Tour of our house!

*Cheese!*

We had to take a picture before it was officially "ours," since Mark will be gone the day we close.

 

Below is a link to a video of Mark giving you a tour of our house! 
It's not our stuff obviously, we don't close for a little while.

Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vUWNtz05_s

H & M

The last of the pictures and care package list!

Just to warn you, the commentary is by Heather, so it may or may not be accurate, i'll try my best :)

Walking into their tent. The thing hanging down is a vent where they unvelcro a flap if they want it warmer/colder.

A family hanging out. (Note, the woman in full burka)

Marks "humble abode," as he calls it. He has the bottom bunk (note the leopard print sheets hehe). The person up top gets the shaft with the air vent in their face.

I'm convinced the 5 year olds babysit the 4 year olds. Mark says there are never adults around. Free daycare!

A jingle truck on fire.

Where they work on the trucks. They built it up around the area so they wouldn't have to be working in the sun. They also made a floor for it so it wouldn't be so muddy.

Mark with the hand mic for a radio conveniently placed. He made the other guy drive.

Some guy and his camel. There were also wild camels walking around.

Efficient use of space. Wonder how long it took to pack that up? Mark says they always overfill the vehicles and things are just strapped on by a little piece of twine.

A touch of the holiday spirit.

Windshield wiper covers. Wonder if they sell any of those in the US?

Now really, how did they get those up there and how are they going to get them down?

"She thinks my tractors sexy..." (it's a song if your confused).

Nice ride.

A police outpost

A truck that flipped. No one was hurt, but there was some Skittles lodged up in the ceiling of it afterward.

In other news, i've made mark go through the care package list. Sorry it took us so long to get this together!

• granola bars
  
• trail mix
• Cheeze-it's
  
• Pop-Tarts
• gum
• nuts
  
• individual drink powders that go into a water bottle (Crystal Lite makes them I know)
• magazines (Mark says they like anything about fitness, guns, trucks, 'popular science,' 'Men's Health' etc...)
  
• soduku books- or something similar
• deodorant
• toothpaste
  
• toothbrushes- inexpensive ones- and caps to keep the top from getting dirty
• baby wipes/ Wet Ones
  
• q-tips
• Sunflower seeds
• Tylenol/Advil
• Body wash/ shampoo (remind me to pack this separately, Mark said some people's boxes food tasted like soap- woops!)
  
• Floss
• Mouthwash
• disposable razors
• Chips (like Pringles)
• Ziplock bags
• Nail clippers
• Candy (anything good, that won't melt)
  

Mark says that they like food the best- of course! So any non- perishable food that you can think of, they would probably like.

There were several female boxes that we made last time as well, so among the magazines, throw in something a 20-something year old female would like to read (Cosmo, Women's Health, People etc...)

Mark also said they have enough games to last them a while, but people always like a crossword or something similar.

I think that's about it. E-mail me if you have any specific questions. (hj.pound@yahoo.com). The party is Jan 23rd at Salem Covenant Church. I'll update again before then about all the details.

Afghanistan Pictures part 2

Removing a transfer case from a vehicle

Afghan Mtn Dew

The base in the morning

We made a grill, and we're testing it out.

Stavick with the first leaf we saw in three months.

Showing how cold it gets

Our "frs," it has our tools, a crane, air compressor and a plasma torch

Juice

All my boxes!

More boxes, thanks guys!

One more round of pics to come. They take a while to upload so I can only do a few at a time.

Mark

Afghanistan Pictures

When the convoy drives by, they have to stop their vehicles. This day it was about 130 degrees, which is why they are hanging out in the shade. They are wearing "man jammies."

Afghan National Army- like their uniforms and flip flops?

Any single ladies out there???

A "Jingle Truck" on fire, blocking the road.

Police outpost

Electronics store

Osspray helicopter.

The sand makes him a blond.

Kandahar City

Bike parking for work. Classy

At least they don't have to pick out what they are wearing the next day. It's "man jammies" and a vest.

We'll have more to post later- there are tons!

EXCITEMENT of the house kind!

