It's impossible for me to put in words what a spectacular job my team did over the course of our deployment. The work they accomplished went quietly unnoticed on the headlines back home. Yet, every time an Army Brigade Combat Team returned home they had my team to thank. We were the ones who ensured all of their vehicles and shipping containers would return to their respective home stations. Our work allowed them to stay focused on their missions as they transitioned with the incoming brigades. This allowed a seamless hand-over of battle space from one brigade to another. Essentially, we "had their back" while they continued to focus on the fight. During our year in Iraq, my team directly facilitated the redeployment of 18 separate brigades. Working from over 30 different Forward Operating Bases, we worked through every extreme to ensure their successful return home. All of the following units made it home with our help:
Multi-National Division North - 25th Infantry Division "Tropic Lightning"
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division "Broncos"
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division "Panthers"
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division "Longknives"
25th Combat Aviation Bragade
5th Engineer Group
Multi-National Division Central - 3rd Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne"
1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division "Raiders"
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division "Spartans"
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division "Sledgehammer"
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division "Commandos"
3rd Combat Aviation Brigade "Falcons"
4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division "Sparta Lives"
Multi-National Division Baghdad - 1st Cavalry Division "First Team"
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division "Ironhorse"
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division "Blackjack"
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division "Greywolf"
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division "Dagger"
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division "Dragons"
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division "Strikeforce"
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division "Arrowhead"
4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division "Dragoon Raiders"
1st Air Cavalry Brigade "Warrior"
20th Engineer Group
The numbers involved in all of this are staggering. My team trained 892 Unit Movement Officers from the various brigades, with a further 445 soldiers being trained in TCAIMS II (Transportation Managers' Automated Information for Movements System). Working through desert heat, sand storms, rain, winter cold, or indirect fire we were able to certify 3,394 shipping containers for CSC (Container Safety Convention). When all was said and done, my team had processed 15,638 containers of various configuration, 649 hazardous materials containers, and 8,566 vehicles for redeployment. This involved countless hours of traveling, sweating, shivering, hunkering, and whatever else needed to be endured for mission success. Through it all, I never heard a complaint from anyone on my team. They worked tirelessly, stayed focused, and always looked out for one another. I called them "The Dream Team" for a reason. They truly were the best of the best. I could gush forever but will spare anyone reading that pain. Instead, I'll just send my sincere thanks to everyone that served with me. I'd serve with any one of you again - any time, any place. You are always and forever welcome in my home.
The Dream Team (everyone who served for all, or part, of the timeframe 10 March '07 - 10 March '08):
LTC Christopher S. "Fort Sam" Houston, Team Chief
U.S. Army personnel:
MAJ Thomas "The Lawyer" Enright - 01 Sep - 30 Oct '07
1LT Virginia "School Teacher" Bax, Assistant OIC
CW2 Robert "Level 6 Data" Gulley, 20 Mar - 20 Aug '07
SSG Robert "Bilko" Turner, Team NCOIC
SSG Michael "CSC" Nares, 10 Mar - 15 Jul '07
SSG Gary "Ice Cream Man" Hunter, 20 Mar - 20 Aug '07
SSG Avelardo "Hurry-up" Casias, Team 2 NCOIC
SSG Jerald "No Stress" Young, Team 2 TCAIMS II NCOIC
SSG Juanda "We don't sleep till it beeps" Bryant
SGT Carlos "The Heat" Rosas, Team 1 TCAIMS II NCOIC
SGT William "Gigilo" Knight
SPC Allan "That Guy" Martinez
U.S. Coast Guard Redeployment Assistance Inspection Detachment (RAID) personnel:
RAID Team 6 (15 Jun - 25 Dec '07):
CPO Thomas "The Hitman" Guyer, RAID Team 6 NCOIC
MST1 Anthony "Bull" Clark, RAID 6 Lead HAZMAT Inspector (Named USCG Active Duty Enlisted Person of the Year 2007 for his service with the DDST-I)
BM1 James "Hud" Huddleston
PO2 Kester "Silent" Glasgow
PO2 Craig "Mama's Boy" Sears
PO2 Yvonne "Aloha" Makalena
PO2 Robert "Taco" Mireles (Named USCG Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year 2007 for his service with the DDST-I)
RAID Team 7 (15 Dec '07 - 10 Mar '08):
CPO Glen "Earnhardt" Powell, RAID Team 7 NCOIC
PO2 Jon "The Banker" Mullins
Special mention needs to be made for both SSG Robert Turner and PO2 Robert Mireles - both of them volunteered to extend with the DDST-I and continue to serve in Iraq. They both extended for one year.
