high honor

tuesday i got a call from our general manager. another company needed 2 more drivers for a large troop movement from ft. cambell, ky. to ft. polk, la. for those of you familiar with this blog, you know my gratitude to every soldier for the job they do to keep us safe. being able to transport them would, and is, a high honor for me.
our trip started out with thirty buses picking them up and relaying them to a truckstop in west tennessee. from there me, as well as 30 fresh drivers were to take them the rest of the way, about 550 miles. i got a call from my partner that they would be meeting me in about one hour. so, i waited. after about 2 1/2 hours, i called him back. he told me they had been involved in a wreck and were waiting om law enforcement to finish their investigation. a big truck rear ended one of the buses on the interstate and pushed him into the bus in front . the bus in the middle has some serious damage and was out of service. a new bus was coming and they would soon be on their way. finally, they were released to continue their trip. all this being said, by the time they got to us, we had been waiting almost 4 hours. when they arrived, they had to eat. by the time we loaded, we were pulling out at 4pm. we were supposed to leave at 11am. 2 exits later, the transmission on one of the buses went out. those soldiers were divided and put on the other buses. by the time we got to ft. polk, la. at 345am, we were tired. especially the soldiers. when i was watching them unload their equipment, it occurred to me they not only had all of their equipment but their guns as well. i started talking to one of the leaders on my bus. nice guy. he was picking up the body armour vests and tossing them like it was nothing. as they hit the ground, it sounded like bricks falling. i picked it up and i was amazed at how heavy it was. i asked him and he said it was about 40-45lbs. and, it did not have the side plates in so add another 5-10 pounds. i asked him about their rucksacks and he said they were about 45lbs and their equipment/supply belts were another 10-15lbs. then, their helmets are made of kevlar. add another 5lbs. so, when these guys are training, they are carrying 100-120lbs. my 2 youngest children together don't weigh that much!!! i can not imagine going on a 5-10 mile hike with this stuff but they do. and then, i asked about their weapons. now, i have been raised with guns and have owned at least one since i was about knee high. he explained the features of his rifle and then he handed it to me. add another 5lbs.!!! it was heavy and just by the feel you could tell they had some of the best and most technologically advanced equipment in the world. it was incredible to hold this. as i got lost in the moment, i looked him in the eye to thank him for taking the time to show me this stuff. i was blind sided by the reality that of the 44 guys on my bus, some may not make it back from their next deployment. these were guys that could be our neighbors, our sons, daughters, or kids that grew up with my kids. the sting of reality brings a soberness that leads to the fact that these guys do what they do for me. and you. and this great country. they did it by choice. they chose to do all of this so i can breathe free air. they could be married, going to college or a host of other things. they chose to do this for me and you. next time you see a soldier, thank him for a job well done. you may not agree but he is fighting for you to maintain your right of voice. they fight so someone will not take that away. Sgt., thanks.
until next time...