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.
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