Me: So you are Lima Platoon Commander from here on out? What's our communication going to be like, any idea?
Chris: Yeah I am a Lima Plt Commander from here on out. We should still have communication.
Me: As much as we do now? Doubtful
Chris: Yeah, true but it will make my deployment go by faster
Me: For you! Hahahaha
Chris: Yeah.
Somebody has a birthday coming up in about a month.
Me: Nice save! Hahahahahahaha.
Hahahaha – this conversation just makes me smile every time I read it =).
Looking for a translation/ wondering what exactly Lima Platoon (Plt) Commander means?
As you know, in civilian world, when a job position becomes vacant, an employer simply conducts an interview process and hires the right person for the job. Unlike civilian world, filling a vacant post within a Marine Corps Battalion is not always as cut and dry.
Case in Point: Although Chris is a rifleman/infantryman by trade (all Marines have a specialty), this deployment Chris has been in an operations command post = GREAT for my nerves, but not so great if you are an infantryman by trade.
However, as luck would have it, Mr. Infantryman has been given the opportunity to do what he LOVES (also what he did in Iraq last year) and he is now the Platoon (Plt) Commander for Lima Company! Ironically enough, he found out about this two days after his 8 year Anniversary of being in the Marine Corps (Chris was with a Marine Corps Reserve Unit while in college and deployed to Iraq as a PFC in 2003) !
When in Doubt Think Football: Instead of sitting on the sidelines and helping to coordinate the plays, he now gets to actually carry out the plays. For an infantryman, especially Chris, there is nothing better (other than his amazing wife of course =)).
S0, what about me, you ask? What are my thoughts and feelings? Well, to be quite frank (I am not sharing anything he does not already know), of course stock has gone up a bit in my nerves department, but Chris is getting to do what he wants and loves to do, therefore, I will be right here to support him. He is getting to do what makes him happy and I would never ask him to change any part of that. Not to mention, the Marine Corps was a part of his life before I was; I was well aware of what I was getting myself into =). I am super proud of him! When he is happy, I am happy and vice versa.
So what does this mean in general? Well, as with this entire deployment experience thus far, I don’t exactly know. It’s been and continues to be very different from last years deployment, but hey, we can all learn together =)!
Communication will likely be significantly more sporadic than it is now. Currently, we e-mail just about everyday, but now that he will be going "out and about" a lot more, I am fully preparing myself for that not to be the norm anymore. With that said, he thus far, has been able to give me fair warning when I won't hear from him for several days, so I at least expect it (does not mean I like it =)).
As if the mail is not taking long enough now, there is the probability that it will take even longer. His mailing address has changed, but before I give you the new address, please note that any packages sent to the H&S Company Address WILL be forwarded to him, they just may take a little longer. His new address:
1st Lieutenant Patrick Christian Parks
3/7 L CO
Unit 41590
FPO AP 96427-1590
As far as what to send? Nothing new really - coffee and tobacco products are the same hot items as always. Although Chris likes his coffee black, apparently the sugar packets and powdered creamer I sent were a hit with the other Marines (just a suggestion). Chris will of course continue to distribute and share everything sent to him accordingly!
Needless to say it’s been an eventful past few days and the month of May flew by! The good news (in addition to Chris becoming a Plt Commander again) 2 months down, 5 to go!
***Pictures from Top to Bottom: Chris with his Platoon last year in Iraq. Chris at TBS (The Basic School) with a M19 Grenade Launcher. Me at TBS Family Day, with a SMAW aka a Rocket Launcher. Chris at the TBS Rifle Range.***
***Hoping to have more recent pictures soon. Chris has his camera and is taking pictures, but the USB port on his computer does not want to work =(***
Two things:
ReplyDelete* I hope his men know how blessed they are to have him.
* I hope he knows how blessed he is to have you.
I'm praying, hard, for both of you.
Mom asks about you and Chris ALL of the time. We are getting ready to send some gooooood care packages that way. We're using your old posts for guidance. You are so supportive of Chris. I really can't get over you two. The example you set is overwhelming. Love you and MISS YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteBarb,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is amazing. You are such an inspiring service wife. I know it is tough, but I respect your willingness to accept the changes in Chris's plan. As a veteran military wife, I understand the difficulty of unexpected change and the excitment of new opporunitities. I hope to get a package off to Chris's men soon. Thanks for keeping up on this for the rest of us!
Much Love, Tiff :)