Battle in Iraq

As promised a long time ago, this is my buddies mailing address in Iraq. We went to basic together and shared a bunk. We were inseparable during basic and we got each other through the crappy moments of basic. Now my dude has a birthday coming up on Jan 24. He will be celebrating his 23rd bday in Iraq and could prob use a lil love from home. If you feel so moved, Im sure he would love to get some mail, all be it from strangers, its mail none the less.


Pv2 Steve Westerfield
299 BSB
2HBCT 1ID
FCo 2nd Plt
APO AE 09344

My list for the fat man

OK new post time. I really dont have too much new going on here. I mean, it Kansas for goodness sake. Nothing that really deviates (big word, Katie. Thought you would like that) from the mundane, day-to-day grind. I get up at 0557 every morning. (No idea why its 3 minutes before the hour. I set it one day about 3 months ago at that and havent changed it since. Stick with what works, I guess.) Go to PT (Physical Training) at 0630 and sweat for an hour. Go back to the room and do the 3 S's (%&$#, shower and shave) and go to work at 0900. Stare at my computer and help out SPC Knapp whenever he needs it. But most of my day is spent on ESPN.com. Final formation is at 1700 everyday and then I go back to my room. OK well I guess this is where my routine changes from what you all know. I have been spending most of my nights talking to this really sweet girl I met a lil bit back. She really saves me from going crazy by making each day interesting. Always getting me to smile and goof around. She really is something else. She is my PFLGFWBM. If you can figure out what that means more power to you. I'll leave that between me and her haha.

So when I was thinking about what to write in this blog, I starting thinking about Christmas and how I havent given my Mom a list! How will Santa know what to get me? So here is my Christmas list, mainly for Mom and Katie but everyone else might get a kick out of it.

1) Cleveland Browns jersey - Brady Quinn

2) Zune Gift Card (Mom, its an online music site that you can legally download songs for my MP3 player. Should be anywhere GC are sold.)

3) Harry Potter books 1-6 in hardback please. (Already have the 7th. There are real cheap used ones on eBay, I think)

4) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVD

5) Shirts, funny and classy (Katie, this is really your department. You always find some good shirts and you got style. Mom, I still get comments on the shirts you get me. You both rock at clothes. I never really go clothes shopping so I depend on you guys to keep me looking good!)

6) External Hard Drive for my laptop

7) Resturant Gift Cards. We have Applebees, all fastfood places, and well thats about all the chains we have. There are a lot of good local places here though.

8) The Dark Knight DVD, Wanted DVD, Step Brothers DVD

9) Socks (Pick your jaw off the ground Mom. I need Army green knee high socks. Since it has seemed to become a tradition to get me socks for Christmas, I figured I could get some I acyually need)

10) Electic shaver (Thank God I finally need one. I never thought this day would come!)

One last idea for anyone else that reads this blog and have found humor or tears. If you feel like you need to give me something for all the entertainment I have given you free of charge (*trying to hold back fits of uncontrolled laughter*), do this. I have a friend (Westerfield if you remember) I went to basic training with that is currently overseas doing his part in Operation Enduring Freedom or whatever they are calling it nowadays. From what I know, he will be spending his christmas in Iraq where there is no snow, turkey (its mostly dog and goat) or family. If you feel so moved, please send him a card or a care package. I will be getting his address here soon and will post it in the next couple of days. I also have some Army friends stateside that will be spending the holidays away from their family. I will also put up these addresses up. Every card means the world, especially at this time of the year.

I will leave you with some photos from the past couple of months, some funny and some of me and my boredom. Enjoy!

SPC Thompson after he got pepper sprayed. I got pictures of all 3 of my shop's new guys but he looked the best....er worst I mean.

Goofing around in a halloween shop with Nicole from AIT.

This Dolloff and his kid, Eian. Kid is a riot. Never really cries and loves to smile. They are calling me "Uncle" Frank to him. Had to get a picture of him for you guys.This is Hanaran's kid, Chris. Han asked me to watch him while he and his wifey went to the movies. Luckily he slept most of the time and their dogs curled up on him. Can anyone say Kodak moment?

My Thanksgiving feast. Dolloff's wifey really outdid herself. For her first Thanksgiving meal, she did an amazing job. And yes that is a pumpkin pie in the back left!!!

Your Lifesized GI Joe,

Frank

Pictures from my leave

Football game at Louisville in my parents seats. 50 yard line, 2nd row from the press box. My Dad has got some connections.
New and improved locker room at the stadium
Packer practice with honorary capitan "Deeter"
First homecooked meal that nearly put a tear in my eye.
On my way back to Ft Leavenworth during a layover in Atlanta, I went into a bar/resturant that I always stop in when I travel thru Atlanta and sat down at the table next to a baseball legend, Cal Ripken Jr. Asked him for a photo and the guy could not of been nicer. Where's a baseball when you need one?!

The Standard

One of the things that is part of being a soldier is honoring our fallen comrades. I never thought that years ago when I attended my Gpa's military funeral that I would be in the army and follow in his very big footsteps. But here I am today, finally getting a better understanding of why my Gpa was such a great man. Im sure he had a great childhood where he learned important life lessons. But I really think that he learned more from his time in the Army about how to act and present yourself to others. He was constantly teaching us, most of the times without words.

Today I have my first funeral since Gpa's. I got put on Funeral detail which means that I carry the casket of fallen soldiers and properly lay to rest a member of my extended family. I seldom find myself at a loss for words but I stand here before you today speechless. I can think of no greater honor than presenting the deceased family with a flag and telling them that their soldier did not die in vain. We will continue the work that they started. The mission will be accomplished.

Every military funeral I will be a part of from now on, I will always take a second to remember Gpa. He is the standard that I strive to achieve and he set the bar high, just like every soldier before him.

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." Gen. George S. Patton

Theres no place like home... A weak attemp at Kansas humor

Friends and Family of Frank (FFofF shirts will be available soon),A lot has happened since the last time I wrote anything. Most notably, Ifinally got to go on leave! I got to spend 2 great weeks back home andgot surrounded by all the people I haven't got to see in 8 long months.Lots of exciting things happened while I was home and since I returnedto Fort Leavenworth. If you got a few minutes to spare, put on yourreading glasses, crack open a fresh Diet Coke and prepare to beentertained.I got to choose my dates for leave and I decided on Sept 11 to Sept 25,Thursday to Thursday. Why, you ask? Well, first, I thought 9/11 would bea good day to see my Mom and Dad for the first time. Seeing how 9/11 waspart of my motivation for joining the Army, I thought it would be oddlybefitting. Second and most important, I sheepishly admit my mainmotivation for leaving on a Thursday was because I wanted to give myselfplenty of time to make it back for the Louisville football game. Iwanted to see my Leps roll over Northwest and I am happy to say, I wasnot disappointed. From what I was reading on the net, it was susposed tobe a game but Northwest appartently didn't get the memo. What made thegame all that much better was that it was played in typical Ohiofootball weather: rainy and with a slight chill in the air. OK enough onthat. I got into Akron/Canton airport around 9pm on the 11th and that'swhen my vacation began. My main goals while home were to see as manypeople as I could and then do as little as possible with the rest of mytime. After 8+ months of going full speed ahead, I wanted to do theexact bare minimum required for survival. I think Mom can confirm this.I unabashedly slept in every morning until my body woke itself up. Twoweeks without an alarm clock was simply heaven. There are few things inthis world that I love more than sleeping in. luckily for me, thosethings were all waiting for me in Ohio. I got to see most everybody Iwanted to see. Here's a short list of everyone. Obviously Mom, Dad andKatie (she came up the last week I was home), Gma Walker, Aunt Gail andUncle Dale, Kyle and Keely, Kurt, Carla and family, Stacey, Andy andJackson, Steph and Bill, Gma and Gpa Warnock, Alan and Karen Warnock,Tami along with her kids, Aunt Jan at the bank and tons more people atchurch. As far as friends go, I saw Amanda, Krista, Jen Rae, Nikki Hallat the football game, Megan Swaggard (an old high school friend), NikiBrabec (a friend that moved away in 3rd grade) and a whole bunch ofpeople that I graduated with and played football with. I'm sure I left afew people out but I was home for 2 whole weeks and my memory is alittle fuzzy nowadays with all this computer and radio knowledgefloating around in my brain. While I was home, I got my fair share of homecooked meals which isamazing considering it was full blown football season. Packer practicetook up most of Dad and mine nights ie prime homecooked meal time.However, in spite of tight schedules, Mom still seemed to performculinary magic and make her son very, very happy. I was most excitedabout what is simply known in my house as "Frank's Favorite." I call itSpanish Rice to my friends. I don't even need to ask Mom for it when Icome home, she knows. With what I am hoping becomes a tradition for myhomecoming (wink, wink), the Spanish rice exceeded my expetations. Itseems that after being away for long periods of time, my taste budsforget what Mom's cooking tastes like so it is always a treat to sitdown to a Warnock family meal.Probably the most fun I had while I was home involved helping Dad coachhis Little Leopard team, the Packers. It brought back all the memoriesfrom high school and hit me really hard when we went into the lockerroom at the stadium before the Packer-Cowboys game. They had added moregraffiti and art to the walls since I had last seen it 5 years ago butwhat really made the games and locker room speeches flooding back wassomething that has not changed or been edited in 8 years. It is in the upper left hand corner of the dry erase board. 4 Points that were said before every game all 3 years I played football and I am sure are recited before every game now. No regrets, trenches, competetors vs. athletes, 4 quarters. It brings chills to my spine to type and think about those days again.

