(3/28/2008) Hey Andy & Julie...Just thought I'd better express my sincere regard and thanks for the two of you for everything you have done for David while he's been away. You are true caring friends and I want all the Ozarks to know that. I depended on the two of you and the fact that you stayed in touch with David and the entire NMCB 15 while they were deployed. And that contact certainly helped me know what was happening and that he and whole gang were okay...Take care! - Leona Lane (3/17/2008) Thank you for everyone's support and prayers while our troops were over sea's but, please, don't forget to keep them in your prayers after they return home. There is still a long journey ahead if each and every one of them, in order to get past the traumatic events they have been through and it will be difficult at times to understand what is going on in their minds, but we must be there for them like they were for us! Everyone of the men and women that have served, and still are, are hero's and always will be, I can't begin to thank you enough! - David, I am so anxious for you to come home and to be able to start our lifelong journey together. You are my rock and I love you! Thank you for everything! -Tina (3/16/2008) THE JOURNEY HAS BEGUN, WE ARE COMING HOME. SEE YOU ON DECK! It has been interesting to say the least, the past 10 months have been something i shall never forget. i have served my country with some of the greastest people on earth. i will never forget them. i want to thank the people of the ozarks and tell them that their support and prayers have meant more to this team than words can say. to know that there are so many strangers that we will never meet kept us in their thoughts and only wanted the best for us, thats what makes the ozarks such a great place to live. my fiance, tina, when things got so bad here, you were my strength and my shoulder even when you didnt know i needed you. my mother, i have the best mom God has ever created. stacey, you are my daughter and i love you, thank you and wyatt. to cse team dozer, nmcb-15 as we scatter in the wind and put this behind us, know that i respect you all and will never forget you, your laughter and support have left me in awe. seabees "can do" and we did. DOZER: TRUCK 1 MA1 TONY HARDING BU2 BRIAN LAWLER SW2 BRIAN CHAPMAN DOZER 2 SW1 DEREK STRONG CM2 TONY LOPEZ CM2 RONNY YOUNGS DOZER 3 LN1 STEVE FENNER BU1 BOB MCCARDLE UT1 JAMES SHAW EO2 JOHN PERRY DOZER4 CM1 DALE MILLER EO2 LORENA ROOD BU1 CHUCK WHITEHEAD HM3 RYAN GIRD DOZER 5 EO1 TOMMY WINTER BU2 ALFREDO ESTRELLA GM2 JOSH HARDIN BU2 LEAH ELMQUIST DOZER 6 BU1 KENNT STALLMANN CE2 STEVE JOHNSON BU2 JOHNNNY BUSS DOZER 7 SW1 DAVID PARRENTT EO2 DAVID LANE EO1 BOBBY LOVELAND dear Lord, with your amazing grace, protect us, keep us, and guide us. you are the eternal father, amen (3/5/2008) EMAIL FROM LORENA ROOD I just wanted to thank all of you for the support and the gear that you sent over here for us. I am one of two females that are serving on the team with David. He always kept us inform about what he was doing with you guys. He is a great guy and one that I trust with my life. I had to, but even if I didn't "have to," with David I would have. I wanted to tell you that your gifts were very much appreciated and welcomed. It was like getting a little bit of home back. We are about to come home now and even though I do not live in Springfield I would love to get to listen to you at some point. You guys seem to me to be real and a caring. Thanks Again...Lorena Rood (2/27/2007) Interview with Andy & Julie Andy received a surprise call from David this morning, where they discussed everything from the IED-hit the crew suffered recently (detailed in the previous post)...to David's perception of how local Iraqi's are now positively responding-to and cooperating-with coalition forces. Did you know Muqtada Al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric, has actually called a cease fire? We don't hear about these things during an election year when American Idol's in full swing, do we? Hear more about the local "awakening" with this 6-minute interview - thanks Dave! (2/18/2008) Dear Heavenly Father...Lord, we kneel in front of you today and give thanks for your ever present shield of protection. Lord, it's your amazing grace that continues to never fail us, Father this team of brothers and sisters in arms is solid, but we are ever looking to you for strength and guidance. You have never left us, not failed us in our times of forgetting you are there, we have become arrogant and boostful, yet you continue to love us and go with us. Lord, as our time draws near to depart, we will go seperate ways, pickup with a life we left off and live life as best we can, yet we will never