A Soldiers Story....

so here i am almost 2 years after making this thing..... ans i must admit.... It really didnt turn out like i had hoped.
Working 18 hour days..... lack of sleep..... using my brain waaaay too much at work and coming home to write... really didnt seem like my idea of relaxing.

So everyone who actually read this, what little i did write in it.... thank you,... and also.. thank you for your support.

Currently, I've been home almost a year now, and im preparing to go BACK to Afghanistan sometime in May of this year (2009)

Again im gonna attempt to write in this thing.....  ha ha we'll see how  this works!

Soldier from Orange City dies in Afghanistan

PHOTO COURTESY U.S. ARMY Remembered as inspiring soldier — Cpl. Adam D. Quinn, 22, of Orange City, was killed in Afghanistan when an IED exploded near the vehicle he was riding in. Quinn was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. His buddies remembered him as a leader who could always make others feel good. Published 10-09-2007 SPECIAL TO THE BEACON An Army paratrooper from Orange City died in Afghanistan Saturday, Oct. 6, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near the vehicle he was in. Cpl. Adam D. Quinn, 22, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, was an automation specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Co., the Army reported. The explosion that killed him occurred near Kabul. Quinn's charismatic and outgoing personality was noted by both his leaders and friends. "[Cpl.] Quinn was extremely popular and respected by his peers and superiors alike," said Capt. Eric Von Fischer-Benzon, HHC company commander. "To him, nothing was a bother, and helping out a fellow soldier or civilian was a genuine pleasure for him." "We went everywhere together," said Spc. Derrick Rice, an infantryman with HHC and Quinn's best friend in Afghanistan. "He was definitely a good guy, very likeable," he said. "We used to joke that he was my voice because I couldn't really talk to people. He was really good at talking to people; he was a real people person." "Adam loved to joke around and just have fun. It didn't seem like much ever got him down," said Spc. Shawn Dempsey, a friend of Quinn. "If he saw you down, he knew just what to say to get you back in a good mood." Sgt. Maj. Curtis Regan, the operations sergeant major for the 82nd Airborne Division, noted Quinn's contribution to the Army. "[Cpl.] Quinn was the kind of soldier that made you look forward to coming to work each morning," Regan said. "There was something about him and the expression on his face that made you feel good about being a soldier yourself, and as a leader, left you feeling that the institutional soul of the Army was in good hands. He had that impact on everyone around him, and he will be sorely missed." Quinn joined the Army in August 2003. He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in October 2003, Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga., in April 2004, and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., in May 2004. He arrived to the 82nd Airborne Division in August 2004, and was assigned to the Division Headquarters. "[Cpl.] Quinn was admired by his peers and superiors and will be greatly missed. He always gave 100 percent to everything he did," said 1st Sgt. Christopher McKnight, the HHC first sergeant. "The loss of this paratrooper will be felt across the company." Quinn's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal with, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist's Badge. Quinn is survived by his wife, Faye, who is from Guthrie, Okla., and his parents, Charles and Sherri Quinn, both of Orange City. A memorial ceremony will be held for Quinn in Afghanistan. The family in Orange City also plans a memorial ceremony; this story will be updated as soon as details are available. — Reports from Afghanistan provided by the U.S. Army Public Affairs Office.

Adam... Dude....
I know we didnt talk much, but the few time we did were outrageous dude. Us Floridians really know how to keep a conversation going for hours huh? I remember when you came back from leave and i was on guard duty, you said you were gonna be a father. Then we talked for hours on how your kid would be a lil surfer boy or girl. I have to admit, wheni heard the news of your death, i was in shock. Complete shock. I saw this pictures too, by choice, and i promise you that, that isn't how you'll be remembered. I know it wasnt your choice to go and leave all of us behind. Just keep an eye on us dude. Your no worries whatever man attitude will be remembered always, and i will forever hold the good times in my heart. My friends at home surfed in your honor and touched the sea in your rememberance. Thank you for your friendship and your smiles. Save a Wave for me in Heaven.

