Deployed

Well, it is official. My brother Ryan is deployed. He is currently in Kuwait awaiting a move on into Iraq that should take place in the next couple of weeks. The flight over was a long one, about 20 hours plus stop over time in Germany. He was able to call home and talk to my parents after he arrived, but the phone lines went out, and the internet is not much better. He paid by the hour for the internet service...which is slower than dial up here, so be thankful for your cable and dsl...and was able to tell mom and my brother Josh that he is already experiencing sandstorms and high temps. He seems to be positive about the whole experience, and eager to do something to help the war effort. I, on the other hand, am rather worried about him even being over there, much less fighting. I am proud of him for wanting to give what he can to help protect the rest of us, but it is hard to watch him do it, especially knowing that it is not easy for him. His tour of duty in Iraq is 15 months long, approximately. It seems that the army doesn't tell you much before you get your orders, and then only what you need to know at the moment, so we won't know alot until we hear from him. I will try to keep my blog updated on his progress as we get word. As of now, we don't have an address for him, but in a couple weeks, we should. If anyone wants to send him mail I will be glad to give you his address as soon as I know it. You can email me and I will give it to you. Having someone in my family serve overseas definately makes me see things that I have never seen before. The sacrifices of our soldiers and their families...every one that reports for duty...not just the heroes that we read about, but the quiet heroes who do their job and are willing to give up the control of their own lives for a cause. Every day is a new sacrifice, for the soldier who sleeps on a cot in the desert, and the mothers and fathers, husbands, and wives who do their best to carry on while they wait for their soldier to come home. It isn't easy, and so many of us don't even think about it. Ryan said that means the armed forces are doing their job, if the citizens of this country don't have to worry as they go about their day to day lives...but it would be nice to show some appreciation when we get the chance. Thankyou, soldiers.