Jingle Bells.....Bam, Bam, Bam!

What better way to cap off that Christmas day cheer than to hear gunfire outside your house. Close outside....

As I was watching "The Greatest Story Ever Told" on the television about 11:30 Christmas night I heard a loud "pop" outside. In the first microsecond your brain optimistically says, "firecracker". But if you've spent years in the army firing every conceivable type of weapon, the second microsecond say's, no that's "gunfire". I muted the TV and heard muffled angry voices somewhere outside. Then "pop, pop, pop, pop, pop". No doubt about that, a semi-automatic pistol sounding like it was in the street directly outside.

Not being sure exactly what was going on I doused the lights in the den and staying below the window lines I reached my cellphone and called 911. The operator asked what the emergency was. Giving my name and address I told her that I was certain that there was gunfire in the street somewhere near my house. Her reply was, "we'll have someone check it out". Somehow I thought that she might ask a few more questions like, "do you see anyone" or is "anyone hurt". But no, "we'll check it out" was all I got. When you call 911 with a "shots fired" report you would expect to see flashing lights within a minute or so. As I peaked out the window for the next 20 minutes, what I saw was......nothing.

When people are firing automatic weapons somewhere near my home, I rather expect flashing lights, so this didn't sit well with me. Not wanting to be too alarmist, I phoned my neighbor across the street this morning and asked her if she heard anything last night. "You mean all the gunfire", she asked. This confirmed that I'm not whacko, so late this morning I went to the police station to ask about the incident. I later received a call from a Sgt. who confirmed that another neighbor, a block up, had also called and that he had reported shots fired by persons in a vehicle..firing at another vehicle and that in fact three police units had answered the call.

Knowing that neighbors were not trying to kill each other and that this was probably just two groups of armed drunks passing through the neighborhood makes me feel better but also sad to realize that this sort of thing can happen anywhere, even in a good, quiet, residential neighborhood with assistant District Attorney's as neighbors on both sides of your house. Merry Christmas.

Gratitude...

Christmas around here has not been the same the last two years for a variety of reasons. But, as I've learned, there is much to be grateful for. This time three years ago I was preparing to go into to heart surgery......this year I'm not.

For the past three years on Christmas Eve, I've shown my thanks to the folks in the cardiac unit at the hospital by taking them a little treat. In the photo above I'm at the Cardiac unit and this time I'm not hooked up to the monitors, now that's gratitude!

The Ventures....

The Ventures will be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame this coming March. Well duh dudes it's about time. The Ventures have been playing rock n'roll for about 50 years having come together in 1958 and they are still touring! Their first big hit, "Walk Don't Run", still a classic, hit #2 on the charts in 1960. Their influence on rock has been profound with over 30 major rock stars declaring The Ventures to have been a primary influence on their own music. They were the sixth largest selling group of the 1960's. With over 110 million albums sold worldwide, the group remains the best selling instrumental rock group of all time.

Here is a 1994 rendtion of some of their hits. My Mom still loves to listen, occasionally, to Telstar on my original LP Album. By the way...I'm back to posting new classic bands on my website, Captured Memories

Dispatch from the front..

Hello and I hope everyone reading this is having a wonderful day. My name is Sgt Thomas Moses [top left in photo] and yesterday I received a package from you. First off I wanted to say thank you; I have shared many of the items with the soldiers under my care. Our unit has many responsibilities however my guys are pretty specific. We run a route security team thru Iraq ensuring the safety for anyone going anywhere at anytime. My guys and I are from all over Texas most of them are from the Dallas area, I am from Midland. During this time in our lives for many of my soldiers this is their first time not only out of Texas but their first time out of country and for many of them their first time away from their families and friends. Your boxes have helped them all; I always ensure that we share them.

My background, I have spent 33.3% of my life serving in the Army Infantry and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I have found that teaching those around me and helping guide young soldiers thru their lives is my calling. My family supports me more than I could have ever hoped and they have packed up and moved from country to country and city to city to ensure I have the support I need to carry out my missions.

During this time I ask that everyone take some time and realize what is really important in their lives. It's not the game systems nor the cars we drive, it’s the people around us everyday. Having been in Iraq for 3 out of the past 5 years I can truly say we are making a difference every day, one person at a time, and although I don’t believe Iraq will ever be a total democracy like what we have I do believe the people here will grasp and embrace their new freedom and understand that they hold their future within their hands. Once again I thank you all and I would also like to thank Cathy Gilleland, Mo and Cheryl Gaddis; I received your packages as well and I would like to apologize for not writing sooner but in my defense we have been quite busy with missions and I have 21 young and older soldiers (age 18 to 47)to tend to everyday being a parent isn’t ever as easy as it looks.

God bless everyone and take time to smell the flowers. Husbands take time to hug your wife and kids and share a sunset, buy someone something just because life is to short and embrace it with everything you have and you will never regret it. Thank you all again and have a wonderful new year.

Sgt Thomas Moses
11B20 Infantry leader
Iraq Delta RST/ACC


P.S. Who ever thought to put the bore snake in the package thank you very very much.

For more information: West Texas Troop Salute

Christmas for Our Troops...results

It has been just one week since our 600+ gift packages were mailed to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today we received this email. Sure makes all the work of many people worthwhile....

Dear Scott, Wallace and Gail and all others at West Texas Troop Salute,

I am completely in awe with the generous package I just received from your organization! WOW! I shared with everyone and I can't express how truly impressive this box really was. A camera, batteries, a phone card, not to mention the Cheezits, which are my personal favorite, and so much more that I cannot mention them all. I am so grateful for people who rally to support the Soldiers. This is a 15-month tour and frankly, it is miserable. Not simply the conditions, but also the workload. Sometimes I really cannot imagine getting through another 6 months working 17 hours a day, every day (and the war-fighting troops are working much harder to make our area safer for the Iraqi people), so it is critical at times that other people are putting in time, too, to show us that our work and sacrifices mean something to other who are home. You choose to sacrifice time, effort, and money to show us your support and that is encouraging and inspires more greatness from us. Personally, I am proud to share these times with people like yourselves who want to accept some of the burden in bringing some love and support to the Soldiers out here. You are doing a tremendous service for your country and for that, I will always be grateful for your time and efforts - this one package means more than you know.

I am from El Paso and I am not sure how you got my info, but I am so pleased, once again to be from the best State in the Union! Thank you with all of my heart.

Sincerely,
Nancy Preston

Captain, Engineer Branch
Brigade Engineer
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
FOB HAMMER, Iraq