What a year(+) it was. For every story I told there were 100 more every day that I didn't share. Yet, we all experienced them as a team. We'll always be family for our shared experience. Many years from now, even as we grow closer to the end of our time on earth, I'm certain we will all suddenly show the fire of youth in our eyes when we recall the time we were part of the Deployment Distribution Support Team - Iraq. God, what an adventure it was!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
09 June 2008: REFRAD Day
REFRAD - Release From Active Duty. Whenever a Reserve or National Guard soldier is mobilized they will have an eventual REFRAD day. It's the last day of their mobilization orders. Mine arrived on 9 June 2008. My mobilization began 12 January 2007. Over the next 515 days I trained at Camp Shelby, MS, journeyed to Iraq, spent over a year FOB-hopping all over the country assisting Brigade Combat Teams, returned to the U.S. via Kuwait, and then closed the loop by demobilizing in Camp Shelby. It seems like a lot but it's just one of several mobilizations I've been on over the past few years. Since January 2003 I've spent 44 out of 66 months mobilized. 31 of those months were spent deployed. Yeah, I've been busy. I'm not the only one. There are many more just like me. Never forget them.
Once again I've come to the end of a mobilization. Hopefully, it's the last one.
Once again I've come to the end of a mobilization. Hopefully, it's the last one.
29 May 2008: My deployment car finally arrives
Back in February I opened a dialog with BMW Military Sales regarding purchasing a new car. This program offers incredible pricing for military personnel deployed for at least 120 days. At the time, I was still working at places like Camp Ramadi and FOB Warhorse. I placed an order before the end of the month and had a deposit wire transferred. Then the waiting game began. A production date had to be secured (first week of April for mine). Then came the long wait for delivery. It takes a lot of patience but it's worth the wait. In the meantime, I came home from Iraq and became acclimated to being back in the U.S. My hope was that the car would be delivered in time to take a road trip to North Carolina over Memorial Day Weekend. It arrived just days late. Oh well, it was still an incredible feeling to go pick it up. Now I'm riding in style. It is a very nice car. I intend to keep it for a very long time.
26-27 April 2008: The Welcome Home Party
What an event it was! The party was over a year in the making. Planning commenced the minute I touched back down in the United States. Over 100 people attended. They included friends, cadets from the Providence College AROTC battalion, and even a West Point classmate who flew in from Chicago. The party was advertised as an all-nighter. It was. The first guests arrived around 1900 on the 26th. Two cabs arrived at 0730 the next morning to pick up the last ten. Damn it was an awesome party. I believe everyone had their fill of food and drink. The party was expertly catered by Kaveman Roasting Company. The menu included pulled pork bbq, smoked chicken wings, and bbq beans. There was plenty to drink. The party consumed at least 12 cases of Yuengling, 4 cases of various other types of beer, three bottles of bourbon, a bottle of gin, half a bottle of scotch, half a large bottle of tequila, and multiple bottles of wine. Many cigars were smoked around a firepit out back. Many toasts were raised. I toasted my team - some of whom are still in Iraq.
It was a party for the ages. Before the night was over the cadets proved that college students continue to be creative on drinking games. They formed two teams and lined cups up along the driveway. Then they dropped their pants and clinched quarters between their butt cheeks. You can guess the rest.... Most of these guys commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army a short month later. I think I'll stick to beer pong or flip cup.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
12 April 2008: How do I feel about all of this?
I get asked all the time about my feelings regarding the war. Normally I just shrug my shoulders and smile. Most of the time I'm being asked loaded questions. I've also figured out that people who don't agree with the war don't want to know facts - especially when they show positive signs of progress. However, in the past year there was considerable progress made. The "surge" strategy worked. I don't answer the loaded questions because the people who ask still want to argue the mistakes made early on in Iraq. I want to talk about how we've turned things around, how the Iraqis are now winning. Yesterday an article appeared in the Wall Street Journal. It was written by Michael Yon, who has been reporting from Iraq (and Afghanistan) since 2004 as an embedded journalist. His article summarizes what I know - from direct experience of multiple deployments - to be true. Take the time to read what Michael has written. I couldn't have expressed this any better. Thank you Michael for telling the truth. Here is his article in its entirety.
