President’s Corner

Greetings from the Sandbox,

This is the time of the year where many of us give thanks for what we hold dear in our lives.  For most of us, this is usually our God, families, health and financial stability.  There are many of us, who serve in the military, who appreciate these and many more basic necessities in our lives, just a little more.  The reason is we have done without these precious moments such as our children’s births, birthdays and other special occasions on a regular basis since Gulf War I.

Just the other day, we were telling war stories and the topic came up about who had lived in the worst deployed conditions.  I don’t know why but this always seems to draw a crowd and our young Airmen appear to enjoy these stories.  Here is one of the topics we discussed.  What were the things in your life, that you found yourself appreciating, that you didn’t think twice about before you deployment?

Now, I’m sure most of you have discussed this many times also but other than the obvious of being with family, I would say, having my own bathroom would rank up there pretty high.  I’m talking about one that I did not have to share with 96 to several hundred other military members.  Also, having a hot shower that did not require the marathon walk to and from, and in which most cases, I needed another shower by the time I returned to my tent.  I would be remiss, if I did not mention, no incoming SCUDS, where you had to put on and take off your mask several times, day and night.  I know, the last one really dated me.

It just dawned on me that if I had written this master piece for anyone else but us, they would not have the slightest idea what I was talking about or why we can appreciate just the smaller things in life.  So, with that said, I give thanks for being blessed to serve my country, and all I have been given in my life.”

I wish you all, deployed or at home, and your loved ones a SAFE and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!