24 March 2008: Completing the cycle

And so, Easter weekend comes to a close. I've completed the cycle. Over a year ago I left Providence on a journey that took me to the other side of the globe (again). It started in Camp Shelby, MS. Then it was on to Iraq for a year of FOB-hopping. One year later I returned to Camp Shelby for demobilization, followed by Providence, and then on to North Carolina for Easter with my family. Today ended with me back in Providence. At last I can turn my thoughts forward to the comforting enjoyments of being home. There are no more FOB Hammers, Warhorses, Falcons, Kalsu, Warriors, Diamondbacks........ Soon time will store them into my brain housing group for permanent storage. My experiences will never be far removed though.

After an excellent breakfast of country ham and buckwheat waffles, the priority was packing for the return journey. A whole procession of wild turkeys came down the mountain to peck at corn-scratch in the back yard. Our crazy cat - Itty Bit - headed outside to "stalk" them. The gobbler flared his feathers in a dazzling show of intimidation. Itty kept his distance. It was a comical scene. In the meantime, the elder cat stayed in. Chopper is the family "Catriarch". He's a fat cat, happy and old. You can normally find him next to my Dad. I gave Chopper a little more loving before time to go.

At 1500 we loaded up and drove back to Tri-Cities Airport. Goodbyes were exchanged. This time they were only temporary. I can't express how good it is to know that there will be no more absolute separation of deployment. I'll be back to see my parents in the next couple of months. Then I'll love on those kitties again.

By 2200 I was back in the hooch on the East Side of Providence. It's a much nicer hooch than my accommodations of the past year. It's home. I had an excellent deployment. I worked with an outstanding team of Army and Coast Guard personnel. I have no regrets. I'm happy to be home again.

23 March 2008: Easter at home

For the first time in a few years my entire family was home for Easter. We went to church together to celebrate the birth of Christ. His love is everywhere apparent. The springtime weather epitomized the rebirth. After Easter service we ate a hearty breakfast in the downstairs fellowship hall. By the time we returned home we were all fit for a nap. That's exactly what I did.

Around 1500 I awoke to the sound of NCAA tournament basketball. My uncle was cooking burgers on the grill. We drank a few beers and swapped stories. I took a short walk across part of our property. Then it was time, yet again, to eat.

Almost as soon as supper ended people began leaving for home. My sister and brother-in-law left for Atlanta. Then my sister-in-law and two nephews headed back to Tennessee. The house became quiet. The cats could stretch their legs again. We watched Davidson defeat Georgetown. Then we sat through UNC's destruction of Arkansas. I showed my parents some pictures and videos from my deployment. There were too many to show them all. By 2300 everyone was heading to bed.

I'm happy for such a wonderful weekend. I'm happy to be home. I'm happy in knowing my team is home too. Well... everyone but SSG Turner. Actually, he's at home too. I don't think I could have ordered him out of Iraq. He's still there, taking care of soldiers as usual.

Happy Easter!

22 March 2008: Nine holes at Grassy Creek

The day dawned bright and warm. There was a moderate breeze that kept the temperature cool enough to have a sweater handy. I was in no hurry to get up. The night before had been an indulgence of food and drink not seen for ages. I had heard a rumor of a possible golf game. Normally we go to Mountain Glen in Newland. MG was closed. Grassy Creek in Spruce Pine was open. I'd never golfed there. Around noon my oldest nephew mentioned a 1430 tee time. I agreed to be the fourth man. I hadn't golfed in almost two years. We loaded up the clubs and beer. Then my two nephews, brother-in-law and I were on our way. Due to the late hour we signed up for only nine holes. That proved to be a wise choice. Then we learned that we couldn't take our glass bottles on the course - so much for the good beer. Fortunately, there was a package store in the same parking lot as the course (the epitome of class). We bought a case of can beer and swapped it out in the coolers. Let the game begin!

We only kept score for the first two holes. A methodical laugh-fest ensued. We had to let four other groups play through. There were some good shots. There were many more bad shots. Occassionally a divot would fly that resembled a hair piece. My net was zero - two balls lost, two balls (not the same ones) found. The breeze from earlier became a stiff wind. As the shadows grew longer, the windchill became more biting. At 1800 we returned the carts. The clubhouse manager looked at us and said, "Ya'll are finally done?" Hey now, fun can't be rushed!

Once we got home my brother-in-law fried a turkey. Damn it was good! There was nothing left but a dry-bone carcass. There's lots of laughter at our table this weekend.

My NCAA tournament predictions are shot to hell. Oh well.... I'm having fun.

21 March 2008: Getting back to my roots

I haven't been to see my family since Christmas 2006. They live in the mountains of North Carolina. It's a safe-haven of peacefulness in Avery County. No matter how far I travel I always look forward to going home. Today I finally made it back. I'm with family again.

The trip started with an early morning flight out of Providence. The plane lifted off at 0630 on its way to Charlotte. One of the flight attendants had a very unusual hairdo. It looked like an old-fashioned "beehive". However, it obviously wasn't her hair. At first I thought it was extensions. The more I looked (it was impossible to not notice) I thought it was something else. I'm convinced she was wearing a beehive hairdo hat. As the flight wore on the hair was unwinding from the nest. The hat was in complete disarray by the time we landed in Charlotte.

There was about a two hour layover in Charlotte. Seeking a sit-down breakfast, I was swayed by the allure of a sign that said "now serving breakfast". It was a Mexican restaurant. Uh... big mistake. Eggs scrambled with peppers, jalepeno bacon, and sticky tortillas were not really what I had in mind. Although it was 0900, the bar was full of people drinking beer and margaritas. The waitress was impatient and very unfriendly. Montel Williams was on the TV. Very sappy love music was blaring on the stereo. I guess Burger King wouldn't have been a bad choice after all.