Well that is all for now. I will follow up with this in days to come and post some pics about my 2 weeks home.

Your Soldier,
Frank

Patience is a virtue

New post coming soon, I promise.

Frank

Fire in a Bottle

Hey Gang!

Its that time again. Time to update the Greater Northeast Ohio on the whereabouts and happenings of yours truely. I've caught a little bit of grief for not updating this blog as often as I should. Mostly Mom saying that I put too much stuff on Facebook where she can't log on and read. Sorry Mom!

Lots have happened since the last post, most important (to me) was my birthday on the 18th. Sadly, it was another birthday away from home. My leave didn't work out like I had hoped to and I was forced to spend my day on the job. The 18th was a Monday and it was just another day to me and the rest of my unit. Luckily, no one knew it was my birthday and I certaintly didn't spread the word. The Army has a funny way about celebrating birthdays. They think that because this is an anniversiry of your birth, it gives them the right to make that day a living h*ll. I've seen guys do 10 push ups for every year (ie 24 years old=240 push ups) or low crawl 1 meter for every year. Like I said, I wasn't gonna broadcast that it was my birthday. Being a Monday, PT for the day was a run and run we did. It ended up being a 5 mile "jog" (I use that term loosely) up and down hills to and around the airfield. After PT, it was like any other day. I went to work, 9-5, and stared at my computer. As luck would have it, my company was in the playoffs for the post softball league and the finals were that night. Being a younger guy and with some softball/baseball experience, I was recruited quickly. We ended up playing 3 games back-to-back-to-back. I played every game and played quite well (for not throwing a ball or swinging a bat in over a year). No errors in the field (left field for 1.5 games till the SGT Major showed up and right field after that) and went 5 for 8 at the plate with 4 RBIs. My last hit was a one bouncer to the fence that suprised not only me but also the outfielders because they were playing me short. We won the first 2 and lost the 3rd one by 5 or 6 runs. Overall I had a great time not only playing ball again but also getting to know the rest of company. After the games were over, I was so tired I crashed and fell asleep as soon as I came back to my room. I was sore for the next 4 days.

The following Monday, I started the Pre Service class that everyone coming onto Fort Leavenworth has to take. It focuses on DB (Detention Barracks ie the prison) proceedures and completely pointless for anyone, like me, that is not a 31E (Military Police MOS). I sit in class and listen to classes on escalation of force and inmate movement proceedures with a glazed over look on my face and thoughts going through my mind along the lines of "This is what is stopping me from going on leave???" Anyways, adapt and overcome ("hurry up and wait" reworded). Tuesday we toured the DB. I got to see inmates upclose and personall. Scary for me. Maybe its just me but those bars just don't seem thick enough. Like I said before, the DB is the DoD's (Dept. of Defense) only maximum security prison. There are 6 guys on death row, 1 with a signed death certificate whic means he is a few months away from the chair. Only guys that get 5 or more years come here. Dont worry, Mom. The only way I will ever go back inside the walls is if one of the inmate's printer goes on the fritz. Seeing how they don't have any computers or printers, it will be a while. Wednesday, we did USD (Unarmed Self Defense). We learned a lot f pressure points and how to stop an attacker if he tried to charge, choke, stab or beat the crap out of you. And then came Thursday. Oh my Thursday was a bad day. Thursday was the day that we got sprayed with pepper spray. OK I get why 31E get sprayed but me!?! I work on computers and radios. I will never come close to pepper spray. Never. Ok this spray crap deserves its own paragragh...

Remember the gas chamber post? Forget about it. It doesnt even compare with this stuff. Do you know how they make pepper spray? They boil water, throw in the hottest chile peppers they can find and skim the oil that comes out of the pepper, mix it with a propellent and there you have it, instant liquid fire. I heard that some guys put this stuff on their eggs. I accidently got some in my mouth when they were washing out my eyes and I about threw up. Actually, I tried to make myself upchuck, hoping the stomache acid would act to neutralize the pepper spray. OK I am getting ahead of myself. The whole purpose of this excercise is to see if you can handle the affects of the spray and still maintain control of yourself. What they do is spray your face with your eyes closed, then make you open them and complete a confidence course that consisted of 4 stations. First, throw some elbows; Second, knees; Third, protect your head while 2 guys beat your head with pads; and Fourth, defend yourself from an attacker and put him in the handcuff position. OK great. I don't even know what the stupid handcuff position is!! Well I learned fast when I watched others go before me. The clip below, in the previous post, is the first person to get sprayed. She freaked out majorly, not confidence building for the rest of us. Now to get the whole picture, you have to know that basically everybody from my company came out from their offices to watch the festivities. this is what you call Army Fun. If you closely in the video you can see people sitting on the hill in the background and hear the muffled laughter coming from the 30 or so soldiers behind me. I can't wait to do it to the next class. So here goes. Its my turn next and I am still steaming about the fact that I even have to do this but I am a soldier and it my job so suck it up and drive on. BAM! A clear stream of this orange liquid goes across my eyes like a blindfold. Before they release you to the first station they make you blink so I blinked. Mistake Number One. How do you describe this pain? Ladies, have you ever got mascara in your eyes? OK now imagine pouring the bottle in yours eyes. Fellas, you know when you have been working out and get that sweat in you eyes? Imagine dunking your head in a bucket of sweat and opening yours eyes. I can assure you, what ever you are thinking of, it doesnt come close to this pain. You cannot imagine this pain. Liquid fire, thats about the best that I can think of. The instructor blows his little whistle and I run to the first station and start wailing elbows at this pad because I am so pissed from the burning in my eyes. Whistle, sprint to the knee strkes station. The way I figure it, the faster I get from station the less time this will be in my eyes. Plus, the guys didnt spray my legs with anything so off to the races I say. Only problem with running is that you have to open an eye to see where you are going. Mistake Number Two. Adreninlihne can only be a pain supressor for so long before acid in your eyes takes over pain responsibilites. I make it through the course and get my "inmate" in the handcuff position (looks like a guy hogtied, lying face down, hands on the small of the back, feet crossed and bent at the knees. I told my dude to "get on the f***ing ground, hand on your back, feet crossed and stick them in your a$$!! Sorry Mom. I wasn't really thinking about God or being a great Christian at this perticular moment in time) Now Im done with this crap and I go to have my eyes washed out. It felt soooooooo good. The only problem is that pepper spray reacts with water so once you get all the excess off, you still have about 45 more minutes of slow tourture left. This is the time where the rest of the face comes into play. They sprayed your whole face with this junk and it gets all over your face. Remember the part about liquid fire? Well that goes just the same for skin as it does for eyes. Ever think you have gotten a bad sunburn? Nope, I got you beat. It felt like I layed out all day on the beach and got a 3rd degree sunburn on my face....then did it all over again the next day......then go scuba diving in a hot tub. Yeah thats close. So there I am. Eyes burning, half blind, skin on fire. I grabbed some paper towels and tried to wipe off my face. Mistake Number Three. All I was doing was pushing it further down my open pores. It took me an hour and a half to stop blinking and for my face to stop burning. I took a picture for your entertain purposes about 15 minutes after being sprayed. Its below in the pictures I uploaded. Look at it when you are having a bad day at work and remember that you could always have it worse.

