Nearing the End

I've got approximately 10 days left here in Balad. Then it's off to Kuwait, and then back to the states. A few weeks ago my unit had its Patching Ceremony, visually finalizing our move from 11th Signal Brigade to the 35th Signal Brigade which officially took place 1 May 2009. I've moved out of my CHU and into Transient Housing (tents) and am now living out of my ruck sack. The unit replacing us is the 72nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 7th Signal Brigade, out of Mannheim Germany. They will have a 12 month tour as well. I've been getting my replacement trained up on all the ins and outs of travel here in Iraq. The 72nd's chaplain is female, which may preclude them from visiting some male-only outsites.

That's really all I've got to say for now, except to give some shout-outs.

First, the USO. The USO makes life so much better out here. They've always got a movie playing, nice A/C, popcorn, coffee, and PB&J sandwiches. Plus free phone cards, free WiFi Internet, free Internet café (if you don't have your own laptop to use with the WiFi), and free Satellite and DSN phones. They are also a partner in the United Through Reading program which allows service members to read books to their kids on tape with a camcorder. The book, along with the DVD of the reading session is then sent to the kid(s) back home. The books, video session, and the mailing of both is completely free to the service member thanks to corporate and non-profit sponsorship. The USO is awesome. If you want to support the troops, supporting the USO is one great way to do it.

I also want to give a shout out to Green Beans Coffee. Through their Cup of Joe for a Joe program, people back home can go on their site and buy a cup of coffee for a service member over here. Service members sign up on their website, and then when someone back home buys a Cup of Joe for us, we get a notification by e-mail, and then we can go to the store and redeem our coffee. As a big coffee drinker, I, of course, love this program. It's nice to have a taste of home. And for the non-coffee drinkers, when a Cup of Joe is purchased and you don't want coffee, it can be used instead to get $2 off any other menu item to include fruit smoothies or tea drinks. Good stuff. How would we ever fight our wars without a coffee shop around?

Last but far from least, I want to give a shout out to all the many people that kept me and my unit in your thoughts and prayers over the last year. All the cards, letters, and care packages have been wonderful. It's always nice to get something in the mail when you're away from family and friends. Special thanks to Lutheran Church of the Living Christ in Madison, WI, Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC, Rev. Dan Kowert, Rev. Christopher Burger, Ruth Halverson, Hannah Messmann, Life Center North in Spokane, WA, and Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

This may be my last post before heading home.