Marine Corps Marathon

The Fam was all together again (kara was at school when he got home last week) for the first time since Erick returned from Iraq. It was great to be together for the Marine Corps Marathon Weekend! All of the runners did pretty well, everyone finished their respective races and in pretty good times. There are no pictures of everyone together, but I will be sure to get some over Thanksgiving weekend.

I believe Erick has to report to work this week and then has leave for 27 days, until December 1st. We'll know more about his next steps in December after leave.

The 10Kers

Man Running Marathon and Carrying an American Flag

10Kers and Erick

Erick and Dad in front of Iwo Jima

WELCOME HOME FROM RIDGEFIELD

Many Ridgefielders went above and beyond and made posters and signs welcoming Erick and the 3 other marines home. I don't think there was a bare telephone pole in town, some even had 2 posters. It was amazing to drive down Main Street and see all of these signs. It brought tears to the eyes, literally. There were posters lining our street, lining the road, from the fountain all the way to the high school and all the way down route 7. INCREDIBLE!!

Below is just a sampling of the hundreds of signs throughout town.

PLUS Erick is home!!! He looks great and seems to be in good spirits. I forgot to take pictures of him, but will take some this weekend. The whole family is heading to the Marine Corps Marathon in DC. Krissy, Kara and Kara's boyfriend, Alex, are running the marathon. Katie, John, Thomas and I are running the 10K. We asked Erick if he'd like to run and he informed us he'd prefer to just cheer us on.

A family in Ridefield makes these hearts for all of the active duty service members from Ridgefield. The hearts stay up while they are away and the families get them when their soldier comes home. This is Erick's heart with one of the "welcome home" posters under it.

YEE-HAW!!!!

Mom just emailed. Erick is coming home on THURSDAY!!!!!

He'll arrive at the Hartford Armory sometime between

10:30AM and 1PM.

HIP HIP HOORAY!!

No New News

We still don't know when Erick is flying home. We should find out later today or tomorrow. As soon as we know more details they will be posted.

I Talked to Erick Last Night

He sounds very good! Happy to be back in the United States and eager to get home. He seems to be in good spirits. Yesterday they had a party on the beach in San Diego. He said he's FREEZING, it was 113 degrees when they left Kuwait and it's in the 60's where he is. They haven't given a date and time of departure from Cali., but he thinks it will be Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

It was just REALLY nice to hear his voice!

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

Erick is in the U S of A!!!!!! AMAZING! he went from Kuwait, to Germany, to Maine (where he called from and is freezing his tush off) and will be boarding a flight to California shortly! I wish he could just board a flight to CT, but he is in OUR COUNTRY!! which is most important!

WELCOME HOME ERICK!!!!

I cannot wait to hug you!

I think there might be a few other people feeling the exact same way.

KUWAIT is GREAT!!

Erick is in Kuwait!!! He said the sand is beautiful and there are tons of fast food restaurants and all of the army guys based there are 200+ pounds.

He will be leaving Kuwait tomorrow, October 17th early in the morning, so around midnight or so our time. Next stop is Camp Pendelton, California!!!

A while ago the tentative date for Erick to land in CT was October 26th, but I am not sure if that is still the date or not.

I will keep you posted as I am posted.

LEAVING TQ!!

Pop just emailed me, seems as if he's pretty excited!!!

"erick called ---- leaving TQ in @ 14 hrs. should be in Kuwait in @ 15-16 hrs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU GOD !!!!! "

Leaving Baharia

I just got this email from the older Frederick Lohse.

Dear Kel, I'm sure you know but as I write Erick should be leavingBaharia and going by helicopter to TQ from where he will be flown out to Kuwait [don't know when].
They're going by chopper to avoid the dangerous roads between Fallujia and Baghdad. Let me know if you get this. Go Pup!!! Luv Pop

This is the second posting today. The one before has pictures Erick Sent home. You should be able to scroll down and see them OR click on "Erick Sent Film Home" on the left hand side of the webpage.

Erick Sent Film Home

Erick sent a box of stuff home before leaving Fallujah and inside was some film. Mom and Pop had it developed and Kara scanned in a few of the pictures.

TWO THINGS

1.) Erick is quoted in this article! Pretty cool read. http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/20061079227

2.) Mom and Pop heard from Erick on Oct. 2nd below is a copy & paste of mom's email with the details of their conversation.

Dear Family and Friends,
I want to give you an update on Erick as he makes his way back home. He left the CMOC (place where he has been for the past 61/2 months) and moved to Baharia. Baharia is considered a safe place and a no combat zone. It is actually one of Udey Hussein’s summer palaces that the military has been using to transfer troops. They will be making their way to another base in Iraq early this week and then to Kuwait by the 12th or 13th. From Kuwait they will go to Camp Pendleton, CA for ~ 2 weeks. From there they will be flown to Boston. There will be a homecoming welcome at the Hartford Armory ~ October 26th.
We spoke to Erick on October 2nd. He is in good spirits and can’t wait to get home. He slept for 20 hours in a real bed his first night in Baharia. He also took a long hot shower, got a clean uniform and ate a good, hot meal.
Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts during his deployment. Even though Erick and the other Marines are closer to home, they are still not out of the woods. As Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Please continue to pray for them as they make their way back to the US and as they re-enter back into civilian life.
I will keep you all posted.
Love,
Barbara

He Is in BAHARIA!!

Erick called Charlotte, he is SAFELY in Baharia!

which is in a NO-COMBAT ZONE!!

He thinks he'll be there until October 12th and then on to Kuwait and then on to California. No exact dates are known yet, as soon as they are known they will be posted.

HE'S LEFT FALLUJAH!!!

ERICK IS ON HIS WAY OUT OF FALLUJAH!!!

He wrote an email home to tell the news! I will continue to update as we learn his progress from the Middle East to the East Coast!

YAY YAY YAY!!