Second, I started writing more than a few posts while on the road and had to put them aside before I was able to polish and post them. They will be posted, just not in the order I wrote them, so I apologize if this blog starts jumping around chronologically. I promise the book will have everything in the proper order. I have mentioned collecting these all into a book after I get home, haven't I? If by chance anyone would be interested in a copy please email me to let me know. If enough people are interested I'll look into have copies printed out.
Third, I once again apologize for the lack of video not only here on the blog, but for KIMT and the TV stations back home. When I first pitched the idea I was thinking there would be more time to shoot video, we'd be running in the day light hours, and I'd have time as well as a place to edit. Turns out I'm much busier this deployment, have had troubles coordinating with Public Affairs, we run at night (Iraq is boring in the dark), and I honestly lack the proper vision for anything other than vacation footage. I'm a clicker, and I'm proud of it.
Finally, I have decided to continue this blog even after the unit returns home. I've noticed that the media tends to forget about us once we are home, but I feel the re-integration process is just as much a part of deployments as actually being overseas. I also have more things to write about over here than time so I will be spending at least a couple days a week once I'm back in River City to play catch-up.
So, on to the post...
When I first joined Third Platoon it was obvious that the members have been around each other for quite a while. Having been with the 1133rd as long as I had I could totally understand the situation. However, like with every close-knit group of people there's always a varying tendency of how well they warm up to outsiders, and the outsider's attitude on things factors into this. Ever since joining the platoon I've felt accepted, even with the ages old rivalry between the 1168 and the 1133. The entire time though, close friends though I did make, the platoon never really felt like family quite like my old platoons had. Fortunately, although almost a year later, about two missions ago things finally fell into place and came together. For about a month now it finally feels like while the platoon isn't quite family, at least our CLP (clip) is.
It took a while, a very long while, to find my niche in the group. Being a transplant I had to adjust to everyone pretty much having their spots that they fill, many of them being ones I used to fill myself in my previous squads. As I said though, I've finally settled in to my niche. Unfortunately at the time that happened we only had about three or four missions left, but hey better late than never, right?
Over the course of this deployment our CLP has been a true family. We've share each other's joys, sorrows, challenges, triumphs, and defeats. We've laughed together, and we've cried together. We have Stetson, our father figure. Pops, the grouchy older sibling that has a heart of gold and has literally given the shirt off of his back when needed. Croaker is like the cool older brother the younger siblings view with admiration. Farmer's Wife is the cool sister that you love hanging out with, but at the same time get defensive when you notice all the guys checking her out. Back Door is the brother you know you can depend on, listens when you need a shoulder, and almost always has the perfect comedic timing. Then there is High Speed, the family jock. Angry Man is the sibling you go to when you need something heavy moved, and he's just fun in general to hang out with. Blow Out and Racer X make up the younger siblings that you lead to water but they want soda, or you give them books and they just eat the pages...OK, both have grown up quite a bit this deployment so I won't give them too much grief. The rest of our CLP is like the out-of-town relatives; part of the family, but not around regularly.
Things also came together with my truck, finally. After searching the entire deployment I finally tracked down a bayonet to use as an icepick in my truck. Granted it cost more than the $5 we paid for them last time, but it was worth it. Lost track of how many times I wished I had had one when we first got here. The best part is I found it at AAFES so from what I have been told I should be able to bring it home with me. I've also had Blow Out as my truck partner for almost four missions in a row now, a record with me being a truck gypsy, and we got a good system down. Finally figured out how to keep our speakers from falling off the ceiling over bumps too. Once again though, things fell into place with more time behind us than ahead...but at least they did.
Currently most of our CLPs are back at AJ while we wait for our joint missions with our replacements. As I'm sure most people have heard by now, our replacements are here. It wasn't until just yesterday when I crossed the border back into Kuwait that I started getting excited about that fact, but hey this is October and we will be home by November. One of the coolest things about the newbies taking over is that our company is gathering together in one location for the first in a very long time. In the last 24 hours I've been able to catch-up with friends I really haven't seen other than in passing for almost 10 months. It feels good, it feels like a reunion with family.
It may have taken a while, but everyone is coming together as family. Less than one month to go, and we'll be re-united with our families back home.
Be safe.
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