A Soldier's Journey: Stephen M. McGowan

Merry Christmas Everyone,
Well the latest here is pretty exciting. In the past few days we have gotten a lot accomplished. First we captured the group associated with the two [weapons] caches we found last. Out of the 12, 9 of them were mid  to high level insurgents. Two days later we captured 13 males out of which 11 were mid to high level insurgents. One was even an Al-Qedia member. So we were  pretty happy. Two days from now I will be pinned with my combat medical badge. I will be representing the medical platoon in the ceremony. So I'm pretty psyched. I'll try and get pics.

It's a little rainy today, but I can't complain. We've  been on one mission today. We escourted Santa to a combat outpost so he could visit the soldiers. Later we will be running out chow to everyone who has to miss dinner. So far its been a quiet day and I hope it stays that way.

Well I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and and Happy New Year. I wish I could be there. Take care and enjoy. I will be kicking back today with two beers I hope. That's our Christms gift. And it's just what I wanted. I love you all and wish you the best.
Stephen

Hit By IED
1/11/2005

Hey Everyone,
Well things have been a little hectic lately. That's why I  haven't written in a bit. Good news first: I got hit with another IED the  other day. It went off next to my truck, but we were all confused about what it  was because it didn't sound like a bomb. … It turns out only the blasting cap went off on the device and the 155 round  didn't detonate. If it had we would all be in a lot of trouble right now. So that's good news. Bad news: A commanding officer here was hit with an IED yesterday and it doesn't look good. Everything that could be done was, but he's only been given a 40 percent chance of making it.

We have done quite a few missions lately for the humanitarian  effort. And it is starting to pay off. Business is increasing in the area, and electricity and water are almost completely restored for the entire city. So hopefully things will be perfect by the time we leave.