Wicke and I change a tire in the

sand... this REALLY SUCKS!

TOP PICTURE: Lt Albaugh,

Wicke and I, headed back to

Kuwait after months in the

Iraqi desert! Bottom Pic:

Wicke and me pose on the

hood of our Command post

post truck.

After spending many weeks of total boredom in the Iraqi desert, just waiting for the ok to go the hell HOME, we were FINALLY given the go-ahead to load up and head back to Kuwait, to begin the process for Re-Deployment back to the U.S.

None of us got too excited about actually going HOME at this point. I'm not sure why. Maybe because we were just too used to the military way of good things going bad at the last minute, and the 'hurry up and wait' process, so we were prepared to just have a better life at Camp Doha where there was REAL food, tents, laundry facilities, and PHONES!!!

All of us were thrilled to be just DOING something and GOING somewhere! It took no time at all to break down or site, load up and head out. Lt Albaugh, Wicke and I were in the back of a Humm-V for a change. Usualy, Wicke or I were driving the commander and XO, but both of our trucks were down for repairs so we got a free ride into Kuwait, which was a nice change! We all sang the entire trip in! We took turns trying to remember all the words to our favorite songs,oldies, country, etc. We'd make stuff up when we'd forget. It had been MONTHS since we'd actually HEARD any music since every one's batteries had long since gone dead.

All I wanted was a HOT SHOWER and some french fries.. ohh and a COLD PEPSI! we were all salivating over the thought of being totally CLEAN for the first time in over 100 days!

Not having a shower in that long was a huge thing. we had put up make shift showers, where we'd pour a few gallons of water in it, and let it drizzle out on us through a hose. (Even THAT had taken us over 2 months to get! Before that it was just 'hit the hot spots with baby wipes)

As we pulled into Camp Doha, I think we all felt like going a little nuts! We all took showers, did some laundry and ate a HUGE meal! Our tents had these HUGE industrial size fans in them, actual WOOD flooring, and lots of space compared to how we had been living. It was really freaking spectacular!

There was a movie theater, a small P.X, fast food chains, but dang it, everyone was out of ice. we were still in heaven though!!!!

within 24hours we all felt like shit. Thank GOD the port-a-johns were directly behind our tents!! Having real food hit our systems like a freight train!! I spent more time running for the shitter than I did enjoying the damn food! But I sure did enjoy the food!!

A few weeks later we had the inspectors come to check our bags, and loaded them up onto trucks. We took all our equipment, trucks and such to the wash racks and loaded them for the ship to head for home, but still we didn't really feel like WE were going home.

The temperature was still about 130 degrees during the day and 100 at night. It was better where we were, but still not home. We had plenty of time to call home, but many of us didn't call much. There wasn't anything to SAY. We didn't know when we were coming home, we didn't have any news... and it hurt to talk to our family. It was easier to just not do it. Maybe it doesn't make sense, but even I avoided calling my kids. They always cried because I couldn't tell them when mama was coming home.

When the day came that we were actually going to load up on the buses to go home, there was no excitement. The night before I had nightmares that we were just about to climb the steps to the plane,then my commander told us we had to get off the plane because we had new orders to go back into Iraq. It felt so real, that I totally expected it. I think everyone else did to.

We got onto small buses with black curtains on the windows that would take us to Saddam Husein International airport. We were told not to look out the windows for safety sake. We all just chatted and joked like usual, like it was just another day. We arrived at the airport which had been turned into a makeshift PX in parts, but our buses let us out on the runway where a HUGE airplane awaited us. The pilot, co-pilot and all the flight attendants were standing by the flight of steps waiting to welcome us. As we marched up to the plane, they began to cheer, waving tiny flags, jumping up and down, yelling "YOU'RE GOING HOOOME!!"

We filed onto the plane, now beginning to get a little more excited. I sat by Lt. Albaugh, and both of us were ear to ear with huge smiles at the way the plane was decorated! They had signs up saying 'Welcome Home!' and 'Thank You Soldiers!' and ' Way to go USA' We ended up sitting in FIRST CLASS!! the seats were the most comfortable EVER! we played with them as we waited for take off. They reclined back all the way, so they were like BEDS! we had little t.v.'s in front of each chair. TELEVISION!!!! YIPPEEE!!

The pilot came on over the loud speakers and gave us a speech that I barely remember. He told us he and his flight crew were really proud of us and proud to be taking us all HOME! that's when the chills crept up my spine. Maybe it was going to happen? He told us all that the flight would last 24 hours and where the layovers would be and what the weather was like.. NOT AS HOT AS IRAQ!!!

He said 'ok troops, are you all ready to gooooo HOOOOOME???'

The engines rumbled, the plane shook as we moved down the runway, My heart sped up, Lt. Albaugh looked over at me, her face mirrored what I felt.... she was ear to ear grinning!! we grabbed each other's hands and I whispered 'holy shit LT, is it really happening? are we for REAL fucking going HOME?" She gulped and nodded. I don't think she could talk.

The plane lurched and lept into the air, and we all simply ERUPTED into cheers! Screaming, yelling, shouting... WE WERE GOING HOME!!!

ok I'll admit it, I cried. I think most everyone else did too. At least a little bit. Tears of happiness, excitement, joy, and being totally overwhelmed by it actually happening.

A little while later, the flight attendants came around with snacks, and they got some of the guys dressed up in makeup, scarves, jewelry and aprons! They had them hand out the snacks and drinks! We were all cracking up, just really enjoying something FUN for a change!

I went into the bathroom and almost died laughing. There was a small sign over the toilet that read "Flush over Iraq, or Hollywood"

We slept a lot on the way home, but awoke when the pilot announced that we were over El Paso. I looked out the window at the brown desert, and just stared we were home.