Closing Thoughts for 2008

As I prepare to leave and return to Iraq and 2008 comes to an end I wanted to reflect on my time here with family and friends. I didn't get to see as many friends as I would have liked and certainly didn't spend as much time with family as I wanted, but I am thankful to have been allowed to spend this Christmas with my family while many serving our Nation could not. In my nearly 28 years of marriage I have never missed a Christmas because of work. I've been called in and had to leave for a few hours, but never have I missed Christmas. Many of you probably have also never missed Christmas or other important family events. That is not the case for our military and the many support personnel that serve with them. While some do get the opportunity to come home the vast majority do not. Pray for them as this year comes to a close and the new year begins.
My time home was wonderful, but not as you might expect. To be honest with you the separation from Nancy and the kids has been so difficult the thought of returning to Iraq often consumed me. It was, at times, hard to focus on what was going because my mind was on having to return. Nevertheless, my family and I had a great Christmas and are trying to get excited about the New Year despite my leaving here on the 3rd of January.
I met a friend of mine for breakfast this morning and had a great time of fellowship and sharing. During our time together he explained to me that unhappiness and even depression are natural responses to very difficult times. He also reminded me that although God never promised that we would at all times enjoy great happiness if we trust in Him, He did promise to never leave us and to never forsake us and that nothing He does is by accident and without purpose. Thank you Sam.
Twice this week I had the opportunity to play golf with another friend of mine. One day was as pretty as a golf day could be and the other was played in near hurricane winds (not really, but it was really blowing). How we finished I'll never know, but finish we did and had a great time. While our score keeping is a little more relaxed than the PGA I'm pretty sure I won. Don't worry George you'll get another shot at me when I return home in June.
Friday I will meet my Pastor for breakfast. While I don't know yet what all we will discuss I am grateful that he has set time aside for me before I leave. Until you leave for a long time it is hard to understand how much you miss and how important people are too you. I often wonder how difficult it must have been for our soldiers during WWI & II and even through the Vietnam War. There was no Internet or cell phones, just the mail and even now that often takes weeks to arrive. Talk about lonely. These guys had little or no contact for months and sometimes longer, and their deployment periods were often much longer. Such sacrifice is amazing to me.
My hope and prayer is that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and will experience the full extent of God's blessings in the new year. I am posting a picture of the Christmas tree the guys back in Mahmudiyah erected prior to my leaving. While it is nothing spectacular it signifies a strength and resolve to celebrate our way of life no matter where we are or what our current circumstances may be. I hope that no matter your situation God finds you and me faithful and clinging to the hope He has promised us all. Sometimes life is not so good, but God is always great!
Happy New Year!

Letter to Emily's Class

Emily's 5th grade class wrote letters to the Soldier's in Dale's unit and I thought I would share Dale's response with you all:

Dear Mrs. Whitehurst & Mrs. Hancock,

Let me begin by telling you how much I appreciate the letters you and your students sent. I will be giving them to our US Army Chaplain who distributes them to just the right soldiers.Your students have done a marvelous job writing them and a great service to our country. That's right guys, I know you may not realize it, but when you write letters of encouragement you lift up the spirits of our troops and help them to carry on and complete the mission. That is a great American service that makes me very proud of each of you.
I also appreciate your prayers. Prayer, for me in my family, is a big part of our lives.

Iraq is a small country with lots of sand and rocks. Some places remind me of home without the ocean. However, I have visited a part of Iraq that is lush with beautiful orange groves, grape vineyards, apple, pear and palm trees. As far as the economy goes, the Iraqi people are typically very poor. A lot of homes I have seen are made of mud bricks and some even have thatched roofs. On the other hand I have seen beautiful palaces made for Kings.

Our conditions here are pretty good right now. A lot of the soldiers do sleep in tents, but they are equipped with heat and air conditioning. Not quite like the tents you may have camped out in. Our food is good, but not as good as it is back home. We don't have restaurants we can go to and that is a real bummer! I especially miss the pizza back home and can't wait to have one!

