Ok, here they are. The posts from the time I found out I was coming home to when I actually hit Baghdad and stopped being able to get access to my computer.


8/20

Operation Maybe So begins . . .

OK, so I imagine that by the time most people read this I'll have been home for several days already. I've decided not to write about my redeployment until after the fact.

Why? Because in the Army, nothing is certain until it actually happens. Personally, I can handle the last minute changes and the uncertainty of when I'll be going home, but I'm not sure it's fair to bring my loved ones along for the roller coaster ride. For now, I'm telling everyone I'll be home sometime in October. In reality, it's looking like I'll be home by late September. If I get home early, then it's a bonus. If the redeployment runs longer than expected, then the family members are none the worse for the experience. Save a lot of frustration this way. I mean, we've been receiving information about redeploying since about the middle of July and even in that short time it's changed several times!

Our replacements from the 80^th Division have begun to arrive. One person (the new XO) has already arrived, and the new commander is supposed to be here shortly as well. The rest of the replacements are supposed to be arriving some time at the end of the month - around the 28^th of August or so.

Once they arrive, we'll train them up and get them caught up on what their job is for about a week. The lists we've seen detailing the redeployment plans put us leaving Numaniyah sometime between the 6^th and 9^th of September. I figure a couple of weeks after I leave Numaniyah I should be back in Rochester.

It's looking pretty solid so far. But you just never know with the Army. So for now, I'm going to write my blog entries concerning the redeployment in Notepad and post them later.


8/21

New base commander . . .

The new base commander arrived today. That makes 3 replacements on the ground so far. 8 more days until mine arrives (not that I'm counting or anything.)

His name is COL Anderson. All I can think of everytime I hear his name is The Matrix. "Miissssssster Anderson." *lol*


8/25

So bored . . .

Just sitting here killing time. Not too much going on these days. Just waiting for my replacement so I can start training him. Hmmm, lets see. 3 or 4 days left.


8/26

So close . . .

Supposedly the replacements are arriving this weekend. By Monday I should have my guy here and in place working. I spend a week training him, then it's off to Baghdad to start the process of leaving country.


8/28

Getting closer . . .

4 more new people arrived last night. None of them was my replacement. Supposedly he's coming tonight. We'll see.


8/30

Not quite yet . . .

Well, he didn't come as predicted. I did however get an email yesterday stating he was in the J6 office trying to contact me. Unfortunately I was off base at Scania all day, so I missed his phone calls. He called this morning and I talked to him for a short while. Sounds like a nice guy. Has a southern "country boy" accent. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.

I've also received an email stating he's scheduled to fly down on the 31^st. So it may be a little over 24 hours before my replacement is on the ground and being trained. Can I get a hallelujah? Can I get an amen?


9/1

It's after 10, do you know where your replacement is? . . .

My replacement is here!! Actually, they sent two people, which is kind of strange. I guess one is my actual replacement, the other was sent down here to help train him. Which is nice for me, because 4 days to train my guy is not going to be enough. With an extra guy down here to train him up I don't have to worry about trying to fit everything in before I leave for Baghdad. The other guy can work with him through some of the things that might come up.

So, the schedule from here. Leave Numaniyah on the 4^th. Leave Baghdad on the 8^th (I think). After that, not sure.

But still . . . WOOHOO!! I am actually leaving.


9/6

In Baghdad . . .

We hit Baghdad late Sunday night. Woke up Monday and started clearing. We cleared all day Monday, I received my end of tour award - we basically got all the administrative crap out of the way in a single day, which was nice. However, now we sit and wait for our flight. I think we leave the IZ on the 8^th for BIAP and fly out of Baghdad for Kuwait on the 11^th. So we've basically got 5 days or so of sitting around killing time. If I figure it right, I think I'll be in Rochester by the 20^th, give or take a couple three days.

I almost would rather be waiting at BIAP rather than the Green Zone. You're just a bus ride away from Camp Victory at BIAP, and there's all sorts of stuff to do at Victory. The Green Zone really doesn't have much in the way of MWR activities. I went running this afternoon, checked my email . . . and that's about it. Somehow I managed to kill most of the day. But you know what? Being bored waiting to fly out of Baghdad is better than being busy waiting to leave Numaniyah. Know what I mean?