This post represents a closing of our deployment to OIF 2008-2009. Before we left for Iraq the Battalion Commander publicly spoke about holding a memorial ceremony and adding a memorial paver stone at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville for those in 2-Panther who would die on the field of honor. That day happened last Saturday at the Hall of Heroes on Ft. Bragg because of inclement weather. Families and Battalion Leadership are shown in the first picture.
We also celebrated the end of the deployment with an All Ranks Ball that took place on Wednesday evening. The first two pictures were downloaded from the 82D, 3BCT FB page.
This morning I was blessed to have Kevin S. over for breakfast. We attended VFCC and ran Cross-country together. He just returned from Afghanistan. I'm incredibly honored to have Kevin as a friend since the early 90s. He is a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) in the 20th Special Forces Group. He's been serving as a long-tabber since his college days.
I told Kevin that I will be coming down on orders soon, moving to the other side of Ft. Bragg into USASOC. He said to me, "Welcome to the community." It should be an interesting change. I can also see the day that I welcome Kevin to the Chaplain Corps.
