SSG Wise

This has been perhaps the toughest week of the deployment yet emotionally for my company. We've had a slew of Red Cross messages lately, most of which are for grandparents passing away or with serious medical issues. Unfortunately, the Army doesn't consider them immediate family, so I'm usually the one to break the bad news to the Soldier that they can't go home to see them one last time or even for the funeral. Today we got news that one of our former mechanics had passed away unexpectedly. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer a few months prior to this deployment so was not allowed to go. Apparently the treatment was progressing and he kept a positive attitude throughout, always thinking he was getting better and would be joining us soon. As of last night he was on life support and unresponsive and early this morning he breathed his last in the presence of his wife and parents. The funeral will likely be in Savannah in a few days, but again none of his close friends will likely be there due to the rules.

 

I never met Staff Sergeant Wise, yet am amazed at the influence he had within the motor pool and the impression he made on the entire medical team trying to save his life. Even those who only knew him for a few months were crying today as everyone from my First Sergeant to the privates were affected. A couple months ago we put together a plaque for him and made a video greeting from Afghanistan, which one of our medics delivered in person over his R&R.

 

We gathered everyone together in the chapel to break the news, gave everyone the opportunity to share their memories, and after about an hour the Chaplain gave a quick message to close the service. He cited Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ² a time to be born and a time to die." I didn't feel qualified to say anything at the service, but kept thinking of Psalm 90:12 which says "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." As easy as it is for me to bide away my time remaining here by counting the number of days or months left, I'd rather make the most of every day God gives me as the Commander. In a sad way this was a reminder of our mortality for my troops, since we fortunately have not lost anyone in combat yet this year in our Brigade.

M984 Wrecker

Let me introduce you to the most capable ground vehicle in the Army's inventory: the M984 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) 'Wrecker'. My company has eight Soldiers specially trained to operate this complicated piece of machinery, on-call 24 hours daily for any and every type of mission. These guys are on speed dial with the Bagram Military Police, constantly called upon to move disabled or stuck vehicles off the road to the nearest maintenance facility. They are also the enforcers on base, often towing illegally parked vehicles to the impound. In what was perhaps their most prolific mission yet, an AirBus A380 crashed on landing and clogged up the runway on Bagram for a few hours. The wrecker crew responded in the middle of a rainy night to help remove one of the damaged engines from the jetliner. Everyone involved was simply amazed at the strength and power of this vehicle and additionally in the competence of the crew.

I tagged along with my guys on one of the missions last weekend, which was also unique as it involved an Afghan civilian fuel truck, a.k.a. "Jingle" truck for the way they are often decorated. The truck was broken down right in front of a busy gate and needed to be moved immediately. So, two of my best Soldiers were there right away and had the vehicle hooked up and off the base within 45 minutes.

The vehicle itself is known as the 'Dragon Wagon' and is made by Oshkosh in Wisconsin. It has a 10 ton crane/wench (at full reach) which is used to flip or extract vehicles from the mud and has the ability to tow almost anything, including the new MRAP's and M-ATV's. With internal oxygen and acetylene tanks, the wrecker is also offers mobile cutting/welding abilities.

Enjoy your Memorial Day, and please take a moment out of your long weekend to pay respect to those whom have made the ultimate sacrifice. For me this is personal as 11 of my classmates and two pilots from my last unit have paid this price with their lives. 

I'll end with a quote from General Patton, always a dangerous proposition for a military officer, but it is relevant to this occasion: 

"We, as officers of the army, are not only members of the oldest of honorable professions, but are also the modern representatives of the demi-gods 
and heroes of antiquity. Before us stretches a line of men whose acts of valor, of self-sacrifice, and of service have been the theme of song and story 
since long before recorded history began."

Whose school is the coolest?

Most of you may know that I went to West Point, receiving my nomination from Senator Kent Conrad. This weekend, exactly 6 years ago, I received my diploma from the Secretary of Defense at the time, Donald Rumsfeld. Some of you may also know that Jocelyn is a proud Texas Aggie, having graduated  7 years ago this month, when she received her diploma from the President of Texas A&M at the time (and our current Secretary of Defense), Dr. Robert Gates. Both schools are rooted in tradition and rich with history, and this week I'd like to take a lighthearted look at how they stack up:

Founded -  A&M: 1876     USMA: 1802   (Advantage USMA; we also were the first school in the country to institute class rings, which A&M tried to copy and claim!)

