By Christopher Lillibridge

Recently I received a package from my mother, Diane Lillibridge. In and amongst the candy and baby wipes was the May 21 issue of the Los Altos Town Crier. I read about the 56th Pet Parade and about a soldier, David Scott, serving in the 101st Airborne Division. I’m glad I’m not the only “Los Altan” over here in Iraq.

Ironically my squad just repaired one of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that flew into our captured Iraqi air base- known in the media as FOB Webster or Al Asad Air Base. Those two helicopters were carrying maintainers for six Apache gunships, which recently took part in attacks on two separate convoys heading back into Iraq from Syria.

The “Ace of Diamonds” was among those captured in the attack. Although the UH-60 we repaired was from the 1st Armored Division, “Big Red One,” I couldn’t help but think that maybe one of David Scott’s UH-60s might land here for work in the future. It is a small world.

Your paper brought back memories of Loyola Corners - it was our hangout. My friends and I would ride there on our bikes and buy candy. We spent hours finding golf and tennis balls at the nearby Country Club.

My unit, the 33rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, has had a tough time since arriving here in Iraq at the beginning of April. We are all different people serving our country. People in my own squad are from as far as Alaska and New York City. We all know about each other and where we all come from. My squad knows about Los Altos and its pet parades with horses, big-fendered old cars and antique fire engines, elaborately decorated wagons full of chickens or guinea pigs - and dogs pulling every kind of kid down Main Street. They know about orchards full of apricots, beautiful oak trees and Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfasts. They know about holiday window paintings and Halloween down Arbor Avenue late at night.

My own children know how Mr. Pennings, my school principal at Eastbrook, loved each and every child at his school.

The soldiers in my squad generally don’t like to get me started about my hometown. It’s hard to imagine a town like the Los Altos I grew up in even ever existed - it was that good!

With a last name like mine, it was hard not to be known in Los Altos. My dad, Thomas Lillibridge, who passed away several years ago, was one of the original partners in the Sutton/Lillibridge Gas Station. My mother literally forced me to go to the History House and help move stuff in and out. I’m glad she did. It’s important to know where you come from. Wherever I went as a child, people seemed to know my name. There was always someone explaining how my dad had helped them with a car problem at some time or other. My dad was very proud of his service in the United States Army. He was stationed with the 7th Light Infantry Division out of Fort Ord. He loved Los Altos as much as I do. I guess I’m beginning to ramble, but I thought some Los Altans would appreciate what I think about when it’s 120 degrees, the sand and ash are blowing and Iraqis are shooting at us.