I want you guys to know that our soldiers, (and girls, you will be proud to know there are a lot of girls in the army), are doing a great job of keeping peace and helping the Iraqi people to have a better way of life than they did before the war. Our soldiers are full of love and compassion and work very hard to keep the Iraqi people safe from terrorism. Besides building and supplying schools they also help establish businesses, and water & power plants. They help build bridges, roads and even parks and zoos (They helped re-establish the Baghdad Zoo). They do so much more than fight and you have a right to be very proud of them and of being an American citizen. Our military is the only one I know of that just doesn't beat the enemy and leave. They always help the people rebuild their lives. They are tough guys and girls and they are doing as well as can be expected being away from the home they love so much.

Like me, they miss their families very much, but they know that what they do is important to everyone back home. They believe in our Country, our way of life and more importantly they believe in you. These warriors do get scared from time to time, but they never let fear stop them from doing what is right. That is what true courage is and you don't have to be in war to be a warrior possessing true courage. Being a true warrior is an achievement of character. It is standing up, at all costs, for what you believe. You too can be warriors at home and in your classroom. Have discipline, respect those in authority and always tell the truth even when it may cost you. You do those things and you too will be warriors.

In closing, Mrs. Whitehurst, it is very tough being away from those you love. You have a certain little red head in your class that I love and miss dearly. Please give her, and all your students in fact, a big hug from me. I look forward to seeing their smiling faces when I return.

God bless you all,

Dale Hamilton, Emily's proud Dad
1-63 2BCT 1AD
APO AE 09322

PS: Emily, I'll see you on the 18th. Love you
FOB Mahmudiyah, Iraq

The War

When you think of our soldiers in Iraq you obviously think about the trials they face in a war torn country and rightly so. These young soldiers risk their lives daily for us. They do it without hesitation because they believe in something bigger than themselves. They find themselves running into the face of danger with great courage and no regrets. They fight a war between good and evil and unfortunately it is not the only enemy they are confronted with.
The war between good and evil rages on inside of them as well. Many of these young soldiers came over here without question knowing that it was their duty. Yes, they did it because they had to, but what they didn't have to do is sign on the dotted line. Remember this is an all volunteer army.
However, their loved ones didn't always sign on with them. So many of our young soldiers face the enemy we know as terrorism, and the one we know as divorce. It is so sad to see and hear about young men going through agony because they can't be home fixing something that just isn't right. Chances are they wouldn't be able to fix it anyway with no more commitment than that, but they are here and they cannot leave their post.
The other night we had a young soldier threaten suicide by leaving a couple of notes for friends. Thank God they were real friends who knew to report it immediately. He was found signing out ammo from the supply office. Who knows what would have happened if they had just hesitated for but a while. That young man is now in observation. I am not sure what is going to happen to him. He'll probably be sent home and may even lose his military career, but at least he is alive.
There are many other stories, but I am not going to share them all here. I really hate to write about the negative and I know that is not what you have come to expect from me. Typically my writings are all positive, but this is a reality that will not go away by wishing it so.
So next time you pray for our soldiers pray for more than just their safety in war. Pray for their spiritual health, pray for their families and loved ones at home, pray for them all to have the courage, commitment and love for one another that binds them together. Pray that they all know or will know our Heavenly Father who loves us so much and who has promised to never forsake us.
I am so glad I am among a fellowship of believers who know how to love because we have been shown how to love by the one who loves us.
God bless you all and God bless our American Soldiers

Living the Dream

THANKFUL

Today is Thanksgiving Day. A day to be with family & friends. A day to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy as free Americans. I really wish we would recognize everyday as Thanksgiving Day, but today is the day set aside by our Government to stop what you are doing and take the time to recognize and enjoy the abundance of blessings.So I too, even in Iraq, will stop to consider all I have to be grateful for.

I am thankful for family. I am not with my natural family today and those of you reading this know that. I miss them terribly and wish to God I could be with them, but I cannot and they know and understand that. Nancy, Evan & Emily I love you all very much. I am however, with my adopted family, the United States Army. As Christians we understand the meaning & importance of adoption. We were orphaned to this world, but loved by a great God who pursued us and adopted us in to His own. Here, I could easily be lost, alone and hungry for companionship, but not so. My adopted family has taken me in as one of their own and I have come to realize the significance of belonging to the "Band of Brothers". Here they take care of one another. They make sure you are included, and well fed I might add. They genuinely care for you and want you to feel as if you belong to their family. With this comes a significant sense of duty. This, perhaps, is the core reason they are willing to lay down their lives for one another. They know how to love, they know how to live.

