Over the next 6 mos of 1994 we would move twice. The first is from St. Louis, MO to Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. I think overall this was our hardest move. We were leaving all our friends and family to move 1200 miles away to a whole new lifestyle.
We were only to be at Fort Bliss for 5 mos for the Officer Basic Course (OBC). We didn't qualify for on post housing and "technically" I wasn't suppose to go with him. So we found this cute little...and I mean little...one bedroom apartment. We only brought our clothes and our tv and rented everything else. Our household goods were put into storage until we PCSed to our first duty station. John attended classes Monday-Friday and had the weekends off. I spent the weeks with free time on my hands for the first time in my adult life. I got to know the other wives that were there and became good friends with them. Some I'm still in touch with today. (Hi April!!!) At the end of OBC John was the top graduate, no surprise there! His reward was to spend a month in Germany learning the German ADA system and of course to party. He had a great time there and learned alot while I waited for him back in St. Louis. He got back just in time for Thanksgiving. We spent the day with our families and then we were on the move early Friday morning.
Off to Fort Polk, Leesville, LA. Lucky for us we weren't the only ones. Our friends the McC's and Pav's from OBC were assigned there also. In fact we and the McC's got to Fort Polk the same day. So Monday morning the guys headed off to sign in together and April and I went to housing together. For once Housing was nice enough to let April and I go look at housing together and they had lots to offer. By lunch we had picked out the top floor of a 4 plex, across the stairwell, together. We met the guys for lunch and then arranged for our household goods to be delivered. The rest of the week went by quickly trying to get signed into everything and to start unpacking boxes.
We would have many good times with the McC's and we are happy to still consider them friends.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog. I am a casting director for a docu-reality series sponsored by the USO about military families with loved ones stationed overseas? I'd love if you would submit to be on the show, or if know someone else who would, or just want some more info please go to WWW.ROADTOREUNION.COM
We are really trying to show the sacrifice, loyalty, and courage it takes to be a military family and can use your help.
Thanks!
Chris D'Elia