A Friend of Mine

What is a true friend? A true friend finds positive in your faults and accept you for who you are. A true friend has your back even when he should really let you take your “lumps”.

One of my true friends got promoted today. I have known him since around 1992 when we both applied for the same job. He got it and I am thankful for it, as when I signed back up for active duty he taught me things about my job that I needed to become successful.

They say successful people surround themselves with great people. Well, after I became the Brigade PBO, I asked him to come work for me. So yesterday, I watched as he was promoted to E7/ SFC.

The National Guard CSM just happened to be here on a trip and was able to stop in and do the honor. This is a great soldier very deserving of his next rank.  Please join me in congratulating our newest SFC and my friend. 

 Praying for the 18

Burnt Brain . . .

SO what would possess a grown man with average common sense to do something that could be detrimental to everything he has worked so hard for. Why, in the heat of the day, with no regard to the desert sun would anyone even think of such a thing? Without consideration for distance or danger why would you do such a thing? One foot in front of the other, over and over again at a rapid progression for just short of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Haha

So today we ran the 8 mile again. It has become a Saturday norm for me and my friends here. Today was way too hot and I was forced to stop  and walk about a half mile or so in the middle to cool off. There is nowhere to hide from the Afghan Sun. Water is brought to the halfway point so we don’t keel over while running. The picture below shows me in the lead at the 4 mile point but don’t be fooled, within the next two miles I gave up the lead.

It is not a contest anyway the contest is between you and the elements. Snow on the mountains but heat in the desert. I think perhaps our brains are fried from all the heat to even attempt such a thing.. We “attempt” it every Saturday.

Praying for the 18.

Dr. Seuss in Afghanistan

I am Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam-I-am

There are times I do not like that Uncle Sam-I-am.
He said, do you like Afghanistan where they serve green eggs and ham.

I do not like it Uncle Sam-I-am.
I do not like where they serve green eggs and ham.

Would you like it here or there?  Afghanistan or Iraq?

I would not like it here or there.
I would not like it anywhere.
I do not like fighting in these wars
I do not like it when my feet are sore.
I do not like it Uncle Sam-I-am.

Would you like the war if you fought in a house?
Would you like the war if you were trapped like a mouse?

I do not like war in a house.
I do not like being trapped like a mouse.
I do not like it here or there.
I do not like it anywhere.
I do not like fighting where they serve green eggs and ham.
I do not like it, Uncle Sam-I-am.

Would you like your food if it came in a box?
Would you eat your food in a hole like a fox?

Not in a box, not with a fox.
Not in a house, not trapped like a mouse.
I would not like war here or there,
I would not like it anywhere.
I would not like green eggs and ham,
I do not like war, Uncle Sam-I-am.

Would you? Could you?  Fight from a car?
Bad guys!  Bad guys! Here they are.

I would not like to fight from a car,
With V shaped hulls we still see stars.

You might like to fight you see;
What if we let you fight from a tree?
I would not want to fight from a tree.
Not in a car, please let me be!

Not in a box, not with a fox
Not in a house, not trapped like a mouse.
I do not like war here or there,
I do not like war anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham,
I do not like war, Uncle Sam-I-am.

Could you, would you on a logistics train?

I do not want to fight on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! I would not want to fight in a box!
I could not, would not, with a fox,
Not in a box, not with a fox,
Not in a house, not trapped like a mouse,
Not here nor there nor anywhere!

In the dark?  Here in the dark!
Would you, could you, fight in the dark?

I would not want to fight in the dark

Would you, could you fight in the rain?

I would not want to fight in the rain.
Not in the dark, not in a train,
Not in a car, not in a tree,
I would not like to fight, you see.

But fight you do, said Uncle Sam-I-Am

If you do not want to fight on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! If you could not, would not fight in box,
Not in a house, where you are trapped like a mouse.
Not here nor there nor anywhere,
Not in the dark, not in the rain,
Why do you fight this fight just the same?

What I want and wish and hope to be,
Is left behind for freedom you see.
So in the dark up in a tree,
I fight a force that won’t let us be.

My children are home all snug in their beds,
Safe in my house, not trapped like a mouse.
I leave my home so far away
To go here, to go there, to go anywhere.

In the dark and in the rain,
I serve my country who suffers pain.
I yield a charge to set men free,
So each one can choose what he will be.

While I do not like war Uncle Sam-I-Am
I will fight to the death to stand my ground

In a box, just like a fox,
When in a house and trapped like a mouse
I will fight here, I will fight there.
I will fight the enemy anywhere.
I still do not like green eggs and ham.
But I will fight this war Uncle Sam-I-am.


~ In your service
John P


Praying for the 18

Happy Mother's Day, Rosario!

Happy Mother's Day from Afghanistan.