forget one another. Lord, Psalms 91 tells us to look to you for strength, we read your word and find comfort. Lord, we have a job here to finish, protect still, your angels ride with us, they are our comfort in the gun, they give us the words to speak when we call. Lord, keep our famalies safe and free of concern, Lord they sacrifice so much as we answer our nations call. Send us home safe and soon, Father you tell us to fear nothing, with you we will not, in your precious name we pray, Amen. Hello there - All is well, it may not apear that way but we are in up moods and everyone is okay. We hit our second IED this morning on our way "home" and everyone worked as a team. Bobby, Brian Chapman and myself worked for about an hour and a half trying to get truck two up on the spare but had to call in a marine recovery truck. Thank goodness for War Bond Two(Marines) and their quick response time, EOD was on scene in less than an hour to look over the blast site. Minor damage and we should be up and running in no time. We were inside the wire and no one was hurt, that's what counts. We had a quick debrief and things got back to normal. Your prayers and support have carried us along way and we are so thankful. That is all for now, more when I get home. Love to you all, take care...
Dave (1/17/2008) I just listened to the latest interview with you and David for probably the sixth time. It always gets to me that I can hear his voice and know that he's in a good mood and his spirits are good; I want to thank you and KTTS for that. It's a real joy and comfort to be able to hear his voice. I talked with him Tuesday. It was 12:30 am his time and 3:30 pm my time. We talked for several (about 30) minutes. They had just come in from a run but were finished for that night. I miss him like crazy but I think he's happy and loves the military. (I mean if he has to be away from home, he's fairly content). Just want you to know how much I appreciate you and Julie and what you are doing for not only David but the other men as well. And for their families. Take care. Leona Lane (1/5/2008) Some Photos from David Relaxing in-between missions: Small-arms-scarred vehicles from a recent convoy: (12/30/2007) Hey folks...Hope you all had a great and safe holiday season. I am letting you know that after the first week of March to not send any mail. I am on the advanced party to leave, I was scheduled to go last, but that can change again. I have a hard date on leaving but am not going to tell due to the fact that it could and may change. It sounds like I might be in Missouri by Easter, lets hope. Take care and hope to see you soon.
David (12/20/2007) I just wanted to add my husband to the KTTS Wall of Heroes. He is currently stationed in Al Asad, Iraq serving with Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 15 (NMCB 15). His name is Shane Woosley, he is an Equipment Operator Third Class (EO3). Currently they are conducting night missions doing road repairs somewhere out side of Al Asad. I have a lot of pictures I am submitting to you all and hopefully it shows people some things they don’t get to see everyday and just how many of our NMCB 15 crew is over there right now. My story is a little different because I too am serving on active duty with the US Navy and am currently stationed here in Springfield, MO. I am full time staff at the Reserve Center here, so not only did I have to watch my husband leave, I had to process him out along with the other 42 CBs that left from Springfield. Our guys are missing a lot being there and I know they are defintely looking forward to coming soon!
So I hope you all enjoy the pictures and post what you can.
Kimberly E. Woosley, PS3, USN(FTS) (12/19/2007) Interview with Andy & Julie Andy & Julie spoke with David for about 10-minutes this morning...and thanks to Orscheln Farm & Home, Indera Mills and Midwest Quality Gloves, David and the guys from NMCB15 are going to have some great gear for Christmas. Check out the entire interview by clicking on the link above. (12/6/2007) Hello all - thought I would update you on the goings on in the land of sand. We are still running security for TCN's but that has been cut back. We now do security for MSR repairs as well. That is okay but after a few nights it becomes extremely boring so one of the guys, not me, decided to approach the work site one evening well after midnight wearing only his OTV vest, Kevlar helmet and combat boots. It was great, the two female marines commented on how cold he was!! It was 37 degrees at the time. It sure broke up the same ole nightly crap. We are back to running TCN's but medivac got grounded due to weather so we don't leave the wire if we have no air support or medivac to get us if we need em.
