Homecoming

Last time you heard from me, I was still in Afghanistan awaiting the long journey that would eventually bring me home. Let me be the first to say that it absolutely was a long and arduous trip, with a lot of bumps along the way.

We moved out of our cushy estates in early December and into a giant old circus tent 2 weeks before we were to depart. I don't think the tent was maintained in any fashion, because we had to clean out a year's worth of settled debris before we could occupy the space. I think these tents only are used when a unit is in a transient status, which is usually only once or twice a year. The ceiling of the tent looked like it had been patched thousands of times. My guess is shrapnel and wear and tear, as this tent sits very close to the perimeter of the FOB. One good thing about the army is that we learn to occupy any kind of space and make it home, so we were fine. As long as I have some sort of covering over my head I am good to go. Luckily, it didn't rain too much during our time there.

We left Salerno in several different groups, which was annoying because we did not even get to leave as an entire platoon. Over the year, we formed some sort of weird bond with each other and do not like to be separated, especially during movement. Regardless of our parental tendencies, we were ready to go and hop on any crate, big or small, to get out of that place. As it always is, flights are canceled, schedules are changed, and everything is different from the original plan. Eventually myself and a few of our guys made it on a C-130 headed to Bagram Air Base, which is still in Afghanistan. I remember sitting there, cramped up with a group of soldiers, just like when we came out there, only the feeling was different. It was good to finally get the trip started; I remember as the plane lifted off the ground a buddy and I did the signature "high-five" that we do when something goes right. I just stared out the window, watching everything on the ground get smaller and smaller. Will I ever see this place again, or is my time in Afghanistan in the history books for good? Our job is certainly not done here, and only time will tell.

Bagram is hardly worth mentioning, because everyone who has been there in transient hates the place. It was more of the same "we are doing this" and "no, wait, we are doing that" and a million other changes. Staying in more tents and scrounging around for entertainment or anything to curve extreme boredom. The thing we dreaded most was going through customs. For some damned reason we have to dump all of our bags our, the ones we spent hours packing, have our things inspected, and then repack them. It was an absolute terror, but it went smoother than I thought it would. I was happy when I put my bags on the palates, where they would stay until I saw them in the states. Little did I know that they would make them back to me long after I made it back to the states, and they even made a side trip to Fort Bragg, home of the 82nd Airborne Division.

After customs we sat around in a room that we could not leave, and around 1am boarded another C-130 for a flight to the not so well known country of Kyrgyzstan, which is part of the former Soviet Union. When we arrived to the small Air Force base there we were informed that there is a Russian airbase some 40 miles away, so we should just stay put and keep quiet. We are always treading lightly when it comes to Russia. Luckily, we got to stay in a more hardened building, even though it still kind of looked like a tent! One of the most memorable experiences from that place was the harsh Soviet winter. I imagine that it's similar to the winter that helped Russia keep the Nazis out of their territories in WWII. It's bitter and harsh, and I spent my 27th birthday there. I celebrated by sleeping most of the day. We were all ecstatic when we were climbing up the steps of a civilian jetliner that would take us directly back to Ft. Campbell and our families.

After nearly a 10 hour flight, we made a stop in Ireland to refuel and recater the airplane. I'm not a fan in the slightest of airline food, so my stomach was empty and hurting. I downed a few crackers and juice in the airport and we carried on with our trip. Another 8 hours before a welcomed touchdown at our home base.

When the plane landed we all stretched and contorted ourselves to see what was out the window. It had been more than a year since I had left this place, and was ready to get off that damn plane. Wouldn't you know that it was raining and cold but there were still family members standing outside to welcome their soldiers back to the United States. After struggling to put all of our gear on and gather our weapons, we lined up to exit the airplane. Coming down the stairs was bittersweet; there was cheering, and camera flashes. I felt like a movie star. After being diverted to yet another tent we grounded our gear, and stood outside of the hangar where our impatient familes waited inside. The last thing I wanted to do was stand outside in the cold rain, but the cheering coming from inside made that all trivial. We are at home in the rain, and in the mud, but let us go inside anyways! The doors slowly opened and we marched inside to an uproar and more flashes. What a welcome! Immediately everyone looked for their families, and when I spotted mine my heart went into my throat. I actually felt like crying. After a year of booms and stress and every emotion there is I was home, and I was safe. Being relieved is an understatement.

The only thing left to do after getting settled was reintigration. This is a 7 day process that consists of everything from making sure our administative tasks are in order to having a physical and psycholigical evaluation. Luckily I checked out OK! All I need is a visit to the dentist for a cleaning, although they do want to yank 2 of my wisdom teeth. I'll delay that until after leave, which for me starts tomorrow!

So here I am, to Afghanistan and back, through it all, in one piece. I'm lucky to have such a supportive family, and a new love in my life that I can't even begin to appreciate fully. For once, everything seems to be falling into place. What will become of SGT Gratsch? What is there to write about if there are no explosions, no hint of war? Garrison life is very different from war. The funny thing is, as soon as units come back from war, they start right back up at training to go to war. So I guess that's what we'll do. And I won't stop writing. There will always be something going on. But for now, I sign off a happy man, because I've made the journey, and I've returned. And now I can be with family and friends once again. It's bittersweet. It's the way it's supposed to be. And I would not have it any other way.

While we are back, there are those of us who are still out there in the suck. Our buddies, our family members, still out there staring into the sky at night, wondering when they too will get to come back. We pray for them, and we think of them often. God speed to those of you still across the pond. I await your safe return. Keep your head on a swivel, and keep fighting the good fight.

Cheers,

-J