Peace

My mom recently sent me one of our church's old hymnals. I was perusing it the other day and found one of my all time favorite hymns "Be Still My Soul." I think that is one of my favorite songs because it asks what I find myself often asking for: peace. Maybe it is my uptight nature, or I just haven't reached the point of where I have found peace, or perhaps it is a state of mind. I find myself angrier and fighting more often than I find myself content and peaceful. One thing I have learned here: many people are looking for peace; you can protect people from all types of external forces but you cannot protect people from themselves. I think many times their problems are in direct correlation with their lack of peace.

Finally figured out how to convert back to English!

Ok, I finally figured out how to convert my blog back into English so I will be posting again now from time to time. I will add pictures as I get them also. We had a crazy night last night but everything is good. I love my job and work with some of the best people in the world. A friend of mine is a second grade school teacher and her kids are writing to me and sending me pictures of their class and drawings they did. They really make it feel like what we are doing here is worth while. I am so thankful for those kids.

Most Memorable Hour Ever

A few years ago mom bought me a book called "Heart of a Soldier." To this day it is one of the best books I have ever read. It tels the book aims to capture the enormity of the World Trade Center attack by retracing one of the lives lost in the disaster: that of Rick Rescorla, head of security for Morgan Stanley. From the late 1980s on, Rescorla tried to warn Port Authority officials that the World Trade Center was an easy target for terrorists. On September 11, after safely evacuating the Morgan Stanley offices in the south tower (he kept people calm by singing into his megaphone), Rescorla went back into the building minutes before it collapsed to search for stragglers. This wasn't his first selfless act of bravery: a Vietnam veteran, Rescorla won a Silver Star and other medals for his role in the Ia Drang valley an important American victory, but one whose devastating losses turned Rescorla against the war. Piecing together the recollections of, among others, Rescorla's widow, Susan, his best friend and fellow soldier, Daniel Hill, to narrate Rescorla's life story, the book also weaves in Susan's, and describes the Rescorlas' blissful mid-life relationship, a second marriage for both. His feats are portrayed in "We Were Soldiers." Today at the National Infantry Museum, a memorial for Rick Rescorla was dedicated. The NY Fire Department brought down a fire engine which is dedicated to those who lost their lives during 9/11. It had the names of all the fire men written on a plaque on the side of the fire engine. They also brought a twelve foot section of the steel from the south tower (where Rescorla worked) and gave it as part of the memorial. It was very moving. Firemen nationwide had helped relay the twelve foot steel piece across the U.S. There had been police escorts, parades, and flags lining the cars as they brought the beam down to Georgia. Rescorla's wife, Susan, also came and I was allowed the opportunity to meet her. She was a very gracious woman and appreciative of the military. The post two star general gave the speech and after unveiling the memorial, those in attendance went to sign the beam before being set up behind the museum. There were veterans there who had served with Rescorla in Vietnam and two walked up wearing their old cavalry uniforms, saluted me, and then told me some stories about Rescorla. It was a great day for me because I was in the presence of greatness. I will never forget this day.
The statue of Rick Rescorla in Vietnam


Ms. Susan Rescorla and Me

The twelve foot steel from the World Trade Centers south tower

Gunnery

We went out to a 50 cal range yesterday and man was it fun! Took a couple videos I thought ya'll might enjoy.

Deployment

It's been a while since I last posted. I will try to update more frequently when I am in Iraq. I got a call today and was told that I am now to deploy October 2.

Promotion!

Well my first 18 months is up and I am now promoted to 1st Lieutenant! I ordered a chicken platter from Chic-Fil-A for the promotion ceremony and spent $135! Oh well, that's why I get paid the big bucks :)

Garrett of the Mojave

Well, I'm back from the National Training Center (NTC as we Army people like to pointlessly abbreviate it). It was hot and sandy but not humid like Georgia so it wasn't that bad. The training was pretty cool. They spent $30 million on Hollywood special effects artists to come and make simulated towns, explosions, and rockets shooting. They even had live goats and chickens roaming around. The most impressive though were the simulated "RPG's". They would fly down a guide wire so fast you could barely see them other than the trail of smoke. They hit a building and would send dust and dirt flying all over you. It was AWESOME! Kinda scary too. Anyway, I included some pics of the desert for ya'll to see....or see that there is nothing to see.

Boarding flight leaving Fort Benning and bound for NTCHome sweet home!
Day 1

Day 2

Day 4

Abrams tank in the desert

The post general flying over our position

Two of my bad boy Paladins!

View of the desert from the top of one of my Paladins

Sunset

Just thought I would throw in a couple pics of the art our soldiers did on our building to give us a more "Automatic Steel" feel