We are finally in Kapa`a. Let the vacation begin!
aloha
September 2004 Archives
Well, actually a lot more than half way. We're in Maui waiting for a connecting flight to Lihu`e, Kaua`i. Connect via Maui Sky Fiber for $6.20 a day. Only I won't be using it for a day. Still pretty cool. Two airports and I've been able to connect to the internet wirelessly for a fairly reasonable charge.
On to paradise and a month of vacation. My wife tells me there's a Starbucks down the street so I need to dash.
aloha
...to Hawaii. I'm at the Oakland Int'l airport. They have WiFi serving the passenger waiting area. Internet access costs $6.95 for one day. Not bad. The was suppose to have been WiFi in the motel we stayed in last night. However, the access point was either poorly placed or malfunctioning. The single was extremely intermittent.
Next stop Kahului, Maui. I'll check in again if the airport has WiFi.
aloha
Not sure why I didn't mention it yesterday but the surfing was pretty good. Jamie and I went out again. Same place as the day before. It was breaking better than before. We each got quite a few good rides. I even had the presence of mind to go in on a good wave rather than paddling in.
We off to Hawaii tomorrow. I'll get to see my dad and his wife for a few days then they will be coming over to the mainland while we stay at their place. Pretty nice arrangement. The family is looking forward to it.
I plan to spend some time studying. I want to remake my resume page using CSS. I plan to surf a lot. I plan to sit and do nothing.
aloha
One of the cool aspects of being home and not yet returning to work is that I have the opportunity to participate more actively in home schooling our two kids. Yesterday was a prime example. We worked on geometry, discovered SparkNotes and worked through some reading and spelling exercises. Dad spent time studying Video Editing and a really cool tool called CSSEdit from MacRabbit software.
Being home is good. I'm happy to be with my family. I enjoy being involved with my kids. I like working with my wife. I'm not really all that excited about going back to work but that's still a ways off. I'm trying to not think about it.
It seems that I have developed a mental and emotional toughness as a result of the deployment. Also a self-reliance or confidence. I notice it not only in me but in several members of my unit. While I don't want to go into detail here, my involvement in OIF will mark a turning point in my life.
I think a lot about the guys and gals still over there and those just going. I think a lot about the little boys and girls whose daddies and mommies are far away.
Aloha
Went surfing this morning. First time in about nine months. It was good to be in the water. It was good to be out there with my friend Jamie. The surf wasn't great but we each got a few good rides. I didn't forget too much. Swimming in Kuwait seems to have helped maintain my paddle. Paddling today wasn't painful. I'll be going out again tomorrow. Surfing is good.
Aloha
I'm home. I've been home for about a week. It took about a week to de-mob. I left San Diego on the afternoon of the 15th. I had some business to take care of in the Los Angeles area so I stopped and stayed with friends there. Had breakfast with Charles Knief on Friday morning before heading north to Santa Cruz.
It is really good to be home. It's really good to be a whole family again.
Not all that sure about returning to civilian life. We'll see how that goes.
aloha
Sept 7 & 8 - Day 184 & 185
It's been a long day. A good day but a long day. Today started at 2300C last night. As I explained, I was the only one in my tent last night. It was wonderful. I hooked up speakers to my computer and listened to music as I surfed the net and talked to friends on iChat. About 2130 I got ready for bed and read E is for 'Evidence'. About 2200 I put the book down and feel asleep. My plan was to wake up around 0430C, take a shower, get dressed, go do laundry and finishing packing. We were expecting to leave Camp Patriot at around 0930.
At 2300 my Chief (Select) sticks his head in my tent and says, "hey Smittie, wake up, they talking about leaving, tonight."
"OK, my shit is packed." I rolled over to go back to sleep but Chief (Select) had left the light on. He didn't say we were leaving, he said they were talking about leaving. No reason to get up yet, right. Hum, I probably ought to get dressed and go check it out anyway. As I'm getting dressed one of the Chiefs from Group 2, the guys that relieved us, stopped in and confirmed that we were indeed leaving tonight. Getting ready as soon as possible. OK then.
Awakened at 2300 I had all my gear at the assembly point at 2310. That included getting dressed, finishing up my packing and humping the gear about 200 yards. Of course, it was a hot and humid night. I was soaking wet and did not have time to take a shower.
There was a fair amount of confusion in getting things loaded into vehicles and what not. I lost track of time but I think we finally rolled out of Camp Patriot at around 0030 today. First stop, Customs. We all go drundling through the Customs process each of us trying to haul our two check-in bags and two carry on bags as we go. First there's the amnesty process where you have the opportunity to get rid of anything you're not suppose to have. Then there is the actual inspection which involves unpacking all of your stuff from all of your bags. After everything has been approved or removed you repack. Load it all up on the vehicles again, more confusion because this time we have to separate the people from the bags. And now we're on our way to the airport. On the ride to the airport we hear the call to prayer. It is now approximately 0420.
