For what is now the third time, I was unable to meet with the 1486th today. I came to the Green Zone this morning to catch the shuttle to the airport, which was the designated meeting point. When I arrived at the shuttle staging area, I was told by a soldier that Rumsfeld himself had issued a directive ordering everyone under his command not to travel outside the Green Zone because of large and potentially violent demonstrations. A travel advisory issued by the U.S. Consulate stated "[w]ith the concurrence of Ambassador Bremer, travel outside the Green Zone from 0500 – 1200 hrs on Sunday 4 April 04 will be prohibited due to large demonstrations at ALL Green Zone check points." At 8:15 when I arrived, there was no sign yet of protests. I have not been able to ascertain the nature of the demonstrations, although I have heard that they have been orchestrated by Shia contingents.
I am interested in everything you write about the 1486th Transporation Company out of Mansfield Ohio. My husband is Spc. Eddy Johnson, Jr. of the 1486th. I try to avoid the news as much as possible, at least in general, but I do search each week for additional news posted about the 1486th. My friend Heather and I are making a scrapbook for my husband centering around his unit. I will continue to keep your web page as a favorite in hopes of more news of his unit. He has been able to contact me at least once per week, and I am thankful that the availability of communication is so much better during this war than in any other conflict in which the United States has been involved. My husband and I have known each other since we were teenagers in high school, but we didn’t communicate for over a decade from 1990 to the end of 2001. We got together again in late 2001 and married on January 4, 2003. I love him with all my heart, and every good bit of news I hear about him and his unit is a joy to me. I wanted to thank you for including them in your reporting. I have enjoyed your stories.
Update. It’s been a year and 3 months since the 1486th has come home. I thought I would post the update that each and every soldier came home the 1486th. There were several purple hearts awarded, but they all made it back, which is the important part. A couple of them aren’t able to be soldiers anymore due to various injuries, but they are all proud of each other for the way they acted as a unit to get the job done and to protect each other in the process. It is rare that an entire unit comes back, and for that I am eternally grateful. The 1486th is a Medium Truck Transportation Company, and they were shot at each time they went out to deliver supplies and haul back equipment to Kuwait. I pray that all families should be as lucky as mine to have their soldier come home safely. My husband has various issues that he’ll have to deal with for the rest of his life, but he at least has that lifetime to do so.