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CSM's Letter

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CMDSGTMAJOR.gif (5219 bytes)  A LETTER FROM THE COMMAND SERGEANTS MAJOR:

 

HEADQUARTERS

200TH ENGINEER BATTALION

MNC-I, C7, MEOICC

APO AE 09342-1400

  

200-CSM                                                                                                                                                                                                                            30 May 2005

SUBJECT:  Command Sergeant Major’s Website Letter

I wanted to update everyone back home on how things are going.   We are within days of the 4-month mark of being deployed overseas.  Hopefully time will pass quickly and our soldiers can join their loved ones back at home.

We have sent nine soldiers home for R and R leave so far, with five more scheduled for June.  I know the soldiers that have gone and come back have really enjoyed their time back at home.  I’ve got a ways to go before I go on mine, but I am looking forward to seeing my loved ones in a few months.

Well the temperatures have been averaging around 105 degrees everyday.  I went on a mission down to Kuwait to check on a small detachment of soldiers we have there, and you could sure feel the heat on the tarmac and in the air.  I will continue to remind the soldiers to stay properly hydrated.  The temperature is only going to get hotter as we get into summer.

Speaking of warm weather,  I’d like to thank Jack, my mother-in-law June, my sister June, and my wife Tammy for sending everything needed to make home-made ice cream.  We made up a batch of vanilla yesterday, and it came out great!!!!!  We are looking to get creative next time and try some different flavors.   It sure tasted good on these hot days.

We were able to have a BBQ recently and that went over well.  We were able to obtain some chicken, burgers and hot dogs along with all the sides.  It was nice to eat something besides “chow hall” food for a change.  And the gauntlet has been laid.  SFC Erickson did an excellent job grilling the food for the first one, and now it’s up to SFC Tippett to “out do” him on our next BBQ that we’ve scheduled for 3 July.  I’ll let you know how it comes out, but SFC Tippett has his work cut out for him.

I want to thank everyone for your continued support.  It means a lot to our soldiers, and I’m very proud of the way they are performing.  They give 100% everyday, and I know that you are proud of them too.  There are good days and bad days, and I know that your support helps them through some of the trying times.   Keep up the great support!

Well that is all for now.  Thanks for visiting the website, and I’ll post another message soon.

God Bless,

John Nichols

CSM, 200th EN BN

 

 

200-CSM                                                                                                                                                                                                                           23 March 2005

SUBJECT:  Command Sergeant Major’s Website Letter 

1.  Greeting from Iraq.   We’ve been here for about 3 weeks.   We trained with the unit we replaced for about 10 days, and the overlapping training went very well.  Now the 200th soldiers are conducting their assigned missions on their own.  They are doing an outstanding job, and are eager to exceed previously set standards.

2.  I want to thank everyone for your support of our soldiers over here.  I consider the issue of family support with great importance.   Your support is helping the soldiers of the 200th get through this long deployment.  I know they are very appreciative of all things you do back home to help us accomplish our mission here.  Whether it be care packages or just “stepping up” to handle problems that arise at home which your soldier can’t  take care of now.  I know your mission is a difficult one also, and I want to thank you for all that you do back home.

3.  The weather has been great.  It reminds me of Alabama!!  But the hot weather is about to come upon us.  I hear that 120 degree days are not uncommon here, so things are going to heat up quickly.  I’ll be sure to remind everyone to drink plenty of water, and put on that sunblock!!

4.  Well, that is all for now.  Thanks for visiting the website, and I’ll post another message soon.

God Bless,

John Nichols

CSM, 200th EN BN

 

200-CSM                                                                                                                                                                                                                      19 February 2005

 SUBJECT:  Command Sergeant Major’s Website Letter

I wanted to post a quick note updating everyone on the 200th EN BN mission up to date.  Sorry for the delay on updating this section of the web page.  We’ve been training hard and sometimes it’s difficult to get internet access.  I promise to do better in the coming months.

On the bright side, our soldiers have been performing spectacularly, and you would be very proud.  We have just come back from 3 days of hard training in the desert and the 200th soldiers accomplished all required tasks above and beyond the call of duty.  As I said, the training was very hard, but very valuable for your loved ones.  Their confidence is high, and they are working wonderfully as a team.  You can see this in every task they complete.

We are getting ready for our next movement to our mission destination, and I know all the soldiers are looking forward to that.   It will complete one of our major phases, and allow your loved ones to settle into the jobs that they were trained to do.  Once there, the soldiers will start their main jobs and be able to settle into a normal routine.

The address listed above is going to be our address at our final destination.  If this should change, I will let you know.  By the time this letter is posted, you can start mailing your loved ones to that address.   I hear it normally takes about 1 week for mail to get here.  It sometimes can take up to 14 days.  So allow for that on certain perishable items that you may send.  We did not give out an address at our current location because of the short duration that we are at this camp.  But I know our soldiers are looking forward to hearing from you, so I encourage all to mail as often as possible.  There is no better sight than seeing the faces of the soldiers here when their name is called for mail from home!!!

As I’ve said, I’ll do a better job of posting in the future.  I hope all is well in Alabama, and I’ll make sure your loved ones contact you once we get to our final destination.

Thank you and God Bless,

John Nichols

CSM, 200th EN BN

 

HEADQUARTERS

200TH ENGINEER BATTALION

ALABAMA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

2400 EAST COATS AVENUE

LINDEN, ALABAMA   36748-2504 

200-CSM                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7 January 2005

 SUBJECT:  Command Sergeant Major’s Website Letter

 1.   As Command Sergeant Major of the 200th EN BN, I want to let you know how proud I am to command these outstanding enlisted soldiers.  I’ve seen other units throughout Alabama deploy before us, and I would not want to go with any other unit.  The 200th soldiers are the most dedicated and motivated group of young men and women that I have ever had the pleasure to lead.  Their professionalism and commitment to excellence has been noted and commented positively upon by every outside organization that has had to chance to witness these great soldiers in action.

2.  During the past week, the training has been long and difficult.  The weather has been variable from day to day.  In fact, we got about an inch of snow yesterday (which was a first for a few of our soldiers).  With that said, our soldiers keep “driving on” to accomplish their mission.  Morale is high, and the unit is working as one.  I have no doubt that this unit will be well prepared and focused for any task that lie ahead.

 3.  I want to personally thank you for all the support you are showing from home.  This will be vital for our soldier’s moral, and I greatly appreciate it.  It will make your loved ones job much easier.

 4.  Once again, thanks again for all you do.  This is a special group of soldier who will achieve great things.  I am very proud of them, and I know you are to.

God Bless,

John Nichols

CSM, 200th EN BN

 

Send mail to HHD200thENBN@hotmail.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: June 04, 2005

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