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Combat Deployment Brings Change in Soldiers' Travel Plans

Jan-28-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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Sgt. Michael Hamlin
C/2-1 Inf.

MOSUL, Iraq — When the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployed from Fairbanks to Iraq in August, it was my first deployment since joining the Army in 2003.

Since our arrival five months ago, our unit has worked continuously with training, daily patrols and numerous missions throughout the city of Mosul.

The letters and packages received by Soldiers from friends and family prove our labors are not overlooked.

Occasionally, letters of support are received from people we have never even met. Now, after five months, our platoon is being rewarded by being sent on leave.

Early in our deployment, I, along with many others, spoke about taking advantage of this leave to tour different areas of the world.

I made plans to fly to Germany and travel throughout Europe for two weeks. Other Soldiers mentioned extravagant ideas to take trips to Australia and the Caribbean.

As our tour continued through Thanksgiving and Christmas, those plans seemed to fade and were replaced with conversations about returning home to our families.

Many members of our platoon came to Alaska directly from basic and Advanced Individual Training.

For them, this will be their first time returning home in over a year.

Soldiers anticipate many of life’s changes that have occurred while they have been gone.

As for myself, I recently became an uncle with the birth of my nephew, Nicholas, who has already learned to crawl and stand on his own.

My brother tells me his favorite thing to do is push up the living room rug and look to see what is underneath.

Prior to deployment, I may not have given this much thought. I may have been distracted by making adventurous plans to travel throughout Europe on leave.

However during the slow times here in Iraq, I have thought about Nicholas’ explorations and how entertaining it must be to watch.

There is no doubt the experience of this deployment brings a greater admiration for those we are close to and undoubtedly a satisfaction in enjoying the simpler things life presents.


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