Studies have shown that encouragement and a kind word, deed, gesture are more influential to employees than monetary gains--sometimes.

In the case of service folk, knowing that you care means the world. Some of them/us joined to become a man. Some needed guidance, some needed maturity. Some needed discipline. Some needed an identity,...I joined for all, because I was an accident waiting to happen.

While they, us, you, are in transistion, you begin to wonder as the service throws all those curves at you did you make a good decision to join. You are lonely, vastly underpaid, unspeakably underappreciated, and sometimes even forgotten.

Going into the desert has its own arena. As many of you have experienced in the SW USA's deserts. If you have been to Los Vegas--imagine it without the hotels and fanfare. Just the heat, sweat and dryness. Oh yeah, and don't forget that the neighbors are using roadside bombs, molten projectiles, 100mm and larger mortars, and everyone; friend and foe look exactly alike.

Think of this: you leave your home base. Get on military transport it is 60-80 degrees outside (aand they are not TWA or United Air Lines). Layover somewhere enroute and it is 40 or 50. Then arrive in the Middle East and it is 100+. Walking to the door the heat meets you like when you stick your head in the oven to baste the turkey on thanksgiving. Except your whole body feels it. While wearing boots, flak jackets, BDU's, and all the gear.

Then add mortars, AK-47's, jet lag, sickness, death, uncertainty, no word from home, loss of everything that looks familiar, horrible foods, sleeping in tents, mosquito nets, Dear John letters, friends and family at home going through stuff, fitful sleep, 11 year-olds strapped with bombs running toward you, dirtiness, smells, homesickness, sand fleas, sleeping on and with a M-16, 50 cal, sidewinders/cobras, scorpions; all this when you are 17, 18, 19,....still really a kid.

You might be saying that we knew all this when we signed on the dotted line. You are right. Yet, knowing this mentally, and knowing it from having to live it are as far apart as East is from West.

So please, as you have already done...remember them (you folks are way past wonderful). Pray for them as though they are your own--they really are anyway.

Once we get some lists we are going to go shopping. Not only do they need it, but it is Christmas time!:D

I mentioned earlier, that I was a member of the Presidential Prayer Team and I adopted a Troop for Prayer. Here is the link to the Adopt A Troop Homepage: http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/adopt_our_troops_in_prayer.phpIif the link didn't come up, the URL is http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/adopt_our_troops_in_prayer.php).

It's not a Democratic Thing or a Republican Thing. It's a "Prayer Thing". If you can't help out financially, just sign up and spend a minute or two each day to think about the people who are in harm's way around the world keeping us safe in this country .


Not to advertise for any religion or religion itself; as that is something between you and who you hold dear. But, no matter how much money we spend, or things we buy--nothing takes the place of the Spiritual Ones' intervention. Pray as you have done, hopefully if you have never--as you will begin to be habitual.

Prayer fixes things that we don't hear about or see. Prayer gets folks home--alive. I know first hand!

Prayer gets healing done when they give you bad news--I know about this too; first hand.


It cost you nothing, you can do it anywhere, anytime, any place. It is not some form thing. You don't have to tell anyone, and no one has to know if you have done it, or going to do it. It is personal. It is just conversation between you and who you hold High. I know, what I would think, how much solice that would offer, how much covering that would render, as a soldier--if I knew you were praying for me. Me, just some guy--being prayed for by one of America's most wonderful and treasured: you.

It would be like the classic song by Conway Twitty: "That's my job, everything that I do is because of you."

Hot: More e-mails on their way. Please let me know what you need and where I can ship it. I got LOTS of contacts in the bike industry....!

I'm hoping that in some small way we can make your time over there more bearable.

Keep your head down. Fight the good fight. Come home safe.

Dave
Bike Fed of Wisconsin Deputy Executive Director.

Hot: More e-mails on their way. Please let me know what you need and where I can ship it. I got LOTS of contacts in the bike industry....!

I'm hoping that in some small way we can make your time over there more bearable.

Keep your head down. Fight the good fight. Come home safe.

Dave
Bike Fed of Wisconsin Deputy Executive Director.


Its coming together...nicely!

Just wondering, as no one has posted any com with troops, lately.

Has anyone had contact with them?

Last we heard they were being contacted by email.

Also, has anyone received a pm from them?

Nothing here...

Hello everyone:

Sorry I couldn't reply sooner; I was on R&R Leave (Vacation) back home with family and friends.

I would like to say "thanks" to everyone, for you kindness and words of support. It makes a world of difference to us.

I also would like to apologize if I ofended anyone with the comments I posted previously; it was never my intention to deviate from the thread. I will stick to the thread, as suggested, and ignore such comments.

Well, to whoever sent us the "holidays" tree (just been politically correct :)), we arranged it with decorations and lights...and we will keep it lit every night!

On behalf of my Soldiers and I, we wish everyone HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a WONDERFUL NEW YEAR.

Nice to hear from you. Do you still need bike parts?

Just like to thank all the folks on this thread who have supported the guys in Camp Victory with prayers and bike parts. I am just about to finish my second year of living inside a wire. The first year was in Vietnam and the lack of support then, still bothers me to this day. The support this time around makes it a lot easier. Thank you.

Here in Bagram we are blessed (????) with eight miles of mostly paved perimeter road which is a lot easier on the bike. Plus I've been lucky to hook up with a very resourceful wrench. Again thanks for your support.

