This past week we got good news and not so good news about our son who is stationed in Afghanistan.

My mother called and told us that she signed for a package from the Army. (He uses her place as his mailing address.) I sent my wife over to pick up the envelope. In it was the certificate for the Army Commendation Medal that he earned this last December when his convoy was attacked by the suicide bomber. We figured that they presented the medal to him but was of Wednesday he did not have it yet.

What he did get was the bad news. He got his orders that extended his tour until some time in September. While it is only a few weeks longer it puts him back in the States after school has started. He has already missed a year and a half due to Army commitments now it will be a full 2 years. We are a bit disappointed but these things happen.

---

Well.....i KNOW it's hard for you. You just want him home and safe!
My prayers are STILL with him! (And you!)

---

Thanks Cheesey. I can't guarantee his safety anywhere. (He went to NIU the year of the shooting and he is going to U f I Chicago in the fall (maybe) and there was a shooting there is past year.

But it would be nice to let him get on with his life. Most of his HS friends have
grad from college. And I also will look forward to being able to call him on the phone or drive in and see him every once in a while.

---

Thats so true. Every year we hear stories of soldiers coming home, and something happens to them here. No one is really "safe" anymore.

---

Let him know we are thankful for his hard work

Yes Sir.

---

He might be a tad behind in comparative credit hours to his HS buddies, but he is exponentially ahead in life experience hours.

Maybe our society as a whole values those college credits, but personally...

David is so very far ahead of the rest of them it isn't even close.

Profoundly ahead.

My thoughts are with him and you as always.

I told him the same thing about a year ago. If I was the HR director I would value his credentials at 25 years old as being better than a 22 year old who just got out of college. The other thing is this is a tough job market to be out looking for employment. He is going into accounting and I am sure the big alphabet accounting firms do not have as many enter level positions as they have had in the past. Perhaps it will be better in 3 years.

---

WPR if you can watch the Brewer game tonight, I'm working on a surprise for your son. Hopefully i can do it :)

Also thank him for fighting for us.

---

I have Direct TV but they block out the Brewers and Cardinals games all the time.

I will check and see if they are on.

---