Pictures of Homecoming Ceremony

Welcome home MARKY!

Welcome HOME Mark sign hung on the front of our house. "Welcome Home Mark- Husband, Best friend, and Hero." First time we will both be permanent residents together there!

Together in formation waiting to be released. Complete with the soldiers who came home early due to injury.

Just seeing them put me in tears. I couldn't spot Mark in the sea of uniforms- but I knew he was somewhere in that room!

Our plan for me to wear a yellow dress for him to spot me was a success. He found me- and that first hug and kiss was quite possibly the best moment of my life thus far.

I can't even explain our smiles in this photo- so incredibly happy.

Since homecoming we have been enjoying our time together at home. I have someone to cook dinners for again (or someone rather to help me cook dinners and clean up!). We have laid pretty low the last few days- just enjoying the lazy company together.

Thank you family and friends for your love and support over the last year. It helped make the year more manageable and I know Mark and I both appreciated the continuous outpouring of encouragement and prayers. And with that- this will likely be the last blog post hopefully for at least a few years.

Much Love,

Angie

I'm Home!

Dear friends and family,

I’m home! Many thanks for all of your love and support over the last year. You made my deployment much easier. It was a busy last few weeks as we received and prepared the new unit to replace us. We gave them everything we had and worked hard until our very last day. The road home took me several days and I finally flew in late on the evening of the 16th and arrived at home very early on the morning of the 17th. Angie was there to welcome me home along with one of her friends who she recruited as the team photographer. It was great to see both of them.

I am absolutely in love with Washington. It has been right around 70 degrees. A great departure from the 119 degrees I heard reported in the weather report for Kandahar two days after we left. The grass is green here, the streets are clean, and most of all I have Angie here with me. It has been simply wonderful. I will have two weeks of reintegration, classes, and doctors/dental checkups and then will start some much awaited block leave (vacation)! We don’t have any big plans. Things will be mostly relaxed. We have a friend’s wedding to attend in Wisconsin and I will spend some time with the family there. Other than that we will do a few small trips around Washington and Oregon and hopefully one to the east coast. Thanks again for your support. It feels great to be home. I cannot wait until I can see you in person.

Regards, Mark

Second LAST blog post

Hello everyone,

SECOND LAST BLOG POST for this deployment! I couldn't be more thrilled to share that. My communication with Mark the last 3 weeks has been sparse to say the least. He has been extremely busy and has gotten very little sleep. I have gotten a few short e-mails here and there- but most of them say the same thing. I love you, I miss you, it's hot, and I'm tired. He has shared that he has been averaging 2-3 hours a sleep a night for the last 3 weeks or so. And while he has tried taking naps during the afternoon- the attempts are usually unsuccessful due to the tents being so hot from not having air conditioning in the summer heat.

However, with that being said as each of these 3 weeks has passed I can tell he is more and more tired- but the morale is getting higher and higher as he knows he will soon be home! That thought I'm sure has helped to keep him going.

He shared in an e-mail late last week the good news that their replacements have arrived! The long hours continue but "it's what has to be done to get out of here." We have gotten word of a 3 day window for their arrival home. I can't share exact details of that online for safety reasons- but do know the next post that will be on here is pictures of homecoming! I cannot be more thrilled and more excited. This year is almost over!

Love

Angie

Nearing End of Deployment/Graduation

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing well- we are nearing the end of deployment! I couldn't be more excited. It is starting to feel closer and closer with each week that passes.

Today, I got to Skype with Mark. First time in a LONG time that we got to see each other. Partially because he has been very busy, but also because I have been pretty busy as well. It was great. He is looking like a little skinny, but nothing some regular meals won't fix when he gets home with lots of fruits and vegetables. He left me a voicemail a few days ago, and I swear the highlight of his month was getting to eat some fruit--- green grapes! Fresh fruits and vegetables are rare for him- so we will be sure to have lots on hand and in meals when he does get home.

As for how he is doing- his days are long. He has been quite busy with trying to complete all the tasks that need to be done so him and his unit can get out of there soon, in addition to the normal daily tasks and patrols. While the end is in sight for me- I can tell that it doesn't seem quite as close to him yet. Morale overall is pretty low. It is quite evident that they are near the end of deployment. Everyone wants to be home. Patrols are getting incredibly hot and uncomfortable. Temperatures this week have been floating around 108 degrees. Mark even mentioned that after his high noon patrol his boots were soaked completely through with sweat. I can only imagine how the rest of him was!

