Soldiers share laughs, tears over video tele-conference

Courtesy Photo | Cpl. Adam Moreau, training room non-commissioned officer, Bravo Co., 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, talks with his wife Suzanne and children Adam, 4, Branden, 20-months and Hailey, newborn, over video tele-conference at battalion headquarters, Oct. 12, 2008.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

10.16.2008

Courtesy Story

16th Sustainment Brigade

By the 16th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq — Soldiers from the 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, laughed and cried with their husbands and wives over the first video-teleconference Oct. 12, 2008.

"Deployments are a stressful time for both families at home and their Soldiers down range," said Lt. Col. Christopher Chun, commander, 16th STB. "Our program is an attempt to allow our Soldiers and their families a dedicated time to spend talking to one another."

Each Soldier was allotted 10 minutes to talk to loved ones.

Spc. Erin Smith said she was grateful to get to talk to her husband, Frank, and her two children, Toby, 2, and Keira, 9-months.

"I am very happy to have used the VTC since my internet camera isn't set up," said the 25-year-old from Rio Rancho, N.M.

Cpl. Adam Moreau, training room non-commissioned officer, Bravo Co., 16th STB, felt that it was a great morale booster.

"It kind of makes all your problems go away for the moment," said the 23-year-old father of three from Flint, Mich.

His son, Adam, 4, kept telling his mother Suzanne, that he couldn't wait to show his homework to his daddy.

Suzanne, Moreau's wife, told him news about their children, Adam, Branden, 20-months, and Hailey, newborn.

"Branden carries a picture of his father everywhere he goes," Suzanne told Moreau.

The battalion plans to hold VTCs bi-monthly for each company.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2008
• Date Posted: 10.16.2008 03:11
• Story ID: 25064
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