A Day @ the Ball Park

Went to our 1st "T-bones" game yesterday afternoon; an experience that I am sure we will be soon repeating. The "T-bones" are a minor league team here in the K.C. area. I had previously passed up the opportunity to see them , and did not really want to go after church. (I'm kinda like one of the old men in the box seats on the Muppet Show...bah humbug!) Anyway, a friend in our Sunday school class gave us four tickets that she wasn't going to be able to use. Michelle an I decided to ask Jamal, the Saudi Arabian officer we are sponsoring. I think he enjoyed it. I think he got the game quicker than he understood all of the behavior of "typical Americans" around him. We also took John, and he was definitely turned on. Suddenly, both of our boys are now interested in baseball. I guess that is healthy.

It is nice to have some time off work. Thinking of taking both of the boys to a KC Royals game on payday. Looked up KC Chiefs tickets for S&Gs. Wouldn't you know it, no home games v. the Colts! I really want to see a game in Arrowhead while we live here. As a matter of fact. I am ending this entry right now, to look and see if MWR has any ticket deals for us military types. Someone drop me a line @ majking68@gmail.com.

Tony

10 Things to like about Leavenworth (Because the opposite 10 would be just to darn easy...)

10. Kansas City is 20 minutes away
9. Can visit my West Terre Haute relatives who aren't in the Terre Haute Federal Pen
8. Just like Terre Haute; only smaller
7. Speed limit is 30 mph, any where, anytime...don't need those other five pistons in the engine
6. No Super-Wal-Mart means looming progress is around the corner
5. No impact area to keep us awake at night like at Hood, Wood, ....
4. I can count all the Command Sergeant Majors on one hand
3. Most of your neighbors will be gone in 365 days (or less) (God Bless CGSC!)
2. Being so close to K.C., there aren't a bunch of "bumpkins" crowding our little Wal-mart
1. Finally found some place in America with too much history

And the Muse Sang at Mid-night...

Michelle and I were both just thinking about when was the last time I did anything with this blog. (When you are with the right person, thinking about the same thing happens a lot. ) She was wondering if anyone even reads this. I guess a couple of you do. Even if the don't, I does make a nice, unique journal I suppose. Kinda like intellectually posing nude.

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."- John Lennon from "Beautiful Boy, Double Fantasy" . Life is pretty mundane now that I am back here in the U.S. of A. What should I put in a blog? We have our plans. Orders for Fort Leavenworth, selling our house, trying to keep our children from growing up much too fast, while trying to figure out what we are going to do when we grow up someday.

BLUF: I don't have a lot to say, because my life sometimes resembles Bill Murray in Ground Hog Day. What is there to say? Time to start listing...

Best things our kids have ever said (so far...):
John @ 4years: "I've got to get back to the zoo, or they will fire me"
(John had a myriad of jobs he claimed to work at...)
Michael @ 11years: "Ouch, you hit my man-titties!"
Michael @ 11years: "I think the back window needs to tainted again..."
John @ 5years: "We better get inside before the tomato storm comes"
Michael @ 2years: "Woo Woos daddy..." Describing the Fire trucks that ran frequently in front of our house on the 2600 block of N.13th in Terre Haute.

Television Shows we are addicted to (not in order):
CSI
The Closer
NCIS
Burn Notice
Life
Bionic Woman
Battlestar Galactica
The Unit
Lost

I'm back

Not that anyone was waiting on this summer hiatus ...

Michelle completed her 6th and final round of chem-o, back in August and is in remission. We are praying it will be a long, long time before the lymphoma returns, which her oncologist has prepared us for. My marriage and the raising of our children is not take for granted as it once was.

Since returning from Iraq in late April, I have been working as the S4 for the brigade rear detachment. I have enjoyed the pace. I have finally gotten over the post command withdraw, even though I tried to get a second command last month. God was using other folks, and we got a better deal. We should be moving back to the great mid-west come March. We should be able to call Fort Leavenworth, Kansas home for the next two or three years. (Not inside the prison either, smart-asses!) Fort Leavenworth is beautiful! I visited there in 20o2 and could not believe that it was an Army community. We are blessed. The whole family is excited. Fort Hood has not stood up to our standards like Fort Leonard Wood.

Later this month my former unit returns from Iraq. I have mixed feelings. I am happy for them, and will be glad my partner Erik will be back home with his wife and little ones. I am also happy for the Soldiers who I took pride in. Other than that...Lets just say that I can't wait to start clearing post.

