To Whom It May Concern

Yes, I Am Still Kickin'!!!

Okay okay, I know a while back I said I was going to be posting more to my blog then I got away from it again. I get very busy with everything going on. The person they put in charge of doing the newsletter and the yearbook found herself way behind so they put a few of us on the project to get the yearbook done, including me, when it was my project in the first place and they realized that they were not going to be able to have me doing the job with the other responsibilities I was doing.

I'm still quite annoyed with this unit. Now it appears our commander is in hot water for something. I don't know exactly what, I have to go with the rumors I have heard, but from what I understand, he attempted to put himelf in for a Combat Action Badge, which is an award that allows you to wear a patch on your uniform that shows you were involved in combat action, like the enemy was actually fighting you. This sort of badge would have been stupid in Vietnam or Korea, and especially dumb in WWII or WWI, because everyone would have had one, but in modern warfare there are so many support units that many of us don't ever see combat, the way combat used to be, so those that do end up getting this award so others will know when they see them that "Yah, I've been there and done that" so to speak.

So anyways, our commander may have put himself in for one without actually being in the convoy in question that got hit by an IED. Like I said, there are a LOT of rumors, but some people are saying that someone faked sworn statements from other soldiers and signed their names to them, and also faked a colonel's signature on the award. Then yesterday some of the guys were talking and a couple of them said that it was our XO (lieutenant) that reported the commander for making a false statement and for the other infractions associated with putting himself in for an award he did not earn.

This is particularily hard on me, because I have always had a lot of respect for our commander, having known him longer than anyone else in the unit has. I've known him for all 16 years I've been in the military, since I was in Nebraska City years and years ago, when I first joined up. He was my SGT team leader in Nebraska City and then he went to OCS to become an officer, then years later it was kind of exciting to have him as our new commander up at the Wayne unit. He has always been very professional, upbeat, and easy to talk to about problems, and straight forward about what you need to know, he doesn't bullshit you.

I had planned on writing a character reference on his behalf but given the circumstances of the incident I really don't think it would be appropriate. We lost a soldier over here to an IED, another lost his leg, and our commander is sitting in his office, accused now of putting himself in for an award and forging signatures of not only a colonel but his own men, in order to get a stupid award??? Unless he is able to justify that A) he didn't really do any of this, or B) he wasn't lying about the award, then I cannot see myself supporting him in this situation, because my opinion of him will be drastically changed. I cannot see myself doing a sworn statement on his behalf if he lied and cheated like this, especially for such a frivolous reason. My disappointment and my own character will not allow me to do that.

So, anyways, it sort of sucks when your commander does something that stupid. I am not really concerned any longer, he should have known better and this is his own bed he made. Lets see, other news... I'm going to be going to Kuwait early because i got put on a 4 man "Advanced Party" to get things ready for the rest of the unit. We'll likely be sending the containers home on ships, getting paperwork done and getting flight information, etc. There is a lot to get done, I know that much, and I also know I'm going to be really bored there too because there will be so few of us around. Look for me to be running twice a day there haha.

We are counting down less than a month left, of course I thought this some time ago, I really believed we would be getting out of Iraq by the 1st of October but I guess the unit replacing us was just not ready, didn't have enough personnel, so they ended up in Kuwait a lot longer than we did. I'm guessing I'll be stepping onto Nebraska soil on the 26th of October, after 5 days or so at Ft. Leonardwood for demobilization. That will be exciting because I have never been to "Laid Back Leonardwood" and it's where a lot of our new soldiers go to boot camp and it's where one of my sisters went.

So, anyways, as you can see, an exciting time. I just thought I needed to let you all know that I am okay. I know my favorite bathtub dwelling supersized bald buddy is probably wondering what the hell is going on, considering I haven't posted in so long. I'll work harder, again, to put up more posts. TAKE CARE!!!