Very Jane

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Whats new...

Its been a couple of days since my last post and not much has changed.  I have been on a couple of patrols since the first one and they keep getting better. I am having a blast in Afghanistan, I love how I can finally do my job! I got wireless in my room finally but the crappy thing is for some reason I cant get on to blogger or google so im still using the MWR to post stuff on here.  I have taken a lot of pictures but for some reason my cord that hooks up to my camera stopped working so if someone would like to send a care package with a usb/sd card reader that would be amazing! Well back to work hope everything is great in the States.  Also today is Roses birthday so I just want to say happy birthday to her!!!!


A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....
Danny

WOW....

Well today I started out my morning by going out on my first dismounted (walking) patrol. This was going to be my first time off the COP.  I was really excited because this is what I have been training for.  So we left and we started walking and its rocky hills to the left and right of me and lots of dirt. I was a little sad at first cause I wanted to see the Arghandab River and the orchards and things like that.  not 5 minutes later we get to the top of this little hill and BAM I looking over the Arghandab River Vally, It was gorgeous.  I didn't take my camera out with me on this mission because i wanted to get the feel of going out on patrol.  I will definitely take my camera next time!!  Once we go to the village we were going to we meet a local.  He started talking to the patrol and he invited us to come to his home for some Chi tea.  At this point i was super excited I actually got to go into a locals home and drink Chi with him...pretty cool.  After that we walked back to the COP and that was that.  I should be getting my wifi in my room tomorrow so i will hopefully most pics in the next day or so.

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....
Danny

Afghanistan....

Sorry I haven't posted in along time.  I have been either busy or no where near a computer or when i was on a computer it was not up to date and I couldn't get on this website, anyways I have finally made it to my final destination in the Argandab River Valley.  This place is beautiful.  I will definitely be posting pics once i get the wifi they offer out here.  I arrived by helicopter last night which was freaking awesome! I have a bucket list of things i really wanted to do in the army and fly in a helicopter was number one.  I arrived late at night and charlie was right there at the LZ to meet me so that was nice.  He showed me my room and I got to work setting it up.  I went to bed at around 0100.  I woke up at 6 and walked around the COP.  It was the first time i really got to see Afghanistan because at KAF it looked just like NTC.  But i saw the horizon and it was beautiful.  There are pomegranate orchards right next to the cop and they are so green! Im surrounded by hills that look like my parents back yard in PHX.  My breath was taken way by how beautiful this country was.  On the COP there is a war torn building that use to be a school and it is really cool to walk through the ruins.  I really cant wait to post the pics of this place its really cool.  after my walk around the cop i meet up with charlie for breakfast and after that we went straight to work.  We stayed at work till about 2200 and then hit the gym to get our swole on=) Charlie broke me off.  Rose your hubby is going to be so ripped when he gets home!!! After that I got to call Rose and talk to her which was amazing.  Other than that nothing much happened.  I got my address today so if you want it email me at danieleverhard@gmail.com and ill send it to you.


A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....
 Danny

Veni Vidi Vici.....

I FINALLY SLEPT!!!!!!!!!!! this is all=) I am trying to post pics for you guys but for some reason it is not letting me so I will be trying!!!

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....

Danny

Travel....

Not going to lie it has been a very long past couple of days.  Traveling to the complete opposite side of the world takes a tole on your body.  Dad I dont know how you do this so much.  Well I have successfully made it to Manas Kyrgyzstan. I should be here a couple days and then move on to Afghanistan.  Nothing much has happened besides traveling so sorry its a short post to day. 

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....

Danny

Today Is The Day....

Today is the day that my Adventure starts.   Today is the day why this blog was created.  Today is the day that my family is not looking forward to.  Today is the day I finally start doing my job after two and half years of training. Today is the day that I leave the wonderful Unites States of America.  Today is the day I have to say goodbye to my precious innocent son.  Today is the day that I have to say goodbye to my best friend in the world....my wife.

