Dick Pregent ‘76 has been deployed to Iraq. He will be there until the next reunion weekend rolls around.

Please join me in sending our fellow deployed Eph some apolitical support.

• Col. Richard Pregent
• U.S. Embassy
• Annex N110 (ROL)
• Baghdad, Iraq
• APO AE 09316

It only takes a regular stamp !

Thank you for supporting our fellow Alums who are deployed in harm’s way.

Stewart Menking ‘79, Wiliams College Adopt An Eph Program

Another fine article on war, veterans and education from Wick Sloane ‘76 writing in Inside Higher Ed. Read the whole thing, but here is the only Williams mention.

In helping a Bunker Hill Iraq veteran who will attend Dartmouth College this fall, I had communicated with James Wright, president of Dartmouth. Wright, an ex-Marine, has been visiting wounded veterans in Washington hospitals with James Selbe, another ex-Marine leading veterans’ issues for the American Council on Education. ACE last month had a two-day summit, “Serving Those Who Serve: Higher Education and America’s Veterans (see related essay). Dartmouth has wounded veterans attending.

…

The public institutions are in the lead. I rounded up the usual suspects from the privates, to see if any were following Jim Wright’s lead.

From Princeton: “The University has no records of current American students who are veterans of wars. While we have students who receive veterans benefits, they do so as dependents of service members, rather than as service members who served in the military. Our office of financial aid hasn’t processed any GI Bill benefits in recent memory (dating back the past two decades approximately).” Yale has not yet replied. Yale president Rick Levin and Joel Podolny, Dean of the School of Management, about a year ago, ignored my several queries asking if Yale was recognizing alumni or students who were veterans. From Williams: “As far as we know, we do not have any veterans of the Iraq war enrolled at Williams. We do have Iraq veterans working on staff — one who saw three tours of duty.”

Comments:

1) In our discussion last week on the Webb GI Bill, Frank Uible ‘57 wrote:

I would like to hear a McCain supporter’s version of the reason for McCain’s opposition. It appears anti-intuitive.

I am not a McCain supporter, yet I can understand his opposition to this bill. Instead of giving more money to veterans that they can only spend on education, I would rather see us give them the same amount of money that they can spend on anything at all. Not every enlisted soldier wants to go to college; not every office wants a Ph.D. (What I used my GI Bill money for.) Moreover, the extra funding should not go to veterans in general but should be focussed on those serving in the most dangerous, combated positions.

2) Unlike Wick, I am not particularly upset that Williams does not do anything to (specially) recruit veterans. Of course, I would like to see more veterans at Williams and would vote in favor of the College seeking them out. But I recognize this as special pleading on my part. Doing what Jim Wright does for Dartmouth takes time and money, both of which are always limited. It would not be hard for Williams to do more (mainly reach out to the various programs/departments which help veterans transition out of the service), but it is not unreasonable for the admissions office to devote its energies elsewhere.

3) The main change that I would like to see is to have an Eph veteran awarded a Bicentennial Medal each year for the next 5 or 10 years. You can call this quota, if you like, but there is no doubt (in my mind) that Ephs like Bunge Cooke ‘98, JR Rahill ‘88, Kathy Sharpe Jones ‘79 and others have demonstrated “distinguished achievement” in their fields of endeavor. Williams should honor them. Write to Secretary of the Alumni Society Brooks Foehl ‘88 if you agree.

John Bozeman ‘98 is nearing the end of his deployment.

He was able to be in Williamstown for his 10 year reunion, but is now back in Iraq.

Please consider sending him an apolitical letter or e-mail. You only need a regular 42 cent stamp. {There’s not enough time to mail a package.}

Sgt. John L. Bozeman

MITT 0730

Unit 42719

FPO AP 96426-2719

e-mail:  BozemanJr@hotmail.com

Thank you for your support of our fellow deployed Eph.

There is a line I hear from anti-war people who believe they can neatly separate their condemnation of the war from criticism of the volunteers in our army: “I support the troops; I don’t support the war.” Hearing this said has always bothered me deeply because the dual sentiment seems truly impossible to have unless one believes that either 1) The soldiers fighting today are somehow compelled or otherwise there against their better judgment, or 2) The soldiers fighting today fight willingly and chose to willingly, but only because they were somehow “duped” by their superiors.