Well thats enough for now. Hope you all get a chuckle out of that and this finds you safe and happy. I will be coming home for leave Sept 11-Sept 25. I can barely wait. It has been far too long since I have been in the Buckeye State and Sept is a darn fine month to be in Ohio.

I have been asked by several people how my living arrangments are so I put this video together. Hope this answers those questions. Actually, I just hope this works so you can all see it, haha.

Till next time guys

Frank

This is what pepper spray does to you

Getting my new tattoo. Had to ouline every letter ten go back and fill them in. Took about 2 hours.

The Warriors Ethos, part of the Soldiers Creed.

"I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade."

15 minutes after getting pepper sprayed.

Graduation Day

Last night with everyone together from AIT.

Danny Woo is photo-genius

Hanging out...of the windows

Class A studs

A trip to the river. Thats South Carolina in the background.

80's night party

Some pictures from the past few months that I thought you would enjoy.

As usual, this post is a little over due. Sorry for the lateness but I have been trying to settle in and get used to how things work around here.

For all of you that don't know, I have PCS'd (Permanent Change of Station) from Ft. Gordon, GA to Ft. Leavenworth, KS on Monday. This is where I will be for a long time, at least 2 years. So far, Kansas isn't that bad. The base is beautiful and the weather is way better that hot and humid Georgia. Instead of living in 60 man bays as was the case in basic or 6-8 man rooms at AIT, I have my very own room! Crazy, I know. They are 2 man "apartments" with 2 separate rooms but we share a bathroom and a 1/2 kitchen (only a fridge and microwave). But I get my own room with cable and Internet access, walk in closet, and TV cabinet (dude that had the room before me left his old tv cause he got a 42" plasma so I am using the free TV) which is like hitting the lotto after being in basic and AIT.

My job will be working in the S6 shop, which is the communication shop, at the battalion. It is only me and 2 other guys in the shop and I came from AIT with one of them. The other guy is a Specialist and is so far really cool. From what I've seen, there really isn't much to do. Just alot of sitting around and fixing minor problems like email and CAC card failures. Absolutely nothing that I learned at AIT will be useful. We don't even have any of the radio equipment that I spent 2/3 of AIT working on. Just like the Army I guess. Oh well, I will have plenty to learn from the Spc.

New address:

PV2 Frank Warnock
405 Cody Ave., Unit 67
Fort Leaveworth, KS 66027

Care packages are now welcome more that ever. There is no limitations on what I can have, no one I have to show what is the box, nothing like that.

Same phone number but I have to warn you, I don't get any reception more that 2 feet inside the building. These places were built to withstand tornados, I guess so the walls are like 3 feet thick and the built with metal instead of wood. I basically have to leave my phone on the windowsill and use my bluetooth when I am inside my room. If I don't pick up, please don't worry. I probably just don't have any bars. I will call you back as soon as I get a chance.

Still trying to figure out when I can get some leave to come home and see you all. Should have a better idea early next week. Until then, be safe Ohio.

Finally, Your Operational Army Solider,
Frank

Kansas???

OK so litterally 3 hours after the last post I got my orders. I am gonna be stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Its in the extreme NE part of the state, about 30 minutes from Kansas City in Missouri. I leave Monday morning and go straight to Leavenworth then i will request leave and hometown recruiting from them so hopefully I should be back in Ohio in a week or so just in time to help Dad with Little Leopards (I think I will be the Physical fitness coach and general motivator. I got plenty of fun things to have them do ie push ups, flutterkicks, overhead hand claps, iron mikes, and of course monkey drills) So thats it. I will be attached to a MP (Military Police) unit because Fort Leavenworth is home to the only military maximum security prison. So I figure I dont have to worry about Iraq or Afghanistan. Instead I will be concerning me with tornados and prison riots. Its funny where your life leads you. I am looking foward to moving on and getting settled somewhere but definately not too stoked about leaving my friends for good this time. Thats why me, Zupo, Miranda, Heildelberger, and Dixon took a road trip back to Gordon for this weekend and are hanging out with Thompson and Mitchell one last time. I am not going to wrry about leaving, I am just gonna concentrate on making the most of this weekend and soaking in all tthe memories.

the next update will be from Kansas. Hang on to your butts, Toto, I dont think we are home. Some soldiers go to Iraq, Korea or Alaska. Me? Im going to jail.

Keeping a firm grip on the soap
Frank

Down but not out

Hey gang. This is not a post that I really want to write but one that needs to be written to keep you up to date on my situation here.

I got to Fort Benning on Thursday and spent Thurs and Fri inprocessing and getting reaquainted to the area. Saturday, we went to see The Dark Knight and it was awesome. Heath Ledger's Joker blew the pants off of Jack Nicolesons version. You really should go see it. Sunday was spent relaxing and hydrating for the upcoming week of Airborne training. Now here comes the crappy part. Monday morning, 0400, we had a PT test. I failed and got dropped from the class. The first part was the push ups. We were in a gravel pit and were pushing on these boards. My first 20 or so went smooth enough and then he stopped counting so I just kept on pushing. With about 15 seconds left, he said I was at 35 and I had to get 42 to pass so I start pumping them out but he wouldnt count them. His reason? He couldnt hear my dog tags clang off the board. You got to be kidding me I thought to myself. For me to go that low, I have to go lower than what would be considered a regular push up. You only have to go down far enough so that your elbows make a 90 degree angle. For me to get the clang, I was going way lower than that. But they gave me a retest about 10 minutes later. However I was so exhausted from doing the first set that when I retested, I got to 36 and had muscle failure. I went down for the 37th and couldnt get back up. I just couldnt do it. So I got dropped. I had to leave all my friends and move to the Headquarters company. Now I am just sitting around doing crappy details all day long and waiting on orders to send me to my unit.

I am just so disgusted with myself. I should of been able to do the retest at least. I didnt even get a chance to do any training and now Im seperated from my friends. Yeah I see them everyday but it just isnt the same. Me and Zupo were susposed to go through Airborne together and then get each other through RIP. Now I just feel like I let him down and all the rest of the guys. I really have just been beating myself up all week now and I realize it is doing me no good. What good is pouting gonna do? I have no one to blame but myself and I gotta get my ass in gear. My Mom said it best when I told her about getting dropped. She said the same thing she told me after my last football game at Fawcett when we lost on the 2 yard line with a blocked field goal. She said "You guys have been showing how to win with class all year, now its time to show how we can lose with class" and she is exactly right. Things have been going smoothly ever since I joined and I have been the type of person I always thought I could be but now other people see too. But true character is not shown when everything goes to plan and things are rolling smoothly. True character ir revealed when you get kicked down and things get jumbled up. How you get back up and continue on is what really counts. Get ready to see the new Frank. This is just a speed bump in my career. I am going to go to my unit, become the top dog in my commo shop, PT my butt off and go back to Airborne in 6 months and get my wings. Mark my words, I will be airborne. I dont care if I have to re enlist for another 4 years to get a slot. I WILL BE AIRBORNE!

