Chris deployment journal – April 08

25 Apr 08-Chris headed out this morning for Wisconsin for a month of training. He will be headed out to Iraq after that. As of 10 a.m. our time, he is waiting in Chicago for his connecting flight to Wisconsin. There are 4 of them traveling together and as they finished their lunch in the airport, they were waiting for the bill when the waitress approached them and pointed to a man across the way and told them that he had picked up their tab. It is so amazing when people respond to us in uniform that way. It’s the little things like that which makes us feel like we make a difference and people do really respect us for what we do.

Since Chris is not a chat/computer person, I will do my best to update here what I can that he tells me about his journey.

As of 1:30 p.m. our time, Chris made it to Wisconsin. They are really treating it like they’re in Iraq already. They are to be in uniform at all times, they’re living in Army barracks and that consists of an open bay with 14 people to each one. This is going to be very interesting for him not having lived that way since basic training 12 years ago so keep him in your thoughts. He will have his cell phone and be able to make calls the whole time he is there and he will try to find the computers on base today or tomorrow.

26 Apr 08-Chris finally got his luggage today thankfully because he had to march in the snow flurries this morning with no cold weather gear. This sure doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a fun experience for him. His classes are kind of sporadic so at least he gets some free time. He has a curfew there and everything. He did get his address today so for the next 4 weeks, you can send him mail at:

SSgt Christopher Naylor
602 TRG (P) Det 7 JSTO 08-3
1868 Regiment Avenue
Ft McCoy, WI 54656-5234

27 Apr 08-Chris sent me a picture of his tiny little space. Things will be like this for a while. He may have a little bit bigger space in Iraq but not much.

28 Apr 08-Today is Cody’s birthday and thankfully Chris was able to talk to him. We were also. I sent his mom an IM and asked her if he could call so the kids and I could wish him a happy birthday. Chris had most of the day off today and had training late in the day. They are doing training pretty sporadically. It isn’t making a whole lot of sense to me. He has to get up at 0500 for PT tomorrow and it has been snowing there so that is not going to be fun for him. He sounds like he’s in good spirits although it is very boring there.