Editor’s note: Frank Lickliter II has gone to Iraq this week as part of the USO’s “Operation Links Handshake Tour,” and he is writing a daily blog about his experiences for PGATOUR.com. His fiancée, Diane Owen, shares what it’s been like while he’s away.

Although Thanksgiving was difficult without Frank, I spent the holiday in Dallas with my cousins and we enjoyed the traditional dinner and football games. Frank called and I asked if he had gotten to eat a turkey dinner. His reply was “Yes -- three of them,” because they had visited many bases that day. When we spoke I could hear the Blackhawk helicopters in the background, and Frank said that he had seen smoke in the air from car bombs.

Since the war started I have watched the television coverage and read the news reports about the wounded and dead soldiers. Now that Frank is over there it seems like I pay even closer attention to the articles in the newspaper. Suddenly, I have a very personal interest in the war area -- Frank!

Before Frank left for Iraq we bought every calling card possible because we didn’t know what would work. We also signed up for international roaming and borrowed a friend’s satellite phone. I am so lucky -- we have been able to talk twice a day! Frank always sounds so up-beat and excited, I am so glad that he is there.

Hearing Frank’s voice every day has made it much easier on me. I know that this is not the case with the families of many of the soldiers and military over there, though. For the last two years, whenever I have been in the post office, I have purchased calling cards for our troops and that is what I did again today. I now understand how the spouses and families at home feel when they hear their loved one’s voice on the other end of the phone.

It is a small cost for me but the reward for them fills my heart.