Staff Sgt Veech with Moe Lauzier

Boy when you say rise and -- actually we do believe that the first Saturday. In quite a few now where we look outdoors in we're actually blind by the sun are building faces. Our studio I could think faces the east and looking over Boston and goodness gracious and visit as a -- powerful anyhow good morning -- view with you on Boston talk station while under the 7 O'Clock hour.

The last Saturday morning get together reach an every -- of these six to nine we get together to discuss the issues of the day WRKO dot com click on listen live follow the directions and you'll have the audio stream of WRKO. Go to WWW issues of the day -- common you'll pick up on a lot of the stuff. We intend to talk about including a short biography of our guest staff sergeant Don beech who is from believe Worcester area I was gonna say from -- but I'm not sure he is from with Terry he's he now lives -- not borrow he is he has been in the army National -- to 15 years and he served as a squad leader for the now like. The sergeant -- explain -- what can one slash 182 infantry.

Well yes there high yet greetings from Baghdad how -- you today I'm well and you very well some beautiful day here on whether reminds me of fallen Massachusetts right now -- you guys are getting. Right now that would be hard it's I believe about 30 degrees right now. Yeah and is stuck in my life last night shadows circle we get mid 70s now which reminds -- September October actually beautiful what Alice is this just daytime what happens at nine uncles that night. It gets down into the 40s I'm generally around 50 it's been a little warmer the last two nights but there have been some nights you can -- abruptly or outside so lightly so boring here. Yeah it wasn't at all what I expected expectancy hot all year round. So it is quite shocked to see some of the people start where there fleece jackets when they don't work in the morning.

I would just say is I understand in the wintertime gets pretty darn cool especially at night. Yeah we're beginning to realize that now we're not completely through next November those nice clear nights you have these. Temperature conversions elect to shoot the weatherman who came a pathetic. Temperature inversion of that means -- gets cold so okay. An out I was trying to describe where you're from are you from Worcester or are you originally from not --

I'm originally from Rockland a -- that is 30 years there before met my wife and resettled in the opera together been there the last seven years. And wonderful town very New England. Like what people think of knowingly and beautiful side streets great schools. And it's been a wonderful move -- close to Worcester and Boston. What do you do in your civilians. I have a commercial artist it until my deployment Aaron Small arts studio doing illustration graphic sign web design. And it's -- means focus for the military right now is as he -- administrator for evidence -- dot com. And shorter gases evidently -- SI dot -- and that's -- news outlets for all the soldiers people back home to see what's happening over here. Win you don't want to hear just casualty count and the latest bombings come to our website find out about -- today it is the story on reconstruction training Iraqi police and opponents uncertainty here in Iraq. People can come and leave messages for the troops. Check out photo gallery that's updated every today. International news points Iraqi freedom and it's it's a great outlet for those who want to see more of the story.

Right now as I may also I give a on an email each week with updates on what's going on his is at the same. That he is at the same is that from the same website

I'm not sure if that is from the same web -- and not let the stories probably came from our website originally we receive content from all around Iraq. And as one of the administrators but managed a lot of contact and figure out which is the appropriate story to go up to that today. Stories of the day front page stuff.

Our -- are a minority that is spiritual source I'm going to put you on the spot at that okay with you. In the -- short benefit if that something maybe -- stepping -- is just a minute ago there we hear a lot of a lot of talk back home the EU are we winning can we possibly -- and so on and so forth what is the what what is the sense of the troopers through the troops you're actually working with the Iraqi people and in many instances one on one or group with group's what is the sense of what is taking place out there it is it isn't winnable is it two. That we -- exactly how would we define winning at this point.

Well I think that the best way to trusted -- winning would be to. A democratic state in Iraq that is an ally in our war against terror. I'm definitely and cool. I can't speak for those soldiers who worked directly with the Iraqis. But I do not have a lot of day to day interaction with them. But the overall sense from the people that -- right now is. Great optimism that things are starting to turn in our favor. The insurgency and everyone's very pleased that violence is down for a -- on -- Every campus is a tragedy. So we want to minimize that as much as possible but it now that we're actually seeing that happen. You know there's a great air of optimism throughout the whole building -- We're very pleased that I'm. Very happy that I used to seeing this change.

