Hawkeyes Abounding!

At yesterday's Turning Blue, I learned that one of the Drill Sergeants from Charlie Company is from Decorah, Iowa. I asked him if he was a Iowa Hawkeye fan. He didn't say anything, he just pointed to a pick-up truck in the parking lot with a Tiger Hawk decal dominating the back window. He then said simply, "That's my truck."

It's always good to find another Hawkeye.

I Turned Someone Blue!

No, I didn't put them in a choke hold.

Today is the day before Charlie Company's graduation. With Infantry, there is a special ceremony called a "Turning Blue" ceremony. It's here that they Soldiers receive the distinctive sky-blue cord that will distinguish them throughout the Army. The blue infantry cord is a badge of honor and dedication in itself, much like paratrooper wings, air assault badge, or Ranger tab.

This blue cord is usually put on by the family members who are in attendance. Today, there was a Soldier who asked me to put it on for him. I had talked to him (along with umpteen others from Charlie) way back in July when he first got here. To be honest, I can't remember exactly who he was or what his issue was but he remembered me. So, since he didn't have any family around, he asked me to put his cord on for him. I was truly honored in more ways than one.

I was honored because this young man is Infantry, which I consider to be somewhat of an elite designation. He is one of the best trained and physically fit soldiers in the world and he asked me to turn him blue. I was also honored because something I had said to him had "stuck" and I had done something to strengthen his faith in his Savior, his service, and himself. I made a difference in his life and that's what honors me the most.

We do more before nine o'clock this morning...

I still remember that line from a recruiting commercial for the Army from many, many years ago. Today, I'll bet it's true.

Started at 0100 (1:00 a.m. for those who don't do military time) with a final road march for C Company. They have wrapped up their FTX and will graduate about 175 Infantrymen next week. It was a 7.5 mile trek that came in from a completely different area, which was a welcome change of scenery. Our little stroll took us about three and a half hours to complete. 0500 brought a Crossed Rifles Ceremony where these 175 were welcomed into the ranks of the Infantry. Usually, that would be enough but not today.

0545 brought the visit of the Deputy Commanding General for Ft. Benning to our Battalion area for a PT session with B Company. It was a three mile company run that wrapped up around 0630. So, not more than an hour after completing a 7.5 mile road march, I went on a three mile run as well.

Needless to say, I am willing to wager that I did more before most of you were awake than you'll do all day. The crazy thing is: I loved every minute of it.

Some Thoughts

When I was just a wee lad (instead of a lard lad), I used to write all the time and more than just the news of my day. I had a chance to ride my bicycle today for the first time and I want to put some thoughts up here before they get away. Please bear with me.

Racing the Night

Heading out with the orange streamers streaking the sky, I realize that night is coming and I have so little time. Legs pumping, heart jumping, head thumping as I race the clock in front of me. One more mile, a few more minutes, just a bit more until the night comes. Give me the strength to do just a little more, to spend a little more energy before the night and the cold winter that comes closer tomorrow. Speeding along the bumpy backroads, I am racing the night; hoping to finish before the stars appear and work is through.

Heading out as the hourglass slowly drops its sands. Time is running out; the day is fast drawing to a close. Heart racing, feet bracing, words gracing the people who we meet as the Sun slowly wanes and a time of Rest is near. One more person, a few more minutes, just a bit more of the Work before Night comes. Give me the strength and the courage to do just a bit more before the sunset. Speeding along life's bumpy backroads, we are racing the Night; hoping to finish before the Dawn reveals the true results of our Work.

*shrug* For what it's worth. Thanks for reading the ramblings of a guy doped up on antibiotics.

Paying the price

Okay, so I have gone from bad to worst.

It seems my bragadoccio from Tuesday got me in trouble. The long road march wore me down in more ways than one. I thought I had just picked up a head cold accompanied by a sore throat from all the drainage. The only problem is that the sore throat didn't come from the drainage; the drainage is coming from the sore throat.

