well,I'm still at Fort Lewis,and making the best of it.I've been assigned to a cav squadron here,but with a pending medical board,I've been given the job of serving as the squadron master driver-the NCO in charge of all driver training and testing,and an assistant to the unit's warrant officer in charge of vehicle maintenence.Not a bad job,and it's some useful work that I can do for the unit,while everything is pending.

I'm trying to get settled in,and so far,I'm getting fairly comfy.I'm staying in the barracks,which to an old warhorse such as myself,are'nt "barracks",which would be more along the lines of the dilapidated WW2 German Cavalry barracks I lived in as a young private back in the dark ages,but resembling more a college campus.The living conditions are good,and even though "old soldiers" have,through the ages,ALWAYS told the younger guys,that back in OUR day,things were totally horrible and primitive,I certainly don't begrudge these young soldiers the better conditions they have that I did'nt when I was in their shoes.Many of them will be putting their lives on the line in Iraq in the not too distant future,and deserve it.

I picked up a cheap car off of the post "lemon lot",where soldiers can put vehicles up for sale to other soldiers.It's a 1988 Volvo sedan-and I've always WANTED a Volvo,just could'nt ever AFFORD one before.I paid a grand for it,and it's in pretty fair shape,even if its not brand spanking new.I've never given a shit about having new vehicles anyway.

I ran into a kid who was in my unit in Iraq-in fact,he hails from my home county in Wisconsin.He was present at the last major IED strike against my unit,where several of my friends were killed.He said it was pretty fucked up.I'll spare all the gruesome details-those of you who've been in combat know them all too well.This kid had to put his mortally wounded best friend on a chopper to Balad,where surgeons battled desperately to save his life,but to no avail.He also told me that one of my fellow NCOs,killed in that attack,died quickly,and did'nt suufer.Thats something I guess.

So for now,I'm just waiting to see what happens next-the unit's PA thinks it unlikely the army will keep me on active duty-I'm game to remain for a few more years,if they can use me.I've been an old warhorse too long to just give it up that easily,but I have to accept the reality that I can't take these young soldiers out on patrol without undue risk to them,due to my medicall issues.But if the army has a place for me,I'll stay