Carrying the Load

My support counterpart was transferred to a FOB in Iraq. His replacement is months out so I get the whole enchilada for a while. Oh well, done it before. It just means less sleep and more decisions to be made. The CO is going on R&R in a few days and the S-3 is leaving for good as he is done and headed home. It is going to be a very, very busy time for me the next couple of weeks. until the CO gets back.

I am actually so busy that I was able to duck a mission to Iraq and send some one else. It ain't chicken talking, it is just reality. I get that busy some times. I have never ducked a movement into Iraq or anywhere else but it was kind of nice to be able to send some one else. Of course if he gets hurt I will be feeling guilty for a while. I can't let that bother me though. Others have to make those decisions every day with even more tragic possible consequences. At least I dont have to worry about combat missions. I have always felt that combat unit leaders never get the respect they are due. It is bad enough to have to send some one across the berm or out the wire but to actually have to tell'em to go waepons hot and have a live load looking for Haji is something that I hope I never have to do. My hat is off to all of them.

My friend Butch came into Kuwait a couple of days ago. He walked up to an operation that he knows belongs under my AO and told the guy there to "Get Mig on the phone!" Now keep in mind that Butch is over 6 feet tall, a football coach in the land of the big PX, and a full Colonel who was wearing full battle rattle. The poor sap there just about crapped his pants and thought I was in deep doo doo. Butch got on the phone and we had a great chat. He was going up north and will cycle back in a coouple of weeks. I promised him I would bring pizza out when he gets here as he can't leave post. It is really funny to see the reaction that he has on people. He is very intimidating looking and his bearing is one of absolute malice but he is a big'ole teddy bear of a man. I cherish my relationship with him and many others. As I have stated many times, the finest people I have ever met have been part of this effort. Every other relationship (except family) will pale in comparison. Every expereince will too. I won't get so melodramatic as to say Band of Brothers but there is a comradeship and bond that no one else can break. We were here. We saw it up close. We were part of it. Proud I am of that, damn proud.

Oh well, thats my SitRep for today.