Cute house huh?
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IT'S OURS!!

We found out this morning that our offer on the house got accepted. I just have to mention, it has a 50's PINK kitchen. Some of you probably just moaned, and some were like "ahhh!! CUTE!" I'm the latter of the two, and Mark thinks it's "cute" too.

We are so excited. We've been eyeing this one for a while now, and thought what the heck, we'll just throw out an offer and maybe we'll get lucky and they will accept. We worked out a good deal, and it is a really good house for us!

Housewarming party in the future? I think SO!

Anyways, MERRY CHRISTMAS all! Drive safe :)

H & M

It's good to be home

This is Mark (and Heather) blogging to you from good 'ol Minnesota

I got in on Thursday evening and was welcomed at the airport by Heather and my parents. It was really nice to see them. I hadn't showered in 4 days (besides the "baby wipe bath"). A warm shower, some pizza and a beer also welcomed me back :)

It took 4 days to get home. We went from Leatherneck to Kandahar to Kuwait to Germany to Atlanta and finally home. The military planes were really cramped, so it was nice to know when I landed that I wouldn't have to be flying again for 2 weeks. 

I took a bunch of pictures and Heather will help me put some up here before I go back. 

We've been busy....relaxing.

All the guys talk about back at the base was what they wanted to eat when they got home. I can't wait to get started on mine.

Everyone really liked the care packages, and they say thank you. 

Also, thank you for supporting me while i've been gone. I look forward to your continuing support. 

Mark (and Heather)

My Christmas gift is arriving!

Mark is coming back soon, I didn't think of writing this here until now.

Answer's to many many questions i've gotten...

1- I don't know when Mark will be back, and he doesn't either. There are many factors that play into his travels. He has several flights, some of them being military aircrafts, which are random and don't leave at specific times.

2- he will be back for two weeks

3- his leave starts when he gets to the states.

Hopefully the next post will be from him, and we will have several pictures!!!

The two weeks will fly by, but I had a thought about it when I was running this morning...

I am thankful that I get two entire weeks with him, rather than being upset that I only get two weeks.
Soldiers used to be away from their families for years with no breaks. To boost soldier moral they started giving them "R & R."

Neither of us could possibly be more excited. I've been forgetting things (The in-laws can confirm this, haha) and not been able to concentrate on anything, i'm just too excited!!

Finals are next week, and i'll finally be able to put college behind me. Mark will likely come back next week as well. We are also buying a house within the next 2 months, and I am starting a full time job in Jan. Waaayyyy too much going on, but it is all so exciting!

We will try to see as many of you as possible, but I know that Mark wants to spend a lot of time relaxing, being with his friends and family, and we are still possibly traveling over his leave.

For Salem go-ers, we will likely be there the service of Wed the 23rd.

Thanks for the prayers and especially getting ME through the 7 months, only 6 left!!!
-Heather

Care package party 2 details

The second care package party will be on January 23rd from 11am-2pm.

It will be at Salem Covenant Church which is at:

2655 5th Street Northwest
New Brighton, MN 55112

(same church Mark and I were married at if you were at the wedding)

We are having it in the library of the church, which is upstairs, so you'll see us when you walk in the front door. I plan on ordering some pizza around noon for those who are there, and have some beverages as well.

From the last care package party we learned a couple of things, which I will elaborate for those who weren't able to come...
--When people came in, we had boxes set up with different categories (personal hygiene, reading materials, other, games/entertainment, food, things specifically for Mark, female things, etc), and everyone dropped their things off when they walked in. I am anticipating having the same type of thing, as it worked out really well.
--We had something similar to an assembly line for the filling and people doing different tasks such as a box maker/taper, people to fill out customs forms (which really helped me out!)
--We left all of the boxes open so that I could add more at to the boxes if we had a left over items at the end.
(It might seem like I'm organized, but I'm not that much...everything just seemed to workout.)