The connection flight took us to Tri-Cities Airport in Bristol, TN. It was a spectacular day for flying. Our small plane flew directly over Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Watauga Lake. It was an air-preview of home. I was very excited to get home. As soon as the plane landed I picked up the rental car and headed off for a scenic drive home. I took a route I hadn't driven in some time. I turned on Hwy 321 south at Hampton, TN and drove the winding road past Watauga Lake. Then I headed down Hwy 194 through Valle Crucis, NC. This meant making an obligatory stop at Mast General Store to have a peach NEHI. Next the drive continued up 194 to Banner Elk, NC. This may be one of the curviest, narrow mountain roads in the area. It is such a beautiful drive. After passing through Banner Elk I made a stop in Invershell for beer and wine. Then I passed through Linville and Newland (highest elevation government seat east of the Mississippi River). I crossed the Eastern Continental Divide a few times. Next came country roads with names like Spanish Oak, Squirrel Creek, and Licklog. Finally I made the turn on the tiny road where my parents reside. Like most roads here, it follows the course of a stream as it winds through a valley. There were "Welcome Home" balloons on the mailbox at the end of the drive. I pulled up the drive and slowly came around the barn. The house came into view. There were my parents, my nephews, and my uncle. They were out on the porch cheering and clapping. A big sign read "Welcome Home Sam". American flags dangled everywhere. My nephews fired off bottle rockets.

Next came the feast - fried chicken, barbecue ribs, cornbread, cabbage, soup beans, and on and on and on..... If there is a place of more concentrated love than this anywhere in the world I'll demand proof. I'm home again. Although exhausted, I stayed up late. We enjoyed NCAA basketball tournament games, beer, and the company of one another. Before the night ended my sister and brother-in-law arrived from Atlanta. It's going to be an awesome Easter weekend.

20 March 2008: Signing my OER

OER stands for Officer Evaluation Report. Mine wasn't ready for me to sign prior to me flying back to the U.S. It was my second, and final, evaluation for the deployment. I wasn't worried about the rating. My concern was that everything the Army does now is digital. In order to sign the document I had to log on a computer with my military ID card (Common Access Card - CAC). The computer needed to have the appropriate DA software so I could place my digital signature on the OER. Once I got back home I was afraid I wouldn't have access to either a DA computer or the software I needed. The OER was finally e-mailed to me this week. It was excellent. My mission became finding somewhere to sign it and e-mail back to my deployment chain-of-command.

Ultimately, my search led me back to the ROTC office. They were about to close down for Easter. I got there right on time. After checking several of the computers, I found one that had everything I needed. I signed the OER and e-mailed it back. My last official requirement from the deployment is now complete. There is nothing else necessary for me to do except reflect.

Some excellent news arrived today. Two of the USCG RAID personnel that served on my team were singled out for a very prestigious recognition. MST1 Anthony "Bull" Clark and PS2 Robert "Taco" Mireles were named USCG Atlantic Area Enlisted Person of the Year for Active (Clark) and Reserve (Taco). They will now be considered for USCG-wide EPOY. I couldn't be more proud of both of them. I'm humbled and honored to have had such fine people working for my team. They are the best of the best.

Now it's time to pack for the Easter trip to the parents'.

19 March 2008: Perfect weather

It was sleeting this morning. Why is this perfect weather? It's very simple. I have no priorities right now. I couldn't ask for better weather to lounge. After being immersed in work 24/7 for over a year I am basking in the enjoyment of being a slacker. If I could give an order to my team it would be "Follow my lead and do likewise!" You all earned it.

I haven't figured out how to wrap up this blog. My FOB-hopping days are finished. However, I do consider the immediate post-deployment recovery to be an important part of my experience. I've still got a trip to NC upcoming. That's when I spend time with my family. It will be the first time I've been home since Christmas 2006. I won't truly feel as though I've come back until I finally go home for a few days. After that I can come to a conclusion on what to do with this blog.

I stopped back by the Ivy to visit with another friend. Tom is on faculty at PC. He became fully tenured while I was away. It was great to see him and catch up.

I think I finally got the last of the sand out of my ears today.

18 March 2008: Exactly two weeks ago

Today was the two-week anniversary of my flight from Iraq back to Kuwait. It's amazing to think that it was such a short time ago. Redeployment came fast and furious. I've no complaints.

I stopped by the ROTC office to visit everyone. It just so happened that one of our alums was visiting as well. Scott is a Brown U. graduate. He was our Cadet Battalion CO during his senior year. Now he's fresh off a combat deployment in Iraq as a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division. His performance was stellar. Upon his redeployment he was hand selected for service in one of the Ranger Battalions. My team was responsible for redeploying his Brigade from Iraq last fall. The Army can be a small community. Scott wasn't a UMO. I remember asking around about him when we were operating in his AO (MND-N, COB Speicher). Everyone knew of him but we never crossed paths until now. It was great to catch up.

It was also good to see the old gang at the office. I let them know when I'd be coming back to work. Several of the cadets stopped by the office while I was there. They were fresh off a color guard performance in NYC. All seemed normal. After lunch I parted ways and resumed my routine of recovery and relaxation.

Just over two weeks ago my team and I were talking about food we would eat upon returning home. A unanimous choice was sushi. If any of my team is reading right now you'll be happy to know that I "checked the box" on sushi today. I stopped by my favorite sushi bar and ate a vast array. It was awesome.

17 March 2008: Making my rounds - slowly

Getting adjusted to being home again also entails making my rounds. I wish there was a way to see all my friends at once. That's impossible. Besides, I'm at a self-guided pace for the first time in over a year. I'll take my time. It's cold out too. That puts a damper in the outdoor motivation for now. Regardless, I made my way over to East Ave Cafe. I didn't go in though. Due to St. Patrick's Day, there was a cover charge. While trying to decide on the merits of paying, the sounds of a faux-Irish band hit my ears. Uh... No Thanks! I hit the easy fall-back position - Ivy Tavern. I was glad because I saw my friend Kristin, who was in Turkey teaching English over the time I was deployed. It was great to begin catching up with another friend.