Rose and I were sitting in bed the other night and she looked at me and quoted one of the smartest and intelligent man I have ever meet, "Danny when you are in Afghanistan I want you to Remember Who You Are....Come home to me and Dylan."  For those of you who don't know my father, well I am sorry he is a pretty rad dude, but he is famous for telling me that.  My dad told me that the night i picked Rose up on our blind date, he told me that on my wedding day, and he told me that when I saw him in March.  And to be honest out of all my training I have had in the Army those 4 little words are probably the greatest lesson and the thing I am going to get me through this deployment.

Family and Friends this is it.  Thank You for all of your support and prayers I cant wait to see you all when I get back!!!  Rose and Dylan I love you more than words can describe.

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....

Danny

Rainy Day....

Well folks its almost time the big day.... I went into work this morning to drop my bags, that was fun.  Well not really fun but it was part of the process.  Ran into a little problem i was trying to lock my duffel bag but my lock wouldn't fit through the ring so I had to stretch the loop out so my lock would fit.  Other than that nothing much happened at bag drop.

Then I went back home and Rose and I decided that we where going to go to the Seattle Aquarium on my last day.  We decided this as we put Dylan down for a nap so we said we would go after he woke up.  Well then the weather got really bad and so we decided that we didn't want to drive all the way up to Seattle in it so we ended up just staying at home watching movies.  I also remembered today that I am suppose to start taking my malaria prevention pills so that was fun! I have heard some crazy things about these pills. The Staff Sergeant that sat next to me during bag drop this morning said the last time he took them they gave him extremely bad nightmares!  So we will see what happens.  Well Rose, Dylan and I are of to the RAM for dinner with our friends the Petersons.  Tomorrow is the day so I will keep you all posted!

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....
Danny

Time....

Well as of Friday my time table has changed yet again!  So this will be my last weekend with Dylan and Rose for sure.  At least I think I am sure=)  Today Rose, Dylan and I went to the Olympia Farms market.  It was a good time. It turned out that today was the Saint Martins College Dragon Boat Festival in the Olympia Harbor, so we got to watch some boat races and enjoy the beautiful plants that the farmers market had to offer=).  Yesterday was a pretty good day too, Dylan and I got to spend the whole day together and that was just the most amazing friday I have had in a very very long time.  Dylan made my day yesterday, when I was feeding him breakfast he pointed at me and said DADA, man does my boy know how to make his father teary eyed.  After that we went out and did some shopping. Dylan and I stopped at a jewelry store to see if they could help me attach the cross my father wore on his dog tags during his tour in Iraq to my dog tags.  They were very friendly and more than happy to help me. Once they got it on there I asked them how much I owed them, they told me it was there honor to help me out and told me it was free.  I was so surprised.  I dont really expect that stuff anymore seeing how we live in washington  they are a bunch of hippies up here but it really made my dad knowing people still appreciate all the things us soldiers do for this country.  So if you are from the lacey area or you are going to visit up here and you need some jewelry go check out G.L Kluh jewelers in the south sound shopping center. Yesterday I also got to make some phone calls, one to my best friend Ben which is always great to talk to and also to one of my favorite cousins Mallory who is the most out spoken person I have ever meet but she always helps me through things which is great.  Well I hope everyone had an amazing week and weekend as I had and am having.


A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....

Danny

Roller Coaster Known As The Army....

If you know anything about the Army you know there word means nothing! Unless you have it in writing dont believe a word they tell you.  As of know my deployment date as been pushed to the right again! So i get another week with Dylan and Rose which is great but I feel like my emotions on a roller coaster.  Im ready to go and I get into that zone and they tell me nope wait your not going for another week.  So i have to get out of that zone of getting my mission done and now back to family mode.  But at the end of the day I am so happy I am able to sit here and watch Dylan play.  So I will quit my bitching and go enjoy my boy for another day=)

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....

Danny

Almost there....

