Kyle's christmas tree

UPDATED ADDRESS- Kyle's address has changed!!

UGHHHHHHHHHHHH! Kyle has a new address......why? I don't know! Not very happy about it but what can I do, its the marine corp for ya!

Sgt, Ketner Kyle D.

Task Force Military Police

India Company, 3D Battalion, 24th Marines

II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)

Unit 43525

FPO AP 96426-3525

Merry Christmas!

Update

Gage and I celebrated 5 Thanksgivings in all! Each one was harder and harder due to Kyles' absence. At the same time it was comforting to be around family. Many rumors have been going around about the marines homecoming but nothing has been officially said. I have chosen to count down to the first week in April, which is 18 weeks away. We sent Kyle a mini Christmas tree and lights to put up. Kyle sent me my Christmas gift early, a camera!! Ours broke and I haven't been able to take pictures to send him so he wanted to make sure I had one for the holidays. Here is an email I received and thought I would share:



Update letter from SgtMaj Peck

This week has been filled with travel for both the Commanding Officer and me. We had the opportunity to fly out west for a couple of days this week in order to spend some time with our Marines and Sailors at the three Ports of Entry (POEs) and after a day back here at Al Asad, I flew down south for a few more days to meet our Marines in Umm Qasr. The mission our Marines and Sailors are performing on the Jordanian and Syrian boarders is important work. They provide security at the ports themselves and at the same time provide security for the other Marines that are specifically tasked to teach the Iraqis how to securely run their own ports. Every time I talk to the Marines that we are supporting out in these distant places, I can't help but feel this tremendous sense of pride as they tell me how professional our Marines are conducting themselves. Our Marines are providing outstanding security because of their steadfast, disciplined
and attentive approach they take every day. Our Marines down south near
Kuwait at the Umm Qasr port are performing an altogether different task;
another first. Iraq is starting its very own Marine Corps. The only
problem with this, as if there could only be one problem, is that they're
not quite sure what they want it to look like. They just know they like
ours and they want one too.
It didn't take long to ring in the Christmas spirit around here after
Thanksgiving. Since I have returned from being away this week, we have had
trees popping up, fully decorated with lights and the whole nine yards. One of the sections is even doing a Secret Santa gift exchange.
You should see the VERY creative ornaments on the tree and the hideously
wrapped gifts under it. You would think a bunch of five year olds had done
the wrapping. It is fun to see the stockings being hung around the work
spaces; some are the traditional decorated Christmas stockings while others
are just hanging a dirty old boot sock. Another thing that is not in short
supply are all the Christmas goodies. We have cookies, brownies, fudge and
candy everywhere. Unlike Halloween, this is all the good stuff, homemade.
Not much news to share with you all this week with regards to retrograde.
Aren't you glad you didn't hold your breath from last week?
The Commanding Officer is planning another "town hall" this week with all of our officers and SNCOs to let us all know the latest possibilities. The CO is passing this information regularly with his officers and senior enlisted in order to calm the rumors and help pass good information to all the Marines. Once he briefs the staff this week, we both look forward to
sharing with you all the news and hopefully bring a bit of light to our
final destiny. Until then, we remain focused on the front sight tip. Bless you all as you begin your holiday preparations.
Semper Fidelis,
SgtMaj Peck



Thanks again for all the support!!