Class Size -  A&M: 8,200      USMA: ~1,000    (I guess this depends on your perspective. A&M definitely had a better male:female ratio)

Mascot -  A&M: Reveille the dog    USMA: Army Mule/ Black Knight  (This is also a toss-up. What is an Aggie anyways?)

Corps of Cadets - A&M commissioned more officers during WWII than both of the service academies combined. 55 of the 60 Civil War battles were fought between Generals from West Point on both sides. Today USMA has grown to 4,400 Cadets, about 80% of whom will commission. The Fightin' Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets is less than 2,000, with less than half choosing to continue in military service. (Winner: West Point)

Rhodes Scholars since 1904 -  A&M: 5    USMA: 85   (West Point is actually 4th behind Harvard, Princeton, and Yale)

Presidents -  A&M: none, though it is former President George H.W. Bush's adopted school.    USMA: two (Generals/Presidents Grant and Eisenhower)

Sports -  A&M has the slight advantage here as it is better at conventional sports such as Football and Basketball. Army excels at Rugby, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, and Lacrosse!

Spirit -  A&M again wins, as their motivation is more genuine in my opinion while West Point's is somewhat forced due to mandatory participation and attendance.

Ranking from Forbes Best Colleges in America -  A&M: 191     West Point: #1 overall!
  

Overall: Well, some categories were close but of course I'm partial to my alma mater. Plus, these are words you don't often hear in football: WEST POINT WINS!

More than anything, I appreciate the role both schools played in our development, much more so than your average state school or elitist private school. Jocelyn enjoyed her experience immensely and A&M helped build a strong foundation for her professional career and also shaped much of her 'Howdy' personality. Who knows, I may be an Aggie myself someday soon. At Jocelyn's prompting, I attended the annual Aggie Muster here on Bagram which a small group of Soldiers and Civilians. This is a solemn ceremony, with a little singing, to honor the Aggies who have fallen and to reminisce about better times in Aggieland. Jocelyn also attended a Muster on the same day in Savannah so, in a way, it was one of the few things we could do 'together' from thousands of miles away.

West Point also holds an annual 'Founders Day' to celebrate the school's founding over 200 years ago. This was a much larger group, ranging from fresh Lieutenants to the 2-star General of Bagram. Good times!

***Disclaimer: Jocelyn is much smarter and prettier than myself. This comparison of schools is merely for fun. We are both equally proud of our respective schools.

Half

“Is the glass half full, or half empty?  It depends on whether you're pouring, or drinking.” 
- Bill Cosby

 This month marks the half-way point of our 13 month deployment, so I'd like to take this opportunity to reflect a little. I think it is impossible for most people to comprehend the immense sacrifice involved in such a long deployment. Many young couples may cry at a single weekend or week apart, and perhaps those that are older may take for granted the decades they have enjoyed together. Including our dating period, Jocelyn and I have lived in the same proximity for one out of the past 3 years. This is not a pity party, but rather reality. I entered West Point with a duty to fulfill a 5-year obligation at a minimum (plus 2 for Aviation). Jocelyn and I committed to each other and our marriage knowing full well that the Navy and the Army are not compatible, expecting this deployment for myself and possibly a short tour for her.


Even among military folks, the Navy and Marines think 7-8 month deployments are a hardship. I still hear Air Force personnel complaining about the change from 90-day to 6-month deployments for critical positions. Yet the Army considers 12 month deployments as a guideline (with 13-15 being the norm) and then promises only one year at home before the next trip overseas. This is incredibly frustrating to Soldiers, who really have no choice but to grin and bear it. Many in my company have been deployed for 3-4 out of the last 8-9 years our nation has been in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention time away from families on year-long excursions to Korea and month-long training exercises in garrison. Most of these are consequently divorced, some more than once, and a significant number suffer from psychological effects such as PTSD and insomnia. It is my opinion that one year is entirely too long to devote to ANY cause if it takes someone away from their family.  Most people's memory cannot even span one year, as they forget about those deployed or make comments about how quickly the time is passing. Try telling that to an Army wife!