One cannot believe that members of our armed forces fight in part because they were compelled or tricked, without taking something away from their choice to serve.

More to the point that is crucial for us to wrestle with now, before the troops come home: if either of the above is a belief about reasons for serving and those who serve that lurks quietly in your heart, I beg that you confront it before the end of this war. Was it Jeff that mentioned the term cognitive dissonance? Can anyone imagine the cognitive dissonance that will occur if 130,000+ soldiers return home to a population that offers, “Thank you for your service. Personally, though, I wish no one had had to do what you did, and I believe you and others like you were the victims of trickery”? I am glad that Americans at large recognize the need to not repeat the end of Vietnam, but in my mind we are a lot closer to that danger than we realize when we “support” the troops but have as much understanding for the decision to serve as is given in

If you want your kids to do good NOW, have them join the Peace Corp or something. I don’t understand why any rational parent with kids who have great alternative options (as almost any Williams grad does) would encourage their kid to join the military so long as this administration is in place. Hence, unsurprising that hardly anyone does.

Jeff’s language above is likely careless, in that it states “I don’t understand . . . hence, unsurprising that hardly anyone does.” I don’t think he meant to say that, but it is a slip that is telling about the “me, therefore everyone” way we all think, a way that will be dangerous to our society in the very near future. We think that, because you and I see nothing to die for in a given context, no other rational being possibly could.

If you, for some reason, have an interest in how I think, read below the break. It is extremely long.
(more…)

Posted below at what is hopefully a better resolution for reading.(*)

(*) Not only can I not add a comment to that post, at this point I don’t seem to be able to enable comments for this post.

We are still at one deployed Eph.

It only takes a regular stamp to send him a letter of (apolitical) support!

John Bozeman

MITT 0730

Unit 42719

APO AE 96426-2719

____________________________________________

Here’s a great (and short) link.

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

One of our deployed Ephs wrote about the Gratitude Campaign that “I have personally seen this at the Baltimore airport, sent a chill (but a good one) down my back!”

Thanks for your support of our deployed Ephs,

Stewart Menking ‘79

If you have an extra card or two left over, please consider sending a card to our only deployed Eph, who is serving in Iraq.

It only takes a regular 41 cent stamp!

Just put the undecipherable military address on the envelope and drop it in any mailbox.

SGT John L. Bozeman
MITT 0730
Unit 42719
FPO AP 96426-2719

Thank you.

Stewart Menking ‘79

for The Williams College Adopt an EPH Program

John Bozeman ‘98 is deployed to Iraq and is having a birthday on November 30th.

Please consider joining me and sending him a birthday card.

Sgt John L Bozeman
MITT 0730
Unit 42719
FPO AP 96426-2719

It only takes a regular stamp!

Thank you for supporting our fellow Alums who are currently deployed in harm’s way.

Stewart Menking ‘79
Adopt-An-EPH

Bill Couch ‘79 is home, safe and sound.

Thank you for your support of our fellow alum during this past year.

John Bozeman ‘98 is now re-deployed to Iraq. He’ll be there for a year and would enjoy hearing from fellow Ephs. His mailing address is:

Sgt John L. Bozeman
MITT 0730
Unit 42719
FPO AP 96426-2719

If you are interesting in sending a Support Package (I have found that the Priority Mail Flat Rate Box is the least expensive shipping method), John has asked for three things:
________________________________________________________________
Since we will not be going to the same place as my previous deployments or doing the same sort of stuff, I suspect I will need more support.

Mach 3 razors,
Copenhagen Long Cut,
and Laffy Taffy

will be the staples. As for other stuff, I will have to get there and be without it for a while to know what I really need.
________________________________________________________________

All Marines also appreciate Good Coffee, Baby Wipes (try living in 120 degree weather, fully clothed and without showering for weeks at a time), beef jerky and MAXIM Magazine.

Thank you for supporting our deployed Ephs.