I am thankful for traditions.Today was the ceremonial Combat Patch Award Day. A day when every soldier who wears the uniform is presented with their brigades combat patch. They earned it the day they set foot in the theater of war. These brave men & women receive a patch from their commanders that tell the world that they are combat veterans. Again, my family did not forget me. I too received my combat patch.
I am thankful for the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner that our military cooks made so well. If you are eating it at home today, the chances are we are eating it here as well. We even have something most of you back home don't. We have a real turkey (Iraqi Turkey) in a cage just outside the mess hall. Don't worry, he received a Commander's pardon.

I am thankful for my Country. I am thankful to be able to wake up as a citizen of the greatest country on earth and enjoy my freedom, liberty and ability to worship freely without the threat of persecution. I am blessed! Who would have thought that a small group of pilgrims on three relatively small ships would have endured so much, with so little, in the pursuit of freedom and evolve in to the greatest Nation in the world?
Against all odds we survived and prospered with only one explanation. We were blessed as a Nation from our humble beginnings by a God that loved us and desired for us to be free to worship Him.

I am thankful for all the men & women of our Armed Forces. The country and the freedom we enjoy was certainly not free. It has come at a huge cost. Many American lives have been lost over the years to maintain Her and to leave Her for others to enjoy. Men & women willing to lay down their lives for you and for me. Wow, that kind of reminds you of Christ's love for us. He willingly took the punishment of the world and died on the cross that we may live. So what does God say about the kind of love demonstrated by our military? "This ia how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
He also says there is no greater love. That is strong, Army strong ( I may be somewhat biased, but that does add a nice touch, doesn't it?)

So today as you celebrate with friends and family, as you eat way too much and over indulge in the NFL, take just a moment to thank God for everything you have been given, for family and friends, for the men & women who are full of love and willingness to sacrifice, and most of all for a God that loves us so much He sent His son to die for our sins.
Today is a day to be thankful!

Home Far Away

I am hoping soon we will be able to post new pictures for you to see. However, in the absence of pictures I am going to try to describe the place I live.
FOB Mahmudiyah is a small base 19 miles south of Baghdad. It is actually shaped kind of like a baseball field and not much bigger. There are some beautiful palm date trees and some weeping willows, cork screw willows I believe. I have even found a Formosa tree here. There is no grass. Mostly it is just rocks and sand. When the sand storms kick up it can be pretty miserable. When it rains, which isn't much, the sand becomes a very heavy mud and it is everywhere.
I am blessed to have a private room in the B-DOC, or Base Defense Operations Center. It is much bigger than I thought probably measuring somewhere around 15 x 12 feet. It used to have windows, but they are all boarded up. Windows is something we don't have the luxury of with the threats we face. The B-DOC is where they monitor the perimeter with video surveillance and other means. The soldiers here are responsible for base security. Here too is the FOB Mayor. You see the Army runs their bases very much like small towns. Someone has to field complaints and make sure all infrastructure issues are working as they should be, such as water, showers, toilets, food, electricity...This is not an easy job.
I work in the main building which is a short walk from the B-DOC. I work in the TOC, or Tactical Operations Center. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what I do. I like to tell people it is GS-13 Classified. My rank equivalent is GS-13 and the work I do is classified. I work both with Military Intelligence and Military Operations.
I can tell you that I enjoy my work. I am often bored with little to do, but that is actually a good thing when you are in a war zone. On the other hand, being bored often leaves me with too much time to think of how much I miss my family. I have to constantly be on guard and focus solely on Jesus for my comfort and strength.
Having read Rick's opening sermon for 40 Days of Purpose, I can tell you that out of necessity here it is easier to give yourself completely to the Lord. He is all I have. Don't wait until you are in the desert to give yourself completely to the Lord. Do it now. Enjoy all that He has to offer and don't miss out on a thing.
God bless you and may you walk with the Lord always!

