opposite to face his enemy head on. I broke right along with him.”
“And?” I am enthralled.
“He won, they lost.”
“How?”
“That is the Colonel’s story.” He grins at me.
I can only sigh.
That afternoon as the glue is drying on my model, I go to the phone exchange to make a couple calls. First is home, and I wake mom and dad up, I knew I would, but it’s been my first opportunity, well almost anyhow.
“You call us anytime baby, don’t apologize! And call collect from now on, it’s an order Lieutenant!” Dad chastises me for apologizing.
“Yes sir General big daddy.” I tease him.
“I love you baby.” He responds. “So tell me about it so far Steph.”
“I haven’t flown any missions yet, we just got here. I think the base is pretty nice, and they do have very heavy security, so don’t worry. I am deep in the green zone.”
“Good, that’s to be expected.”
“I am going to be flying combat missions as I had volunteered for dad, and I’m a bit nervous there.”
“You should be. Is your wing leader any good?”
“Major Hoyt is really good actually dad. He’s beyond my skill and knowledge yet.”
“Good, pay attention to every damn thing he says, closely baby.”
“I will daddy. They all have me under their wings here, and think of me like their kid sister, I swear.”
“Well you are not my kid sister, you are my baby girl!”
“I always have been, and always will be your baby, daddy. That makes me so proud, you know that right?”
“I know precious.”
Mom talks to me for a good while, and she’s a mess, I can hear it the whole time. I promise her I will be alright, and then give them my APO address so they can send me mail. After a tearful goodbye, I decide to call Debbie’s mom next, and give her my address here, so maybe Debbie will write.
That night, as I drift off to sleep, I wonder what the next day will bring here in Bagdad, and with the war I am now a part of. My dream is of soaring through the clouds fast, as I often do. I’m rousted awake with the call to report in full flight gear for briefing. I look at my aviators watch that dad had given upon graduation from the Academy, and see that it is oh five hundred hours local Bagdad time. Then I hurry to get my suit on with my side-arm, and take my flight bag and helmet with me.
The Colonel and Major are at the lectern up front, as we all file in and take seats.
“Today we will fly two sorties of three flights each. We are to take station south above An Najaf at thirty thousand, and be on call for direct support strikes. The Army is pushing into Anbar province and we are there to assist if needed. Two, and twelve, plus nine and ten, and seven and eight are the first sortie, and I’ll lead the rest in the afternoon. Weapons on each bird are two-one thousand pound GPS guided bombs. Drop altitude will be twenty thousand for any strikes.”
Immediately I wonder about any air to air missiles, and the Colonel looks at me and seems to read my mind. “We are not carrying any air to air ordinance, as there will not be any air targets encountered, guaranteed. Your digital maps have all been uploaded for the theater, remember we are on a purely strike mission for your personal settings, and uploads. Any questions?”
Captain Hanford pipes up loudly, “I’m expecting my new bedroom furniture to be delivered today Colonel, could you have someone sign for it, for me?”
“I’m afraid it will be returned to sender Captain, that’s a shame.” He grins.
“Oh, that is. It was such a lovely looking set, on line anyhow. Damn, how am I ever expected to entertain like this, really?” She teases with great effect as the guys all crack up.
“Okay, Major Hoyt, get your sortie in the air.”
The Major calls out, “Seven, eight, nine, ten, and twelve; you are with me. Let’s get going.”
I am on the Major’s wing at
“And?” I am enthralled.
“He won, they lost.”
“How?”
“That is the Colonel’s story.” He grins at me.
I can only sigh.
That afternoon as the glue is drying on my model, I go to the phone exchange to make a couple calls. First is home, and I wake mom and dad up, I knew I would, but it’s been my first opportunity, well almost anyhow.
“You call us anytime baby, don’t apologize! And call collect from now on, it’s an order Lieutenant!” Dad chastises me for apologizing.
“Yes sir General big daddy.” I tease him.
“I love you baby.” He responds. “So tell me about it so far Steph.”
“I haven’t flown any missions yet, we just got here. I think the base is pretty nice, and they do have very heavy security, so don’t worry. I am deep in the green zone.”
“Good, that’s to be expected.”
“I am going to be flying combat missions as I had volunteered for dad, and I’m a bit nervous there.”
“You should be. Is your wing leader any good?”
“Major Hoyt is really good actually dad. He’s beyond my skill and knowledge yet.”
“Good, pay attention to every damn thing he says, closely baby.”
“I will daddy. They all have me under their wings here, and think of me like their kid sister, I swear.”
“Well you are not my kid sister, you are my baby girl!”
“I always have been, and always will be your baby, daddy. That makes me so proud, you know that right?”
“I know precious.”
Mom talks to me for a good while, and she’s a mess, I can hear it the whole time. I promise her I will be alright, and then give them my APO address so they can send me mail. After a tearful goodbye, I decide to call Debbie’s mom next, and give her my address here, so maybe Debbie will write.
That night, as I drift off to sleep, I wonder what the next day will bring here in Bagdad, and with the war I am now a part of. My dream is of soaring through the clouds fast, as I often do. I’m rousted awake with the call to report in full flight gear for briefing. I look at my aviators watch that dad had given upon graduation from the Academy, and see that it is oh five hundred hours local Bagdad time. Then I hurry to get my suit on with my side-arm, and take my flight bag and helmet with me.
The Colonel and Major are at the lectern up front, as we all file in and take seats.
“Today we will fly two sorties of three flights each. We are to take station south above An Najaf at thirty thousand, and be on call for direct support strikes. The Army is pushing into Anbar province and we are there to assist if needed. Two, and twelve, plus nine and ten, and seven and eight are the first sortie, and I’ll lead the rest in the afternoon. Weapons on each bird are two-one thousand pound GPS guided bombs. Drop altitude will be twenty thousand for any strikes.”
Immediately I wonder about any air to air missiles, and the Colonel looks at me and seems to read my mind. “We are not carrying any air to air ordinance, as there will not be any air targets encountered, guaranteed. Your digital maps have all been uploaded for the theater, remember we are on a purely strike mission for your personal settings, and uploads. Any questions?”
Captain Hanford pipes up loudly, “I’m expecting my new bedroom furniture to be delivered today Colonel, could you have someone sign for it, for me?”
“I’m afraid it will be returned to sender Captain, that’s a shame.” He grins.
“Oh, that is. It was such a lovely looking set, on line anyhow. Damn, how am I ever expected to entertain like this, really?” She teases with great effect as the guys all crack up.
“Okay, Major Hoyt, get your sortie in the air.”
The Major calls out, “Seven, eight, nine, ten, and twelve; you are with me. Let’s get going.”
I am on the Major’s wing at
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