Desert Training Updated

Brian did send me this photo, but it was not taken in CA.

I spoke with Brian on the phone last night on the last call he could make before going into the field this morning, for two weeks. Everything was packed; tanks and jeeps were in line. They were to sleep through the night, wake up, wrap up sleeping bags, fold up cots, and to hit the road within minutes. Or hit the sand, or whatever there is in the desert to hit.

We talked about the weather: Still cold there, but a little warmer than the 12 degrees that welcomed him. He had guard duty one night, midnight to 4 a.m., atop a windy tower. He arrived and warned his comrades "I'm going to be doing a lot of complaining tonight." He couldn't feel his feet by the time his shift was over, he said.

In the middle of our conversation, he asked me to wait, stay on the phone, "I have to do 25 pushups. hold on." I waited on the phone, listening to counting and muffled conversation, understanding only, "why am I pushing, sir?" When got back on the phone, I asked him "why were you pushing?" [heh, I got army lingo.] The commanding officer said "tell ya later."

Hot meals are served in the morning and in the evening. They are eaten outdoors, standing up, plates on a table around a post. By the time you run for coffee or juice, he said, the meal is cold. Lunch is an MRE.

I'm not sure, exactly, what he's learning out there, but he did drive a tank this week, and said that was kinda fun.

He asked me to look up the forecast for him, tell him the current temperature.

And he needed one more favor.

Sure, hon. Anything.

He directed me to a website, and had me read a few lines to him, while he took notes

It's so heartwarming, knowing what inspires our boys in times of duress. Here's where he sent me.