Old Guys Rule!

Haji Abbas!

Recently I was having chai tea with a Colonel from the Iraqi Army. If you have never had Chai, it is the Iraqi equivalent to ice tea only with a lot more sugar and served hot. I have grown quite fond of hot tea. Anyway, when I was introduced with 30 years of experience in law enforcement, he smiled and gave me the name Haji Abbas. The interpreter tells me that Abbas simply means name. Haji, on the other hand, loosely translates to "here Old guys really do rule." The word actually refers to ones wisdom and they do believe that wisdom comes with age. It was a title of honor and I was grateful for his kindness and respect.
I met recently with the local Judges for our area. They certainly looked the part of western judges. They were very friendly and once again my old age came in to play and very much worked for me. They respect our military, but most of these Officers are still young men so when I am there it actually seems to help.
I am so grateful for this experience and the opportunity to serve along side our military, the Iraqi military, the Iraqi Police and the citizens of Iraq. It is a country much improved from times past. I often think of the blood shed in order to make this place the place it is now. It is not completely safe, nor is any American City, but when you see the crowded markets and commerce and government being carried on, it really makes you think about the sacrifice of those that shed their blood for this day. People are walking, playing, going to school and doing business on streets that not that long ago were battle grounds. Evil had taken over, but good overcame and in the end God will have His victory.
God bless you all and God bless our Country

In His Care

Hey guys! I know it has been a while, but the Internet is not so good where I am. Thank God that Nancy has learned how to post for me!

Things are good here, but missing home is common and sometimes downright depressing. I have very good days which go right along with very bad days. November 4th was not such a good day. I'm missing home terribly and I find out our Country has elected someone whose ideas scare me. He looks presidential, sounds presidential (at times) and has the presidential picture perfect family. However, his views are sharply in contrast to my more conservative views. What can I do? Trust God and pray that President Elect Obama does a terrific job. Pray for President elect Obama to have great wisdom and pray for his protection. This is an unprecedented, historical event which will bring out the worst in some, and hopefully the best in others.

November 4th was also the day Kitty Hawk Elementary School elected Emily Hamilton to serve as the 5th Grade Student Body President. Wow! I couldn't be more proud of her. The way I see it we are batting .500 in Presidential races.

This past week my son, Evan, turned 16! I am so proud of him for the young man he has become. He loves the Lord and is very active in Church, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and hanging out with well grounded young people. He is also an honor student and often takes the opportunity to share his faith in the classroom. Many of you don't know that because the other thing that makes me proud is his humility. He never speaks much of his own accomplishments. He cares deeply for others as Emily does.

Nancy, my wife, also turned....a year older this week! Certainly you didn't expect me to reveal her age? Oh how I wish I could have been there. So, while missing the events in my wife and kids lives is hard I know I am here for a purpose greater than me. I can't claim to know all the reasons I am here, but I am sure that God has a plan for me, just like He does for you, and it does not always involve comfortable surroundings. It may simply be a time of growth. A time to grow closer to Him without all the distracting comforts of life. All I know, is just like with the election, I choose to trust Him. Trust Him with my family, trust Him with our nation, and trust Him with my loneliness . I choose to give it to Him for His purposes and for His glory.

Soldier's Poem

I found this today on the wall in a bunk room where one of the soldiers from another assignment slept.

A Soldier's Poem

An Endless Beach that has no Ocean
Where Beauty and Peril Lie
Uncertainty at a Market Place
The Smell of Emotions Tide
Exotic Scents and the Stench of War
Blend in Desert Haze
A Token Gift to a Grateful Child
Shortens a Long Weary Day
Over the Din of Soldiers Voices
Floats a Sweet Familiar Tune
It Transports our Flagging Spirit Home
Across the Hot Wind Swept Dunes
Just for a Minute you Feel Yourself
Safe In the Warm Embrace
Comforted by the One's you Love and
Memory of Each Caring Face.

Author Unknown Soldier
Plan your next

Letter From Iraq

Hello Everyone. Dale has limited access to the Internet right now so I am doing a guest post. I have attached a copy of a letter that Dale wrote to Evan's Highschool Creative Arts Class at First Flight High School. The students in this class all wrote letters to Dale before he left to go to Iraq and his response to those letters is not only touching, it is very insightful and powerful. It is the best letter that I have ever read.

