Shannon Ireland

We stopped in Shannon Ireland to refuel and get a new group of flight attendants. What a beautiful place. Full of green rolling hills and water. I of course found a coffee shop and had a regular coffee for the low price of 2.30. What a bargain. NOT!!! It was good though. Now at the 50 hour mark of this little excursion. I still have the feeling that we are still not safe. Each time I stand I get this empty feeling like something is missing from my right side. My 9 MM had been there without fail for a couple of months and now I feel incomplete each time I stand. I do however feel this starting to fade a bit but when I do notice it is gone it sets my mind in a panic to figure out where I left it.
9 Hours to Dallas then a short 50 minutes to heaven. Can’t wait but have to….
Red eyed GI’s, Home if only for a little while. As the plane finally touches down on U.S. soil simultaneous applause erupts from the soldiers anticipating the upcoming reunions. Thank God we are back.
The fire Dept at the airport set up two fire trucks on each side of our approach to the terminal and shot water cannons over the plane in a “water salute”. Maybe we are appreciated more than we think.

Call my Name

“Please call my name”, I said it over and over again to myself. All soldiers going on R and R (rest and relaxation) line up in formation. I am sure all of them were thinking the same as I. 1 group 2 groups then I hear my name. Last group departs at 0310 the next day. It figures that I would get this one. The thoughts and feelings of home slowly fad back to the realization that this was still a military operation and like many military operations it fell into the "hurry up and wait" category. As I sit in a wait status I imagine the airport at home. I have been told that people stop and shake your hand and tell you thank you for what you do. This seems awesome but not as awesome as the thought of the bright colors. Multicolored clothes and just the colors of the airport the brilliance of life re-visited if only for a short time. Our flight is called to yet another formation and then I return again to hurry up and wait. Since departure was not for 17 hours we traveled back to the camp. I could not help but feel a sense of depression knowing that I would have to return to this place in 2 short weeks. This dusty tan and at times dark green place had come to haunt me. The roles have reversed and now I feel as if I am separated from my family and that my fellow soldiers were just that, soldiers. After lunch and a few last minute adjustments to my gear we returned back to the airport. I call it an airport but it is nothing more than a bunch of tents and some tall cement barriers for protection. Mortars could be heard earlier in the day and they seemed to be getting started up again. It seems that most Thursdays were like this. Friday being a holy day for the Iraqi people. "Hurry up and wait" you have got to love it.

See Jane Run!!

With the pain comes the pride of knowing that the job you do is appreciated. The people at home know we are here doing what needs to be done. Some do not admit it. I recently recieved the Jane Fonda traitor email. This is the third time in as many years that I have recieved this email. This time it said something about she is up for Woman of the Year or something. Well the following is my opinion. This woman does not deserve to live in the country that I defend. She caused pain and anguise on soldiers who had already suffered enough. I know that we should forgive and forget peoples mistakes but in this case I just do not see the need. If she were to admit the fact that she screwed up and make compensation to the families then maybe I could bring myself to forgive what she did to stain our country. Instead she lives a lifestyle of the rich and famous in a country that she dishonored. When I think of her being woman of the year I think that they must be talking about another country.

True Red white and Blue

Last night I went to see Toby Keith. This man gives up his time he comes here to entertain the troops, and let me tell you he did just that. The place was packed. There was a chance that we would be seen on the CMA awards. This did not matter as just being there was awesome. This man in my book is truly deserving of the Award Entertainer of the Year. This was by far the best hour that I have had since being in country. I sat on a flatbed trailer where all I could see was the top half of this giant of a man. I sang along with his songs. In a combat zone this man sang for us. He put himself in harms way to come here. He and Charlie Daniels are the only singers who have exhibited the True Red White and Blue colors of a US supporter since I have been here.

