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| Signed up: |
7 years ago (6/22/05)
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Last signed in:
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2 weeks ago
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| GoldenZephyr |
 | BCK HOME |
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RetirementWho would have thunk that I'd retire from the military. I certainly didn't think I'd get this far. I'm pretty sure that I was voted least likely to join the military in High School.
Now, my EAS is Feb 28th of next year. My earliest separation date is November 14th. 254 days away. I'd have to say that I'm relieved and scared out of my wits at the same time. The marathon is over. I can quit my post. I've been properly relieved. But now what?
College beckons. A new career of possibilities awaits. But wait. Another race begins. A four year race to the degree of choice. The key to unlock the entry level door of the dream second career is four years away. OOOHHH NOOO! I might be focusing on the wrong key! I have to run a different race? With summer internships? How will I finance that? The GI Bill won't. What about the first key? 18 credit hours a semester???? When would I sleep? The first year classes are unwaiverable? So I have to wait until after my wife graduates to start? That's the opposite of what I planned? Couldn't I start right away? Five years of college? I can't afford that either!
I knew the grass wasn't greener over there, on that side of the fence. The kool-aid stopped making the grass grow on this side and the bullshit was piled too high allow the sun in. Challenge accepted: win every scholarship I can and save it for the summer and my eventual fifth year. No other choice.
Still, Texas Forest Ranger can still be cool. Right?
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Christmas and other goings on...Rotating into retiree mode. Dropping my papers next week and beginning the planning for retirement, college, and moving cross country a few times until college and career number two are firmly planted. Busy but in the pleasantly going to enjoy leaving all of this stress and heart ache behind. The holidays were aoutstanding! Wifey got my the Halo 4 Limited Edition XBox 360 Console and a pistol crossbow, among other things! Whoot! I can still be found on XBox Live occasionally on the weekends. I'm plowing through Spartan OPS right now but I'm about to get into Spartan Wars a little bit seriously. TTFN
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SupernumeraryBooored! Sitting around for 24hrs babysitting an LT, troublemakers, and battered housewives is giving me no sense of time passing. I'm not even half way and I'm dipping into my caffine reserves. What's worse is nothing is happening on Facebook and since we are conducting flight ops, no football and the operations officer is doing my job until 0100. If it were a weekday I'd be home sleepong the boredom away. Weekend duty requires full attenance to the endless parade of "PFC with a degree" (read LTs) awkwardness. Even had the CO tell me he was glad I'm on duty today. 
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More from the front.Marines, Sailors, families and friends -
Last night there was a coordinated attack on the flight line here at Bastion, Afghanistan. The fight began at roughly 2200 at night, our time, and continued for several hours. During that fight, Marines responded the way Marines always do -- quickly and effectively. By morning, all the attackers were killed or captured. Tragically, two of the Wing's Marines were lost; LtCol "Otis" Raible and Sgt Bradley Atwell. Their families have been notified. In addition, six Marines suffered various injuries -- none of which are life-threatening.
Our Marines and Sailors...each and every one of them...performed admirably, and would make anyone proud. Immediately after defeating the attack, and supported by additional aviation and ground units, they set their force posture to prevent, repel or defeat any additional attacks and continue operations.
Despite this tragedy, our Marines, Sailors and civilians remain focused on protection of our force and execution of our mission.
I ask that you please keep the families of the fallen in your thoughts and prayers.
God Bless and Semper Fidelis -
MajGen G. A. Sturdevant
3D MAW (FWD) CG
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Tet Offensive...Arab Spring?At aprox 1600 PST Camp Leatherneck and Bastion Airfield was under attack from an unknown sized force with coordinated RPG and machine gun fire. The fighting has continued for several hours and has penetrated into the interior of the base. Several aircraft, at least one maintenance hanger, and at least two Marines are destroyed. As per SOP, all small unit level comm has been cut off to facilitate
tactical comm and proper DoD notification of next of kin. Please, pray for their families, their comrades, and their strength and resolve.
I count my blessings tonight that I am in my house tonight, with my family.
I regret not being with my Brothers, ensuring that they come home to their families.
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Legend...wait for it...So I got my hot little hands on my GPa's 1911. Sweet little Combat Commander that the serial number says was produced in 1977. Sweet! Came with two GI magazines in a GI double magazine pouch. Also got tossed a full sized 1911 prop gun. Looks like a real one but has a poorly milled slide and barrel with no moving parts save for the hammer. And two GI magazines. It's in the mail and I can start the California DROS on it when I get back from vacation.
Sitting at the table with the folks tonight, having dinner before we say our good byes, my Dad drops this bombshell on me: My cousin, who is my GPa's Sister's daughter has a "ditty bag" from Great GPa. Oh? Really. Tell me more. Tell me why it's special... Well, it's signed by every "Mr. GoldenZephyr" ever since Great GPa. Oh, who has signed it?
In chronological order:
"Great GPa
GPa's older brother
GPa
Mr. GodlenZephyr"
"Wow, that would be cool to see. "
" Yeah they dated their signature too
1918
1941
1952
1972"
"REALLLY? "
"Yeah, they put where they carried the ditty bag at too
Belleauwood
Wake Island
Seoul
Hawaii"
"WTF DAD! Why the hell does she have it!!!!! Why haven't I signed it!!!!" W T F
"Got snatched up when GPa passed.'
"Anything else?"
"I might be able to find their number if you want to talk to them about it....didn't think anything about it until now. <shrug> Oh, the magazine pouch was Great GPa's from WWI, the 1918 stamp from the manufacturer is legit."
And at that point I fell off of my chair. I've got a piece of national history in a locked pelican case (like anything less would be sufficient to carry GPa's legacy) headed for my local gun shop. And I have my ancestor's military genealogy within finger's reach here near my hometown...and I wasn't invited. Hell, I could up the value of the thing by signing my combat tours and then pushing my cousins to sign their combat tours. Or just straight put it back into the hands that value it more than "nick knacks from my dead uncle." Mine.
Wow, to find this out the night I'm leaving. I will have to come back here to talk to my cousin in person. I will have to make sure my mark is made on that piece of history. I will have that ditty bag.
.....dary
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Heeeelp!It's been too long since I've make the time for some gaming (and you guys) but I'm completely stumped as to why Halo 2 will not let me log in to XBox Live. In fact, my set logs me OUT of Live when I start playing. Any words of wisdom?
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Lest we forget.LtCol Budrejko
S/Sgt Brayton
GySgt Passarro
LtCol Carazo
Capt Mitchell
LCpl Waterman
SSgt Kesterson
SSgt Privette
SSgt Nesmith
MSgt Petty
and thousands more gone, hundreds yet to come home.
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