Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

This week I have two good-news letters to share with you.

Col. Christopher Mitchell, formerly the commander of 1-56 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, and currently a Military Transition Team Chief in Iraq needed uniforms for his interpreters who go out with his team on missions. In a letter to Lt. Col. Joseph Gaines, commander 1-56 ADA Bn., he asked Gaines’ for his help and the unit members quickly responded by donating uniforms for the interpreters. The following is correspondence from Mitchell to Gaines thanking him for his help, content edited for publication.

Joe,

I am sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I want to thank you for the uniforms. I was really blown away to read that your Soldiers were willing to donate their own uniforms for our interpreters. As I said before, this means we will not have to send a three-hour combat patrol to Balad to get uniforms for our translators. These guys risk their lives working with us and the least we can do is get them more than one uniform.

I must say I am not surprised at the generosity of the 1-56 Soldiers, as they have always been willing to do whatever it takes. I have told our interpreters about this and they are very excited. I will get a picture of us all and send it along later.

This division is making a difference. We have found weapons cache, and the Iraqi Bomb disposal company is busy destroying several IEDs that were found by the team. My gunner found one the other day (a huge propane bottle filled with explosives) and I found one about two days later. Never a dull moment.

Thanks again for your kindness, and tell all the 1-56 Soldiers how much we all appreciate it. Night Hides Not!
Col. Christopher Mitchell
MTT Chief

We are all proud of the medical facility here that supports our military population and their families. I recently received this complimentary letter from a family member of a retiree regarding medical treatment at William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

Dear MG Lennox:

My husband Al Thompson, (a military retiree and formerly with Directorate of Combat Development) has been a patient at WBAMC since April 15. Many doctors and nurses have provided fantastic “above and beyond service,” but right now I want to share the name of just one doctor, because she is leaving the military. Dr. Sue Baum has visited Al six days a week since April 16. She often visits twice daily. She is a caring, dedicated wonderful doctor who truly cares for her patients. She explains medical information on a non-medical level. If we didn’t understand, she took the time to explain “it” until we understand the health information. We are surely going to miss her, and her transition to being a civilian doctor is an awesome gain for the civilian community and a great loss for the WBAMC community. I hope you have a chance to read this in May. Take care and I appreciate your interest in Al’s health.

Sincerely,
Denise A. Thompson



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 10, 2007

	Troop Talk This week I have two good-news letters to share with you. Col. Christopher Mitchell, formerly the commander of 1-56 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, and currently a Military Transition Team Chief in Iraq needed uniforms for his interpreters who go out with his team on missions. In a letter to Lt. Col. Joseph Gaines, commander 1-56 ADA Bn., he asked Gaines’ for his help and the unit members quickly responded by donating uniforms for the interpreters. The following is correspondence from Mitchell to Gaines thanking him for his help, content edited for publication. Joe, I am sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I want to thank you for the uniforms. I was really blown away to read that your Soldiers were willing to donate their own uniforms for our interpreters. As I said before, this means we will not have to send a three-hour combat patrol to Balad to get uniforms for our translators. These guys risk their lives working with us and the least we can do is get them more than one uniform. I must say I am not surprised at the generosity of the 1-56 Soldiers, as they have always been willing to do whatever it takes. I have told our interpreters about this and they are very excited. I will get a picture of us all and send it along later. This division is making a difference. We have found weapons cache, and the Iraqi Bomb disposal company is busy destroying several IEDs that were found by the team. My gunner found one the other day (a huge propane bottle filled with explosives) and I found one about two days later. Never a dull moment. Thanks again for your kindness, and tell all the 1-56 Soldiers how much we all appreciate it. Night Hides Not! Col. Christopher Mitchell MTT Chief We are all proud of the medical facility here that supports our military population and their families. I recently received this complimentary letter from a family member of a retiree regarding medical treatment at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Dear MG Lennox: My husband Al Thompson, (a military retiree and formerly with Directorate of Combat Development) has been a patient at WBAMC since April 15. Many doctors and nurses have provided fantastic “above and beyond service,” but right now I want to share the name of just one doctor, because she is leaving the military. Dr. Sue Baum has visited Al six days a week since April 16. She often visits twice daily. She is a caring, dedicated wonderful doctor who truly cares for her patients. She explains medical information on a non-medical level. If we didn’t understand, she took the time to explain “it” until we understand the health information. We are surely going to miss her, and her transition to being a civilian doctor is an awesome gain for the civilian community and a great loss for the WBAMC community. I hope you have a chance to read this in May. Take care and I appreciate your interest in Al’s health. Sincerely, Denise A. Thompson