~~Shannon Gardiner
===========================================================

Quinn,

Life is funny in many ways, but yet so difficult in others. You had such a great way of always looking on the brighter side of things. Never would I hear you complain, and never would I see you turn someone in need down. Life and the world today is a lesser place without you here. You were taken before your time, and before you had even started what you set to accomplish. I too have not even begun to accept that you are gone. I seem to have twisted my mind into believing you're on Emergency Leave or R & R at this point. I know that none of this will be as hard as when we all go home, and the memories of the 'good times' come back to haunt us all. I remember when I first saw you again after I got back from R & R and you were so thrilled in becoming a father. In truth it was supposed to be this week that you would find out whether you had a son or daughter on the way. I now feel even more saddened that your child will never know their father the way every child should. But rest assure that they will come to know their father, and the great man that he was. You meant a lot to so many and asked for nothing in return. You always had a smile, and will always be remembered in that way. I can honestly say that I have lived in a time of heroes, and you are no exception. You have paid the ultimate sacrifice and I can only salute you for that. I ask that you watch over us all, continue to enlighten us all, and never forget just how loved you were and will always. You were my friend, my brother-in-arms, and one I would go to war with any day of the week. I will miss you dear friend, and I know that up there in heaven you are amongst the elite, those that also sacrificed themselves for freedom, and above others the angels. I take comfort in knowing that one day I will see you again my friend, but not yet. Thank You for how much you touched my life, and thank you for service, your presence will never be forgotten. Until then I will keep a sharp look out and always find ways to remember you. Whether it be sharing some of the ridiculous conversations we had, remembering some of the odd eating habits you had, or even playing pong with the radios while on guard duty. You were the best man, and that is more noble than anything I could ever reach for.

Joshua Robb

___________________________________________________________
Adam Quinn,
Wow, this has been a rough year for me. You are the third piece of my heart that has been torn away without me even having a chance to grasp it. Sitting at your Memorial today reality hit home, I lost a friend. I have lost many friends before but not an Army friend. You see Adam Army friends are different. Army friend's will have your back no matter what or would literally die for you. Army friend's means you don't even have to be friend's at all to have a bond. That was us. I didn't know you when you came out and were talking to me as I cried. You gave me advice and even made me laugh. I had never even seen you before that night. We pulled details together and made jokes about HHC and said we'd do bigger things some day in both the Army and in life. Well, you did. You did the most nobel thing a person could ever do, you died a hero. You have brought light into everyone's life and for some that light is lost but for me, this just added flame to my fire to keep fighting the good fight. I am so proud to have gotten to serve with you Adam and you are the soldier I strive to be. When the day comes, it would be an honest miracle if as many people showed up to my last HOOAH. You touched many lives and you have changed the way we look at life. Sometimes there are no second chances to say "I'm sorry" or to tell someone how much you appreciate them. Well Adam Quinn, I appreciate you and so did everyone else. My prayers are with your wife and you are going to have a very proud child when he/she is grown-up. We love you man, keep shining the light on us.

Justine (Gauda) Lewis

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam,

Words cant explain what im feeling right now. I am so deeply saddend by you being taken away from us. I just want you to know that you had a major impact on my life. The way you were touched so many people. I am pretty sure you are looking down at us and protecting us and that was the kind of man you were. You were my protecter and always will be. Adam I will always remeber the great times we had and cherish those times. I will never forget the time we had Thanksgiving together and all the times we got drunk together lol. I am going to miss you brother and I say brother, because you are my brother and will always be my brother. I just wish I could've told you i loved ya before you left us. I depart my ways from you only in this letter, but not in my mind. You will never be forgoten and I will never forget eat, drink and be marry. I love you Q. Watch over me and protect me as you always did.

Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quinn,
I still haven't come to terms with this yet. Its something that I just can't accept and deal with. You were the "white" me and I was the "black" you. lol. Remember that? Working together and hanging together all that time, you went and got that life that both of us said we wanted. I always looked up to that. I'm gon' live for both of us though. I don't want you to look down here and think this is gonna just pass. You're still in my thoughts more than you know. Remembering when you would come back with 32, I'm gonna put 33 on my life now. I'm not just saying that. You were and still are motivation. I've got you. And nothings gonna change because I'm not going to forget you.

-T. Blair

-----------------------------------------

Adam, For all those times that I never got to say thank you, I hope you know how much your friendship ment to me. For all those times you stayed up to talk to me about whatever stupid shit I wanted to grip about this time, for running with me when you didn't have to,for all the memories Thanks. And for all the stories that never got told, for all the questions that never got asked I'm sorry. You have touched so many people's lives and there isn't a single person here that wasn't affected by your loss. To a friend that was always there to lend an ear and a hand. We will miss you. I hope wherever you are that you can look down on your little baby and see her grow, I am sory that you wont be here for that. To our fallen hero, you are gone but not forgotten.

- Janell Cash

------------------------------------------

Pikee, I don't what to say. I am going to miss you more than you will ever know. I wish things would have been different, no one deserve to go out that way. I just wanted one more chance to be your friend, to make everything up to you. I know that you are in a better place now, and don't want to desecrate that. I just want you to know how much you mean to so many people, and how many lives you have touched and changed with the kindness of that great big heart you have. From that you have so many people that cared about you, and are very sorry to see you go so early on in the journey. I wanted our kids to grow up being friends. But you should now that one life that you definitely left your footprint on was mine. There were lessons you taught me that you might not know about. So in conclusion, here is a salute to my fallen hero, my best friend, and to my brother that will never be forgetten. For all the memories that we had together, I love you buddy, and I hope that you know this now.

-Matthew Davis

Adam... Dude....
I know we didnt talk much, but the few time we did were outrageous dude. Us Floridians really know how to keep a conversation going for hours huh? I remember when you came back from leave and i was on guard duty, you said you were gonna be a father. Then we talked for hours on how your kid would be a lil surfer boy or girl. I have to admit, wheni heard the news of your death, i was in shock. Complete shock. I saw this pictures too, by choice, and i promise you that, that isn't how you'll be remembered. I know it wasnt your choice to go and leave all of us behind. Just keep an eye on us dude. Your no worries whatever man attitude will be remembered always, and i will forever hold the good times in my heart. My friends at home surfed in your honor and touched the sea in your rememberance. Thank you for your friendship and your smiles. Save a Wave for me in Heaven.

~~Shannon Gardiner
===========================================================

Quinn,

Life is funny in many ways, but yet so difficult in others. You had such a great way of always looking on the brighter side of things. Never would I hear you complain, and never would I see you turn someone in need down. Life and the world today is a lesser place without you here. You were taken before your time, and before you had even started what you set to accomplish. I too have not even begun to accept that you are gone. I seem to have twisted my mind into believing you're on Emergency Leave or R & R at this point. I know that none of this will be as hard as when we all go home, and the memories of the 'good times' come back to haunt us all. I remember when I first saw you again after I got back from R & R and you were so thrilled in becoming a father. In truth it was supposed to be this week that you would find out whether you had a son or daughter on the way. I now feel even more saddened that your child will never know their father the way every child should. But rest assure that they will come to know their father, and the great man that he was. You meant a lot to so many and asked for nothing in return. You always had a smile, and will always be remembered in that way. I can honestly say that I have lived in a time of heroes, and you are no exception. You have paid the ultimate sacrifice and I can only salute you for that. I ask that you watch over us all, continue to enlighten us all, and never forget just how loved you were and will always. You were my friend, my brother-in-arms, and one I would go to war with any day of the week. I will miss you dear friend, and I know that up there in heaven you are amongst the elite, those that also sacrificed themselves for freedom, and above others the angels. I take comfort in knowing that one day I will see you again my friend, but not yet. Thank You for how much you touched my life, and thank you for service, your presence will never be forgotten. Until then I will keep a sharp look out and always find ways to remember you. Whether it be sharing some of the ridiculous conversations we had, remembering some of the odd eating habits you had, or even playing pong with the radios while on guard duty. You were the best man, and that is more noble than anything I could ever reach for.

