Friday, February 20, 2004

The day arrived

In anticipation of things to come, I woke before my alarm could chime, my body clock way ahead of the events of the day (which is normally the case on a day like this one). It was 0430, early by any account, but a suitable way to begin my journey home on Friday the 13th. Due to a number of unforeseen circumstances near the end of this deployment I was mentally prepared and physically ready to be back in the states again.

There were just three of us left in country of the original 98 pack that I came together. With the rest of my group already in Kuwait waiting our arrival, my favorite Major, Captain Midway, and I were the last ones to leave Iraq. They had each decided to stick around till I was given the green light to leave, even though they were both chomping at the bit to get out of town. It is really great knowing that I have friends that will stick by my side when needed, each providing assistance and moral support.

The last few days spent at the airport were a refreshing break not only from the hectic life at the CPA, but also from the stressful time spent over at Camp Victory during the last two weeks. I didn¡¯t realize until now how exhausted I really was.
The non-stop schedule of the past twelve months has really taken its toll, but every second was spent to its fullest. I end this period of my life with no regrets and so many fond memories of what has transpired.

In the cool crispness of the early morning air, with the HMMV and a trailer loaded down with all our bags, we departed for the airport.

As expected the proverbial ¡°hurry up and wait¡± slogan associated with army life, came to mind several times through the course of the day as we did just that. As directed we were at the Baghdad airfield by 0530, only to sit and wait till almost 1130 before we actually left. Of course there was a role call at 0630 to turn in our papers, and another call at 0730, but then as I should have expected it was the traditional waiting game, as if to remind me one last time who was really in charge of my schedule.

It really hadn¡¯t hit me yet that I was actually leaving this land after such an event filled year. Like a large clown stuffed into a Jack-in-the-Box, it seems like the events of many years have all been crammed into one super-packed year of so many magical, mystical, and educational occurrences that would spring out if ever tapped into. It really feels like I have been gone for a lot longer than one year.

I was restless unable to sleep while waiting or even while flying. I was unable to control the plethora of thoughts racing through my head as I contemplated the journey home and the numerous individuals that I will truly miss.

My departure from the CPA, although sudden, did not prevent me from saying my sincere good-byes to a few choice friends. The two pilots, the doctor, and the contractor, who are the team now taking over the toy distribution, fortunately came to the CPA parking lot right before I was to leave. I have grown so close to each of them over the past 6 months, now referring to them as my closest Iraqi friends, outside of a few of the Generals.

The news of my sudden departure took them by surprise, causing them to be somewhat speechless as we embraced each other. With tears in our eyes, we expressed our love and appreciation for all that we had been able to jointly experience and accomplish, vowing to see each other again someday soon.

I realized perhaps for the first time that it is our relationships with others that really make us who we are, not the material items, the power or the fame.

At around 1130 our flight was finally called up for its departure. We loaded up the C-130, sat inside its barren hull, facing each other in our webbed seats, for a quick hour and a half flight down to Kuwait city. It was an incredibly smooth ride in contrast to the bumpy sweltering ride in a Chinook I took just 6 months previous.

As I arrived back in Kuwait City, I couldn¡¯t help but have flash backs from year ago when I arrived at that same airfield, the start of what turned out to be a wild ride. For a moment, while I felt the sand filled wind against my face, the all too familiar sand under my feet, and the noise of tents flapping in the wind, I thought it was beginning all over again.

As I sat in the parking lot watching our gear I re-experienced my initial thoughts, feelings, and attitudes of just arriving at the start of this conflict. It was a strange phenomena, as if trapped in some Twilight-Zone time warp, reliving days gone by. I will definitely not miss the hot summer sand storms of southern Iraq. (And I thought I had graduated from the beginners Iraq survival course?)

My favorite Major¡¯s voice announcing his purchase of a foot long Subway sandwich snapped me back to reality. Oh how sweet it was. That fact alone that there was now a Subway franchise here on base, was enough for me to realize that things were different and that I was leaving, not arriving. Normally the thought alone of eating such a treat would have sent me feeding frenzy, but it was all-good, as you can imagine.

My commander showed up in what appeared to be his Caribbean cruise attire, as if to say it is over and we are going to party now. Not having seen him since this whole thing started, he was a sight for sore eyes. I knew at that moment that it was almost time to put the uniform away. We had a lot of catching up to do as we shot questions at each other one right after another.

