<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceName"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="State"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="City"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="country-region"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PersonName"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Letter writing campaign???????????????<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>There is not sufficient time for that, J.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Sergeant Williams’ return flight to <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> is scheduled
for Friday while his baby is still in neonatal intensive care as of noon today.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Washington Vets (a very active
organization I belong to) has already organized a committee and is pursuing
this through their senators and representatives.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I suggest that we contact our senators and
representatives as well.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Senator Larry Craig<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href="http://craig.senate.gov/contact.cfm">http://craig.senate.gov/contact.cfm</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Senator Mike Crapo<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href="http://crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm">http://crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Representative Bill Sali<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href="http://sali.house.gov/zipauth.shtml">http://sali.house.gov/zipauth.shtml</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Representative Mike Simpson<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a
href="http://www.house.gov/simpson/emailme.shtml">http://www.house.gov/simpson/emailme.shtml</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color=navy
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'>Seeya round
town, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City></st1:place>.<br>
<br>
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Tom Hansen</st1:PersonName><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></st1:place><br>
<br>
</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of
emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> J Ford
[mailto:privatejf32@hotmail.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, December 26, 2007
1:13 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Tom
Hansen</st1:PersonName>; vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [Vision2020] Soldier
Called Back to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
as Infant Struggles for Life</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Tom;<br>
<br>
What about getting letter campaign going to let the "powers that be"
know just how disgusting this situation is?! I mean, they have ads on
showing soldiers holding pictures of their kids and family members as being the
reason they are serving and now this!! <br>
<br>
The Idaho Legislators should also send a united letter to Congress and DOD to
let them know how really wrong this is! Anyone out there
listening?! These people are putting their lives on the line and now its
OUR turn to support them.<br>
<br>
Comments?<br>
<br>
J :]<br>
<br>
<br>
> From: thansen@moscow.com<br>
> To: vision2020@moscow.com<br>
> Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:23:03 -0800<br>
> Subject: [Vision2020] Soldier Called Back to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> as Infant Struggles for Life<br>
> <br>
> >From the December 24, 2007 edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
at<br>
> <br>
> http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344830_soldier25.html<br>
> <br>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
> <br>
> 'AWOL' over sick baby<br>
> Soldier called back to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
as infant struggles for life<br>
> By Mike Barber<br>
> <br>
> An inspiring quote in a key Army manual for commanders of rear detachments<br>
> says soldiers have "two supreme loyalties," to country and
family.<br>
> <br>
> But "even the bonds of patriotism, discipline and comradeship are
loosened<br>
> when the family itself is threatened."<br>
> <br>
> Sgt. Chris Williams, 24, a Fort Lewis 4th Stryker Brigade soldier home
from<br>
> his second deployment to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
never wanted to test the idea's validity when<br>
> he came home to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>
on leave for the birth of his first-born in early<br>
> December.<br>
> <br>
> As he spends Christmas with his newborn son, who is battling for his life
in<br>
> critical care while his wife remains stressed out from a difficult
delivery,<br>
> the battle-tested soldier has been told his extended leave is canceled and<br>
> to hurry back to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
or be declared AWOL, the soldier's family said Monday.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> "My kid and his wife don't need this right now," the soldier's
father, Doug<br>
> Williams, said.<br>
> <br>
> If ever there was a hardship, this is one, he said.<br>
> <br>
> "This is a career soldier -- or was -- who has been hit with IEDs and
been<br>
> there for the Army. Before all this, he could have come home from <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> for<br>
> knee surgery but didn't feel right leaving <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> and all the guys there. And<br>
> now with his son in critical care, this is the response he gets from the<br>
> military?" Williams said.<br>
> <br>
> Chris Williams serves with the 4,000-member 4th Stryker Brigade, which
left<br>
> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Lewis</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> in April for a 15-month tour of
duty. He returned home for his<br>
> 15-day leave on Dec. 4 but requested an extension when his son's condition<br>
