We are looking forward to a special Memorial Day celebration tomorrow. The day will not pass without a great deal of reflection on the past year, and the sacrifices that so many soldiers make to protect our freedom.
For the first time, I thought about the MEDEVAC unit that took over for Tim’s unit last [...]
Click here to view a nicely article written by the editor of our local paper, the Zionsville Sentinel, called “A Soldier Returns Home.”
Tonight is the LAST NIGHT of Tim’s deployment. It is hard to believe, yet an AMAZING feeling that we made it…sometimes crawling, sometimes skipping, sometimes dancing, sometimes hanging on by a string…but we made it. It was a long year for me, especially when I catalog the milestones each child reached during Tim’s [...]
I have not felt compelled nor comfortable speaking for anyone but myself during this deployment. We all have varying religious and political beliefs, we raise our children differently, and we might not even have the same interests. However, I am confident about one thing…that the wives of all the soldiers coming home are getting [...]
One of our friends, David Clements, sent this article to me tonight. I have no idea how he found it but I was grateful to read it. CLICK HERE TO READ IT ON TASK FORCE MARNE. It was great to not only to see a picture of Tim (I am so excited to [...]
I know Tim is out of Iraq based on a text message I received late last night. I am not sure if he and the troops have left Kuwait, however. My guess is that they are headed to Ft. Hood, Texas by now…but we just don’t know much. I appreciate everyone keeping them [...]
It is quite lengthy but this video on C-SPAN focuses on the mission of Tim’s unit while in Iraq. I was struck by a few things: 1) It really is brown there. I think these guys will be overzealous to come home to a ‘Field of Green’. 2) I was interested to [...]
This article in the Indianapolis Star is a great representation of how a simple gesture or a little thing can mean an awful lot to someone else. Click on the link below to read it.
indianapolisstararticle.jpg
We just completed our final combat mission, flying our aircraft out of theatre.
We conducted a multi-ship mission, where all of the aircraft go together. The aircraft departed in three waves (military calls them a serial, or flight) towards Kuwait.
I piloted the last aircraft, of the third wave.
I purposely positioned myself in the last aircraft for two [...]
As we near the end of our combat tour, I wanted to take a moment and “smell the roses” (or desert dust, burn-pit pollution, aircraft engine exhaust and aviation fuel - in our case). Yesterday, a few of our soldiers were able to get away for a few hours in the early morning before sunrise.
It [...]
This post goes out to all the extraordinary people, companies, and aficionados everywhere who have been supporting us in Iraq! They have made the tour a little easier - by sending GREAT cigars to our soldiers!
Thank you for your continued support, generousity, and patriotism!
Roll call:
Tom Noonan
Herfer’s Paradise (& all the cigar contributors)
Top Shelf Cigar
Carmel Cigar [...]
Today marks the 20th anniversary of my enlistment in the Army and of course, the environment I am in has afforded me the time and opportunity to reflect on everything.
In 1988, I enlisted as “Private Stoner.” Since then, it’s been a wonderful journey, great experience, and a remarkable tranformation.
From the enlisted [...]
Again, we’re all ok. We’re driving on.
I’ve written before about the attacks that are launched against our base with IDF. Indirect Fire consists of either rockets or mortar rounds that are lobbed-in from neighboring areas into the base.
IDF attacks have increased here over the last two weeks; in frequency, duration, and severity.
Our unit suffered NO losses, whatsoever. [...]
After returning from a wonderful time on leave with the Stoner Six, extended family, and friends - it was time to return to the desert.
Leaving was tough on me, not in an overwhelming “sad” way or “nervous” way - but an angry way.
The first time I departed left me sad - as I [...]
I can tell as the days get closer to Tim’s departure that not only is he getting more emotional but Briggs is getting more worried about the time he has left to spend with his dad.
Tim had promised Briggs some time alone once the little kids went to bed last week. As they [...]
I know many wives of deployed soldiers read this blog so a word to the wise…DO NOT wake up your soldier after he has recently returned home from combat!
No matter where he falls asleep, keep him there. Let a sleeping dog lie.
On the second night Tim was home, he did exactly what Gage had [...]
Things are just as they should be…normal.
And…normal feels FABULOUS!
We took the boys to our favorite breakfast spot this morning and for a moment I felt like we were living our old life. We could have rewound the clock. We used to frequent Cafe Patachou most Sunday mornings. It was kind of like [...]
TIM IS HOME!
I picked him up late last night alone at the airport which was quite a treat. After we arrived home, Tim wanted to open a bottle of wine. I then introduced him to his ‘new house’. I have done a lot of moving things around since he left. He [...]
Okay…if the nervous energy I am feeling is close to what the the boys are feeling…then no wonder why they are torturing me with their attitudes and fighting! You would think I would be used to this ‘not knowing’ thing by now but it is uncomfortable not having any details around Tim’s arrival.
I spoke [...]
My communication on the blog has waned dramatically, due to technical difficulties.
Several weeks ago, a ship in the Persian Gulf dropped anchor on the transatlantic fiber connection that provides the primary data services to this theatre.
They cut all internet access for awhile and finally repaired it. It’s up now, but they are preventing all [...]
This post is dedicated to all of the people, families, churches, and organizations who made our combat holiday season - a great one!
Thank you all for your continued prayers, letters, postcards, care packages and tireless support of our soldiers!
Every package sent, was either; wrapped and put under our Christmas tree for soldiers to choose from, [...]
It’s been busy lately - real busy. In the MEDEVAC business, that’s an unfortunate situation.
I’ve written about the chaos that is associated with this situation, the business we are in, and the theatre we are in, but reviewing one of our latest “run sheets” - brings it all into perspective.
When we receive a call or [...]
I have received several concerned emails about a helicopter that went down, yesterday, just South of Baghdad.
IT WAS NOT OUR UNIT.
This incident is being reported in a couple different ways right now: US helicopter crash (Blackhawk) and British helicopter crash (Puma). It’s no surprise that the initial reports are in conflict with one [...]
Tim sent us some new pictures…
…
Special thanks to…Cathy for the flowers on one of my crazy days. My mom for stopping over at bathing time. Beth H. for having Gage over for an impromptu dinner. Sheryl for another great meal. Beth O. for wearing Gage out on an all-day playdate with Davis.
I thought it was so cool to hear Tim’s voice that I had to share it.
A Message from Tim to the Stoner Six:
A Veteran’s Day Message from Tim to Union Elementary:
Another Message from Tim:
Here is the bulletin board Tim mentioned several posts ago (Everyday) with the five U.S. flags.
Everyday here starts, and ends, the same - I walk to and from work.
Everyday I do similar jobs; manage and direct chaos, or fly the mission.
The workday can start at a variety of different times - depending on the upcoming missions or workload. Whenever it starts, 5:00AM or 2:00PM, it continues for approximately 16-18 [...]
I’ve been asked, over and over, what I think about the situation here.
It may sound odd, but I rarely think of it in terms of “whether the surge is working, or whether we should be here or not.” The job I have to do is MEDEVAC!
With MEDEVAC; there are no politics, no [...]
Okay…Tim finally sent some images. Let me get the gooey stuff out of the way first OR for the male readers…just skip to the picture collage below.
My partner looks HOT! With the exception of a short visit in late-July, I haven’t laid eyes on my husband in nearly six months. He looks [...]
Tiffany alluded to the phrase I said recently, when I told her of a pretty rough experience a few days ago.
I was at one of the hospitals - taking care of some MEDEVAC process and procedural business when a patient arrived in the ER. The patient was a local national and screaming from the [...]