At the airport we're told we're early and have to wait in a holding area outside the airport. After about two hours we finally get on to the flight line. More confusion. Apparently they at first thought one of the aircraft would not be able to fly and then changed their minds. This caused a whole bunch of confusion in attempting to consolidate gear onto the one aircraft that would fly. When it was decided that both aircraft would fly they had to un-consolidate.
Some of the gear that was already on the flight line required a 24 guard. Three men had been posted as a watch on the gear. They now needed to have their personal bags inspected by customs. I was selected to go out on the flight line as the watch relief so that the guys on watch could get inspected. While I was out there a plane landed that had come from up in Iraq somewhere. Suddenly all activity on the flight line stopped. Everyone on the flight line came to attention and faced the plane. We stood in sad and silent tribute as four body bags were transferred from the plane to a truck. Two ranks of Marines lined the path from the plane to the truck. They rendered a slow salute for each Marine as they were carried from the plane and place in the truck. It was a salient reminder of the seriousness of the business we are in.
At 0915C (0615Z) we left the ground from Kuwait International Airport with a lot of cheering. We are going home.
An 8 hour flight, largely uneventful, got us to Moron, Spain. Moron, at least the little bit of it I could see from the base is a beautiful place. It is in the South of Spain. Of course, there was a fair amount of confusion about when we would be leaving Spain. It would either be in 12 hours or 5 and a half hours depending on whether they had a crew ready to fly or not. Semper Gumby, where do we eat?
The chow hall is Moron is awesome. Of course, I may not be the best judge in the would given that I've been eating some pretty lousy food, mostly over-cooked chicken, for the past six months but it tasted wonderful to me. Chicken frajitas, something wonderful done with potatoes, iced tea and coffee eaten off of a real plate made of china with eating utensiles made of metal. It required a conscious effort to not take two forks and two knives which is the habit I developed because the cheap plastic flatware would always break about half way through the meal.
The next endeavour was to remove the stench from my body. First a stop at the NEX Mart to pick up a pair of shower shoes, deodorant and mouthwash. Then off to the Gym where there was sure to be some sort of shower facilities. In the shower I discovered hot and cold running water. We didn't have that in Kuwait. We had scalding hot and slightly hotter running water. I stood for three minutes in freezing cold water just because I could.
All clean I then went to the base club where everyone was having their first real beer in six months. I had a few cokes and enjoyed the weather, 80 degrees with low humidity and a nice cool breeze blowing. Without question it was the most beautiful day I'd experience in at least four months. Alas, it was time to get back on the plane. At 1503T (2203Z) we lifted off from Moron, Spain.
The flight from Moron, Spain to San Diego, California was uneventful. Most everyone slept, read books or played video games to pass the time. Box lunches ordered in Moron were passed out. Excellent food. I ate a sandwich and probably the most delicious apple I've ever had. We landed at 0400T (1100Z) on 08 September at North Island Naval Air Station almost exactly six months after we had left. Our tour of duty was over. My wife and kids were there to meet me. Plenty of tears of course. It is good for the family to be whole again.
Many of you have been following my deployment here for a long time. I hope you'll stay with me as I move on to my next adventure. Not sure what that will be. For now, I will de-mobilize and be returned to my civilian life. My family and I will take a long vacation and than I'll figure out what I'm going to do next.
There are a couple of guys in the unit that relieved us who are regular readers of this blog who are planning to start blogs of their experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I will provide links to their blogs if and when they let me know where they are.
aloha
Sept 6 - Day 183
Pretty much everyone has left for San Diego but me. There are four of us from my unit who are still here at Camp Spearhead. The unit is spread over three flights the last of which will leave tomorrow. It's excitiing to be going home.
Tonight I will be the only person in my tent. That's going to be an interesting experience after sleeping in a tent with at least 7 other guys for the past six months. I think privacy is going to be nice.
aloha
Day 183
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Although I am still writing entries to this blog I cannot publish them just now. Entries written between 30 Aug and 13 Sept will be posted on 13 Sept.
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We had some country & western singer put on a USO show last night. I walked over and listened for a little while. She wasn't very good so I came back to my tent and played Wingnuts. Great game. Very addicting. Thanks to Freeverse and Apple for offering it free to .Mac users. Yet another reason to be a Mac user.
Aloha
Sept 04 - Day 181
Today we mustered, quite possibly for the last time as a unit. Upon arrival San Diego the unit is heading in a number of different directions. It's kind of sad. There was no formal ceremony bringing us into this deployment and it appears there will be no formal ceremony marking its end. Formal ceremonies are important emotional and pyschological markers where we say hello and goodbye to phases in our lives. It is a shame that we will not have those markers and the things that result from them.
