Still completing the record...this post if from an e-mail message I sent on April 21st.

Hi all -

Just wanted to keep you updated on the latest information that we have.

On Friday the commander of the 1st Armored Division, MG Sanchez, addressed the leaders of the division. According to the General the 1st Armored Division is headed to Baghdad to relieve the 3d Infantry Division.

Their mission is likely to be to conduct civil-military operations (CMO), which is a bit more than simple peace keeping. If you would like to learn a bit about CMO you might like to check out this site

Patti's company loaded all their trucks and trailers onto barges on Saturday to be shipped to Rotterdam for transloading onto the ocean-going ships.

Finally, and subject to change almost daily, right now we are expecting Patti and her soldiers to board planes to fly to Iraq sometime between the 7th and 9th of May. That is just over two weeks from today.

Of course, everyone wants to know how long they will be there. All we can say at this point is "up to a year".

But lets hope it isn't nearly that.