My Dogs...

Recent Pic From Our Company's Patching Ceremony

Courage Living Up to Her Name...Hiding In a Corner

Dirty Getting a Night-Time Snack

Duty and I After a Hard Day's Work

Dear Friends,

I can't remember if I mentioned before that we have three dogs here at our base. Well, we do, and all the Soldiers here love them. They all three have very distinct personalities. Courage is the only female, and she does not live up to her name. She is very shy and skiddish until she warms up to you, but once she does she is very sweet. She looks almost like a yellow lab. Dirty lives up to his name. He is a scraggly looking dog always playing in the mud, but he has a great personality...energetic, funny, and super friendly. His name is definitely a term of endearment...everyone likes him...unless he sneaks into the cafeteria (which is the one place the commander forbids him to be). The third dog, and leader of the crew, is Duty. He is a burly-looking dog with a very protective demeanor. He goes out on foot patrols with the Soldiers and barks to keep civilians away. He's actually doing them a favor...making sure they don't walk where they aren't supposed to. Most here say that Duty is their favorite. I personally like all three. Overall, these dogs are a source of comfort and release for most of us here, but we're trying to figure out what to do with them after we leave...we'd hate for them to become "wild dogs".

Okay, so it is the Holiday season...which can make deployed life difficult for some. I am blessed to have family and friends back home sending me all sorts of Christmas cheer. Thank you so much for your support. Also, remember to not feel badly for me...I love my job. Most people can not honestly say that. Deployment continues to be a blessing for me as relationships grow, my faith is tested, and we continue to finish the work America is doing here. I will write again soon. Until then!

p.s. Kate, you can tell your brother that his video is hilarious...I think that someone once said that imitation is the ultimate praise...so Charlie...thank you.