We spoke with the marine sergeant last week from manned by province. And that was his second tour there. Are his second time in Kandahar and he said it's like two different worlds the world he was there me that he he saw the first time it was there. In the world that the that these existing now he said we're actually welcomed now before we would just targets.

Well we've been getting reports like that Dylan and I would hope that after all the work that he's done. The Iraqis start to see it in the light it. We're bringing them every day we're helping people. I don't think that you see that on the news -- So that's why there are outlets press releases press conferences these web sites that get our side of the story out there. Isn't always. In America it's these papers.

Our guest this morning on WRKO's staff Sargent Don BAT's from he's originally from Rockland he now is out of the wicket area enough Murrow he's he's actually guy who does things that I only wish I could do I created a website and I I have all I can do just keep things -- getting a few pictures posted and so on in your website is outstanding then you're doing it and under less than. I would say desirable circumstances or conditions year in sergeant breach is so also pretty much in. -- in the in the flow of the information that is coming through from all over Iraq this still pockets in Iraq that are very difficult in in the extremely dangerous for us

again like I'm not on the aspect of the missions I really can't say if there are on -- I'm sure that there are probably still areas more difficult even. In Baghdad there's still some violence that needs to be. Cleaned up. But since -- arrived here and I'm not taking any credit for it sounds bounces down significantly I saw some statistics where. Civilian deaths are down over 50% and which is huge. -- we're here to stabilize a country make sure that the people safe and it's really starting to come to fruition now

I don't know if you ever heard of mass -- pyramid but at the very lowest level it's a matter of a sustenance and survival -- personal safety both of those things that that motivate us in if we can't get by that the all the rest is this secondary forget being artistic retreat yet. Being creative forget building businesses and sought you just want to stay alive till the next day that your -- your goal every morning. In if that's what -- absolutely correct and if that's what the circumstances are forests of for someone living in in in Baghdad then -- that's all we can hope to get out of them whereas if they safety level goes up -- up an article in one of the web sites from Iraq. About a month ago maybe a month and a half ago that had a little film snippet of people literally going to work in the morning it you didn't look any different than any growth may be the clothing was differently the culture is different. But the but -- that the morning stroll to work beginning you know he and the kids heading for school and so on. And and all like to think was this wasn't happening two years ago this wasn't happening six months ago.

here right -- daylight is imperfect for Iraqis all throughout the country the Anbar province is great -- Sample of how things turn around now where was one of the most violent -- now much more stable. Still you know a lot of work to be done throughout the country. Huge improvements in the last few months.

And we also spoke to -- carriage with a person from decree again within the last few weeks that I can't recall which and unfortunately in -- to blend together at the doctor run together but I do recall in that interview from decreased about how they were getting -- eat in enormous cooperation from live from the local folks in terms of dealing with the insurgency and so on that this was the this was a hotbed of the opposition at one time this was where the the -- the -- this party got its got its start -- we have to understand that you -- we say -- this thing Nazi because that they they employed all the same mechanisms to keep people under control and under the thumb. And that's where it all began and these very same people who had tolerated this or or even cooperated with that we're we're now with did not come over on the other side we've. The somewhere along the line -- at least one their minds -- not necessarily their hearts.

Well that winning. Winning hearts minds and -- you know. Simply part of what goes on here now we have people back home participating in meant by. -- victorious for the children's stuffed animals. Donations of troops they'll help dramatically and we can't do it alone in the American people are are stepping up helping us out. And it and it's wonderful.

By the way if you if -- it and go ahead contempt that don't -- if you have the actresses to some web sites that we can we we can help with -- be more than happy both both them my website and to make certain we promote them on the year here on Saturday morning and where people can get involved in doing exactly what you're talking about right now witches it would we we know about a lot of efforts being done for folks like yourself in terms of the if you pardon the expression the care packages you know contain things like deodorant lip balm handy wipes and so on and so forth that there other things also that are that are needed that our troops are able to deliver to or give to a lot of the civilians today is really at peace efforts I would think there web sites that are that are that are available there in my gut feeling that you would have access to

