[Spc. R. B. Rees]

Hey Ya'll,

I want to thank each and every one of you for offering support to our units Snipers including myself. We appreciate it, more than words can express. The best support you can give is with your advice and your prayers. The rest for the most part we can scrounge and even on rare occasions finagle out of the command, if there's ever something we need and simply cannot lay our hands on, I promise to let you know.
Since I last made a public post...I spent five days sitting on the roof of an abandoned shopping mall in Northern Baghdad to support the elections. For the most part all went well, with only a few isolated and ineffective enemy attacks within our sector. The most impressive part was seeing hundreds of people walk 10-15 kilometers (knowing full well that they might be attacked just for being there) in order to cast their votes. Taking that risk for a voice in their government.....Democracy definitely won the day. Only time will tell how much this helped in the long run.
I am now going to be working the streets and buildings of Baghdad. My mission and the threats will be different, but I've always been one who loves a challenge .
Well, thanks again to all of you, and I'll be checking in from time to time to let you know how it's working out.

Spc. R. B. Rees
A Co. 1/69th Inf
256th BCT
Baghdad, Iraq

 

[spade]

You and your unit are on the prayer list down at auburn first baptist. Hope you dont mind a bunch of baptists praying for ya? lol

Good luck though man, and god bless.

 

[mele]

Hope you dont mind a bunch of baptists praying for ya? lol

or mormons!

MEL

 

[Jeffvn]

Is Sgt. David P. from Houston Texas in your unit? David's an OLD GUY - maybe late 20s to mid 30s - lawyer too - got out then reupped after 9/11. David's a good guy I met him through my wife, we were going to hit the range with my Patriot Arms M40A1 clone then he got shipped out to Iraq.

My wife and I send a couple of pounds of coffee a month to David - he is nice enough to share with his unit. The whole thing was set up by my wife and David's fiance. They seem to like the touch of home and we like doing something that they like.

Jeff

 

[Ballistic_Coefficiency]

Is Sgt. David P. from Houston Texas in your unit? David's an OLD GUY - maybe late 20s to mid 30s
Jeff

LOL!!!!! Didnt know late 20's to early 30's was old.

 

[Jeffvn]

BC

In the real world its not - but when you've been in the world and go back in its friggin ancent!!! I gotta give him some sh!t - that way he'll know we like him!!!! :wink:

JeffVN

 

[Ballistic_Coefficiency]

Understood... lol. In my whole company im one of the youngest guys and im 27. LOL

 

[snowy]

Thank you from the U.S.

Rees,
Thank you for all of your help during the elections in Iraq.
Most of the world seemed to be wanting to judge America's effectiveness by the turn out and successful application of the voting process in Iraq.

Thank you for helping so many people get a chance to vote.
Thank you for helping our reputation as a country.

Best regards and looking forward to your next update,

-snowy

 

[Spc. R. B. Rees]

Old's a realitive term...

I don't know anyone in my unit by the name of Sgt. David P., mostly go by last names, so it probably wouldn't ring a bell.
As for the being old part, I'm 41. That's one thing about the National Guard, we tend to be a lot older than our active duty counterparts.
I originally joined the Navy as active duty in 1981, and made E-4 in 1983. I served in the California National Guard from 1987-1991, and left after I broke my ankle badly working as a contractor for the Marine Corps in the first Gulf War.
I reinlisted in 2003, specifically to deploy for Iraq. Since then I've graduated Sniper school, and am still going strong.
After this deployment, I stand a good chance of rejoining my unit from Florida in Afghanistan. They should stop calling us National Guard and come up with a name that more reflects the new mission tempo, maybe "Army II".
To top it all off, I attended the Special Forces Orientation while in Fort Hood last summer, and was informed I could still attend SF Selection, even at my "old age". I'm giving it serious thought....
So how old is too old?

 

[Jeffvn]

No such thing as too old. From my perspective its all about your perspective and mental outlook - ok course good conditioning never hurts.

Jeffvn

 

[SpEcTeR]

I for one cannot say how old is too old but if your doing the job in Iraq, completed sniper school and are up for SF, I'd say you are not anywhere close.

I agree with Jeff, it is within the person's attitude, perception of goal attainment and physical limitations. Which all of course vary from individual to individual.

The best of luck to you. Stay safe bud.

Watch your 6 8)

 

[mlammers]

Hey man give it a shot, sounds like the guy thinks you are capable or he would not have offered the infomation. If you are getting the job done now, why not see if you can do it, you will always look back in the future wondering what if, if you dont.

 

[Hungry]

Best of Luck

Spc Rees:

Get back in one piece, please.

Glad to see that at 41 years , you can still operate and show the young 'uns how us older 40 somethings can contribute to the unit. Many soft battle skills (patience, and all the other characteristics in Sun Tzu's Art of War book) are underestimated by the kids in our units.

Godspeed,
Barney

 

[ekaphoto]

Re: Old's a realitive term...

To top it all off, I attended the Special Forces Orientation while in Fort Hood last summer, and was informed I could still attend SF Selection, even at my "old age". I'm giving it serious thought....
So how old is too old?

Several SF people have told me SF is looking for people that think, not PT studs. You have several advantages at 41 than the 20 y/o.

 

[Ballistic_Coefficiency]

I can tell you first hand... i know several 18 MOS guys and have worked with Army SF numerous times... they preffer Mature people... age does not matter... Maturity does... if Maturity comes with older age then so be it.

BC

 

[Shuggerz]

Rees,

SF orientation sounds like quite a golden opportunity. IF it were me in your shoes I would seriously marinate on that. Anyone who wears a Green Beret is alright in my book!!!!!! But then again, all ground pounders are. I will be keeping you and all of the other men and women in the sand box in my prayers. Take care soldier

Respectfully,
Tyler Consugar