My next post will be to tell you about my orders and where Im going. Not much gonna happen inbetween now and then. Much love and Ill be home soon. Cant wait to see y'all. Actually, cant wait to get out of Georgia and away from all these"y'alls"

Please pray for orders to Korea or Germany :)
Frank

The 250 foot Jump Towers

Goodbye and welcome back

Hey guys Just a real qick update on my whereabouts and whats going on here. I am now back at home, my military home that is, in Ft. Benning getting inprocessed for Airborne school. It is so good to be back here. I really did hate Ft. Gordon. I hated the place but loved the people. I had to say goodbye to alot of friends that I made. It was harder than I had expected it to be. I really got close to so many people, much closer than I have ever gotten to anybody before. Civilian life and Military life are so completely different and the relationships you form are on a different level. Luckily, I still have Zupo, Miranda, Heidelberger, and Dixon here so its not like Im completely alone but I did have to leave a few good ones behind. Thompson was probably the hardest to say goodbye to. We have gotten real close over the past 5 months and I am going to miss her tons. Hopefully our leave times match up and we can hang out (she lives in SE Michigan. Shes a Michigan fan but I forgave her of her sins a long time ago) Alex, the civilian that reminds me of my sister, came over to say goodbye at 0700 yesterday morning before my bus left. She is an amazing person who is strong and firm about her beliefs and she is going to be missed. We had a lot of good long chats about stuff going on in our lives and it will be something I hope to continue in the future (coffee will probably be the medium as it usually is with me) Mitchell is still in class at Gordon and he was a member of the gang that I talk to all the time, eat all meals with and spend all the weekends with. Hopefully he can convince his soon-to-be wife to release him for our Vegas trip in Dec. If not, we will just have to kidnap him. Woo left last week and seeing how he was my roommate and battle from basic it was especially tough. He is home in Cali now and having a good time so Im glad for him. He is also on the list for the Vegas trip so the reunion will be complete. We also left a whole company of friends and aquaintances at Gordon. Yesterday morning at 0445 formation, I must of shook hands and hugged 50 people, most of them people I went to basic with also. Overall, a rough past week so please excuse the lateness of this post.

I guess an explanation is due for the 80's night pictures below. Last Saturday night, we went to a party with Alex but not before raiding the Goodwill store for some horendous clothes I think we suceeded. I was going for a Don Johnson look but it looks like it collidided with a Blues Brother. Miranda went as a 80's rocker and pulled it off magnificantly. Thompson looks like Punky Brewster but totally 80's all the way. We spent the night horribly dancing to horrible 80's music and laughing at each other. The great thing about 80's music is that you ca dance as pathetic and stupid as you want to and its ok because thats how they did it back then. I was pulling out all the classics, The Running Man, The Robot (which I am stellar at by the way) and I even broke out The Sprinkler follwed by a Moonwalk. Almost brought down the house.

So now I am at Ft. Benning and, whodathunkit, its hot and humid. God hates Georgia. I dont think Ill ever come back to this state after I leave unless they station me here. I really didnt plan this whole Airborne/RIP thing out. Something tells me its going to be a lot of sweating and stinky laundry for the next 7 weeks. Oh well, build a bridge and get over the river full of tears.

Alright guys, I think its time to start running so I dont fail my PT test Monday morning. I guess if you fail it, you automatically get dropped from the school so there wont be too much partying this weekend for us. Its Zupos birthday today so we are going to go out and celebrate that tonight but the rest of the weekend will be spent hydrating and running a few miles to get the legs warmed up. Wish me luck and enjoy your AC, Ft. Ohio.

Your newest Airborne student,
Frank

All dressed up for 80's night

The Headbanging continued...

Ok Ok I know I said I would finish this post some time ago but just imagine how the suspense building up will make this post worth it. I got a lot to cover because the past few weeks have been quite busy so grab your favorite beverage (Diet Coke for 75% of my family) and a comfy chair, sit back and enjoy.

I re-read the previous post and I think I left off at the Atlantic Ocean on the 4th of July. We preatty much spent the whole afternoon in the sun and trying to do as little as possible. Appartently I did the least because I fell asleep on my stomach and woke up to the smell of my back and shoulders sizzeling. I just wouldnt be a Warnock if I didnt go to the beach and get burnt. Oh well, I knew I would be peeling later so at least all the pain wouldnt be for nothing. (In case you didnt know, I am OCD about peeling...anything. Labels, skin, stickers, paint, wallpaper, everything that can be peeled will be peeled by me) We met up with some of Zupo's friends and ran into Thompson and Zawacki from Delta Co. so we took Thompson into the ocean, seeing that it was her first time in any ocean which was blatenly obvious when she took the first wave face first. We had to teach her to put her back to the wave and kinda jump into it. I think I had more fun picking her up after a wave washed her away than actually swimming myself. It was just plain funny, like watching a toddler walk for the first time. Anyways, the ocean rocked but we werent about to stay there all day. We went back to Thompson and zawacki's hotel to shower and get ready for fireworks in downtown Savannah. Made it downtown just in time for the finalle which is really the only cool part anyways. We dropped Thompson off at Outbacks so she could have dinner with her friends and then proceeded to this bar that Miranda has been saying we had to go to ever since we decided on going to Savannah. The band he toured with before the Army played a show at this bar and he was really impressed with it. To the rest of us, one bar is as good the next one so we headed for the Jinx. We got there and after getting our drinks, we found out a band was playing that night. Im in Savannah and have been to a few bars in this state where every live music act has been some redneck in a cowboy hat, boots and belt buckle butchering country musics worst songs. I expected more of the same that night so I started to pull out my iPod when the band came on. I pushed play and they did the same. A: I couldnt hear my iPod. B: It wasnt country. C: It was loud, fast, angry.....and not counrty! Do my ears decieve me? Did I find a hard rock show in the middle of the bible belt and home to the jacked up 4x4 pick up truck with a 12" lift and rebel flag in the back window? Why yes I did! Lucky for me, Miranda was there to headbang and enjoy the music because Zupo was going thru culture shock. I wish I could of taken a picture of his face when the started playing. "Why is it so loud? I cant understand what they are saying. They are just screaming. You actually like this stuff, Warnock?" haha priceless. Sweet, sweet revenge for all the counrty bars he has taken me to. I made sure he knew that and derived great pleasure watching him at the bar with that blank look on his face. I know that look all too well cause it was the same look I gave him at the last 3 bars. Well the first band played the last song and pulled up someone from the crowd to sing. He rocked and put on a better show then the whole band combined. Turned out he was the next band on so Miranda and I decided to stay and watch this guys band play. We released Zupo and Mitchell to leave and save their eardrums. It wasnt really their scene but it was right up me and Mirandas alley. The next band, A Girl, A Gun, A Ghost, got on and proceeded to blow my mind. I dont think I have had a better time at a concert or seen a better preformance out of a local band before. I was rocking as hard with those 25 people as I do with 5000 in a major show. We started the most pit, screamed with the lead singer and completly forgot I was in the Army untill I was headbanging so hard my dog tags almost came flying off my neck. Needless to say, an hour later we were spent. We rounded up Zupo and Mitchell and headed back to Thompsons hotel for another night on the floor cause we hadnt gotten a hotel room of our own yet. (Again, we guys only concern ourselves with the cooler and its safety) I awoke to a pain in my back and neck that a Advil quickly cured and we headed back for Zupos sisters to relax and watch tv, shower and be around non-military folks which i thourghly enjoyed. Its like I live in 2 worlds now. Military and cilivian. Its like I get to be two different people that share the same mindset. So after much channel surfing and long cat naps on the couch, we got ready for a house party at a friend of Zupos. It was just a lame garage party, typical of 20 somethings, and we all retired early so we could wake up early to head back to Ft. Gordon. We got back to Ft. 2 hours early and had time to shower shave and get ready for recall formation. Overall a weekend that I will never forget. It may be the last time I get to spend with these guys before we all scatter across the country.

