Well its been a while since my last blog.  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  I've been busy with work around the house.  Not much going on at work yet.  Most of the company is on leave for the holidays and should be back on the 8th.  Our equipment is do in port on the 22nd so we'll be heading to Anchorage that week  to recover the aircraft.  I've finally adjusted to the time change and the cold weather.  I'm back to a regular sleep schedule also. 

 

Well thats the lastest in the past few weeks.

 

Have a Happy New Years.

Well everyone we made it back after 38 hours of travel with three layovers in Germany, Iceland, and Illinios.  After a very short welcome home ceremony we were finally reunited with our familys at 1730 Saturday Dec. 10th.  It's good to be back home and with the family.  I've been making up for a year of not spending money in the past week.  I treated myself to a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4.  I got an auto starter installed and next week getting the spray on rino liner put in the bed.  The weather has warmed up this weekend so I'm looking forward to hitting the trails with my four wheeler.  The offical welcome home ceremony will be within the first week of Feb.  We still have one more company to return which will be this weekend.

Well everyone I'm glad to say that our year long deployment has come to an end.  We lose our internet tomorrow 8 Dec so this will be my last blog during OIF 3. Let me start by saying thanks to everyone who supported us and the rest of the Armed Forces during this rotation.  The support we receive from back home keeps us going.  Second let me thank the crew chiefs  from A. Company 4-123 Avn for all the hard work that they did.  For those that don't know these guys were the hardest working soldiers in the Task Force.  They would work almost 14 hour days seven days a week.   If mission load permitted they would receive a day off.  To the pilots, what a great bunch of guys to work hand and hand with.  Some of us will be staying in Alaska, some moving on to a new duty stations, and some will be departing the army.  I just want to say it was a pleasure working with you and god speed to everyone that will be moving on once we arrive back home.  For those that will be stay in Alaska, we will be looking forward to new changes as a new aviation task force will be developing within the next couple of months.  As of right now I will be staying in Alaska till mid year of 2007.  Besides seeing and spending time with the family I can't wait to get back to the fishing and hunting.

 

Once again Thanks for everyone support and prayers.

 

This is CW2 Jim Arend siging out from Kuwait.

Today we made our last flight in Kuwait to bring the aircraft to the port.  It was a long day for 40 crew members who flew the 10 aircraft.  Civilian contractor were on hand awaiting our arrival to begin the blade folding process.  We are now down to 96 hours left in country.

Today draws the end of our mission.   4-123 Avn completed its year long mission and today at 1300 we passed the buck to 3-126 Avn.  The next couple of days will be spent preparing the aircraft for the customs inspection and our last flight in Kuwait to bring them to the sea port.

 

In total the Task Force flew over 10,000 hours, 2,000 missions, and 700 of those missions in to Iraq.  I'm glad to say without accident or incident.

Here is the news that everyone has been awaiting for.  Our departure date is Friday, December 9th at 2200.  Now that is the date for Alpha and Delta Company.  HHC and Bravo will be the next day on the 10th.

Well everyone here is the latest on our preparation for our return.  Our replacement have finally take full swing on the mission load.  Yesterday we started washing aircraft in preparation for the customs inspection.  Today all of our tricons and milvans with our personal items and our equipment were loaded up on flatbeds and hauled off to the port.  The transfer of authority is still set for the 3 Dec in which our battalion will no longer be responsible for aviation operations.  The aircraft will have their finally inspections and be flown to the port around 3-5 Dec.  There is still no word on the date in which we step on that plane and depart for Alaska.  A few of the guys that joined us mid way left last Sunday to return to Fort Bliss to turn their equipment.  Well thats the lastest.