Freedom Bird

1 AM 20 May Soldiers sleeping on the hard pavement, many of us still awake with the excitement of the upcoming trip home. Red eyed sore butt only 3 more hours to wait.
3 AM I think I am on the next bird but I am unsure. Planes have come and gone all night. In an effort to get back on Texas time I have stayed awake for 22 hours now. Red eyed and heavy feet but I found some coffee; I am good for another couple of hours now.
5 AM Plane finally arrived again no sleep head bobbing. Crap I forgot my ear plugs. So the deafening sound of the military flight will stay with me for hours after the flight.
We arrive in Kuwait load a bus and yet another stop where hurry up and wait comes into play. Then another prayer. “Please call my name” They did this time for the first group it means I get to go home today and will not have to wait until tomorrow. I managed a nap before we headed through customs. Now in another wait status……and then the word comes, the flight is late. Damn it, can’t we just go home? As we stand and sit and stand again a combination of misinformation and sore butts from the metal chairs brings me to smell myself, “shit I stink. I need a shower.. I try to recall my last shower and when I finally do I realize that it was some 37 hours ago. In this heat this is unacceptable. I smell like a goat.
Finally after all of the hurry up and wait we board the “Freedom Bird”. I can’t help but feel like an inmate released from prison and for the first time in a long while seeing the outside. The freedom bird is the first taste of color. The plane was blue and white with a US flag on the side. The hours of wait have finally paid off. Heading home. Day 1 at home already mapped out in my mind.

Already There

How is it possible to be somewhere that you are not? I, am already there.. My mind has been home for a couple of weeks but my body flies out in a few days. I am already there. Can't eat can't sleep can't work all I do is think about home and the joyous reunion that is upcoming. The excitement builds, but the days just stopped. There is a feeling of uneasiness that has come over me in these last few days. It is like the first time you ride a thrill ride. You are scared but excited all at the same time. I feel this. I am excited but scared. Will my kids know me? Will my wife feel as I do like a stranger. Will my dog bite me on the leg? As the journey home begins I have already started to map out the days. Vowing not to sleep for the entire time I am there. I want to spend every bit of time possible with family. I want the days to drag by slowly. I want the two weeks to last a life-time. As I prepare for the long trip I know deep down inside that I am Already there...

Flying Fried Chicken

Yesterday was a tough day. I had a double bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. I was not really hungry for lunch so I had a half a piece of pizza and a gator-aide. Come dinner time I was starved and thought that I would go and eat a healthy meal for a change. I rode my bike to chow like I always do, making me even hungrier. I decided on the chicken and some green beans and cabbage. I found a seat and began to eat. I started with the green beans and cabbage as I know that if I do not eat them first I will not eat them. I Picked up the chicken for the first bite and there they were feathers. Still on the damned bird. I was so disgusted that I dropped it on the plate and tossed it all in the trash. How could they have missed this. This morning I was very hungry. I actually had to go to breakfast for the first time in a long while. Usually I make my own oatmeal and coffee and just relax, but have let myself run completely out of oatmeal. 8 days just 8 days and then happiness for a short while and food I am going to gain back half of the 16 pounds that I have lost since the adventure began.................

And the Walls come tumbling down

We had one heck of a storm night before last. The winds whiped and blew over lots of things. We woke in the morning to find the porta-johns(not what we call em)blown over in the middle of the street. Later on in the day we found out that around a 100 foot section of the wall had been blown over. This is the boundary between good and bad. This boundary in most areas is a sturdy structure but in many areas it consists of no more than cinder blocks stacked one on top of the other. No metal and no masonary used to set them in place just stacked. THis is a scary thought. We posted guards on the "hole" and a tank was placed there as extra fortification. Wow I feel safe. I have had dreams of someone knocking on the door late at night and then busting the door in and starting to shoot. I have traded my M4 in for a lighter and smaller 9 mm pistol. I have had thoughts of getting my M4 back and keeping it close at hand at night. They say that the "bad guys" are afraid of the 9 mm more than that of a rifle. I learned to shot the 9 MM while here and have become quite the shooter with it. I sure hope that I never have to put my skill to the test. It is fun shooting paper targets but have no urge to shoot anyone. I will however defend againist anyone who has intentions of doing harm to me, my fellow soldiers or, if found it the situation, friendly Iraqi people. Everyone deserves a chance....