Stewart Menking ‘79

We have another alum, Bunge Cook ‘98, who is now in Iraq.

He is a Marine who will be there through the Winter Study month. He would appreciate hearing from fellow alums.

Bunge wrote the following:

I am thrilled with all forms of correspondence.

Capt Warren C. Cook Jr.
Lima CO, BLT, 3/1, 13th MEU
UIC 40235
FPO AP 96610-0235
_____________________________________________

It only takes a regular 41 cent stamp.

If you are interested in mailing a package (Priority Mail Flat Rate Box is the best and cheapest way.), the following is a list of requests from Bunge, which are typical of every deployed military person.
________________________________________________________________

From Bunge

Per your request, here are some things my Marines would enjoy. The lads love their nicotine: Forms of it include:

Chew (best to buy in “logs” ..bullk”:
Copenhagen snuff and long cut
Red Man

Cigarettes (Marines will smoke anything, but these are popular):
Marlboro Red, Lights, and 72s
Newport Lights
Camel (filters)

Cigars (if you have people who want to support a fellow Eph, I love Acid cigars):
Acid brand (any flavor, smaller sizes are preferred as a result of short time periods for smoking)

Coffee:
Ground high test (D&D, Starbucks, etc.)

Magazines:
Maxim
GQ

Snacks:
Combos (travel well)
Pringles

Baby Wipes
Stridex pads

Engergy Drink mix (128 degrees):
Gatorade Propel Water bottle sized powder packets.(one packet fills on H20 bottle)

The above items are things Lima Company Marines love and will use immediately.

Thanks for your support, and any other Ephs supporters out there.

Semper Fi,

Bunge

_____________________________________________________________

Thank you all for your support of our deployed alums.
_____________________________________________________________

David Rackovan ‘04 is deployed in Iraq and is having a birthday on August 12th!

Please consider joining me and sending him a birthday card.

David Rackovan
FOB Sykes
SFODA-073
APO AE 09351

It only takes a regular stamp!

Thank you for supporting our fellow Alums who are deployed in harm’s way.

Bill Couch ‘79 will be turning 50 on July 9th!

Please consider joining me and sending him a birthday card.

Captain Bill Couch
2030 Addis Ababa Place
Dulles, VA 20189-2030

It only takes a regular stamp.

Why did the Navy give him a Virginia address? I don’t know. Maybe there is a Virginia somewhere in the Mideast.

Thank you.

We recently found out the Chris Sweatman ‘00 has been deployed to Afghanistan since May 2006. He is expected to be there until sometime this May.

The Williams College AdoptAnAlum Program is very sorry that we didn’t know about Chris earlier, especially in time for Christmas.

BUT, his Birthday is March 10th. So if you have an extra Birthday Card, please consider sending it to Chris. All it takes is an ordinary 39 cent stamp. Just put the undecipherable military address on the envelope and drop it in any mailbox.

Chris Sweatman
Camp Phoenix
HHC 141 LTF, 41st BCT
APO AE 09320

Thank you.

I didn’t see David’s specific request for a picture so I didn’t take his picture with the mountains and lawn; I took a picture that tells a slightly different story.

If you have an extra card left over, please consider sending a card to Bill Couch ‘79.

It only takes a regular 39 cent stamp!

Just put the undecipherable military address on the envelope and drop it in any mailbox.

Capt W S Couch
CJ-1
CJTF-HOA
APO AE 09363

Those left behind also serve. So I would also ask you to please consider sending a card to Bill’s wife, Helen, and their two sons, Will and Chandler. Will is a freshman at Hartwick College, and Chandler is a sophomore in high school.

The Couch Family
708 Hatherleigh Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21212-1613

Thank you.

Stewart Menking ‘79
for Williams College Adopt-an-Alum

Bill Couch ‘79 is in the Navy and is deployed to Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, just around the “Naval Corner” from Iraq.

Bill Couch’79, a Captain in the Naval Reserves, has been called up and is deployed, starting today, to Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. While we are very grateful Bill is not being sent to downtown Baghdad, he’ll be “just around the naval corner” and getting combat pay. So . . .

