Missouri Deer Hunting - 2008

Chuck got a buck to match his shirt.
(+/- 180 lbs.)

Derich took the 'R' hunting.

And Bryan validated himself to the guys by shooting a deer during his first deerz trip to MO, ha. (Not his first, though).
I can't wait for some venison!

Sack Lunches

Note: This was an inspirational story I received via email.

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed toIraq '

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago '

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check Made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in This country who no longer understand it.

Week 26: English Hothouse Cucumber

The network of nerves in your LBN's ears are better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both my voice and Bryan's as we chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel.

Boro's 48th preps to deploy

Brigade going to Afghanistan in 2009

By JAMES HEALY, Nov. 13, 2008 9:55 p.m. Statesboro Herald

Lt. Col. Tom Bright is building a team at the Statesboro Armory. Bright is commander of the 48th Brigade Special Troops Battalion that has its headquarters at the Armory. The brigade is preparing for a 10-month mission in Afghanistan beginning in mid-2009.

"As we get ready to deploy, I see my biggest challenge as making each soldier understand and appreciate the benefit of working as a team," said Bright, who assumed command of the Statesboro-based brigade in June. "If I do my job right, we'll meld the skills and duties of everyone in the battalion from the commanders to the platoon leaders to each soldier into a complete team."

The 48th Brigade is part of the Georgia Army National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade. The 48th Infantry's last deployment was to Iraq in 2005-06, and that included the 648th Engineer Battalion, which had its headquarters in Statesboro at the time. The 648th has since moved to another base in south Georgia.

Bright said the approximately 300 Guardsmen who are part of Statesboro-based 48th began training for the Afghanistan mission several months ago. Some of the brigade recently returned from five weeks of training in Wisconsin and the entire brigade will go for three weeks to Fort Polk in Louisiana in February.

"At Fort Polk, we'll train just like we were in Afghanistan," Bright said. "We'll simulate terrain, receive daily briefings and roll into missions."

In Afghanistan, Bright said the 48th will be charged with training soldiers in the Afghan National Army.

"It is a combat mission, but our primary goal is to train Afghan soldiers to patrol, defend and fight for their own country," Bright said. "We'll train on base and then send two or three of our soldiers out with Afghan platoons on missions."

After returning in late February from Fort Polk, Bright said the brigade will begin 45 days of training at Fort Stewart in Hinesville.

"We'll go Monday through Friday with weekends off," Bright said.

The brigade then begins its 12-month deployment with two months of intensive training at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. The 48th will head to Afghanistan for 10 months some time in June 2009 and is expected to return in April or May 2010.

Staff Sgt. Bryan Neal is a combat engineer with the 48th. He was part of the 648th Engineer Battalion's mission to Iraq in 2005 and also is going to Afghanistan.

"There's no question my experience in Iraq will help with this mission," Neal said. "Iraq was pretty harsh and a big eye-opener about the danger you face while down range. We train really well and really hard, but it's not possible to simulate the intensity of what it will be like when we get to Afghanistan."

Staff Sgt. Brian Griffin, who also was part of the 648th's Iraq deployment, agreed with Neal.

"I tell the soldiers to steel themselves," Griffin said. "It''l be tougher than they can imagine."

Neal, a Georgia Southern graduate, and his wife are expecting a baby right before he deploys. "She is adjusting to that," Neal said. "But it'll be hard. We know that."

Bright, a career military man, recognizes the anxiety the deployment will create for all members of the 48th.

"I've been to Bosnia and overseas for other missions, but this is my first combat mission," Bright said. "There's no question being on a two-way firing range adds to the stress level. That's why it comes back to being part of a team. When the stress comes, you have help from the team to deal with it."

Bright has a son who also is in the military. Drew Bright is a medical evacuation helicopter pilot stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. He has served two tours in Iraq and is awaiting orders to go overseas again. Bright said it's possible Drew may also deploy to Afghanistan.

As the training picks up for the 48th Brigade, Bright described the soldiers under his command as "motivated and anticipatory" about the upcoming mission.

"As a soldier you have to be a Type A personality," Bright said. "Going to serve our country in a hostile environment is what we've been trained to do. We'll be ready."

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY

Happy Veteran's Day! Thanks to all of you who have served and are currently serving our country. There needs to be more people like you. Please forgive me if I have forgotten anyone.

Bryan
Rick
Brandon
Pete
Kanaan
Grandpa Robert
Dale
Royal
Roger
Tom
Matt
Mack
Nick I.
Nick A.
Daniel
Kurt
Brian P.
Melissa
Brian W.
Cahill
Brian E.
Kenny
Ray K.
Ray A.
Chris
Caput
Gonzo
Steve
Barb
Josh
Haven
Griff
Lavant

LBN Wants Out

LBN got quite active last night. If you watch closely, you'll see LBN kick and my stomach jolts (top left). I recorded it for Bryan to see as he is in Atlanta participating in the Veterans Day Parade.

Week 25: Rutabaga

Head to heels, LBN now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

LBN is definitely still kicking. My favorite part now is being able to watch my stomach jump around by his movements.

Gracen Rae

Steph has a new favorite picture of G-Rae. This is it.
Pulled from "The Amazing Gracen"

Homecoming Weekend!

This weekend was homecoming weekend at Georgia Southern. Many alumn's came into town. I know Bryan had a great time hanging out with his friends and his brothers at the Sigma Nu house. I, on the other hand, am entirely exhausted. Bryan and I finished off the weekend with a trip to Savannah. We went to Wormsloe Historic State Park and had breakfast at our favorite joint, J. Christopher's.

Week 24

LBN's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long, he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. LBN's brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.