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

170th MP Company- 1st Platoon- Rogue Platoon

Hello All,

Just a bit of an update after last weeks tragic events. The memorial for the two fallen soldiers will occur later this month at Fort Lewis and the company's injured soldiers are now all here stateside starting their long road to recovery. Thank you for the prayers and please continue to keep them, their families, and the soldiers of the 170th in your prayers. 

Attached below is a photo taken recently of Mark's platoon (1st Platoon) that he is leading. Mark truly loves these guys and calls them a part of his family. They are working hard and Mark states he is glad to be fortunate enough to work with such great people. (Mark is on the bottom right of the photo looking especially bald these days).

From the home front- we are getting down to the final three months of deployment. As the weather gets nicer here in WA I am reminded everyday of just how long it has been since this deployment has started. Yes, at times it seems that life is crawling- but overall the thought of being well over half way (and into double digits) is enlightening. The end is in sight. However, with the recent losses and injuries I am reminded that each day that passes with no news is still a good day and those days that I do get e-mails or phone calls are truly a blessing.

With Love,
Angie

More Prayers

What a hard and challenging week this has been for the 170th. The FRG (family readiness group) was notified yesterday evening of another fallen soldier this one from Mark's platoon, and two others who were injured. Please send your prayers to the family of these brave soldiers in addition to all of the families and soldiers of the 170th. It has been a very challenging week for everyone. I received an e-mail from Mark this afternoon and his message was very tough to read knowing that he is grieving as well but that he feels as though he is making a difference and doesn't regret joining the military even under these very challenging times. Mark writes that it is during times like these his leadership skills and qualities are needed most by his soldiers. Again- please keep all of our men and women of uniform and their families in your prayers. They are needed more than ever.

Love

Ang

Prayers

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been the hardest blog post to write. It is with this blog a plea for prayers. Early this week the 170th MP company suffered its first loss. It is first that I ask for prayers and support for this soldier's family, friends, and those left behind who loved him most. In addition to the loss two other soldiers were severely injured. I ask for prayers for them and their family as friends as well as they go through recovery and healing. The soldiers were conducting patrols through Kandahar in a convoy when the 2nd vehicle hit a very large IED. The three soldiers in the vehicle were all affected. I have heard briefly from Mark via e-mail which was a relief, but at the same time very difficult knowing that other families and wives did not receive similar news. Please keep Mark's unit in your prayers and all of the 170th MP company as we all grieve with the loss of one of our own Dragon Slayers. Please keep them in your hearts, ask God to protect them, and continue to send prayers for the families that have been shaken by the horrible events of the week.

Love

Angie

Operation Love

Some of you may have already seen via Facebook- but Mark and I got a wonderful opportunity to take part in a program called Operation Love Reunited (www.oplove.org) over his R&R. The program is made up of photographers all around the country who volunteer their time and donate a photo album from your photo session that they send downrange to the deployed soldier. Typically the album consists of twenty five 4x6 photos. The program is open to any military soldier who is deployed. Photos are typically taken either at departure, R&R, or homecoming. Here is how the website describes their program.

If you have ever been through a military deployment, there are no words to explain how hard it is to send the father or mother of your children off to some foreign, dangerous land, leaving you all behind…. Alone. It’s indescribable to watch their faces light up as their mother or father comes up the stairs of the airport after months, possibly a year or more, of not hugging each other. Emotions fly through the main lobby, it’s so very good to have them home. Your base’s Family Support Squadron will help you with your deployment. But the last thing on your mind when your wife or husband arrives home after a 4 to 18 month tour, is capturing all this love– on film. Most people are so overwhelmed with emotions they forget to simply point and shoot the camera they are grasping of their child’s first hug, or that single tear of relief from a mother being able to hold her twenty year old son again. With the help of Operation: Love ReUnited and local photographers near your base, you can.

The Operation helps those long months go by a little faster. It’s designed to capture moments that you will never remember. It’s art. It’s love. And it’s all made possible by artists wanting to give something back to those who make the United States what it is, and ask for nothing in return- but to come home.

Please if you know of any other deployed families forward them the program website. It was a wonderful and truly touching experience for both Mark and I. Below you can see some of the photos that were taken through this wonderful program by Jeffrey Ott (who was awesome!).

Enjoy- Love,

Angie

February Rolls on By

Hello All,

Well it has been a rather quiet February, which with a deployment on hand, is not a bad thing! Mark has been settling into his job and as of today has 2 and a half weeks under his belt as a platoon leader. He is absolutely loving his job. I can't even explain how the tone of his e-mails has changed. I can tell he is loving his job even if it means less sleep, less family talk time, and all the other sacrifices that this job brought. I think for him- the opportunities it has brought has been what has made the big difference- with the main opportunity to lead soldiers. He is absolutely loving that responsibility.

We have found out that mail is considerably slower at the new location. Mail gets delivered only once a week. So if you plan on sending any packages with perishable food items- Mark has informed me to try sending items on Fridays. Sending packages on Fridays will help to minimize the chance of your preishables getting some extra bake time sitting on a truck bed in the sun. My package that I sent on the 5th (a Saturday) still has yet to arrive- though I know that Maryellen's (Mark's Mom) package that she sent on the 4th (a Friday) has arrived.

Communication overall has exceeded my initial thoughts and concerns. Always a bit of relief! We do talk much less than before- but knowing that he is loving what he is doing makes it worth it. However with that being said, satellite phones have little to be desired- but they do get the job done. Before the phone cuts out after 2 minutes or less- I at least know he is okay and usually happy!

Though I would never wish a deployment upon anyone- this journey has helped me to realize many things about myself, Mark, and our relationship. For me- it has helped me realize just what a strong and independent woman that I have become. Mark continues to amaze me in his ability to make me feel so loved and taken care of from so far away. I have never felt so connected to him and amazingly with so little contact. Whoever thought that was possible!?

Love

Angie

An Army write up about the 504th

Troops see progress in training Afghan police - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Enjoy the read. It makes me nervous to know that summer is around the corner. When the temperature warms- historically Taliban activity also increases. Keep Mark and his men in your prayers.

Love

Angie