Happy New Year

Now that it is 2008, I can say that I will head home THIS year, instead of NEXT year. We've been "in country" 125 days; it is 212 days since we started with the training in Norfolk. On January 15, we will be at the half-way point between the start of training and the return home (15 months, 453 days). We have been here long enough to become the veterans. Replacements are arriving by the droves now, mostly Army. We get to show them the ropes and make their life more pleasant. We are grateful to those who helped us settle in with a special thanks to Air Force Captain Paul MacDonald who helped drag our gear to our huts when we arrived 4 months ago.