Note: 1SG John Molamphy was dropped from this list on 21 Jul 2005 due to 60 days of no contact.
22 May 2005:
Sorry it's been so long since the last update. Well OK, not really sorry. Things have been busy and getting busier since we have a few thousand more people out here in Tall Afar and surrounding areas. We might actually fix this area soon.
It's starting to get just a bit warm around here. Just a bit. I guess summer is here. Another 20 degrees hotter is what we're expecting by July. At least we won't be here to get cold again.
1SG John Molamphy
25 Mar 2005
Things are starting to pick back up again. It was eerily calm for a week. Getting back to "normal" for us. I can't burn any CDs of the movies and pictures some of you requested because my burner died. And, being a hothead, I took it outside and shot it so I guess it will never work now. Oh well. There should be a Squadron web page up and running soon with plenty of movies and pictures. Thanks again for all the great support.
1SG John Molamphy
27 Feb 2005
Thanks for all the support. Blackjack Troop is doing pretty good. Staying busy as usual. Lots of long days and late nights. They've got us looking for this guy named Al Zarkowski, I think his name is. Maybe from Wisconsin? Hopefully we'll catch the #1 dirtbag in Iraq soon.
Wouldn't that be a great picture to have posted on this site.....Us with Zarqawi in cuffs.
One thing we could use is coffee cups. Strange request I know and the first thing I've actually asked for but it's almost impossible to get coffee cups out here. Free advertising for your business, though.
Thanks again for all the support. Hopefully, if you've sent us anything, you've received a reply. I know I've sent plenty of thank you letters and email in the last three months. If I didn't send you a thank you, you can write me an angry letter telling me off!
31 Jan 2005
Elections are complete. Voter turn-out was pretty awesome considering there was constant gunfire and explosions throughout Tall'Afar. Pretty brave people to come out to vote. All the Blackjack Troopers are doing good. Still having fun (sort of) and waiting to see how things will go around here now that the elections are over.
1SG Molamphy
21 Jan 2005
The elections are getting closer and we're ready to step up to help. We're even willing to get down and dirty just like the guys in the picture. I was able to get online storage for the Troop movies and, so far, the response has been pretty good. It's much quicker than snail mail since it takes about a month and a half both ways. It was a slow day so I was able to catch up on letters and email saying thanks. Probably the last one for a few weeks...
Thanks again for all the support.
1SG Molamphy
05 Jan 2005
All of us are doing fine. Thanks for all the incredible support.
John P. Molamphy
"Blackjack 7"
29 Dec 2004
Thanks to all of you for a great Christmas.
A few pictures this time. We don't give parking tickets, have our own master key (the flat bread was good, also) and 3rd Platoon trucks prior to a mission. I get my butt chewed about the flags every other day but I won't tell them to take them down.
The Troop is doing well, we have plenty of stuff. The guys that dip are having difficulty getting Copenhagen so if it's not politically incorrect....
We also have a Troop movie and tons of photos. If you send a CDROM and a larger envelope, I send you one. Several went in the mail today. Unfortunately, only about half are turning out right. Does anything in this country actually work?
Thanks again to all of you for the support. Lots of letters and email have been sent.
1SG Molamphy
Blackjack 7
14 Dec 2004
If you send stuff for the kids, they love it as you can see. We'll also write messages for you to our "friends". This 120mm was special delivery air mail.
Thanks for all the support so far. I sent lots of thank you letters this week and it didn't bother me a bit.
1SG Molamphy
12 Dec 2004
We received half a dozen packages today. Thanks! We are building a "Wall of Fame" with all the cards and letters we receive. I'll have a picture of that soon.
The support is awesome. We sure do have a great country, don't we?
John P. Molamphy
11 Dec 2004
I signed up 10 days ago and was able to hand out 5 Christmas cards today to my guys. Thanks go as much to you folks for providing this site as to the people who support the soldiers. Thanks.
I will personally respond to every person that sends my soldiers a card, letter or package. Big promise and I'm sure that will become difficult later but the folks back home deserve it for what they do for us.
Please add at the bottom of the listing "You will receive a response from myself or one of my troopers."
Attached is a picture of a few of my guys on patrol in Tall'Afar.
John P. Molamphy
01 Dec 2004
I am the First Sergeant of B Troop, 2-14 CAV. We are near Tall'Afar, Iraq. We're stuck pretty much in the middle of nowhere with limited access to any type of amenities. We see action just about every day and anything from home helps the guys keep up their morale. The conditions here are austere, but we enjoy it for the most part. Thanks in advance for any type of support you are willing to give.