Germany Update!

Well I have been putting this off for quite a while now. My final post about my experience of deploying to Afghanistan for 6 months and returning safely. Once I finish up about the deployment I will write a little about my current status.

Afghanistan: I remember seeing a national Geographic story about how they tracked down and found the girl from the 1980s cover and how all she wanted was the world to help Afghanistan. While it took 9/11 and all of for that to come true. I had hoped that’s what I would find out and it is true. Many, many nations to include a few troops from now war torn Georgia are there to help the Afghanis.



My 6 months was pretty good. In retrospect I which I would have gone off base more often but its easier said sitting safely in Germany than done in Afghanistan having to attend almost daily fallen comrade ceremonies and hearing jets take off to go fight. Either way it sincerely has changed me. I really do not care about little stuff anymore. While I am still super ambitious its in a different way. I realize how good we as Americas have it. I pray to God that we continue to help them as safe as we can so that one day they may live free and have at least a decent life.

Now that I am back safe I have to ask myself if I am willing to go again. While I have already gone if I wanted to go again I could. As it stands now I highly doubt I will have to go again given my time remaining in the service which I will expand upon below. I knew when I challenged myself by joining the Air Force I would face many tests. For me Afghanistan has been one of the biggest. I feel in my job I was serving more in a humanitarian role than I was a combat role. I see myself as a morale builder for my fellow troops, a video/audio connecter to their friends and family, and a historian in that the good things we have done are being documented in video which is hard to dispute.

All in all I am glad I went and even more glad I got back safe. I ultimately pray that that country gets on its feet so we can stop losing great Americans and those people can live a normal life. I have to admit that I have very little discriminatory feelings for people anymore. People are people and everyone wants to eat, be loved, have kids, make a little money, go to weddings and parties, and ultimately enjoy life peacefully. From Afghanistan, China, Russia, and everywhere in between. Afghanistan made me realize that as a 25 years old American I have achieved and done more than most people will ever do in their lives. While my work ethic affords me these luxuries my nationality almost guarantees them. For this reason alone I will always have a certain patriotism about me. Unless you served there is no way to explain it.

I have enjoyed watching the Olympic and applaud the Chinese for putting on a great show both in hosting and competing. Russia seems to be the old Bear it always has been since tearing Georgia apart. I just hope with a new President and some new leaders the world can work itself out. No matter your socio, political, or religious views, the bottom line is that too many people are suffering in this world right now. I have not become a flaming liberal but ultimately we do need to get along. I do not know what I did to deserve to be born an American but I thank God each day.

I got back on July 25th and enjoyed my 2 weeks off after doing the necessary military paperwork to document my return. Michelle and I visited her friend in Holland, played tennis, golf, bowling, and nice walks with our dog Ali. I have to say coming back was no easy as relationships take work and some routine and being away for 6 months allows neither. I was trying to see if I could leave this March of 2009 as I was originally slated, but they will not let me do it. I suppose if I really wanted to get out I could on October 3 2009 but that would entail more paperwork. My slated day for seperation from the USAF is March 3 2010 for those who are wondering. All of that will be served here in Germany unless something majorly crazy happens.

As it stands now Michelle and I are taking a cruise to the eastern Mediterranean in September, which I will post about when I get back. I am going to try to take more leave and go home for Thanksgiving through December 9th or so. Maybe 2 days in NJ, 2in Vermont, and the rest in the Burgh. I also may be back to Baltimore in March for 3 weeks for upgrade training. Of course next summer is the wedding so…

Michelle has still not found a job but we are working our way through it. I am glad to be back, glad to have a schedule of my life, and just glad to have a wonderful life. I really have nothing more to say. Ask me any questions as usual and I will reply to them in my post cruise entry. As always thanks for reading and take care.

Me in Kabul exploring the Queen's Palace.

Finale (Almost)

I promise to post one last (long) entry about my time in Afghanistan very soon!

Mission Complete!!! (Day WHATEVER)

I am back safe in Germany and doing awesome. I will sit down later and write a final post but need to do yard work and spend more quality time with my love!

Kerr ga stan (Pittsburghese pronunciation) Day 179

Well I have been here over a day and already feel better than while at Bagram.