About two weeks ago we went up to Haditha, the town where there was alot of hatred for US forces some years back and provided security for MSR. While we were there, the Minister of Finance invited to his home to meet his daughter, she was nine minutes old. It was good to be there and we felt very glad to be back in a town that appears to be on the road to recovery.
We went back a few nights later to a not so good part of town and did more repairs, things went well. I don't know if you folks are aware, but refugees have been coming back to Iraq from Jordan, Syria and Eygpt. They are returning to take back their lives after being run out by insurgent groups and al-Qiada forces. These people are taking back their country and standing up for themselves and it feels great to be apart of it. I never thought I would be helping make history.
Well, I shall sign off and get back to my evening off, it doesn't happen often. Take care to you all and have a Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year.
Love you, David (10/31/2007) Happy Halloween to all...I'm headed back up north, tests were good and I got a clean bill of health. Coming home would have been better, but I can last 4 more months. Don't scare to many kids, Andy! - Dave (10/29/2007) Hello all: I met this morning with Dr. Nayak, the cardiologist. We talked and he listened to my heart. He heard the murmur and had me lean forward and do some breathing exercises. His thughts are that I am stressed out and have anxiety...NO KIDDING! I could have diagnosed that and billed the navy for thousands. Anyway, tomorrow, I have a stress test, ultrasound scheduled at 1pm. I fully expect to be back in Al Asad with CSE by Friday or Saturday. I will keep you informed after tomorrow's visit. Take care and love you, David (10/28/2007) Hey folks: I'm in Kuwait and will be going to the hospital tomorrow (Monday) for something, not sure if it's the tests or checking in. I could do the rest of my deployment here, the Air Force knows how to live. They should, they only do 120 days of this stuff! Anyway, thought you would want to know. I love you, David (10/18/2007) Interview with Andy & Julie Hey Andy - I talked to the guys about a "Christmas Wish List" as a group, and then alone as I would see them. A lot of what they would really appreciate for the Holidays include:
* Long Underwear (Tops and bottoms - med, large) * XL Long Underwear tops (cotton only, flame resistant) * Mechanix gloves (med and large)...We have gloves to wear when on convoy but not for working on the trucks! * Some twin sheets and blankets would be nice (if possible) * Scarfs * Dry skin lotion and chap stick * Socks and T-shirts (brown) * Phone cards with the international min on them And then anything that people would want if they were here: * Candy * Hand sanitizer * Maybe some soup with the pull top cans * Beef jerky is always a hit. * Deer sausage if any body has extra BIBLES are good, we pray before every convoy and I get asked about any bibles that they can carry in the trucks(small ones) If any body has ever been in a warzone over the holidays, they know that a friendly letter from a stranger can make you feel sooooo much better. Even a postcard from the states is a hit. Of course - movies, puzzle books, games...I have been asked about PSP2 games, I only said I would "pass it on." When and if I get more "ideas" I will let you know. Those of us from the Ozarks know that you folks will come thru no matter what, I just want to let you guys back home know that this team is grateful for the prayers and thanks you for not forgetting we are here. The Navy doesn't get parades and marching bands, so you guys back home haven't forgotten...
