Robin Williams, LtCol North, My Uncle Steve...

The last couple of weeks have been eventful. Fortunately not necessarily in a bad way but not all good either. We still have the occasional booms, a few mortars here and there. In the past week it was reported that we had a couple IEDs just outside the gate and a suicide bomber in the town. A few of our soldiers have been lost as a result. I don't have their names and details as they weren't part of our group but their loss is felt just the same.
And speaking of loss, I was notified last week that my Uncle Steve Carroll has passed on. I don't know the exact details but what's important is that he was one of 2 uncles that influenced my decision to join the Air Force. The first time I met him when I was a kid he was just getting out of the Air Force and I remember him telling his stories from the Signal intercept work he did and it all sounded so cool. A few years later when my family was having a hard time, My aunt and he took me in to live with them as one of their own.
I heard that he was buried with full military honors and I'm very proud to have known him. I wish I could have been there but I know he would understand.
Go Easy Legless, you don't need legs where you are now.... You will be missed.

About 3 days ago we had a visit from 2 Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and a country singer. Sorry, don't remember his name but he seemed to be a nice guy. I didn't get any photos but you aren't missing much. If you need to see them that bad you can go to the NFL website and get better photos. It's been very cold here and they were all bundled up so it wasn't really a big deal.
As you've read previously, we had a surprise visit from LtCol North. Well, a couple of days ago, I'm walking back from the latrine and there's a group of folks behind me in the dark. As I open the door for them to enter my building, I see to my surprise that it's the LtCol again with his FoxNews camera dude and they are coming in to use one of our TVs to preview some of their footage. Very cool stuff. Then the next day he came by and visited our day-shift and took a group photo with them. Helluva nice guy.
Then yesterday morning, we went to the USO show here and saw Adm Mullen (CJCS), Miss USA Rachel Smith, Lance Armstrong, Lewis Black, Kid Rock, and Robin Williams. It was an awesome show and brought a brighter time to a dim couple of weeks. This show was taped and parts are being shown on Access Hollywood but by the time I've posted this it's too late for you all to see it. Oh well. It was a good time.
Immediately following the show, we are in our DFAC (Dining FACility) and in walks General Casey, the Army Chief of Staff. Now you say, yippee, big deal... yeah well, it's not everyday that a 4 star General walks in and say hello to everyone like he's just one of the guys and sits at a table with your comm chief. The boss was a little shocked and but had a pleasant meal from his telling of the story. :)

For those of you looking for ways to support the troops, you really should look into helping out with the USO. They are always looking for volunteers and donations. They take care of us while we're travelling in the airports and they take care of our moral when we're abroad. Please visit their website when you get a chance and see what all they do for us. http://www.uso.org/


Well, that's all I can think of for now.

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This blog is dedicated to the memory of my uncle Steve "Legless" Carroll.