Did get to have some fun recently. Went on a recon of White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Truly awesome. I want to be assigned there as my second to last assignment. My last of course, will be Terre Haute. I love that back ward town! Don't tell my wife, she doesn't want to live there again! WSMR has to be the best kept secret as far as places in the Army to be stationed. Look up Las Cruses, NM

Should be going home for Christmas with the family and maybe convoy with Erik and his family. Will be weird not have my mom and Bernie in the same house on Springhill. I haven't seen the new place, much less know where the heck this new sub-division is. All things must change.

Drop a line somebody! Tony

The Other Side

All,
Have been home a little over a week. Not missing much about Iraq, and the idea of being a company commander again isn't as strong as I thought it would be.
Took Michelle to her first Chemo appoint last Wednesday. She handled it like a pro...then later that night I had to take her to the E.R. in Temple. We spent 8 hours there...
Everything is going fine here. Miss some of the freedom I had not having to take care of kids...
Really do miss someone else folding my laundry although it smells better here. Feels weird going to church without a 9mm Berretta strapped to my hip. (And they call themselves Texans!)
Michelle an I turned over the company FRG (Family Readiness Group) on Friday to some other spouses. Was not pleased with the status of the Battalion's Rear-Detachment operations. Will try to stay away...far, far away!
Have some gifts for the S3C guys coming.
Will post more later... and change the sub-title of this blog

Change of Command Speech

27 APR 07 (1430 Local, Camp Liberty Iraq)

Recognize those in attendance:

We are here, doing this because I am going home. Not by choice Not by lack in my abilities. I am leaving because my wife (MICHELLE) was recently diagnosed with follicle lymphoma (stage 2), a form of cancer. It is aggressive right now.

My place is with her, and with my three children to provide them the support to overcome this.

I am torn. I want to go home just as much as all of you.

I also feel like I am abandoning you. We are family. Yes a family!.

You have allowed me to be apart of this family and I tThank You .

That’s what makes leaving hard. You have been my family even before we left Fort Hood. The last six months we have just been forced to be a family 24 – 7.’ a hard thing to do! But I love you all!!

Truth be told, I love my wife more than all of you put together (as you should your spouses and family), and that is the reason I must go. While I have the feeling like I am leaving something undone by leaving you, I have a deeper commitment that I have honored faithfully for almost 13 years. I will answer it as I swore I would do on 27 August 1994 in Waco, Texas when I replied “in sickness, and in health. …

I have only one thing for you to take with you as I leave. Four words. They are directed at the leaders, future leaders, and just those who need purpose for their life.: They summarize what my last fourteen months of what my time command represents…

“Its not about me”

These are the words that have guided me as a platoon leader, company XO, and EOBC Small Group Instructor, and as your commander. The are the root of my command philosophy, which has been my covenant with you on how I would lead. The first line of that philosophy states that “No one is royalty here. Everyone plays an import part from the Company Commander to the newest Soldiers”. I hope you experienced my sincerity these last 14 months.

I ask that you give CPT Wayment the same support you have given me. Its not about her, its not about you. But it is about helping each other. That’s our part in this plan. Life is not about you…

I want to close by thanking some people. This may take a few minutes. But these people deserve one last bit of recognition.

First LTC Raymer

Sir, Thank You for letting me assume this role this long.

I am truly am in awe of you as an officer. You are the most intelligent officer I have EVER met! . Thank You Sir for being an officer truly worthy of emulation. Not an easy thing to do since the only traits we share are out age, and love of history. I won’t forget you sir.

CSM Murphy: Although I didn’t do it often enough, I really put a premium on your input. In my recent past, I avoided battalion command sergeant majors like the plague. Maybe it is the level that I have been at and the dynamics that come with being a company commander now. …But I think it has more to do with you as a person. I wish I had more time to listen to your sagely advice. This aint smoke up you know where. Thanx CSM; you did reach one of us!

First Sergeant Lingenfelter. I predict you will make E-8 this year! And someday, You are going to be the kind of Sergeant Major our regiment must have in the future. Your “old school” and cutting edge all in one person. I admire you because know “Its not about you” I have had a lot of first sergeants over the last twenty years too. The majority of them were the top notch NCOs But you, like myself, have never forgotten what it is like be a PFC. You carry that with you and it is a part of you, something that that all to many leaders seem to forget. It does matter, because these Soldier’s of today need someone who can identify with them, or else they will vote with their feet. Every Solider is important, and you have a gift to reach them.

1LT McCormick my XO: You are an efficient, dedicated officer how has been a better XO than I ever was. You are a better officer than you know. You are ready to command now. You are now an official graduate from my school of Keep It Simple Stupid (Magnu Cum Lad)e. . I hope to work with you again!

