Photo Gallery: Baghdad and Tallil

Nate posted some photos of his trips to Baghdad and Tallil in his online gallery at http://gallery.me.com/toxicjelly#gallery.

Back to Iraq

Nathaniel is leaving Tacoma this morning for his return to Iraq, which will take a couple days.

R&R

Well, I had hoped to post sooner, but as everyone told me it would, R&R went by too quickly, and now it is the day I head back to Iraq and I'm just now making a post.

Katie and I have had a good time together while I've been home.  We've gone camping on Bainbridge Island --breaking in our new camping gear-- and gone to Seattle twice, seeing a Mariners game, the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Woodland Park Zoo, the Science Fiction Museum and Experience Music Project, and gone up the Space Needle -- and of course, going to the Pike Place Market.

We also got through all 7 parts of the John Adams mini-series from HBO (a pirated copy bought in Iraq for $10).  What an amazing series, and an even more amazing man!

My unit’s year long deployment is 2/3 through, and I think this last portion of it will go by quickly.  After all, Summer is right around the corner and we will be back before the Summer is through.

Finally, both Katie and I want to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  We really do appreciate your support.

Arrived Home on Leave

Nate arrived at his and Katie's apartment in Tacoma just a few minutes ago.

When his flight arrived in Dallas, they disembarked to a walkway above the concourse. The public down below saw them and stopped to turn, applaud and cheer. Patriotic music played, VFW and bikers welcomed, and Boy Scouts handed out bags with goodies and water.

His plane tickets were for a Monday flight from Dallas to Seattle, but he was able to get a seat on a flight out right away. No fanfare at Sea-Tac, but he didn't expect the more liberal crowd there to be appreciative. Sea-Tac isn't the friendliest place to wear a military uniform. But, more important, Katie was there.

Now they're together for a couple of weeks. Plans include a camping trip, a Mariners game, and visits with Katie's family.

En Route Home on Leave

Nate left Iraq a day or two ago to begin his trip back home (Tacoma, WA) for two weeks' leave.

First stop Kuwait, to pass through Navy Customs. Had to make sure nobody sneaks out ammo, weapons, or other souvenirs.

Four hour flight to Leipzig, Germany; then 11 hours to Dallas. He arrived in Dallas on a charter full of service members returning from abroad. The plane taxied under an arch of water sprayed from fire trucks. They disembarked to a welcome ceremony from boy scouts, etc.

That's about all the news we got from him before he had to board the next flight, direct to Seattle where his wife, Katie, and her family are planning a personal welcome.

More to come...