Ryan and Christy's Place

Glad to hear things are going well. My husband is in the 278th. I've been following your blog from the beginning. I was just wondering, I've heard different rumors as to when you will all be back at Shelby. Is there a date yet? I've heard that you will get 48 hours off when you get beck and i want to make sure i can get a room. Thank you!! If you need my e-mail address to give the info, just let me know

Hey Ryan,
Glad to hear from you....yes it seems like the end our all of our journeys with the 278th deployment are coming to an end but when....It has not been easy for any of us and you are all always in my thoughts and prayers as my soldier is part of the 278th as well. The rumors are wide spread and rampid....I've heard that you all will be on lock-down when you get back to Shelby and will be out-processed/re-deployed in no more then 9 days. I've heard you'll be home every date from tomorrow to Halloween to Thanksgiving and anything in between. I've heard that the smaller platoons and companies wil out-process first and quicker and that the whole process for the 278th will be staggered. I've heard that your replacements are in Kuwait and due to arrive any moment and that within a months time of their arrival you all will be outta there...It's hard to hear all of this and still not know what's what and I can only imagine how much more difficult it is for all of you in the heat, dust, and growing feelings of homesickness and yearning for your loved ones and as you say, the simple things. Even though we know that there is light at the end of this tunnel, none of us seems to know when or how and it's so nerve racking and almost worse then when you all first went over there. The days drag on this side too and I often wonder if I can get through one more day, week, night, month, holiday, sunset...alone. Somehow I do. As I have no contact what-so-ever with an FGR group(our platoon is not from Tenn. but attached and very lax about this stuff), I don't know squat about the details at all. Any and all information you CAN share with us would be appreciated I am certain. I still worry just as much today as the first day you all arrived in the sandbox about your physical and mental safety and health...the empty pit feeling in my stomach has never gone away and even though I know that my soldier is well trained, competent and experienced now, each and every mission brings me to days and nights of nausea and sleepless, countless hours until I hear their voice again or get an e-mail saying that they are safely back on the FOB(which I don't think is 100% safe either). I guess that's quite enough from me and I will close and say thank you so much for what you are doing for our country.
God Bless and be as safe as you can be.

Ryan - Being bored in a war zone is definitely a good thing, just don't get complacent. I know what you mean, though.

LA (and others) - I was in the unit that the 278th replaced in December. We had all the same rumors and such a year ago while we were hoping to hear when our tour might end (well, ok, we thought we were gonna be there until Feb 05 so the rumors didn't hit high gear until October 04). I know how hard it is, but you have to keep flexible. Expect there to be delays and disappointments. And of course, OPSEC will require that the soldiers keep exact dates and timeframes to themselves as much as possible. Our commander only told us we should expect to be home by the super bowl (as opposed to 'on january Xth'). Hang in there!

Hey, Ryan ...WOW...although I've thought of your "home away from home" as really humble, I'm so glad to see you are able to be cooking and serving steaks.
YOU SO DESERVE to be eating GOOD FOOD, and I'm guessing that's getting close, huh?
Thanks for sharing your new photos.
Impressive that you could connect with an Iraqi artist to create an oil painting of your wedding portrait. That's unique and wonderful...just like you and Christy!
The lake photos are eerie...as I'm sure the sight of it is, surrounded by desert. Is it nearby in your area?
And, Mrs. Seals...your lite brite art project is very cool...:):)
Of course, the favorite pic for me is Ryan on the web cam! I've wondered what he looks like to Christy when she has dates with her hubby...
and of course there's the handsome smiling face of the Ryan we all love!
Best to you both and lots of love!

Ok, I made a comment here yesterday but apparently it didn't take. Anyways, I wanted to address LA's comments and I must say that Lt. Smith or Capt. Smith (did you get promoted yet?) couldn't have said it any better. Rumors are exactly that, rumors. None of that stuff is true until it actually happens, and the way the military works, nobody will know anything until that time comes. I will admit that I have heard many of those things floating in the air in the last few months, but I can say in almost certainty that none of them are true. Operations Security limits any of our soldiers from letting anybody know exactly when we are coming home etc. I suggest you just listen to whatever your soldier tells you about that time and to whatever tidbits you can pick up from the media back home. As far as hotel rooms go, I would just pick and choose from the best available date you have for now and go from there, that's what Christy and I are doing. Take care and thanks for all the comments guys, keep them coming.

Ryan

Steve, Ryan and everyone,,,
I know and understand everything that you've said and I thank you for your continued words of support and encouragement. I would never ever want to have you guys or my soldier violate the OPSEC rules and regulations. I think that the closer it gets to realizing that the end really is in sight and that all you ever dreamed of is in arms reach, one becomes even more frightened and uneasy and all of the "what if's" flood your mind...then again maybe that's just me! Can't even deal with available dates as we have none(our unit has zero information)and as far as hotel rooms...not going to happen as my soldiers unit is attached to the 278th but not from Mississippi...more like a 26 hour drive north to get to our Guard unit base and there is nothing in the media around here in regards to the 278th, that would all come out of Mississippi. So I doubt very much that I will be heading to Shelby, but I want to....one day at a time is all I can do for now. Be safe, be strong and alert and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I'll keep hangin' in there :-)

I check this web site as often as possible and you can't imagine the shock when I saw the picture of the "NCAA TOURNAMENT". My son is sitting in the background with his uniform on. It really is a small world. Keep us informed as much as you can...we pray for you guys all the time. Stay safe and hurry home! God bless.

Hey LA,

A few web sites that talk about the 278th quite often are:

www.wate.com
www.volunteertv.com
www.wbir.com
www.knoxnews.com
www.timesfreepress.com

The first three are the major tv stations in Knoxville and the last two are the Knoxville and Chattanooga papers. They should help you out in finding out more information about us. Also try the link to the 278th Web site listed on this site's home page. Hope that helps!

Ryan