Well, I would LOVE to meet yall! Russell and I are talking about getting together here someday (hopefully soon!) and eating, visiting and possibly playing some horseshoes or something! We are really doing well compared to where we were in ’06. He’s come a long way baby! I do my best to support him through whatever he needs and hopefully doing a good job at it. Being a veteran’s wife is never easy, but it is a rewarding job that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world because I love that man with every ounce of my soul and truly appreciate my heroes who support and defend their country so that we all have the freedoms most in other countries can only dream of! If you’d like, you or your wife can email me and we can begin making plans to get everyone together soon. It will be a blast! I really do thank you, too, for the kind words and your bravery and sincerity to write them!

Joani,

After Afghanistan a VA counselor told me he thought I was suffering from depression, and he was probably right. I had a hard adjustment period after that deployment, and wound up having to change my work assignment in addition to speaking to counselors for several months. If you really see the war up close, it leaves a mark. Whether that mark is just temporary redness or a disfiguring, permanent scar depends on many different factors. Like Dale, I’m lucky to have a supportive wife who helped me when I needed it.

I hope Dale doesn’t blame himself for anything anymore. NOBODY was an expert at handling the situations he was in, we all just did our best. That’s something to be proud of.

Thank you, and I hope to meet you in person someday. I (and my wife, who read your comment also) truly appreciate your words.

Chris

Dale,

Brother, it’s good to hear that you’re well, and I admit I’m selfish enough to feel relieved at your words. This is something that’s eaten at me for seven years now, and after Afghanistan I really realized what guilt can do to a person. We have grown a lot since then, and even though I was 34 at the time I still look back and feel like I was a little kid about some things. I’ll bump you on FB in the next couple of days, looking forward to talking to you again.

Chris

No butt kicking required, we were all stressed over there. We all said and did stupid things. We all make mistakes and have to live with those. The trick is to not let them consume you. A whole lot easier to write that statement than to do it. Trust me! Your a great man, Chris, you were always considered a friend, even with harsh words that were said at the wrong time. I am sure that guy forgave you a long time ago. You I am sure weren’t the stressor. Those two events alone, scarred a lot more than a little ribbing. Take care brother!