As for me, I have been holding up pretty well- staying busy for sure! For me, the last month has flown by. Mother's day (May 9th) I graduated with my clinical doctorate in physical therapy back home in WI from Carroll University. With that, I am happy to announce I am DONE (forever and ever) with school and am now technically Dr. Angela Kloiber (not that I will ever have anyone address me that way). Mark even pointed out to me that I will now "outrank" him until he is promoted to Colonel-- which is a LONG way down the road. So until then- it will be Dr. and Lt Mark Kloiber.

As for graduation, it was a bittersweet end. So glad to be done with formal classes, however, difficult to say goodbye to my fellow classmates- who have been a great part of my support group over the last three years. Thank you to my classmates, family, friends, and Mark for their endless and wonderful support over the last 6 years. I could not have done it without them.

This graduation I know was hard for Mark to miss- he has been through every step of my college experience with me (supporting and encouraging me every step of the way- even when I was doubting myself.) Unfortunately, he has missed both my undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies. However, he was there in spirit and thought. Even though he was unable to be present, he thoughtfully crafted a letter for me to read at my graduation party. He had sent it to his parents to give to me- it was a wonderful surprise and helped to fill the hole/gap that was missing from that day.

So for the next upcoming weeks I will be studying and preparing to take my National Boards Exam. I will begin working at Apple Physical Therapy on July 5th right here in Yelm (the town Mark and I live in- population 3,500). I am very blessed to be going into a profession that offers some great career opportunities right now. Mark and my paths will soon cross. We will soon (for the first time ever since we began dating) be living in the same state, let alone same house- while it all seems very real and soon to me- please pray that the time passes quickly for Mark. I know he is just as excited as I am for the next phase of our lives- but it just feels a bit far away.

With that- I think you are all up to date. I hope everyone is doing well.... and we are almost to the end! If anyone would like to personally welcome Mark home feel free to send cards to our home address: 10435 Brighton St SE, Yelm, WA 98597. I will be sure to have them out and ready for him to greet him when he walks in the door.

Love

Angie

Mark's Company Commander on NBC Nightly News

As we near the end of the deployment, I wanted to share with you all a story that was aired on NBC nightly news with Brian Williams on May 4th. It is a short story covering Army Captain Andy Sergent. Andy is Mark's Company Commander. What you see in the footage is some of what Mark is doing as well.  Erica, his wife, and I have been friends throughout the deployment so to see their story aired was truly touching and really hit home. Its not often you can point at the television and say- I know that person and I can relate first hand to all of that (minus having kids).

The segment shows Andy trying to call his middle child to wish her a happy birthday and being bummed to miss her. I know with my upcoming graduation on Sunday to receive my doctorate in physical therapy Mark is feeling the same way- very excited and happy for me, but bummed to be missing it.

Enjoy the links, keep sending prayers, they are almost home.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42906536#42906536

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42906536#42906113


Love
Angie

Mark's reaction

Last night will be a day I remember likely for my whole life. I can think back to September 11th and know exactly where I was and what I was doing. Yesterday night will likely be another one of those days that I remember all the details of for the remainder of my life.

Prior to Mark leaving for this deployment, I told him I needed to hear from him why exactly again he wanted to be in the military. His answer was quick and simple- I've always wanted to lead soldiers. Mark's love with West Point and the Army started before 9/11. He remembers the dream starting in 8th grade. He recognizes his grandfather as a significant influence in his life as well as his uncles for wanting to join the Army. So while the news of the death of Osama bin Laden was huge news last night to me- I knew this terrorist and his actions was not the only reason Mark joined the military.

Mark has been incredibly busy the last several weeks. In addition to the normal demands of his job duties, the guys are packing up their first round of stuff to ship back home, and the details of the end of deployment are quickly approaching. While I have heard minimally from him, I hear just enough to not worry too much additionally about him. I get short e-mails once every day or every other day- and that is more than enough to get me through.

