Finally

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15169733.post-15833540268197958912008-04-12T20:14:00.000-07:002008-04-12T20:58:39.464-07:00Finally<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEH6obPSI/AAAAAAAAAQk/v65GbTbkJzM/s1600-h/100_4439.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEH6obPSI/AAAAAAAAAQk/v65GbTbkJzM/s320/100_4439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188573517240286498" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEIKobPTI/AAAAAAAAAQs/MH1lrc7R7ss/s1600-h/100_4443.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEIKobPTI/AAAAAAAAAQs/MH1lrc7R7ss/s320/100_4443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188573521535253810" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEIKobPUI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/BCunOxXoxSw/s1600-h/100_4458.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEIKobPUI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/BCunOxXoxSw/s320/100_4458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188573521535253826" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEIaobPVI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/FGF7FzXc4eA/s1600-h/100_4463.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEIaobPVI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/FGF7FzXc4eA/s320/100_4463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188573525830221138" border="0" /></a> I sit here posting this one from the comfort and safety of my own home. Hanging out with my wife and she finishes up some homework she has due on Monday. It felt like forever from Rusty, to BIAP, to Kuwait and then to here. I stay in Kuwait was nice and short and they have the Customs portion down to an exact science it seems. With customs knocked out we were herded into the waiting area until our plane was ready for us. The weight of 15 months slowly started to drift away as the pilots roared away from Kuwait. We ate a light meal on the plane watched a movie and before we knew it we were in Germany. A quick pit stop and much needed smoke break for all the smokers and we were back on the bird for the long leg of the flight. I sat next to Doc so I had access to the best sleeping aides. When I woke up I saw the green hills, and forests of Maine. We were almost home, we were finally in the good ol' U, S, of A. We landed in Bangor Maine and were greeted by veterans of WWII and Vietnam and several other volunteers. They had free cell phones for us to use and also took a bunch of pictures which they posted <a href="http://mainetroopgreeters.smugmug.com/gallery/4696266_nF8PJ#277775287_s854B">seethepics</a>, check out you might even see me in a couple of those. We landed in Kansas and had to take care of some admin type things before we would head down to the ceremony. We mustered into the building and they formed us up. Everyone was thinking the same thing, "Hurry the fuck up." We've been waiting around for days now lets do this. We filed off one rank at a time into the main area where the families were waiting. I was one of the last people to come out and as the first entered the building you could here the cheering from the families watching to see which hero was theirs. They played the National Anthem, a quick prayer, and an even quicker speech from some Colonel I didn't even now and with a dismiss from the 1SG the families poured out of the bleachers. I saw mine, made my way to them, my daughters jumped in my arms. My son was a bit more hesitant but it was 3am after all. He came to me and I picked them all up. Tears welled up and in my eyes and spilled over it felt so good to embrace them instead of just their pictures. All the times that I spent wondering if I would ever get to this day all that emotion surfaced. My son spoke to me and it was so weird hearing his tiny voice in person I laughed. We went home and settled down for essentially what was left of the night. I dozed off for about 2 hours when I opened my eyes my sons head was level with the bed and he was staring at me. He took off running and I woke up and went down stairs and made him breakfast. We didn't do to much that day. My daughter had soccer practice and before that I wanted to go see my friend. We drove to the Fort Riley cemetery and I walked among the rows of fallen heroes until I came across a newer looking marker. I knelt next to my friend and set a flag down for him and some other things. I thanked him for watching over us, and once again assured him that he will never be forgotten.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEnaobPWI/AAAAAAAAARE/8lpBAGeoBC0/s1600-h/DSC00324.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_WpkG1SnlbrU/SAGEnaobPWI/AAAAAAAAARE/8lpBAGeoBC0/s320/DSC00324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188574058406165858" border="0" /></a> Today was great as my son woke me up early and told me "Daddy you need to come down and make me breakfast." No one can resist such an offer and I picked him up and treated him to some Trix. (Hey thats what he wanted!) Home finally and it feels so good to be here. It was great when Setz came over and brought his family. His little girl played with my kids and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was happy to be home and was completely in love with his lil lady. Everything is pretty surreal. Sleeping in a nice comfy bed next to my lovely wife. Raiding my own fridge, not having to walk 30m to the shitter, having my own private personal shitter, channel surfing. When you are gone its like stepping into a time warp and when you come home you are hurled into ever day life. Apparently from what I understand the K-State students are excited to have the battle hardened Soldier's home apparently one lucky student was escorted out of a window by one of the returning Soldier's. I know this post is pretty random but there is a lot of things going on right now. The jist of it is that I'm home. Finally, this time I really never felt like these days would get here. Thank you once again to all of you that have came here to read about what goes on over there and for all of your support. All of our friends at Soldier's Angel's, Books For Soldiers, and our friends from <a href="http://15minutelunch.blogspot.com/">15 minute Lunch</a>. To everyone that stopped by. I really do appreciate all of your support. I'll keep posting as I continue to sort things out and get my thoughts and feelings and everything in order. I did eat at AppleBees today and that was great not the best but its a 5 star compared to the KBR DFAC. Alright folks thank you again, and to all my brothers still out there stay safe and godbless. DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!GRUNTSHIThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04518211284158517066noreply@blogger.com