Next up: Capstone. 4 days in the field (actually a parking lot with tents) and more sweating than actually learning. 98 degrees and full humidty will make you sweat a few pounds off. Really a great diet plan the army got going if you ask me. I thought it was a large waste of time and resources due to the poor planning. All we did was stand outside in formation with full battle rattle and do nothing. The only exciting part was the pinning ceremony on the last day when we got our signal crest to put on our class A uniforms. There was a lot of big wigs and saluting (my battalion commander, brigade commander who is a full bird conolel, and many majors and command sargeant majors) who all shook hands with each and everyone of us, 85 total, and made me feel real proud to be MOSQ (Military Occupational Speciality Qualified) and done with AIT. Just one more chapter done in my military career but it in no way means I am done training. I will go to my unit, after Airborne and RIP, and continue to train on equipment and combat skills. The training never stops. I really want to be the top dog in my MOS so that everyone comes to me with their questions and problems. I want to be the guy fixing the Sargeant Majors computer when it goes down or the radio guy for the commander when Iraq or Afghanistan comes. I want to be THAT guy.

Ok Mom said I should put this in my blog so you all would know and I am a little proud of it myself so its time to brag a bit. I graduated with the highest grade in my class, a 97%. I graduate with honors and its something I pushed myself to do. I was tired of just skating by like i did in high school and most of college. I am going to prove to everyone including myself the type of person I am and want to be.

Yesterday I went through the graduation ceremony. Dont worry mom, you didnt miss anything. we walked across the stage and got our "diplomas" whick was nothing more than a rolled up piece of paper with a ribbon tied around it. Why is it that when ever you walk to get a diploma they never actually give it to you? Its always just a fake and they end up mailing the real one or give it to you when you leave. Kinda cheapens the whole experience if you ask me.

I have been getting a few requests for more details on the girl I mentioned in earlier posts. I am sad to say that I have to leave her behind when I leave and it just wouldnt be fair to either of us to continue a relationship long distance. Long Distance relationships never work if you ask me because they are too hard to maintain. It puts tons of stress on both people and its just something I, and definately her, dont need at this time. Plus there were a few issues that were too big to work around. First of all, she is 18 and too young in my opinion to be tied down to a traveling Army guy. She needs someone who can be with her all the time and show her how a proper relationship is susposed to happen. Second, she is pregnant (not mine Mom. Someone in the office please pick my mother off the floor and help her to her chair. She will need a Diet Coke IV immediately to revive her) from her previous relationship and I am in no position to help raise a child now. I just cant be the person she needs right now. We both agreed on it (she took a little longer to see it my way though) and have gone our seperate ways. I still talk to her and will see her again this weekend to say goodbye. If there is one thing I hate about the Army, its how hard it is to have a relationship. Got to take the bad with the good, I guess.

This week is going to be especially hard on me. I have to say goodbye to many friends as they scatter across the country to their various duty stations. Some of these guys I have known since basic and some I met at AIT but either way I have spent everyday with, eating every meal together and sharing every gripe and complaint with. Woo, our little Korean, who was in my platoon in basic, leaves tomorrow. We have shared the same room for the past 6+ months. Wow I dont even want to think about it. Thompson, Mitchell, Alex. There are many more that would be just to hard to list. Please pray for them just as you do for me. We are all doing the same thing, fighting the same fight. Anytime to think of me, put them in the same sentence. I came up with a quote that I think fits well in this situation. "We are all different in the same way."

Well I think that does it for me for this update. I got some outprocessing (yeah!) to finish up so yall take care and I will be home shortly.

Much love from the newest Signal Soldier
Frank
We

Sunburns and headbanging

Hello everybody. I trust everybody had a good Fourth of July. This holiday has really taken on a new meaning for me and my friends now. We are proud to serve this great counrty but even we need a break every so often. So that is exactly what we did this weekend. We took a well needed rest and went on a mini road trip to the ocean. We put the Army, the sergeants, the 3AM wake ups and the drama behind for a few days and decided to be regular 20somethings. Here is a recount of my weekend (a day early at that too!)

Well we werent able to sign out for our weekend untill 0800 Thursday morning even though every other company in the battallion was able to leave after class Wed night. Oh well, sucks to be in Bravo but Im sure you all already know that. Anyways, after we signed out, I rounded up my friends and got ready to go. After we found the last rental car available in a 100 mile radius, which was an adventure in itself, we cranked the radio and pointed the car south towards the beach. 2 hours and numerous fights over radio stations later, we found ourself on the welcome mat of Zupos sisters place. (ed. note: The friends in this trip include Zupo, Miranda and Mitchell and Zupo grew up in the greater Savannah area) We said hello, threw some laundry in the washer and headed out for McDonalds with her and her kid. You guys might be like "why did you get McDs when you could of had a good sit down meal?" Simple. We havent had Big Macs and Double Quarter Pounders in 6+ months and it sounded good. Real good. Plus they had a ball pit for the kid to play in. You cant really find that in your normal Applebees or Bob Evans. Anyways, after the chow, we headed back to the apartment to shower and get ready for the night. Zupos sister lives about 25 minutes away from Savannah which is right on the ocean. So we went into the city and had ourselves a good old time. It is such a beautiful southern city. Cobblestone streets and old stone steps so steep and narrow that you know they have been there since the Civil War. Of course, Mitchell and broken leg was having one hellava ttime trying to crutch it all. Haha it was so funny to watch him crutch those cobblestones and the stairs were a joke. I felt bad for him so when we had to do the steep steps, I picked him up on my shoulders and carried him to the top. A: it saved us a good 10 min waiting for him to make it to the top and B: it really impresses the ladies. I look strong and like a good friends and he get the pity for the cast. Oh we were working that one all night. So we have a good night out on the town and retire to a friends hotel room. Zupo jumped in the bed with Thompson and Gillian before anyone else could call it, Miranda and I shared some floor and Mitchell slept in the back seat of the car. After Zupo had a good night sleep and us three felt worse than we did before we fell asleep. We made Zupo feel bad enough to buy us breakfast (Burger King, we were on the fast food world tour) so that worked out. The whole reason for the trip was to get some beach time so we pointed the car in the direction of the salt water smell and put the pedal to the metal, but seeing how we were driving a Kia Optima that ment that we got up to a blistering 55 mph. Didnt really matter how fast we were going because there was a wreck on the bridge that took 45 minutes to get around and then another hour to find a place to park close enough to the beach so that crutch boy wouldnt have that far to go. It was near impossible to find a spot. 4th of July on the beach in 98 degree weather. Whodathunkit? Eventually, we took a spot right on the beach from someone who was leaving. We had to fight an old lady for it but we got it. She was a tough old broad, trying to threaten us, waving here walker at us but we just pulled out the crutches. We had a cripple standoff for a few minutes just like in the old west. A tumbleweed/Spiderman beachball rolled by. But alas, I digress. The beach. The sun. The ATLANTIC OCEAN! The last time I say the ocean was on my senior trip to Myrtle Beach back in '03 and it was about the same for Miranda so me and him put down our bags and headed straight for the water. Oh it was glorious. Warm and salty. Oh yeah I forgot about the salt the first time I dove under water and got a mouthful and eyeful of saltwater. Ah the memories came rushing back of summers in Myrtle with the family as I was coughing up half the Atlantic. After about 15 minutes in the water, miranda and I went on a mission to get some towels to lay on because we were guys who forgot to bring any. The only thimg we were concerned with bringing was the cooler. We were going to go ina hotel and grab some from the pool but that Army integrity got the best of us and we bought some. We got 3 green and blue ones and a preatty pink and purple one for Zupo. Oh it was funny watching him try to be all manly laying out on that thing.

Ok well my phone is about to die so I got to post this before I lose it all. I will continue where I left off when I get back on post and can plug my phone in.

