Welcome to Balad

Hi, Stranger.

I can only imagine how you feel. I thought when I was leaving that I’d far rather be the one going than the one staying behind, and I still feel that way.

Do you know where he’s going? Do you have a good idea of what he’ll be doing, exactly (I’m not sure what all “crewchief” entails)? 545 days sounds Army to me (not many, if any, AF personnel stay over there that long).

I imagine he needs you to need him, but not need him at the same time. I suppose that doesn’t make much sense….

Hang in there.

d

I am a wife of a ANG Crewchief leaving VERY SOON..he’s not given me any indication that he’s ’scared’ as you described here and that scares me. I want him to be…so I’ll know I’m not alone in this feeling. We have kids and this is very hard for me..even typing this I want to cry! He’s been given orders to be gone for a YEAR (actually..not to exceed 545 days) and of course..he’s been gone 2 months tomorrow for training…which does not factor into that 545 days!! I want him to be safe…I think our lives are not worth this crap going on over there but I am standing by my man…he will get a pass…one more time I have to see him off..this time..he’s going to the ’sandbox’ you describe - he didn’t get to choose but sounds like he got the better of the two locations as you said. GOD BE WITh EVERY AMERICAN SOLDIER OVER THERE…RETURN HOME TO US IN ONE PIECE!! - GOD BLESS YOU

Hey Lt, I just ran across this when I googled my own name. How funny! Hope all is well with you. I heard a lot of things changed after we all left Balad. Email me sometime…I’m on the global.
Angela

Sorry to disappoint, SBC, but I didn’t see the city.

I am, of course, curious as to why you want to know. You’re from there? Want to know what Americans think of it? Want to know what’s still standing?

Where are you now? Germany?

d

I need to know, did you see City of Balad, and if So, What do you think

SBC

Unfortunately for me, someone must have deleted the “estrogen required” from the line remarks for this slot, because I am Lt Bartley’s replacement. I enjoyed reading about your experiences. This has been more helpful than anything the AF has provided so far! When you get back to work can you give me a call (DSN 785-8049) and fill me in on more of the details?

-Mike

I am a neophite blogger. Thanks for the site. I am researching Balad since finding out yesterday, my son is to be deployed there in May. He is AF at Shaw. I will let him know about your site. Especially to the Balad-bound. Please respond if you have time
thanks again

I am a neophite blogger. Thanks for the site. I am researching Balad since finding out yesterday, my son is to be deployed there in May. He is AF at Shaw. I will let him know about your site. Especially to the Balad-bound. Please respond if you have time
thanks again

Thanks, James. :)

The mundane blog is at pdblack.twistedpair.net. I thought people were being linked there from the old blog, but they seem to just be linking to the Balad blog and not being transferred to the Smorgasbord. I’d fix it so it would stop directing them to the Balad one, but I’m too blog-stupid to figure out how.

d

Yay! Welcome to the mundane world.

Let us know where your blog is, you’re addictive.

And go back in to martial arts, I would love more of your views on that…

Hi, Rog! I was thinking about you yesterday, as I ran to an ongoing account on NPR about Indonesia and environs and their earthquake/tsunami victims. Call me selfish, but I’m much relieved to hear you’re on some other chunk of the globe at the moment.

Definitely give me a shout if you find yourself within driving distance of Montgomery, Babe.

d

I am a civilian and my son-Stephen J Christian is in Balad-Air Force with 823rd. Please take care of my son and his fellow troops. Good luck to you all.

Well, well, well. She made it home - and all in one piece. You told a great story over the past 4 months. It entertained me in at least four countries. (I am currently in south Argentina - where if not the end of the world, you can certainly see it from here). Any way, welcome home and if I breeze through ‘bama, I will certainly give you a shout.
Love,
Rog

D,

Loved the writing even when I had been through the same thing on the same day with you. You have a real gift and I always enjoy what you have to say.

Long-distance hugs,

Jeff

Diana, thanks for keeping us posted. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog (and the comments) and have started a notebook of your entries. (Still don’t have all of them copied, so glad you are keeping them where I can find them, still!)

Also, glad you are home, safe and sound—-well, as sound as you ever were! (That’s a joke, for anyone who doesn’t know.) Hope to see you soon? Would love to have you visit over the holidays—or any time you are up to coming this way!

Love you!

You know the porn industry really runs the world, right? The reason you’re so frequently interrogated about porn at every customs point is because they want to force you to purchase new porn when you’re in a new country.

I chuckled (among other things) because you were able to bring the music CDs of questionable origin through customs without a problem–never mind child labor laws (which, as you point out you can’t really prove unless like Saturn you get a picture of the urchin working on your consumables), what about the RIAA? How are they going to be compensated for the works of the artists under their control? You have taken nickels and dimes from dozens of people… Wait; I’m sure you just took legitimate copies of previously purchased CDs with you, to protect the more expensive to replace originals you had stored safely at home…

It is outstanding that you’ve made the return to the real world. Now the only worries are the normal ones–traffic, weather, and random street crime…

In the spirit of a non-denominational National Holiday season:

Enjoy a festive period of reflection and celebration based on the seasonal group participation events of your choice.

May whatever higher power you subscribe to provide whatever form of protection and security seems appropriate to you and those important to you.

I’m happy to hear that you got back safely. I’ve been reading your posts for quite a while now, and they have been invaluable in forming a cohesive and honest picture of what to expect in-theatre.
When you’re feeling recuperated and find yourself with some free time, I’d like very much to discuss some of your experiences in Balad (the boring and mundane and important info that I know they won’t tell us).
Word on the street here on base is that we’ll be following in your footsteps very soon.
Have a relaxing holiday season!
-SrA Ben

Welcome home, and enjoy your time off! Sounds like somebody’s going to have a VERy happy holiday season.

Dave

P.S. I know you got used to the non-alcoholic brew overseas. Just remember: the local stuff here has teeth! D.

Thanks, all. :)

I shan’t be back into uniform for two weeks, at least. I’ll be inprocessing today, then I get a while of “recouperation” time. It used to be two weeks, but some people get longer these days, since our deployment went from 90 to 120 days. But I’ll take what I can get.

d

Welcome Home!
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