No Hot Water

Well I'm in San Diego now for the week of gear issue and training. The day started with Shayna dropping me off at the base at 0700 so the duty driver, HN Brandon Potters, could drive me down. All was going well until we were 1/2 hour into the drive and I realized that I left my orders, medical records, etc. sitting in the back seat of Shayna's car! Not good! So we turned around and I had to say "see you later" to Shayna all over again, so I had the worst part about the deployment, for both Shayna and I, happen twice, again not good. After the 6 hour drive back to San Diego and a long wait at the billeting desk, I was informed that the room I'm in will not have hot water until tomorrow afternoon, woohoo! Who needs coffee in the morning, I'll take a 40 degree shower anyday! haha. Over all it was a good trip and the room is really nice, less the water situation. Well that's about it for today, Shayna I miss and love you very much. Take care!

168 Hours

168 hours until my journey begins, doesn't seem like a lot of time. I was just talking to Shayna about the deployment and telling her that I'm proud to go and help. The job I have here in Lemoore is satisfying, but nothing compares to being where people need you the most. Basically you forget about the dangers and become completely submersed in the situation at hand, which is helping people survive. How will I react to being in another situation much like Ramadi? I don't know, but what I do know is that when it's all said and done I will really feel like I've accomplished something, which is a feeling that very few people get to experience in their lives. I know that it all sounds a little corny, but it is the absolute truth. The worst part is, obviously, being away from your new bride and all of your family and friends, but what is absolutely fantastic is all of the support I have and will receive from everyone, heck of a change from what you read about the Vietnam war participants. Again thank you for the support and keep on reading! Take care.

Cement

Well this past week has given me plenty of images that will be cemented into my memory for the upcoming deployment. It's very important to have images in your mind, as well as hard copy, to get you through the times when you've had enough of the "game" and would like to return home. Trip to Florida, marriage to your dream girl, and family, what else could you possibly need after that? Maybe a lottery winning, that's about the only thing that could've made it better! At times when by myself watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico, all I could think was, I can't believe that I'll be standing in a line getting 4-5 sea bags of gear in a couple of weeks. That was a definite buzz kill, but it gave me the opportunity to really take things in while I could. The whole experience also made me realize how sweet it's going to be when I return home, that's going to be a good day. Well that's about it for now, take care.

On a dime

Isn't it amazing how life can change on a dime, or maybe a quarter due to today's economy! About a month ago I had my life planned for the next 3 years with Shayna, and my budget complete. Then the word came about the deployment, and wow how things have changed. For those of you not in the service, just imagine getting word that you'll be gone for a year starting next month and you can only take a limited amount of "stuff" with you. What would you pack into your sea bag? What would you do with your car, finances, home, family, etc? The weird thing is I like the challenge, and also love to help injured people the best I can. I've heard in the past someone describe a deployment to a war zone as, "long bouts of boredom interrupted by short moments of extreme chaos", that's exactly what it's like. My life changed again yesterday when I received my orders. I have been fully prepared for a year deployment to Afghanistan, the orders state that it's only going to be 220 days, bringing me back home sometime in November 2009 instead of July 2010. It doesn't seem like a large amount of time, but it affects the car, finances, home, family, etc.....again! Don't you love it? Well that's about it for now, my brain hurts from thinking about something to write about! haha. Take care.

First entry

The first entry! woohoo. I wanted to start this blog prior to being deployed to try to take you through the emotions, etc. that accompany being a US Servicemember facing a looming deployment and beyond. I'll be adding a weekly message with the occasional pause due to training and travel. It will be a learning process at first, but I'm sure that I'll become a blogging pro as time goes on, as my friend Carl undoubtedly did in Iraq, good job Carl! Well that's about it for the "big" intro, I'll be writing more as time hopefully flies by! Take care.