My triumph of the day came in the kitchen. I made an excellent slow-cooked barbecue pork roast. The meal was completed with baked sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, and chianti. I really love to cook. Having the freedom to do so again is therapeutic. I hope that my team is adjusting as well as I am. I can honestly say that I am practically tension-free at this point. I look at my calender and see no mission on the horizon, no pax terminals, no dust storms, and no bullshit from ignorant souls seeking to abuse the services of my team. I've left that in the hands of others.

Home is the wonderful, safe-haven I remembered it to be. Eventually I will finish making my rounds. There's no hurry.

16 March 2008: Friendships of accountability

Did I mention I had too much to drink last night? I did. Oh well... I made up for it in bed this morning. It was nothing that ibuprofen, water and sleep couldn't fix.

I'm finding myself greatly missing my team. They aren't just my soldiers, they are my friends. Our friendship is different. It's a bond reinforced through countless shared experiences. I'm not going into cliches. Any number of books could be quoted here to speak of the unspoken bond that develops among soldiers in wartime. I'm not interested in a "wax eloquent" competition. I'll sum it up in more simplistic terms. My soldiers and I share a friendship of accountability. We are accountable to one another in unspoken terms. I will always be there for them. They are my family. I know that they would do the same for me. Most people share a friendship of association. This is very different. We know people from the office, the bar, the gym, and other social circles. We don't expect our friends of association to drop what they are doing for us. Often this type of friendship is never more than superficial. That's not a bad thing. For the past year my soldiers and I have learned the importance of implicit trust in one another. Although I am missing them, I am happy they've all made it home. They've earned that. We'll be in touch. They will always have my friendship of accountability.

I renewed my gym membership today. Life is really returning to my agenda. I cooked supper. I love cooking. I made baked sweet potatoes, steamed asparagus, and boneless chicken breast slow-cooked in my own reduction (secret). The meal went very well with chianti. It's the first of many meals I will cook in the coming days, weeks, years....

I can feel tension, stress, and concerns of work past melting away. It feels excellent to be relaxed.

15 March 2008: Homestyle priorities

There are none. That's the beauty of being home. My bed is more comfortable than I remembered. Coffee tastes much better when it comes from your kitchen. Having nothing planned is a good thing. I have been completely immersed in work for so long now it seems almost inconceivable to live the inverse. I'm embracing it though. I didn't do anything for most of the day. I enjoyed every minute of that. It's so quiet.

I guess around 1800 I made it to the grocery store. Afterward came a visit to Ivy Tavern. There were all the usual suspects - Rob, Thomas, Dave, Don, and others. I enjoyed an Ivy burger (medium) with swiss and fries. A stream of folks came and went. I had a bit too much to drink. A shot of Woodford Reserve contributed greatly to that. Life is resuming.

I had my first Yuengling in a long time today. I believe I popped the cap at around 1700. I was still in my pajamas.

14 March 2008: Coming home - at last!

It wasn't hard to wake up early this morning. I knew I'd find out when the magic moment would arrive. Armed with my DD214 and REFRAD order, I had everything I needed to have the transportation office arrange my flight home. By 0530 I was up, dressed, and packed. I walked down to the DFAC and enjoyed breakfast. Then I caught the shuttle bus to the transportation office. At precisely 0735, I strolled in to make the reservation. Their system was running slow (wouldn't you know it). It would be an hour or two. Since I still had unfinished business at the mobilization center, they gave me a ride over there to finish my admin. I gave them my phone number so they could call when the reservation was completed.

Back at the mobilization center, I completed my travel voucher. As surprising as it may seem, I've earned a per diem this entire mobilization. It isn't much - $5/day for every day at Camp Shelby and $3.50 for every day in Iraq. However, when you multiply that over the course of fifteen months it adds up. Anyone who's ever submitted a military travel claim knows what a laborious process ensues to get paid. I don't expect to see any of this money for at least eight weeks. It's a good thing I don't need it any time soon.

Then the good news came. Transportation called. I would fly out of Gulfport at 1700. My flight would connect in Atlanta. Arrival time in Providence would be 2357. There was finally a light shining at the end of the tunnel. A van would pick me up at my billets at 1300 for the drive to Gulfport. I was already packed. On my way back to my hooch I spotted an Eastern Bluebird. He was such a cute little guy. I watched him until he flew away. I took it as a harbinger of good things to come.

The van was late. I was eager. It was 1315 when I loaded my bags and climbed aboard. We had two other soldiers to pick up. I really wasn't in that much of a hurry. The drive to Gulfport is only an hour. Once we picked up the other two we were off. The other two soldiers quickly dozed off. I chatted with the driver for most of the ride. She was a former long-haul trucker and was now in semi-retirement. She bragged about how much she enjoyed her current job. I was glad to hear she was happy. I'd rather listen to someone who isn't complaining. She had us to the airport by 1505. I checked in and made my way to the bar adjacent to my gate. It was good timing. Some drunken guy was buying everyone drinks at the bar. Apparently, he had hit something big at one of the local casinos. I had a tall beer from some local brewery. Normally I'm good at remembering names of beers. This one escapes me.

The flight from Gulfport to Atanta was full. After we backed away from the gate we found out there would be a wait. Can you believe it? I was on weather hold again. Bad weather in Atlanta had put a stop to all flights. We waited. Others onboard panicked, bitched, made phone calls to complain, and frantically asked for information about connecting flights. I read a book. It only seemed fitting that I'd be waiting for a flight again. At least this wasn't Liberty Pad. I smirked at the thought of the people around me sweating out flights in Iraq. We waited about 45 minutes and then took off. We arrived in Atlanta in plenty of time for my connection. I can't vouch for everyone else.

