My Blog

For you that didn't know I have been on a Deployment with the US Army since Mid July 2007. We started the deployment by going to Camp Atterburry Indiana from July until September of 2007 for all kinds of training, everything from the basics of throwing a grenade all the way to having to get sprayed with O.C. spray(Oleoresin Capsicum), which is a very very stong pepper spray, and then having to go through a course that involved hand to hand combat and using a baton.

Next we went to Germany from September to October. There we did more training on riot control and other scenarios that was to simulate the worst day ever imaginable. There were people being killed in combat (not for real), helicopters crashing, houses starting on fire, riots...etc. You name it and it probably happened! This place was rough on allot of people and called for long days, most being at least 12 hour days. At the end of it though we did get to go out for 2 days on pass and it couldn't have been better timing. Me, my Dad, and 2 other guys rented a car and went to Munich for Oktoberfest. If you ever get the chance to go, do it!

From Germany we came to Kosovo in early October. If you dont know where it is its located in Eastern Europe. Our mission is a peace keeping mission which is called KFOR (Kosovo Force). We are the 9th year that the US has been over here. Our time here has had its good time and had its bad times but all in all we have had a successful deployment thus far. We just had our replacements get here a couple of weeks ago (KFOR10) and have officially taken over. During out time spent here in Kosovo we have done allot with the people of our AO (area of operation) such as partake in sporting events, meeting with the War Veterans, hand out clothes to families in need, help with english class for the 7th and 8th graders, and just about anything we could do for people. We were also here when Kosovo declared Independence on February 17 2008. Everywhere you went there was sings saying Thank You USA, people want to take pictures of you and their kids, and just wanting to walk around with the soldiers. I am now down to less then 2 weeks until I get back home after the year long deployment. Everybody here has developed friendships with the public and soldier to soldier relationships have grown strong. I think most people are a little sad to leave Kosovo but excited at the same time to get back home to family and friends again.

I guess this is kind of my way of saying thank you to everybody who supported me and my guys throughout the last year. There was times that the support really helped. Thanks and good luck in the rest of your season!!

Michael Stuckey #027