The wait is over, finally a new post and it is a good one!

Today is 20 May 2016 and it is a great day in here Florida! It is such an awesome occasion that the sky's wept with tears of joy (aka Rain), because today Chimge returned from her 2nd tour in Afghanistan. We have been anxiously awaiting this moment since she left! And now she is home!!!

 

Christopher and I with our flowers and balloons.

That moment we have been waiting for that first hug that makes it real!

 

A huge smile as see looks toward the crowd.

The family reunited! Together at last!

 

Chimge with family and all her co-workers.

Chimge and another of her friends.

At home, Mommy and Christopher remove the final ring of the count down chain make Chimge's return official!

Mommy had a letter from each of Christopher's classmates thanking her for her service.

Christopher got to read and translate for Mommy, because she does not speak Kindergarten.

Needless to say it was wonderful to see Chimge come out of the arrivals gate. It is even better having here home, knowing she will be here for a good while. Thank you to all of you who prayed for her safe return. Now that she is home our lives can get back to normal.

 

We took another trip to the Florida Caverns. This time, it was cousin time. I got to meet up with Aunt Coleen and her boys, the cousins and friends of cousins. It was a good time, mine and Daddy's 5th time on the tour.

 

 

The group. I am in the center. The Center of attention.

Daddy takes time stop and smell the roses.

 

More pretty flowers, but these are not roses either.

Lunching picnic style.

It is not a cave it is a tunnel, but it is cool anyway!

 

Zachery and I in the cave.

It is hard to smile in the dark with a flash in your eyes.

Your looking from the bottom up. It is the ones that hang from the ceiling.

This is the hugging pole. It is the only place in the cave people are allowed to touch!

One of the many creatures in Florida, you do not want to visit with.

Out on a log.

 

It was a nice trip, each group traveled about 1 and a half hours. It was a lot fun seeing the cousins. I will see them again this summer I am sure.

Christopher and Karate

Christopher is now taking Karate. He has been going at it for about three weeks. He is enjoying it and seems to be learning. It is a slow process and requires attention to detail. He is now a white belt and will be testing at some point for the next belt.

 

Christopher's first day!

Running drills...

Got his Dojo patches on!

Warming up for class.

Learning to protect and defend himself.

 

Time will tell if Karate is his thing. Either way he is meeting new kids and running into some old friends.

One lucky kid

It has been awhile since we went to the Race Track, so just Daddy and me went. And we both wish it was Vegas! We hit big today. Got me a Ninja Turtle squirt gun thing and some treats. What can I say, I am one lucky kid.

 

It is hard to tell, but if you look at all the tickets coming out, Christopher and I, hit the jackpot, not once, not twice, not three times, but four times in a row on four different machines.

Christopher with his 4786 tickets, that is our race track record to say the least.

Christopher working on drivers education.

Here I am taking him on a road test.

Yes, even with my cool Mohawk I am one lucky kid!

 

It was Saturday, he was good at school all week and his report card as been consistently really good. It is obvious he gets his smarts from Mommy!

25th Anniversary for Desert Storm 101st Airborne Division Reunion

I know it is hard to believe it has been 25 years since Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, but it has. On 23-25 September in Clarksville, TN. there was a gather of Eagles. The older Eagles who served during the War. It was a good time for all. Over 300 of us showed up and took part in the activities. There we caught up with old friends and new friends. And sadly, we learned of some who had passed. Still, it was a great event and I want to thank the Fort Campbell Historical Foundation, the 101st Airborne Division Association and the City of Clarksville, Tennessee for sponsoring the event. It is not one that will be easily forgotten.

 

This picture was take are the reception at F&M Bank on the 23rd of February, center is me and Lee Greenwood.

On the 24th of February we visited the old battalion. No Slack. Our tour guide was the Staff Duty runner.

Chris and me, we were both 327th during the war. Taken in the old 327th dinning facility.

 

The main event at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville, TN.

Two of my old First Sergeants. (Left) 1SG Jelick and (Right) 1SG Johnson. First time I ever spoke to either while not in the front leaning rest position.

The lower enlisted soldiers of the 327th Infantry Regiment.

My Brigade Commander, then Col. Hill, now retired General Hill.

The 327th Infantry Regiment Veterans with Lee Greenwood.

Chris with his former Commander from the Old Guard, Col(R) Bush. It is a small Army.

LTG Rogers, Lee Greenwood and me.

 

I have to send out my thanks to my Aunt Coleen and Ed, they came down and took care of Christopher while I attended the reunion. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to attend. There will only be one 25th Anniversary and it will be about 25 years until the 50th Anniversary. I was also able to attend with Chris, who has been my close friend since 6th grade. What are the odds 25 years ago we would be in the same Regiment. And yes, Lee Greenwood did sing for us. He sang several songs, most importantly, "I'm Proud to be an American". A song we all remember from the Freedom Bird on the way home.

A trip to the park and the barbar shop

One of the nice things about winter in Florida is it is like summer in most other places. Daddy and me have been going over to Rocky Bayou in order to walk and see what is there.

 

Me thinking about jumping in....

Say cheese.

Yes, the sun is to your back and in my eyes.

They put the bench here for a reason, so use it.

It is really cool when you go to the barber shop and you get to pick your own hair cut!

This is way cool!

Just incase you missed it the first time.

 

Yes, my Daddy let me pick the hair cut. I wanted it more punk. That said, we met in the middle. It is called a Mohawk! I know it is cool, no really it is cool. I can feel the breeze on my ears.

Visiting with the Mongolian Army in Afghanistan

On a recent mission to another base Chimge got to see some familiar faces. Beside just getting out and seeing the city, she was able to visit the Mongolian Contingent on another base in Kabul. It is always cool to visit, but as you can see in the picture, the Mongolians brought a little bit of Mongolia with them to Afghanistan.

Chimge and the Commander of the Mongolian Contingent.

 

Chimge with another Mongolian Officer in side command Gur.

 

Chimge, her co-workers, members of the Mongolian Contingent and their linguist.

One final group shot with a larger group of Mongolian Soldiers and one linguist.

 

Chimge was invited back for International Women's Day. Not sure if she will make it, if she does I am sure I will have more picture to post. Chimge is about 1/2 way through her tour, so we are on the down hill slide, but several months to go. Do not worry I will let you know once she is home.