Atlanta airport seemed surreal to me. Everything was shiny. I was no longer part of the majority. My crumpled ACU's stood out in the crowd. Several people came up to me to thank me for my service. Most others went about their way without concern for anyone around them. It's such a contrast that it takes a while to absorb. Occasionally, I encountered soldiers on R&R. They were very giddy. I couldn't help but recall the feeling. This time I didn't feel the ecstatic haste. I moved much more slowly with deliberate purpose. This time I was going home for good. It would have to wait a little while longer though. My flight to Providence was also delayed. This time for mechanical purposes. I found this out after I had devoured a sandwich in record time (in anticipation of boarding). It was also a wakeup call that I truly was back in the states - the sandwich and drink cost almost $10! I notified loved ones back home of the additional delay and waited.

Then the time came. I boarded the flight. The final leg of coming home was about to commence. It would be my last flight (of more than I can count) of this deployment. We took off at around 2240. I ordered a beer and chatted with the guy next to me the entire flight. He was a grad student at Brown. He was returning from a seminar at Johnson Space Center in Galveston, TX. I didn't quite understand his area of study but it sounded fascinating. It was something to do with the shifting surfaces of Mars due to varying gravitational fields. I invited him to my post-deployment party. Oddly enough, his name was also Sam.

0015 - touchdown in Providence. It had been exactly 427 days since I departed at the beginning of the mobilization. 372 days had passed since I first arrived in Iraq. Damn I didn't realize it had been so long. I grabbed my carry-on and made haste for the baggage claim. I caught sight of everyone as I came down the escalator into the baggage claim area. As odd as it may sound, this was the first time in three separate deployments to the Iraq AO that I received a hero's welcome home. I wasn't expecting it. There they were waiting on me. My friends Scott and Peter held a banner aloft. A cheer went up among them. Almost instantaneously, everyone stopped what they were doing and joined in the cheering. I tried to keep a straight face but couldn't. My emotions spilled out - unashamed. Thank you. Thank God. I am home.

At precisely 0031 on 15 March 2008 I pressed the "play" button again for my life.

13 March 2008: Demobilization Day 4

First order of business today was to walk down to the barracks where my unit was housed. I stopped for coffee on the way. There's a coffee kiosk adjacent to the PX. Thomas met me there and we waited for the owner to open the place. In the meantime, I noticed a plethora of kittens running around. By my count, there were six of various colors. Camp Shelby seems to have an abundance of stray cats.

The "main body" of the 1190th DSB departed for home. The charter bus picked everyone up at 0730. I shook hands with everyone as they boarded. Their demobilization is complete. I'm the last of the holdouts. I stood with my coffee and watched as the bus pulled out and departed. Then I walked alone back to the coffee kiosk for a refresher. From there it was back to my billets. No more progress on my administrative out processing could be made until I heard back that my extension memorandum was completed. Just to stay productive, I dumped my dufflebag and boxed everything up to mail home. That would save me an extra bag to lug around the airport. The post office was adjacent to where I was staying. Once I mailed the box I was off to the club for lunch.

I had a surprise visitor about an hour later. Dallas, who's a Major in the 1190th, called me to say he was stopping by to see me. He did not mobilize with us a year ago. I have no idea how he flew under the radar on this one. He was on his way back from a conference and was driving through Hattiesburg. It was great to see him. His visit couldn't have been better timed. I got a call from the mobilization center right after he arrived. My memo was completed and I could continue the admin process. Dallas gave me a ride. We chatted while my DD214 was completed. This took much longer than anticipated. By the time my DD214 was complete it was 1700. I'd have to finish out-processing the next morning. Dallas gave me a ride back to my hooch and then was on his way home (Baton Rouge).

Now it's just me. Another day at Camp Shelby complete. I still don't know when I'll fly home. However, I will find out in the morning.

12 March 2008: Demobilization Day 3

Today proved to be more of the same for me. Amazingly, there's a silver lining in that. We finished our medical outprocessing. Once that was complete, the unit moved on to the administrative portion. The most important part of that is a form called DD214. That is a soldier's record of active duty. It is the key to proving everything the soldier is qualified for, entitled to, and eligible for. The desired end-state for today was for everyone to have their terminal leave computed, release from active duty orders (REFRAD), travel claim complete (we earned a small per diem for the entire mobilization), travel arrangements for going home and a DD214. Most everyone completed all of the above. I didn't. Although it means I have to stay a day or so longer, the reason is the silver lining.

The Army now has a new policy that allows Reserve and National Guard soldiers to qualify for "administrative leave" during mobilizations. This is in addition to their regular monthly accrued leave. Normal leave is accrued at a rate of 2.5 days per month. The admin leave is accrued according to how many months a soldier has been mobilized since 2001. If the total months is greater than 24, the admin leave is accrued at a rate of 4 days per month. That's me. I accrued 60 days of admin leave over the course of the deployment. When added to my regular leave, I have almost 90 days of leave I will take once I leave Camp Shelby. The problem is my orders only go until 5 May 08. That means my orders have to be extended in order to allow me to take my leave. The request for extension goes from Camp Shelby to Army Human Resources Command. It's not a "same day" turnaround. I can't complete all the admin outprocessing until I have the extension approval from HRC. It will take a day or two for it to get back to Camp Shelby. Once they have the approval, I will finish my outprocessing and go home. In the meantime, I got to watch the soldiers in my unit begin leaving to go home. All the members of my team are now gone. They all left (very happily I might add) as soon as they were done. By the end of the day there was only a skeleton crew from my unit remaining.

Since there was nothing else I could do I went for a long, outdoor run. Then I went out in town with some of the remaining soldiers. We ate supper at Copeland's (a premium restaurant chain owned by Al Copeland, the founder of Popeye's Fried Chicken). I had gumbo, catfish and corn maque choux. The beverage of the evening was Abita Amber. All in all, a good night was had by all.

I still don't know when I fly home.

