I have to laugh because Max has worn his dress blue uniform more in the last month than in the past 4 years we've been married. First, there was the ball at Ft. Lewis. Since he has been on leave while in San Francisco, he has attended some events to which he has worn his dress blues. Last night, for example, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke at the Marines' Memorial. Dropping Max off downtown, he certainly stood out in the crowd at rush hour while crossing Sutter Street.
Last month, the weekend I flew to Ft. Lewis to meet Max when he returned from Afghanistan, I was struck by all the people in uniform - it had been quite some time since I had been on post. Living in a non-military city for a year, I almost forgot what it was like to see people in uniform on a daily basis - picking kids up from school, in the grocery store, in a restaurant, on the sidewalk, etc.
It sure was nice to see all those uniforms back home!
A blog for military life stories
PROVOKED BY WAR: NOTES FROM AN ARMY WIFE Overview
Provoked by War: Reflections of an Army Wife is a book of essays that expose my thoughts and experiences as the wife of an active duty infantry officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom during our five years of marriage.
From a Special Operations Unit (1st Ranger Battalion) to an Infantry Company Commander (1-17 Infantry), my husband’s job has challenged, frustrated, confused and saddened me while also given me happy, prideful and fond memories.
The essays in Provoked by War candidly detail my most profound experiences, lessons, triumphs and hardships as an Army wife during this time of war.
My husband returned from his company command and sixth combat deployment in July of 2010 with 1-17 Infantry. Their battalion suffered more combat casualties than any unit since September 11, 2001 primarily because of their stryker vehicles’ susceptibility to IEDs (articles on their combat endeavors have been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post and on NPR).
Most informed people know a little something about the soldiers in Iraq and now, especially, Afghanistan from media outlets. But, when it involves your soldier, the war becomes far more than just another news segment or newspaper article; you understand life’s fragility in a way that challenges the very way you live and look at the society of which you are a part.
My vignettes show the very honest evolution of a carefree newlywed whose tone of lightheartedness grows more complex with each passing deployment. I have always maintained that nothing can really prepare you for what it means to be married into the military in a time of war. My essays are the result of my experiences learning the ropes, facing the challenges and living as a modern day Army wife in the midst of war.
From a Special Operations Unit (1st Ranger Battalion) to an Infantry Company Commander (1-17 Infantry), my husband’s job has challenged, frustrated, confused and saddened me while also given me happy, prideful and fond memories.
The essays in Provoked by War candidly detail my most profound experiences, lessons, triumphs and hardships as an Army wife during this time of war.
My husband returned from his company command and sixth combat deployment in July of 2010 with 1-17 Infantry. Their battalion suffered more combat casualties than any unit since September 11, 2001 primarily because of their stryker vehicles’ susceptibility to IEDs (articles on their combat endeavors have been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post and on NPR).
Most informed people know a little something about the soldiers in Iraq and now, especially, Afghanistan from media outlets. But, when it involves your soldier, the war becomes far more than just another news segment or newspaper article; you understand life’s fragility in a way that challenges the very way you live and look at the society of which you are a part.
My vignettes show the very honest evolution of a carefree newlywed whose tone of lightheartedness grows more complex with each passing deployment. I have always maintained that nothing can really prepare you for what it means to be married into the military in a time of war. My essays are the result of my experiences learning the ropes, facing the challenges and living as a modern day Army wife in the midst of war.
No comments:
Post a Comment