Athens — We have finally finished all of our training here at Camp Shelby.  We conducted our last live-fire exercise today.  All we can do now is pack things up and wait for the busses and planes that will take us back to our loved ones for a much needed break before flying overseas. 

Although we are all happy to have Camp Shelby behind us, we all know that after this weekend, it’s down to business.  No more blanks and training rounds, now its time for the real deal.

Part of packing things up is deciding what to bring.  It seems as though the Army has gone through quite a transformation since I was last on active duty military.  I can remember the days when you wore the same uniform everyday.  If it was cold, you put on a field jacket.  If it was raining, you put on a poncho.  Nowadays, the Army has a uniform and an accessory for everything. 

We have 2 different types of rain coats, 3 or 4 different cold weather coats, hot and cold weather boots, 5 different hats, and even 4 different kinds of underwear depending on the weather.  Add to all the clothes; 3 different types of protective eyewear and 70 pounds of body armor with pouches for everything from a cell phone to a first aid pouch. It takes 3 duffel bags and a backpack to carry it all. The trick to all of this is figuring out what to bring and what to leave behind.  My motto has always been “I would rather have and not need, than need and not have”.  However, I am re-evaluating that motto.  I seriously doubt I will need my extreme cold weather underwear where I am going.  I will be taking the body armor.

Our break is actually only 4 days at home.  I will be flying into Dallas on Friday and will be able to spend the weekend with Ashley and the boys, then will head out again Tuesday morning.  I will be in the District Attorney’s Office Monday working and holding meetings.  A good portion of my day will be spent reviewing our church arson cases.  The law enforcement agencies involved did an excellent job tracking these individuals down and I hope to personally thank some of them this week.  Cell phones, video teleconferencing and the internet have kept me in touch with things back at the office.  However, it’s nice to be able to face to face after a couple of months.

The hardest part of this goodbye is that my two younger boys don’t understand that I have to turn right around and leave again.  They have been counting the days for the past two months until Daddy comes home.  After Tuesday, they will have to begin counting again.  My oldest understands.  He has been through this before, but my 2 and 4 year old boys take it the hardest. At their ages, the concept of Daddy being away for a few months is hard to process.   It’s a heart- wrenching experience telling Stuart, Ryan, Ranger and Ashley goodbye, but I am not alone.  American soldiers and families have been saying goodbyes since our country was founded and they will continue to do it long after I hang my boots up forever.  It is all worth it though. 

We as Americans are blessed more than any other civilization in history.  Our founding fathers got it right when they recognized “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence. They recognized that we are not guaranteed happiness, only its pursuit.  Each American is free to pursue any dream they want.  However, these dreams and these pursuits come at a price, which the American Soldier pays.  I was reminded of this price last week when I read of the young Henderson County Marine who suffered serious injuries while bravely patrolling Afghanistan in his MRAP. And of the video footage I watched of First Assistant D.A Mark Hall’s oldest son, Andrew, who is currently in Marine Corps boot camp, ready to graduate, with the knowledge that he will most certainly end up in a combat zone in Iraq or Afghanistan.   I was reminded of the pursuit last night as I followed our primary elections from the internet and by phone.  Election night brings joy for some and broken hearts for others. But in the end, even those who won’t be raising that right hand to take the oath in January will tell you that at least they had a shot- their chance to pursue happiness. They are all winners and patriots in my book.  I have the utmost respect for all of them.  And who do we have to thank, the American Soldier and the families and friends that support them.