11 March 2008: Demobilization Day 2

Today was an experience in trial and error. It tested the patience of our soldiers. Our chain of command proved inept at the art of planning, execution, and decision making. Basically, we weren't able to do any more outprocessing today. Nothing had been coordinated. The mobilization center wasn't expecting us. We even learned that travel had not been requested for the soldiers returning to Baton Rouge (most of the unit returns there upon completion of demobilization). The soldiers quickly figured out what was going on and weren't happy. I can't blame them. I wasn't happy either. Bottom line? We have to finish medical outprocessing before we can complete the administrative portion. This left us with nothing to do for the rest of the day.

Thomas's parents came down from Natchez, MS. They invited me to go out to lunch with them. We drove into Hattiesburg and ate at Chili's. We hit the jackpot - two for one on all draft beers. They had Shiner Bock on draft. Oh Yeah! The food wasn't so good, but, the beer made up for it.

We got a group of our soldiers to come out and join us at Kilroy's. The jukebox blared as we consumed many beers. We closed the joint - as it should be.

I still don't know when I'm flying home.

10 March 2008: Demobilization Day 1

Camp Shelby is where all this began. My unit reported here back on 15 January 2007 to mobilize and train for the deployment. It was a suck-ass experience. We were so happy to leave CS when we deployed. Back then it was hard to imagine we would welcome the sight of this place. Our perspective has changed dramatically. Camp Shelby now represents the last step in going home. It's time for our unit to demobilize. Today was the first step.

Medical outprocessing was on the agenda. At 0700 we were all standing tall at the medical processing center. Ironically, another unit was there for mobilization. They were just beginning what we were about to end. We all received the tuberculosis screaning (PPD). Afterward we went to the clinic for audiology. Soldiers must receive a hearing test annually. I'm glad to say my hearing is excellent. I was concerned that all the helicopter flights over the past year may have had a negative impact. Obviously, my earplugs work well. Other medical stops included a dental screening, eye test, and an HIV blood screen. We were done by around 1300.

It was a beautiful day. I went for a run. Then I stopped by the gym - only to find it in just as much disrepair as a year ago. It is extremely ironic that Camp Shelby's gym can't even hold a candle to the gym at FOB Hammer.

Camp Shelby does have an incredible little bar at the "All Ranks Club" (formerly the Officers' Club). The place is called Kilroy's Bunker. It has the distinct feel of a bunker and museum. I've loved the place for years now. I walked over to Kilroy's with a Major in my unit. Thomas and I were the only customers. We ordered burgers. They were awesome. We washed them down with Shiner Blondes (Spoetzel Brewery, Shiner, TX). Ah.... The joys of being back in the states. The beauty of no longer being shackled by the chains of General Order #1.

Demobilization continues.... I still don't know my exact day to fly home.

09 March 2008: Back to the USA (beer included)

At 0039 our plane lifted off the runway. My deployment came to an end exactly 367 days after it began. Ironically, the plane flew directly over Iraq as it headed north. I had an incredible view of Baghdad. Camp Victory, Camp Taji, LSA Anaconda, COB Speicher - they all were clearly visible from our perspective. It seemed incredible to look down at the vast expanse below and know that I had visited so much of the place. Now I was getting the night time panoramic view as one last goodbye. Most of the people on my flight had already drifted off to sleep. They missed the view. I soaked it all in. I want to remember where I've been. It's been an incredible deployment.

Our first stop was Liepzig. Once again I found myself in the little terminal and gift shop. This would be the fourth time over the course of the last year. This time there was something different. The Freedom Bird had landed here before us and was still on the ground. As soon as we walked into the terminal we noticed the FB passengers were indulging in beers from the gift shop. We didn't waste any time. I had my first beer since R&R. It was a Ur-Krostitzer Pilsner. I savored every sip. I found two of the soldiers from my team and advised them of the beer availability. They wasted no time. Soon they were drinking Becks. We weren't on the ground long so there wasn't time for another. However, it was a heavenly moment that helped us believe it was finally over.

After departing Liepzig the plane zoomed westward. Our next fueling stop would be Bangor, Maine. I slept almost the entire leg. When I awoke I found an unending sea of ice below us. As far as the eye could see were glaciers. We must've flown over these ice fields for two hours or more. It was awesome. Finally we descended through the clouds to find a winter wonderland below - Maine. We were in the United States. Most everyone cheered as the plane touched down in Bangor. It was 0630 local time. A big contingent of veterans from the local VFW and USO formed a greeting line to welcome us home. We shook hands with every single one of them as we entered the terminal. Then we all dispersed to various places in the terminal to make phone calls, drink coffee, order breakfast, or whatever else. I went to the snack bar to find my two soldiers drinking Coronas. I ordered a coffee and three more Coronas (one for each of us). It was 0730 and I had the breakfast of champions - beer and coffee. We did it because we could. Then we ate real eggs. There was still one more leg to our flight. At 0800 we boarded and took off to Gulfport, MS.

We landed in Gulfport at 1230 local time. Two big buses were there to pick up my unit. After we retrieved our bags we loaded up. Then we were on our way back to Camp Shelby. It took about an hour and a half to get there. The last time we came to Camp Shelby it was prior to deploying. We went there for mobilization and pre-deployment training. It wasn't a good experience. This time was different. Camp Shelby represents freedom. We'll only be there a few days. Drinking is authorized. We'll spend a few days to demobilize. Then everyone will go home. Even Camp Shelby is a bearable place when it means going home.

Unlike a year ago when I was housed in an open-bay cinder block barracks, I've been assigned a VIP room. It's the equivalent of a decent hotel room. It might as well be the Taj Mahal. FOB Hammer isn't that distant a memory to me. I took a long hot shower. I also ate a real cheeseburger - heavenly. I feel my body beginning to relax. I can smell home.

08 March 2008: "The good news is you're all going home"

0345. Yep, that's right. Our day began by dragging our bags from our respective tents to the customs inspection area. We had to have them there at 0345. Remember that time. You'll see why it was so important that we get our bags to customs by 0345.

