A Room with a View

Well at least a window anyway which is a huge difference.  This morning was my first morning waking up with light coming into my room it was a nice change.  My previous room as I have written about in other posts did not have a window, it was in the middle of a two story metal building, no light or air got into that room.  It was kind of depressing, and I figured out very difficult to wake up in the morning in.  I would be in a grouchy mood when I would wake up because it went from pitch black to florescent lighting when I turned on the lights.  Not fun!!  But I had adjusted and made it my own as much as a 7 by 7 room can be.  As of late I have been talking to people and I was offered the opportunity to move rooms.  I wasn’t going to at first, honestly I don’t know why.  I think part of it was not wanting to be superior to anyone, others are on the inside and without windows, but, then I started thinking about it and decided I would move across the hall and get a window.    

I am really glad I did, even though the sun does come up at 4:30 here, just so you know that is am early mornings.  But it is so nice to have light real light shining in and not always be under the florescent lights when I wake up.  It is nice to have a little bit of natural light.  This morning as I was waking up I realized I was happier, not as grouchy, and I was a bit more awake then I am when I wake up in total darkness.  But  I guess that is how it is with a lot of things, when you have real light you are always in a better place than when you are in total darkness.

Remembering

Most days I am so humbled by being here in Afghanistan, I see people working together from all over the United States and honestly the world.   On this post alone we have Bulgarians, Romanians, Canadians, French, Australian, Turkish, Georgian, and others that I know I am forgetting.  Although most do their own tasks and assignments we all work side by side and continue to show a unified front.  I am honored to be a part of it even a small part.

I am not here shaping laws or organizing local nationals, I am here to help the American Soldier when they are going through a rough time.  Sometimes that is honestly just an ear to listen to what is going on in their life and sometimes it is standing beside them right before they go to jail, being the last person who was there speaking on their behalf.  But it is a humbling experience to talk to someone who has been in the Army eight years and deployed 4 times, or has a 5 year old child and been deployed 3 years of the child’s life.  I remind myself of that when I am thinking how sad I am for what I am missing.  Because in the big scheme of things I’m not missing all that much, don’t get me wrong it is still difficult at times but man the sacrifices some of these people make for the Army, for the United States is great. 

It is also pretty cool to be over here and interact with all the different services.  The other night US was playing the French in woman’s soccer and a group of us were watching.  I sat down at a table in the square where they were showing the game and several French soldiers sat down in the same area.  It was a lot of fun to watch with them and realize that we aren’t so much different and so there is a language barrier there are a lot of things cross the cultural and language issues, sports is the big one. 

What is in a Year

          When you start out you think a year is nothing, it will fly by.  And for the most part it has moved quickly I am already 5 months in and it really hasn’t been so bad.  But stop and think of all the things happen in a year and you realize how much you miss.  How much someone is giving up by coming over here to insure continued safety and freedom.  You miss everyone’s birthdays, you miss every holiday that you gather with your family and share a meal, discussion and fun times.  You summer fun of sitting by the pool getting a tan or going on vacation.  You miss every back yard barbeque that your friends have.  You miss a year of everyone’s life, with limited communication with them you are out of everyone’s life for a year.  People change a lot in a year, they move on with their lives and keep things going while yours sits on hold for a year, because you are over here.

In a year friends get married, and have children, family and friends pass away, get sick are in the hospital, and you sit helpless halfway around the world hoping that people keep you informed.  You miss out on your high school reunion, you miss your dad’s retirement, you miss life for a year.  Sometimes it becomes too much because everyone around you everyone you love their life goes on while you are on hold.   The Soldier knows they are doing something they can be proud of that they are serving their country but when you add up all that is missed all that happens in their absence you start to understand a little bit that the life of a Soldier is not easy, no matter what job you have

 Life goes on for the people back home, the Soldier waits anxiously to be able to get back involved but people have formed new friendships adjusted their life and it is hard.  But a Soldier does it over and over again because we know that being a Soldier is a calling a way of life.  So just remember when you see a Soldier returning home or what that is gone remember all the things they missed out on so that you would not miss out on anything. 

Soldier’s Creed

I am an American Soldier.

I am a Warrior and a member of a team.  I serve the people of the United States of America and Live the army values

I will always place the mission first

I will never accept defeat

I will never quit

I will never leave a fallen comrade

I am disciplined, Physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.  I always maintain my army, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life

I am an American Soldier

A Reminder of Why I do What I do

So for the second time I road in a Blackhawk at Night.  That is a very cool experience.  This year for the 4th of July I was traveling back from Kuwait back to Afghanistan not a very eventful or exciting day, in fact sadly I almost forgot that it was 4th of July, a day to celebrate America’s freedom and independence.  Last night however, the 5th I was getting back to my home base and I flew back in a Blackhawk, it was being flown by a pilot who I helped with some stuff and so right before I was getting in the hawk he got out and presented my a flag that he flew in a Blackhawk in my honor to thank me for my help.  It was very cool and reminded me why I am here doing what I am doing.  I am doing this so that others can get back to their jobs and continue to defend and serve and do their jobs.  After a rough week it was exactly the reminder I needed to keep me going.  And riding in the helicopter at night looking down on the area was amazing seeing everything so close from that angle, to see the area and the homes it reminds you why we are here fighting a reminder that I can help to give others a piece of mind so they can get back to the fight.  I do what I do because I enjoy helping others and I feel strongly that EVERYONE deserves someone on their side.  Thank for the reminder and the flag that will hopefully continue to remind me for years to come.