Let's 'Surge' Some More
by Michael Yon
April 11, 2008
It is said that generals always fight the last war. But when David Petraeus came to town it was senators – on both sides of the aisle – who battled over the Iraq war of 2004-2006. That war has little in common with the war we are fighting today.
I may well have spent more time embedded with combat units in Iraq than any other journalist alive. I have seen this war – and our part in it – at its brutal worst. And I say the transformation over the last 14 months is little short of miraculous.
The change goes far beyond the statistical decline in casualties or incidents of violence. A young Iraqi translator, wounded in battle and fearing death, asked an American commander to bury his heart in America. Iraqi special forces units took to the streets to track down terrorists who killed American soldiers. The U.S. military is the most respected institution in Iraq, and many Iraqi boys dream of becoming American soldiers. Yes, young Iraqi boys know about "GoArmy.com."
As the outrages of Abu Ghraib faded in memory – and paled in comparison to al Qaeda's brutalities – and our soldiers under the Petraeus strategy got off their big bases and out of their tanks and deeper into the neighborhoods, American values began to win the war.
Iraqis came to respect American soldiers as warriors who would protect them from terror gangs. But Iraqis also discovered that these great warriors are even happier helping rebuild a clinic, school or a neighborhood. They learned that the American soldier is not only the most dangerous enemy in the world, but one of the best friends a neighborhood can have.
Some people charge that we have merely "rented" the Sunni tribesmen, the former insurgents who now fight by our side. This implies that because we pay these people, their loyalty must be for sale to the highest bidder. But as Gen. Petraeus demonstrated in Nineveh province in 2003 to 2004, many of the Iraqis who filled the ranks of the Sunni insurgency from 2003 into 2007 could have been working with us all along, had we treated them intelligently and respectfully. In Nineveh in 2003, under then Maj. Gen. Petraeus's leadership, these men – many of them veterans of the Iraqi army – played a crucial role in restoring civil order. Yet due to excessive de-Baathification and the administration's attempt to marginalize powerful tribal sheiks in Anbar and other provinces – including men even Saddam dared not ignore – we transformed potential partners into dreaded enemies in less than a year.
Then al Qaeda in Iraq, which helped fund and tried to control the Sunni insurgency for its own ends, raped too many women and boys, cut off too many heads, and brought drugs into too many neighborhoods. By outraging the tribes, it gave birth to the Sunni "awakening." We – and Iraq – got a second chance. Powerful tribes in Anbar province cooperate with us now because they came to see al Qaeda for what it is – and to see Americans for what we truly are.
Soldiers everywhere are paid, and good generals know it is dangerous to mess with a soldier's money. The shoeless heroes who froze at Valley Forge were paid, and when their pay did not come they threatened to leave – and some did. Soldiers have families and will not fight for a nation that allows their families to starve. But to say that the tribes who fight with us are "rented" is perhaps as vile a slander as to say that George Washington's men would have left him if the British offered a better deal.
Equally misguided were some senators' attempts to use Gen. Petraeus's statement, that there could be no purely military solution in Iraq, to dismiss our soldiers' achievements as "merely" military. In a successful counterinsurgency it is impossible to separate military and political success. The Sunni "awakening" was not primarily a military event any more than it was "bribery." It was a political event with enormous military benefits.
The huge drop in roadside bombings is also a political success – because the bombings were political events. It is not possible to bury a tank-busting 1,500-pound bomb in a neighborhood street without the neighbors noticing. Since the military cannot watch every road during every hour of the day (that would be a purely military solution), whether the bomb kills soldiers depends on whether the neighbors warn the soldiers or cover for the terrorists. Once they mostly stood silent; today they tend to pick up their cell phones and call the Americans. Even in big "kinetic" military operations like the taking of Baqubah in June 2007, politics was crucial. Casualties were a fraction of what we expected because, block-by-block, the citizens told our guys where to find the bad guys. I was there; I saw it.
