This is a short story of how we got to where we are and, our plan for the future.
Angela (aka alaskahippie) and I got married pretty young and have overcome much adversity. Our first test was the day after our wedding I shipped off to army boot camp. Being gone for over 6 months to start a marriage was slightly challenging but think it made us stronger.
Upon completion of boot camp we got orders to Grafenwohre Germany. I am home on leave ready to fly to Germany September 12th 2001. Then 9-11-01 happened, all airports are closed no flights and we have just been attacked. I finally get on a plane a week later again alone off to Germany.
Upon arriving in Germany I find out my unit is on 2 hour recall for possible deployment to the Middle East. Two and a half months later I finally get housing and Angela can come join me. But we both know it will be short lived. Longer than both of us expected in October 2002 a small team of 7 including myself shipped off to Kuwait. Our mission was personal security detail for Lieutenant General William Wallace 5th core commander. Later we realized this was the preparation force for operation Iraqi freedom. As January faded to February three of us return to Germany, just to get orders to return 31 days later. March 8th 2003 I again am in Kuwait. We sat in Kuwait for 11 days before we got the call. March 20th 2003 we would be entering Iraq. March 20th is also our second anacesery. Nether of which have we been together for.
I do my thing in Iraq get blown up, shot at, and the worst of all of it was sand fly fever. This stuff was no joke made me puke uncontrollably, hallucinate, and think I was going to die all from a little virus. I oviosley survived. So February 19th 2004 we got to return to Germany.
6 days after getting back from Iraq I received orders to Fort Hamilton New York. Even better no one knows any thing about this place. September 2004 we jump on a plane and fly to New York City. Two kids in our 20’s from Alaska now in this huge city.
This is when things started speeding up. September 2004 I was sent to the sergeant promotion board. Was promoted January 2005. This is where actually get to spend some time together finally, or so we thought. I get shipped off to fort Lenardwood for special reaction team training. At least this one is only 30 days. Now after returning from this school I get a solid 7 months home. But this time Angela was helping me to prepaid for non commissioned officer of the year competition.
August 2005 I get shipped off to Raven rock mountain complex in Pennsylvania. This same month I won the non commissioned officer of the year competition and started preparing for for military district of Washington competition. September I competed and took second in that competition. I then started to prepair for the Army competition. In my mind the army competition was a disappointment for me. Five days of competition I am tired and beat down. Placing 3rd. Now we returned from raven rock and I finally get to spend some time with my wife.
This will end part one stay tuned for part 2. Soon
