June 28th, 2004

The United States handed over authority to the interim Iraqi government today, 48 hours ahead of its June 30th deadline, but almost 150 thousand soldiers are still in Iraq and will likely remain there for months or years to come. News 3's Maria Silva spoke with a mother's whose son is still in Iraq. The military mom calls today's transfer of power a very good move, and a move that may help bring her son home sooner.

In the past, Pamela Goodwill has been a cheerleader for our troops overseas and especially for her 22 year old son, Adam, going as far as organizing a Support Our Troops rally last year. But today, like many families with loved ones in Iraq, she sat in front of the television set.

And like any other day, she also checked her e-mail hoping to hear news from her son in Iraq. "It's midnight there now, so I figured in a couple of hours hopefully he'll call." A soldier with the Army's First Infantry Division, Adam has been overseas for more than 18 months and in Iraq the last four months.

With the transfer of power in place, Goodwill's only hope now is that her son may be able to come home when expected. "He is suppose to be out by Thanksgiving ... home for good. I know wha't he's going to do. He'll sleep and I'll feed him."

But even when he does come home, Goodwill says she won't forget all the other troops still overseas. "The yellow ribbons will stay up until everyone is home." The last time Pamela spoke with Adam was about a month ago, but she says he did e-mail her yesterday letting her know he will be calling very soon.

In the meantime, Pamela has a great support system. She tells us all the mom's of the soldiers in her son's infantry e-mail each other on a daily basis, from all over the country, just to check up on each other.