Honoring the California Fallen

Marine Sergeant William C. Stacey, 23, of Redding, CA, was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. SGT Stacey died in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

News: 76th ERQS flies so that others may live

Click on the picture to read an article that was recently published about what the mission I am a part of is all about.

Yes, that is me on the right of the picture. And yes, those litters with the patient and all our equipment are incredibly heavy!

A New Hobby

While was at FOB Sharana, I spent a lot of my down time at work hanging out with 1SG Jovana Meyer. She is with one of the Apache Companies. She had ordered a mandolin and was learning how to play. She let me pick it up a little and learn a chord or two and I was hooked. So of course I ordered one for myself and had it shipped here to Camp Bastion.

My poor roommates!!!! Thankfully they are enjoying the four chords I can play!

Watching Team USA in AFG

Got up a little earlier than usual to watch the US Women's National Soccer Team take on Mexico in the Olympic Qualifying CONCACAF tournament in Vancouver. Missed the end to go to work but enjoyed getting to watch what I could!

Rooting for the home team while away from home!!!

USA 4 : MEX 0 And a hat trick for Carli Lloyd! Well played!

A New Link

I am humbled by the memory those that have made the ultimate sacrifice while deployed. I have chosen to honor those lost during my deployments in the past by listing their names on the bottom of my blog. Sadly, the list is growing too large. Instead of taking their names off completely, I have created a link to another blog where I will be posting their pictures and their names. Click this image to see the new link.

I choose not to forget.

I choose to honor their sacrifice.

Snow Angels

Because we fly all over Afghanistan, we can see a lot of different weather in the same flight. Today's treat was snow! Usually when we land at our sites the runways have been cleared out along with the aircraft parking. The snow-covered mountains often make a beautiful image but the ability to play in fresh snow is often already gone. Not so today at one of our stops. I took advantage of the gloriousness of the clean fresh snow to make an Afghanistan Snow Angel!

Honoring the California Fallen

Marine Corporal Christopher G. Singer, 23, of Temecula, CA, was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA. CPL Singer died in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

Rare Honesty

A rare moment of honesty...

I don't publish what is really going on in my life. I can't. In part because of the permanent gag order that all US Service Members are placed under when we voluntarily join but also because what I see and do is painful. It hurts physically, mentally, and emotionally.

This month has been rough. There is a lot of suffering in Afghanistan and I have spent the last 7 months seeing it first hand. The realization that I may only get today to say "thank you" or "i love you" sinks in deeper and deeper with each passing day. Before going to bed every night I look at a website (http://www.militarytimes.com/valor/) that lists the names and pictures of our Fallen Heroes. I don't want to ever forget why I am here. I am here for them. I am here our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen who risk their lives everyday to help free a people of land mines in their farm fields and improvised explosive devices in their roads. I am here to get our Service Members home. It can at times be a overwhelming responsibility.


Today, I had an opportunity to smile. My effort to encourage someone else has come back to encourage me. Before moving to Camp Bastion in the Helmand Province, I flew some flags while on mission with the 82nd Airborne's Dustoff to say thank you and to encourage. Pay it forward, see how it can make your day as well.

Click the picture to see where one of my flags ended up.

I Cannot, I Will Not

Their uniform might not be the same as mine.

But there is a patch that places a U.S. just before their branch designation.

These are my brothers and sisters in arms.

I am here for them.

I am here for their families at home.

I am here to do everything I can to get them home to their families.

They have placed their trust in me.

I cannot, I will not fail them.

The Little Things

It is the little things that can make your day!

I got a bear in my hot chocolate today!

Staying Warm

CPT Kevin Copley, far left, is the other Critical Care Nurse here with me at Fever Medevac in the Helmand Province Afghanistan. Because our job is so amazingly draining on so many different levels, we have become pretty good at finding ways to let off some steam. Today while burning some of our trash we decided to take advantage of the warm of the fire as it has been pretty chilly here (okay, I know, AK is way colder) and share in some laughs. It really has become the little things that help us make it through the rough days.

Awe, the Food

Maybe my sister is doing it right...

Read the label...

Explains why we have nights like this!

A Break In Flight

A view from the back of the plane as we take a break in flight between patient transfers. When we launch on long flights (sometimes we are gone for 12+ hours) we have learned to take a break when we can.

Honoring the California Fallen

Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Chad R. Regelin, 24, of Cottonwood, CA, was assigned to Marine Special Operations Company Bravo and was stationed at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, CA. T1C Regelin died in the Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.