The Korean Kidnapping Adventure

Ah a day late for the normal Monday post. Rest assured, faithful readers, there is a good explanation. Number 1: Mom doesnt work untill Tuesday anyways therefore she wuld not of been able to read it till today. Number 2: I got little sleep over the weekend and even less sleep Sunday night/Monday morning. Number 3: OK well there isnt a really good third reason, I just plain forgot. With all the stuff going on here, it just slipped my mind. But here I am, ready to light my thumbs on fire for a blazing recount of these past two weeks. So sit back, grab a Diet Coke Mom, and be prepared to be entertained.

Well lets start with the most recent first. Monday was just one of those days. I fell asleep Sunday night around 1100 not expecting to get up till 430 for Monday morning PT. As it turned out, our sergeants had other plans. I awoke to SGT McCollough crashing into our room, screaming to wake up. Actually, he kicked Zupos bed and told us to get up and outside in 5 min. I thought it was our PT wake up call, so I checked my watch to see how long I could "snooze" for but what do my blurry, sleep dust crusted eyes see? 0256 in bright blue from my watch. What the heck? We had to clear the barracks and form up on the basketball court so that the drug dogs could go through. I was ticked beyond words and Im sure the dogs were too because they didnt look too happy to be up at that forsaken hour either. We stood out on the court for an hour and 15 minutes so they could find nothing because who would be stupid enough to bring their drugs back to the barracks? We went back inside and I about fell asleep in the 30 minutes we had inbetween PT. I ended up shamming out of PT to do laundry detail. Much better choice because I already got chow before PT got back. Went to sleep for about an hour before they cleared the barracks because the fire marshall came through. Another hour or so and then they cleared it again because no one wanted to pass out the clean laundry. By that time, I was up for the rest of the day. I can only fall asleep so many times in one day. I swear, if I get more than 5 hours of continous sleep, I feel like its my birthday. We got back from class Monday night at around 1100 and they woke us up this morning to do 0445 PT again for some reason. Normally, third shift does PT at 0800 so we can get a little sleep but that is thrown out the window now too apparently. Oh well, 2 tears in a bucket. Deal with it and move on.

On a lighter note, there was a bit of harmless hazing that happened Sunday night that is too funny not to be mentioned. Dont worry, nobody got whipped with a pillowcase of doorknobs or anything like that so those with a weak heart, feel free to read on. A little back story is required though. My friends have a mini war going on with "The Black Council" durning chow. My friends being me, Zupo, and Woo and the council consists of Swoope, Sailor and Embry, all Guys from Benning so we are all cool with each other. Durning chow, we mess with each other bacuase we usually sit with our respective groups. If we pass their table while waiting in line, we will knock over their napkin despenser or sugar bottle, steal their salt and pepper, knock over their empty glasses. If we are done with our meals and pass their table on the way to turn in our trays, we will put our glasses or plates on their trays. Dont think its just us doing it. They started the napkin thing, we just expanded on it and made it better. Ok back story complete. Sunday night apparently, the council decided to get some revenge. Maybe it was because I left my plate and glasses on Swoopes tray, leaving me to turn in a tray of siverware. So their we are Sunday night, Woo passed out, Zupo just got done on the phone and I was texting some people. Next thing I know, Woo is in the air, being carried out the door. They kidnapped our Korean! They made it about halfway to the bathroom (for what was sure to be a swirly) before Zupo darted out of the door and grabbed an ankle. We wrestle for Woo about a minute and spend the next ten laughing uncontrollably on the floor. Here is the council, looking like a gas station robbery team gone wrong. Dressed in dark clothes, Sailor has a t shirt over his mouth and leaving a slit just big enough to see out of inbetweeb his hat and the Macgyvered bandana. Swoope is using a bath towel to cover his face. Just the mort riduclous thing you ever saw. Heres how they did it. Sailor unscrewed the hallway light so we wouldnt see the light when the opened the door, slowly opened the door and tiptoed over to Woos bed without being seen by me and Zupo and grabbed Woo right out of his bed. If they would of knocked out him out so he didnt struggle, we would of never known. I would be sitting here telling you of a ransom note. After we got done laughing about it, Embry goes to me and says "that'll teach you not to mess with us at chow" I about died. Good thing PT in the morning was a run day because I could not of done any sit ups. my abs hurt so much from laughing. Needless to say they spent the next 30 kidnapping various other Benning Boys whille we followed with our cell phones, capturing all the action on camera. We actually got Moreno to the bathroom but he went spread eagle on the stall so a swirly was near impossible. Good times at Bravo Company 369.

I have 2 classes left untill I leave for the Fourth of July weekend and as soon as I get back, I leave for 4 days of Capstone and I will be graduated! Signal Suport System Specialist MOS 25U qualified. I feel like I have been in class forever and it would never end but I am seeing the light at the end of this very long TRADOC tunnel.

Well hope this post finds you well and hopefully I should be back in Ohio sometime around Sept/Oct for about a month. Two weeks for HRAP (hometown recruiting assaintance program) and then two weeks just for me to do whatever I want. I wont know what to do with myself haha.

Your Almost Qualified Soldier
Frank

What I have learned

Ok guys I am going to mix things up a bit in this post. Instead of the usual update on what Im doing, I am going to tell you a few of the things I have learned since I have been in the Army. The posts have been getting a little repetative I thing and its about time to shake things up a bit. Its been 6+ months now so there have been a few changes to my outlook on life and how I approach situations. Here are a few things I have learned and been taught by the Army.

Friends. I had friends before the Army, but the group of guys I call my battles have changed my perception of what a true friend is. Everyday I see them, heck I sleep in the same room with two of them, and evrything I have done, they have been right next to me doing the same thing, going through the same pain and feelings. They have never let me down and have always been there to pick me up when I get knocked down or having a bad day. We go out and have fun on the weekends together and then we all get smoked together whe we get back on Sunday. How do you describe the bond that we share? How do you put into words that we have a job that means we put our lives litterally in each other hands? I have 4 guys that will take a bullet for me and I know, if put in the situation, I would do the same. They would never leave me behind, be it in a combat zone or a bar or a class or a run. This was one of the things I was looking foward to when I joined. I had heard stories of guys still talking to Army buddies years later and now I know why.

Family. The Army has taught me the importance of my family. Before I joined, I had gone off on my own and kinda left my family behind. I can remember not calling Mom or Dad for 3 months straight one time andnot really thinking twice about it. I thought I could do things on my own. I was naive and selfish but now its like they are my main supporters. I guess it had to do with the fact that I was not doing much with my life and I was more embarassed than anything. But being in the Army has given me something to be proud about and something for my family to be proud about. Now if I more than a week without a call home, I feel like I missed something. Everytime I get a chance to see them, I savor every moment because I dont know when the next time will be. The Amry has shown me that not every family is as strong and as close as mine and it makes me happy knowing I have someone rooting for me back home and a bed to sleep in whenever I come back. I love you guys and thanks for being there for me all the time, not just when it was easy or convienent.

Organization. A strange concept of a 23 year old to be learning but as my family can atest to, I have never been what you may call a "neat" person. haha far fromit really. The Army gives you limited space for living so it makes you learn how to organize your crap. My wall locker my not always be inspection ready but everything has a place and for the most part it stays that way. My bed is always made and my clothes are always clean. I have alot more person pride in my uniform and the way I look. I get ticked off when someone is out of uniform or wearing it wrong. Major difference from my previous life. Example: In high school, I wore pajama pants to class. Now I make my bed everyday so tight you can bounce a quarter off of it. Before, it was a rare occasion that my bed got made. Things have changed.

