Deployment Update
Final Iraq/Kuwait Edition March 25, 2010 Issue 25 Dear friends and family, I'm grateful to each of you for following, and actively participating in, my patriotic adventure this year. It's something I'll surely not forget. What made it more tolerable was your support, without a doubt. Of course, faith has everything to do with the outcome. There was nothing too terrible to get through, but there was no lack of stress of one kind or another. One of those stressful times occurred back in May. I was still working at Al Faw Palace. There was a message that a linguist had been killed by a roadside IED. The linguist was an Iraqi local national. His remains had to be transferred to his family in Baghdad. Since the deceased was assigned to my region, I asked to be present for the transfer. I had no idea what to expect. On the way to the meeting point, I asked one of the contractors how to say "I'm sorry for your loss." The Arabic version was way too many syllables for my brain, but I tried to memorize it quickly. There were two vehicles; I drove mine and followed the vehicle carrying the remains. We waited for the family. They'd driven a couple of hours, and they had to bring a coffin. They arrived in a white mini-van with the simple wooden coffin strapped to the roof. There were no women – I was braced for lots of emotion from the family. (I'd already asked if hugs to the women were appropriate - it was not necessary as it turned out, only the men came.) As they prepared to place the body bag in the coffin (which had been moved to the ground), they asked for water. Fortunately, I was carrying bottled water in my vehicle and bottles were passed out to the men who were with the family. They washed their hands with it. (If you go back to a previous issue early on, you'll see me watering what I named a Peace Plant. Those were the bottles I collected from the ground after the family left. I poured the remaining water from all of the bottles onto that bush.) There was one other soldier present. He brought a young cousin of the deceased, who happened to also be a linguist for the same contractor. He was hysterical. At some point, I was able to move near him and try to offer comfort He turned and hugged me and wouldn't let go. Finally, the soldier was able to get him into the vehicle they arrived in. You see, many of the families do not know that they might have a family member who supports the U.S. Military. The linguists want to protect their families and don't tell them. I don't know if this cousin even knew about his relative before this day. They were in different units, locations, and different missions. Somehow the others got the coffin on top of the roof, strapped it down and drove off. I stood at attention, and while I did not salute, I spontaneously put my right hand to my chest as the Iraqis do when they say "thank you." I think it is a lovely gesture when they do it. I thought it might convey my respect and gratitude to them. I don't know if it was right, but I tried. I expected many more of these to occur during my tour, but fortunately, there were no more local national linguist deaths in my region. On a happier "note" I'm grateful that I got to meet Iraqis and live with them through their historic election. That will be one of the true highlights for me from this tour. Also that Iraqi and American graduates of the U.S. Army War College are going to work together excites me. I hope to see/hear more about that as the first class of students begins later this year. I only wish I could be there to see it for myself. That this country will continue to move forward in so many ways is my fervent prayer. An Army photographer showed up at my birthday party. I'd invited her but told her I did not want her to work for once, just come have some cake. She left her camera but brought someone from AFN (Armed Forces Network) who started interviewing me while I was trying to thank my guests. It was very awkward and I wasn't a very willing subject. I don't know if they ever broadcasted anything because there are far more exciting stories. A 30th anniversary isn't something the young folks in the military care about! But back to the first photographer. Before she left, she asked me what the last thing will be that I'll think about before I leave. I didn't have an answer and told her I'll have to think about it. Then she invited me to see the sunrise the last morning I was in the IZ. That was a great idea. It was very peaceful. That's when I told her I hadn't thought about the last thing because I was thinking about the future. (I've just rewritten this a couple of times and each version sounds funny...) Funny, but I’m usually a list-maker. This time, I made no list(s) – scary – and just moved from one thing to another and it was all accomplished somehow. I'd been doing things, mailing things home all along, so there wasn't much left to be done besides clear out my emails from work and say goodbye. She told me she had a "great shot" of my hands playing at the memorial service a couple of weeks earlier. I asked her if she'd mind sending it to me because I knew my husband would like it.
This is so appropriate as a final photo for this month. Again, thirty years ago, I enlisted in the 229th Army Band, in the Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore, Maryland. My first Army job was "Piano Player" and while my career has taken some odd turns, to be able to still use this gift for the military is very humbling. I'm very very grateful for the opportunities I've been blessed with to serve this way. I'm grateful to the soldiers I first served with, who mentored me and made me a better person, soldier, and musician. Those same men are still playing music too, though most have retired from the Army. They continue to inspire others, including me, with their love for music and service to others. I would like to dedicate this final issue from the Middle East to them. Thanks guys. Who knew? In the next few hours, I'll be finalizing my packing, sitting in waiting areas, anticipating having 4 duffle bags dumped out and everything, including my underwear, inspected/repacked, before I haul them to be loaded on the Freedom Flight, followed by more waiting, reading, cat-napping, until we finally GO! John and I have a new life ahead. We'll actually be TOGETHER first and foremost, and we'll refrain from lots of commitments - volunteering and such for awhile. We'll establish a new "battle rhythm" and ease into the next chapter(s). I've never been so tired, but will snap out of it as soon as I can. My brain is fried with emotion and exhaustion. Spiritually, I'm still "flying high" but want to focus on becoming healthier in every possible way. John has a BIG B-Day approaching too and we'll be celebrating that! I was invited to speak about my tour of duty at the National Military Intelligence Association luncheon in Huntsville at the end of May. I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences when opportunities arise. However, I realize that I'm hardly the first to go to Iraq, or the first anything! Nonetheless, if my observations will help further Americans' understanding of Iraqis, it's the least I can do for them. There is so much for me to learn as well, please keep that in mind! I'll share two new things with you. One new project is already in work: The CD "Remembering Carlisle Barracks" will be two years old in May. I've been in contact with my distributor in the last 24 hours and have asked to have it distributed as an iTune. That's exciting (for me anyway) and more people may be able to enjoy it who have iPods. We'll be working out the details on that. Another project is, hopefully, this: I want to organize a drive to donate musical instruments to the Iraqi military band that I heard perform last month. They told me through an interpreter that their instruments are poor. I've got an address at the Embassy to send packages to, and now just need to know what instruments and supplies they need. At their request, I put them in touch with the American military band in Baghdad and hope that they will do some joint programs. In the meantime, I'm waiting to hear from the Iraqis what items they need to accomplish their mission, and we'll go from there. Stay "tuned!" We'll visit as many people as we can in 2010, but have to PACE ourselves and rest along the way. Don't forget to come visit us in Huntsville too! The cheryl_john@bellsouth.net address will continue to be our primary email address for now. We look forward to staying in touch with you and getting back into a "normal" routine. What IS normal?
With abundant thanks, Cheryl |
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