The Williams College Adopt-An-Alum Program is now reactivated. If you would like to send Bill an APOLITICAL message of support you can snail mail him at:

Capt Bill Couch
CJ-1
CJTF-HOA
APO AE 09363

Or you can e-mail him at:

Bill.Couch@omfn.com

As a reminder to my fellow Ephs who, like myself, did not get an 800 on the Verbal SAT, here’s the definition of APOLITICAL.

If you think the war is the right thing to do, GREAT. Write George Bush all about it. Don’t write it to the troops. If you think the war is the wrong thing to do, GREAT. Write George Bush all about it. Don’t write it to the troops. If you heard some fantastic dirt about a classmate that is too scandalous for even the National Enquirer to print, please e-mail this information IMMEDIATELY to me and, oh yeah, to the troops!

Ben Kamilewicz ‘99 is home from Iraq!

Now there are no more Ephs deployed in harm’s way, to the best of my knowledge.

I thank all of the purple military for their service to our country. And if anyone ever learns of an Eph deployed in harm’s way, please e-mail me at StewMenking@yahoo.com

I still have plenty of Jerky, Toilet Paper, Williams mugs and Starbucks coffee just waiting to be sent out!!!

Lee Kindlon ‘98 is home! So we have only one Eph in Iraq now!

SGT Ben Kamilewicz
A/1 - 172 ARBN
2 BCT 28 ID
APO AE 09362-9997

His favorite things are beef jerkey and Cup of Noodles!

His BIRTHDAY is May 4th. So if you have an extra birthday card hanging around, maybe you can send it to him. Thanks.

Joel Iams ‘01 has returned safely from his second tour in Iraq.

I made it back - traded the Northern Arabian Desert for the Mojave, which is a substantial upgrade. Running water, pizza on delivery, no one trying to kill me. I like the difference.

Thank you, Joel, for your service to our country.

I look forward to being able to post similar news when Lee Kindlon ‘98 and Ben Kamilewicz ‘99, who are both still in Iraq, return safely to the USA.

We now have two alums in Iraq. Ben Kamilewicz ‘99 and Joel Iams ‘01 were both deployed in harms way earlier this month.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.” (John 15:13)

The Williams College Adopt-An-Alum Program salute them, and wish them a safe return.

I haven’t been posting letters from Felipe recently because he hasn’t been writing. Fear not. Felipe is (relatively) safe and sound, and wrote a lengthy missive recounting some of his activities.

Highlights include:

1) Offering up advice to people important enough to act upon it;

2) Hanging out on top of a HumVee with a giant machine gun (no more ambushes reported);

3) Smoking apple tobacco from a hooka in Qatar;

4) Cross cultural karaoke.

Hang in there, Felipe. We’re still pulling for you (and eagerly awaiting your next installment).

(more…)

In an Ephblog exclusive, we bring you the thoughts of SPC Felipe Perez on the evening after Iraqi elections. As you can imagine, Felipe has been very busy preparing for the elections in Iraq. Thankfully, he thinks the hard work of everyone working in Iraq has paid off.

Date: Sunday, 30 January 2005
Subject: Democracy, Public Affairs, and Bad Haircuts

Mixed with shock, relief, and humility, I am mostly happy to say that elections here in Mosul are going well. With a few hours left before the polls close, turnout has been solid, the city feels more or less safe, and voters seem to feel genuinely priviledged to be participating in the democratic process. Had you asked me a week ago I wouldn’t have expected it, but I feel blessed to be able to bear witness here, and honored to have played a small part.

I hope I’m not jumping the gun- that day ain’t over yet, and the fat lady won’t sing until the votes are counted, but I gotta say I’m feeling pretty good right now. That’s my honest, initial reaction, which wanted to share while it was still warm.

Also, I finally got a few spare minutes to write, as I’m stranded for the night at a small base south of Mosul. Had to jump on a last minute mission to fly some time-sensitive, Iraqi official documents down here (read between the lines), and it turns my ride wasn’t heading back to Mosul after dropping the stuff off. I got no toothbrush, no razor, no sleeping bag, and no clean clothes, but at least it’s quiet down here.

