The 48th goes to war

By Della Hass

June 17, 2005 09:16 AM | Link to this

Sgt.Dyer, I am proud of your attitude. You are doing America and Georgia proud. I will be praying for you because you are right, this could be the ticket home. Remember the promise I always tell my brother, Sgt. Tim Hass, the steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord. HE will never leave you nor forsake you. See ya at the home-coming party. With my respect and best wishes, Della

By j wall

June 17, 2005 02:29 PM | Link to this

to spc. vance wall from all of us back home. we love you and miss you so much we are hanging in there and cant wait to here from you again (its been a few days and we were a little concerned) sorry, we cant help it, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! call if you can.

spc. monk and all the rest involved, i am soooooooooo happy you are alright, we are all praying for you guys.

By Ris Cowan

June 17, 2005 03:05 PM | Link to this

GREAT COVERAGE!!

Dave and Curtis:

Thanks so much for the great coverage of our Georgia guys in Iraq. My son is SPC Arista Cowan and was pictured in your June 16 piece “Passing the Time in a Deadly Baghdad Neighborhood,” about the 1-121 Team at Hotel California.

A family friend of our was killed by a roadside bomb in humvee just last Friday (Stan Kapinsky). I’ve been concerned about Artie since then. Your story and seeing Artie in Curtis’ photo made our family feel so much better. And it was a fun read, too!

Keep up the great work and please my best to Artie and his team if you see them again.

Ris Cowan Jasper, GA

By Sheryl

June 18, 2005 02:51 PM | Link to this

Happy Fathers Day to Spc. Barron. We love you and miss you so much. We wish we could cook you a special fathers day meal and treat you like a king on your special day. We will be thinking of you and hope we can tell you happy fathers day on the phone. The children are fine and I’m just missing my best friend/husband. All will be right with our world when you come home,safe. Love your wife Sheryl and our 3 children Elizabeth,Christopher and Bryan. Hugs and kisses!!!!!

By Jackee Guthrie

June 18, 2005 03:18 PM | Link to this

A heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY to 1LT Jeff White, our favorite son-in-law, on Monday, 6-20! We were all thrilled that you could call Nikki last night and to know that you are doing well. We are proud of you and your many fellow soldiers and miss you more than you can imagine. We will all be eating OutBack bloomin onions in your honor on Monday! You make us proud! Stay safe.

Jackee, Jim, Alex and Cam Guthrie Marietta, GA

By Ris Cowan

June 18, 2005 07:58 PM | Link to this

Dave/Curtis and Metro team:

Great coverage of the 48th in Iraq!

I was already impressed by the paper’s commitment to covering the daily lives of our Georgia guys in Iraq. But yesterday’s piece on “Passing Time in a deadly Baghdad neighborhood� was especially meaningful for me because Curtis captured my son, Arista Cowan, in the accompanying photo of the 1-121 Team.

Just last Friday a family friend (Stan Kapinsky) was killed inside his Humvee by a roadside bomb. To see Artie (that’s what I call my boy) in a photo gave needed reassurance to us that he was all right. The story was a fun read, too! Sounds just like the kind of conversation Artie and his friends would be having at home.

Thanks again for keeping us all connected with our soldiers. Dave, please give my best to Artie and his team if you see them again. And tell him his cousin’s, little Anna Lynn, cancer is on the mend. She may be coming home in July.

Warm regards,

Ris Cowan Jasper, GA

By dwa

June 18, 2005 09:26 PM | Link to this

Thank you for printing some positive viewpoints on the purpose and missions of this war. Please convey this reader’s disgust with the coverage of Dublin, GA to your fellow staff writers who can only find those opposed to the war to quote and feature. Your efforts to share what the soldiers are actually experiencing and the effects they have in their positions in Iraq may help those readers who have no real concept of what this war is about.

By R.C

June 19, 2005 12:49 AM | Link to this

Dave & Curtis, Let me start by saying thank you for what you are doing. You are doing a wonderful job keeping everyone informed. I have a nightly routine,that I checkout whats going on on your site every night before going to bed, It somehow makes us feel a little closer to our loved ones. The one thing i would love, is to see and hear more about the men and women that are with the 48th brigade,that are from outside of Georgia. I realize you are a Georgia newspaper,but the guys from Alabama joined up with the GA. men and became one big family. My brother, Sgt. Blake Scott is with the 48th, 108th battalion. He and about 30 or so other men are from the Guard unit from Cullman Al which attached to a group from Valley Al. We want to say to every one in the 48th that we are praying for each and every one of you and we know that God will lead you safely home. We love you Blake!!!!

By Jessi

June 19, 2005 10:40 AM | Link to this

Joe Dyer is my cousin. I just received a letter from him yesterday telling me he had been assigned to train the Iraqi military. I had no clue he was featured in an AJC article until my uncle called asking how to find the article. I had to log on and see what I could do and luckily it was the first article I have seen. I am honored that one of my family members has been assigned such a great task and know that if anyone can do it, he can. Keep him in your hearts because I know his family, friends, and the officer of Polk county will!

By Robyn

June 19, 2005 06:37 PM | Link to this

Joe mom read the article to me when she got it, I miss you alot and try and keep up with everything thats going on.I hope I get your address so I can write you. Anyway stay safe Hope to hear from you soon Happy Fathers day! Brett

I would like to thank the ajc for allowing a reporter to do this article, it sure calmed a 9 year old boys fears about his hero! Bretts’Mom

By alane levy

June 19, 2005 11:05 PM | Link to this

I am trying to locate my brother. Lt.Col.Joseph Paul Hoffman with the 48th. He is training the iraqi policemen. I thought i saw a picture of him in the paper yesterday…Hard to tell. He is so far out of range…..anyone know about him? Thanks Alane

By Nikii Watts

June 21, 2005 12:08 PM | Link to this

Hello Joe Dyer! I am so proud to know you and to let others know what an inspiration you are to all Law enforcement Officers in Georgia. I met you three years ago at a GBI Training and have had the pleasure of seeing you at other trainings and conferences. Me and Alicia would always comment on your presence in uniform and the fact that you always looked so professional and capable of handling anything. When I read the article in the AJC, I smiled to myself because I know that they have the right man on the job. You and all of the soldiers are in our prayers in Fayetteville. Nikii

By marie shumaker

July 1, 2005 06:29 AM | Link to this

This poem is written by our daughter Tonya for me to give to my husband SSG Thomas M. Shumaker: How did she know how much I love him?

I never thought I’d find myself The day that I found you Plans for only one of me Are future plans for two

Soul mates in this universe That make the world surreal For when I’d given up on dreams You showed me love is real

And now that all my love for you will never cease to grow Please take me in your loving arms And never let me go

Happy early Birthday!!!!! We love you and miss you very much. Praying for your safe return

Your loving family from dallas, ga. marie, tonya, cory and madison