Close but so far away

I’m finally on my way home. It took over a week for my paperwork to get approved for me to leave the country. I can’t imagine what took it so long, because all but one of the signatures was ready within 24 hours. Then I waited another week for one last signature. Another soldier in the same company was sent home for a different reason and everything she had was approved within 2 days.

Once I finally had everything ready, I was lucky enough to get a seat on the first helicopter leaving the FOB. It was a strange feeling, and it had never really sunk in that I was going home until I left the helipad. Even then, it wasn’t emotional as I had thought it would be, merely an acknowledgement in my mind that I really was starting the long trip home. Part of me was sad to go, because of the closeness that had developed in my section in the past weeks and months. As we left, I realized that I had no phone card with which to call my wife when I got the US, so she would know when to pick me up. I shrugged it off, and decided I’d have to buy one somewhere.

The first half of the helicopter ride was beautiful. Iraq is much brighter at night than I thought it would be. The Blackhawk had no windows, so I felt the cool night breeze as we watched the scenery below us from a hundred feet off the ground. It reminded of driving to the top of Mt. Olive when I was a child to look down at the “jewel box”. As we approached the next stop, I saw the Tigris River and felt glad to see the familiar surroundings where I had driven so many times.

When we landed, all but one other passenger got off but more came back, and I was forced to switch to the back corner seat in the Blackhawk. I had wanted that seat for the better view, but learned that for some reason the seat catches all the rotor wash through the open window. I spent the next leg of the trip trying in vain to hide from the 100+mph winds that were blowing in my face. Someone lent me some glasses, but they only helped a little.

Upon landing in Balad, I went to the pax terminal as fast I could to sign up for the next flight going south. I was told to come back in a few hours at 0530 for the showtime. When I came back I was told that I had been put on the manifest and to wait to be called. Near the entrance there was a TV with a slide show of flight information. One slide had a Daily trivia question that asked “What was the first book printing using a movable type press?” After waiting a few hours (They said there was a prize, and I was concerned it would be big) I went to the counter and told them the answer was a Gutenburg Bible. Since I was the first one to get it right, I was given a 300 minute phone card. An hour later my flight was ready and I rode a C-17 down to Kuwait. I slept the whole way.

My luck ran out when I got to Kuwait. I was told that they might be able to get my on a Space Available flight in the morning, and to come back at 0830. So I made myself comfortable and got a good night’s sleep. At 0700 I packed up everything I had and got the desk at 0800. I was told I was too early and to come back. At 0830 on the dot I came back and the person I had been told to see was nowhere to be found. He came back for a few minutes half an hour later, but completely ignored me and everyone else that was waiting to see him. Then at 0930 he came back to stay, but still ignored everyone that was waiting to see him. Instead, he sent someone else to tell us that we wouldn’t fly today and to come back tomorrow. Maybe we’d get to fly, or maybe not. If not, we could try again every day until Saturday. I understand that aircraft only have so many seats, but the complete lack of concern and customer service was frustrating, to say the least.

I came back in the afternoon with some questions, and found the same people to be much more friendly, but still no seats on aircraft.