Today my team leader ( Charlie ) and my team mate Danny left for Afghanistan,  I'm kinda pissed I am not with them today but I know Ill meet up with them in a week or so.  So they left and now we only have like 7 people left from our platoon. So you can say we are not doing much at work but at times we are.  Now let me tell you about last night.  Last night I cooked my final Italian dinner here in the United States.  I posted that on Facebook and I think people took it as I was leaving today but rest assured  Im still here in Washington.  Back to dinner, Yes I made dinner=) Rose and I had two of our neighbors and there kids over last night.  I had made a cheese platter with three different types of cheeses and a spinach dip for a pre meal appetizer.   The meals actual appetizer was bruschetta.  I made it a little different yesterday though, instead of mozzarella cheese i used extra sharp provolone and man was it delicious!! Rose preferred the old way but i told her it was good to get cultured in different things=).  The main course was Penne Alla Arrabiata.  Man was it good!! I sure am going to miss cooking not really the clean up but i will miss the cooking=).  Thats it for today going to enjoy the precious days I have left with Rose and Dylan.


A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....
Danny

Waiting Game....

Sorry I havent been on in a couple of days nothing really exciting or note worthy is happening.  Im just spending as much time with Rose and Dylan as I can before I leave in a couple of days.  Hopefully Ill have more details for you later on this week.


A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....

Danny

Glass Case of Emotions....

My emotions went through a roller coaster today.... I have been preparing for this deployment since 2009 when I joined the Army, and since the beginning of this year my deployment date has changed daily. Today was no different, when I got to work today my platoon sergeant decided to tell me I was going to leave on 4 flights earlier than I was suppose to. I was so happy! I know it meant i was going to leave pretty soon but the way I look at it is the sooner I leave the sooner I get home and out of the Army. Well I called Rose and told her the news she was pretty calm about it which is amazing because she is the calmest and most level headed person I have ever meet so i know she would take the news well. But go figure typical Army no more than 45 minutes later I got told I was off that flight and back on my original flight. I had to call Rose again and tell her nope I am not leaving on that flight Im back on my original flight. I know I should be use to the constant changes but to be honest I just really want to leave and get this journey started, I feel like Rose, Dylan, and I are just in a very long lingering goodbye and that is really hard. But at the same time I love all the extra time with my family.

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier....

Danny

D-Day is drawing near....

Well today was not very exciting... went in earlier than normal because I was suppose to go through a driving course that I have now done three times! That lasted about an hour and they figured out that I did not need to do it so the platoon called me back for a lay out of our bags we are taking with us. I was a little nervous because I had a lot of stuff and I was not sure how it was all going to fit because they unit gave us a black pelican case for our lap tops and personal things as a carry on. But this weekend they decided to tell us that we could not have a carry on. If you know me you know I love photography and my camera goes with me along with my laptop so I was in the dilemma on where to put my pelican case. Luckily my buddy Danny showed me how to get it in my ruck sack by putting it inside my IoTV. Yes its funny his name is Danny too! You will probably see an read about Danny a lot seeing how he is on my team. Any who I included this picture of the lay out and then what it looked like after I packed it. Also there is a picture of Dylan trying to climb on me while I am typing this! Well Im off to go play with Dylan!

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier.....

Danny

Before I Go....

While sitting on my couch after putting my son to bed and watching my wife put together her new sewing machine I got this idea that I should blog about my experience over in Afghanistan. Well to be completely honest it wasn't the first time I thought of doing something like this. When I was in basic training I read a book about a soldier that has the same job as I do and I thought the dude sounded and acted like a little girl and wrote a horrible book. At that moment I thought I should write a book about my army experience. Well I started jotting down things every time I went to Yakima. Then when my unit went to NTC (national training center) at Fort Irwin, California I kept a journal the whole time. Well i was going to do the same but I know my self and I doubt i would be able to write stuff down and save it the whole deployment so I thought a blog would be better. Also now that the deployment is nearing i have been trying to figure out how I am going to keep my family and friends up to date on whats going on during the 9 months that I am gone and this blog seemed the best way. So I will keep this up to date as much as I can from now till I leave and as much as possible when I am over there!

A Soldiers Son Turned Soldier......

Danny