I will put a list up after Mark comes home, so that I can talk to him about what they liked etc. I know for sure that most things were a hit, which is good! If your already out looking for good deals, just base your purchases off of the previous list. Also, any amount of $ that was donated, really helped us out with the mailing of the packages (it cost over $500 to mail them all--but was well worth the cause!) so if you want to pitch in, but can't make it or don't have time to get anything this is a good way to help out too (any leftover money will go towards buying other donations for soldiers)!

We also learned from the first party, that since most people came around the beginning of the festivities, we had most of the boxes filled and put together after 2 hours. I would suggest that if you want to take part in all the goodness, to come earlier if possible. If it doesn't work with your schedule, come whenever...we'll be there until 2pm for sure and probably a little while later to load up all of the boxes.

No need to tell me if your coming to this one, since we will have plenty of space, and will be ordering food (another reason to come earlier! :)

Feel free to bring friends, or spread the word of our efforts. The soldiers are very thankful for everything we are doing for them, and I am thankful for everyone who has and can make this happen! Just a note, they have 189 (or so) soldiers in their unit, so I don't think making too many boxes will be an issue.

__________________________________

Mark will be back in about 15 days, and has told me that he has several pictures that I'll be able to share with you guys! I haven't seen any pictures since the last ones I put up, so I'm anxious to see how they've been living!

Since the last post, they have switched Mark BACK to day shifts (poor guy is exhausted).


-Heather

Care Package Party 2!

The day for the second care package party is January 23rd. We are going to try to have it at Mark's church (Salem Covenant Church, the same one we got married at). We have to look into that a little more, so I will let everyone know when we find out for sure. I am thinking of getting pizza for everyone who comes too!

I will talk to Mark when he is back (in FOURTEEN days!!!) to find out what they really liked or new ideas if they've come up with any!

I spoke with Mark tonight, and they had gotten off work hours early to watch the Vikings game...so they were pretty happy about that. He stayed later tonight after work to talk with us (Heidi and Jake, his parents, brother and I) on Skype, so that was nice :)
I got most of our shopping done this weekend. I started shopping a month ago, and am excited to give everyone their gifts! We're also making house progress! Looking at some more tomorrow, and have narrowed down the neighborhoods we like. Yay! Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Mark said they got turkey and ham, which was alright, otherwise they worked like usual. I'm so thankful he will be home for Christmas, so soon! How did I get so lucky??

-Heather

Article

Article that Lyle found. I talked to Mark and he said that he was sleeping when the football playing was going on, because he is working nights again. He is so excited to come home too!


A touch of home on Thanksgiving
MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

The line judge and the cheerleaders carried automatic weapons at this championship football game.

It wasn't covered by ESPN, and the Chinook helicopter occasionally hovering overhead wasn't there to provide aerial views. But for a few members of a Minnesota National Guard company operating supply convoys from this base, Thanksgiving Day touch football was a brief reminder of home and a respite from the small-arms fire and roadside bombs that make the roadways of Helmand Province one of Afghanistan's most hotly contested areas.

The football games, a round robin between companies in the battalion, were the first of their kind, designed as a morale booster. The games had no title, although given the surrounding moonscape terrain, the Dust Bowl might have been appropriate.

Spirits were high among the Guard 114th Transportation Co., based out of Duluth. The 114th is in the middle of a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. Based out of this Marine base, its 180 soldiers run supply convoys to several bases in Helmand.

Even after a grueling mission that took several days, the Minnesotans conducted themselves well enough to climb to the championship game, after defeating the always feisty 811th HQ Division 3-2.

The victory was sparked by an acrobatic catch by Staff Sgt. Travis Bergland that took him back to his days as a flanker for the Albert Lea Tigers. Compared with the field back in Albert Lea, Bergland acknowledged, the Afghan terrain -- which included rocks of various sizes -- presented a special obstacle to running effective pass patterns.

Before the championship game against the Fort Carson, Colo.-based 68th, Specialist Shelby Lago of Federal Dam did her best to inspire her colleagues.

"We're good at ice fishing, we're good at drinking beer and it looks like we're getting good at football. Let's bring our 'A' game today. Wolfpack on three," she shouted.