Excercise. I get plenty of it. 5 days a week at 0800 I either run 3+ miles or do push ups, sit ups, and over head hand claps untill muscle failure. I am close to the best shape I have ever been in. Heck, I just took my end of cycle PT test and ran my 2 mile in 15:18. Before the Army, I had to stop to walk on the second lap, less than a half mile. While I dont love doing it, I have still learned the importance of being in good shape and how it gives you energy to accomplish the mission. I used to sleep 12+ hours a day and still not have the energy like I do now. Plus I got biceps again and you know how the ladies love the guns :)

Respect. I have always been respectful towards other people and my elders, teachers and coaches but now I have a solid reason. Life is tough and brutal if you are not prepared for it. The people who have gone through it before me have learned alot and if they are willing to pass along knowledge that will make my time easier then I am gonna open an ear and listen. I have a newfound respect towards veterns now that only the Army could instill. The men and women that have given their lives for this counrty have done the ultimate deed. Its just one of those things I took for granted before that I look at completely different now.

Self Defense. I know how to operate and maintain numerous weapon systems including my left and right fists. I pity the poor sap that tries to jump me in an alley now. I can protect myself and those around me with force if necessary but I also know when that level of protection is needed.

First Aid. I can start a IV. I know how to treat burns, wounds and bone fractures in a combat zone or out of one. I know how to treat a tension pneumothorax (needle chest decompression) and a sucking chest wound. I found out the hard way about personal hygene and what a miracle foot powder is.

Patience. Hurry up and wait. The Army's unwritten motto. Things arent always going to be done right away for you so sometimes you have to just do them yourself. I have stood in lines for inprocessing for 10 hours for a week straight. As my drill sergent told us, either you learn it on your own or it will be taught by blunt force trauma. That week was an example of the latter. Some people will not grasp concepts right away and sometimes you have to teach them and wait for them to catch up. Basic training was alot of that. Everybody had to be the same page every step of the way and if they fell behind you had to wait for them to catch up.

Puncuality. I have never been on time for much in my life. Senior year of high school I think I had somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 tardies and college wasnt any better. Im not what you call a morning person. But since I have been in the Army, 0445 formations are nothing new and I have yet to be late. I have never been late to class or any formation for that matter. I even shock myself sometimes with the ease of getting up in the morning now.

Thats all I can think of right now. I am sure there are some I am forgetting but I will add them in a later "themed" post. Hope you enjoyed.

Pvt. Warnock out.

Yeah I know it been awile...

Ah ok here it is. The long awaited update. have really been slacking on this blog thing. Sorry to all you guys for the length of time inbetween these posts but as you read this lastest installment, maybe you will get an idea why it has taken so long.

Where to begin? Well I have only 3 more weeks of class left and then a week of Capstone which is a 4 day long FTX that is an accumulation of all that we have learned and put into a real world environment. The class I am now is really boring. We are learning how to send emails in the Army way and through a special program. So far we have learned how to install Windows XP, how to write and understand the basics of binary code, install routers and switches, basic operation of the SINCGARS radio, basic operation of the TACSAT radio that communicates via satellite instead of conventional line of sight, set up the OE 254 attenna, the FBCB2 navagational system and now we are on super easy email class. I still got the highest grade in the class so thats good. Hopefully that will translate into a promotion at graduation time. Speaking of promotions, I will be a E2 PV2 on July 1. No biggie there, its a mandatory promotion that everyone gets after 6 months service but the bump in pay will be nice and i will actually be able to wear sme rak on my uniform. Just the first step towards much more hopefully.

Now for the explanation as to why it has been awhile since my last post. Actually I think there was a blue moon durning my last post. Basically in a nut shell, Saturday was the first time in 6 days I got more than 4 hours of consecutive sleep. Last weekend, there was 6 people that got arrested so needless to say our sergents werent too happy about that. Instead of doing the logical thing and punishing the 6 jailbaits, they said it was our fault for not looking out for our battle buddies. I can say that no one in my group that i hang with on the weekends got in ay trouble but it was still my fault for the 6. Ah I love mass punishment. So because of the trouble makers, we got put on lockdown for the weekend and our sergents were screwing with us all week. PT got pushed up, because of the heat, to 0800. My class doesnt get back till 0100 and sleep just isnt possible untill about 0200 anyways so thats just 6 hours anyways. the sergents get this great joy of waking up at 0300 or 0400 for no apparent reason to clear the barracks and make us stand in formation on the basketball court to yell at us for the idiocracy of one or two individuals that want to do something retarded like smoke in the barracks or miss bedcheck. Here was how my sleep went for the week. Mon night: 0245-0340 for a missed bedcheck, Tues night: 0430-0445 cause first shift didnt want to come down for their morning formation, Wed night 0300-0415 for a UA (urine analysis ie drug test for 20% of the company), Thurs night 0200-0400 Zupo, Woo and I had hall guard/CQ and Fri night at 0500 my class had to get up to get our phase 5+ badges. A silver lining on a cloudy week, I am now a phase 5+ which means after class gets out Fri night/Sat morning we can leave for the weekend and dont have to report back untill recall on Sun which is usually 1800. So back to the crazy schedule, third shift has been getting the short straw all week and hs been filling up any free time with pillow time. I slept more during sunlight than i did at night. We have all been walking zombies this week. I really dont know how i stayed awake in my classes. We have been slamming energy drinks just to keep a slit open between the eyelids. I was so drained this weekend all i did was lay around the hotel room and sleep and watch tv. I only went outside to get fast food and then back to rehibernate. The time I wasnt sleeping I was spending time with this amazing girl I met a few weeks ago. More on her later folks.

Now for the usual weather update. You know that song by the Charlie Daniels Band "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"? You know why he came here? Becasue it reminded him of hell. Its hot as hell here! We have been in heat category 5 for 3 straight weeks now. In heat cat 5 technnically we are only allowed to do 10 minutes of work and then they are susposed to give us 50 minutes rest. Susposed to. haha thats laughable. No really they havent been pushing ttoo hard. Too many heat casualities, heat stoke heat exhaustion stuff like that. Seriously you walk 300 feet and you kiss the clothes you are wearing away, they will be drenched in sweat. I have done more laundry in the past few weeks than Mom did during football season. Be thankful you guys live in Ohio. It may be hot but you dont have the humidity like it is here. So drink water, stay hydrated and tell your parents a quick thanks for settling in Ohio.

Ah my favorite part of this update. I get to brag about the girl I met. Her name in L'erin (she white Mom, you can pick yourself off the floor now, her mom just has some style and flair haha) and she is a civilian that grew up in Georgia so she talks with a southern accent. Zupo who grew up in Georgia before moving to Oklahoma told me about the southern belle accent and what it does to guys. He could of never been more true. I could listen to her talk for hours because of the accent. Its just so freaking cute. She has a little sister that she watches durning the week that I got to meet last weekend and she is just full of energy. Its like someone gave her a pound of chocolate and let her loose. But she is a cutie and a sweetheart so she can get away with it. I have really gotten something to look foward to all week now and it is really helping the weeks go by faster. I wasnt so sure of how it would be seeing someone after Kim and how I would feel about it but L'erin is the medicine I have been looking for. I just really enjoy spending time with her and getting to know her. She is down to earth and grounded. Her past relationships havent been what you would call healthy ones. She always saya that she has never been treated right before so thanks Mom and Dad for the raising me right. It makes it easy to know how to conduct yourself in a relationship when you have a great model to learn from. Im sure youll be hearing much more about L'erin in future posts so untill then Ill just leave you in suspense...

Thats all for now guys. I got a movie that i want to finish and the thumbs got their workout so keep your eyes open for a future post. It will be here sooner tha you think.

