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I’ve traveled a fair amount, but never before was there a live band playing at my homecoming. It took four days to return from Iraq. We waited twelve hours in a cold, damp hoop house for a plane out of COB Speicher. A severe thunderstorm, …

Shortly after five every morning when it is still dark, I hear automatic weapons rattle across the base from a firing range somewhere. I am amazed at how accustomed I’ve become to hearing that tat-tat-tat as I sit in bed reading, waiting to feel drowsy …

As of today, my team members and I have worked 114 days consecutively with the exception of one team member who was SIQ (Sick in Quarters) a few days on doctor’s orders due to a respiratory infection. Otherwise, we have each come into the office …

I haven’t slept soundly since I arrived at COB Speicher. No one I have talked to has either. A steady stream of Apache, Blackhawk, and Chinook helicopters make their landing descent over our CHUs. The roar of the engines comes so close the CHU shakes. …

Passing emergency messages becomes so routine one can forget the significance of what is being relayed. One message this week woke me from my robotic ways. Even the format of our messages is uniform: “Serviceman’s father (name and phone number) requests notification and presence due …

Like when you are a kid at summer camp, mail is pretty exciting here. This week I received a box from friends at the college where I teach in my real life. They sent two pounds of my favorite coffee and, to my surprise and …

We have hit the halfway mark of our deployment and all is well, although I must admit we are getting a little tired. After working sixty-seven consecutive days we are a bit weary. Computer problems continue to plague us. The computer program that we use …

I think all of the camouflage is starting to get to me. I had a dream the other night I found a bright, canary yellow blouse in my closet here and had an overwhelming desire to wear it. Definitely not a possibility in the midst …

I admit that I am relieved the holidays are over, not for the usual reasons of being exhausted from shopping and celebrating, but rather relieved I survived missing my family, my friends, and our usual traditions. The sergeants, specialists, and captains I pass messages to …

I am faring reasonably well with my three duffle bags of equipment issued to me in Ft. Benning. I use the uniforms, t-shirts, and boots daily. A dark green camouflage poncho liner serves as my bedspread. We were told to bring our own PT (Physical …