Red Sox update from Iraq
By ThrowsLikeAGirl
Editor's Note: This correspondent, Michael Struppa, is currently serving overseas in Iraq as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2. His unit is Alpha Company 118th Medical Battalion, from Concord Massachusetts.
We're in awe of the difficult and complicated job our servicemen and women are doing in Iraq. We hope for their safety and their safe return to home soon. These "boots on the ground" are the real heroes, of course, not the guys on a ballfield who play for our entertainment. Yet, our troops are connected to home by such things as being able to follow their teams - however sporadically.
We have invited Michael to send us the occasional dispatch from Iraq, to let us know how he, personally, is enjoying the baseball season so far away from home. We encourage our readers to post comments below to Officer Struppa - to lend him and his fellow soldiers our support and gratitude.
From SPC Michael Struppa, Mosul, Iraq:
"We were mobilized this past December and after a few months in Ft. Drum, NY arrived in various areas of Iraq in February. I am writing because residing in Massachusetts, I have enjoyed and appreciated your website, I particularly enjoy it now during the free time I have. During my active duty time in Korea, Bosnia, and Ft. Drum, NY. I remained a faithful Sox fan and put up with alot of BS especially being statione in Upstate NY. It is extremely helpful having a terrific website supporting the Sox and hating the Yanks, especially over here in Iraq!!! (it's pretty hard to keep up with the time difference and all)! Unfortunately, our choices of television and sports to watch are somewhat limited here in Mosul, and it is hard finding out what happened with the home town team!!!
Things here in Iraq have been going good. We're able to keep up with the Sox (even the heart breaking losses) daily with the internet. It's starting to get really hot here, usually 90 degrees before noon, which means it's time for things to heat up back home and the Sox to go on a run!!! I can't wait until it gets to be in the 120s. We had to go see 2 Iraqi prisoners for medical emergencies (suspect el duque fans) which was pretty cool. There was no crazy compromising positions or anything interesting like that. June 30 is right around the corner but I don't see it as being as bad as many people think it is. Unless the Sox go into a swoon. The Yankees fans are moving out of town, I think they got fed up with the fact that our wiffle ball field has a green monster, and the helipad has the Boston "B" on it!!! Losahs! Hope all is well at home and I'll talk to you guys later!"