Just FYI, the rather large order we got in is...in. I plan to work on getting it shipped out Monday, but I'm going to have to rebox it. I'll let you know how many boxes to expect, it's in like 4 now but a couple of them are rather large and heavy so I want to break them down into smaller pieces. I spent all but $3.87 of what I had budgeted, and that was at wholesale.

I got a kick out of the note on my invoice that said "You saved $1997.56!"

Merry Christmas!

We received your boxes the day before X-Mas, so we put them under our tree (for about three minutes), opened them and started handing out the items. The lights are great! They are even brighter that the headlights of some vehicles. The rear red lights are awesome with the several settings. The helmets were handed out almost immediately, as word of the shipment got out fast. We issued out the derailleur (probably have about two left) and all shifters are gone. The racks are outstanding, they can hold about 15lbs worth of gear, and the cargo net helps keep it in place.

Overall, you cover a big majority of our needs and for that we thank you and your friends.

Have a Happy New Year and rest assure we will always be grateful for your donation.

Nice to hear from you. Do you still need bike parts?

Been busy flying all over Iraq ever since I came back from R&R Leave.

Thanks for the offer. About the only thing we need is bike pedals. Everything else was pretty much covered by other sponsors.

I know I probably asked before... type (platform) I am assuming since you probably ride with boots on?

Merry Christmas!

We received your boxes the day before X-Mas, so we put them under our tree (for about three minutes), opened them and started handing out the items. The lights are great! They are even brighter that the headlights of some vehicles. The rear red lights are awesome with the several settings. The helmets were handed out almost immediately, as word of the shipment got out fast. We issued out the derailleur (probably have about two left) and all shifters are gone. The racks are outstanding, they can hold about 15lbs worth of gear, and the cargo net helps keep it in place.

Overall, you cover a big majority of our needs and for that we thank you and your friends.

Have a Happy New Year and rest assure we will always be grateful for your donation.

Glad they got there in one piece and right on time! If you happen to have any pictures you can share, I'm sure they would be appreciated at the Post. My buddy that helped me repack everything, a former Marine, threw all the Post 10 plates in there hoping for some good pictures, and I'm sure the shop would appreciate it as well.

Stay safe!
Tom

Thanks for the PM Hotsho. The 1/2" thread is typically found on BMX and stationary bikes using single-piece cranks. I've got connections to manufacturers of these products, so finding them won't be a problem.

How many do you need?

Glad they got there in one piece and right on time! If you happen to have any pictures you can share, I'm sure they would be appreciated at the Post. My buddy that helped me repack everything, a former Marine, threw all the Post 10 plates in there hoping for some good pictures, and I'm sure the shop would appreciate it as well.

Stay safe!
Tom

Sorry about the late reply, I was (once again) out of the area. Here is a picture of some of the bikes with some of the Soldiers (most others are performing some sort of "detail"). Hopefully you can see the racks, lights and several other items you sent us (I just noticed we didn't wear the helmets, sorry), along with the seats, tires and other items sent to us by other sponsors.

To your Marine friend and fellow warrior - Once a Marine, always a Marine; "Semper Fidelis"! Thanks for serving and enjoy your retirement...

I will need an e-mail address to send you the full size picture.

The same offer stands for everyone else who would like to have it.

Thanks for the PM Hotsho. The 1/2" thread is typically found on BMX and stationary bikes using single-piece cranks. I've got connections to manufacturers of these products, so finding them won't be a problem.

How many do you need?

Thanks for the offer...as always, we will prefer used stuff as we are aware of the shipping and handling charges. If you like, please send 5.

Thanks again for your support...

More good stuff on the way hotsho96. Pedals like you asked for, plus some other goodies for your squad.

Stay safe.

More good stuff on the way hotsho96. Pedals like you asked for, plus some other goodies for your squad.

Stay safe.

Thanks! We will be looking forward to your package. Sorry about the late reply, but once again I was doing some missions for Uncle Sam. Just got back a few days ago and just in time to depart for another mission.

Right now we are a little grounded since the rain season has arrived and this entire place is one big mud pile. Even trucks get sucked in the mud! This mud is insane, sticks to everything and it won't let go. On top of that, the cold weather won't allow the mud to dry up. I guess the word I'm looking for is miserable.

Have to leave on another mission (soon) so I will post later. Here are some pictures of the not-so-muddy areas.

Just a bump to see if anyone has heard from hotsho in awhile. Wondering if our package ever arrived...

Hey, you guys still out there?
Last post from HotSho is Jan 08.
No response to De Fietser's query a month after....

If working with bicycling magazine, why not suggest doing a bike town Baghdad, bike town Mosul, bike town Al Asad, etc. etc. etc.

I contacted hotsho96 via email. Here's his response:

Sorry I'm not replying to the forum, but the Army is using new rules for
web-browsing which do not allow me to enter the forum anymore. We will
be leaving Iraq this month (I'm not in the liberty to say which day). We
donate our bikes to the incoming Soldiers and they were all very happy
(I was thinking of keeping mine, but then I remember how hard it was out
here and decided to donate it as well). We are looking forward to be
home (USA) with our love ones, families and friends, and to even meet
some of you in person (it is such a small world); there is no better
reward...

On behalf of my Soldiers and I, we really appreciated all sponsors'
efforts, and those who gave us words of encouragement. You all made a
great difference which greatly helped us endure the last 15 months. We
are very proud of serving our country, but I think we are more proud we
had the opportunity to interact which such superb American patriots.
Always remember that you made a difference and we will be eternally
grateful.

Thanks to everyone and may God bless you all.

So, all is well and he'll be out of the sandbox soon, safe and sound. :D