Here are some snippets from e-mails sent from Specialist Nate Richer sent to Sharon, Laurie, Eric and others during the past month.

ON INSURGENTS and CNN:

We went south a bit ago to restore order in some of the insurgent controlled towns down there for the election process. Of course before we left to go south, someone in CNN found out and our move south was on the news. But we did not know that. So we drive down there in the middle of the night to this town only to find that all the insurgents had heard we were coming and they all left. We rolled into town and to our first target, the police station. We get to where the police station is supposed to be and find nothing but a walled-in area with a pile of bricks in the middle where a building once was. Someone tore the place down, I guess. We then proceeded on to our next target, the municipal center. The place was abandoned and the building was half torn down. Someone had fun with a bulldozer I guess. What a place this country is.

ON TEASING SHARON:

As far as the hand, it is still all crumpled up into a tiny wenny ball. Like a stiff lump of cheese. But I fight and slave on and on and on with my one good hand. Through the mud and the trenches and plenty of barbed wire of course. he he. Naw--it really is quite good. As far as it ever getting better, that I am unsure of as it does not seem to have changed any the past 2 months. My pinkie is still fairly numb--it can feel stuff just not real well. The finger next to the pinky is just a little bit numb. My arm only bothers me a bit every once in a while (if I hit something just right). So all in all it isn't too bad. Yeah I have made some good friends here and the food is pretty good (plenty of eggs, meat, fresh fruit and veggies). How is the shoulder? Probably still pretty sore, huh?

Nate

ANSWERING SHARON'S QUESTION "How did the election go?" (The day after the elections)

Went just fine. We did 6hr on and 6 off at a roadblock. Kinda tired now. Will probably take a nap. On Sunday there was no civilian traffic allowed and to enforce this we blocked off the roads. I just looked on drudge report and it looks like the election was a success with over half of the country voting. Sounds like it will take a week to find out who won. Either of the 2 favorites (Allowie or Al-Sistanie) should be fine though.

OF DONKEYS AND CARTS (Nate's Subject Line):

Couldn't resist taking a picture of this. It is just too much. Nate

Editorial Information

Reporter: Specialist Nate Richer Connection:Nate is our friend and hero and beloved by all who know him. Prior to enlisting in the US Army, Nate was a resident of Grizzly Flats and a member of Grizzly Flats Community Church.