Thanks for the encouragement Geoff!!  I've actually learned that I'm probably going to Afghanistan, but that could always change.  Enjoyed the Everglades and hopefully the weather will give us some cooperation next time and we can post a couple large fish!!  Enjoyed the Fishing and your company.  Being able to go to the Keys is one of the luxuries that we have, that make even a "tough" war, worth fighting for!! 
So what kind of fish is this??
thx, Zeb

Glad to have you on "our side" Zeb!  Make us proud, and come home safe...then we'll go fishing!

GI-fisher wrote:

Btw, the fish looks like a bar jack or rainbow runner (if caught here) or some kind of trevally (if caught in the pacific).

I second the bar jack... Zeb told me he caught the fish near Cancun.

This was from an email I recieved from Zeb 7/19/2008

It’s great to know that he is doing well and to hear some thoughts and observations from one of our men putting his life on the line for his country.  :occasion14:

Hello from the sand....I will try to give updates from time to time and send pics...but my internet keeps kicking me off when I try to send pics.  It was a mild 120 here today, but as most people know...I like the heat.  My co-workers think I'm a nut, b'c I constantly turn off the AC.  As of this moment, my job is Trailer Supervisor for where we live and work...essentially I'm a slum lord for trailers, that acts as a liaison to the ludicrously bad work of KBR.  As a soldier...KBR is quick to respond and temporarily fixes problems.  As a Tax payer...I'm appalled at the money we're spending for these guys to come fix A/C's and doorknobs (amongst other things).  They get paid by the service calls...so they patch things up, so they can come out again.  Big Business has quite an interest in keeping us here.

As for the war...it has been quiet here for the last several weeks and I pray it stays that way.  I'm sure at home the common stories you have heard are about are gas prices, foreclosures, our worthy candidates, Brett Favre Saga, Timeline for Iraq, some more war stories in Afghanistan, and the Mets had a 10 game winning streak!!
   
What people are failing to miss is that we are doing pretty well in Iraq and there are many good stories that don't have to do with IED's and terrorists anymore.  I must say that I didn't know much about General Petreus, but the man seems pretty smart and has great vision.
 
The average American soldier is starting to do things that people in Special Forces have been doing for years...TEACHING the Iraqi's how to govern their lives and become a sovereign nation.  Below I have attached an article that I found interesting and I know some people involved in this operation.  For some background...Sadr City has probably been one of the worst cities in Iraq...before the surge happened last July, we wouldn't have gone into Sadr City with less then 200 troops (and a lot of firepower)...and now we're starting to walk the streets with the Iraqi Army and only 5-10 soldiers.  When the Iraqi Army is in the front and the Iraqi politicians can get over their sectorial differences, we'll be getting out of here.  Luckily we're starting to see signs this is starting to happen and there may be a light at the end of the Iraqi tunnel.

On another note....Pray for the soldiers in Afghanistan...they have it really tough right now and need a lot of support.  If you want to send a care package or know someone who does, please try my buddy's in Afghanistan as they have it far worse then we do.
Talk to you soon, Zeb

1LT Todd Hotard       
927 EN CO       
FOB Fenty       
APO, AE 09310

CPT Derrick Frodge
201st EN BN
APO, AE 09310

http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/PersonOfWe … amp;page=1