Excitement is the emotion of the week as my hubby counts down the days until he retires from the Army TODAY! It's definitely time! Just look at those cute 20-year-olds up in the top corner (88), followed by Dessert Storm (91), our time in Germany (90-94), Afghanistan (2003), promotion and return to active duty (2005), Iraq (2011), to his retirement pic (2019). I only took the bottom right corner pic, but these are all of our memories from the past 32 years. He's been an Army Reservist, ROTC cadet, active duty, Inactive Ready Reserve, Reservist again and Active Guard or Reserve (AGR) (he's never been in the National Guard, but I have). He has done 3 combat deployments, fighting the Iraqi Republican Guard in the biggest tank battle since WWII, mentoring the Afghan National Army, and closing down combat operations in Iraq. The two deployments to Iraq were 20 years apart and both earned him a Bronze Star. He has been ordinance, armor, an engineer, a trainer/instructor and an IT manager in the Army, and he's jumped out of a few perfectly good aircraft when he was younger. We had a military wedding almost 30 years ago, and he deployed to Desert Storm on our first wedding anniversary. While he missed our youngest son's first birthday and 5 of the first 10 years of his life, he never missed an anniversary after that first one. We have lived in WV, KY, Germany, IL, KS, IN, NH and NC (plus he's lived in MO, GA and TX without us). I have pinned on all of his rank from 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel (and I just realized I have photos from each rank, including ROTC cadet).
Here's hoping the next 30 years are less stressful with no more 3 a.m. phone calls. He starts his new job with AT&T July 1.
Congratulations to your husband and heartfelt thanks for his service. I hope he enjoys his new chapter in his life's book. I like this collage. It really tells the story of his career and his family's involvement.
Congratulations to your husband at this momentous time, plus congratulations to you for collating this wonderful collage telling a wonderful story, enjoy your retirement together, Fav:)
Wonderful collage and memoirs of your family and years of service. Please thank him for his service and best of luck with the new job. That sure is a lot of moving.
Congratulations and it looks like he made it to the top. Now time to enjoy life without any worries. Good luck to both. Btw. A great collage toshow almost a whole life of service for the country.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! It can't be said enough! I truly hope civilian life is a huge blessing and that your family will enjoy the shift in "gears". Praying for the best as the new job starts. Impressive collage and accomplishments!
June 6th, 2019
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