4th & Dragon : Dungeons and Dragons...and stuff

Well, here I come back from Iraq.  During the fifteen months I was away many things changed in my life.  My children all became one year older… all five of them.  I lost my dog to cancer, and got two new ones (a pekinese mix and a great pyrenese-full breed). 

And I went from an autumn desert weather (which was around mid to high 90s) to a foot plus of snow.... Thank God for Fort Drum weather!

Lastly, I would like to call the attention to those of my brethren who have shed their blood for their country.

SSG John Linde- Killed in Action
SSG Carletta “Doc” Davis- Killed in Action
SGT Derek Stenroos- Killed in Action
PFC Adam Muller- Killed in Action

SGT Jason Booker- Shot by Sniper (doing great by the way).

Thank you.

Glad to see you took my advice and kept your head down.  Welcome home!

I’ll keep your buddies in mind.

Welcome home, fessus. Thank you, and thanks to your fellow soldiers for all you’ve done.

Welcome home! Words cannot express the gratitude and respect I have for you and your fellow soldiers. My thoughts and prayers go to the families of your fallen comrades.

Glad to see you back. Thank you to both you, and your comrades for your service. Also, thank you for the hope of a safe return of my personal friends.

Talae - 29 October 2008 08:50 PM

Glad to see you back. Thank you to both you, and your comrades for your service. Also, thank you for the hope of a safe return of my personal friends.

Same.

Welcome home, you guys have done a terrific job.  Thanks from a Kiwi living in Australia.

Welcome home.  It is my hope that many more troops will return home within the next year.  I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends again.

Talae and Uncle where are your friends at?

Ditto Merc’s sentiments; it’s good to have you back!  I’m sorry to hear about your boys, and I appreciate what you guys do for the rest of us.  Sorry about your dog too; I know how that goes. 

Glad you’re in one piece!  A buddy of mine that was over there got struck by lightning twice and was diagnosed with MS.  Seems like the insurgency was the least of his worries.

fessus viator - 30 October 2008 05:22 PM

Talae and Uncle where are your friends at?

Iraq is all I know. Marines.

Marines… well he should be good then.  I mean they are knuckleheads, but at least they are professional knuckleheads who are good.  I married into the “Corps”.  Father-in-Law just retired from the Marines as a Harrier Pilot.  Him and I had a good many conversations about the vast differences between Marines and the Army. 

Doom.. your friend got struck by lightning while in Iraq?  Was it Insurgent Lightning… its possible.  Was he on patrol or on the FOB?

4 in Iraq, 2 from my graduating class.  One guarding detainees at Gitmo.  USMC and Army mostly.

3 National Gaurd(2 air national gaurd, 1 army national guard), 2 not sure where they are at right now but spent most of thier time in Iraq, 1 just got shipped to Afghanistan.  My Aunt in law is a Major stationed in Germany so she is probably not going to have to go back to Iraq anytime soon.

2 of the NG members are from my graduating class and 1 is from college.

I had two of my buddies make it back safe and sound, but 1 might be getting redeployeed.

Lost a friend in a parachute malfunction.

Sorry to hear about your friends man, that sucks. Glad to hear your back in one piece.

Doom.. your friend got struck by lightning while in Iraq?  Was it Insurgent Lightning… its possible.  Was he on patrol or on the FOB?

Not sure; on patrol, I think.  I’ll try to ask him about it the next time he’s up.  He says you can feel everything around you tingle for about half a second before it hits.  Partially melted the rod in his leg too.