Standing nearby, Specialist Marcheta Blumke of New Ulm thought about the significance of the game.

"We all love football. If this weren't happening, we'd just be in our tent watching movies," she said.

Advantage, mountaineers

But the Minnesotans were never able to contend in the final game, finding themselves heavily outmatched by a team that many thought sported some ringers, given its status as the head of the battalion. The first touchdown came off a long spiral pass that literally left the 114th in the dust.

"We came from Colorado," yelled one sergeant on the sidelines. "Altitude."

There were some excellent efforts. At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, Sgt. Brian Haglund displayed a swim move on defense that often left his opponent outflanked. Haglund, from Coon Rapids, played semi-professional football.

"Any team sport I'm in for," Haglund said. "I'd rather be doing this than alone doing PT [physical training] any day."

After two 20-minute halves and a 10 minute halftime, the Minnesotans bowed to their superior opponents, 6-1. The end result: several skinned knees, a scraped hand or two and one bad ankle sprain. And then it was back to the reality of a holiday spent nearly 7,000 miles from home.

Despite the intensity of the newfound rivalry, no one talked about meeting again here next year for a rematch.

Mark Brunswick • 651-222-1636

Words

29 days until Mark leaves the sandbox. He's excited. We're excited.

Next care package party is in Jan. I have to talk with the parental unit and the in-laws to figure out a date that works with everyone. I am no longer working at the hospital, so I have weekends off! I feel free. haha.

Mark got back safely from his mission. He couldn't tell me much about it, but he went with a bunch of guys, and they were gone for about 3-4 days. I think he liked getting "out" a little. He also said he saw his first tree since he's been over there. It was at a different base. I think it's a little tricky to get a tree to grow in sand. He also said that they have giant kangaroo rats. Not their proper name, I don't think. He said they are giant rats that hop like rabbits. Gross! That would be enough to make me run in the other direction. They also have desert spiders. Ick to that too. I wouldn't survive over there. About every 4-5 days they see a cloud. I was confused by this at first, but it makes sense that a desert doesn't have enough moisture for them. Makes sense.

Mark still gets Thursdays off, in which he works out. I got a question about what they do on their days off. I only know what Mark does, and it's...not much. He works out and reads. Good thing for him I have a stock pile of magazines and his junk mail to send his way. hehe. There isn't much for entertainment over there. I think they have a "common area" with a TV, but i'm not entirely sure. He said something about watching the Twins game a while back, and said they might have it playing in there. I'll have to ask him more about that.

They are still all enjoying everything from the care packages. I will put up a revised list later, based on their feedback of what was sent. They were just happy to get packages, but I wanted to know more about what exactly they liked the most/least. Oh, and nothing exploded or leaked in route, which is good.

We are currently house hunting. I feel like I have to include "we" because there are several of us going at it, even if Mark isn't directly house hunting with us. We spent hours last Sat driving around with the Realtor looking at houses, and stopping by open houses. We are getting a really good idea of where we want to live, and what we want in a house. If everything goes our way, we could be in a house early Feb. Yes, I will be living there before Mark gets back. I might get us a dog to keep me company though :) (sorry parents!). Speaking of parents. I like them. They've been helping a lot with this too, so thanks!

I am starting full time at my job just after Mark leaves. It's an exciting and scary transition all at once. The living alone thing will be good for me, but we all know I love and need people around me at all times. It'll be interesting to say the least! My family doesn't think I can do it, gotta prove 'em wrong. I've already asked all my friends to take shifts on who is staying over hehe. (I'm not kidding about this one.)

I'm waiting for Mark to send me pictures. I guess he has a bunch, including some of their living/sleeping area. They still have crappy interwebs though, so i'll have to wait. If nothing else, I can put them up when he is back. LESS THAN A MONTH! Woop.

Oh, he might also be moving back to working nights. There is a guy on nights who is going on leave, so it would be a temporary thing. I don't know how he gets his sleep straight with all this switching. So, he'd be supervising the night crew I guess.