As I walked into the bay of our groups living quarters I was so happy to see all their smiling faces, as each one of them greeted me with such warmth and kindness. For the most part, outside of just a few individuals, I had not seen any of them since leaving the POW Camp some 6 months earlier, and many it had been the entire year.

We had all been greatly blessed and due to the grace of God; we had all made it back healthy and alive, with no serious injuries. It was a great reunion, filled with so much love for each other, their smiling faces permanently engrained in my mind. It is a group of men like no other. I will never forget their warm sincere reception, as they each, calling me Chief, said that it was sure good to see me again after all this time.

As I walked through the bay, past each of their bunks, I expressed my salutations shaking their hand, embracing or patting them on the back. I had forgotten how many great guys we had brought with us, anxious to hear about all of their escapades. It was a great gathering of our group, which had been thrown to the winds, scattered all over this country; each with their own magical story of great things that had been accomplished.

And of course they were all there, Chief Authentico, Baghdaddy, Captain Midway, Major I like the most, and so on and so forth. We were all going home.

Due to my Dad¡¯s condition back home, I was only able to spend a couple of days in Kuwait City at Camp Doha. I am taking an early emergency leave home to check on his condition, not wanting to re-experience another death in my immediate family in my absence.

I stayed just long enough to out-process, making sure to turn in all the required equipment and take all of the necessary briefings, so that if at all possible I won¡¯t have to come back. It took me all day Friday to get down to Kuwait, arriving around 5pm, and I left on the first available flight Monday night.

I made sure that in-between equipment turn-ins and briefings that I got plenty of rest and relaxation, catching a couple of movies and making sure that I ate plenty of ice cream over at Baskin Robbins, like the doctor would have ordered I am sure.

There was so much to be said, so much to catch up on, and so many lessons learned to share. You could tell that each person was just dieing to release a certain amount of pressure, through the sharing of emotions, feelings, or thoughts. Not wanting to monopolize the time, I was serious to listen intently hoping to glean something of value from each one.

Even though I was happy to be able to return early for my Father, I was saddened to think that I would not be returning with the group, hoping to share in that moment with them, in all of its splendor and emotion. If all goes well, I might still be able to hook up with them in Fort Carson, Colorado, to out-process further. There are certain things that have to be experienced together, like finishing up with the gang I went with, sharing a few last happy joyous experiences and coming across the finish line together, heads held high knowing we did our part and completed our mission with honor.

The time spent at Camp Doha, Kuwait City, was well spent; putting in a few good workouts in the enormous gym, downing a couple of large pizzas, slurping up a couple of hot fudge Sundays, enjoying long hot showers, telling others about the marvelous book I read (which I have now read again for the third time while traveling on the planes), and engaging in several fascinating discussions.

My favorite Major took me to the airport early on Monday so that we might hit the TGI Fridays in Kuwait city, beginning the transition from Army/Iraqi cuisine over to regular good-old-American processed semi-fast food. It was quite a meal, one that really hit the spot (it is a big spot, too). Thanks so much Major for allowing me to begin the journey home early, getting back into my style and form, the old grove as you would, you know, the personality zone (at times I wondered if I still had one).

Just to give you an idea of the time line for the return flight here you go. I had to arrive at the airport by 10 pm, the flight left at 0140am, arrived in Amsterdam 6 and a half hours later, a four hour lay over, then a 10 hour flight to Atlanta, a 2 hour lay over which turned into a three hour lay over in Atlanta, and then a 4 hour flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. All in all it took over 30 hours once I arrived at the airport to get to Salt Lake City, arriving at 1900 the evening of Tuesday the 17th.

Actually it was a great flight, with several really good movies on the plane, some good food at the rest stops, plenty of good reading, and even a shower (I paid for) in Amsterdam.

During the course of my travels I had plenty of time to think about my experiences and the impact it has had on my life. I have been like one big Hoover learning machine, sucking up knowledge as fast as I could, engaging in the extreme sport of living, as an active participant. I have tried to remain like Gumby, pliable and flexible to the changing forces of God, the master artist, spinning me on the wheel of life, that I might become the valued art piece of his creation.

Opposition in all things

It is increasingly evident that, as stated by others and in modern day scripture, there is opposition in all things. This opposition actually can work as the refining fire to further develop our character and the inner principles of our belief system. I am a living testament to confirm that opposition does exist in a variety of forms, the flies of adversity that pester and bother our lives. Hurdles and difficulties lie ahead of us no matter what path we chose to travel.