After a week or so, I realize that I probably have some sort of infection. My tonsils have been the size of golf balls since I was 11. Always the same thing: we have to wait for the swelling to go down before anyone will take them out. In the meantime, I get a hum-dinger of an infection abount every other year. Guess this is my year. So, tomorrow I'll head to sick call and see if I can get some antibiotics. Man, I hate going to the doctors but I hate this pain in my throat more. Maybe I can get them to cut out my tonsils anyway.

Unnnnnnh....

Well, I made it the whole 12 miles but got some pretty bad blisters that kept me from the 4 mile run. Not that I had the energy to do it anyway; I'm pretty beat. I did manage to get about 4 hours of "sleep" here in my office...on the floor. At least I got that much. It's going to be a long, coffee-filled day!

The weeks keep rolling along

Okay, so here's what I have done in the last 7 days:

Tuesday, 5 OCT: 4 mile run with Delta Company. It was a 9:00 min/ mile average so not too killer, but for some reason it really hurt.

Wednesday, 6 OCT: Okay, I was playing "staff-weenie" and getting office stuff done. But, I was still at the battalion until 7:30 p.m. doing counseling. eesh.

Thursday, 7 OCT: Morning PT is a given, but it was coupled with a 5.1 mile foot march in the afternoon.

Friday, 8 OCT: Out to the field! I spent Friday night in the field with Delta Company and laughed as I watched the various platoons "probe each other's positions." Hey, I know what it sounds like, but that's what they call it.

Saturday, 9 OCT: Morning field service for Delta Company. 40 Soldiers stayed to hear the Word of God and know that they are forgiven in Christ. Came back at about 9:30 a.m. and did some more office work because that afternoon it was time to bring the pain! Ground Fighting Techniques (GFT) with Bravo Comapany! Yeah, I spent the whole day wrestling around on the ground with guys about half my age and 75% my size. It was fun and good training as well.

Sunday, 10 OCT: Lutheran service in the morning with 80 people in attendance, which is kinda down. Then home to do about 3 weeks worth of laundry because I was low on underwear. It was either do laundry or go buy more. We're low on cash, so I'll wash it. I spent the rest of the day in bed with a nasty sore throat and temperature.

Monday, 11 OCT: Wake up with the same pukey sore throat but the fever seems to be gone. Come in and try to do PT, only to find that it's a federal holiday and the gym isn't open. Crap. It's actually okay, because I wasn't up to snuff quite yet.

The big news for today was the fact that Delta Company is coming back from the field tonight, which is early. So, tonight is going to hurt. I'll have a 12 mile road march that steps off at about 9:00 p.m. and wraps up about 2:00 a.m. I'll take a quick nap in my office, get up and do another Eagle Run with Charlie Company. This will be followed by a shower, a quick devotional word at the Commanders' Meeting and then I am off to teach ASIST all day. Needless to say, I am going to need A LOT of coffee tomorrow.

But all of these things are where a chaplain earns his money, so to speak. It's instant credibility with Soldiers when you are doing as much of their training as possible. It's also good credibility with Drill Sergeants as well.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot, this is a "holiday" weekend. Meaning, I was supposed to be off Friday and Monday. Yeah. Right.

It's Official...Unfortunately

Tuesday was not a good day.

Tuesday, I travelled back to my home in Kohler and my church in Sheboygan Falls for the penultimate (oooo...big word) time as their pastor.

There indicators for a two-year mobilization are just too numerous for Sara and I to ignore. While not "official" we are pretty sure that I am going to be here for two years. That's too long. It's too long for Sara and I to be apart; it's too long for St. Paul to be without a youth worker.

So, in the hopes that our family will be better off and our church will be better off, I have resigned from St. Paul. My last Sunday "there" will be 7 NOV.

It's hard to know how to feel about this whole thing. On the one hand, I am happy because my wife and dogs are going to meet me at home each and every day. On the other, we're leaving a great church family back in Sheboygan Falls.

I guess I'll just have to feel on a day-to-day basis.