benajah

Just noticed this thread. I don't usually look at Stickys.
i did three tours, two Afghanistans, one Iraq, with the army (82nd Airborne and 173rd Airborne BDE). Was a combat engineer, but mostly in Afghanistan we were just infantrymen.
Got hit in 2005 and medically retired after more than a year at Walter Reed.
thanks to everyone who served or are serving. One thing I've seen since being out is the immense amount of support we get. The country loves you.

qcpmsame 

Benajah,
It is to you we should say thank you to after what you have been through. Are you working with Wounded Warrior Project on bicycling? Hope things go well for you, check out the Adaptive cycling forum at the top of the bike forums page if you haven't yet.

Bill

benajah

Oh yes, I have been quite involved with many of the various organizations out there. There are many very, very good ones. I particularily recommend checking out the Challenged Athletes Foundations webpage at www.challengedathletes.org. There are some very inspirational stories there. Great organization that raises money for specialized equipment for disabled athletes.

TXRR

2ndGen and to all who have replied to this thread.

I would like to say thank you for remembering troops serving oversea. I’m currently at FT. Bliss training for my upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. This will be my 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] deployment within the last 5 years. As a service member I can say that is my HONOR to defend and protect the American people and our way of life during this time of conflict. I will be headed down range in the next few weeks; only down side is that I will be unable to enjoy my new and First road bike for the next year. (Fuji Gran Fondo 3.0 Red/Black). I look forward to getting back to rejoin the fine cycling/BF community.

US Army
Military Police

TXRR

qcpmsame 

TXRR,
Stay safe in the 'Stan, my brother left last weekend to deploy as an adviser to a brigade C.O. there. He is a crime scene preservation and procedures specialist. Say Hi if you see an old guy name Eddie doing the police thing.

Drag

Hey guys and gals -

My wife and I like to send care packages to deployed soldiers who may possibly not be receiving anything from family/friends back home. Due to current policies, we can't just send a care package overseas marked "Any Soldier" because of security/safety reasons, and rightfully so.

So if anyone reading this is currently deployed or knows of someone who is, can you PM me a name and APO address? My wife would like to take care of two soldiers if possible. We've done this happily in the past and would like to continue the tradition.

I had a short stint in AFROTC, and one of the biggest downers is sitting around at mail call and everybody around you gets a letter or care package while you get nothing. Total bummer. And, heck, I'm sitting here eating cereal in the comfort of my warm kitchen, and noone's shooting at me. It's the least I can do.

So PM me please.

Thanks and God Bless all of you!!!

xheat

I am currently serving overseas and I must say I miss cycling. It started out as an alternative cardio to running but it has grown so much on me that I will return to the states and go car free/light.

Also, it is awesome to know this community is supportive of troops.

Thank you all.

BoomMcNasty

^ stay safe and thank you for your service!

thedave80

I saw this thread start the last time I was deployed and it is pretty cool to see it still going. I'm getting ready to head out again in December and should be back just in time for STP

qcpmsame 

thedave80,
Please stay safe while you are in "Stan, my brother is just deployed over there as an adviser to a brigade C.O., you will all be in my prayers.

If anyone here could contact these members that are deploying to see if they want magazines or other care packages they really appreciate them. I am full up with one in theater and another fixing to go out as well as my brother. Everyone there, we are thinking about all of you and wish you safety and peace.

bill

TXRR

Thank you and if I see Eddie I'll make sure to say hello.

TXRR

Virten

Wish this was around when I was still in the Navy (01-05). Big ups to those who were/still in!

redcon1

Happy Thanksgiving to all my brothers in arms serving away from your family this holiday.

Your service, and sacrifice is much appreciated from this old soldier. God bless you and stay safe.

Drag

My wife and I will be adopting TXRR and thedave80.

qcpmsame 

Well done Drag, Bravo Zulu for "adopting" these two members. My first adoptee, JT Wilson, rotated home last month, thankfully, and I am getting ready to ship a monthly package to Drillium Dude on Diego Garcia. Thanks to all our service members everywhere and please stay safe, We are thinking of you during this Holiday Season.

Bill

eja_ bottecchia

I just discovered this thread (I don't usually follow stickies).

Here I was thinking that I was a hardman because I ride in the rain...in the relative comfort of my local roads.

But you guys and gals in the service, deployed away from home and family in hostile lands...YOU ALL ARE the hardmen and hardwomen.

You have my deepest and most sincere gratitude for the job you do.

God bless America and God bless and keep safe in His palm the REAL hardmen and hardwomen.

jlp1976

I just redeployed from my 5th deployment. Before I left I purchased a new 63cm 2011 Cannondale CAAD 10. I was only able to ride it 4 times and cant wait to get out there and get some miles. I want to thank all of the people who still support the troops. It does mean alot. And to all of those who have served THANK YOU for your service. I have a stack of magazines I have collected throughout my deployment I would love to pass off to other troops. if anyone knows of any troops that would like to receive them let me know.

qcpmsame 

jlp,
Glad you made it safely through #5, you seem to get the short straw a lot in your MOS and unit. Thanks for serving and for protecting our freedoms. You might have to seek out someone on deployment to give the magazines to. I heard about a C&V regular leaving for Diego Garcia early next year and I P.M.ed him to ask if he would like me to send a monthly care package of magazines and anything else he needed while on deployment. He asked if I would mind sending some magazines that the less senior and younger service members may enjoy. I am glad to extend the care packages to others when it is possible.

He is an E-8, ITCS, and has deployed quite a bit over the years, so he is up on what he and the younger, less senior members might need. I got him to tell me the magazines they preferred and some other things to ease the boredom and tension they face. My last service member rotated home last month, thankfully, so I was in need of a new recipient of magazines. Watch this thread for someone deploying or already deployed and contact them. Ride Lots and Ride Safe, brother.

Oh, 63cm frame size? You are one tall dude, I'll bet when someone yells duck you still are head and shoulders above everyone else, yikes!!!

Bill

Drag

I have a cycling club meeting held monthly. Members will be bringing in magazines which I will then be sending out along with care packages to our deployed friends. There is talk about making this an official ongoing club effort.

qcpmsame 

I wanted to take time to say that I hope those serving where ever you are stationed or Det'ed to, I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza or that Hanukkah was good for you and yours.

Please be safe and don't let the bad stiff get to you. We back here appreciate all the sacrifices that you and your family make in your service. Come Home to us and enjoy riding again.

Respectfully,
Bill Barnard
LCPL, USMCR, 1975-1977

cavpilot

New forum member, new to road biking, a couple of decades in the military, far too many deployments.

Brought a mountain bike to the Balklands/Kosovo and Iraq. There were places to ride on the FOBs.

Dodging traffic on Balad AB, Afghanistan would have been ridiculously dangerous not to mention the perimeter road condition is awful.

Suggestion for the guys finishing their deployment: the USOs or MWRs could probably use the magazines.

teufelhunden222

spent 8 months in Iraq OohRah!

qcpmsame 

Semper Fi Brother, with a screen name of Devil Dog, ein deutsche, that tells me a lot. thanks for your service.

Bill

Rayon

Marine Corps, ten years active, Semper Fi.

qcpmsame 

What a family Wingsuit, great bunch of people serving our country. I have worked around the Rescue Swimmer School complex, both the old along the seawall and the new one, across the main street. I know several instructors and safety divers there. She finished one more tough school, Bravo Zulu to her. All my best wishes for everyones' safety in your family.

Semper Fidelis,
Bill