so this tour has been a pain in the ass for me. yes i said ass because butt just didn't seem to cut the sauce. since we're winding down i thought i would give a watered down version of a few of the things i have been able to do over the past year.
- we arrived on christmas even...i should have known by that....
- i worked as the brigade battle captain until they moved me up to mazar-e-sharif to stand up the first us forces in that region of the country.
- after mes they made me the s3 planner and i got to do several tasks that helped improve the distribution of supply throughout our ao. like i came up with the plan for a centralized disto center here at baf and i also helped come up with trailer transfer points along our major convoy routes...both of those things are huge...and from an MP, hmm?
- then they moved me to the actual plans shop and i've been involved with several smaller type things...no big deals though
- i have completed 30 semesters hours worth of masters level credits...like i've mentioned before, i don't sleep much.
- we've been lucky enough to get to know a few really nice afghan families and hopefully help some people out...thanks to everyone who participated by sending supplies to us. we couldn't do it without you.
- i completed my 5th ironman while i was home on leave (6:04:53...not that bad when you consider they don't exactly have any pools or lakes that i am allowed to practice in over here and the only bike i had too ride was a stationary one)
anyway. its been a pretty successful tour, but i am glad to be going home soon.
things like this are never done by yourself. there are always dozens of people who stay behind the scenes that help make the magic happen, and i'd like to thank a few of them right now. first i'd like to thank my kids, even though only two of them will be able to read this, i hope they will all understand why i came over here and i hope they will forgive me for missing their birthdays and holidays and piano recitals and for just not being there when they needed me. i'd also like to thank tara for letting me come over here. this time around was harder than the first time, at least for me, because i knew what i was walking into and so did she. i'd also like to thank my brothers. i have three of the coolest guys i know that send me emails and letters and i have really appreciated that. mom and dad, thank you for all of the packages and for getting so involved in our little service project. that was really cool of you.
true story. they brought in a little boy about four months ago. he had been injured by a suicide bomber (someday somebody is going to have to explain to me how islam is a peaceful religion), the boy was bleeding badly and the flight medic didn't even wait for the flat bed, he just jumped out and ran him inside. since my medical training is somewhat limited to more minor things i typically get the clean up duty. well, while we were cleaning out the blood on the floor of the helicopter it almost amazed me that so much blood could come from such a little boy. that was a long day and a longer night. before the boy died, how he lasted to the next morning is beyond me, they dressed him up in a little outfit that someone had sent. he was a cute little kid.
i guess what i am trying to say is thanks to everyone who has helped me get through this last year. thank you for the packages and letters and emails. i feel very blessed to have so many people who care about me and who go out of their way to support me in what i do. thank you!
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