Enjoy your day everyone and please take some time out of your day today to VOTE!
Blessings,
Nancy Hamilton

Dear Ms Leatherwood & Class,

I want to thank you for all the letters you wrote to the soldiers in my Battalion. I took the time and read every one of them, and I am sure the guys will be impressed and moved by your support of them. Some of you pointed out that you either disagree or have reservations about the war, but still shared your support for the men & women defending our Nation. I am impressed with your honesty and your willingness to see beyond your personal feelings about why we are there. Our soldiers need and appreciate your support. Let me share a little about them and what they do.

Our soldiers are doing a job few are willing to do. The decision to join the military should never be one taken lightly. It is not for everyone. I once read that the bravest thing a soldier will ever do is sign up to serve, the rest is simply their duty. You should know that our young men and women are eager to serve their Nation even when death is starring them in the face. They believe there are things worth dying for and our way of life is one of them. I am not a soldier, but I am proud to be serving beside them. For the most part, they are unshakable in their commitment to making Iraq a safe place for families to live, play, and go to school, things we take for granted.

There is something else you should know. I have been on several missions with the units over here and they do a lot more than defeat the enemy. On one mission they traveled into hostile areas to deliver a wheel chair to an 8 year old girl who has never been able to walk and who is totally dependent on relatives to carry her if she moves at all. On another mission they delivered school supplies to two local schools. Things like back packs, chalk, pencils and paper. Again, things we take for granted. They check to make sure local health clinics are safe enough for people who need medical attention can go without fear. What they do is really incredible. They have even built schools and clinics when none exist or they are destroyed.

I am telling you these things because I think it is important to know that our Country does more than defeat the enemy. One thing that separates us from all other countries is our humanity and compassion for others. We may destroy, but we never leave without rebuilding and often leaving a nation better than it was to begin with.

I am so proud of our Country and the young men and women who defend her. I am also mindful of the many who served so valiantly yet never made it home to see the great things their sacrifice made possible. Next time you see a soldier thank them. They won't expect it and they don't do it for your thanks. They do it because they believe in something bigger than themselves. They believe in this great Country and they believe in you. They know that your freedom of speech is important, that your right to choose how to worship, where to live and what to become are important. They know how much you are capable of accomplishing when able to do so free of fear.

What our soldiers do and why they do it has nothing to do with politics. To engage in war is not their decision, that is left to our elected officials. However, our soldiers stand ready at all times to defend our freedom and the freedom of anyone who can't defend themselves against tyranny and oppression.
You can have no worse enemy or better friend than the United States Military. When duty calls they will be there.

Well I guess that is enough for now. In closing, I pray our soldiers will all come home safely knowing that many will not. I pray also for you. That you would honor their sacrifice by being the best you can be at whatever you choose to do.

God bless you all,

Evan's Dad

Dale Hamilton
1-63 CAB HHC LEP
FOB Mahmudiyah
APO AE 09322

Mission or Missions?

The other day I went on my first military mission although it reminded me more of missions work than what I believed to be military missions. While our trip served multiple purposes, most of which I cannot share, one of our goals was mission critical. We delivered a wheel chair to an 8 year old Iraqi girl who's only mode of transportation to this point in her life was to be carried by her relatives. While the wheel chair aided her relatives more than the little girl it was very gratifying to be part of such an important mission. Unfortunately you will never read about this in the paper or see it on the nightly news.
There were many children at this home and they were all so beautiful. I know it sounds odd, but that somehow amazed me as though I thought perhaps they would be ugly because of the ugly situation their country is in. These children look just like ours with the exception of most of them being brown eyed, black her and dark skin. They waved, smiled and just got excited seeing the American Soldiers. It was truly a blessing to be there.
One of the elder women of this family spoke to me as though I could understand and speak her language. She kept pointing at a young man, about the age of my son, and was obviously telling me a story about him. The interpreter came over and helped me when he saw I was struggling big time. The lady was telling me that the young man was an orphan. Terrorist had taken his father away and he had no other relatives. They were taking care of him.
Today a Sgt. delivered the message at Chapel on being salt and light to the world. It was delivered very well and really got me thinking about what our young men do. Whether they know it or not they are bringing salt and light to a very dark world. Whether they know it or not they are doing God's work and serving God's people.
I know we have a tendency of thinking of our soldiers as the best trained killers in the world, and they are, but to think that is their sole purpose is a gross misunderstanding of their mission.
These young men & women do what few will for little financial gain. They do it for little thanks and often for a Country that treats them as evil. Oddly enough they may never see the fruit of their labor, but just like us when we labor for the Lord none of it is in vain. The outcome is up to God. We are here to serve His purpose.

