Even Latest and Greatest

Well, most of you have been asking me about things that I would like to get in the mail or things that I need. So here is a list of some things that I have been in need of lately.
Shaving Cream (Sensitive Skin)
Deoderant
I know it's a short list, but most of the other items I can buy at the PX. Other than that, I think I am pretty much set. I just got my new running shoes in the mail today, and that was pretty much what I needed most. A few days ago, all the 1SG's in all the Nebraska units recieved several large boxes that were pretty heavy. I read the customs forms, and all they read were t-shirts and hats. So after all the uits had picked up their mail, I got an email from 1SG Cleveland. It said "Husker shirts and hats available on a first come, first serve basis". Come to find out, Larry the Cable Guy sent them. If any of you didn't know, he is from Nebraska, and is a huge supporter of the troops. He even owns a skybox at Memorial Stadium. I've heard that he let's soldiers use it when they are on leave or when they get back from Iraq. Many soldiers around here have been wearing their Husker gear, but only in the privacy of their hooches. We'd get in trouble if we were caught out of uniform outside of our hooches.
Keep an eye out for me on T.V. and Husker Vision. Last week, four other soldiers and myself had an opportunity to give shoutouts to our families and the Huskers. We all met at the PAO office (Public Affairs), and we each filmed about a 10 second shoutout. I was nervous, so hopefully it turned out alright. SFC Schultz said they will send them back to Nebraska, and local news stations will air them. He said he would also try and get them to show our shoutouts on the Husker Vision.
Not many attacks lately. The last one was yesterday, and we haven't been in U3 in over a week, so that is a plus. SGT Kane made it back from leave last ight, so today I had to give him his desk back and I got shoved back into my "hole". My office is what the everyone in the S-1 refers to as "The Hole" because it is seperate from the rest of the section.
Recently, the PSD (Personal Security Detatchment) has been a few soldiers short due to leave. I was told I would be joining them for the week in order to keep the missions going on. About 90% of the soldiers in the PSD are my buddies I used to train with back home. It will be nice to reuinte with them and do what we do best. I'll keep you posted towards the end of the week and put up a few pictures when I return.

The Latest and Greatest

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. When I first set up this blog, my intentions were to post at least once a week. Lately, there hasn't been too much to write about, so here's what I know for now. The 24th MED is "boots on ground" here at LSA Anaconda. For those of you who don't know, Sean O'Malley, Ben Mattox, and James Sykes are in that unit. So we have a good portion of people representing the Mustangs here in Iraq. Along with them, a small portion of the 734 Transportation Company is stationed here. I talked to one of the soldiers from the 24th MED, and he said that by Christmas time, "they" expect there to be more Nebraska soldiers at LSA Anaconda, than in the state of Nebraska. Notice how I put quotations around "they". I'm not sure who "they" is, so it could just be a rumor.
Last week, a VBIED (Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Device) took out a canal in Baghdad. That canal just so happened to be our source of water, and now water conservation measures are being taken to preserve what water we do have left on base. Recently, they have enforced "combat shower" rules. A combat shower involves getting wet, turning the water off, soaping up, washing your hair, then turning the water back on to rinse off. They're not too bad. At least we don't have to take ranger showers (baby wipes). They have stopped using silverware and plates as well as trays at the chow halls. Instead, they have been using paper plates and plastic dinnerware. They have even gone so far as to shut down both the outdoor and indoor pools. They plan to use that water as well, for we are planning to be short on water for the next 20 days. Don't worry though, there is plenty of bottled water around here, so I better not get 15 care packages in the mail with bottled water in them. Im serious. I've seen it happen.
That's all for now I guess. I'll try to do a better job of getting a post up at least once a week.
P.S. If you leave a comment, please be sure to leave your name so I know who all has been checking out my blog. Thanks, Brent

9/11

Today marks the 5th year after the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. It is a significant day for me, as this was one reason why I joined the military. I knew long before 9/11 that I wanted to be in the military, but after this day, it seemed even more like a call that needed to be answered. This day also marks the 1 year anniversary of my departure date from Lincoln, NE, to Fort Stewart, GA. This was the beginning of it all for me. It seems like forever since that day, but it is nice to look back at it as a milestone. The more milestones, for me, the better. It's a way to look back at the places you have been, and the things you have done. If you take that kind of perspective, it really makes it seem like time has been flying. Many soldiers would probably tell you different, but everyone has a different view. I feel like I am on the downward slope, spending 12 months on active duty, with "hopefully" 6 or 7 left to go. There is really nothing to look forward to before the end of the doployment though, as I have already taken my environmental leave. But as soldiers always do, I'll just have to adapt and overcome.
Please take a moment today to pray for those we have lost, as well as those who have lost someone.

A LITTLE ABOUT MYSELF

I always knew that I wanted to join the military, but was never sure what I wanted to do and what branch I wanted to join. It only took one visit from the Marines for me to decide that it wasn't for me. I contacted the Army, as well as the Army Reserve. I wanted to be close to home so I could knock out some college while I served, so the Army was quickly eliminated from my choices. Then I turned to the Air Force. I was always intrigued by aviation, particularly fighter jets. Of course, what kid didn't want to be a fighter pilot at one point in their life? My dad had gone with me to talk to the Air National Guard recruiter, and it seemed as though he really wanted me in the Air Guard. He later admitted not wanting me to join the Army. He took me on a tour of the hangar on the base there in Lincoln. While he was giving me a tour, I ran into the Army National Guard recruiter. He gave me his card, and a few short months later, I was an American soldier serving in the Nebraska Army National Guard. I swore in on 16 April, 2003 along side my classmate Jessica Benkusky.
The day following my high school graduation, I reported to MEPS in Omaha, Nebraska. A few days later, I found myself in Fort Knox, KY for basic combat trianing. I graduated from Bravo Company 2-46 Infantry on 30 August, 2003. I spent one year at Midland Lutheran College, where I played basketball. As most of you know, I have an undying love for basketball. Unfortunately, things didn't work out too well with my college basketball career, as my dad was deployed on his first tour to Iraq. I usually went home on the weekends to be with my mom and sisters to help around the house, and one weekend a month I had drill. Most of the time, I ended up working out at P.O. Pears on the lake. After my freshhmen year, I went to Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonardwood, MO to become a Motor Vehicle Transport Operator. Yes, it's a truck driver, but it sounds cooler and more exciting than a truck driver. I graduated on 30 August, 2005. After that, I transferred to Southeast Comunity College in Lincoln and eventually rented a house with my buddies Andrew (Spilk) Spilker, Derek (Michel) Michel, and Christian (Bandiola, Bandiholerfield) Bandiola. After many parties, visits from Lincoln's finest, and many local college students coming through to add to the memories of my experiences at 31st and N, I moved out the month before I left for Iraq. Exactly one year to the date, I mobilized and finally deployed with the 1-167th Cavalry (RSTA) as the squadron mail clerk. That is pretty much where I am now, with lots of other smaller events in between, but that's for my next post.