Deployment Positive Thursday- Week 7

I'll be honest, this week was a tough one. I struggled for a long time trying to think of something positive to write about that didn't seem shallow or petty. This week the realities of deployment really hit, and the fact that Andrew is away at war really sunk in.

On Sunday, Andrew's unit suffered their first casualty. Part of Andrew's job as a liaison officer (for these first few months) is to assist with medevacs (medical evacuations) when those wounded and killed in action need to be airlifted to another facility with better medical facilities.

Sgt. Kristopher J. Gould was on his third tour of duty in the middle east and was only 25 years old. His official cause of death has been listed as wounds sustained from an insurgent attack using an IED. Andrew was one of the soldiers who escorted his body onto the plane which was taking him home. He was flown home for a memorial service at Fort Knox tomorrow, followed by a funeral in his hometown. Andrew did not know him personally. To learn more about this fallen hero, click here.

The shock of the first casualty of this deployment hadn't yet worn off yesterday morning when I learned of the tragedy in Germany. A unit of Airmen had just left from their base in England earlier that day for their year-long deployment to Afghanistan. They were at their first stop at Frankfurt Airport in Germany when a gunman boarded the bus they were on and shot the driver and several airmen, wounding many and killing two. As the information came out yesterday, all I could think about were the families of those men on that bus. They had just seen their loved ones that morning, I couldn't shake that from my mind. All I kept thinking back on was Day 1 of this deployment (for me) and what a wreck I was. The emotions of that "see ya later" were overwhelming, but I kept finding solace in the fact that Andrew would be safe for the next week or so, as he was just in transit. Those poor wives and families. I truly cannot imagine the pain and anguish they must have gone through yesterday, adding to the already emotional morning they had.

In news reports (and from some friends who I know were affected personally by this) I have heard that those who were on the bus set to deploy will be returning to their base in England to their families while the investigation is on-going. So there is a small light of happiness!

Please pray for the families of Sgt. Gould and those killed and wounded in Germany yesterday.

I know this is really not what anybody was expecting to read on "Positive Thursday", but after deliberating all day about what to post, I decided that we are at war. And these are, sadly, the realities of war. There is not sugar-coating or glossing over the unpleasantries. This is certainly the worst part of Military life.

But I am thankful for people like Sgt. Gould and all of our soldiers serving overseas or waiting for their chance to deploy. The sacrifices they are willing to make keep us safe. Because of these men and women who volunteer to do this, we aren't fighting this war on our own streets, or constantly living in fear of the next 9/11.

While I really don't want to dwell on this, the reality is that we are at war and I think it is important to be aware of the facts and keep everyone involved in your prayers.