Joshua Robb

___________________________________________________________
Adam Quinn,
Wow, this has been a rough year for me. You are the third piece of my heart that has been torn away without me even having a chance to grasp it. Sitting at your Memorial today reality hit home, I lost a friend. I have lost many friends before but not an Army friend. You see Adam Army friends are different. Army friend's will have your back no matter what or would literally die for you. Army friend's means you don't even have to be friend's at all to have a bond. That was us. I didn't know you when you came out and were talking to me as I cried. You gave me advice and even made me laugh. I had never even seen you before that night. We pulled details together and made jokes about HHC and said we'd do bigger things some day in both the Army and in life. Well, you did. You did the most nobel thing a person could ever do, you died a hero. You have brought light into everyone's life and for some that light is lost but for me, this just added flame to my fire to keep fighting the good fight. I am so proud to have gotten to serve with you Adam and you are the soldier I strive to be. When the day comes, it would be an honest miracle if as many people showed up to my last HOOAH. You touched many lives and you have changed the way we look at life. Sometimes there are no second chances to say "I'm sorry" or to tell someone how much you appreciate them. Well Adam Quinn, I appreciate you and so did everyone else. My prayers are with your wife and you are going to have a very proud child when he/she is grown-up. We love you man, keep shining the light on us.

Justine (Gauda) Lewis

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam,

Words cant explain what im feeling right now. I am so deeply saddend by you being taken away from us. I just want you to know that you had a major impact on my life. The way you were touched so many people. I am pretty sure you are looking down at us and protecting us and that was the kind of man you were. You were my protecter and always will be. Adam I will always remeber the great times we had and cherish those times. I will never forget the time we had Thanksgiving together and all the times we got drunk together lol. I am going to miss you brother and I say brother, because you are my brother and will always be my brother. I just wish I could've told you i loved ya before you left us. I depart my ways from you only in this letter, but not in my mind. You will never be forgoten and I will never forget eat, drink and be marry. I love you Q. Watch over me and protect me as you always did.

Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quinn,
I still haven't come to terms with this yet. Its something that I just can't accept and deal with. You were the "white" me and I was the "black" you. lol. Remember that? Working together and hanging together all that time, you went and got that life that both of us said we wanted. I always looked up to that. I'm gon' live for both of us though. I don't want you to look down here and think this is gonna just pass. You're still in my thoughts more than you know. Remembering when you would come back with 32, I'm gonna put 33 on my life now. I'm not just saying that. You were and still are motivation. I've got you. And nothings gonna change because I'm not going to forget you.

-T. Blair

-----------------------------------------

Adam, For all those times that I never got to say thank you, I hope you know how much your friendship ment to me. For all those times you stayed up to talk to me about whatever stupid shit I wanted to grip about this time, for running with me when you didn't have to,for all the memories Thanks. And for all the stories that never got told, for all the questions that never got asked I'm sorry. You have touched so many people's lives and there isn't a single person here that wasn't affected by your loss. To a friend that was always there to lend an ear and a hand. We will miss you. I hope wherever you are that you can look down on your little baby and see her grow, I am sory that you wont be here for that. To our fallen hero, you are gone but not forgotten.

