Update on Kathy

Here’s an excerpt from a recent e-mail from Kathy – she’s completed a rather grueling training on the firing range in Kuwait and is now on her way to Iraq.

There are some really interesting people in my group. (I would convoy with my Navy people in a heartbeat because most of them are really smart and adaptable.) Another petty officer in my tent works as a cosmetologist in downtown Chicago in a really chichi salon that does the Makeovers for Oprah (Mario somebody or another). She was sharing product with me and giving me skin and hair advice.

Anyways, Kuwait is very bizarre, we have seen camels close up and it is incredibly bright and hot here, 118 and just like the desert scenes in Star Wars. No water or plants at all -- only sand. A giant hot smelly sweltering beach. I am sick of living out of my seabags. A major part of morale improvement for me is to find a tidy portalet with toilet paper, (and I had but then the Alabama Natl. Guard trashed it.) We had to sleep in tents on the ground in the desert for two nights. We got up around 2:45 to start the day both days...Anyways, it is all very funny and very da da and surreal: you couldn't even dream up this place (M*A*S*H tents and all sand and camels, really camels) unless you were here.

I understand that Kathy’s weight has dropped to under 100 pounds. Her Kevlar vest alone is nearly half her body weight and then there’s the helmet, weapon and boots she must also wear continually. Hopefully the food in Iraq is as good as they say. Please keep Kathy and her comrades in your thoughts and prayers.