I'm coming home... will be back in 6-8 weeks. I can't express enough gratitude to you guys... thank you for the personal support and for the avalanche of care packages for my troops.

Oh, the most important thing... All my soldiers are safe and sound, no thanks to our jerk-off battalion HQ.

( Did I say that last part out loud? )

-Rusty
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

SO where will you be residing when You return. Being of Military background I know locations of residence cange more often that people change skivies.

Great news! Thanks for the time you gave up for the U.S.A.

What are you going to powdercoat first when you get home?

Excellent news!!!

Glad to hear it Lawrence! Thanks for all you've done.

and looking at your location i see you're in kuwait. out of the shit hole. i bet you can't wait to get back to the world. are you going to take some leave time and do some ? have you started your short timers calendar yet?

kevin

Sure I speak for everyone here. Don't try to buy your own drinks when you're in my neck of the woods.

Hey,

if you get to the states, you NEED to come to the Fall Foliage Classic.
Seriously, we'd love to have you here.

I'm serious. Oct 22-24. really.

Great news Rusty!!!

AWESOME news my man. Thanks for your service. Hope to see you at the Fall Foliage run.

Looks like we'd better start planning the Vegas run!!!! Welcome home!

Just because you're short, don't get stupid...
Be carefull out there.

Glad to hear you're scheduled to rotate out.

Harvey

Sounds great Lawrence. I'm sure there are a lot of people at home who can't wait to see you return.

I'm heading to Montana this weekend for a family going away picnic for one of my relatives. He just got his papers telling him that he is headed to northern Iraq. The whole family is in shock at the moment because he's 55 and in the National Gaurd. He's been in the National Gaurd forever and nobody thought he would be sent overseas to pack a gun at his age. He already served 12 years in the Navy on a missile submarine so nobody can say he hasn't put in his time. His papers said he is gone for 535 days with the possibility of an extension for another 140. His military pay isn't going to be near what he gets at his regular job either so his wife and family are trying to figure out what to do. Maybe it's just me but taking 2 years of family life from a man in his last 20 years of life is a lot different that taking 2 years from a man in his first 20 years. It's a damn shame when Bush and the boys find it necessary to send nearly retired national gaurdsmen overseas to do their dirty work for them.

Anyway, I'm glad you're coming home Lawrence and wish you godspeed.

now that's good news on a monday morning!

Andy

Thanks for all you and your troops have done!! Welcome home!

We're all super stoked to have you coming back. You should go on a 2 year sabatical and visit all of us. Oh, and spend some time with Pam while you're at it.



Jen

Thank you for your service.
Be careful out there!

I agree with andy 1000%!!!!! :

Great news

If you make it to the FFC I'll be bringing beer....

Fantastic news! Now you really have to put up with all our s%^%. Maybe we can get you to come out of retirement too!



Mark

great news rusty......

but now i have the meatloaf song stuck in my head due to your tag line....

(insert guitar paying smiley)



i'm gonna hit the highway like a battering ram on a silver black phantom bike

when the metal is hot and the engine is hungry and we're all about to see the light

nothin' ever grows in this rotten old hole

and everything is stunted and lost

and nothin' really rocks

and nothin' really rolls

and nothin's ever worth the cost!!

Very Cool!!! I'm also happy to see your now in Kuwait...

On a personal note Our son Chad is also coming home from Iraq in 2 weeks...

me too! Not a bad song to have stuck in your head for a monday morning!

Like a bat out of hell I'll be gone when the morning comes....

Jen

Alright!! Glad your coming back! Everyone else summed it up pretty good.

Thanks for serving your country!

Thanks for reprizent'n man!

I mean, thanks for reprizent'n!

Great news, don't forget to bring home that Yellow Porsche that you were sitting in

Ditto to all the above.

We'll leave a light on for ya.

Sorry for not responding sooner. I have to use an internet cafe at $5/hr. It's going to be so good to be home. I actually had a full night of sleep last night... and I feel like a king.

-Rusty



Very cool!



Glad to hear it! Sorry I couldn't hook up with his unit... I tried.



We'll see, Mark. That may happen in the future... but only after talking with BrAndy.



IF? IF?? Hey, baby... I'm coming home.



Sean, Bruce... it all depends on when I get back, and if I can find a place to live. Got a household to set up, ya know. Oh, and I need to do some work on Elwood, too.



Coming back to Kansas. I'll be there at least 6 months before they can deploy me again.



Kevin, I'm going to take some leave, yes. How much and exactly when all depends on when I get out of here. I need to look into some night classes when I get back. I'm 35 and haven't finished my degree... I've got to get my @ss in gear for when I retire and need a real job.



thank you. The operative word there is *nearly* retired. Several of the NCOs in my unit had their retirements postponed indefinately for this deployment. I'm pleased to hear that your friend is getting the opportunity to do what he's been training for his whole adult life. We need NCOs and officers with maturity to mentor, train and care for younger troops. Deployment is tough on everyone, regardless of branch or component of service - but imagine playing NFL your whole career and never getting to go to the SuperBowl. How horrible would that feel at the end?


I'll write more when I can... I'm excited to come home.

-Rusty

if you find your way out west, please let us know. i believe many of us would like to buy you dinner and a couple beers.

nice analogy, by the way, with the NFL.

Hey man, I bought you a copy of Excellence that has the West Coast Classic story in it. Will it get to you before you leave?
Do you want me to send it or wait til you're back?

Excellent news Lawrence. Have a safe trip back.

R

Wow... thanks, Sean.

I'm hoping I won't be here long enough for mail to reach me... so maybe I can grab it if I can make the Foliage run.

-Rusty