Tuesday, September 06, 2005 2:21 PM
jfitzer
So Here We Are...
You might be asking yourself how a guitar player for a
Motley Crue tribute band ends up mobilized for a tour in Iraq...
Boy, am I ever so glad you asked that question! You see, long story short, when you sign up, you sign up for actually 8 years. After your active duty time, the remainder of your time is spent on the Individual Ready Reserve. As I joined in June of 2000, I'm still within that window.
So, I've been going to college, playing in a rockin' band, and generally enjoying the hell out of life. Sure, I'm broke and in debt, but I am thoroughly enjoying life right now.
As I'm sitting around Sunday, August 21st, I'm thinking it can't get too much better, right?
Then my stepfather calls. He has the now infamous Mailgram with a report date in Ft. Benning on October 2nd. Suddenly it seems things aren't so damn great anymore.
The first thing I KNEW I had to do:
Get drunk.
The SECOND thing I KNEW I had to do: call my mom.
Then comes a bunch of stuff. Arranging for storage of my stuff, selling my band's cargo van, and playing the last couple of shows with them, for a last hurrah.
Then comes the tying up of "loose ends." This was the worst, and most of it was done today. Working on the last will and testament, calling people I haven't heard from in forever, saying goodbye to friends and family, and the ever-difficult, oft-cliched confession of love... you know, that conversation that you avoid and ignore and avoid some more? Well... you can't ignore that conversation anymore if you're going to war, even if you know she's not into you like you are into her.
Goddamn... that was a difficult conversation...
Now is the time to transition from rock and roller to infantry soldier again. At one time, I was Spc. James Fitzer, 1st Platoon, Honor Guard Company, 3d United States Infantry Regiment, Ft. Myer VA. I was lean, mean, and dangerous. Now, i'm a jelly doughnut. It's time to get crackin, and make myself into the fighting man I used to be.
I'm ready to leave home for 15 months or so, fight a war, and come back home to continue conquering the rock and roll world. With my report date rapidly approaching, arrangements made, loose ends tied, I'm ready to go to war.
Time to get some...