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I just got back from Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, and I think I learned a small part of what it means to be a "peace time" soldier first hand. Last Wednesday, all the guys in the 611 and 3rd Civil Engineering Squadrons went home business as usual... they came in on Thursday morning and found out that half of them were deploying for Guam to help put that island back together after a super typhoon dessimated the island
last weekend. They'll be gone an estimated 90 days. I saw guys
scramble to assemble equipment and supplies so they could build a field hospital when they get there... they had meetings in my
classroom trying to figure out if they had enough water purification equipment... no water in Guam right now... they were reminded that power would be off for awhile... better bring flashlights and plenty of batteries... these cold weather souls were told that they better dig up all the sunscreen and "bug juice" they could find... I heard guys calling there wives and comforting the crying woman with terms like "I love you Babe" and "it will be allright" and "we'll have
Christmas when I get back"... I saw guys executing powers of
attorney documents "just in case". One man was closing on a house next week... wife would have to handle that... one man's parents were due in for Christmas... oh well... one man had scheduled leave and plane tickets to Milwaukee and tickets at Lambo Field on the 50 yard line... tough luck. I saw one man execute his "dependant children plan" because his wife was active duty and deployed... his young children were about to stay with strangers (to them) until mom and/or dad got back... whenever that would be... he was keeping it together... barely. I saw red eyed women (the wives of these soldiers) waiting for them to complete paperwork so they could rush some Christmas shopping or other life details we take for granted... while they were waiting if another soldier walked by they stopped...
to a man, touched her shoulder and said... "if there's anything you need.... we're here for you...."
The general public doesn't see this and the media doesn't report
it... these people (the soliders and their families) sacrifice...
daily.... we owe them our debt and gratitude... and our prayers.
They made a serious impression on me today. I am thankfull for
their service.
last weekend. They'll be gone an estimated 90 days. I saw guys
scramble to assemble equipment and supplies so they could build a field hospital when they get there... they had meetings in my
classroom trying to figure out if they had enough water purification equipment... no water in Guam right now... they were reminded that power would be off for awhile... better bring flashlights and plenty of batteries... these cold weather souls were told that they better dig up all the sunscreen and "bug juice" they could find... I heard guys calling there wives and comforting the crying woman with terms like "I love you Babe" and "it will be allright" and "we'll have
Christmas when I get back"... I saw guys executing powers of
attorney documents "just in case". One man was closing on a house next week... wife would have to handle that... one man's parents were due in for Christmas... oh well... one man had scheduled leave and plane tickets to Milwaukee and tickets at Lambo Field on the 50 yard line... tough luck. I saw one man execute his "dependant children plan" because his wife was active duty and deployed... his young children were about to stay with strangers (to them) until mom and/or dad got back... whenever that would be... he was keeping it together... barely. I saw red eyed women (the wives of these soldiers) waiting for them to complete paperwork so they could rush some Christmas shopping or other life details we take for granted... while they were waiting if another soldier walked by they stopped...
to a man, touched her shoulder and said... "if there's anything you need.... we're here for you...."
The general public doesn't see this and the media doesn't report
it... these people (the soliders and their families) sacrifice...
daily.... we owe them our debt and gratitude... and our prayers.
They made a serious impression on me today. I am thankfull for
their service.