The Iraqi central government is unsatisfactory at best. But the grass-roots political progress of the past year has been extraordinary – and is directly measurable in the drop in casualties.
This leads us to the most out-of-date aspect of the Senate debate: the argument about the pace of troop withdrawals. Precisely because we have made so much political progress in the past year, rather than talking about force reduction, Congress should be figuring ways and means to increase troop levels. For all our successes, we still do not have enough troops. This makes the fight longer and more lethal for the troops who are fighting. To give one example, I just returned this week from Nineveh province, where I have spent probably eight months between 2005 to 2008, and it is clear that we remain stretched very thin from the Syrian border and through Mosul. Vast swaths of Nineveh are patrolled mostly by occasional overflights.
We know now that we can pull off a successful counterinsurgency in Iraq. We know that we are working with an increasingly willing citizenry. But counterinsurgency, like community policing, requires lots of boots on the ground. You can't do it from inside a jet or a tank.
Over the past 15 months, we have proved that we can win this war. We stand now at the moment of truth. Victory – and a democracy in the Arab world – is within our grasp. But it could yet slip away if our leaders remain transfixed by the war we almost lost, rather than focusing on the war we are winning today.
Mr. Yon is author of the just-published "Moment of Truth in Iraq" (Richard Vigilante Books). He has been reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan since December 2004.
Thanks again Michael. You nailed it.
Let's 'Surge' Some More
by Michael Yon
April 11, 2008
It is said that generals always fight the last war. But when David Petraeus came to town it was senators – on both sides of the aisle – who battled over the Iraq war of 2004-2006. That war has little in common with the war we are fighting today.
I may well have spent more time embedded with combat units in Iraq than any other journalist alive. I have seen this war – and our part in it – at its brutal worst. And I say the transformation over the last 14 months is little short of miraculous.
The change goes far beyond the statistical decline in casualties or incidents of violence. A young Iraqi translator, wounded in battle and fearing death, asked an American commander to bury his heart in America. Iraqi special forces units took to the streets to track down terrorists who killed American soldiers. The U.S. military is the most respected institution in Iraq, and many Iraqi boys dream of becoming American soldiers. Yes, young Iraqi boys know about "GoArmy.com."
As the outrages of Abu Ghraib faded in memory – and paled in comparison to al Qaeda's brutalities – and our soldiers under the Petraeus strategy got off their big bases and out of their tanks and deeper into the neighborhoods, American values began to win the war.
Iraqis came to respect American soldiers as warriors who would protect them from terror gangs. But Iraqis also discovered that these great warriors are even happier helping rebuild a clinic, school or a neighborhood. They learned that the American soldier is not only the most dangerous enemy in the world, but one of the best friends a neighborhood can have.
Some people charge that we have merely "rented" the Sunni tribesmen, the former insurgents who now fight by our side. This implies that because we pay these people, their loyalty must be for sale to the highest bidder. But as Gen. Petraeus demonstrated in Nineveh province in 2003 to 2004, many of the Iraqis who filled the ranks of the Sunni insurgency from 2003 into 2007 could have been working with us all along, had we treated them intelligently and respectfully. In Nineveh in 2003, under then Maj. Gen. Petraeus's leadership, these men – many of them veterans of the Iraqi army – played a crucial role in restoring civil order. Yet due to excessive de-Baathification and the administration's attempt to marginalize powerful tribal sheiks in Anbar and other provinces – including men even Saddam dared not ignore – we transformed potential partners into dreaded enemies in less than a year.
Then al Qaeda in Iraq, which helped fund and tried to control the Sunni insurgency for its own ends, raped too many women and boys, cut off too many heads, and brought drugs into too many neighborhoods. By outraging the tribes, it gave birth to the Sunni "awakening." We – and Iraq – got a second chance. Powerful tribes in Anbar province cooperate with us now because they came to see al Qaeda for what it is – and to see Americans for what we truly are.
Soldiers everywhere are paid, and good generals know it is dangerous to mess with a soldier's money. The shoeless heroes who froze at Valley Forge were paid, and when their pay did not come they threatened to leave – and some did. Soldiers have families and will not fight for a nation that allows their families to starve. But to say that the tribes who fight with us are "rented" is perhaps as vile a slander as to say that George Washington's men would have left him if the British offered a better deal.