- Janell Cash

------------------------------------------

Pikee, I don't what to say. I am going to miss you more than you will ever know. I wish things would have been different, no one deserve to go out that way. I just wanted one more chance to be your friend, to make everything up to you. I know that you are in a better place now, and don't want to desecrate that. I just want you to know how much you mean to so many people, and how many lives you have touched and changed with the kindness of that great big heart you have. From that you have so many people that cared about you, and are very sorry to see you go so early on in the journey. I wanted our kids to grow up being friends. But you should now that one life that you definitely left your footprint on was mine. There were lessons you taught me that you might not know about. So in conclusion, here is a salute to my fallen hero, my best friend, and to my brother that will never be forgetten. For all the memories that we had together, I love you buddy, and I hope that you know this now.

-Matthew Davis

YEs I'm alive....
been busy as shit though, working 16 hour days and doing ORGANIZED PT in a COMBAT Zone!!!

I'm homeon R&R thought..... I leave to go back to the ghan friday.....

It's been a blast.... but im ready to go 

It is the soldier,
not the reporter, 
who has given us freedom of the press. 

It is the soldier, 
not the poet, 
who has given us freedom of speech.

 It is the soldier, 
not the campus organizer, 
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. 

It is the soldier, 
who salutes the flag, 
who serves under the flag, 
and whose coffin is draped by the flag, 
who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Warm yourself by the fire, son,
And the morning will come soon.
I’ll tell you stories of a better time,
In a place that we once knew.

Before we packed our bags
And left all this behind us in the dust,
We had a place that we could call home,
And a life no one could touch.

Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You won't let me down, down, down!

Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You will let me down, down, down!

Down!

We are the angry and the desperate,
The hungry, and the cold,
We are the ones who kept quiet,
And always did what we were told.

But we’ve been sweating while you slept so calm,
In the safety of your home.
We’ve been pulling out the nails that hold up
Everything you’ve known.

Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You will let me down, down, down!

Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You will let me down, down, down!

So open your eyes child,
Let’s be on our way.
Broken windows and ashes
Are guiding the way.

Keep quiet no longer,
We’ll sing through the day,
Of the lives that we’ve lost,
And the lives we’ve reclaimed.

Let's go!

Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You will let me down, down, down!

Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You will let me down, down, down!

Don’t hold me up…
(I don’t need your help, I’ll stand my ground)
Don’t hold me up…
(I don’t need your help)
No! No! No!
Don’t hold me up!
(I don’t need your help, I’ll stand my ground)
Don’t hold me up!
(I don’t need your help, I’ll stand my ground)
Don’t let me down, down, down, down, down! 

RISE AGAINST - Prayer for the Refugee


this song sort of makes me think of all the soldiers deployed, having a place called home, packing their bags, fighitng until the end, doing things no one else knows.... i could go on

Really Good song

Although my dad would probably say "shannon lynne, what the hell is this crap?"

Maybe i was a little too hard on him....

I blew up on a friend last night when he started telling me about bullshit that honestly doesn't matter.

I said some things i never thought would come out of my mouth....
"take a look at the big picture, you civilians don't understand how fucking easy you have it. you have so many opportunities... go to school, wear name brand clothing so your materialistic asses and look "good", you can drive or walk around your town and not worry about some fucking insurgent threatening your life if you don't show them support, you dont stand in that road saluting someone who died in attempts to make a shitty country into gold"

i thought i was a little rough.. but i meant every word i said. And it wasn;t directed towards him... it was just out of anger in general. I didn't mean anything like anyone who isn't in the military is a shit bag, nor did i say no one over there understands. But i did... No one really does undertand how a soldier, no matter what job they do, feels when they go through unless they've done it. Granted, yeah im all safe and sound here, and my 11B (infantry) friends are going to be in far more danger. But we all share the common "ive been there".

It actually scares me a little when i think about myself and the thoughts that go through my head. Again i say, I've Changed.

the transition of my thoughts:

What was:
"that chick is such an asshole. meh i dont feel like going to class today. I need to buy that shirt its so pretty, im going to the beach"

What is:
"I need to find this fucker so he can't kill any more people. Those bastards burned that school. Here Samin, take my new shirts, you need them more than i do. I hope i make a difference at work today"

a major difference.... and im scared..... i dont know if it's good or bad.