Tent etiquette: If there is one thing I've mastered in the past year it's the rules of the transient tent. You have to be very respectful of others. People come and go at varying times. My tent at Ali Al Salem was one of the VIP billets. When I first dragged my bags in there was only me and one other Lieutenant Colonel (also from my unit). One of the first things I did was set out my flashlight. Given our early morning, it was important to be mindful of the others who would be asleep. Well the other LTC wasn't so kind. Others joined us in the tent throughout the night. They were all very respectful and kept the "noise and light discipline" to a high standard. When it was time for me to wake up I reached for my flashlight. The other LTC from my unit beat me to the punch. Just as I was grabbing my flashlight I heard a "click" and the blinding tent lights came on. The other LTC simply turned all the lights on without care. Almost immediately the grumbling began. The call of "what the fuck?" sounded among the others in the tent. Their sleep had been disturbed. I hurried out of the tent - not wishing to be blamed for someone else's buffoonery. When I returned from the latrine I had my flashlight at the ready. I didn't need it. The other LTC still had the lights blaring. It was a dismal example of transient tent etiquette.

Once we all had our bags lined up outside the customs tent we proceeded inside for a series of briefings. The briefings finished up around 0445. We waited. There was no breakfast available. Much to my chagrin, there was no coffee either. We waited. Our unit was flying with one other - a Navy SeaBee Battalion. We were outnumbered by the squids. However, our flight would be relatively empty. At about 0730 we were finally called back outside to start bringing our bags in for customs searches. This process involves completely unpacking every bag to be searched. Then you repack and drag the bags out the back door to be loaded onto waiting trucks. After the bags are dropped off you proceed into a holding area. Once cleared by customs, no personnel can leave the holding area until time for the flight. I walked into the holding area at 0930. It's the same holding area I came through for R&R. There are numbered tents where the different flights are assigned to wait. There is a Green Beans Coffee and a Pizza Hut kiosk. I proceeded to GBC for a cup of joe. The wait began. Over the next few hours the area became quite crowded. In addition to our flight, there was an R&R flight and the "Freedom Bird" (a flight dedicated to redeployment of individual soldiers who did not deploy with a unit).

At 1915 we had our first formation. Are you still tracking what time we dragged our bags over earlier? This was just an accountability check. Over the next three hours we watched the R&R and Freedom Bird soldiers depart for their flight. What was up with ours?

Never tell soldiers false information to placate them. We lined up again at 2030. The Navy was in charge of the flight because they had the most personnel flying. A Cheif Petty Officer got up and told us that they were waiting on a driver for the baggage truck. "He's on his way. It should only be another five or ten minutes." Then he said, "the good news is we're all going home." An hour later the driver wasn't present and we were still waiting. We had another formation. The CPO said it would only be about ten minutes, the driver was on his way. Then he shared the "good news" again. A full hour later we formed up again. We were told to proceed back into our tent. What happened to the driver? We were all getting very nervous about our flight. Fortunately, we weren't in the tent long. Soon we were filing out to the waiting buses and were on our way to Kuwait City International Airport to meet our flight. There it was - a beautiful ATA DC10. We would be flying for certain. By 2315 we were all loaded on the aircraft. The day ended with the airplane taxiing for takeoff.

I'm so glad we got such an early start. "Hurry up and wait" is still a recurring event. All the waiting time did give me a chance to catch another interesting fact about Chuck Norris. It was written inside the male latrine in the customs holding area. It reads as follows:

"There used to be a street named after Chuck Norris. The name had to be changed. Nobody crosses Chuck Norris"

07 March 2008: TOA Ceremony

Now for the final act of my unit - the TOA ceremony. Just a quick refresher, TOA stands for transfer of authority. The 1190th DSB passed the flag today to the 1179th Deployment Support Brigade. Like most military events, the TOA required an official ceremony. This involved formations, casing the outgoing unit flag, unfurling the colors of the incoming unit, and speeches by both commanders. Our TOA ceremony was attended by two Brigadier Generals. I was designated as the Commandant of Troops. This required me to call the soldiers to attention and report to the official party (Unit Commanders). I also gave the command "Present Arms!" and "Order Arms!" This ensured that every soldier in formation was saluting for the National Anthem. We had a stunningly beautiful day for the ceremony. We rehearsed the ceremony a couple of times. At precisely 1100, we held the actual event. From start to finish it took all of twenty minutes. The speeches were short. The soldiers were released in time for chow. I loitered to talk with some of the attending officers - many of whom I had not seen the entire deployment.

After lunch the place became a frenzy of activity. Most of us had at least one more package to mail. Then it was getting the baggage down to the parking area below the billets. There we waited for the bus. About 1500 the bus came and we loaded up. Then we drove away from KNB. It's about an hour drive to Ali Al Salem Air Base. That's the same place I flew into on day one of my BOG. It's also where I flew in and out of for R&R. Now I'd see it one more time on the way out. This is where our final night would be prior to our return flight. It's not a pretty place. However, it's a welcome sight. My NCOIC extended for another year. He managed to catch a ride to AAS to see us one more time. He made the goodbye short. I think he was trying to avoid a tearful scene. It was obvious he was bordering on tears.

Once our bags were off-loaded we all moved into our assigned tents. A Major in my unit and I walked over to the "Desert Diamond Oriental Restaurant." It's adjacent to the AAS DFAC. The place was packed. As we walked in I saw some of my team there. We all got a table together and laughed over our supper. We talked very little about our deployment. Instead we spoke of home and the fun ahead. Everyone is all smiles at the mere thought of going home. It's our last night! It can't go by fast enough.

I ate bolgogi beef. Now I have heartburn. I guess I should have stuck to the DFAC for my final supper of the deployment. I'm not coming over for another tour to make the correction.

