I know this post is long overdue, and I’m sorry for that, but I’ve been either too busy having fun being back in America and getting back in the saddle OR getting ready to start training for my 2nd tour back to Afghanistan probably in April or June of next year.
My mother and I and talked it over and I think the best way for me to do this post is by just answering the questions I’ve been asked the most. (and maybe some of the ones people have been afraid to ask.)
I am always getting asked...Was it scary? That one is hard to answer. We did get into firefights—Rockets, Mortars and Machine Guns, but a lot of the time NOTHING happened. We would go out on missions and come back. When those firefights come--those brief 10 - 15 min periods of intense adrenaline--you don’t have time to be scared and think about what’s happening. Our training kicks in and we do what we need to. That is the best way I can describe it. I got a little freaked afterward when I had time to slow down and compose my thoughts.
Next up....What was the best part? HA!! I can’t even begin to explain the shenanigans that happens when a group of 25-50 marines ages 20-26 are stranded in a desolate country with no booze and no women. By far my favorite part of Afghan was the camaraderie and brotherhood you build (I know it sounds gay but if you have been through it you would understand).
Next obviously is… What was the worse part? It’s hard to believe but once you get into a routine of walking 5 – 10 miles with all your gear and a lot of extra weight, it becomes...like a said a routine so it’s not horrible. The worst is when the weather won’t cooperate. A regular mission that may be hard enough physically...a 15 kilometer movement in full gear with my mortar system...is one thing...that same mission during a dust/lightning storm quickly becomes the "worst part of being deployed." But that is where the brotherhood and camaraderie come into play. I know all of you readers know I have tattoos and I think a new one is going to be " camaraderie through misery." It is the truth.
How do i feel about going back? To be honest it is a different life than being a Marine here on my base training and dealing with all of the "customs and courtesies" and other traditions that Marines live by when we aren’t deployed. So i am OK with going back. I’m happy I have some time stateside, but it’s a more outdoorsy living and surviving type of thing on deployment.
A question my mom asked was “Did I feel my training was enough to keep me safe?” In a one word answer...YES. The training works. If you want to know how to fight a war, join the Marine Infantry and we will teach you--I promise.
Last question -- How do I feel about being a Marine now that have been deployed? I feel like I fit in more. I felt like I was still not truly a Marine "Grunt" or a "Salt Dog" until I had a deployment under my belt and earned my Combat Action Ribbon (CAR).
If you have more questions please ask me on the blog and I will answer them....probably not right away as I am now very busy getting my new junior marines and unscrewing them. I should hopefully be attending MLC (Mortar Leaders Course by the end of this month, which is a program to take the knowledge I have of my weapon system (a 60mm mortar) and make me an expert with it.
Thanks again to all of you for reading and following my time in Afghanistan. And special thank for all the packages you sent. My buddies and I really appreciated getting them, and I’ll be sure to send my address to all for the next deployment.
This is the Weapons Company-I am last one on the right in the bottom row