Rest in peace heroes!
We will hold you close to our hearts.
The mission may go on, but in our success, your lives will forever be carried on from what you contributed to the fight, your life.

This morning i saluted the 3 of you, just as i did the others, and as i will in the future.

All The Way
Strike Hold - MSG Walker

Until We ALL come home

Rest In Peace Heroes.
I'll see you again

While watching “Kill TV”
(feed of us bombing the crap outta the shitbags!!)

I wish I could videotape us watching it and send it to them.
A room full of soldiers, drinking coffee, cheering as if it were a football game!!!

And some pics of us after work

Wow another Rocket attack… surprise surprise!

We’re all ok though.

I watched something the other day at work. It was a Taliban propaganda video of the beheading of interpreters.
Now if you’re reading this I want you to think to yourself what you envision beheading to be like…..

A swift slice to the neck with a machete right??
Yeah… me too.

The videos were horrible. You see the innocent, alive. Then it begins…They don’t give them a swift slice… they give them a hold down, legs kicking, sawing with a small blade, rip your head off, lay it on your still wiggling body…. Beheading.

Although some of you reading this may think I’m a sick person for not turning my head away once while watching this. But I couldn’t. I just watched, and became more enraged and determined.
I thought about all the things I will see here, and already have seen. I realized that at that moment I lost a part of me and became changed forever. I don’t think after all of this that I’ll look at life the same ever again. All the things we take for granted…. You never know how precious things really are until your eyes are truly opened.
Then my Chief watched it. But he had the volume on. I watched again, and the music… oh the music… it sent a piercing pain of anger and everything holy straight through my body and I had to leave the room. I don’t know why…..

Just a quick hello, i'm alive and huge thanks to everyone whose commented or emailed me!
I love you all and i wish i could reply to all of you... internet here is SO slow it would take me weeks!!

Everythings doing good here so far, aside from the daily stresses and the abnormal ones that tend to jump up and punch you in the face every now and then.


i miss you all and send hugs and camel spit from Afghanistan!!!



Weekly pic.... me and Skeens... two tired night shifters!

I sat at work today talking with some of the really rad people I'm here in Afghanistan with and thought to myself.... maybe i should give a brief intro to them... Ranks are taken out and first names aren’t used just incase some moronic nosey individual happens to stumble upon this and doesn’t like what they read… TURDS!!!

The first person I'll even mention has a little history with me, although we spent 9 weeks of Basic Training not even knowing each other existed, we met the first day of AIT and she's been my Louise as i am to her Thelma. I am talking about Nicole Durr. We’ve been each others backbones and strength through thick and thin, through the desert of Arizona, to the hills of North Carolina, to the Airfield in Afghanistan. She is truly that one person I know will be by my side, no matter the distance or the obstacle, that will always be there. Each Others Strength in times of weakness, each others love in times of hate, each others hope in a time of sadness. I love you Durr!

McKinney - This man is probably one of the greatest men, other than my Father, Grandfather, and Step-Father, to ever walk the planet. He’s been an inspiration to me ever since he picked my weenie ass up from REPO and introduced himself. With more than 15 years in the Army, he’s been so much, and the stories and wisdom he has is amazing. He’s been gone from work due to being sick, and it hasn’t been the same. He’s the heart, the Rock, and the foundation, the entire “work area” stands on.

Russey- Oh man, never in my thoughts did I ever see me and this former Marine having so many laughing times as we’ve had. Being my hut mate and working nights with me, we’ve bonded quite a bit. From moving a huge bed from one room to the other, to laughing about little saying or voices, to helping me work out and get into better shape, to “tactfully Acquiring” things from other B-Huts… this chick is amazing. She just passed a tough test of leadership, and I couldn’t be prouder to call her Sergeant one day.

