Another year, another one gone

This has been going on for too damn long. I can’t believe that for the better part of this decade I have had to say goodbye to people, people who mean a lot to me. And it never gets easier. First my parents, Pop Pop, Kyle, and Becky, then the god damn Towers, now the US Army. I can remember the ones that have gone ahead too soon. The trend has been since I joined the Army to lose one medic in combat every odd year. This year I was hoping to buck the trend. I had hoped there would be no McCarthy, no Campell, and no Restrepo. But it was not to be. This year it is Winkleman. He was a young man full of life and one of our best medics. The first time I met him was at PT formation when he was so smashed he could barely stand up. Despite this he still managed to make the 4mile run that morning. After that day, I got to see another side of Wink. During sick call hours, Wink was always busy, seeing who ever needed to be seen. Soldiers knew that if Wink was taking care of them, they were in good hands. Sad now that Wink is the hands who made him who he was. The fury inside is subsiding now and I am finding it hard to write anything further. So I will end with this: Winkleman it was an honor and privilege to have met you and to have served with you. God speed.

Sunrise in KAF

Sunset in Afghanistan

Kandahar

First Hop

Good evening Everybody. I have arrived at the midway point en route to my fourth combat tour. There was a possibility that I could stay behind and catch a later flight, but that was not to be. I am sorry to those whom I missed in my whirlwind calling on the eve of the deployment. Hopefully I will be able to contact you through the months as the deployment progresses.
The flight over was eventful. The food was meager and terrible; the worst being the pasta they left in the warmer during our lengthy hold over in Europe. Also, I might be a paratrooper and am used to aircraft doing their best to make me lose lunch, but am not used to being abused on a civilian aircraft. I woke up mid flight when the craft lost lift for a moment, swayed to and fro, then climbed back up into the thunder bumper the pilot was trying to push through. It was the one moment in my life that I all wanted was for someone to land the darn plane. The clouds parted as we moved over eastern Europe and it was beautiful. Sadly, I got a little choked up looking down on the medieval layout of the cities. I lived in Europe for 5 years and it came to be my home. Katie can attest that all I want to do is move back to Europe, sit on the river in Bassano del Grappa and eat gelato. If I can't get stationed there again, there is always the pipe dream that I can be on HGTV International House Hunters looking for a apartment in Asiago. Time will tell.
So, now I am on hold again waiting to get to my time share in Afghanistan. People have asked if I am happy to be going back. There are a lot of mixed feelings for me. I have spent 34 months in the Sandbox. I know the area, and the people. Plus the landscape starts to grow on you after a while. The near East is an amazing place. I am excited to be going back knowing that is the one place I can truly make a difference. However, the year in Afghanistan will be another year from home, away from friends and family. So, if the Army said I didn't have to go back, I certainly wouldn't be upset. But they have, so here I go again.
Thank you to those who have sent early emails. Your support and words of encouragement are much appreciated. I wish you all well. Till my next post., take care.