Beth Eby As a 31-year-old Army warrant officer, Beth Eby oversees 22 men and women who maintain missile-launching equipment. The former Cave Spring High School student has been e-mailing her parents, Dr. John and Pat Eby of Roanoke County, weekly since she arrived at the Army’s Baghdad International Airport compound in February. From her arrival via helicopter -- under fire -- to her disgust over the prison scandal, her letters offer a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at one soldier’s life.

Beth Eby’s letters   Stories July 27, 2004 Life in Germany, and beyond July 23, 2004 Off for R&R July 14, 2004 Life in Afifjon July 13, 2004 Death on the road to Kuwait July 8, 2004 Preparing to leave Baghdad July 6, 2004 Men. Can't leave 'em, can't shoot 'em. July 4, 2004 Happy 4th! July 3, 2004 Tankin' July 3, 2004 Big blast, change of uniform June 24, 2004 Greetings from the sandpit June 20, 2004 Father's Day (with picture) June 18, 2004 Dogs, spare parts and beer bets (with picture) June 14, 2004 The MOUT course (with pictures) June 12, 2004 Beth meets congressional rep (with picture) June 11, 2004 Men behaving like babies (with picture) June 10, 2004 Freedom rest, haunted houses, tough guy celebs, stereotyping May 31, 2004 Sunbathing, bra!! May 29, 2004 Stained Glass Project (with picture) May 22, 2004 Hail and farewell May 21, 2004 First Sergeant Bartnick and his girlfriend (with pictures) May 19, 2004 The Bug Report May 18, 2004 Tuesday May 13, 2004 Calling a camp home May 13, 2004 Camp Slayer (with pictures) May 13, 2004 Sandstorm (with pictures) May 11, 2004 Life with Doc May 7, 2004 Touring the tanks May 5, 2004 Laying out May 3, 2004 Package from home April 27, 2004 The new chapel April 21, 2004 Wednesday April 19, 2004 Former torture chamber April 10, 2004 Dark days March 27, 2004 Port-o-potty reading March 24, 2004 And so to bed March 23, 2004 Various challenges along the way March 19, 2004 Funeral March 5, 2004 Friday night March 3, 2004 Right after escalation of violence in Baghdad February 26, 2004 Getting more into the activities there February 19, 2004 Safe in Baghdad January 27, 2004 First letter home   'Hooah!' She's home Beth returns to Roanoke with more stories to tell about her journey home and the people she left behind. Update, abridged version July 4 update, with abridged letters from Beth Eby Soldier’s story The introduction of Beth Eby's life in Iraq Message Board Do you have a loved one in Iraq whose correspondence you’d like to share? Do you want to respond to Eby’s letters? Join our message board to share your own perspective on the war.