Morgan - Yes I know 2. There’s Benny Brody man Morgan who I’ve been with since the 43^rd in Missouri…. Who will always be my Brody Man with the Bald Kids and ill always be his surfer girl (he’s currently in Qatar, pray for him). Well I’ve got a Morgan here as well….. He’s the awesome Comic Relief and a good person to talk to. We’ve also established a nice “Mt. Dew Cache” in the fridge. Good person, and excellent leader. We blame everything on Weeks… who isn’t here with us… he got out… but he’s metioned atleast 50 times a day.

Next comes…

Skeens - AKA my Beefcake and I’m his Cupcake… There’s a LONG story that goes behind the lame pet names and I’m sure I’ll write about it later. He’s this Huge Built tall guy who you swear would kick the living shit out of someone of you look at him wrong, should be Special Forces, kinda guy. But in the End he’s the sweetest teddy bear. Yet another one of those, thank god he’s here guys who I’ve just started to talk to, which can be described as “this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”

B-H- This woman cracks me up. The minute we met we bonded and were asked “what are you two hens always cackling about” (reminded me of my dad). From making me crack up the sarcastic dry humorish way of telling someone “if you don’t shut the fuck up I’m going to slit your throat” or the new “im gonna gouge out your eyes and eat them”….. ok I know she sounds crazy and you gotta hear her say it. It just makes me laugh. She’s a Marine. And shes just an amazing woman. She’s been there on my bad days, Ive been there for hers…. We took a gnome for a walk. Seriously not to be redundant, but this woman is awesome!

Finally for this post…..

Saltz - An underestimated man, who has a story for everything, whose actually done it! From the monkey and the Grenade story, to speaking Pashto, to taking everyone out for Thai Food and getting us to drink this Freakin Awesome Tea…. He truly inspires me. As sick and twisted as his mind it, sort of like mine… we just click. He helps me out when I start to freak out about dumb things, and he tells me the most amazing stories from being Counter Intel back in the day. Truly amazing man. I think people underestimate him and see him as a retard, they’ve just never sat down and talked to him. They probably wouldn’t be able to handle the stories from outside the wire due to them being too Cushy Cushy….. Either way, Saltz is truly a motivator, a fighter, a soldier, and one awesome friend.

That’s it for now…. I plan on writing more to introduce more of the awesome people I’ve meet, Like D, Ramsey, and Kenner…. The 2 marines and sailor I’ve befriended. A few soldiers I didn’t talk to until I was out here… and some people like Barnes, who wrote that email to CNN….. Who I never thought I would ever talk to.

They’re all absolutely amazing!

Love you all!

“Strike Hold” - MSG Walker

“It’s Raining men, Hallelujah, It’s Raining men” ::everyone gives the singer weird looks “What?? I’m talking about Paratroopers!!!!” - The Heart of it all

Until we all come home

That is all

You know…. I had this really long emotional journal entry and my fucking internet freezes and I lose it ALL!!!

So here I go again… being smart and using a Word document to make sure this bitch posts!

I’ve calmed down a lot but I’m still livid. CNN can bite my heroic ass!!

SO I get off work my normal time, found out it’s my half day, I’m freaking stoked! I walked down Disney Drive, Saluted the usual Officers that walk the opposite way every day….. Go to my hut, take a shower in the non-potable water that reeks of chlorine, brush my teeth, go to my room and attempt to fall asleep. About an hour or so later I faintly hear the speakers making an announcement, not thinking anything of it I stay asleep, I hear the speakers again, this time louder and SCREECHING “we are under direct attack, put on your ACH and IBAs, this is not a drill, Code Purple, Mass Casualties”… as I heard code purple my heart sank. I rushed as fast as I could to get my shit on and grabbed Chino, My M-16, and ran to the bunker. There you have a bunch of Intel geeks hanging out trying to figure out what’s going on.. Of course we aren’t mentioning anything classified… but were all putting our geek heads together to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Then leave it to Little PFC me…. “hey isn’t Cheney or whatever his name is here still”… DING DING DING!!!! PFC you have won a seat in mud in the bunker!!!! WOOT