So, with approximately 6 months remaining I'm not sure if I even have 1/2 a tank of gas left. Thankfully I'm still entitled to 2 weeks of Rest & Relaxation in August which should help recharge the batteries. But the path will not get any easier from here as we prepare to redeploy and reintegrate. The weather is getting hotter, the enemy is more active then ever, Bagram is increasingly crowded, my Soldiers are getting complacent, and my previous optimism is gradually fading.  Our company is seeing an increased head count at the Dining Facility (30% more than last year), more vehicles to fix, and more patients to treat than ever before.

I realize that 6 months may seem like forever from my myopic perspective, but trust that in a few years this will all be a bittersweet memory. If anything this year has once again reminded me not to rely upon myself, even though 240 Soldiers are counting on me for guidance and wise decisions. My source of strength, grace, and peace must come from the Lord. Left to my own abilities and intuitions I have and will fail.

Thank you for your prayers to get us over this hump. God-willing I'll be home by Thanksgiving!

Aviation Dining Facility

Did you eat out this weekend? I know of a nice place on Bagram where you can get all-you-can eat delicacies for free on Friday nights! The Aviation DFAC of course...the best place to eat on base. Actually, some might say it's the best place to eat in the country. Why? Because our Dining Facility is the only one in CENTCOM command (which includes Afghanistan and Iraq) with real American Soldiers doing the cooking. Every other place features contracted dining facilities, with cooks and servers from a cross-section of eastern European countries working under a KBR or Fluor contract. In general, their food is generic and bland. Yet somehow, even with the same food suppliers, my cooks work miracles with their materials. Most often this is sans recipe, or maybe something their grandmother taught them years ago.  People come from all over the base just to taste some of that home-cooked goodness. Can you tell I'm proud?

I consider myself an ok cook, but this is on a different scale. We average a headcount of 2,400 servicemembers and civilians daily, serving 3 meals a day, 7 days a week for over a year. All of this with a staff of only 48 Soldiers, split between two shifts. In addition there are 34 Local Nationals (LN's) from Afghanistan who are paid to clean (the worst part of cooking, right?) So, most Friday's I find myself in the Dining Facility to assist with the mission, usually serving on the main line. This week, however, I went behind the scenes to help prepare the Friday feast. My job was to unpack, unwrap, season, and boil over 1,500 lobster tails. This is all accomplished in a huge boiler which can cook a few hundred at a time, but the whole process still took me about 3.5 hours!

The main attraction is probably the steak, which they start making at 10am and keep cooking until 6pm and place in warmers in order to meed the demand.  Actually the guys in my welding shop built this massive grill from scratch, and are obviously quite proud of it also. Also on the menu: fried popcorn shrimp, crab cakes, green bean casserole, lobster bisque, corn on the cob, mac & cheese, and homemade peach cobbler. About the only think my cooks can't do is make pizza, as we are not allowed to order yeast for fear of its possible abuse as a fermenting agent. If you didn't know, alcohol of any type is illegal here, though we do stock near-beers. Lest I forget we also serve 6 flavors of Baskin-Robbins ice cream every day, yet some people still complain about the lack of variety. Sometimes civilian contractors forget we are in a war zone.

So, if you're ever in Bagram stop by on a Friday night and ask for the commander. I'll make sure you get the best seat in the house.

2nd Anniversary

Two years ago, May 3rd, 2008, I married the most wonderful man on earth (in my opinion). Among all the famous passages read at weddings, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is probably the most popular and is mentioned in every sermon on the topic of love that I have ever heard.

Recently, I read a blog by Catherine Fitzgerald. In it, she re-wrote this passage from the perspective of a military wife. I thought it was such a cool idea, so figured I would do my own version…

Love is patient during this long deployment, when standing in line at the post office to mail yet another care package or waiting up at night wondering if Mark will get a chance to call....And then getting into bed and staring at the ceiling, wondering how God is going to get me through a year of this (and then hugging Bella, knowing that she is part of God's "rescue plan.")

Love is kind after months of taking care of everything “on my own” – the house, the lawn, the cars, Bella, and everything else on the home front – and trying to put a smile on my face for when I talk to Mark even though I may have just had a little break-down fifteen minutes earlier.