God Bless you ALL and thanks, David Lane (10/18/2007) Keep your head low and your radar on - we're praying for you Brother. Darryl "Cutter" Hartung CVMA # 425 Commander-Chapter 4-2 (10/17/2007) - Interview with Andy & Julie Hello all: I just thought I would relay the latest info on my holding status. I found out Monday that if Im sent to Lundstuhl, Germany that I will 99.9% be sent HOME. If I'm sent to Kuwait I will return to 15 for whatever the docs feel I can do, Hope it's CSE. So I thought you might want to know. It's getting cooler here, mostly you feel it at night, had the heat on in the duty truck the other night, days are overcast and there is a great breeze. I would much rather be home riding the harley through the ozarks but so I hope. When I see the docs where ever I land I will ask about getting this condition fixed if possible, so that's what I know. Talked with Andy and Julie earlier (listen to the interview here). Hope to see you soon, love you all, David (9/17/2007) Hello everyone: Just wanted to say hello and things are good, or as good as can be. We are convoying and its not to bad. Just when I was getting used to the time change I have to go back to nights, no big deal tho. I am looking forward to getting back and relaxing, if that actually happens I dont know. Rumor is that they like to keep us running and I may not be up for that. I dont want to burn out this early. Last night I had to pull a TCN into the destination and lost him twice, tore his front bumper off and then his front axle. He had fuel filter problems and we had no choice, we were in a bad area so we hooked him and took off. Oh well, KBR is not my problem. I will be glad when it cools off some, but I think i have another month of high temps. Well gotta go, thanks for the support and prayers, love you all, David (9/13/2007) Hey there: I'm doing good, start the job soon and I'm ready. If people want to send things, GREAT! Have 'em contact Andy for the address andytaylor@journalbroadcastgroup.com. Thanks for all you do, I know you get that alot but thats all I can do from here. Tell every one hello and I think of home everyday. Prayer is the biggest thing I want, but it means more than I can say to those that send things to us. God bless you all, David (9/9/2007) Psalm 91 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." You are in our prayers, stay safe! Love -Tina (9/9/2007) Hello to you in the real world: Im doing well and getting along ok. don't have a choice. I am sorry for not getting to "talk" to you as much as i want but dont look for a change in the future. When we start doing the "job" we well be running non stop for awhile, but i will communicate as much as possible. We move in to our new homes this week and i cant wait. I dont care for tents, and the "cans" are brand new and we are first to be in them. The mailing address that I orginally sent out is CORRECT, so you can kinda understand why i am angry, but send anything that you want. Pictures and good ole letters are great!! I have been moved to the end of the line on the convoy, tractor trailer experience did that, but i like it, but it also means that my team will be busier than the rest of the group. Cant say why, OPSEC, sorry. But i have great faith in God and my gunner, Bobby. I am going to send a box home with some film in it to have developed, and a picture with the guys and my CVMA vest, so look for that later in the future. Take care and i love you all, David (9/7/2007) Hi Andy: I just talked with David a few minutes ago. He wanted to tell everyone that the mailing address he sent to us is INCORRECT. He does not have a correct one yet. So just wanted to let you know. I want you to know how very, very much I appreciate everything you have done and are doing to keep your listeners and everyone else informed about David and ALL the men and women with him. On a personal basis, I could hug your neck! Your mama raised a good boy! Keeping the public aware of the miliary personnel is one of the most important things that can be done to support them and raise their morale. It makes them know we are aware of their efforts and our love and prayers for them. As a mother of a navy man, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I can tell you that Stacey, David's daughter really is a different girl when she hears her daddy on KTTS or hears about him. Leona Lane (Mom) (9/4/2007) Hey all -- I'm doing fine in this 120 degree heat, I actually sweat less than in the good ol USA, but I would rather be there. I have a mailing address where you can send mail and/or packages.
xxxxxxx If you send any pictures, magazines please wrap in a Sunday paper(it's thicker) so the xray techs can't see and steal what is inside. I want my Easyriders and any magazines you want to send help keep us informed along with papers of life in the outside world. Also, when you send a box, seal up ALL open edges, keeps the bugs out. Love you all, some more than others, but money may change that, lol. Take care and keep me and us in your prayers, Later, David (9/1/2007) Hello everyone -- Here i am in this place, I havent forgotten that much. But it has changed quite a bit. The army now has most control but the navy side is the same. We have a mcDonalds, Green Bean cafe(coffee shop), real food, flushing toilets, and a spa. i wont be here long tho, so Im not getting comfy. Im able to access my regular email so as long as i can i will. if this stops i will let my mom know. I hope everything back home is good, talk to you all later, love ya, David