After sitting there for a while that seemed forever… we heard the “code Purple” announcement over and over. I felt so helpless, so useless, I wanted to go to the gate and find out what the fuck was going on, help the people who were hurt… but us geeks don’t do that… that’s why the Infantry Platoon was sent there right away to secure the area. Anyways, We heard numerous stories of what happened… first, one person said the front was attacked by 2 VBIEDs, the next was a SBIED (suicide bomber for you civilians) that detonated at the gate, another was at the hospital….. A bunch of stories…. It was a SBIED. Go figure.

Finally we were at code Amber and got to leave the bunker. I imagined work was NUTS by then. I went back to my room and just laid there.

When I went to work that night, I found out a soldier had paid the ultimate sacrifice. My heart sank… then I found out that soldier was a female. I looked at the sky and said “thank you hero”. A Korean Soldier was lost that day too…. As well as I think about 20 Local Nationals. Sad Day.

To make it worse… CNN pissed off a few soldiers….. SPC Barnes, a soldier I work with wrote an email to CNN and a few other people expression what us soldiers felt the moment that CNN stated that “the VP was wearing his black suite and cowboy boots as he safely left”:

A comment made today on CNN in reference to VP Cheney and his 'close' call today in Bagram really hits home to a lot of Soldiers serving here at Bagram. "Cheney made it out of harms way in his black coat and cowboy boots". Granted, it is great news that Cheney made it out of harms way alive, however, a United States Paratrooper did not have the luxury to make it out of harms way in their COMBAT boots. I realize that news media is 'big business' and is driven by ratings. One thing to take away from this is, every hour Anna Nicole is on T.V, every hour the "Breaking News" is covering an obese child a Soldier, a brother, a sister most importantly an American is either being shot at, or dying in a hospital from fighting in this war against terrorism. This war can be won, it is not a hopeless battle, but the media, the press, the headlines that depict the insurgency accomplishing their goals are aiding the insurgency in a greater fashion than one tends to believe. I challenge you, our 'second line in defense' to depict America's constant battle, our Soldiers day to day accomplishments, and to support your Soldiers so we can come home.

-A United States Paratrooper

Bagram, AFG

 

This statement made me think about what we’re all here for. Everyone has their own reasons for joining. I see that female soldier as an inspiration and a true hero to the United States of America.

Shortly after Barnes sent the email, it was time for the fallen comrade ceremony. As the convoy passed with the fallen soldiers in the American flag dressed coffins, I saluted with the greatest honor. I was part of a family those HEROES belonged to. I am an American Soldier! I am a Warrior and a member of a Team! As I stood there, saluting, honoring that heroes life, a part of me left with that convoy.

At that moment I had though about how this was the second one I attended within a week and a half. I vowed that I am going to do my best to take these bastards down.

So no one else has to come back to this shit hole.

“Until we ALL come home”

ALL THE WAY!!!

2 perspectives on what I'm here to do.

"I'm here to do my job and help with the mission"

or

"I'm here to do my job, kick some ass, and make sure no one else has to come here"

Kinda motivated me when the Sgt. Major said this last night after an extremely stressful 18 hour day.

I realize the hardships and stress that are about to come my way with this deployment.... but I've got som awesome people from all over the world supporting me as well as my fellow comrades.

3 of my best friends are getting deployed to Iraq between MArch and June. JAcob, Paul, and Brent.... I pray that you all come home!

I pray that they are safe as well as my fellow battle buddies being depolyed to afghanistan with me.... we all come home and accmplish what the people we are replacing couldn't do.

This journal will be updated as much as possible and it will be my story... One Soldiers story of being Deployed...

Til We ALL come home!