We are returning to San Diego in several flights. I wish the entire unit was returning on one flight so that all of our dependents would be there. It would show the magnitude of who we are. It would provide a visual impression of the sacrifice that this mission has required as we watch so many families and loved ones reunite.
Goodbye to people that we will remember for the rest of lives will be short and embarrassed. No big deal. But it is a big deal. These are the moments of our lives. This is my life. This is one of the most significant things I have ever done. This is an episode that will be a key memory for my children. This is a big deal. What we have done here is significant.
If I'm honest with myself, I'd like to come back on another deployment. Farther north next time. I'd like to be part of a supporting element actually serving in theatre. Not do discount service in the rear with the gear. It is an important job to be done. It is also tedious and repetitive with little to break up the monotony.
It is interesting to note that this will be a life changing event for many in my unit. One guy was an accountant before he came out here. I was talking to him today. He says he's done with that. Doesn't know yet what he is going to do but he's through with accounting. I am looking to change some things when I go back home as well. I've come to the realization that I want different things out of life than where I was headed before I came out here. I have a couple of ideas.
As for my military career, I am still undecided about what I'll do next. Part of it depends on what I decide to do with my civilian career. One path would make it very difficult to continue serving. That would be disappointing. I'd like to figure out how to work around that. If I do continue I will need to decide whether I want to find a Navy command to serve with or switch over to the Army. The Army is very attractive but does not have a very good reputation of taking good care of its reservists and their dependents. Extending deployments is the norm. I have yet to meet an Army reservist who has come out here on anything but a six month deployment. I have yet to meet an Army reservist who was not extended. Most of the Army reservist spend more than one year in theatre. Not sure I am willing to be over here that long. I have not yet talked to the Air Force.
If I am smart and plan it out, I will go talk to each service and see what they have to offer before making any decisions. We'll see how smart I am.
aloha
Sept 2 - Day 179
Today a got an award. The Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal. I would like to think it's a big deal and that I really worked hard to deserve it. The efforts mentioned in the citation were, in my opinion, significant and beyond the scope of a Second Class, especially in a reserve unit where second class petty officers function as the unit seamen. However, in light of the fact that everyone in the department got a similar award I can only draw the conclusion that the award is simply for coming over here and doing my job. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitter. I am only struggling to determine the true value of the award.
During my active duty days I took one ship through a homeport change and made one Western Pacific tour. Both of those were deployments. There were no awards ceremonies at the end of either of those deployments. We did not get NAMs simply for doing our jobs. In four years of active duty with excellent evals and one sailor of the quarter nomination I acquired one medal and one ribbon. On a six month deployment in the reserves I have added five medals.
It's starting to feel like it is time to go home. We no long have a mission. All of our equipment is packed up and ready to ship out. People are sending boxes of stuff home. I sent home over 80 pounds of stuff since I've been here. Wow! That's a lot of stuff. I am looking forward to seeing my family again. Wish I didn't have to go back to being a reservist though. I like this job. I like this job a lot. But who knows, maybe there is something better for me on the horizon.
For now, I wait and jump through the necessary hoops to get on a plane headed toward the States. According to the current schedule I have five days to wait.
aloha
Sept 1 - Day 178
We have been relieved. MIUW 104 is no longer executing the mission in Mina Al Shuaiba, Kuwait. At 1500C MIUW 204 relieved us of the mission. Now all we have left is to pack our gear and our personal belongings, clear customs, board planes and begin our homecoming celebrations. I'm looking forward to seeing my wife and kids. I miss them.
Part of me is sad to be leaving. It is exciting to be a part of history. There's a lot of controversy over this war. Right, wrong or indifferent, the war will be in the history books. It is exciting to be out here and be part of it.
I was part of the team that set up the most important mission the Navy has today. The protection of the ABOT and KAAOT. Those oil terminals account for a huge percentage of Iraqs revenue. I was a part of the team that established that mission. Maybe they will event mention that mission in the history books. That'd be cool.
I met a lot of interesting people. The guys from 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment who taught me to play Spades. That will be a story I'll tell probably everything I play Spades. In any case, I will always remember those guys when I play the game. I still wish they'd write me.
It's been a good tour. In spite of a lot of issues and problems I have enjoy my tour over here. I have to imagine that if I continue to serve in the military, even as a reservist, I will be over here again. Next time, I'd like something farther North. I fear that next time will be longer than six months. I hope that next time I'm involved in something that allows me to have more direct contact with the Iraqi people. I would like to meet them, to learn about them and their culture.
I look forward to seeing what happens to Iraq. I think it is a long, hard and violent road ahead of them. I hope the Iraqi people will find their way to some form of democratic government that permits them the freedom to live life without having to fear the government. I hope that future generations of Iraqis will know the value of freedom.
aloha
