To CES All:
I love quotes. I have a number of them in my memory. Most of them come from famous dead guys. A few of them come from my dad. While I can remember the good ones, or the ones I heard over and over, I don’t have many original quotes from yours truly. But one that I’ve been known to say (ask my kids) is, “You do what you really want to do.” Even I like to claim exception to this from time to time, like when I saw that I hadn’t written a blog in 4 months. All I can really say is “No excuse, Sir.”
But I can’t help but give one—at least for the past month. I took 8 days leave for a funeral which was preceded by EXPERT training in Nevada. Here I got to go through patrols, drive ATVs and humvees, and give out snowcones to parched SF airmen. This was all to help prepare me to deploy which I will do in September is all still holds up.
I’ll be going to Baghdad Int. Airport. When I tell this to people outside the military, I get a look of grave concern usually followed by, “Oh, I’m so sorry.” To which I say, “Please, don’t be. I can’t wait to go. That’s why I came into the military—to go where the action is.” About 20 years from now, who wouldn’t want to say that they went to the places in the headlines when they swap stories with fellow veterans at the VFW?
There’s another reason for me, though. It goes back to my quote, “You do what you really want to do.” I really believe that what we’re doing over there is important and just. That is, we have the chance to join the epic struggle of good v. evil when we defend freedoms and help protect human dignity around the world. When we go into places with some degree of risk and watch out for each other, it brings out the best in us. No matter what our jobs, whether it’s erecting building, diffusing bombs, handling materials, or doing chaplain stuff, we all leave footprints of accomplishment in the sand. I really want to do it, so I will. I hope you will too.
Press on,
Ch Mac
24 July 2006
08 July 2006
“Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program”
PREP
“Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program”
“Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program”
PREP is one of the most comprehensive and well respected
relationship enhancing programs in the world.
When: 14 July
Time: 9-4
Place: Airman & Family Readiness Center
(Casual Dress)
Are you dating? Are you considering marriage? Are you married?
Learn how to preserve and enhance fun, friendship, and sensuality.
Learn how to get to the heart of problems and increase your connection with each other.
Learn how to work as a team to solve problems, manage conflicts without damaging closeness, and preserve/enhance love, commitment, and friendship.
For more information or to sign up, please contact the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 456-8400.
“Mission Readiness through Healthy Family Lifestyles”
Deployed Familes' Pool Party
Deployed Families' Event
Come join the fun with the
Airman and Family Readiness Center at a
Pool Party
When: Thursday, 27 July @ 5:30 pmCome join the fun with the
Airman and Family Readiness Center at a
Pool Party
Where: West Pool
R.S.V.P.: Monday, 24 July – Call the Airman and Family Readiness Center,
456-8400
06 July 2006
2d CES "Engineer Post"
I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS PRETTY GOOD, SO I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH YOU ALL...
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either. He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student,pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenadelauncher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues. He washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime. He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to "square-away" those around him who haven't bothered to stand,remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out,far, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather. He is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have woman over there in danger,doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this picture.. A short lull! A little shade and a shot of loved ones in their helmets Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it. Please forward this after a short prayer.Prayer Wheel Prayer: "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen." When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq. There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.......Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one. I won't break this one, This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pass it on to everyone and pray.
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either. He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student,pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenadelauncher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues. He washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime. He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to "square-away" those around him who haven't bothered to stand,remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out,far, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather. He is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have woman over there in danger,doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this picture.. A short lull! A little shade and a shot of loved ones in their helmets Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it. Please forward this after a short prayer.Prayer Wheel Prayer: "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen." When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq. There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.......Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or Airman, prayer is the very best one. I won't break this one, This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pass it on to everyone and pray.
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