Your Soldier-in-Heat Cat 5
Frank

Every hour on the hour

so after my great weekend back in Ohio with the family, I made the trek back to Georgia. All my flights were great, on time and I didnt have to sit next to any annoying people, always a plus. Landed in Atlanta and met up with Moreno and waited for Zupo's plane to touch down. We were on a time hack to make it back to the company for recall formation which was at 1800 and as with any formation we are required to show up 15 early. My flight got in at 1400 so we had 4 hours to make a 2 hour drive back to base. No problem you say? If only life was that simple. Zupo's fight was 20 minutes putting him in at 1420 and then it took 45 minutes to get his bag. We didnt make it to our taxi untill 1515, t-minus two and a half hours. God bless our taxi driver, he never let the needle drop below 85 mph the whole way back. On the way back, we got changed into our ACU's because that is what uniform recall formation has always been. We come into base at 1740, skid to a stop behind our company and litterally run with all of our bags to formation. As we round the corner, what do we see but a formation full of people in their PT's! Oh well, no time to change. We fall into formation and my sergent comes up to and asks us where the hell we been. We were 2 minutes late. We told her about the delayed flight and baggage problem but to no avail. She proceeds to smoke us in the grass for the whole formation and then tells us our punishment. Get this: phased down to a phase 4 (no civilian clothes allowed, no off post pass, no life) for a week and for the whole week we have to check in at the CQ desk every hour on the hour from 0700-2100. So that right there gives you a good idea of how my week has been going. Basically all I do is sit in my room and wait to check in. barely have anytime to get chow and no time to see any of my friends from the other companies. Our time is up on Tuesday but we talked our sergent into shortening our sentance to Sunday night. All we have to do is remove all the furniture from her office , buff and wax, and replace the furniture. Such a small price to pay to get my life back.

However bad and unfair thepunishment is, I would of done it for a month just to get back to Ohio. It was exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries and remind myself that there is a place in this world where everyone doesnt yell and is truely happy to see you.

Thank you's go out to Gma Walker for thinking of brown bag meals and coming out to the house, Krista for the coffee and being Krista, Potts again coffee, and Amanda for the chat on the porch (again coffee was involved). Karen and Alan for the movie and blizzards, almost like Pizza Hut after softball. Everyone who came out to the house for brown bag and bringing along the kids (too many to list but thank each and everyone, soo good to see evryone in one place!) Katie ("Katie? my Katie? My sister Katie? She's there?!?) for making the riduculously long trip just to see here bro and the porchside advice. Saving the best for last, Mom and Dad. Thank from the bottom of my soul for the open arms, the spanish rice, the movies, the trips to the airport, the help on the tickets, and for making it seem like I never left. I am so blessed in so many ways. I tell evryone here about my family and how amazing they are. I have not heard of a family yet that compares to what I have in Ohio (and Mass). The support and love I get everyday is truly unmatched. Again, thank you one and all!

Till the next time guys be safe and enjoy the summer.

Memorial Day weekend pictures

An amazing time home to see all my Ohio people and family. The only problem was it was way too short.

Mama I'm coming home

Wow this is weird. I am actually typing on a real keyboard! I am sitting in the USO at the Atlanta airport waiting on my flight to come back to Ohio. It has been one of the biggest ordeals I have ever had to go thru in my life. Well ok basic was bigger but this still sucks all the same. First of all, my company has been giving us the run around about going home and when we could leave for Memorial Day weekend. No you can't sign out till this time and no you can't leave because you got a FTR to a formation 3 weeks ago, stuff like that. None of us knew that our passes got approved by the company commander till 3 days ago. Hardly enough time to buy a plane ticket at a reasonable price. Most of the guys bought one a week or so ago and just been crossing their fingers. I on the other hand was trying to get a ticket from a guy I went to basic with. He used to work at Delta before he joined and he had some buddy passes he was going to give to us so we could get super discounted tickets. Well he ran out of passes by the time he got to me and Zupo so he called his friend and he aggreeed to let us buy the passes. so we sent him $60 each for the passes and he was going to let us know how much the tickets would be and how to get the money to him. My ticket, round trip, from Augusta Regional to Akron/Canton Regional was going to be $49. Thats it! I was thrilled. and then it all went down hill. We have been trying to get together with this guy all week to set up the pass and last night, litterally hours before we could fly, he texts Swoope, my battle from basic and tells him that he isnt going to give us the passes. Instead he is going to give them to a family of 3 because they want to go over seas and he could get more money for the passes off of them. I dont think I Have ever seen Zupo that mad before. You could of sharpened steel blades on his face of stone. I almost lost it when he told me about what had happened. I had to keep my military bearing because we were in a formation at the time but I felt like screaming my lungs out till I was too hoarse to swear. I just hope we dont find out where this guy is becuase if i can read Zupo right, and I like to think I can, he will find this guy and beat the $60 out of him penny by penny. Anyways we decided at 1 in the morning that we would leave and go to the airport, wear our ACU's and give the ladies at the desk our best puppy dog face. So we did and our plan went down in a blaze of fire. It looked like Fort Benning there were so many soldier there. We tried and tried our best but to no avail. Our lowest ticket price we could find was $900 roundtrip. Everybody looked like you just killed their first born sons. We had been planning and anticipating this weekend for months now, since basic, and now it was slowly slipping thru our fingers. Finally we went to the USO and got on the internet to look at prices and I got a ticket back home for $450 roundtrip. Not bad considering i had to buy it the day of the flight but still I will be coming back to Ohio without my arm and my leg. But you know what, I would have paid 4x that much just to get back to reality. I want so much to leave the Army behind for a few days and get away from these guys for a few two. Ilove them all and would do anything for them but I have been around them 24/7 for 5 months now. You can only eat steak so many days in a row. One day you are gonna want a pizza. So to conclude this ridicously long post I AM COMING HOME!!!!

Can't wait to see all my Ohio people if only for a few days. Get ready Ohio because the Nock of WAR is coming!

pie day videos - cross your fingers

Pie day

SSG MJ My platoon Sgt.

SSG Dillon - Female Type My other Platoon Sgt. ($1200)

1LT My company XO

Today we got to buy pies to smear in the face of our sergeants. Here are some videos and pics of the festivities. All the money raised went to an army fund that helps soldiers get home in emergencies for funerals and stuff along that line. All for a good cause. Just to give you an idea of how much we wanted this, sgt dillon female type's pie went for 1200$. Highest bidder got to pie the nco.

Frank Warnock

New Pictures

Left to Right. Salazar, Morano, Zupo, Woo and Me

Wolfpack in Class A uniforns in the bay at Ft. Benning

Here are some new pics I got off of Danny Woo aka The Producer


Frank Warnock

my nose is numb and its 80 degrees outside

so here is the what I think will become the normal monday post. a lot happened this weekend but I am not going to tell much of it because it involved a lot of drama between my friends and girls. never a good combo considering the ratio of male to female is around 20 to 1. odds are friends will end up going for the same girl. yeah a lot of that happened. other than the drama it was a great weekend. good times with good friends. its just getting harder to keep good friends. I think as long as we remember the bros before (forgive me mom, its just an expression) hos rule we should be fine.

so today I went to the hospital to visit mitchell. he broke his ankle in 3 places and tore some tendons sat afternoon during an impromptu combatives match in the hotel. it wasn't a fight but a good natured male macho I am showing off for the girls wrestling match. officially he broke it "falling down the stairs" at least that's what the hospital thinks. anyways I went to see him and bring his some stuff he wanted like his ipod and razor stuff like that. spent some time with him so he wouldn't be lonely and then I went to my dental appointment. boy do I hate these things. yes its great cause I am getting all this dental work done for free and I got a lot of work to be done, but all they give you is a shot of novicane that numbs half your face except for the one tooth they are working on and drill away. ahhhhh!! I hate the drill. the sound, the feeling, the way it vibrates all the way down your side thru your butt and out your toes. then after they work on 4 teeth they boot you out the door telling you to floss between the teeth they just made so sensitive it hurts to breathe with my mouth open. they people are crazy. I hope the 400 mg ib profin work. if they fail me I am going to visit mitchell again and swipe his pills off the beds when he's asleep. just kidding mom. I just ask them to hook me up to a morphine iv like they did him.

so here I sit, top lip and nose numb, gums killing and throbbing, contemplating going to chow. I am so hungry yet food scares me. maybe I will just get some coffee and pray for a caffeine buzz. anything to stop the pain.

ok sorry this one is short but I gotta get some liquid in me at least and I got class in an hour. love y'all and keep the comments coming. im loving them

your soldier in dental hell
pvt frank