Now I need to go and write a press release (was recently promoted to head Public Affairs, thereby doing the work of an officer for the pay of a private), where I walk the fine line between touting the Coalition’s (specifically, my battalion’s) role in making this happen and applauding the Iraqi government and people’s courage in pulling this off.

Anyway, I’ve been working lots lately, been pretty tired, been sometimes scared, been occasionally cranky, and often frustrated. But, all in all, the worst I can say that’s happened to me all year is the bad haircut I’m currently wearing (picture an anal Army buzzcut, minus the neatness). Can’t complain, really.

Much love-
Felipe

Congratulations, Felipe. Keep up the good work and get back to us safely. We’re rooting for you and the success of your mission.

Long letter from Felipe this morning. The personal bit up front, the longer piece that appeared in Public Affairs Office will be in the extended entry (and it is the good part … I encourage you to read the whole thing).

Date: Thursday, 02 December 2004

Subject: Another Week

Although I am painfully slow at responding, letters and e-mail continue to brighten up my days here, and I just wanted to send my love and appreciation.

Below is a little piece I was asked to write up for the Public Affairs Office, called “A Week in the Life of a Civil Affairs Specialist.” It’s a little heavy on Army-speak, but it’s actually not a bad representation of life here. Thought I’d share it with y’all to give you another perspective on this whole mess. (for the more nervous types among you, you may want to skip Sunday’s entry- I considered editing it out, but the truth is truth).

Lotsa love-
Felipe

(more…)

Happy Thanksgiving from Mosul!

Friday, 26 November 2004

Subject: Thanks

A little late, but I wanted to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.

The Army managed to sneak some turkey, sweet potatoes, and cornbread into Mosul, and I spent a safe and happy holiday here, surrounded by respected colleagues and trusted friends, and thankful beyond words for the love and support of family, friends, and the woman I love, Erica.

Happy Holidays. I’ll write more soon.

With Love and Thanks-

Felipe

In response to all the violence in Mosul, Felipe quickly reports that he is safe.

Date: Friday, 12 November 2004

Subject: Safe

As many of you may have read, seen, or heard lately, the situation in Mosul has been deteriorating of late.

I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know that my team and I are safely within our compound, having postponed all reconstruction activities until security improves, and are taking all necessary precautions to stay safe.

Thanks again for your love and concern, and I’ll write more soon.

With love,
Felipe

A few more pictures from Felipe in Iraq. The pictures concern the memorial service of the two soldiers who were killed after an ambush on their team.

Honoring a soldier.

(more…)

Happy Veterans Day. Felipe sent on pictures yesterday with the following message:

Date: Wednesday, 10 November 2004

Subject: Photo Album from Felipe: A Glimpse of Mosul

Hey, all-

Been meaning to send some pictures, and finally got around to uploading a few today. It’s only a handfull, but it’s a peek at life here. The first and last are battalion photos, and the middle few are from the memorial service.

Much Love,
Felipe

How cool is the internet? Felipe can post pictures on-line and even use instant messenger. Here is a picture of Felipe’s Battallion.

Happy Veteran’s Day to the 426th Civil Affairs Battallion!!

Even though Felipe is helping to build Iraq’s new democracy, it is Election Day and Felipe’s thoughts turn stateside, but in a non-partisan way.

Date: Tuesday, 02 November 2004

Subject: Vote

Lately its not the mortars or the gunfire that knots my stomach or keeps me up at night.

It’s the US Presidential election, and not so much because of who may win or who may lose (although I have a strong preference). It’s the thought that millions upon millions of Americans will not vote. They will decide that they’d rather sleep in, take a long lunch, go shopping, wash the car, catch a movie, watch TV, grab a drink, whatever.

Meanwhile, 140,000 of their sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, fiancees, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, cousins, co-workers, brothers and sisters are half-way around the world dodging roadside bombs, snipers, mortars, and suicide bombers. Spreading democracy.

It’s so funny it hurts.

Please vote today. Make sure those around you vote. Remind them of why it matters. Remind them of what it costs.

My research concerns Get Out The Vote efforts by parties and organizations. It is easy for me to maintain a cold and detached view of voting. Perhaps I should read letters from people like Felipe more often to remind me of why democracy is important. I guess there are no abstainers in foxholes.

