Destination -- Cradle of Civilization

Hello! Welcome to my blog "Pilgrim in the Cradle." This will be my first foray into the blog sphere. I have just embarked on my second voluntary deployment to Iraq as part of my work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Public Affairs Specialist. Ask any PA and they will tell you they have one of the best jobs in the world. We get to learn about all the cool stuff our organizations do and the great people that make up those organizations and then tell others about them. Working in Public Affairs also requires you to gain an understanding of the programs and inner workings of an organization. Sometimes if you work in one area (such as the left-threaded wing nut department) that may be all an individual knows about -- their particular specialty. Well, my job is about getting to know a little bit about a lot of stuff. Not necessarily being the subject matter expert but able to paint an accurate picture and get folks (mainly media) talking to the experts.

So, what am I doing in Iraq...voluntarily...a second time? A very specific series of events happened that led me to this decision...a fellow PA (Mrs. DeDe Cordell), whom I respect greatly, asked me to join her team here in the Corps' Gulf Region Division in Baghdad; plus good timing, and most importantly the scriptural and spiritual confirmation that this is the Lord's will for my life, which gives me confidence and security.

It has been 4 years since my last deployment to Iraq. I deployed in November 2004 to the Gulf Region North District Headquarters, at the time located in Mosul, Iraq. I stayed for 4.5 months. This time I am in Baghdad and will be staying for 6 months.

Today is only my third day in Iraq so I am in the process of getting acclimated and doing all my in-processing. I am excited to be here and looking forward to the mission, but I am very aware of my surroundings and where I am (a dangerous place where thousands of our brave men and women have died since 2003 and thousands more have been injured). I am in awe of their service and self-sacrifice. While I do not wear a uniform as a military service member (Soldier, Marine, Airman, Sailor), I do get a lot of satisfaction from working as a Department of Army civilian and I guess this is my small way of serving and contributing.

My deployment began at the Army Corps of Engineers' Deployment Center in Winchester, Virginia on November 9. My husband Tom came out and spent the week with me. We take self portraits...been doing them since we started dating in 2001. Here is one we took when I was wearing my uniform.














While in Virginia we had a chance to see my sister Kelly, her husband Michael and my niece Grace. Below is a picture of the girls hanging out on Warrenton, Virginia's main street after having dinner at a local pub.



















I left Virginia on November 14 and flew to Kuwait on a 12 hour non-stop flight. Below is a picture of me in Kuwait on the 16th awaiting military transportation (U.S. Air Force C-17) into Iraq.














The Middle East is the birth place of many things that make up modern day civilization. Things we have the people of this region to thank include models of government, written language, mathematics, astronomy, organized religion, and legal codes. Ever heard of the Code of Hammurabi?

This should be an incredible adventure and I'm glad you are along for the journey.