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Master Sergeant Penick awarding Specialist Christopher Maurer his Joint Service Commendation Medal (JCOM).
This week was rather extraordinary – we bid farewell to Specialist Christopher Maurer serving in Virginia. If you look at his shoulder, you’ll see he’s wearing an Installation Management Agency (IMA) Unit Patch. Now here’s the funny part, folks wearing IMA patches are generally considered “Garri-Troopers” – i.e. garrison based soldiers who never go anywhere or do anything. If you’ll look closely, you will also see that he’s wearing a Combat Action Badge (CAB) and a Joint Service Commendation Medal (JCOM). Chris is really going to stand out among his peers when he gets home.
 During his tenure of service, Christopher came under enemy fire and survived without a scratch – all praise and glory to God! Additionally, he logged enough Afghan Sky miles to probably fly from the Continental United States to Hawaii and back a dozen times. Too bad you can’t trade in combat logged “sky miles.” Great Job Christopher! Thanks for your service to the Lord and America’s finest. Well done and God’s speed as you head back to the land of the Big PX.
Today, I woke up at 4:00 AM and could not fall back asleep. So, of course, what’s the absolute best thing one can do in a situation like that? Run the airfield of course. Wow! The fog was really thick. Plus the temperature was hovering a few degrees below freezing. So, what happens when it’s foggy and freezing? It settles on EVERYTHING and turns to ice. My eye lashes became REALLY heavy as they were coated with multiple layers of ice. Pictured above is my hat covered with ice crystals.
When I came through the gate, the guard almost fell over laughing because I looked like a rag doll that someone left out all night . . . and of course I was covered from head to toe with ice and frost. What do you expect after eight miles? Maybe I could have auditioned for “Jack Frost” in a remake of some Christmas classic. Below is a shot of my knee and shin with ice coated hair follicles.
Finally, as we prepare to go home, we are going through the gauntlet of medical screening. For the past five plus years, I’ve dodged the small pox vaccination. Between a pregnant wife, a nursing baby, a toddler, and ill children . . . the timing was horrible over the past half decade. Well, since I am living a solitary life, I finally got the vaccination – 15 small pox infested needle pricks in my upper left arm. The vaccination is followed by an incubation period and a contained/controlled infection phase. Anyway, it’s best that I got it out of the way while I was in a foreign land – away from the wife and kids.
 To the left, you see my malaria medication. I take one tablet a week every Monday. I cracked the code and dated each pill so I know when and if I’ve taken my dosage. Additionally, as I run out of medication . . . there is a prospect of hope with the promise of return to the United States!
In less than a month, I will have to move out of my room and make the living space available for our replacements. As the 82d patches begin to vanish and the 101st begin to emerge, I'm reminded of the words uttered by John the Baptist - they must increase as we decrease!
God's Richest Blessings! And thanks for the love, prayers, and support!! |
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