Equally misguided were some senators' attempts to use Gen. Petraeus's statement, that there could be no purely military solution in Iraq, to dismiss our soldiers' achievements as "merely" military. In a successful counterinsurgency it is impossible to separate military and political success. The Sunni "awakening" was not primarily a military event any more than it was "bribery." It was a political event with enormous military benefits.
The huge drop in roadside bombings is also a political success – because the bombings were political events. It is not possible to bury a tank-busting 1,500-pound bomb in a neighborhood street without the neighbors noticing. Since the military cannot watch every road during every hour of the day (that would be a purely military solution), whether the bomb kills soldiers depends on whether the neighbors warn the soldiers or cover for the terrorists. Once they mostly stood silent; today they tend to pick up their cell phones and call the Americans. Even in big "kinetic" military operations like the taking of Baqubah in June 2007, politics was crucial. Casualties were a fraction of what we expected because, block-by-block, the citizens told our guys where to find the bad guys. I was there; I saw it.
The Iraqi central government is unsatisfactory at best. But the grass-roots political progress of the past year has been extraordinary – and is directly measurable in the drop in casualties.
This leads us to the most out-of-date aspect of the Senate debate: the argument about the pace of troop withdrawals. Precisely because we have made so much political progress in the past year, rather than talking about force reduction, Congress should be figuring ways and means to increase troop levels. For all our successes, we still do not have enough troops. This makes the fight longer and more lethal for the troops who are fighting. To give one example, I just returned this week from Nineveh province, where I have spent probably eight months between 2005 to 2008, and it is clear that we remain stretched very thin from the Syrian border and through Mosul. Vast swaths of Nineveh are patrolled mostly by occasional overflights.
We know now that we can pull off a successful counterinsurgency in Iraq. We know that we are working with an increasingly willing citizenry. But counterinsurgency, like community policing, requires lots of boots on the ground. You can't do it from inside a jet or a tank.
Over the past 15 months, we have proved that we can win this war. We stand now at the moment of truth. Victory – and a democracy in the Arab world – is within our grasp. But it could yet slip away if our leaders remain transfixed by the war we almost lost, rather than focusing on the war we are winning today.
Mr. Yon is author of the just-published "Moment of Truth in Iraq" (Richard Vigilante Books). He has been reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan since December 2004.
Thanks again Michael. You nailed it.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
05 April 2008: Supporting your deployed loved one
A month ago I flew out of Iraq to Kuwait to begin the redeployment process. It's amazing how time moves on. My memories, and dreams, are still very vivid. Often I find myself dreaming I'm on a Blackhawk or briefing my team on some upcoming mission. Don't worry though - my dreams aren't of bad experiences. I will always feel an emotional attachment to the mission in Iraq. I continue to feel the bond of kinship and camaraderie. Although I'm not deployed anymore, I never lose sight of the fact that thousands of my comrades are still there. It was with great relief that I learned the 15-month rotations would be changed back to 12. Even 12 months is a long time - especially for those who are just now deploying. I know that many of you who've read my blog over the past year also have loved ones deployed (or deploying). How can you shower your love on them while they are away? I'll provide some ideas.
1. Be Patient! Anxiety will be present. It's natural. Just don't let it become your overriding emotional guide. If you don't hear from your loved one for a few days don't assume the worst. It probably just means that he/she is unable to contact you due to mission requirements. They will call or e-mail when they can. When they do they want to hear good news from home, love in your voice, praise in your heart and an absence of worry. It may seem hard to believe, but, your loved one will worry about you probably more than you worry about him. Be strong!
2. Send cards and letters. In this age of e-mail we almost forget how to use the old mail system. Remember when you always had postage stamps handy? Well go buy some more and stay in stock. Mail call in Iraq or Afghanistan still has the same importance it did in Vietnam or World War II. Joes want to receive letters in the mail. It's a little something extra that puts extra enthusiasm in each day. Send pictures of family events and get-togethers. Make certain to remember holidays, birthdays, and other events you know your soldier holds special. Tell all of your friends and relatives where to send mail and frequently remind them to get involved in sending love.
