Almost Home!

Well it looks like then end is drawing near.  Only 20 days till I ship back home and it can't come soon enough.  I've already begun packing up my belongings and throwing away excess stuff I've collected throughout the deployment.  Looking back over the entire deployment it has been both slow and fast.  The weeks and months seem to zip on by, but the end seemed like an eternity away.  Christmas was really hard.  However, I was able to spend the day via Skype with Kelli and my family as they opened their gifts.  Leave really helped a lot as well.  I've learned a lot about all of the communication systems in the Army, a knowledge gained that will slowly fade because I wont be using it ever again when I get back home.  I'm pure Infantry, but was put in as the Commo Chief for this deployment.  I was submitted for both the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal for out performing all Commo Sections in our Battalion, and out performing all other sections in our Company, at which all of these sections were lead by Staff Sergeants (E-6).  However, both of my awards were downgraded to Army Commendation Medals.  Speculation is because of my rank: Specialist (E-4).  When I get back home I'll only have 2 1/2 years left in the Army, and I can't wait until that countdown is completed.  I'm pretty excited to getting back home and returning to the normal life.  I love normal.  I'm planning on buying a truck when I get home and getting back to work for a short while until I start going to school at the beginning of next year.  Kelli has been staying very busy with Nursing School throughout this deployment.  She'll only have one semester left when I get home then she'll be working at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg.  We've been talking about starting a family in the near future and we both look forwards to having children.  Can't wait!