New Letter from Felipe. The first part of the letter deals with the aftermath of the attack on Felipe’s team. The second half of the letter describes a typical work week. It sounds like he has settled into some type of groove: work behind the walls; perform basic maintenance; get shot at beyond the walls; and watch many pirated movies (Disclaimer: I doubt soldiers stationed in Iraq are the best source of movie reviews. Furthermore, Felipe’s taste in movies is unlikely to be representative of the armed services in general. In other words, rent the movies Felipe endorses at your own peril).

Date: Thursday, 28 October 2004

Subject: Two weeks in the life…

Wednesday, October 13th: Norah Jones. Jack Daniels. Stare at the night.

Thursday, October 14th: Stevie Wonder. Coffee. Stare at the day. All operations shut down. Scan New York Times for mention of our attack. Relieved/ confused/ insulted/ saddened to see two sentences, six paragraphs in. Just another ambush. Just another two soldiers.

Friday, October 15th: Rise before dawn. Watch the sunrise. Run. Spend the morning at an “After Action Review,” piecing together Wednesday’s story. See what we did right. See what we could have done better. Comforted to know we performed “well.” Sad to realize it wasn’t enough. Happy Ramadan.

Saturday, October 16th: Combat stress counseling. Us, the Army shrinks, and the Chaplain. We speak of rage, fear, sleeplessness, guilt, melancholy. We feel a little better afterwards.

Sunday, October 17th: Church. 426th well-represented. Realized I needed to talk with God in private. Movie Night. Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Sean Penn is an awesome stoner.

Monday, October 18th: Write, re-write, edit, re-edit letter to loved ones. Hard. Movie Night. Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. Sandra Bullock isccute. I get misty.

Tuesday, October 19th: Memorial Service. Chosen as an honor guard. Get up early to iron uniform. Wear my new boots. Participate in the 21 gun salute. Three weeks of drill and ceremony practice at basic training no longer seems pointless. Want to thank my old drill seargants. Cry during taps. Closure begins. I sleep peacefully that night.

Wednesday, October 20th: Game on. Time to get back to work. Spend most of my day at realultimatepower.net. Spend all night on guard duty. Jerked into alertness at 3am by the eerie/ beautiful call to prayer and breakfast coming at me in super-stereo from the 3 mosques in my sector.

Thursday, October 21st: Sox beat Yankees. Sweet. Sleep all day. Wake at up to the sound of afternoon mortars. Insurgents have terrible aim. Movie Night. Bridget Jones’s Diary. Laughed out loud.

Friday, October 22nd: 4 weeks down. 40 to go. Repair our Humvee. Busted headlight, flat tire. That’s it. Amazing. Impelled to save the shrapnel I yank from the rubber. Borrow a guitar that night. Learn to play Foo Fighters “Times Like These.” Wallow in self-satisfaction. Movie Night. Anger Management. Squirm. Occasionally laugh.

Saturday, October 23rd: Guard duty. Day shift. Get so bored I exercise, helmet on head, vest on back, rifle in hand, gun on hip. Later make friends listen to me play “Times Like These.” They are more amused than impressed.

Sunday, October 24th: Battalion softball game. I hit 5 RBIs and field 2 fly balls. My team wins. 28 years of athletic failure evaporates in one dusty afternoon. To celebrate, treat my friends to a rousing “Times Like These.” They are more tolerant than amused.

Monday, October 25th: Get back to work on economic survey. Feel pretty smart. Movie Night. Real Women Have Curves. Loved it. Miss my sisters. Friends make me give back guitar.

Tuesday, October 26th: Order a guitar online. Help inventory boots and uniforms for Iraqi National Guard. Movie Night. Wimbledon. Predictable but pleasant. DVD copy includes big head of patron sitting in front of movie pirate.

If you’ve read this far, you must be pretty bored. Thanks for caring.

Much love,
Felipe

Hang in there, Felipe. Letters from caring Ephs will help ease the tedium.

SPC Perez, Felipe
426th CA BN
APO, AE 09334