The End

I did a word count, and this blog comes in at 16,654 words. If you read the entire blog, THANK YOU for following me on my adventurous journeys to, thru and from Afghanistan. This blog proved to be a cathartic outlet for me during my entire journey. While I stayed positive on the many events that I covered, the reality is that were many days that were highly stressful or frustrating for us. But, alas we are now in a place where people get fired for writing about too much on their weblogs. So, while I consider this blog of my tour to be very real it is also a self-censored one in which significant components must be left out for either OPSEC or professional career reasons. Still, this journal provides the reader with a very good glimpse into the life of an American airman and his service contributions within a foreign war zone.

The Numbers

A numbers count of events during my tour:
0 – Number of days off
2 – Deployments in my career (Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan)
3 – Medals earned (Air Force Expeditionary with gold border, Global War on Terrorism and Afghanistan Campaign)
4 – Rocket Mortar attacks
5 – Countries visited
11.5 – Hours Afghanistan time zone is ahead of California time zone
16 – Hours per day I averaged at work
17 – Soldiers killed in Afghanistan during my stay
20 – Combat Rescue saves we achieved during September
49 – Days in Afghanistan
55 – Days on this OEF deployment

One last point – during my tour, 17 fellow Americans did not make the journey home alive from Afghanistan. I am grateful to have served, yet also count my blessings that I am still here to write about this dangerous adventure. I have done my duty for our country by serving in the two great wars of my generation – Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It is now time to hang up the hat, enjoy life a little and let the next generation take over the reins. To each one of my readers – let’s get together over the next few weeks and celebrate!