An update on a Sky Soldier’s stateside leave:
my grandson, from BATTLE co, 2nd/503rd, in Afghanistan just had his 18 day leave, after 10 months in the Hindu Kush, aka “Taliban Central” =
He was apprehensive over the reception he might receive stateside, due to the cr*p coming out of DC and elsewhere - but he found out that what his ole gramma had assured him was true: America is behind you!
He is, as we “speak” on his way back for 5 more months in ‘The Valley of Fire” -
He has 5 more months there before a years break back at base in Italy =
Praying that by the time Battle Co, is sent back to the Korengal for a second 15 monther that things will have calmed down. ()It seems Gates is considering to cut the deployments down to 12 months - only twice that of other branches. Big of him.
On a positive note: My grandson was greatly heartened and surprised that everywhere he went on his leave (He was was in Texas and California with parents, other grandparents and siblings, ) he continually found people at restaurants, stores, hotels, on the street - letting him know how much they appreciated him and his fellow troops.
He even got the royal treatment from other troops on the plane coming stateside when they saw his insignia: “You’re BATTLE COMPANY!” = Drinks were being sent from everywhere and his hand got sore from shaking.
From Houston to Corpus to California - he was treated like royalty everywhere he went. He was blown away.
Here’s a couple ‘excerpts’:
Last week, he and his dad went up to Austin - my grandson is an accomplished guitarist, even played a full set on stage, when he was only 12, with the famous Blues man, Phillip Walker - so he wanted to check out the Blues bands in Austin. He was having such a good time, he suggested to his dad that they stay over night.
The hotel wanted $298 for one night. My grandson said: “Well, it’s not that I couldn’t pay that, it’s that I wouldn’t pay that to sleep anywhere for one night.” (He had on a BATTLE CO. tee shirt) He asked: “Do you, by chance, have a military rate?” A smile lit up the clerks face. “Just a minute,” he said.
He came back with the manager, who shook his hand and ...
the results were that they got a top story, $498 room, for $98.
And when he got to the airport yesterday morning for the trip back, he was taken out of line by the airlines reps - he asked: “Is there a problem?”
“Yes,” they said: “You do not stand in line. Come with us.”
And they put him in First Class! He was stunned. But what a wonderful “icing on the cake” moment for him as he heads back to hell.
I tear up just thinking what this all meant to him as he feared the worse before he came stateside, what with what they hear in the media.
(an aside: he has one of his guitars with him at the Korengal and is their “official” entertainer..)
Note: Just talked with one of my son’s who is a long-hauler. He was driving through Colorado today and was on the highway side by side with a convoy of troops who were head and shoulders visible to motorists.
He said every vehicle going past was cheering, waving and high-fiving them. He said the soldiers were waving back and grinning ear to ear.
Eat your black hearts out, you traitorous liberals. America is with our troops.
For heart warming info about Battle Company, see maine-iac7’s post above.
Wow, great stories! I’m glad your grandson felt the love that we have for our soldiers! God bless him and his fellow soldiers.
Thank you for the Ping, Patty, to this Uplifting and Encouraging Read. Maine-iac7, God Shower your Grandson with Awesome Blessings!