Eric Pettengill is 27, a Senior Airman in the Air Force Reserves. He was stationed for four months at Camp Anaconda, in Balad, Iraq, where he worked in ATOC [Air Tactical Operations Center], loading planes for transport. Eric's contract is up in March, but he has been Stop Lossed, and is to be redeployed for 12 months.  After returning to the United States, Eric suffered from serious problems finding employment.  According to his wife's blog, few people were willing to hire Eric when they realized he was probably going to have to return to Iraq. 

Here are some of his Iraq photos and letters to his wife, Liz.

10 dec 03

Hi Hon

How are you doing? Things here are as good as can be expected. I am working right now, we just finished unloading an aircraft so we have some down time before the next one comes in.

Sorry to hear that the christmas tree fell over whenput it up the other day. Can you take a picture of it with you and Matty standing in front and send it over? Speaking of Christmas trees one of the guys had one of those fast fake trees sent over. So we put lights and a few decorations on it, so we have a christmas tree. We are also going to be giving each other gifts. We are going to draw a name from a hat and we are going to get that person a gift. We're just trying to find a way to make it feel more like christmas.

I went to the PX today to get a couple of things, I got some laundry soap and nail clippers..

I was thinking about that care package you said you were putting together. If you can could you put some movies in it not Dvd's but tapes that we could watch. We have a vcr but only two tapes. Forrest Gump and Friday, both are good movies but you can only watch them so many times.

So tell me how are you doing? and I mean really doing. I don't want to hear "fine" I want you to tell me even if you want to bitch or vent let me know.

Is Matt still mad at me? tell him I am very sorry.

I cant wait to get your letter. I have been thinking about you a lot.

okay sweety gotta go I will write again soon,

I love you,

Eric

21 December 03

My Dearest Liz,

Hi How are you today? I am doing alright just fighting a nasty cold. I talked to you on the phone today and while we were talking it just cut out. Well a truck backed into one of the power units stopping all communicatoins in the area I was at. It should be up in a little while.

I am sorry you are feeling lonely, I am feeling lonely too. I just want to give you a big hug and a kiss right now. I am getting a christmas picture taken in about an hour or two and will send it to you via email so you should get it either today or tomorrow. I'm glad that Matt is feeling better poor little man from what you said it sounded like that cold really took a hold of him.

Anyway, you and Matt leave tomorrow for Mass. I am so jealous. I bet Matt is really excited to be going on the airplane. I hope you have a good flight and a good time in Mass.

Things here are going okay is getting really cold at night and kinda warm during the day. work has been really busy. These 12 hrs days seven days a week is starting to take a toll on all of us. It is kinda funny to look at us we all look like the walking dead, then add that half of us are sick, we look really awful. Well sweet cheeks gotta run

I love you and miss you.

Love now and forever,

Eric

5 January 04

Hi Sexy

How are you doing? I am doing okay. It is 0530, I just woke up about a half hour ago. I am enjoying my first day off since I got here. I am also enjoying our new toys that we got here. Theygot us washers and dryers. YEAH!!! no more doing laundry in a bucket. I am getting spoiled, a day off and washers and dryers (LOL)

So how are things going? Miss me? cause I sure as hell miss you....[edited for content]

Well sexy my laundry is done and I have to go fold it and put it away.

I love you and miss you

Love now and forever,

Eric

24 January 2004

Hi Beautiful,

How are you? I am doing okay. It has been rather dreary here lately. The weather has been absolutely horrible. We have had really bad wind and rain for the past couple of days. Which has made life here even more miserable. so how are things back on the home front? Have the people come to fix the plumbing yet?

How is Matty doing? Getting biggerI bet. I have been thinking about you two a lot lately, more so than usual. I cant wait to give you a big bear hug, and build those two model [planes]with Matt. I look at that photo album you made for me everyday before I go to bed.

Valentines day is coming up and it feels strange to not be able to get you flowers, or balloons or even a card. It really sucks. I apologize that only one of my letters has gotten to you. When I asked about it, I was told that there was so much mail that the army was having a terrible time keeping up with it all. So don't worry it is on its way.

Okay hun it is late and I need to get some sleep if I am to be at work on time. I love you and am very proud of you for all you are doing.

I love you now and forever,

Eric

30 Jan 2004

Hi Sexy

I hope this letter find you doing okay. I am doing fine considering my location.

My spirits are up. I just got done checking my donut and it says 50%. Half way there. WOO HOO its all down hill from here.

You asked me about the guys I work with a little while ago and I don't have enough time on the phone to tell you, so I thought I would tell you in a letter. When I was working down at the ramp there were the guys that I hung around with at work and off of work.

First there Tsgt Michael C., he was my supervisor, he is the one person that I like the most. When I first got here he and I hit it off real well. In fact one of the first things he said to me besides "hello" was "lets get to work fat bitch" He can be a real smart ass sometimes which is why I like him and we have pretty much the same personality.

There is Tsgt Thomas F. the grandpa of us all. He is 55 which is why we call him grandpa. He is from Quincy, Mass so we have a lot in common right from the start.

There is Tsgt John H., I really like John he is my bud. he and I always joke around. John is a really good guy for an old fart.

Then there is Ssgt Daniel H. He is the joker of the ramp group. he always has a joke to tell or a funny story and he always says these things when we are feeling down or tired and it always lifts our spirits.

That is the crew that I hang out and work with from the ramp. Now for the people from my new job in ATOC.

In ATOC we joke around about being a family.

There is Msgt Kim F. AKA "mom" I call her mom because well she is older than my real mom and she treats me like on of her own kids. when I had the food poisoning and I went to work, she asked me if I had a fever, I said I don't know. so what did she do? she jumped out of her chair walked straight over to me, put her hand on my cheek, then forehead, then pulled me down to her level and pressed her cheeck against my cheek, then said yep you do, go see the doc then straight to bed. Just like she probably did with her own kids. She is a hoot plus the fact that she is your grams height {4'10"} doesn't help, she has to stand on a chair to turn her light on in the tent, which is very funny.

There is SRA Marylin R.. I call her Aunt Rad. She is like 44 yrs old. her I pick on mostly because she is a wanna be blonde from florida and she acts like a blonde but she is also kinda weird too, she gets really emotional about stupid stuff. maybe its menopause.

There is Tsgt Bailey L., he is the Uncle. he is the really serious one of the group from ATOC. He is all about work. But I am working on that. he is starting to come out of his shell.

Then there is Tsgt James M. He is the older brother, I call him Spaz because he spazes over the smallest thing and I just have to laugh most of the time.

Then last but not least there's me. The fat bitch, joker, class clown, little brother, nephew, and son wrapped all in one.

Well sweety those are the people I work with, all of the old farts. And I can say old farts beause the average age amongst them is like 46. Anyway I hope that gives you a little insight about the people I work with.

I love you and miss you

Love now and forever,

Eric

You can see more photos of Iraq from Eric Pettengill, posted by his wife at http://purtyldy.zoto.com/. For updates on their story, visit Liz Pettengill's blog at www.soldierslifeafteriraq.blogspot.com.