Boogie 'til You Bounce

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18 Mar 96, Mon -- Olovske Luke

Saw SSG Ikner this morning. Shook hands goodbye. He wished me good luck and I told him, "Don't let them get you." The Scouts are good guys and SSG Ikner and SGT Smith are two of the best.

Pulled my two spare duffels (one nearly empty, the other full of snivel gear I never touched) from the trailer. Inventoried the two duffels I have the keys for, then packed away a bunch of gear. I put some care package stuff into the community food box. Then I prepared the hand receipts to sign the laptop, PRC-127s, night vision goggles and GPS over to CPT Fellinger.

I played "Hearts" and "Solitaire" for a few hours while I listened to tunes. Then I got really depressed. It would be interesting to see what my biorhythm would look like for the past week.

I'm not a tree-hugger by any means, but I am so angry that I can feel the heat spreading across my forehead. That is sick and cruel beyond words.

Good thing I stocked up on Bikini Babes bubble gum this afternoon. 2/68 Armor Strikes Again: They told the Muslim lady who runs the concession stand by the fuel point that she can't sell them anymore. That is just so stunningly inane that when CPT Fellinger told me that I had to ask him a half dozen times if he was bullshitting me. Aren't Muslims supposed to be stricter about this stuff than us decadent Americans? If it's okay for them, shouldn't it be okay for us? So, let me get this straight: We can't go out on the town, drink alcohol, look at boobs or avail ourselves of any of the other traditional military pleasures. Are we even allowed to kill anyone anymore? Oh wait, that's right. Killing is against the rules of engagement. Unless it is of innocent, defenseless animals. Jesus, I'm getting out of here at the right time ...

19 Mar 96, Tue -- Tuzla Main

Drove to Tuzla Main today to meet up with the other people returning to the States. Some have legitimate reasons -- seriously ill wives, civilian job problems, etc. Others are just excess. The fact is that there are far too many CA people in country. For example, before my team moved down here from the quarry, there were six CA teams covering the Zivinice area: One at the west end of the quarry with the 3/4 Cav; one at the north end of the quarry, in Visca, with the 30th Med; us in the middle of the quarry with the 47th FSB; one at the east end of the quarry, in Ðurðevik, with 16 CSG; and two teams with the MP brigade, at Tuzla West airfield, just north of Ðurðevik.

LTC Kilgariff gave me a letter of introduction to COL LaRue, the USACAPOC G-3.

I didn't bother breaking out my sleeping bag because it's too much hassle to roll up and store after only one night's sleep.

20 Mar 96, Wed -- Kaiserslautern, Germany

The GP medium tent we were staying in was heated by two kerosene stoves, but I froze anyway. Not out & out cold, but the sort of barely cold that makes one shake. I don't know what it is -- other than a perverse sense of tradition -- that makes me sleep in only a poncho liner the first night in new quarters.

We flew into Ramstein, AFB, Germany. It was the smoothest landing I've ever experienced. I didn't even know we had touched down -- I thought the plane was still gliding over the runway.

My step-brother Jonathan is stationed in Baumholder. He's not in Bosnia with the rest of the 1st AD because he is the NCOIC of range control. Since I was in the area we got together for dinner. Ute, my sister-in-law, served up a delicious meal of steak, fries, cucumber salad and ice cream. Jonathan and I soon got around to playing the ancient military game of "Do you know?" Except for a few years in SF, Jonathan was in Scouts most of his career. We actually knew some names in common, like SSG Ikner and SGT Smith.

I had bought four local brews, but could only finish two. I wasn't drunk, just dead tired. So, Jonathan took me back to Kaiserslautern.

21 Mar 96, Thu -- Ft. Bragg, NC

Slept again in only a poncho liner. For once I didn't freeze, but then the barracks were well-heated.

We arrived at Pope AFB about 1500. We sat on the tarmac for an hour while they figured out what to do with us. Usually if you have a static concentration of troops for more than a few minutes a roach coach will show up. I was hungry because I hadn't eaten in eight hours. (The Air Force provides excellent boxed lunches on overseas flights, but I ate mine quickly.) Finally we drove to Green Ramp. Lo, what did my eyes behold? A roach coach! Which I immediately made a beeline for. I love roach coach burritos anyway, but eating that one was near sexual ecstasy.

22 Mar 96, Fri -- Ft. Bragg, NC

Today is a training holiday, so the earliest we can begin out-processing is Monday. Some of the guys are pretty upset about that, but I am glad. The three-day weekend is an opportunity to get my uniform squared away, get my film developed, and call people to let them know that I am back.

24 Mar 96, Sun -- Ft. Bragg, NC

Ran alot of errands the last two days so I spent today relaxing. When I wasn't reading books or writing letters (146 since I was activated), I was napping. I would have napped even longer than I did, but I was so horney that I couldn't stay asleep.

25 Mar 96, Mon -- Ft. Bragg, NC

While some aspects of out-processing go quickly, filling out the travel vouchers is a pain in the ass. (It is no coincidence that it is immediately followed by a stress management class.) Finance actually makes you record every stop you made since you left home. As if you can remember that long ago and that many stops.

26 Mar 96, Tue -- Ft. Bragg, NC

More out-processing today. I checked on possibly getting a 90-day tour here, but the colonel in charge of such things didn't think there was anything available. I'll check again in the morning, but it looks like I'll be leaving tomorrow afternoon with everyone else.

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