July 20. As of today I've been in America for 17 days, and it's been quite wonderful! Right now I'm in the Midwest where I've been enjoying time with more of my family and girlfriend.
This will be my last post in regard to the deployment so I wanted to recall some of the highlights of coming home and show you some pictures.
We were scheduled to leave July 1st, but our flight was canceled and we had to spend another night at Camp Phoenix. It really wasn't so bad, but having to put it off one more day kind of makes you grit your teeth a little. On July 2nd we lined up our gear next to the trucks that would be taking us to the Kabul International Airport if our C15 plane was cleared to land. We waited just a few minutes before we saw the large cargo plane come over the mountains with its landing gear down. Soldiers began to hoot and holler out of excitement as we watched it begin its decent to airport - only 10 miles away.
About 30 minutes later we were leaving Phoenix for the last time. It really just felt like we were going out for another mission - actually leaving just wasn't processing in my mind. We waived and smiled at locals like we do on every mission outside the wire. At one point we passed a site where an IED had exploded and killed a number of people earlier in the year.
A number of minutes later we were seated inside the C15 and they were closing the door on a world I will probably never see again. Brown, dry landscapes, endless mountains, and people clothed in flowing robes disappeared all in the same instant. Or at least that is how it seemed. It still seems surprising to me how healthy, safe, and clean our lives are over here. It is so easy to forget how priveleged we are.
The first time our plane stopped at a base outside Afghanistan we were surrounded by green foliage and humidity from after a fresh rain. There was actually a beautiful rainbow on the horizon at the end of the landing strip - really, I'm not kidding. About a day later we set foot on US soil for good.
Our fist stop in the US was in Bangor, Maine where there is a team of volunteers who greet and say farewell to ALL soldiers arriving or departing. My dad actually told me about seeing these folks when he traveled back and forth to Iraq. (here is a link to an article about this group. It's really worth your time: http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=136857)
I don't think I could overstate the impact of this group of retired veterans and community members. Many soldiers from our flight began to cry as face after smiling face said "Welcome Home!" and "We're proud of you, soldier!" Little girls in patriotic colors walked around with baskets of candy for us, while an elderly man handed out cell phones we could use to call home. It was really just overwhelming. These people had never met us before we walked through that terminal and I was told that they are on call 24/7. When they get the call as many as are available come to show their support, day or night.
Here is a picture of a man I met in Bangor. His father had been greeting soldier for quite a while before he passed away and now he's carrying on the tradition.
Our next stop was Ft. Stewart, Ga. where many of our families were waiting. I've included some pictures of soldiers being reunited with their families. My reunion came just a short time later when I stepped off a bus in an Orlando parking lot. My mother, stepfather, and girlfriend had flown in from out of state just to be there when I arrived. They had made matching Sgt. Gurley t-shirts which were much more wonderful than I ever thought matching clothes could be.
I can honestly say that the only time being home actually felt real was when I was hugging them in that parking lot. It's almost been two weeks since all of that took place, but I can still look into my girlfriend's eyes when I'm holding her so close and the weight of finally being home hits me all over again. And I just want to say - as strange as this might sound to some - that up until the day I returned I had never actually kissed my girlfriend, but OHH MAN did I on that day!!! (If you check back I hope to have some pics with my family and girlfriend that currently will not upload)
Up next for me is just spending time with family and getting resettled into normal life. I will be back at school come August and moving into a new place. It seems strange to close a chapter that was so different from the rest of my life and now pick up where I left off about 16 months ago. I am, however, quite eager to do just that.
Thank you to everyone - and special thanks to the reception crew in Maine!! - for your prayers and support through it all! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! More than you could imagine, we could not do what we do without all of your support.
Below is a link to a blog that one of the new soldiers started from Camp Phoenix. It's quite well written, and more importantly it is another way to make sure we really never forget the sacrifice soldiers are making everyday.
http://www.majorstrong.blogspot.com
Its SO good to have you home!! I am SO excited for normal life and all that will bring! I am so very proud of you, Scott!! I still can't believe its over! We made it!! :) Welcome home, honey!
Posted by: Kelli | July 20, 2006 at 10:31 PM
Glad you made it home safe! Readjustment to civilian life can be tough sometimes but remember to let your friends and family help. I feel that being such a good writer has already helped you more than you may realize. Thank you for your sacrifice and good luck!
OK teacher
Posted by: Jeanette | July 25, 2006 at 11:49 AM
Wow, that message really brought tears to my eyes, as I have been missing my husband endlessly. I cannot wait till it's OUR turn. Thank you Sgt for your words and allowing another soldiers wife to be apart of your life. Thank you so much for your sacrifice and thank you kelli for yours also.
Posted by: Shawna Kennedy | July 26, 2006 at 10:23 PM
Welcome, welcome home! Well done, sir. We are proud of you.
*hugs*
Posted by: Kat in GA ~ A Soldiers' Angel | July 27, 2006 at 06:22 PM
glad your home with your family! my hubby is due to deploy to afgan for our first deployment soon and i was wondering .... what type of cell phones work over there? can you plz help this army wife out?
Posted by: Mrs. Schmitt | August 01, 2006 at 10:25 AM
Welcome home bro we were glad to see you up here! -yo lil sis *Megs*
Posted by: Megs | August 07, 2006 at 06:56 PM
Glad you are home safe. I just discovered your site because I was trying to figure out how close Camp Phoenix was to kabul. I adopted a soldier at Camp Phoenix through Soldiers Angels. After reading your site , I bet he was in your replacement group as he has been there about two months. My son processed out in 2004, so I adopted another soldier to pray for and send goodies to. I am so glad you are homes safe and best of luck for the future. Hooah young man. God bless you always.
Posted by: Terrina Rush | August 14, 2006 at 11:56 PM
I am glad you are home safe. I pray all is well with you now. My husband just arrived at Camp Pheonix, yesterday 8-18-06. I have not heard from him - but I pray God will take care of him and all the troops over there! God's love to you and all the men and women who serve!
Posted by: Sandy | August 19, 2006 at 01:51 PM
Your web page has been a source of great information and I thank you for that. I am deploying to Phoneix in the next few weeks working for KBR and I was wondering if you could give me some helpful hints on what i should bring that most people would not think of. When did it start to get cold ie. start wearing coats? Also how reliable is the PX for attaining things as well as how long did it take packages to arrive from stateside to you.
Posted by: SSgt Michael Zink | August 25, 2006 at 07:10 AM
Thank you and welcome home!!!!!!
Posted by: jack gillen | February 18, 2007 at 07:23 AM
Thank you and all the soldiers for fighting for all of our freedoms. I am proud to say my daughter was involved in the making of the C15 Cargo plane. We are proud of her as well. God bless each of you. Job well done.
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Posted by: Donosawemoxerm | October 21, 2007 at 07:21 AM
I don't know if you'll ever read this... but I'm so glad to know that you made it home safely and hope and pray things are still going well for you now!!!!
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