Thoughts on Deployment

Department of Defense Press Release

February 17, 2009

Pursuant to President Obama’s decision today, Secretary Gates ordered the deployment of two additional combat units, totaling more than 12,000 troops, to Afghanistan. The 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), from Camp Lejeune, N.C., with approximately 8,000 Marines will deploy to Afghanistan in late Spring 2009.

The 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Ft. Lewis, Wash., will deploy approximately 4,000 soldiers to Afghanistan in mid-summer 2009. This Stryker Brigade and the MEB will deploy to increase the capabilities of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Approximately 5,000 additional troops to support these combat forces will receive deployment orders at a later date.

Thoughts on Deployment

Preparing for a deployment is about the most surreal experience I think I’ve gone through. It’s almost an out of body thing; while you prepare yourself mentally and go through the days of packing up to move down range, it’s still hard to associate those actions with the person you see in the mirror. This might be because if you attempt to take on an entire 12 month deployment all at once, you probably can’t get your head around it. A year away from life, a year away from family and friends, a year away from everything you’ve ever come to know or feel was comfortable for you. It is the ultimate in going outside your comfort zone. Either way, in the coming days and months, coping with life in a combat zone will become very real and in the end, we make the best of it. We don’t really have a choice and they do what they can on the other end to bring some home to the field.

On a professional note, we’ll be working with a lot of different people from different countries. Operation Enduring Freedom has become largely a NATO operation, so we’ll be working a lot with British, Canadian, Dutch, German, New Zealand and Afghani forces. The common goal is to secure the country for the people of Afghanistan, and eliminate the Taliban. Every person, no matter of race, creed, color, or national origin deserves the inalienable rights we enjoy in the United States. Our goal is to stop those who restrict it. That’s by far the greatest thing about being an American; we are not indifferent to the suffering of people not yet ready or capable to stand up to their oppressors. American’s come to liberate, not conquer. That being said, the success of our combined mission is ultimately hinged on the ability of those aforementioned peoples to stand up and secure their country and their futures.

I’ll do everything I can to stay in touch in every medium I can. Anyone can mail me via letter, or email. If you don’t have it you can talk to my mom or dad and get it from them. I would put in on here, but for security reasons I don’t want to post it publicly. I’m thinking contact via telephone is going to be a one way thing, but one I’ll do my best to keep up with. Through the internet there are VOIP phone services from free to relatively cheap, so I’ll try to keep up with that. Either way, I’ll do everything I can to make the transition as painless as possible. Just because I don’t post for a few days, or maybe even weeks, it doesn’t mean something bad has happened to me or anything. I might be busy, tired or just have spaced off posting for awhile. I’ll try not to do that. I want a written record of my time overseas probably as bad as some people might want updates, or to know what’s going on with me in Afghanistan. Even still, I’m always emailing family directly back and forth, so if there is anything pressing, or you wish to say something personal I encourage you to get my email address. Personal correspondence via email, or written letter is always appreciated.

Thanks for all your support.

-Danny