Special days away from home

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:19:08 -0500

So this last weekend my unit had a four day drill. One of the soldiers in my unit also had their birthday. During our drill we came together at Fort Lewis with our entire battalion and acted as a one battalion instead of separate companies scattered all over. We also took this opportunity to have a dining in for our battalion. The first in many years. With the help of Mister Vice we were able to make the day special for the birthday soldier and got the entire dining in to sing him happy birthday.

A few years ago I was stuck at Fort Leonardwood during Mother's day four training. One of the soldiers I was stuck with didn't drink coffee but grabbed the good creamer for me on the way out of the chow hall as a way to wish me happy Mother's day.

It's the little things that count. Those little gestures that are made by our fellow soldiers that just brighten our day and make a special day away from home not so bad. With that in mind, I'd like to hear stories of how fellow soldiers helped make special days a little less hard for you.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 1:58 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:58:03 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, one way we have done just what you are saying is - when stationed overseas - we were obviously without family (mom, dad, extended family), so we became a family for each other and celebrated holidays together. This was especially true and nice for Thanksgiving.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2015 6:09 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 18:09:37 -0400

During my first mobilization we were able to take a quick trip off base to get a birthday cake to celebrate our youngest Soldier's birthday. While at the mobilization site I ordered a TMNT cake pan for the next birthday in the section. I hand carried it to our transit point (Kyrgyzstan), where I talked a FN baker in the chow hall into baking a birthday cake with it (as long as she could keep the pan). It took me and a couple of Soldiers in the section so long to ice the cake according to the design that the Soldier thought we had forgotten her birthday and went to bed. She went from being mad that I had another Soldier drag her out of the female tent to rolling tears when we presented her with the cake. Both of these were young Soldiers so I think it helped ease the separation anxiety knowing that they would have a family looking out for them during the deployment. Sometimes the small things mean the most.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Aug 2 at 2015 12:10 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 12:10:47 -0400

Don't ask me to have any sympathy for this soldier. World-over military members miss special days all the time. What makes this Soldier so special?