ABA Journal - Law News Now

Well that was fun. One more really good trip. I left Kabul in a hurry on a Thursday night for Bagram. Spent the night in a tent and got up at 0 dark 30 to catch the hop to Kuwait.

Kuwait still sucks. Hot, dusty, no good scenery. Just a few camels lolling in the desert.

We first took a commercial flight to Amsterdam to attend a conference on the future of PRTs in the beautiful city of Maastricht. We were able to wander around Amsterdam for the day before I catching the train down to Maastrich.

Of course we visited the famous red light district. Now I know more than ever that I would never pay for it! Scary!

I didn't realize how much I had learned about PRTs and was able to contribute significantly to the conference. While there I was fortunate to run into MG Diamond an Army Reservist who is also my neighbor in Birmingham.

We then went back to Kuwait again and I said goodbye to my trusty deputy, CDR Erin Wilson. I then went over to another camp and turned in all my weapons and other gear. They didn't know how I was getting out of there. At first they had me flying via commercial air from Kuwait City all the way to San Diego. I would technically make it less than 12 hours later -- after about 24 hours of flying. Then at the last minute they had me going through Gulfport Mississippi. OK. Gulfport said they had a room for me for the entire memorial day weekend and would begin the check out process on Tuesday. I don't think so.

I booked a flight on Southwest out of BWI to Birmingham and sent them a note that I'd drive down on Tuesday. We then flew 14 hours or so to BWI, leaving Kuwait and theater around 0330 in the morning. No first class seating. I slept maybe an hour.

We got into BWI around 1:30 in the afternoon, and there was a nice group waiting for us, clapping and welcoming us home. That was actually quite touching. After a short break I got to the Southwes terminal, and hopped on board. I was fortunate enough to sit next to two big bama fans who filled me in on the details of the recruiting season and all the shenanigans that have been going on with that. Fun. Fun.

I got into Birmingham around 7:15 in the evening. My kids were waiting for me at the airport when I got off. My they have really grown. Oh my god, my daughter has boobs. How the hell did that happen? I should've kept my M-16!!!! Oh well, I think I've got a 9 mm around here somewhere.

It's great to be home. I've still got to drive down to Gulfport on Tuesday but at least I get to spend Memorial day weekend with my family. But it was a wonderful tour.

I truly appreciate the honor of getting to go over there and play a small part in our country's history. I didn't get to find Osama though. I never fired my weapon. Heck, I only heard gunfire in anger twice while I was there, and the only time I even started to draw my weapon out was when at night once I heard a dog growling at me. I still wonder where the war is going on over there sometimes. Not where I was, and I was all over that country.

I made a lot of new friends from all over the world. I now have invitations to New Zealand and Finland - and everywhere in between. I suppose that was really the great part, working with such wonderful people from all over the place. Maybe I can go back again in a few years. It would be interesting to see the progress.

But right now it's time for a little relaxation. We go to the beach in a few weeks and the kids then go to camp for a while.

I need to figure out the next big issue: What do I do now?

Sterling

All photos courtesy of Sterling DeRamus.