Back to the Grind

Hello everyone. Sorry I have not been true to the blog. Sharon complained the other day that my blog missed me. I think that was her way of saying, I need to go to sleep, put whatever you have to say in the blog and I'll read it tomorrow.

We had a great two weeks in America. I was so happy to be home that I didn't once get impatient with traffic, the weather, or anything. I went the whole two weeks without a moment of frustration! Compared to Iraq, home is heaven. You just can't imagine the difference.

But now I'm back and we have more work than I can figure out how to get done. But there's good news....I now have a skeleton staff of Iraqi Officers, including one colonel (commandant), one lieutenant colonel, a major, captain, two lieutenants and twenty four soldiers. The colonel and I have already become close friends. He is a very reserved, distinguished officer, devout husband and father of four (like me). He is a "Special Forces" officer and has spent the last 18 months or so working with our green berets in Baghdad. He has a great heart. To protect his identity, I'll refer to him as "the Commandant".

Iraqi soldiers only get to go home once a month because it is very dangerous for them and their families to be seen coming and going too often. The Commandant's family lives in a village that is constantly under threat from foreign terrorist or local criminals on the Iranian payroll. We have been praying for the safety of his family over the past week because there were some military operations taking place in and around his village and he had not had any contact with his them for more than six days. I'm happy to report that he was able to get a message from them (through a third party) yesterday. You just can't imagine what it is like for Iraqis.

When I returned from leave, I had tons of mail and boxes of goodies from many folks back home, some I don't even know. I will try to thank everyone individually but if I miss someone, please know that I am greatful. Thank you for all your prayers and good deeds towards me.

Here are some pictures from my leave:

In my chair with everybody but Leah
(where were you Chickie?)



















With my favorite brother and sister:
















The guys doing what guys do best (NOTHING):














Me and Leah at the airport:














And with my best friend, savoring the last few minutes together.
She's so beautiful but my heart was breaking.

My Friend Tommy

One of the benefits of my deployment is meeting people from all over the world. Still, the best people you'll ever meet, even here in Iraq, are from Dixie. One such person is Lieutenant Colonel Tommy Griffin of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. What a gentleman. I've only know Tommy since April 06, but his southern charm and genuine goodness make him an instant friend to everyone he meets. Tommy and I were travelling home together for our two weeks of leave from this place. We talked a little about our work, a little about our civilian lives and a lot about our families. Tommy is a family man.

When I got home, I e-mailed the deputy commanding general of the 108th to give him a SITREP (situation report) on things in Iraq. I wanted to remind him about the dedication of people like Tommy, who, faced with the option of retiring from the Army to avoid deployment to Iraq, chose duty above convenience. Here's what I wrote to General Mallory:

I wish everyone was aware of the kinds of sacrifices so many of our folks made prior to their deployment. I was talking to a friend from Mississippi the other day (LTC Tommy Griffin). He was in the 100th Division when they merged with us a couple of years ago. After he became a part of the 108th, he learned he would be called up for deployment to Iraq. Like me, Tommy was an entrepreneur, running an egg distribution business begun by his father and in continuous operation for over 50 years. Immediately, he was presented with a real problem about what to do with his business. After many weeks of prayer and thoughtful consideration, Tommy decided he would do his duty and not resist deployment to Iraq by any means. He made the decision, with his family, to liquidate the family business. He told me, “Allan, you just can’t imagine how hard that was for me.” When Tommy re-deploys from Iraq next year, he’ll have to find new employment. But right now, he’s focused on his mission and doing a heck of a job for the United States Army and for the citizens of Iraq.

Yesterday, I got back to Baghdad and looked for Tommy to ask him how his leave went. Then, someone told me that Tommy's house caught fire while he was at home and burned to the ground. He's still in Mississippi, now on emergency leave. See: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701040324

Tommy is one of the smartest guys I know and I have no doubt that he will be fine in the long run. But right now, he's got to be wondering what else can go wrong. Please keep my friend and his family in your prayers. I'll keep you posted on their progress. People interested in helping the Griffins can call First Baptist Church at (601) 544-0100. Church employee Anita Pannell said gift cards for food and clothing are encouraged.

Thank you,
allan