06 March 2008: The Awards Ceremony

The conclusion of every unit's deployment is always marked by an awards ceremony. The event is normally held prior to the flight back to the U.S. The 1190th Deployment Support Brigade (Forward) held its awards ceremony today at Kuwait Naval Base. The event was held inside the chapel. It was short but precise. At last my team would be recognized for the work they had performed. Most of my team spent their entire time in Iraq. Because of that fact, most of the 1190th never saw my team for the entire deployment. We were just names on the daily SITREP. Today we were seen, and recognized, for the enormous contribution we had made. I'm extremely happy to announce that it was a clean sweep. My entire team (Army - both the soldiers who were with me all year or part of the year) received the Bronze Star Medal. I can state unequivocally that every one of them earned their coveted award.

After the ceremony we made a few mug shots. It's almost impossible to believe that the dream team will soon be going our separate ways. There will be no more sleeping in pax terminals, no more incoming mortar rounds, no more sandstorms and no more FOB hopping. Yet we'll always be family for the shared experience. It's impossible to describe the comradeship. I won't go into cliches. However, many years from now we will all look back with pride on our year together. My team moved mountains. We walk away with an unspoken bond that will always live with us.

The remainder of the day paled in comparison to seeing my team receive the BSM. I repacked my bags and mailed off another box. I lost count on how many I've mailed so far. There was a beach party later on for everyone in the unit. I stopped by to shake hands and chat. The night was chilly. The party was more of a "Joe" event. I didn't stay long. It was their night. Real beer may have changed my mind. Oh well, only a few more days to go.....

I also received the Bronze Star Medal. What makes it more special is knowing that my soldiers beamed with pride every bit as much as I do for them. The pride I feel is the cumulative effect of a job well done - a job I could never have done myself. We came as a team, we performed as a team, we were recognized and rewarded as a team. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

05 March 2008: KNB and Camp Arifjan

KNB stands for Kuwait Naval Base. This is where my parent unit spent the majority of their deployment. It's not a big place. There are more U.S. Army vessels (yes, I said Army) than Kuwaiti Naval ships. The Army operates Logistical Support Vessels (LSV's) for intratheater sealift. My unit has been staying in a barracks that resembles a college dormitory. My team and I are strangers to this land.

Our first, and only, order of business was to drive to Camp Arifjan (Arif-jail to people who know the place) for post-redeployment briefings. I worked out of Arifjan back in 2003. It's the home of Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC - pronounced "sea-flick"). Most people in Iraq regard CFLCC with disdain. They always seem completely out of touch with the reality up north. A healthy flow of memorandums, policy letters, and regulations spew daily from Arifjan and head north. Rarely do any of them make sense. Camp Arifjan is like Disney World. There are more Sergeants Major per capita at Arifjan than anywhere in the army. All of them are ready to ambush unsuspecting Joes with uniform corrections, safety violations, or any other craziness that is unheard of on a FOB up north. I hate Camp Arifjan. Going there today was a necessary (meaning mandatory) event. The good news was that the briefings didn't last long. We were finished by noon. We were just about out the gate on our way back when we received a healthy dose of CFLCC.

The gates at Arifjan are run by "rent-a-cops". These are hard core contractors with guns. It's harder to get in and out of Arifjan than any FOB in Iraq. As we came to the gate we stopped for the guard. We had been told we only required one weapon with magazine per vehicle. As it was, five of us had pistols with two full magazines each. That was good enough to get us from KNB to Arifjan earlier. The guard asked to see all weapons and mags. I didn't bring my weapon. It was locked up back at KNB. Reno 911 informed us we could not proceed. I pleaded the case. He wanted none of it. Instead, he called the Military Provost and sent us back to the post HQ. I was furious. When we got to the HQ I had a chat with the Provost Marshall - a Navy Commander. He was also furious - not at me. He called up the gate and chewed some ass. I did get great personal satisfaction in that. We glared at the rental cop as we drove out the gate. He didn't even stop us this time. This is the kind of shit that happens in Camp Arifjan. It's never the same thing but always something ridiculous.

My last act as Team Chief soon followed. Once I got back to KNB I briefed the incoming commander and operations officer. I gave them a solid background on what their soldiers in Iraq would be doing over the next year. They were very thankful for the briefing. When it was over I wanted to find the sunset on the horizon so I could start riding. I'm done. We've got an awards ceremony and then it's a big plane back to Camp Shelby.

04 March 2008: Goodbye Iraq

My showtime? 0715. What time did I wake up? 0705. I don't normally oversleep. I jumped up and threw my uniform on. Then I rushed to the pax terminal to check-in. I made it. Then I returned to my hooch to finish packing my gear. I made my final coffee for the road. After giving the room the once over, I walked out and didn't look back. Then I drove back to the pax terminal to meet the rest of my team. We handed our bags over to be palletized. The waiting game for the flight began. Taco came to see us off. Yes, Taco also returned to Iraq. He extended his tour. Just like Hud, he's returned in time to see us off. Hud couldn't see us off. He's in Taji.

The day was bright and blue so there would be no question as to our flight. There was a large contingent of passengers. We were on a C17. That's also good news. A C17 is infinitely more comfortable - and faster - than a C130. At 1030 we rolled out to the flight line. Our plane roared up and disgorged a number of passengers. We eyed the folks arriving as we stood and waited to board. It was a scene remiscent of the beginning of "Platoon". It wasn't quite as melodramatic though.

I fell asleep before the plane even took off. I didn't wake up until we were making our descent. Looking around, it appeared I was the only person awake. We landed in Ali Al Salem at 1230. By 1300 we were standing adjacent to the same tents we had processed through a few months ago for R&R. Our ride wasn't waiting. We called. "They're on the way." The four of us waited for almost three hours. It was as though the Prodigal Children had returned. None of us were happy to be in Kuwait. If we could have redeployed straight from Iraq we would. It's a necessary evil though. We're here to attend the awards ceremony. We'll then redeploy as a unit. Remember that most of our unit spent the year in Kuwait.