I I will that be able to get -- I don't have them in front of me right now but I can email them see you later today and you can to discuss them but. There are organizations. The USO that supports the the military and other organizations that will help civilian -- charities. You know -- people sent us their godsend because it lets people don't they care about us I'm not everybody get them. From their families some people don't have -- the ones that are sent to go to any soldier these guys get a little piece on the it normally would have and it's. Around holidays it's really important that people know. That America's talking about them you know missile sales Marines here -- very appreciative.

my granddaughter is used to send stuff to my young son in law when he was an Afghanistan. And you know I -- don't can't you don't have enough money out there -- mean you don't get finished his a look at has nothing to do with that so there's no CVS. Control run down through to get these little things when you need him there's no convenience store down the into the street he said all of these small items and they said besides. With a did as a reminded me that my kids here are -- and cared enough about me to do this each week.

Now it's nice to everybody looks sort of mailed me and don't people ship stopped when they get things this year when everybody so everybody gets to partake but it's a wonderful part of being deployed in is no real easy way to be -- him for a year. But to have contact with them that way now that they care not to send stuff as one of the -- Tuesday.

Sergeant V gentry their families people who have family in in theater one as some of the items that they should be thinking about and what are some of the items that maybe they shouldn't be sending.

Well obviously pressure rest content with shaving -- hard to get through you know. Airport security but they can be sent in care packages. Through which is always important anything that makes a lot of soldiers like he's here in the Baghdad area real bit more access to. This PX. The other bases they might not have stopped the daily necessities soldiers -- it's maxed out books reading material.

Not chocolate snacks because that the heat will simply melt all the chocolate right. --

Well during the summertime that's the other. When my brother is stationed here last year he said okay you can step kind of chocolate now got to be December because they -- now okay to -- But we do you know IC chip -- concert people that have chocolate and stopped now but before it they would not hopeless -- couldn't get them from. Where you work to where you stayed but it would melt -- adolescent. Your office.

But hard candies would be okay. Are similar I'm always and I guess did you compare those in your pocket as well and you may have heard got into -- that that that's pretty neat want to put Hershey bar next -- the -- him. Get a message. Baby white as far as with something else he mentioned that come in very handy because sometimes -- now.

Albeit -- Non alcohol based Hewitt's pollutants that alcohol and actually tragic hands and he crack good point -- just put -- you know alcoholics target more right any hello

tubes of aloe cream based trader at hand cream and he -- up there about literary art. -- stick stuff like that. That's correct and so that you just use common sense and and if you have family members out there you know not that I'm not suggesting anyone avoid the the mass collections of the done but this Sunday specific package to a family member two I don't want to get all -- deal with this thing but some like the old Valentine thing you know says you're really here.

Yes but you'd have to look into port obviously a postal regulations have things -- flammable lighters and what happens as it should be sent. Now on -- really talking to the post office the best way to know what you can't sent. And generally soldiers stationed over here not a lot things like alcohol so that's -- don't themselves

quote or stabbed the soldier called appearances when he was over the guys like receiving. Up pepperoni. Yeah yeah that's tonight at the summit sausage. Candles in the -- those things that are preserved and well packaged and you know you can open them and use them it to leisure.

That's correct. Anything that -- you know people like -- to go back home with the kids get here is great idea. I think it helped -- time went to books and magazines -- Are high on everyone's list sure sure they passed around and share what people

in the fifth in the Boston area anything dealing with the Red Sox would be nice yes I thought -- tree curious Bruins Celtics by the way the Celtics on again last night. So there trying to catch -- the patriots no the patriots are going to have to -- on the the -- there -- now patriot tonight in -- I don't listen the heat I know you're I'm shouldn't and no but I suspect if we aren't in your kids are listening right now anything you want to say that them

what the very emotions I can't wait till I see them again my boy is that what you get if for the army and do everything she says -- do I love you very much.

I'd -- coming home you know yet

sometime in June and -- are expected return.

I'm from the red sun on the weather warms up for were to be comfortable with it openly UB home. All right. But sergeant awfully good talking to you I don't -- certainly wish you the best and thank you for your serve mister BC. Thank you have a good day Sargent Don beach he's from off -- he's with the unit national -- unit that Worcester. He's originally from Rockland mass if you recognize the name in here in the South -- there's good reason for -- and we'll get to your calls just ahead minding his -- laws here on Boston's -- station eight and 680 WRKO