April Fools?
Today is a great day to be alive. It is April 1, 2009, which means it is also a great day to play jokes on loved ones. For me six years ago today represents the first day of the rest of my life. It was a cold, icy snow filled day in Wisconsin when the 186 MP’s were told to load into buses to head to the airstrip. We were all on the buses and ready to head out when our First Sergeant climbed aboard and told us “ground your gear. We’re not leaving today -- the runway is too icy”. The MP’s didn’t like this April fool’s joke. We shuffled back out of the cramped buses and went back into the barracks.
Now if my memory serves me right, on April 3 we made it all the way to the airfield but when we got there they sent us back -- the runway was still too icy. The next day we got inside the hanger before being turned away again. All I kept thinking was these April fool’s jokes aren’t that funny. On April 5, 2003, when we got to the airstrip I was selected to be on the detail to load the plane with all of our gear. As we were loading the gear, we joked that we were going to load the gear onto the plane and then board the plane just to be told the runway is too icy and then de-board the plane and move back to buses.
Luckily the joke was over and we were able to load up and start our long journey to Iraq. Our first stop was New York then on to Rome and then Kuwait. After 18+ hours and two or three sunrises later we were in the Middle East where we had joked we would never get to. Now some might think be asking, “Why would you joke about being able to go to Iraq?”
I have learned a lot about life in my 27 years but the most important lesson I have learned is if you can’t smile and joke and look at the brighter side of things, then you have lost already. I have learned that there is always someone that loves you and cares about you even in the darkest moments -- this is what makes them your friend. Use that friendship to help each other. Remember, no one is alone in anything they are going through: others may be going through the same thing or something worse.
I was 22 when I was injured and in the best shape of my life. I was as independent as anyone is in the military. On August 7, 2003, I learned what the word “friend” really means. A friend may be someone you have known for 20 years or it may be a stranger. The greatest challenge we face is to be a friend to one another – a challenge I hope you will all take.
“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all”-Unknown
BJ Jackson US Army (Ret.)
National Spokesman
CSAH
Now if my memory serves me right, on April 3 we made it all the way to the airfield but when we got there they sent us back -- the runway was still too icy. The next day we got inside the hanger before being turned away again. All I kept thinking was these April fool’s jokes aren’t that funny. On April 5, 2003, when we got to the airstrip I was selected to be on the detail to load the plane with all of our gear. As we were loading the gear, we joked that we were going to load the gear onto the plane and then board the plane just to be told the runway is too icy and then de-board the plane and move back to buses.
Luckily the joke was over and we were able to load up and start our long journey to Iraq. Our first stop was New York then on to Rome and then Kuwait. After 18+ hours and two or three sunrises later we were in the Middle East where we had joked we would never get to. Now some might think be asking, “Why would you joke about being able to go to Iraq?”
I have learned a lot about life in my 27 years but the most important lesson I have learned is if you can’t smile and joke and look at the brighter side of things, then you have lost already. I have learned that there is always someone that loves you and cares about you even in the darkest moments -- this is what makes them your friend. Use that friendship to help each other. Remember, no one is alone in anything they are going through: others may be going through the same thing or something worse.
I was 22 when I was injured and in the best shape of my life. I was as independent as anyone is in the military. On August 7, 2003, I learned what the word “friend” really means. A friend may be someone you have known for 20 years or it may be a stranger. The greatest challenge we face is to be a friend to one another – a challenge I hope you will all take.
“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all”-Unknown
BJ Jackson US Army (Ret.)
National Spokesman
CSAH
posted by Coalition to Salute America's Heroes
at
12:42 PM
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