Ft. McCoy has completely sucked all the fun and excitement out of being back in the states.  They’ve got us in a near prison here.  We’ve had our blood drawn, asked medical questions, filled out form after form after form.  Every two minutes we hear, “Welcome Home!” (even though I still feel a million miles away from home).  And on top of it all, we’re forbidden from drinking. 

When we landed, this is what we were told (in so many words):

“Thank you for sacrificing 14 months of your life for the service of your country!  You’re forbidden to have a cold beer.  Welcome home!” 

We’re one of the first (if not THE first) units to be refused a drink back in their home country after coming back from an overseas tour.  Regardless if a soldier drinks or not, I’m extremely irked by this.

Last night I pulled on a pair of jeans and went out to the post bar creatively called “McCoy’s“.  Of course we had chaperones from our unit to be sure we didn’t drink.  I was sitting there sipping on a Coke and watching the crowd.  Annoying dance music was pounding and half the people there were in uniform.  I couldn’t help but notice that most of them didn’t have a combat patch on their right shoulder like my unit has now.  I watched as they blissfully drank beer after beer.  I couldn’t help but feel anger at how they were being rewarded for not being sent overseas.  I think I’ve taken my first step into being a crotchety old man.

The frustrations at Ft. McCoy are somehow dulling my anticipation of our ceremony on the 17^th.  I’ve been dreaming of that day for so many months now.  I imagine us all loading onto a bus and making the 4 hour trip back to the armory.  A police escort will meet us at the Wisconsin/Illinois state line.  We’ll arrive with all the bells and whistles… family members flashing cameras and news crews there to catch the tears and smiles.

But right now I’m really indifferent about it.  The ceremony is forcing us to stay at McCoy for two days longer than we’re supposed to be here.  I’m finding it hard to find happiness in being back in the United States when it isn‘t at the home I know.  I really want to enjoy the big home coming back in Illinois but I’m so jaded by the military.  I’m afraid that jadedness is going to leak out on all the people who are putting the effort into our return to the armory.

I’m grinding my teeth and mumbling, “One more day and a wake up….”