Aqua-Soft Forums(As I mean no offense to anyone on this at all, that's an affectionate term, or so I'm told...)
I work at a restaurant waiting tables... but, for two years now I've also been a member of the Vermont Army National Guard. I was sitting at work eating some steak tips with my best friend(who also works there) when one of my bosses comes up to our table with the phone and says, "It's your mommy. I think you're in trouble."
I take the phone and my mother informs me that at Leiutenant such and such had just called the house and really wanted to get ahold of me. Which is funny, as I'm in the process of an interstate transfer back to MI since I no longer go to college in VT. She said that he wanted to call me at work but she said that she didn't know if I'd be there, so she'd try to get ahold of me and that I'd call him back ASAP. Another funny thing is that this was at like, 1730, and it's the same time zone, but NG offices close at 1600. I informed her that he probably wouldn't be there it was after hours, I'd call tommorow. She retaliated in saying, he called right before I called you, he said he'd be there, it sounds important. She gives me the number. I call.
"Yes, Specialist Keeler (I'm a private as far as I know.),this is LT. Proccopio (A person I haven't seen in at least months as he was at Ranger School last I knew.) I'm going to say this fairly quickly, please refrain from asking questions until I am finished speaking. (I figure I'm getting discharged, my heart sinks...) (Todd asks if I'll need paper, I shrug my shoulders.)"
"Roger sir"
"This is an Involuntary Mobilization Order. (I needed paper NOW!)You will be part of Operation Iraqi Freedom... You will be in some place blah blah blah, you have to be in vermont for shots and physicals and stuff on 25 Oct 2004. You will ship to Ft. Dix and out again to Iraq on 15 November 2004. Blah blah blah, any questions?"
That was extremely paraphrased as I pretty much went into shock after the word mobilization. I look up at Todd and say, "I'm going to Iraq." He looses his ****.
I walk up to the office from the dining room in a haze, I inform my managers as I hand the phone back to them, "I'm going to Iraq."
My main manager who was bending over to grab something from a file cabinet looked up at me over her glasses and stayed in the same position for at least five minutes...
So... yeah, anyone know what I should take with me? I know this isn't aqua, but it's kinda earth shattering to me, more so to my friends and family who are going beserk.