Hope everyone's doing good. Could everyone else start a blog so I can read about you? I need updates on everyone. Ok, thanks. :)

-H

May we never forget those who risked it all.

Thank you Veterans!!
Thank you Sgt Pound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctVI5baftFo

Happy Veterans Day!

Happiness is...

A surprise call from your husband, when you think it will be another week before any contact....even if it is only a 2 minute conversation.

Gosh, I love him. :)

Update of sorts

Most of the time I have so much to say, but nothing to write. Know what I mean?

Mark is well. We haven't been able to communicate much because of bad internet connection and poor phone quality. Our phone conversations are frustrating, but very much appreciated. There is a delay in the phones... so I will say something, Mark won't hear it for 10 seconds or so...so he starts saying something and we both end up talking/hearing each other at the same time. The conversation is mostly us talking over each other, or waiting in silence to see if the other person will talk. The internet is so-so. He has some sort of internet card that he bought, so he can get internet in his tent, but it is very slow and cuts in and out. BUT, like I said...we are very appreciative for any contact, even if it's minimal.

We don't talk much about what is going on over there. He always asks about my days, and doesn't want to talk much about his. I think he likes to hear about my mundane day-to-day activities. It makes him feel like he is still in touch with civilization to some point.

38 days until his leave. Everyday I get out of bed, I think, "one less day we have to wait!" I am thankful for everyday I make it through with out going crazy. :)

I have been really busy, and have had some super exciting achievements lately...but will elaborate more on them at a different time maybe. There is always a light in the darkness.

One small update I guess...Mark is now going on missions. I don't have more to elaborate on that topic.

If nothing else, this deployment has brought us closer and really made us appreciate the small things in life. As dumb as it sounds when people tell you...don't forget to say your "I love yous" and give hugs. You are never promised a tomorrow.

Please keep these troops in your prayers, especially with the increase in missions.

thanks from the soldiers!

I got an e-mail from Mark a couple of days ago saying...
"...we got 21 of the packages yesterday and everyone loves them. so I would like to say thanks and everyone here says thanks..."

I talked to him again today and he said they got 42 boxes, so there are still a couple more out there and hopefully on their way! He said that everyone loved them, and were very grateful that we would do that for them. They were really appreciative that they were supported by complete strangers back home.

In the last post, Mark was safe from days, but he has since moved to working days. One good thing about him, is that he is easygoing and will just go with the flow when he has to. He did promise me that he won't volunteer for any missions though which is good. He doesn't have much of a say if he goes out on missions, but they can volunteer to go, which will put them ahead of others. People are chosen from a list of soldiers, where they get rotated, so everyone has an equal chance at going. (By mission I mean leaving the base and going to "recover" vehicles).

Mark is doing good, but missing home a lot. Home is missing him too. I am kind of thankful that I am so busy during the days because it makes them go a lot faster. He told me the other day that he does something every night before he climbs into his sleeping bag. It is really crazy to think about what these guys are going through. Sleeping in a sleeping bag for a year? No thanks. It makes me love my big warm bed a lot more. Less than 50 days until he is home for leave. We have a lot planned for his time home (in terms of trips, holidays etc), but i'll get him to post something here at least once :)

I have become a lot more appreciative of him since he has been gone (not that I wasn't before). They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. It's true. I don't like the situation we are in, but it's reality and there is no way around it. I am thankful for any contact we are able to have, even short two sentence e-mails ensuring me that he is OK really puts my mind at ease. I haven't been hearing from him much lately because of the day shift and because of poor internet service on their end. He has been keeping me updated via e-mail and minimal contact on Skype to let me know that he is OK. He knows i'm a worry wart.

I was sitting in church this morning, and watching a couple in front of me rub each others back, hold hands, and smile at each other. I wondered if they knew how lucky they were. They were cute- made me smile. Just a random thought.

I have several pictures to follow, and will get more from Mark soon as well. I also have some from Sarah from the party that I will put up later. Thanks again for everyone who contributed to the care packages. He is very lucky to have all of you!

If your wondering where mark is, look directly in the center, about 5th row back. He doesn't have his helmet on. I love this picture.