I have realized that the Army’s influence over Bagram is terrible and to some extent like a prison. Up here ay Manas Air Base the Air Force runs it and you are allowed 2 beers a day, they have Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii on nice TVs for use along with tons of movies and daily activities. There are trees, grass, fresh air, and a nice breeze at night. The Air Force folks doing typically 4 months here are on easy street. I would love to deploy here as a broadcaster.

The people are quite unique. Some look Asian, while other mongolish, and yet others much like you would find in Mother Russia. This is a former USSR state so it is no surprise that they speak Russian. The guys that got me onto their computer sell it for $2.50 an hour and are not very hospitable. Then again the whole Cold War thing, and us being here now may have something to do with it. The women on the other hand are very nice and some are extremely attractive. I still think Russians are hard people, harder than Germans even. Either way its nice to get a little break here as I was only here about 14 hours overnight on my way in in January. It was like 20 degrees below 0 then as this place is the coldest I have ever been.

I had some issues getting out of Bagram on time but finally left a few days ago. The pilot took off in a combat mode as he went straight up and then leveled her off quickly. 4 Air Force on a plane with over 150 Army from the same unit and they all sit there asking me what the hell the pilot is doing. I did not enjoy my stomach feeling like it was in my head but it was a nice way to screw with the Army on their way out. The Army unit I refer to is the one who lost those soldiers 3 weeks ago. They are an infantry unit and a rough bunch. They were loud as hell last night before finally leaving the big tent we sleep in.

Of course I had my 2 allotted beers last night. I tried the Russian number 7 which was similar to a German Pils and then the dark number 8 which was very thick and reminded me of a Belgian brew. I slept for like 4 hours woke up because of the soldiers being loud and then slept for like 12 hours after finally falling asleep around 2:30. We are 1.5 hours ahead of Afghanistan time, 4 hours ahead of German time, and 10 hours ahead of my birth given and natural East coast time.

I was able to hand in all of my Army gear form Ft. Dix so I am traveling lite right now. I will be sure to put a post in once I get back to Germany. It has been fun and I will try to write a final long post about the deployment. As always thanks for reading and have a great day.

Almost gone, Obama? (Day 175)

Well after not having internet in my room for the last 4 days and also having to pack and finish odds and ends, I have finally made it down to the USO to use uncensored (although extremely SLOW) internet access.

If you did not see on the news Senator Obama is in country! I thought about trying to see him but it’s too much trouble and at this point I am just ready to roll.

I will try to post more as time allows but look for a little bit of a longer post once I get to Kyrgyzstan. Thanks for reading and all of the messages.

Ramping up (this war) and Drawing down(Me) (Day 171)

I apologize for not posting over the weekend but I am just about out of here and so ready to go.

I think everyone saw on the news that one of our small little posts got attacked this past weekend and 9 American Soldiers were killed in action. The worse attack in 3 years. Back home the economy is on the brink, my sister will not get herself straightened out, my Mom is scheduled for surgery, my grandparents are having challenges that elderly age brings with it, and fittingly enough in Germany Michelle cannot be quite enough at home.

Either way life goes on, and I am almost out of here. For some reason it just dawned on me today that our own cat Hopey died this year. I am not sure why that hit me today but it did. Death seems to a much more real thing after having done a deployment to Afghanistan. Life is so real to me and yet so precious. With that being said it is exactly my life, our life in America, which I yearn for.

I love Germany and Europe and will be glad to God once I get back sometime next week but boy do I miss living in the states. Michelle and I had a chat about that this past weekend and it is my intention to try to move back next year. I was originally slated to get another assignment and move this March of 2009 but got bumped because of Michelle coming over so now I still have until March of 2010 in Germany. I have started one route of paperwork that will curtail this. We shall see what happens.


We got our awards today and I got an Army Commendation Medal among others that automatically come with this deployment. That award is usually given to E 5s and above and worth 2 promotion points so I am pretty happy and proud about that.


Michelle has a high school friend in Germany with her right now and they are visiting another girl who is in Germany right now so I am sure she is really enjoying herself.I went with another guy today and shot the first part of a story on the 101st Airborne Division’s band working with the Afghan National Army’s band. Believe it or not they too have a band. After years of the Taliban outlawing instrumental music they are working to bring just that to ceremonies and military events in Kabul. We could not get any one of them to do an interview though in fear of the Taliban finding out personally who they were. I can understand this but they are in the Afghan National Army and need to make the Taliban fear them not the other way around. But who the hell am I to judge after knowing what they have gone through. I saw in the news the Taliban shot and killed two Afghan women who were accused of running a prostitution ring for American and western contractors at a local base in Southern Afghanistan. Just flat out murdered these women. These people over here are straight up fundamentalists who have little, if any regard for human life. It is truly a shame.

