Ben's Son Helps Liberate Iraq! |
| April 10, 2003
Ben's son, Sergeant Ben Chapman
III is in the US Marine Corps and has arrived in Kuwait. He will help liberate
the Iraqi people! His mission is unknown but stay tuned to this section
for updates when we get them! See his e-mails below. |
 | |
Sergeant Benjamin Chapman III |
E-mail From Ben's Son
From:
Benjamin Chapman
Date: Wed Apr 9, 2003 7:23:11 AM US/Central
To: the-reelgillman@webtv.net
hi dad
can you send this out
to everyone for me? i just got to kuwait and am safe. i wont be able to
email very often either. i will try to send more info when i can but i
love you all and am doing well. (its really damn hot). love, ben
April 22, 2003
Ben III celebrated his
25th birthday in the desert on Sunday and treated himself and his fellow marine
buddies to ice cream sandwhiches in celebration. He has been at Camp Commando
In Kuwait for the past week awaiting further transportation to south Baghdad
where he will attach to the 5th Marines unit. It is an infantry unit, however,
Ben will be working in the rear as an Arabic translator to communicate and
aid in the efforts organizing some forces of self-sufficiency among the newly "liberated" Iraqi
people.
Some good news arrived
when a Captain told Ben the unit he would be attached to already had another
Arabic linguist by the name of Fritts, who just happens to be Ben's best
friend from the Corps! Sgnt. Fritts and Sgnt. Chapman experienced some
adventures in the Marines together, but also have shared great trips together
in Tahiti, Thailand, and Cambodia. It's good news to hear they will be
working as a team and that Ben's got someone he really knows and trusts
to have his back in Baghdad. I know the guys will make the best of it and
try to play in the sand and just get through it as if it were another one
of their vacations...in Ben's words, "except this one will just suck a
little."
On April 14th Ben recieved
orders that he was to be transported to Baghdad, so at about 6pm Kuwaiti
time he left for Baghdad. There was some confusion as to if he would go
in a helicopter or a plane, but either way he traveled by air. Now that
he is in his team, communication will most likely be minimal, if at all.
He's "taking care of business" now as he said. He had hopes that if everything
kept on course as it has been that the marines might pull out sometime
in May. It is just speculation but hopefully it can become a reality!
Ben's address is:
Sgnt. Chapman BF III
1st Intel Bn, I MHG
UIC 43616
FPO AP 96613-3616
April 30, 2003
I got a quick call from
Ben Easter night, he was on a satellite phone and said he only could talk
for 5 minutes. He never saw Fritts b/c Fritts went to a different unit
before Ben
got to Baghdad but he says he's so glad he is with the guys he is with because
they are really good guys. He said they are not in Baghdad anymore but moving
south to "talk to
people" while making the slow road back to Kuwait. Once he gets to Kuwait he
says it may be a couple months but he will out-process once there which should
get him back to California... he said the phrase a "couple months" for every
stage of the process so it feels like it will still be awhile before we see him
but he said the main point was he was started on the long road home already.
good news either way!!!! he said he will get 5 minutes per week on the satellite
phone so hopefully next time he will know exactly where he is and I want to ask
him what he is being transported around in... when I asked him where he was in
the
beginning of the conversation he said, "Kuwait- I mean Iraq" so I don't know
what that means but he has me wondering where exactly he might be
for real.
May 1, 2003
From: the-reelgillman@webtv.net
(BEN CHAPMAN)
To: JLHA02
Subject: Re: Baby Ben
I wouldn't worry about
Ben lll - He is in Baghdad not Kuwait now... and I believe with the 5th
Marines.
We are very proud of
Ben and Jeff --- both being in Baghdad as Arabic translators. Met at the
Defense Language Institute (Monterey, Ca.) and have backpacked in Thailand,
Cambodia, vacationed in Tahiti and we gave them a trip to LV which we won
at a raffle - just by coincidence, they end up in Baghdad together! How's
that for best buds?
May 28, 2003
From: the-reelgillman@webtv.net
(BEN CHAPMAN)
Date: Wed May 28, 2003 1:49:55 PM US/Central
Subject: SGT. BEN III - USMC.
ALOHA:
GOOD NEWS.
BEN III CALLED ME LAST
NIGHT AND SAID HE HAS BEEN RELIEVED OF DUTIES IN BAGHBAD AND IS NOW IN
KUWAIT WAITING TO BE SENT BACK TO THE USA.
HE SAID HE SHOULD BE
IN CALIFORNIA WITHIN A MONTH AND WILL BE AT CAMP PENDLETON DOWN BY SAN
DIEGO.
HE SAID IT WILL TAKE
A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE MARINE CORPS.
I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED
AS TO BEN'S PROGRESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY
PRAYERS FOR BEN III.
ALOOOOOOOOOOOOHA!!!!
BEN THE AMAZON REPTILE
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