A home passed on their convoy to Camp Leatherneck. Thankful for your warm and cozy house?
Gotta get sleep where ever/whenever you can (They are on the back of some sort of truck).
Sand storm that they see every couple of days.

Btw, Mark and I have been married for 6 months today! Crazy!

-Heather

Fall in Afghanistan

Who knows if Afghanistan has seasons. I'm guessing not. When I talked to Mark though tonight, he was bundled up. He said it was 46 degrees (it was also the middle of the night). At least he isn't missing out on anything going on in MN- he gets to experience it too. During the day he said it is about 90 right now, but he isn't awake to enjoy any of that heat.

I'm thankful that he can get on Skype as much as he can. Someone in their troop bought cell phones when they were in Kandahar. They cost $300 per phone and $20/month for service. The neat thing is though, somehow they can be connected to a computer- ideally a laptop i'm guessing, and serve as a modem so that they can get internet through the phone, but on their computer. Make sense? Anywoo, Mark might try that if for some reason Skype isn't an option anymore. He was going to be moved to day shift, but isn't anymore. I'd be a much happier camper if he didn't do day shift, but when there is no choice, you just gotta do what they tell you to. He said before anything is final, they will probably change it a dozen more times.

We (Lyle and I) mailed out 23 boxes from the care package party on Tuesday, so they should be there in 10 days from Tuesday! Thanks again for those who contributed money as well. It is VERY helpful to have that to be able to mail the packages. The rest of the packages will go out Friday. I will for sure let you know when they get them.

In other news, I have a cheese conference to go to for work tomorrow. Yes, CHEESE. More professionally, it is NCCIA - North Central Cheese Industries Association. Should be interesting. Our company deals mostly with whey proteins, so we will learn more about microfiltration of dairy products and more about milk proteins. Who have I become? haha. (A cheese head perhaps)

I should have been sleeping a long time ago.

G'night!

update of sorts

Mark asked me to post about this...

Many of you know that I was expecting Mark to come online to chat with the people who were over for the packaging. He told me exactly when he was going to come online, so I expected him around that time, if not sometime that day. He didn't end up coming on at all Saturday, and then did not come online again Sunday. I knew something was up on Saturday, because it was not like him to not show up on Skype, call or e-mail me about what happened.

I heard from him today, and he told me that they had a "communications blackout," which means that they shut down any and all outside communication for the soldiers. They do that when a soldier dies because they do not want their family to find out via internet that their child/ spouse etc. has passed. The guy who died was in a truck with another soldier when they drove over an IED. One of the soldiers lived and was minimally hurt, and Mark said that they were told it was likely because he was buckled in. Their truck did not explode, but was definitely shaken enough that the soldier who wasn't buckled flew around in the truck, ending up breaking his back and having severe internal bleeding. He lived for two or so days after the incident, but died in transit to a base where he could have been taken care of better. The guy was in Mark's unit and was stationed out of Chisholm with Mark. For those who don't know, Mark is in a transportation unit that transports ammunition and vehicles I think. Anyways, really really sad. Pray for their family, I can't and don't want to ever imagine what they must be feeling.