Late last night I got a text from the wife of Mark's SFC that I am good friends with. It said 4 words "Bin Laden is Dead!!!!!" She knows that I avoid the news usually and have plead ignorance for the last 11 months due to the news usually worrying more than what is necessary. I immediately flipped on the news for maybe the 3rd time this deployment, and shot Mark an e-mail. In the subject line was "Bin Laden DEAD". A short message in the body of the e-mail stated:

Hi baby dear,
Just wanted to spread the good news!!! Osama bin laden has been killed and his body is in US custody. I can't explain how big my smile is. I'm curious your feelings. I love you.

Mark's response made my smile even larger. Not more than an hour later I got a response from him:

Hey Baby,
F***ing right! I just saw that news too. I'm glad that evil has been taken away from this earth. I love you! Your, Mark

Earlier in the week and over the last month you could tell morale had been on the decline. The end of deployment wearing on everyone, and this news only re-energized not only Mark, but I'm sure the rest of the guys over there. As I wrote on my Facebook wall- this kind of news is what makes having Mark deployed all worth while. I may not understand all the smaller details and reasons why Afghanistan is a better place because he and his guys are there- but this I can understand very well.

God bless America- Land of the free because of the Brave.

Love,

Angie

May 1st Deadline

Hello all,

Short and sweet this time. The deadline for sending mail and packages to Mark is May 1, 2011. After that date mail will not be delivered to their location and may (or may not) get returned to you. This is a TRUE sign the end is almost here!!!

Love

Angie

Hello APRIL!

Hello APRIL and hello everyone!

April is finally here and we are off to a decent start. It has been a while since I posted on the blog. We are in month 10 of deployment and by now Mark's job has stayed consistent enough that I find myself asking him a lot less questions about his job. I feel like I have a really good understanding of what he does day to day which has taken several months to learn but I think this is partially why I have less updating to do here on the blog.

Just a few things- the memorials of the two fallen soldiers that occurred in March were very moving and very personal. I was in attendance as were many wives and other soldiers. It was standing room only. Both soldier's families were in attendance, and many individuals spoke of each soldiers bravery, values, desires, and of fond memories. I hope it was touching to the families and aides them in their healing process. The other two severely injured soldiers that were in the same vehicle as one of the fallen when they hit a roadside IED were also present. They are looking amazing and are well into rehab. One is out of the hospital and back at home still taking part in intense rehab, and the other will be home soon. They were both in good spirits- but you could tell the pain they were going through to be at that memorial. I can only imagine some of the thoughts and emotions they had that day.

As for Mark, he wrote in an earlier e-mail the following:

"I have about 35 Soldiers in my platoon and they are amazing. Being a platoon leader is everything I had hoped for and more. That said, I am way ready to get back home. My Soldiers are still great. They continue to do outstanding work. They are dedicated and committed- especially to each other. There are some frustrations about the whole deployment and Afghanistan- they are all ready to go home. I can't blame them. I am ready to go too. I am indeed missing everyone- and it's starting to get hot here again. I just need them to stay focused until we land back home. We have two months and some change remaining on what will be a complete year long deployment (deployed last June) They need to keep their heads in the game- that's one of my greatest concerns."

Mark looking a little thinner these days-

but smiling and a spotted care package on the left!

As for other updates- the company commander (who's wife I am also good friends with) came and spoke to the wives and families on post over his R&R. It was an open question/answer session that was helpful to many. After the session, the commander sought me out to inform me that Mark is doing a really commendable job as a platoon leader. As the commander stated- he has one of the harder platoons but has been doing a really good job. It made me smile- but I wouldn't expect anything otherwise from Mark. That's just what he does and its the kind of person he is.

One more thing regarding Mark, with the middle of April quickly approaching if you would like to send a package/letter to Mark I would suggest doing so in the next month. After that space and time will be limited! The END is in sight!

As for me, I'm getting anxiously ready for graduation which is one month exactly from today! I am finishing up my last clinical affiliation which I have been loving (except for the hour commute each way to work). AND I have a potential job offer coming in the next week or two! All in all a very exciting time. Lots of things too look forward to in the very near future and then the ultimate thing - FINALLY having my husband home! It has been nearly 300 days since he initially left. I can't wait- this deployment is almost over!

With love,

Angie