Twenty Years in the Army

Well, I finally made it. Twenty years ago today, I kissed my wife goodbye and got on a jet in Columbus, Ohio and made my way to Columbus, Geordia. I've been wearing Army green ever since. The intervening years have been interesting:

• Two shooting wars in Iraq.
• Peacekeeping/training deployments to Kosovo, Kenya, Kuwait, Korea, and Kentucky.
• Four trips to the NTC at FT Irwin, CA and two trips to JRTC at FT Polk, LA.
• Three tours in Fort Bragg, culminating in over 70 static line parachute jumps.
• Surgery in two different Army hospitals.
• Three children born on two different Army posts.
• Six months of Arabic language instruction at FT Bragg.
• Survived ass chewings from Private First Class to Major, much to the surprise of friends and foes alike.
• Over four years spent away from home in exercises, schooling, and war.
• Mother, brother, and several Army friends passed away during the last two decades.

It's been a hard, but good ride. I'm ready to moveon.org. --GT