Here is an article that Lyle found...
2 Minnesotans killed in Afghanistan
A Marine and Army National Guard member died as a result of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.
By VINCE TUSS, Star Tribune
Last update: October 13, 2009 - 7:27 AM
Two military men from northern Minnesota -- a Marine and a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard -- have been killed in Afghanistan, military officials and family members said Monday.
Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron Taylor, 27, died Friday, said his father, Clifford, of Two Harbors. The death has not yet been announced by the Defense Department.
Army National Guard Specialist George W. Cauley, 24, of Walker, died Saturday, according to the Pentagon.
Taylor was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol in Helmand Province, his father said. He specialized in explosive ordnance disposal, an extremely dangerous duty that concerned his family, but motivated him.
"He was the type of guy who when he found what he wanted to do, he dove right in and learned everything about it," his father said.
He was based at Camp Pendleton in California and also had completed a tour in Iraq. He had been in Afghanistan for six weeks.
"He knew that we were concerned and he was trying to reassure us that he was doing good work with a good group of people," said Clifford Taylor, who last spoke to his son about a week ago. "He was confident that he'd be fine."
Aaron Taylor was born in Duluth, grew up in Bovey and graduated from Greenway High School in Coleraine in 2000. There, he played in the jazz and pep bands, wrestled and managed the hockey team.
"He was just a likable, personable guy. Everyone who knew him just loved him," his father said. "If the Taliban had met him, I'm sure they would have liked him."
Funeral services were pending. Taylor's body is in Dover, Del., and is expected to be returned to Minnesota in the next few days.
Cauley was hurt Wednesday in Helmand Province when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device, the Defense Department said. He died of his wounds three days later in Bagram.
He was a 2003 graduate of Northland High School in Remer, according to his Facebook page. Calls to family members were not returned.
Cauley was a member of the Guard's 114th Truck Company, based in Duluth. The company had 187 soldiers mobilized in June, said Maj. Patricia Baker, a public affairs officer for the Minnesota Guard. The one-year deployment included training in Indiana before leaving for Afghanistan, Baker said.
The mission was moving supplies by ground throughout Afghanistan and providing convoy security, according to a statement from the Guard in April, when the deployment was announced. The company uses a Palletized Load System, a kind of heavy truck, to move large amounts of cargo, Baker said.
The investigation into Cauley's death continues in Afghanistan, Baker said.
It comes a week after the death of a Guardsman in Iraq from noncombat injuries. Maj. Tad Hervas, 48, of Coon Rapids, died in Basra. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division, based in Rosemount.
In July, three state Guard members were killed by rocket attack on their base near Basra, Iraq. Specialist Daniel Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury; Specialist James Wertish, 20, of rural Olivia, and Specialist Carlos Wilcox IV, 27, of Cottage Grove were members of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division and assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, based in Stillwater.

I thought this link was interesting. It is the demographics of their unit http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/assets/114th_TC_Deployment_Information.pdf

Heather

Thank you!

We had a great turnout today! Everyone was super helpful and we actually had to go back to the post office twice to get more boxes and customs forms. We ran out of customs forms again, so I have about 15 more to write out. We filled about 6 boxes for Mark and 40 boxes for everyone else! Thank you to everyone who donated cash, everyone who brought goodies to eat, and everyone who brought things to stuff the box. There was a great variety of things, and new ideas to add to the list!

My mom's friend Sue from Century College had the Dental Hygiene students gather up some things for the troops, as well as some of her co-workers and other students also donated to the cause. That was awesome. They donated about 4 huge boxes and even more bags of goodies. Other people included a bunch of our friends (Mark and mine), people from Salem, some of Mark's family, my family, friends of my mom and more. It was a great cause, and I think they will really appreciate everything! I'll update everyone on their reaction to the boxes when they get them.

For those who weren't able to make it, we are having one more care package party at the end of January, so i'll let everyone know when I come up with a date for that. We might even be able to have the community center donate a room to us for the cause, so we can be more efficient with space. It worked perfect at our house, but would be better with a little more elbow room.

I have a bunch of pictures to put up, so enjoy!

Alicia, Laura and Nick taping up boxes

Can't have a party without food!

Boxes waiting for customs forms

Alicia, Jody and Laura

Jess writing out customs forms

Katie, Kate and Allison

Sarah and I

Half the peeps

Katie shopping in Mark's things (ok, maybe packing boxes!)

Mark had a stash of his own.

Some of the finished boxes!

Sara!

Nick and Katie rocked the bruchetta!

Food pile

Jess, me and Katie and Alicia doing customs forms

Filling boxes- it was an assembly line process

Woop woop

Mama bear, Cindy and Gary

Pat, Dana, Sara, Sarah, and James

This little fella helped keep all the ladies entertained haha

More box stuffage

That is all for now! I know others took pictures too, so if I get some of those, i'll post them as well.
Thanks again!!! We really appreciate everyone and everything you did for the troops!

-H