3. Send care packages. Plan your care packages around what your soldier tells you he needs. Keep in mind that there are well-stocked PX's on almost every FOB. Don't send things like baby wipes and toiletries. Joe can readily get those items cheap at the PX. Instead, send things like phone cards, home-baked cookies, and food items that Joe can share with his buddies. Find out from your soldier what the local Iraqis need. Joes frequently hand out toys, soccer balls, candy, and other items to the locals while out on mission. Get involved in this and know that you played a small part in building trust in the local communities your soldier assists.
4. Avoid news about the war! News media thrives on bad stories. You are more likely to hear about a car bombing than the fifty hospitals that opened in the past two months. The reality on the ground and what you hear on TV are vastly different. I won't get political here, that's not my purpose. Your soldier wants to tell you about the good things he is doing. Let him be your source of news about the war and tune out the bad stuff that will cause anxiety (see number one above).
5. Don't ever debate your loved one on the merits of his mission. Now IS NOT the time to get political or idealogical with your soldier. It's fine if you don't agree with the war. Just don't debate your loved one on this issue. Right now it is his mission. A soldier always believes in his mission because to do otherwise would put his fellow soldiers' lives in danger. The Warrior Ethos states, "I will always place the mission first." Your soldier wears the uniform to defend your right to have a differing opinion. Nothing will sap the morale of your loved one more than an angry diatribe of fuming disagreement regarding the war.
Regardless of the FOB, my pointers should help you form a foundation of how to support your soldier while he's deployed. Stay in tune with his needs, requests, and concerns. Always be responsive. Love from home always gives cause for a swell of pride. Do your part. Love your Joe.
1. Be Patient! Anxiety will be present. It's natural. Just don't let it become your overriding emotional guide. If you don't hear from your loved one for a few days don't assume the worst. It probably just means that he/she is unable to contact you due to mission requirements. They will call or e-mail when they can. When they do they want to hear good news from home, love in your voice, praise in your heart and an absence of worry. It may seem hard to believe, but, your loved one will worry about you probably more than you worry about him. Be strong!
2. Send cards and letters. In this age of e-mail we almost forget how to use the old mail system. Remember when you always had postage stamps handy? Well go buy some more and stay in stock. Mail call in Iraq or Afghanistan still has the same importance it did in Vietnam or World War II. Joes want to receive letters in the mail. It's a little something extra that puts extra enthusiasm in each day. Send pictures of family events and get-togethers. Make certain to remember holidays, birthdays, and other events you know your soldier holds special. Tell all of your friends and relatives where to send mail and frequently remind them to get involved in sending love.
3. Send care packages. Plan your care packages around what your soldier tells you he needs. Keep in mind that there are well-stocked PX's on almost every FOB. Don't send things like baby wipes and toiletries. Joe can readily get those items cheap at the PX. Instead, send things like phone cards, home-baked cookies, and food items that Joe can share with his buddies. Find out from your soldier what the local Iraqis need. Joes frequently hand out toys, soccer balls, candy, and other items to the locals while out on mission. Get involved in this and know that you played a small part in building trust in the local communities your soldier assists.
4. Avoid news about the war! News media thrives on bad stories. You are more likely to hear about a car bombing than the fifty hospitals that opened in the past two months. The reality on the ground and what you hear on TV are vastly different. I won't get political here, that's not my purpose. Your soldier wants to tell you about the good things he is doing. Let him be your source of news about the war and tune out the bad stuff that will cause anxiety (see number one above).
5. Don't ever debate your loved one on the merits of his mission. Now IS NOT the time to get political or idealogical with your soldier. It's fine if you don't agree with the war. Just don't debate your loved one on this issue. Right now it is his mission. A soldier always believes in his mission because to do otherwise would put his fellow soldiers' lives in danger. The Warrior Ethos states, "I will always place the mission first." Your soldier wears the uniform to defend your right to have a differing opinion. Nothing will sap the morale of your loved one more than an angry diatribe of fuming disagreement regarding the war.
Regardless of the FOB, my pointers should help you form a foundation of how to support your soldier while he's deployed. Stay in tune with his needs, requests, and concerns. Always be responsive. Love from home always gives cause for a swell of pride. Do your part. Love your Joe.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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.
Monday, March 24, 2008
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!
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.
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.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
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.
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'.
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'.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, March 17, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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.
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.
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