Franklins Trip to Iraq

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Franklins Trip to Iraq

• Pictures and story by
• Allan Mace, Liyas Dad

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Day 1Liya, Franklin and I are taking last minute
photos of farewell in our home. 
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Liya figured it would be a good idea that our dog
Zeus said his goodbyes.
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Franklin and I are on our way out the door.  The
last time he would be in Carthage, NY for at
least 3 weeks.  I think he'll miss the extreme
cold of upstate New York.
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Franklin and I are delayed in Washington DC for
the night.  Our flight departed late.  He enjoyed
every minute, he watched the movies Longshots and
some other movie I fell asleep through.  He also
got his own bed.
Syracuse one and a half hours
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Day 2 I decided to take a quick trip around
Washington DC with an old friend of mine. 
Franklin got to see the United States mint,
Washington monument, Lincoln monument, Jefferson
Monument, the White House, Our Nations Capital,
and the Pentagon.  If you look closely at the
Pentagon, you can distinguish the new brick from
the old brick.  There were many more memorials
and monuments we would liked to have seen. 
However, time was tight and we had to return to
the airport.
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Day 4After several hours on the airplane, we
arrived in Kuwait City, Kuwait. It was a cool
night, Franklin and I were picked up by my US
military personnel and were immediately taken to
a base in Kuwait. We couldnt take any pictures
at the airport because of certain rules that
needed to be followed. After arriving at base,
Franklin and I were processed to leave Kuwait to
be pushed North into Iraq. The following photos
are of us finally appearing in Tikrit, Iraq. (No
pictures were taken prior to getting to this
point due to outside constraints.)
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After arrival in Tikrit, Franklin built up an
appetite for cookies. Of course he ate the whole
bag, NOT ME!
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Later Franklin went for a ride on a gator
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and took some pictures with his two new friends.
Specialist Wall (right) and Specialist Wilkey
(left).
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Day 5Franklin wanted to go for a helicopter
ride. He insisted on flying on the nose of the
aircraft, but that wasnt going to happen. It
would be a bad thing for him to parachute out of
a helicopter without a parachute.
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He also made another friend, Sergeant First Class
McGoogan, an old guy Ive known for quite some
time. He took care of Franklin while we flew
around.
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Franklin and I getting ready for our departure.
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First take offFranklin was excited, so much so,
he plastered himself to the wind screen. (If you
take a closer look, you can see him in the middle
of the window.
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Hi, boys and girls!
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Ill be home soon!
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Franklin enjoyed some one-on-one time with a guy
that never goes flying. SFC Mentry let Franklin
sit on his shoulder while he worked. 
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He also made another new friend, Hedgehog Reid. 
Some guys thought it would be funny to put them
to work behind the computer.  Needless to say,
nothing got done.
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Today was going just like any other day. 
Franklin and I drank a little coffee, (I drank,
he sat, watched and agreed with everything I
said.)  Then it was time, a nice flight around
the local area.  I really wanted Franklin to get
a good look around and see what Iraq was all
about from the air.  He can attest, there isn't
much to look at! 
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Franklin thinks he's going to take my spot and
fly the helicopter. (Nice try)
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We're getting ready for the flight. Franklin
thought it would be cool to take a picture of the
flying school bus.  He agrees with me, nothing is
cooler than the Blackhawk.
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Very cool!
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We're getting ready to start the aircraft. 
Franklin got first class seating and gets to be
placed gently between the dash and windscreen.
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We're getting ready to start the aircraft.
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Franklin's really enjoying the ride so far.  He's
a little cramped but there aren't any complaints
from him today.  It's as if he were a stuffed
doll or something. )
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Franklin decided to go in the back of the
aircraft to sit with the crew chief.  The crew
Chief's name is Specialist Luther.  Luther
enjoyed holding him for the remainder of the
flight.  Franklin and Luther were all smiles!
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After the flight, it was time for a group photo. 
Starting from left to right.  Test Pilot CW3
Yerman, Passenger Franklin, Test Pilot CW3
Mace, Observer CW2 Felton.  Just one of the boys!
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Franklin got stuck in the avionics compartment. 
His shell was just a little too big to play hide
and seek. 
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He also likes to take lots of pictures with
airplanes landing on the runway.
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Franklin, full of energy wants to go for a bike
ride with SSG Brett Yelvington. 
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Franklin took a picture with me and my technical
inspector, SSG Atiba Raymond.
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• Franklin left Iraq on Friday, January 23rd.
  Hell be arriving back in the states very soon.
  Thank you to Mr. Mace for letting Franklin travel
  abroad with you.
• Sincerely,
• Ms. Moseley and class

Thanks Daddy! I love you!!!!