It does not envy the fact so many families around me get to have “normal” lives with a husband that comes home in time for dinner every night and gets to spend the evening and weekends relaxing and enjoying family time. (I must admit, I’m still working on this one…)

It does not boast that I get to do whatever I want on the weekends while Mark is stuck in “groundhog day” where every day is the same with the exception of a few hours to go to church on Sunday. However, despite my freedom to go and do as I please, it just isn’t the same when my “other half” is missing.

It is not proud…well, actually, it is proud of how Mark is serving this country in a way that relatively few ever will. He has definitely forever earned the title of “Hero” and I can’t wait to tell our future children how strong and brave their daddy is.

It is not rude when we are tired or just having a hard day. Rather, love is what allows us to comfort each other through those tough times, to praise each other in the happy times, and to just be silent, yet perfectly understanding, in those times filled with tears.

It is not self-seeking as evidenced by the sacrifice that we BOTH make each and every day. Make no mistake…this war is not just fought in Afghanistan. It is fought every day in the battlefield of my heart and mind here at home.

It is not easily angered when we are left to the uncertainty of the Army and a “homecoming date” that will probably change at least ten times between now and then.

It keeps no records of wrongs because we know that our time together during this deployment is so limited and precious that we can’t waste it on such pettiness.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth that through the challenges and trials of this deployment, God is strengthening our marriage in a way our civilian counterparts can never understand.

It always protects our marriage by steering clear of temptations during separation, and covers each other in prayer for the guarding of our physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being while we are apart.

Always trusts that God will bring us back together again, somehow stronger than when we parted. We believe that this wasn’t something the Army “did to us.” It is something that God has, in His Providence, called us to, even if we can’t understand why right now.

Always hopes that there is no trial, challenge, or separation that can keep our love from growing stronger. If God has brought us to this, then He intends to use it for our good.

Always perseveres through this military life because we have the strength of our Heavenly Father and an intense love for one another.

Love never fails because it is in it for the long haul. When we said "I do," we made a covenant before God to commit to each other unconditionally for the rest of our lives. We know He will be with us every step of the way to help us honor and preserve that promise.

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Mark!!! I love you more and more every day...

Bella Hope

Bella Hope....or Beautiful Hope (as her name means in Italian) pretty much sums our little girl up. Since we brought her home on July 10, 2009 in that little green dress, our lives have been changed for the better. Since yesterday was her FIRST birthday, I wanted to post a blog dedicated to her. Some of you may think I'm crazy, but those who have been through a deployment with the companionship and love of a dog will know what I mean. Simply put, next to God Himself, she has been the one constant in my life....the non-deployable member of the family who goes where I go and is simply content to be anywhere I am.

Usually, I am never short on words, but it is hard to capture everything that Bella means to me...She is the reason I care to go home at the end of the day and she is a big reason why I still can smile (if not laugh out loud) through this year. Nights would be particularly difficult without her, having to go to sleep in a dark, empty house. Yet, I lay down and soon after I feel a warm little girl cuddling up, wedging herself as close as she can next to my side. With another beating heart in the house, all is well. Then, Saturday and Sunday morning (probably the toughest times of the week for me), she is the first thing I see, ready to snuggle and play. Of course, she keeps me busy too...She is almost always "up to something." Currently, her top three ways of getting into trouble are pulling the hamper over on herself and taking the clothes out, dragging toilet paper rolls around the house, and trying to steal shoes from our closet. Yet, that sweet and innocent face seems to always get her out of any punishment!! (I already told Mark he is going to have to be the disciplinarian of the family.)

I also wanted to give a special thanks to Lloyd, our neighbor who comes over faithfully every week day to check on Bella while I am at work. Oftentimes, I think this "check" turns into hours, as he gives Bella as much love and attention as I do. Also, thanks to Kathryn, the breeder who raised Bella until she was 10 weeks old. Without the special care she gave all her puppies, I don't think Bella would have the sweet personality she has today.

Bella has been nothing short of a blessing straight from God. I thank HIM for providing me with such a wonderful source of joy, love, and laughter, especially during this difficult time.

***The picture is from her birthday. She really did quite well for a dog!! She got presents from the grandparents and her mom and dad. (She liked dad's present best, though...a toy that you hide little toy squirrels in.) She even had her own cake!!