> suddenly worsened hours after the baby's difficult birth Dec. 18.<br>
> <br>
> Catherine Caruso, a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Lewis</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> spokeswoman, said
Williams appealed for<br>
> emergency leave through the American Red Cross to the 4th Stryker
Brigade's<br>
> rear detachment. The rear detachment allowed Williams' leave to be
extended<br>
> after he was unable to get a response from Williams' chain of command in<br>
> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
she confirmed.<br>
> <br>
> The rear detachment commander, however, is not in Williams' chain of<br>
> command, which is in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
she noted. The rear detachment commander at Fort<br>
> Lewis "has no authority to grant leave but is in a position of some
trust<br>
> and took it upon himself to say (Williams) needed to stay home,"
Caruso<br>
> said.<br>
> <br>
> The decision was based upon information from the American Red Cross, which<br>
> handles military requests for emergency leave, she said. <br>
> <br>
> Chris Williams was at <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Munster</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Community</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType>
in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>
Monday and could<br>
> not be reached for comment. <br>
> <br>
> His family says he followed orders to return and booked the first flight he<br>
> could find, slated to leave Friday. <br>
> <br>
> But they and he can't understand the sudden reversal that has added so
much<br>
> distress to their lives. <br>
> <br>
> On Sunday, Williams' son's condition was downgraded to critical at almost<br>
> the same time Williams received the message to return to <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the
soldier's<br>
> father said.<br>
> <br>
> "The baby's condition worsened 12 hours after he was born," Doug
Williams<br>
> said. "Sunday morning he stopped breathing twice and had to be
resuscitated.<br>
> He was sent back to neonatal intensive care, and has undergone spinal
taps."<br>
> <br>
> Williams' family, which includes numerous military retirees
"disgusted" by<br>
> the turn of events, are outraged, Doug Williams said, while <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:State> public<br>
> officials are demanding answers from the Army on their behalf.<br>
> <br>
> Over the weekend, Doug Williams said, an adjutant general said flatly that<br>
> Sgt. Williams' extended leave had never been granted. <br>
> <br>
> Yet, he notes, "I have copies of voice mails from a sergeant and
captain at<br>
> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Lewis</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> rear detachment who told him that
because we were running out of<br>
> time and they had not heard from (commanders in) <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>, they were
extending<br>
> his leave to Jan. 3." <br>
> <br>
> There's also the voice mail from his son's commander in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>, a
captain,<br>
> that Williams has retained.<br>
> <br>
> "He told Chris to ignore the previous messages from the rear
detachment and<br>
> the extension was revoked, that it was not deemed of any immediate
emergency<br>
> and that he had to be on the first plane back to <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> or he
would be AWOL,"<br>
> Doug Williams said.<br>
> <br>
> On Monday, Williams said he learned from an Army officer that an executive<br>
> officer in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
had made the initial decision to rescind leave. <br>
> <br>
> "He didn't ask for the Red Cross to check, like he should have. He
called<br>
> the hospital from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
asked for the nursery and was told the baby was<br>
> discharged from the nursery. Of course he was discharged from the nursery.<br>
> He was sent to neonatal intensive care," Williams' father said,
fuming.<br>
> <br>
> Williams said the Army should put more faith in his son's integrity.<br>
> <br>
> "I'll tell you the kind of man Chris is. He joined the Army for six
years<br>
> instead of the usual four after 9/11," Doug Williams said. <br>
> <br>
> When his son returned to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>
with Fort Lewis' 4th Stryker Brigade last<br>
> spring, Williams said, he had scheduled other soldiers to take their
leaves<br>
> around Christmastime instead of him. When Chris Williams learned his wife<br>
> was pregnant, however, his commanders suggested he take leave for the<br>
> December delivery instead.<br>
> <br>
> Williams said his son has been in two Stryker vehicles damaged by
improvised<br>
> roadway bombs.<br>
> <br>
> He suffered a severe concussion in the first explosion but was back on<br>
> patrol two days later when the second hit. <br>
> <br>
> "I was never in the military," the soldier's father said,
"but in my<br>
> opinion, these are the types of men and women the military wants to keep,<br>
> not to chase off."<br>
> <br>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
> <br>
> Seeya round town, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>.<br>
> <br>
> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Tom Hansen</st1:PersonName><br>
> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></st1:place><br>
> <br>
> "Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
tranquil<br>
> and steady dedication of a lifetime." <br>
> <br>
> --Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> =======================================================<br>
> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>
> http://www.fsr.net <br>
> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>
> =======================================================<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live. <a
href="http://www.windowslive.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_powerofwindows_122007"
target="_new">Get it now!</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>