Local soldier sends letter from Iraq
Local soldier sends letter from Iraq
I was born in Huntington Beach and moved to Bakersfield in 1979 when my dad got a job in the oil business. I graduated from West High in 1994. After a year or so running amuck, I decided to join the National Guard as a medic. After a couple years in the National Guard, I decided that I wanted to see more of the world so I went into the Army "full time."
I was first stationed at Ft. Polk Louisiana. People thought I was crazy to go to the "armpit of the Army,” but I was quick to tell them that some of the best bass fishing in the world was down there. I then got stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on September 10, 2001 with a list of a hundred things I wanted to do. Well, as you know, our country was attacked the next day, so it was all business for the next few months.
I returned to Bakersfield in February, 2004, where I got a job working for the city. But a voice inside me was telling me to do more every time I read the paper or watched the news. There was a war going on in Iraq, and I felt it was still my obligation to be a part of it. After all, I had eight years of experience and training as a combat medic.
On October 11, 2006, I rejoined the National Guard. I cannot say that my girlfriend (now wife) was thrilled about it, but she eventually gave me her blessing. It did not take long for them to ship me out. On the May 23, I proposed to my wife while on leave between Texas and Camp Roberts California. After three months, I came home again on leave and married my wife in a small ceremony with our parents.
As you can figure, being in Iraq has been quite a challenge. The blasts and bullets have calmed down a lot here and seemed to have been replaced somehow with homesickness. I'm happy to report that I will be home around mid-April. My wife and I can hardly wait to be married "full time.”
I have had my ups and downs but I would not change a thing. I have a great city to come home to, a great wife, great friends and family, and all the fish I could ever catch are just a few minutes away.
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