The Outpost : An Untold Story of American Valor

Last weekend Erik and I traveled (ALONE! Unencumbered by baby gear!!) to Washington DC to celebrate the release of Jake Tapper's book, The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor. The book was written about 4 Battalions’ tours in Afghanistan, 1-91 CAV, 6-4 CAV, 3-61 CAV, and in Book 1, the BN Erik served in at Ft. Drum, 3-71 CAV.

In the book you can read about the lives of men you've likely only heard about: LTC Fenty, SFC Monti, CPT Bostick, LT Keating, just to name a few. Men who were and are more than just names on outposts in Afghanistan. You can read about my own husband and just a few examples of his bravery, and far less importantly, you can read the email he sent to me when he told me that his deployment had been extended by 4 months and that I had to cancel our wedding (an email that was sent only 2 weeks before he should have marched into the gym at Ft. Drum to be welcomed home).

The book release party was held at the Newseum, appropriately, and many of the troops from the 3 BNs focused on in the book were in attendance. After the party kicked off, toasts were made and then a few Soldiers presented Mr. Tapper with tokens of their appreciation for writing the book. One of which was a flag that was one of just a few things rescued from the burning operations center of COP Keating before it was evacuated. Trust me when I tell you there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

It has been my belief for a while that 3-71 CAVs participation in OEF VIII-IX was a perfect storm, the likes of which many hadn't seen or wouldn't believe. I'm so grateful that a light has been shone on the heroics of these men, and so many others, who I believe make up the new Greatest Generation. Until now, so little was known about those who have given SO much.

The weekend also brought about the reunion of old college buddies, delicious sushi (that I have desperately needed since we left HI) and many sites visited, including Arlington on Veterans Day. I think Erik and I were both stricken by the number of names we recognized the latest sections of the cemetery. Honestly, there had to be at least 20 people we knew or had connections to. Twenty. Can you imagine? It's not that we didn't know they were gone, but just the sheer magnitude of walking around and just happening up familiar names really brought things home to us, even more so than they already were to this Army family. We are so lucky Erik has come home safely from his 3 deployments.

I remember thinking that night at the party that I was in the company of heroes. And then it occurred to me that as a military spouse (a term I hate to use to define myself, by the way) I am lucky enough in the company of heroes every single day of my life.

 (The men of 3-71CAV that were able to attend, and Jake Tapper)

 

Here is the link to the transcript of an interview Mr. Tapper did regarding the book. It's the best interview I've seen yet. http://www.hughhewitt.com/transcripts.aspx?id=dd755e93-a1b1-4ba6-b185-9e7ac964f87b

***I don't feel educated enough to write a full review of the book, because the truth is I haven't been able to finish it. I read, remember, cry, and put it down again for a while. I have read a good portion of it (2/3ish, which is about 99% more than expected), and someday I hope to finish it, but that day is just not today. I can say that it seems as accurate as it could be for a book whose story began more than 5 years ago (by Erik's description, not my own).

"Lost Time is Never Found Again" - B. Franklin

The other day I was working on G's baby book (because I'm that delinquent), transcribing little notes I'd plugged into my phone for writing in said baby book when life slowed down just a tad, and I realized that I was sorry I hadn't noted more about the dates and events I had hurriedly punched in for a less chaotic day. I'm sorry that I only remember the reactions to food that I photographed (ie: the bad ones), I'm sorry that I can't remember his favorite toys from 6 months ago, or when he stopped running around like a mad man all the time and started liking to be held again. I'm sorry I didn't take his picture every.single.day in every.single. ridculously adorable outfit he had. Admittedly, part of it was because I was in survival mode for the first year of his life, but now that Erik's home and life has slowed down, I realize how much I allowed myself to gloss over. Well, not any more! Milestones must be celebrated, traditions must be created and little memories must be preserved. I'm already forgetting so much and it breaks my heart, especially because I'm the only real "remember-er" of Grant's first year.

I think I stopped blogging because I ran out of (what I deemed) entertaining things to write about. And I also kind of think blogging is the ultimate manifestation of self-importance (at least as it relates to some people). But I'm going to start again, because I need to be better at record keeping and I think this will be the quickest way to accomplish my goal. Also, my facebook updates were getting a little too long and I can't stand people who blog on their status, but mostly the record keeping. I'm too OCD to sit down and write, too busy to scrapbook (much the chagrin of all the supplies I have moved to 3 different states and shoved in cabinets each time), so this plan makes the most sense.

Anyway, here goes nothing.

So Maybe I'm Insane

I saw my neighbor with his cooler tonight and it reminded me of this story I concocted in my head about him last summer.

Every night I'd take Baxter on a walk and we'd see my across the street neighbor coming home, getting a cooler out of the back end of the truck and wheeling it around to the back yard of his house. At first I thought, "Oh, he must have been to Costco and wanted to keep his goods cold", then I started to think "No one goes to Costco EVERY.SINGLE.DAY" . Then I decided "Clearly he's killed someone and is bringing them home bit by bit in his cooler and buring them in his backyard". This went on for several days, one day I'd see him and think "probably an arm", the next I'd see him, and think "A leg. No, wait a leg is too big for that cooler, it's probably just a foot or two" (you see where your mind can wander too without enough human interraction). So one day my landlord came over and we saw him outside and she said "Hey Jim!" and I said "You know him? Whats up with the cooler? Sometimes I wonder if he's got body parts in here" and laughed at me and said "He's a sushi maker/deliverman". THEN she went on to tell me that Schofield Commissary is one of his stops. All this damn time I've been going out there for sushi when I could just walk across the street!

Anyway, I saw him unloading his cooler today and got a chuckle. But you probably had to be there.

Stolen

Sam's Blogspot Debut

I'm sure you've heard that we got another pup a few months ago. Though he and I definitely still adjusting to one another, I thought it was time to give him some love on the blog...





:)
And of course, you already know Baxter.



Happy mom? ;)