Home At Last

All,

Well, I have made it back to Texas. It's nice to be back. It's strange that there are no rockets and no one has a gun, but I'll manage. My homecoming was a little bittersweet, as the day after I got back I found out my good buddy from the Alabama was killed by an IED in Afghanistan. http://www.kval.com/news/local/19216129.html

He was a great guy. He gave my my boomer pin, my LTjg bars, and my dolphins. The only reason he didn't give me my LT bars is because he was in Thailand on a trip he stole form me. I bagged out cause the return date was too close to my leaving Bremerton to come to Texas. Jeff swooped right up and took it. That's the kind of guy he was. He was very laid back, but always looking for a new challenge. He had been making biofuel in his garage long before it was the cool thing to do. He was working in the provincial reconstruction team in Ghanzi. From being at the 4 star headquarters in Bagdad, I can tell you that the PRT's are the ones that are out there, everyday, among the people making a difference. He should have been home by now, but he extended. He was due home at the end of October, and that would have put him at 23 months in theater. He is the second Navy individual augmentee to be killed in action.

The transition back has been easy so far, but I haven't been to work yet, so that may be a little tougher. If the middies thought I had no sympathy for them before, wait till they get a load of me this time! After being over there, it is weird to look around at everything we have here. No garbage on the street, electricity 24 hours a day, clean running water, no bombs, you can trust the government, you can trust the police, you can do almost anything you want. Having to be at work 14 hours a day, seven days a week for a year, I don't think I will like the excuse, "I didn't have time." I'll adjust, and I won't make it too hard on them, but I hope to teach them that if they really want to be in the military, they need to start growing up.

Buddy was much more excited this time. I think he knows I am home for good. I can feel a little bump on Jamie's belly. She's not showing yet, but I can feel it. I got the Cobra running just long enough to take it apart again! I have a huge pile of parts that Jamie has put up with that will finally be installed.

Lastly, thanks for all the support, emails, and packages over this last year. I really appreciated it and I'm sure I'll get a chance to see most of you this summer.

Take care,

Jase