Greetings friends and family!!
This is coming to you from another FOB (Forward Operating Base). I'm actually at FOB Sharana. We are here getting necessary repairs done on equipment....radios, crew served weapons, vehicles...etc. Hoping to be back at my base...Ghazni within the next few weeks.
All is well and spirits are high...April is just around the corner and that in itself makes us happy because we are one month closer to the end of this deployment. To think that we have been in country for almost a month now. Time really has flown by and I'm sure it will REALLY fly by this summer.
Well, today I am extremely happy because today is Brady's 1st Birthday!!!! It was one year ago today at 9:57pm that Brady was born. Jill and I along with big brother Darian were so happy when he entered our lives. He has been such a blessing to our family and his laughter and love has melted my heart many times over. To Brady, Happy Birthday Son, Daddy loves you soooo very much!! Even though I'm not there with you on your birthday, know that you are in my heart and that I'm thinking of you often, everyday....I love you Son....Daddy loves you so very much.
To everyone else...PEACE!!
-Jimmy
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The LRS together AGAIN!!
So, we got together yesterday early evening and took this picture. In this picture is the LRS together as a whole. Last spring our unit was split in two...the first half went to Afghanistan as TX ADT 1, the second half....us, became TX ADT 2. It's nice because we are relieving our own guys in place, that being said, this is our unit back together again. Soon, very very soon, they will be leaving and we will take full control of the mission here in Afghanistan. We will no doubt miss our fellow Airborne Brothers. God's speed ADT 1, enjoy your families back home..i'm sure they are anxious to see you again. We look forward to our next jump together.
Airborne!
-Jimmy
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy Anniversary!!!
Good evening or morning..the 9 1/2 hour difference is REALLY jacking Jill and I up. It's 7pm here and 9:30am in Texas. Anyways, i'm all smiles today, why you ask? no...not because it's St. Patrick's Day (missing the beer pretty badly right now) but because it's my wedding anniversary! Yep, Jill and I just hit our 2nd year today. I have to tell you, the last 2 years has been a pretty bumpy road, we got married <------ easy easy...that was NOT the bumpy part...HA! had TWO floods in the house and this blasted deployment to Afghanistan. The good things that have happened though have FAR out weighed the bad. I not only married my best friend but I was blessed with an EXTREMELY talented, smart, loving, sometimes hard headed teenager as a son..hehe, and I was also blessed with my baby boy Brady Patrick who by chance turns 1 year old in less than two weeks and has more energy in his little body than the whole city of Houston!!! :-)
They say that the first 5 years is the toughest part of marriage and that if you can get through those 5 years, that your love and marriage will last a lifetime. Well, I hate to break it but I think God took those 5 years and crammed them all into 3 years...the past 2 years and the third year being this deployment. I'm looking so forward to getting through this deployment and having a nice, easy rest of my life. Am I ready to give up the military? uhhh...hmmm....not sure. Any decisions I make will of course be discussed with my Jill. Even if I stay in, I think i'm pretty much done with the combat zone thing. I've had my fill of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not alot went on today, woke up, went on a mission, had some kids throw rocks at our vehicles as we passed through town...think they were mad because we were not throwing them candy or pencils and played some backgammon on my ipod touch.
Chow was good today, had Sheppard pie for lunch and Irish Pot roast with green bread for din din. YUM!
Anyways, to all of my friends and family, Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Each of you are in my thoughts. No worries about me, my guys here are watching my six.
To my Jilly Bean....Happy Anniversary Honey, I LOVE YOU!!!!
PEACE OUT!!!
-Jimmy Flanigan
They say that the first 5 years is the toughest part of marriage and that if you can get through those 5 years, that your love and marriage will last a lifetime. Well, I hate to break it but I think God took those 5 years and crammed them all into 3 years...the past 2 years and the third year being this deployment. I'm looking so forward to getting through this deployment and having a nice, easy rest of my life. Am I ready to give up the military? uhhh...hmmm....not sure. Any decisions I make will of course be discussed with my Jill. Even if I stay in, I think i'm pretty much done with the combat zone thing. I've had my fill of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not alot went on today, woke up, went on a mission, had some kids throw rocks at our vehicles as we passed through town...think they were mad because we were not throwing them candy or pencils and played some backgammon on my ipod touch.
Chow was good today, had Sheppard pie for lunch and Irish Pot roast with green bread for din din. YUM!
Anyways, to all of my friends and family, Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Each of you are in my thoughts. No worries about me, my guys here are watching my six.
To my Jilly Bean....Happy Anniversary Honey, I LOVE YOU!!!!
PEACE OUT!!!
-Jimmy Flanigan
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Already tired of eating dust in Afghanistan
Ahhh, greetings my friends and family!!!
All is well here in Afghanistan. Went on my first mission today, went pretty good, had a tense moment but because of operational security, I can't say. This sucks, so much to say but the stories will have to wait until my return. I have to tell you though, this place is no doubt third world. Afghanistan by far has some of the most breath taking scenery with the mountains and just the history that this place holds. To think that Alexander the Great used to walk in these mountains is awe inspiring. The people are very friendly, on the mission today, we had several kids coming up to us and waving, giving us a thumbs us (which in this country CAN be perceived as an insult..to them, it's like flipping them off), we've somewhat "Americanized" the kids in our 8 years of war in Afghanistan. Makes me laugh because I do not know if these kids are giving me a thumbs up as in "Good Job" or just flipping me off. I just wave, smile and think of home, of my wife and two boys and what they are doing at that exact moment.
