March 16th 2008

          Greetings from Kuwait! On Friday evening we started off our plane ride from Washington D.C. on a good start. We all met at the airport for our briefing and then we were on our way! The plane ride was so fun, we were all wearing our “Sweethearts for Soldiers” outfits and many people were already asking questions. I sat next to a retired Sergeant Major in the Army, who is now a defense contractor. It’s always fun to meet new people and hear their stories. In less than 12 hours, we touched down in Kuwait to a pleasant 74 degrees.

         Immediately after checking into our hotel, we all packed into Tonya’s room and started putting together care packages for the female troops, with products donated from our generous sponsors such as Bellacara.We wanted to ensure that our ladies in uniform know they’re appreciated! Later we all headed to the Hard Rock hotel by the water. Saturday morning we all got up early, worked out, ate breakfast and it was off to Camp Arifjan. We were kindly met by Sgt Maj Harbin who is the Sergeant Major of all of the military bases in Kuwait. We had so much fun eating at the DFAC with the guys, who were mostly a mixture of Army and Air Force, though I did see a few Marines and Navy. After lunch we signed pictures and played trivia games in which the winners would get gifts from our sponsors like Wiley X  and Blackhawk.

         
           Next it was off to Camp Virginia, where again, we got briefed by the leaders of that base and then ate with the troops again in the DFAC. I enjoyed talking to them about where they were from, and where they had been stationed. Then we headed over to the stage outside and got to interact with them more before signing autographs. I didn't see any Air Force in the audience, so needless to say there was a little friendly rivalry when I announced that I too, was in the military.

Love and Cheers,
Jessica

March 17th - 21st Happy St. Patricks Day!   We arrived in Baghdad on a C130 military aircraft.  The ride from Kuwait to Baghdad was amazing.  I was able to ride in the cockpit for most of the flight.  It was a priceless view!  Once in Baghdad we were escorted to Camp Striker where we had another awesome “meet and greet” with the troops in one of the rec. facilities.  I also was able to play some music for them, which was a very neat experience and I think the troops enjoyed it. We stayed on Camp Victory and our living accommodations were very nice: modulars that sit right up against one of Saddam’s man made lakes. It was a very strange feeling walking around, knowing the terrible things that had taken place there.  That night we visited the PX and did a “meet and greet” at Al Fal Palace.  We had a meeting with the Chief of Staff, where he awarded us with medals.  He then introduced us to much of his staff and we were able to take pictures on Saddam’s infamous chair.

      Our second day in Baghdad we were transported to Camp Prosperity by Black hawks. At Camp Prosperity we “Range Walked” around the base for a tour and then had a “meet and greet” in the DFAC for a couple of hours.  The soldiers seemed very surprised and happy to see us.  I even met a couple of soldiers from my home town!  We toured another one of Saddam’s palaces.  Then it was off to Camp Freedom Rest.  This is where soldiers come and rest after being hurt, losing troop members, or having been in the battle field for a long period of time.  The mood there was very mellow.  Freedom Rest is a base where Saddam/s officers used to convene.  There is a platform diving board in the back, along with slides, a kiddy pool and a concert area.  It is a great place for our soldiers to be able to get R and R.

Day 3 we were transported to Camp Speicher, which is north from Baghdad.  We did a short “meet and greet” after visiting the base’s bazaar and buying a few things.  The “meet and greet” was in the camp’s office building.  We paid tribute to murals that honored our fallen men and women.  Camp Speicher is a former Iraqi military training base.  It is also said to be the location where Saddam’s son assassinated the country’s soccer team.  So it was, again, a very eerie place.  Our living quarters were like an adobe condo.  It had two bedrooms, one bathroom and one shower.

The following day we met up with General Boozer and toured four foreign operating bases. Orion, Woodcock, Beyji, and Summerall.  It was so great to be able to visit the smaller bases and meet the men that are out there on the front line.  They hardly ever get visitors, so I think it meant a lot to them to have us there.  I wish we could have stayed longer with all of them!  It was so great traveling with the General and his crew.  They treated us very well!  We even got a great joy ride in the Black Hawk that day, and Amy experienced a “tornado in her mouth”.   As we flew over the Iraq desert, it was really amazing to see the natives running out of their homes and across their fields to wave at the Black Hawk flying over.

The last day in Iraq, we toured two small bases in the morning: Love and Dagger.  One base is right by one of the largest oil refineries in Iraq.  It is a very small base and most of the troops were out on a mission.  We were really happy to be able to meet the guys that were there, as they also do not get many visitors (we may have been the first).  At the second base, we had a “meet and greet” in one of the bases offices.  We then moved to the back veranda that over looks the Tigris River.  This base was in Tikrit, where Saddam is said to have been born, raised, and now buried.  We hung out with the soldiers and I played some home land music for them.  The setting and experience was priceless.

Love Brianne