Back from Afghanistan

[gallo]

I talked to my son on Father's Day - actually the day before and on Father's Day too. He mentioned that he had been released from all duties and was spending his days watching movies, running, and sleeping. No more 12 hours on/12 hours off, 7 days a week.

Yesterday, when I saw his name on the caller ID on my phone, I knew that he was back and calling from his cell phone. He was in Baltimore after about 30 hours in transit. Today he called while sitting on his own sofa in the living room of his house.

Best of all, he returns without a Purple Heart.

[gallo]

My son called from Ft. Riley. I mentioned that he now had earned an Afghanistan Service Medal. He said that he got three other medals besides that but hadn't looked to see what they were. Seems strange to me, but not so strange for him. He also mentioned that he received an email from the DoD informing him that he had been awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for his voluntary deployment into the tsunami zone in relief efforts near the end of his tour in Japan. The recommendation for a Meritorious Service Medal for his service in Japan was reduced to an Army Commendation Medal (his third), to go with his three awards of the Army Achievement Medal. His rack (the ribbons worn above the left pocket on dress uniforms) now includes 11 ribbons, representing 20 awards that I am sure of. I don't know what the other three that he mentioned are.

I am thankful that none of them is a Purple Heart. He told us about the mortar and rocket attacks. They were of little danger when he was on duty as the NCOIC of a perimeter defense team. More danger when he was off duty and on base. The really scary thing is that he is actually considering waiving time and deploying again with one of the next units of the 1st Infantry to deploy to Afghanistan.

[Thanatos]

How'd he get the Purple Heart?

[gallo]

How'd he get the Purple Heart?

You misunderstood. I said that I am thankful than none of my sons awards is a purple heart. There isn't a Purple Heart among his 14 ribbons that represent 23 awards.