Back to the Grind!!!

Well it's official, I'm back to my old life. But I'm definitely not the old person I was before all of this. I've changed, in some ways good and in some ways bad. I'm still not sleeping well, but it's getting better. I started back to work on 13 February 2006. As you can imagine, I'm so glad to be back home and at my old job. However it may be the same position I left, but so many of my responsibilites have changed. It's taking a lot of getting use to. Slowly but surely I'm getting accustomed, but I've still got a ways to go.

My family is great and they have been a big help in getting me back to my old self. As I'm sure you have all read Slobodan Milosevic died this past week. Certainly he was a man that changed history and many lifes. He changed my life by sending me to the Kosovo with the US Army for 1 year. Having said that, now that he is gone, maybe some peace can be found in the Balkans. For the most part, everyone I met, just wanted to live in peace. Maybe this will bring closure to a terrible time in history for a beautiful place.

Dave's Home

HOME!

I think the title says it all! I'm so happy to be home with my family and friends. It's truly a wonderful feeling. My family and I are getting ready to take a short trip to the Lake for a little R&R. Then it’s back to my civilian career. So with that said, forgive me but I'm going to take a break from writing and get back to being a husband and father. I'll see you in a couple weeks.

"Elvis is home!"

HOME AT LAST!!!!!!!!!! 

CLEARED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes!!!

Saw the docs again today and they have cleared me. I'm going home!!!!!!

The Grind Continues

Okay, I have confirmed that the U.S. is everything I remembered it to be. Its so great to be back. Unfortnately, my demobing process has stopped. While I was deployed I suffered a knee injury. The Army has now decided that my knee needs further evaluation, so I go to see the doctor on Monday. The suck part about that is it may keep me here at Ft.Lewis while my unit returns home. Even worse I could be away from my family longer. Honestly, I frustrated! I want so bad to go home, but I know I need to get my knee taken care of. Furthermore this has added stress to my family. I guess I just wait to see what the Docs say and go from there. It could be worse.

Gotta Go!

Elvis

We Made To Ft. Lewis

We've made it to Ft. Lewis and are now going thru Demob. Yea! We're very busy and hoping to get home soon. See Ya


"Elvis is back in the USA"

Good Bye Kosovo

Dear Family and Friends,

The words I've longed for!!!!!!

“MISSION COMPLETE!"

In the very, very, very near future we will be leaving Camp Bondsteel and Kosovo. This will be my last posting from in country. From here we will return to our mobilization site where we will be processed out of the active army and back into the Army National Guard. With any luck this will only take 7-10 days and then it’s back over the rainbow to Kansas. As you can imagine I’m so very excited. It’s become very hard to sleep or concentrate on anything other than getting out of this place.

As I look back on the past 16 months I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished on this deployment. We’ve helped keep security and stability in a region that has known nothing but death and destruction over the past decade. Everyday I was here; I never ceased to be amazed by what things these young soldiers accomplished in the name of freedom and the United States. On the flip side, my family was never far from my mind. There was not a day that went by that I did not think of them and wonder how or what they were doing.

For my wife, listen to Vanesa Carlton's "AThousand Miles Away" it says better how I feel more than any words I can come up with. Forever my love.

For Ally, get ready the workouts are coming! I Love You

For Bubby, we're going to Kick B__t at the Pinewood Derby. I Love You

I’m sure when I get home people will ask me “Was it worth it?”
Absolutely!!!!!
If for no more than 4 reasons.

1. I learned just how much my family means to me and that I never want to live without them again.

2. I don’t want my kids or their generations to have to come back here and fight a war because America left to early.

3. I want all the people of Kosovo to be able to live in peace without fear of ethnic cleansing.

4. Finally, I’ve realized that the United States of America is the best place in the world to live.

With that all said, I leave you with two final phrases!!

“Until we meet again”!

&

“Elvis has left Kosovo!”

Little Delay

We are still here. There has been a little delay in our departure. Oh well after being in the Army 17 years, I know to expect anything. I'll know we have departed as soon as the gear is up and we are an hour out of Kosovo airspace. At that point I will relax and go to sleep for a great wake up in the USA.


"Elvis has almost left Kosovo"