The only thing that I to date dislike about Afghanistan is that I am already tired of eating dust, you try to run on this FOB or driving behind another vehicle in your convoy and your eating their dirt..only thing you can do is take a swig of water and rinse. Doesn't bother me that much I guess as I think about it...I look at this as an experience and look forward to the day when I can sit my grand kids on my lap and tell them stories about Grandpa Flanigan's time during the war. You know, some people say that you have to live each day as though it were your last, I totally agree BUT, you have to look towards the future as motivation to get you through the tough and difficult times. That's why over the next year, you will hear me talking about what I plan on doing when I get home, the trips I plan on taking my family on, and the goals I plan on accomplishing both long term and short.
Well, I hate to cut it so short but I need to get going. I am in desperate need of a shower and some sleep.
As always, I hope all is well, my thoughts are with each of you.
-Jimmy
All is well here in Afghanistan. Went on my first mission today, went pretty good, had a tense moment but because of operational security, I can't say. This sucks, so much to say but the stories will have to wait until my return. I have to tell you though, this place is no doubt third world. Afghanistan by far has some of the most breath taking scenery with the mountains and just the history that this place holds. To think that Alexander the Great used to walk in these mountains is awe inspiring. The people are very friendly, on the mission today, we had several kids coming up to us and waving, giving us a thumbs us (which in this country CAN be perceived as an insult..to them, it's like flipping them off), we've somewhat "Americanized" the kids in our 8 years of war in Afghanistan. Makes me laugh because I do not know if these kids are giving me a thumbs up as in "Good Job" or just flipping me off. I just wave, smile and think of home, of my wife and two boys and what they are doing at that exact moment.
The only thing that I to date dislike about Afghanistan is that I am already tired of eating dust, you try to run on this FOB or driving behind another vehicle in your convoy and your eating their dirt..only thing you can do is take a swig of water and rinse. Doesn't bother me that much I guess as I think about it...I look at this as an experience and look forward to the day when I can sit my grand kids on my lap and tell them stories about Grandpa Flanigan's time during the war. You know, some people say that you have to live each day as though it were your last, I totally agree BUT, you have to look towards the future as motivation to get you through the tough and difficult times. That's why over the next year, you will hear me talking about what I plan on doing when I get home, the trips I plan on taking my family on, and the goals I plan on accomplishing both long term and short.
Well, I hate to cut it so short but I need to get going. I am in desperate need of a shower and some sleep.
As always, I hope all is well, my thoughts are with each of you.
-Jimmy
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Here FINALLY!!!
Well, hello hello. I hope this finds everyone doing well and in good spirits. It's been a long road for us but we finally arrived here at our little FOB (Forward Operating Base) early early this morning, around 1 a.m. Have been here in Afghanistan since the 6th but it just took time getting to our final destination.
Today was spent with our counterparts who are EXTREMELY excited about getting out of here and heading back home to Texas. Have to tell you, i don't blame them. By years end, i'll be in there shoes training our replacements.
Alittle sad today though, it's my mother's birthday (Happy Birthday Mom), my 2 year anniversary is on the 17th and Brady's 1st year birthday is on the 29th....and here I am...stuck here. I'll be alright though...the thoughts of coming home at the end of the year warm my heart and keep me going.
Well, I have to get going, it's almost 9pm here and I need to get a much needed shower and some sleep.
Talk to y'all soon
-Jimmy
Today was spent with our counterparts who are EXTREMELY excited about getting out of here and heading back home to Texas. Have to tell you, i don't blame them. By years end, i'll be in there shoes training our replacements.
Alittle sad today though, it's my mother's birthday (Happy Birthday Mom), my 2 year anniversary is on the 17th and Brady's 1st year birthday is on the 29th....and here I am...stuck here. I'll be alright though...the thoughts of coming home at the end of the year warm my heart and keep me going.
Well, I have to get going, it's almost 9pm here and I need to get a much needed shower and some sleep.
Talk to y'all soon
-Jimmy
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Almost there!!
Greetings family and friends!!
Well, we are almost there, I am writing this to you from the country of Kyrgyzstan...think i'm spelling that right. We got here about midnight last night and are here on a TINY U.S. Airbase waiting on the C-17 that will take us into BAF (Bagram Air Field) which is outside of Kabul, Afghanistan. Not alot going on here, just waiting on transport and happy as heck to NOT be in Indiana. Temp here in kyrgyzstan is a balmy 7o degrees...not bad. The time here is 12 hours ahead of Texas time...so it's 2pm here and 2am back home. When we fly into Afghanistan, we'll drop an hour and a half.
Got a nice email from my Jill so that no doubt is the highlight of my day. The coolest thing ever was when we stopped in Iceland...we had a 2 hour stop there as we waited for them to fuel our bird. My good buddy Dave paid the airtime and the both of us where able to webcam back to the states to talk to our wives and kids. Jill was feeding Brady and was online, she turned the camera just right and when Brady caught site of me, he just started talking (babbling)...he was so happy to see me, as excited to see me as I was to see him. Sooo, in a Jimmy manner, I proceeded to make funny faces at him...well, well, that started him into hystarics...he would laugh and laugh. It was nice that even though I was thousands of miles away, that I was able to see him, hear him and to make him laugh, real time. It helped me alot, warmed my heart.
Well, I have to get going...more to follow.
-Jimmy
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