard (SOG). Whew!! That
job comes with a lot of drama and a lot of walking. I did at least get
to give some things to kids at and visiting the hospital. I have
tomorrow off and don’t know what I will do with it. I will probably send
some of my personal stuff home at the post office and maybe eat some
lunch at the palace since I will be down that way. The food there is far
superior to what we eat at the dinning facility by the hospital.

I have finally given out all the soccer balls and barely have
any toys left. I still have a bunch of tires and tubes and will try to
get them out next week or the week after. I have found that the Iraqis
are fully capable of fixing the bikes themselves, they just don’t have
the tires/tubes. I have already identified several children that need
some and I will get to them soon. LTC Tis has told me that he has been
receiving items, so I am sure he will start something up soon. The
upcoming Halloween dressup is sure to be a blast and I will get some
pictures for sure.

Reminder: Please don’t send anything to me. We have already
turned in our change of address cards so mail sent to me here will soon
be diverted to my home or returned to sender.

Today’s Pictures: Me with a young man and his yellow soccer ball.
Little girl with arms full of beanies. Me with a little girl holding her
soccer ball. Visiting boy happily holds his new soccer ball.

Thank You all for all the aid you have given me past and present. I
don’t know how to say “cheese” in Arabic so you know the smiles are
genuine.

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/ http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348

Hello from Iraq 10 OCT 07

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:41:46 +0000

Hello Everyone:

Just another quick hello.

Today's Pictures: More pictures of the kids the last time I went out.

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/ http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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<> <> <> <> Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles Task Force North 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) APO AE 09348

Hello from Iraq 9 OCT 2007

admin — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:40:37 +0000

Hello Everyone: Still on guard duty. Sending some quick pictures.

Today’s Pictures: Some more pictures of the last time I went out. These
kids wanted pictures on the bike.

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/ http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles
Task Force North
28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH)
APO AE 09348

Hello from Iraq 7 OCT 2007

admin — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:56:18 +0000

Hello Everyone:

I just want to send a reminder to please not send anything else to me here in Iraq. We have already turned in our change of address cards for redeployment and soon anything sent to me will be forwarded to my address in San Antonio for the first week or two when effective or returned to sender thereafter. Please send packages to LTC Tis instead. His address is as follows:

LTC John E. Tis Task Force North 86th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) Ibn Sina Hospital APO AE 09348

As always, I thank you for all the support you have given me.

Today's Pictures: Me and SPC Lullen went by the swords kids area and fixed a couple of bikes and passed out some of the photos we had taken in the past. They love photos as you will see.

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/ http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles Task Force North 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) APO AE 09348

Hello from Iraq 4 OCT 2007

admin — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:43:31 +0000

Hello Everyone:

Well, it is starting to get spooky up in the OR in Baghdad. We still have some more decorations but we don't want to give up all our surprises to the other sections. Case load has been greatly reduced and we haven't had mortar attacks in over a month. Things seem to be slowing down but all the redeployment home tasks and training are kicking in. I go on guard duty next week and this should be my last one. I am finally getting all my OR supply tasks done so it looks like my last few weeks will be easy...though I am always ready for anything.

I again thank everyone for all the help and encouragement I received in the last 15 months. It was a roller coaster ride at times, but I would ride it again. I will continue to send updates and pictures until I leave in NOV. The costume contest is coming up and I still have soccer balls to give to kids in the hospital. I also hope to fix some of the kids bikes this weekend. Dr Tis looks like he is up to the challenge and will keep it going. Thanks again and may God continue to watch over us all.

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/ http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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Today's Pictures: The Operating Room section decorated. <> <> <> <>

Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles Task Force North 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) APO AE 09348

Hello Everyone 3 OCT 2007

admin — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:06:42 +0000

Hello Everyone:

Same thing...different day. I will be on guard duty next week, so I will see if I can send any email out during that time. This should be my last guard duty. It should also help the week go by faster. I will send some more decoration pictures later.

Today's pictures: Various kids in the hospital getting toys

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Note: His pictures added to: http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_3/

Earlier ones are at:

http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_1/ http://photos.troopsupport.bestmail.us/good_deeds_2/

When viewing photos – click to enlarge or move mouse over them for comments

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<> <> <> <> <> Thank You,

SSG Victor J. Settles Task Force North 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) APO AE 09348