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