Now we're at KNB (Kuwait Naval Base). Don't let the name fool you. There's no real hint of Kuwaiti Navy here. This will be home until such time as we all fly back to the U.S. I have said goodbye to Iraq. This time it's for good.

03 March 2008: Counting down hours

Barring bad weather, this is my final day that will start and end in Iraq. Speaking of weather, a dust storm blew in this afternoon. The easiest way to predict when I'm going to fly is when the dust storms blow in. I'm a dust storm magnet. The trip to Kuwait isn't by helicopter so it shouldn't be an issue.

I stopped by the office to check e-mail. I cleaned my hooch. This included mopping the floor. It's amazing how much dust had accumulated in the hidden corners. The room is very sparkly now. It's cleaner than I remember it being when I moved in. I'm trying to help my replacement upgrade his current digs. I've left the door open for him to transfer to my room when I depart. It may or may not work. He's one grade lower in rank. If he can't move in then he has agreed to finish the clearing process for me. I've made certain there won't be any cleaning involved if he has to turn the room in. I hope he can keep the room. His current hooch is in the Balad ghetto.

It didn't seem like the last day. I made a mental note of my final lunch in Iraq - grilled cheese sandwich, cucumbers, and vegetable soup. Ditto for supper - cheeseburger, fries, and seedless grapes. Stopping by the KBR port-o-jon, I got one more Chuck Norris fact from Joe. "Chuck Norris played tennis against a wall and won."

My final workout in LSAA was at the AF H6 gym. I ran, did pull-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups. It was too crowded for anything else. Walking back to the Admiral the claxon alarm sounded, followed by "Incoming, Incoming, Incoming!" I half-heartedly trotted over to a bunker where several AF folks were hunkered down. I stood there in my sweaty PT uniform and waited for the all clear. Fifteen minutes later it hadn't sounded. I noticed people walking about. In defiance I said, "Fuck this!" and proceeded on to my truck. It looked like everyone else did exactly the same thing. When I pulled up to my hooch the all clear announcement came. It demonstrated, once again, the indifference personnel have to the alarm. I figured, "Well at least I got to hear the guy yell incoming one more time."

Now it's down to the final night. There's nothing left to do but wait.

02 March 2008: Meeting the new, hangin' with the old

I didn't even stop by the office today. After some halfhearted packing this morning, I stopped by the PX for a haircut. My new unit is almost adjacent to the PX. I figured it was a perfect opportunity to stop by and meet some folks. This is the battalion I take command of in June. They are redeploying soon. I say that to dispel any worries to my readers that I'll be returning to Iraq. I won't. Anyway, I stopped by to chat with the outgoing commander and his staff. It was a spontaneous event. They were very happy to see me. I only intended to stay for a few minutes. Three hours later I was still there. I met the XO, S1, S3, and Operations NCO. It was a classic "meet and greet". This might have been my only opportunity to stop by before I go home. It was well worth the effort. I gained a lot of insight. Battalion Command is an opportunity I'm looking forward to.

By the time I left it was 1500. My team was having a cookout. It was just for the outgoing team. I hurried by to let them know I'd be over as soon as I changed into PT uniform. By 1520, the original crew was assembled. The four of us cooked steaks and chicken. We supplemented our feast with fixin's from the DFAC. There was a cooler of fake beer and sodas. I brought my cigars and passed them out. We ate, laughed, smoked cigars, and told stories until well after dark. If I had to go back to the beginning and select my original team all over I wouldn't change a thing. They have performed amazing feats in the past year. My NCOIC has volunteered to extend another year. We all think him to be psycho. His orders are approved. I joke and tell him it's because he intends to "settle down and farm the fertile land along the Tigris when this is all over." The rest of us are ready to go home. Half of the stories we told were the "what's the first thing you intend to do when you get home" type. I'm just thankful to say that we all are going home as whole and healthy as when we arrived. We are all a lot wiser. We'll definitely have stories to tell for many, many years. Every member of my team made a difference.

So long as the weather doesn't interfere, we've got two nights left in Iraq. I've been asked what will become of my blog. Honestly? I haven't decided. I'm open to suggestions though. Any readers have an idea?

01 March 2008: I'm now just a spectator

Bright and early this morning I drove over to Catfish Air. It's a familiar drive. The same scenario has played out multiple times over the past year. The showtime was 0730. With my coffee in hand, I negotiated the southern end of Anaconda along the perimeter road. Then I turned right on Texas Ave and drove north past the retail fuel point. A few short minutes later I parked. I walked into the terminal to see two familiar Coast Guard personnel. They had all their gear ready for the mission. It was 0730. I was right on time.

This is where the normal story deviates. I was not going on this mission. I came out to greet the new team and see them off on their first mission. They were going to a place I've been to many times in the past year. It's famous for the oil mud. I'm talking about Camp Taji. This wasn't my mission. Other than the Coasties, none of my team would make this trip. All the Army personnel were from the replacements. There was the new Team Chief, NCOIC, and some of their other soldiers. They carried all the same gear. They were eager to get going. The new NCOIC immediately exclaimed, "I love flying on helicopters!" I assured him he would get his fill in the coming year. I gave one last check with the new Team Chief. They are ready. Now their first mission will begin the process of teaching them the things we simply could not convey in our training. I'm now just a spectator. It's not my team anymore. The mission responsibility now belongs to someone else.

When the KBR person came to conduct role call they all put their gear on and lined up. I took a photo of them and promised to e-mail later. I also needed to verify Hud's e-mail address. (Hud left the team back before Christmas. He found his way back. Now we had to say goodbye again). I said, "Hud, what was your middle initial?" He replied, "A. You know sir, A for Outstanding." I said, "Uh... is that Texas spelling?" Hud, realizing his mistake, said, "Well, um, you know what I meant."

Now I'm just packing the hooch and marking time until my flight to Kuwait. For the first time in a year, a mission began without me.