The GGGOATS frequently uses an email list to get out information about events that may not have been available when the newsletter went to press.

This has proved very useful and, if you have an email account, you might want to join the list. Sometimes people change their email accounts and forget to let us know. If you would like to join or rejoin the list then please send me an email with your correct email address.

Let me tell you some about Ed. A few years back when we got a chance to buy Ed a “69” GTO for his 16th birthday before he got his drivers license he would just sit in his GTO and day dream of all the things he wanted to do to it. Right down to the color, tires and rims and engine parts. We never had thought he’d be in a dangerous situation like war.

Things weren’t always easy for Ed, like school and sometimes the wrong people. Ed has always been a good person and does the right thing. One thing I will always remember was one day on his way home he saw an elderly man fall and hit his head very hard on the side walk. Ed immediately went over to him and checked to see if he was breathing. He was, so Ed went to the nearest home to have someone call 911. He sat with the elderly man until help came. I am so proud of him to do the caring and right thing.

Ed is the sensitive type and cares about people and animals. Of course he gets that from me, “his Mom”. Another time he heard an animal screaming one evening and of course went to investigate and found a lady that had hit a dog and dragged him almost a block before stopping. She was upset to say the least and wanted to just leave and Ed told her, “no you can’t” because the poor dog was still alive under her car hurt. He flagged down a passing police car and stayed there until help came and freed the dog for medical help.

When Ed came to us and said he had joined the Army we were shocked to say the least, but we supported his decision. I warned him I felt there was going to be a war. He said, “I know, it’s o.k.” Ed’s family comes from a long line of men who have served in the military and fought in all the wars and all had come home safe. When our people came to America they came to become American’s and that is what they did. We are proud and thankful that they did. During his Boot Camp and training 9-11 had happened. At home we sat and watched in horror with Ed’s older brother Tony. Tony had 4 weeks before he was to leave for Boot Camp as well. I could see the fear in my son’s face, but he didn’t back out.

The Army is what he had always wanted to do. Ed went in for the experience and education. During Ed’s first leave after Boot Camp and training he was a changed person, more mature and confident. Ed said something I’ll never forget after a neighbor complained of litter on the street. Ed says, “If you see litter it’s your duty as Americans to pick it up and take care of it with out complaints”. Off to Germany he went and having the time of his life and doing his job in a Signal Battalion learning and perfecting his job skills. He knew deployment was coming soon and at that time no war was being talked about. Then he found out he was going to Kuwait and talk of war was going on.

Once he called while still in Germany and out in the field training from his radio equipment. He had figured out how to get a call out all on his own the old fashioned way by relay stations one after another until he reached home. He’s so smart. When it comes to machines and working with his hands. He’s mechanically inclined. After the other troops saw what he was able to do they were all coming to him asking him to show them how. Ed received a very special honor from a 2 star General during that time and was given a special coin that was hard to get. Ed impressed the man to say the least. Ed’s Commander called Ed in “on the carpet” because he didn’t believe it and had to see it for him self.

Shortly after Ed went to Kuwait and until several weeks ago I didn’t know he was far on his way into Iraq right behind the 3rd infantry fighting the whole way in. I’m glad I didn’t know it at the time because I wouldn’t have been able to handle it at all. It was hard enough for my family and I. There was a lot of scares, worries and tears of remorse for all the fallen soldiers. It’s still very hard even today. Our young soldiers are still dying every day. It still isn’t over like a lot of people think. It won’t be over until they “all” come home safe. Ed said he seen the bombings and Black Hawks giving air support only miles away. Ed said that Iraqi missiles were coming their way and thanks to our Patriot missiles hitting their targets. He had to live in protective gear in fear of chemical warfare. 

He was able to call home in his first weeks to say he was o.k. I asked him if he was scared and he said, “no he’s not and not scared that he may die”. It was hard for me to hold it all in, but I did. I didn’t want him to know how upset I was. One of the hardest things during the phone call was I herd yelling and orders of yelling in the back ground from our soldiers in fight. It may have been bleed over on the system he was using. He has told me about some of the things he has seen like 3’ foot long lizards and that there were thousands of ladybugs. He talked about the weather he’s always had a thing for weather. I thought he might become a weatherman at one time while he was growing up. He said the color of the sky was real different from what he has ever seen and the sand storms and how a tornado came close out of nowhere and took tents, cloths, sleeping bags and knocked down satellite towers. All Ed lost was his toothbrush and they found some of the stuff scattered in the desert.

Lately it’s been 130 degrees during the day and getting hotter. Last we heard he was some where out side of Baghdad and we think south or southwest. Ed will be 21 this year in September. We were hoping he’d be home for that but now it looks like maybe not until December or even January. At times he has to work 36 hr. shifts before he can get a sleep break. Then sometimes gets 2 hours sleep and then back up again to fix something during emergencies always being on call. Sounds as if he had a doctor’s job to me. Ed says that the only thing that keeps him going is thinking about the GTO. Other soldiers think of their wives, husbands, children and girlfriends. Yep! Ladies he’s considered single. He has told me that he wants to get married some day and have children and buy a house. Oh, and would like to buy a 2004 GTO too of course.

Ed’s big brother is in Iraq too so we worry double. Tony is in an M-1 Abraham’s tank Artillery Battalion. Last we heard he was guarding a palace with a bridge some where in Baghdad. He was able to call home once for about 3 minutes before we were cut off. That’s how it is we are sort of use to it. It’s kind of easier because we don’t have to say goodbye that way. Tony is 24 and loves what he does. He is single too. I have always told my sons not to go get married to young and wait till they were ready.

We send a couple of care packages every other week for them all. It helps me keep busy and makes me feel better to feel like I can help make a difference and a little nicer for our soldiers. This week has been another hard one for me when I heard two of our soldiers were missing and today found out that they are murdered. I feel for their families like they were my own.

Don and I went to the Good Guy’s car show and met Jim and some other really nice people to say thank you for putting Ed’s e-mail in the clubs newsletter. I sent Ed a copy of it to brighten up his day. He was so surprised to hear about it and really liked it a lot. Just like when I told him we had seen his and his brothers pictures get put up on the MSNBC TV world news America’s Bravest wall, he almost cried. I heard it in his voice when he said, “that’s so neat”! Things like that help keep him going. Thank you again to the GTO club. The GTO club has some of the nicest people we have ever met. We were given a warm welcome. We told Ed all about it and sent him pictures of all the GTOs. It will help keep him going for a while I’m sure. I would also like to thank every one that supports our soldiers and shows it by flying the American flag and yellow ribbons even if they don’t have a loved one in Iraq. It makes me feel good and I take it as a heart filled message of how much people really do care.

Thank You

Don and Linda Stowers - PFC. Edward Cudney’s parents