SFC Guillencepeda: Company Ops Sergeant. You are the glue that keeps it all together. I wouldn’t take all of your counterparts in trade for you. You take pride in your job, and growing your Soldiers. You have made many sacrifices in time and patience that only a few of us know about. I know very well that you are the best operations sergeant in the battalion. It hasn’t been all about you, and I’m grateful to have seen what others don’t

I am going to mention two closest confidants/ friends, because being a company commander can be lonely even if you are surrouned by great people you you.

Chief McGee: I have enjoyed hanging out with you, and the conversations we have had (albeit 6 and 7 times on the wear of the uniforms in the D-FAC had taken it toll..). Seriously, If you ever need anything, count on me! I owe you for helping me keep my perspective on what its like to be a Soldier.

CPT Wright: First I want to dispel any rumors that “Erik” and I might be gay because we hardly seen separately,. (No, I’m not into blondes!) Erik an I have a history. We both hail from Terre Haute, Indiana; both went to the same high school; both swam on the same high school swim team.. I have known Erik since we were cadets in ROTC back home. Like back then, I was the “cadet” company commander, I not sure what Erik was doing…Seriously, You are the truest friend I have. You have become a brother to me, and sometimes I am disturbed by the thought that we might actually be related….I am even more disturbed about leaving because I will not be able to watch your back. I will promise you this: Melissa, Alex, and Meredith will be watched out for while you are still here. Having a friend like you has been my strength here. I’ll have the Shiner bachs waiting brother!

Finally, thank you to all the officers Soldiers, officers, and (especially NCO) for making this the easiest command a captain could ever have. I cannot take credit for all that you have made happen in standing us up and getting us here. It was almost a miracle what we have pulled off what we have. It wasn’t about me, or anything I did; you made it happen.

Diablo Soldiers: Your professionalism, and sophistication have set you apart. You are the company that others want to be in. Not because we are fobbits, but because we are family. Our efforts to be a family have made us the company with the fewest UCMJ actions in the battalion not because what I have done, but because you watched out for each other. Family! The best part of this job is the liberty I have being one of you with fearing that discipline would go to hell. You proved you can handle it. I realized when I became an officer that my time with Soldiers would become more and more limited as I progressed. This may have been my last time to be so close to so “Real” Soldiers. That is the part that I hate giving up! My fellow captains and LTs, take heed, your time is coming, and then it will be over too. Enjoy it along the way. Its easy to be a hard ass leader, anyone can do that. Don’t alienate your self from the people you are here for. “Its not about you!”

Finally, CPT Wayment your HHC Commander Jessica: You have a couple of hectic months ahead of you, but you will land on your feet. Enjoy the honor that I have enjoyed the last 14 months. These are not your Soldiers, they are your family now. Treat your family right, and they will never fail you.

God has brought you to this moment for a reason. He knows your ready. You bring skills and vigor with you. My request of you is you bring all of these Soldiers emplace in you charge back with you. I will be there waiting and praying for you all. Thank You keeping My family yours…I will see you all again in the real world.

Diablo Six Out!

CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL

I haven't had the muse for the last several days. On Monday, the Soldier I imposed UCMJ on tried to commit suicide in his room with his weapon. This of course brought in the attention of the battalion commander, the Military Police, the brigade chaplain (my friend Rickie, the battalion chaplain went on leave that morning), and everyone else under the sun. Seems he didn't appreciate the extra duty, and the first sergeant making him act like a man... Anyway a good part of my day and everyone's energy was exhausted. MPs took him, filed charges, and then took him to the combat stress experts. Spent some more time with that. Finally got him back to the pad, when I found out Michelle had been to her doctor and had been diagnosed with "Follical Lymphoma, stage 2". This was quit a blow on top of everything.
We had a false alarm with this recently, which actually wasn't a false alarm after all. It did soften the blow some, but cancer is cancer. I am awaiting Michelle visit to her doctor next week to see what the regimen of treatment will be. More than likely, I will be giving up command, and going home. While I don't mind the prospect of leaving Iraq, this is not the way anyone wants to do it. Other than letting my the battalion staff know that we may be doing a change of command soon, I don't have a timetable until I here from the doctor. This will not be fun: will have to finish an OER, and NCOER, an award, and execute a change of command inventory of all the companies assigned equipment. Easier stated here than executed on the ground.
I am presently trying to figure out how to get everything I have accumulated the last five months home. Chief McGee and Eric stand to gain a lot of stuff. Estimate I'll be spending $200-300 just mailing stuff home. Some things I won't see again for almost a year.
No clue as to what my job will be when I return home. Just guessing that I will be working as the deputy/asst/executive officer to the brigade rear detachment commander.
Well it's almost 0100, and I do have church in the morning.