This path that has opened up before me, allowing me to accomplish wonderful and magical things, has been replete with obstacles and roadblocks, requiring me to adjust, adapt, and re-think my direction and solutions many times. It was never stated that it would be easy, only that it would be worth it, which has definitely been the case.

As depicted in the movie ¡°Lord of the Rings¡± there are two forces in life, the forces of good and evil, which are in affect and continue to enhance or plague us in all of our endeavors. Just as developed in the Oriental philosophies of Yin and Yang, one cannot exist without the other, forcing us to anticipate perhaps counteractions and evil responses to all good that we attempt to perform.

Equally so, we cannot expect to live in a vacuum of goodness, with out the influences or counterproductive forces of evil infiltrating our environment and interfering with our good intentions. We do not live in a nation protected from the evil influences of other people or nations. We cannot expect to remain in a state of oblivion, ignoring the forces of evil around us, as if there is no affect. We cannot expect to topple and unseat the forces of evil in Iraq without severe repercussions by those vary forces.

I have seen the destructive forces of opposition in all that I have attempted to do over in Iraq, from those that chose to find fault or endeavor to set up road blocks to our forward progress. None of us can sit idly by ignoring these forces, thinking we will not lose ground to them, for it is quite the contrary. Life is never a static situation; for it¡¯s dynamics indicate that we are perpetually moving forward or backward, gaining or giving ground.

As in the movie, action is required to sustain the forces of righteousness, for the evil forces of opposition will not go down without a fight. But righteousness will prevail if we but have faith and tirelessly strive to overcome these forces, as was recently displayed to me in so many ways, which I will discuss later. President Bush personally speaking about my efforts here in Iraq was one of those faith promoting, mountain moving moments.

Great being an American

While traveling not only did I have a lot of time to read, but to reflect on the things I enjoy as an American. I have been blessed with an opportunity to gain an in depth appreciation for my American citizenship. I am not here to say that we have the perfect society and that the forces of evil aren¡¯t a live and well in our own country, but we have much to be grateful for. Yes, I agree that not all Americans would concur or also share these same freedoms but many do and many could. I do believe that we must fight that they might. 

I love that we are free. But, freedom is not free and comes with a price to pay; it also requires a sacrifice and effort to insure we will remain free. The forces of evil would have us all be otherwise.

I enjoy the fact that I can get in my car and drive anywhere I want. I can just go for a road trip, which is something I long to do. I yearn for the day that I can just get in my car and drive.

I love the fact that there are no walls topped with barbed wire around my house or neighborhood. And there is green grass around my yard, with trees and shrubbery. I also have towering snowcapped mountains behind my house, which affords me the opportunity to go camping and fishing.

I have greatly missed the virtual buffet of food and music that we freely enjoy in America, with all of its diversities.

I enjoy the order of law-abiding citizens respecting the rights of others and enjoying their own rights. I have seen the chaotic result in the absence of law and order.

I enjoy the peace of mind that comes from not having to worry about my life and safety everywhere I go. I enjoy not having to have to consider taking a weapon whenever I go somewhere, as another appendage of my body.

I am proud that we have a president who had the fortitude and courage to act upon what he believed to be right; that regardless of the consequences he stuck to his plan and followed through in Operation Iraqi Freedom, giving millions of people the opportunity to live as free citizens in their own country. 

I am proud that I had the opportunity to serve my country by going to Iraq and being part of that great historical event, the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Also, being free to not only perform my mission but to do my part in winning the minds and hearts of the Iraqi people.

I am glad that my family understands and appreciates my desire to serve and my willingness to do my part in bringing about a successful conclusion to this mission.

I am home

I arrived home Tuesday night, reuniting myself with my family for the first time in almost one year. Everyone is doing great.

My Dad

I visited with my Father on Wednesday for some time, discussing his condition and situation. He is optimistic but the doctors have decided not to put him through any type of treatment, which would force him to endure additional pain, due to the advanced stage of the colon cancer. But he is stable at this time, not sure how long he will last, or how fast the cancer will progress. He is in a care center and is coherent. But they haven¡¯t given him much hope to live past a couple of months.

I really appreciate all of your concern for his well-being and care. I am very thankful for your prayers on his behalf.

Have a great day!

Chief Wiggles
Doing it the Wiggles way