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23 Sep 2009
Roller Coaster Ride to Home!
Suddenly, a lot of moving parts and a great deal of luck came together: as the unit redeploys, a dozen of us have been moved up, joining a group of the Brigade’s STB (Special Troops Battalion) to return to the USA! We flew from Tallil to Camp Virginia, Kuwait on a hot C130. In Kuwait, we turned in our weapons and waited a few days for a charter flight home.

 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  15:46 | permalink | trackbacks [66592]



20 Sep 2009
287th Redeployment
The 36th Sustainment Brigade is here to assume the logistics mission from the 287th, and that means we’re wrapping things up for our deployment! Since my orders carry me through mid-November, I may be involved in redeploying our unit through October.

At an awards ceremony near our headquarters, I was deeply honored to be presented with a Bronze Star from COL Schmitt, our Brigade Commander. In a future article, I’ll detail some of the changes I participated in, and the accomplishments I saw in our Brigade.
 
Army Deployment , General
posted by  henry at  11:04 | permalink | trackbacks [248]



17 Sep 2009
Army Strong
As a mobilized soldier from the Individual Ready Reserve, I’ve read articles focused on the negativity of how our military services are straining under such long-term engagements. So it is refreshing to examine the underlying facts and composition of our current force. The fact is that only 1% of the US population is serving in the military, and only three out of 10 American males 17 to 24 years of age are qualified physically, mentally and morally to be soldiers. General Frederick Kroesen published an article a few months ago citing the specifics of our force makeup, which I’ll summarize as a select crowd of smart, fit and well-trained men and women.

You have heard that the US Army continues to meet and exceed its recruitment goals- only slightly attributable to the down economy, but more driven by the combination of effective results and continued strong patriotism of our citizens. I myself am constantly impressed with the letters we receive from school children, workplaces and church groups telling soldiers how valuable their contributions are! Our nation’s patriotism transcends individual emotions and various negative opinions on the legitimacy of specific conflicts.

Our military track record is good, and that helps: With successes in Bosnia, great results thus far in Iraq, and serious brainpower and resources being applied to Afghanistan, I think the US military is establishing a reputation that we’re not just in it for ourselves, but truly here to help other nations move away from violence and oppression.
 
Army Deployment , General
posted by  henry at  12:47 | permalink | trackbacks [370]



13 Sep 2009
In Tallil and Grandmother’s Birthday
I’ve now relocated to Tallil, Iraq, with the Brigade Headquarters. My new job for the next month and a half is to help prepare the way for the next phase of this operation, continuing to advise and assist the Iraqi people while concurrently shrinking US forces. This job will largely be borne by our replacements, the 36th Sustainment Brigade, another National Guard unit out of Ft. Hood, Texas.

Speaking of Texas, my grandmother celebrated her 95th birthday in Abilene, Texas! She is a wonderful woman who has accomplished much, including exhaustive documentation on our family ancestry, publishing two books. Most of her friends and family were there to share in the celebration, including my brother Charles and his wife, Mary Kate . For my part, the 287th Sustainment Brigade was nice enough to fly a U.S. Flag in her honor, with a certificate signed by the Brigade Commander. That’s me under the flag pole: Happy Birthday, Grandmother Mary!
 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  12:23 | permalink | trackbacks [4018]



11 Sep 2009
Three New, Great Facilities
COB Basra is creating a couple of great things for soldiers and Iraq: first, there’s the Basra Bazaar. The intent is to give soldiers access to local vendors and local vendors access to soldiers! The 34th Infantry Division “Red Bull Report” recently highlighted the new Bazaar in Basra.

The second new thing for soldiers is the growing presence of the USO. The USO opened in July with free phones and Internet PCs, and will soon be expanding to become the largest USO in Southwest Asia! The staff and facilities are fantastic, and I’m sure this alone will put Basra on the map of great COBs in Southwest Asia.

But wait, there’s more! Basra’s big PX is scheduled to open later this month. It promises to be the largest square footage PX in Southwest Asia. By adapting one of the old dining facilities into a military exchange, it will offer not just military retail space, but also shops like a frame shop, Barber, calling center, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and a Green Bean coffee shop. So we’ve come a long way, Basra! From the barely trailer-sized British PX to these three new facilities, there are plenty of opportunities to dispose of your income!
 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  04:43 | permalink | trackbacks [3102]





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