I hope this email finds ya'll good. I am doing well. Lots of work and little time. I just ate a good meal at a small restaurant on post here. I had a steak and baked potato. Not anything like you get in Texas, but it is as good as you get here. They like pasta for some reason. We are going into isolation now. We are planning for our upcoming mission into  Operation Iraqi Freedom. Be watching the news as you can. As with every unit, our events will be covered by the media. You will be able to follow our actions via the media. I am in the 1-508th IN (ABN) battalion, 173rd ABN BDE. Either one of those names on the news and you will know I am there. Just know that I am going with a superbly trained unit and we will be ok. Most of these guys either come from Ranger battalions or from the 82nd, so I am not worried about our ability to meet any objective that we might be given. I have faith in our boys as they have faith in our leaders.  All of us believe in what we are being sent to do. We all trust in our President and hope that the American public will support him and our efforts. I ask that if you pray or whatever it is that you do, please do it for our boys who go in harms way. I know that our leadership will put us in the best possible situation to bring everyone home. I also ask that you pray for our enemy. I am sure that he also believes in what he is doing. We respect our enemies abilities as warriors. We are not taking anything for granted. I can tell you that we have every advanced technological piece of equipment at our disposal. We will be ok. For those of you who have already sent me your prayers and encouraging words, thank you. I know each of you are with me. I will do my best to make each of  you proud. I am very happy that I will get an opportunity to serve my country. I believe that this is what I was born to do. It is my pleasure to defend your/our way of life. I hope that you will defy the fear of terrorism and live your life without fear of attack. Never bow to their terms. My mailing address if we are committed to war will be:

New Address as of 12-29-03

CPT Shay Howard

If we do not go, then the mailing address will not be valid. Thanks for everything that you have done to touch my life. My love and prayers are enclosed.

Shay

"Lets Roll"

New Letter 4-19-2003

Thank you letters to students 5-13-2003

Promotion Announcement

New Letter 6-18-03

Major Howard graduating from Ranger school