WEBVTT 00:00.640 --> 00:02.862 and time now for our weekly update with 00:02.862 --> 00:04.862 the fort Carson soldier fighting in 00:04.862 --> 00:07.410 Iraq this morning . This time in Iraq ? 00:07.420 --> 00:09.840 We are joined by a first class fred 00:09.840 --> 00:12.062 johnson with a third bct fourth I . D . 00:12.062 --> 00:14.340 Sir . Thank you so much for joining us . 00:14.740 --> 00:17.073 Good morning Jeff and Betty and hear us . 00:17.073 --> 00:19.750 How are you doing ? I'm doing good . 00:19.750 --> 00:22.010 How are you ? All right , Thanks . I 00:22.010 --> 00:23.954 understand you have family here in 00:23.954 --> 00:26.066 Colorado Springs , correct . You want 00:26.066 --> 00:28.200 to say hi to him first of all ? Yes 00:28.200 --> 00:30.311 ma'am . I should do . I'd like to say 00:30.311 --> 00:32.390 hi to my wife Samantha and my three 00:32.390 --> 00:35.480 Children Caitlin Madeline and Andrew 00:35.490 --> 00:37.490 like to tell him that I love them . 00:38.040 --> 00:40.151 Yeah . All right . I'm sure they love 00:40.151 --> 00:42.207 to see you hear on tv this morning , 00:42.207 --> 00:44.484 tell us what is your mission out there ? 00:44.484 --> 00:47.050 So what are you doing ? Yeah . Um I'm 00:47.050 --> 00:49.400 with the planning staff for the third 00:49.400 --> 00:51.511 heavy Brigade convent came by working 00:51.511 --> 00:54.450 the Information Operation Cell 00:55.340 --> 00:57.480 give us a feel for helping guard . 00:57.480 --> 00:59.480 What's the climate there like now ? 01:00.740 --> 01:02.796 Well there's a little bit of tension 01:02.796 --> 01:05.018 right now but more and more every day . 01:05.018 --> 01:07.073 We're seeing that the Iraqi security 01:07.073 --> 01:09.184 forces that we're working with um are 01:09.184 --> 01:11.351 really taking the lead in in combating 01:11.351 --> 01:14.130 terrorism over here . Mhm . Mhm . And 01:14.130 --> 01:16.352 you're working with those men and women 01:16.352 --> 01:18.574 on a regular basis . Have you seen some 01:18.574 --> 01:20.797 some major improvement in what they can 01:20.797 --> 01:23.900 handle now ? Yes , Jeff . I do um more 01:23.900 --> 01:25.844 and more . We see them coming more 01:25.844 --> 01:28.060 capable and we're training with them 01:28.060 --> 01:30.480 every day and and we see it all the 01:30.480 --> 01:32.591 time that they're they're just taking 01:32.591 --> 01:34.424 the lead and the things that are 01:34.424 --> 01:37.300 happening over here . Can you tell us a 01:37.300 --> 01:39.467 little bit about your interaction with 01:39.467 --> 01:41.633 Children ? I don't know how much there 01:41.633 --> 01:43.633 is interaction with Children but so 01:43.633 --> 01:45.689 many of the soldiers I hear who come 01:45.689 --> 01:47.911 home say that's what really gets them . 01:47.911 --> 01:50.133 Mhm . Oh the Children are a great great 01:50.133 --> 01:52.300 thing to work with . Uh you drive down 01:52.300 --> 01:54.411 the streets and they come out running 01:54.411 --> 01:56.133 and and waving and smiling and 01:56.133 --> 01:58.133 sometimes we got the opportunity to 01:58.133 --> 02:00.700 stop and chat with them a little bit um 02:00.710 --> 02:02.877 Play soccer with them or pass them out 02:02.877 --> 02:05.099 a little bit of candy or something that 02:05.099 --> 02:07.099 we can we can do for them . They're 02:07.099 --> 02:09.220 real joy to be with . All right I'm 02:09.220 --> 02:11.276 sure your three kids are just really 02:11.276 --> 02:13.331 excited to have you come home and do 02:13.331 --> 02:15.553 those activities with you want to thank 02:15.553 --> 02:15.270 you so much . Sergeant . First class 02:15.270 --> 02:18.080 fred johnson with a third BCC fourth I . 02:18.080 --> 02:20.302 D . We wish you a safe journey and look 02:20.302 --> 02:23.640 forward to you coming back . Thank you . 02:23.640 --> 02:24.850 I appreciate that .