The new crew is still getting settled in and somewhat nervous with all this s**t going on. I totally understand but can only do so much to help as once I leave they lose a body. My replacement is going to be a Public Affairs Airman which means they will stay working on the magazine and not slide over like I did. I sincerely wish them the best.

I am so ready to go it is unreal and to a certain extent seems unreal. I am just as on edge about leaving as I was coming. What bothers me is that I wonder years down the line if this place will truly be any better or our time, sacrifices, work, money, and effort will be for nod. Time will only tell but Afghanistan is somewhere that will always have a unique place in my heart for what it has shown and taught me and for the harsh land and people it continues to be.

My internet connection runs out tomorrow evening so I may squeeze one more post in but look for one maybe this weekend if I have time to walk to the USO and use the free internet. I am basically packed but need to pack just my military clothes, mail a box or two, and do the necessary paperwork in order to get out of here. After that I have about a 3 or 4 day travel back to Germany as I have to stop somewhere to turn in some of my military gear and then wait for the necessary flight back to Germany.

As always thanks for reading and please keep my mother and what I hope is her minor surgery in your prayers. Some days I am more on edge about things back home than I am here. I am not sure but I think I saw a gray hair in the mirror this morning….. One more thing Michelle will have to help me with while settling back in. Good day.

Ruthian (Day 167)

Well first off hello PSU! Mr. Sampsell posted the story and you can read it here.

Next order of business; Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Pirates who took 2 of 3 from the New York Yankees in Pittsburgh this year. Since 1960 they have only played 9 times with the Yankees winning 7 of those 9. All 6 in Yankee Stadium (I was there for 1 of the losses in 2005) and 1 in PNC Park. Three Rivers Stadium was built in 1970 and razed in 2000 and the Yankees near caught even a wift of it. Anyway we won the 1960s World Series in 7 games making up for the loss to the Yankees in the 1927 World Series in which Babe Ruth and murderer’s row swept the Buccos in 4 games. I bring all of this up because last night my mother went and saw the Bronx Bombers lose to the Pirates with me doing the jumbotron intro to the game. I have yet to talk to her but am anxious to find out how it went.

Pics from my 2005 trip with the guys. We followed the Pirates straight to Boston that night for the weekend series at Fenway.











On top of all of this for those who do not know; Yankee stadium is being replaced by another BILLION dollar new Yankee Stadium. AND THEN THEY ARE GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN. The House that Ruth built is going to be torn down for a new one!? George Steinbrenner is an idiot but he does own the team and got some yahoos in NYC to go along with the idea so…. I went twice and got to see the Pirates play there once so I guess I am happy. Never made it Monument Park though… Babe Ruth will live in the hearts and minds of Americans as long as America carries on. The reason for this rant is because the All Star game is there Tuesday and I plan on waking up to watch it as there will be a TON of current and former All Stars and Hall of Famers there to say goodbye. I am not a Yankees fan but Babe Ruth hit the first home run there on April 18, 1923 (the day it opened) and they won theif first World Series that year as well. In my view I will be rooting for Yankee Stadium to go out the way it came in: a winner.

O yeah Afghanistan… I am still here but just like when I first got here my brain and heart have already started making their way back to Germany. I am shooting one more story and then doing paperwork to leave next week. I did my last morning show today and am ready for my day off tomorrow. That’s it work wise. I feel once I get back safe that this deployment will have been a Ruthian accomplishment personally for me. I am still not sure if I would do another one of these but am not even worrying about that now.

I will say I have been very on edge and nervous lately. Not sure why. Although I watched part of a phenomenal documentary on the Bilderberg Group and that got me all worked up. I should not be looking at that kind of stuff while here. It requires in depth analysis and processing for which my brain is not in shape to handle right now. Not sure how much of it I believe but some of it is just interesting history but if you are in the mood to see something VERY EDUCATING: End Game online or for order on DVD.

I am looking forward to getting home but worried we are going to attack Iran. Iran says they do not want war, Israel says they do not want war, and we (ADM Mullen) say a war with them is not good for anybody but all of the chess pieces are being moved into place…

I hope all is well with all of you and as always thanks for reading my blog.