Land of The Free, Because of the Brave

this isn't a photo blog post. hang in there for me though, okay :) just something I wanted to say ;) Happy Independence Day everyone :)

Seven years ago today...I walked off of a chartered aircraft as a 21 year old girl. I spent a few days in Kuwait city...seeing the sights...and sweltering. The first evening I was there, I was greeted with a temperature reading of 126 degrees! Oh, it was awful! A few days later, with kevlar and a helmet, I walked onto a C-17 and walked off of it in Baghdad, Iraq. Camping out with my new found family, we cooked dinner (MRE's) and shared stories of home. A few days later, off to Kirkuk, Iraq. This time, our limo was a hot, cramped, smelly C-130. My wing commander called his baby the 'Four Fans of Freedom'...I would call it the very first airplane that I nearly lost my lunch in. Thankfully, I didn't...but it was very close.

I spent the rest of the year in Iraq. I grew more than I knew was possible. I saw and witnessed things that I wish I hadn't...however, I do believe...that every thing happens for a reason and through every experience we experience, we become who we are today. And, I left Iraq and went home as a 21 year old woman. Strong. Confident. KaetheJo.

I was asked today if I missed being a part of the military.

I had to think about it.

I know the things I don't miss. I do not miss wearing combat boots every day of my life. I don't miss twisting my hair up in a tight bun everyday that always gave me killer headaches. I don't miss 'playing war'...wearing a gas mask and searching the surroundings of a building for pieces of paper that said "BOMB" or finding a person with a sticky note saying "broken leg or intestines are outside of body cavity (you think I am joking. I am not joking) and then having to act out that I was washing all of the toxin's off of my body. I don't miss spending every other weekend at work waiting for ONE F-16 to come home from a class that he had to take that week and couldn't come home til Saturday...not to mention...every time, like clock work...the single seater F-16 would give us a return time like he was delivering furniture or installing cable. Without fail...he'd be home anywhere from 10 am to 7 pm. They ALWAYS gave us high hopes...the management would say, "as soon as he lands, you can go home." Good thing we got to go home after he landed. It was usually right around 8:14 pm. So, we sat there ALLLLLL day...and this Captain would conveniently leave his TDY location at 6pm. I also hardly miss going to change of command ceremonies. Those were the worst. Some guy, whom you never met, is relinquishing his command. Of what? I didn't know. Nor did the poor guy next to me. And, again, without fail...it was the hottest day of the month. There we all were. Standing at attention. In the Hot, Hot sun. Sweat drips starting at you neck and ending up being collected at the top of your socks. Each of them had to thank everyone from their wives all the way down to their first grade teacher. People would start passing out left and right. Sometimes, I'd envy them thinking..."I should just fall flat on my face...at least I wont have to stand here for another hour." And I DEFINITELY don't miss training all 15 of the trainees everyday. Its nice to sit back and work and enjoy work...

Now, don't worry. That wasn't my answer. Not even close. But, I paused as I calculated my thoughts. On one hand, I couldn't wait to take off my BDU's, blousing straps, boots and let my hair free. But on the other hand...every time the honor guard presented the colors, every time some not so great of a singer Staff Sergeant would sing the National Anthem or the shots of a 21 gun salute echoed in the air and seeing a flag handed over to a widowed spouse or to a parent whose 19 year old son died in Iraq...there was something inside that sent chills through my body...and maybe even a few tears down my face.

Do I miss the Military? Do I miss being a part of something great? Do I miss faithfully putting on that uniform everyday and knowing that I had a purpose. Do I miss putting on those 'dorky' and 'horribly un-flattering' dress blues? Do I miss going to the clothing store to buy new medals to attach them to those dorky dress blues that I just mentioned? Do I miss the camaraderie? Do I miss the built in family? Do I miss knowing that just about anyone would do just about anything for you because of what each of you represented? Do I miss the military discount at Sonic and Maurices?

You can bet your life I do!

I am so proud that I was in the United States Air Force. I am so thankful for the experiences that I took away from the military. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would. Without a doubt.

I'm not trying to toot my own horn. I am just reflecting on something that I was able to be a part of. I am happy that I was able to represent this great nation. I am happy that I was able to make those sacrifices and be a part of history!

And now, as the rest of the United States celebrates today (utah celebrated yesterday), I know that there are days to recognize and thank the people who are making those sacrifices for now...I personally believe...we should be thanking them everyday. Because truly...

We Live in the Land of the Free....

Because of the Brave.

Thank you to all you guys making the sacrifice today and tomorrow and the next day. Without you, perhaps we wouldn't be so free!

Thanks,

Kaethe

here's a picture of me that was taken in the Summer of 2003.

Freedom Air Base, Kirkuk, Iraq.