God bless you all and do what you can do, not expecting to see the beauty of what is to come.

In Country!

Hello everyone. I am now in Iraq and living the dream. To be able to support our troops and our Country in this way is extremely gratifying and truly an honor.
I hope everyone at the beach is doing well and adjusting to school and the quiet time we know as the off season.
I have not been able to blog in a while, but now hope to have an entry for you once a week. It is difficult to get to a computer and the Internet on most days, but I think once a week I should be able to manage.
As usual I have a request, please continue to pray for our soldiers, the Iraqi Army, Police and citizens, as well as the many civilians that are here in support of OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
It is overwhelming what the coalition troops are doing here. I am proud to be an American and of the many positive changes made to the lives of the people of Iraq by our Country and allies. You can be proud to whether you support the war or not. There are great things being done here and much more to follow.

God bless you all

Home

I have been home now since Friday night the 12th of September. Just a few more days and I head out again and rejoin the military family I am now a part of.
Coming home has been a truly wonderful thing for me. Just putting my toes in the sand, going to my Church, singing along with our worship team (it's the best in the world), seeing friends and especially spending time with my wife and kids.
Emily's Birthday was wonderful and we all had a good time celebrating together. I got to watch Evan play baseball on Sunday and that too was a blessing. Our team lost, but that didn't seem to matter to any of us.
It is so nice to have a home. Some place where you feel comfortable, where you can relax knowing you are among those that love you and care for you.
Thanks to all my friends for kindness to me and my family.
God bless you all and God bless and keep my family.

9-11 We Must Not Forget!

As I sit in my hotel room at 8:46 am eastern time, and listen and watch the events of that tragic day repeat themselves, I still feel the same intensity of hurt, anger & pride I felt that day in 2001 when I sat in a conference room just outside Washington, DC.
I was trapped in DC for the next three days fortunate enough to be staying in a friends apartment just blocks from the Capitol. I remember praying to get home for my daughters 4th birthday on 9-15, & at the same time wanting so badly to stay & some how help. That sense of helplessness is one that will allows be with me & I am certain is shared by all who love this great country and watched in horror as terrorists committed such horrific & cowardly attacks on this place we love.
As we remember the brave fire, police & emergency medical personnel who gave themselves in heroic efforts to save innocent Americans, please don't forget the soldiers who continue to give of themselves, their families and their lives.
The war on terrorism is not over. Please remember & do not be lulled in to the same false sense of security you may have found yourself in on 9-11, 2001 at 8:45am.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET!

By the way, I did make it home for my daughters birthday. I made it home because a friend was willing to make the journey to get me in his personal car at a time when all forms of public transportation were standing still.
Thanks David, you are a true friend.

As He Is

In a day and time when shopping is almost akin to therapy, we will usually find the clearance aisles loaded with products and people. There we can also see the "As Is" items-something is wrong with them, so we get them at bargain prices, take them home and fix them up. Imagine how God has taken us "As Is," full of flaws and imperfections. He has purchased us far above a bargain price, for it cost Him His only begotten Son. How immense is God's love for us that He would choose us for His own, cleanse us through and through, and transform us from "As Is" to As He Is." So if we ever feel like anything less, we can call to mind what God has fixed us up to be in Christ Jesus-a pearl of great price-for now we are the children of God.

Leticia Skelton

Remember our God delights in His children. You are loved!

Deployment as an act of worship

Today Pastor Waters spoke to a congregation largely preparing to deploy to Iraq. Scripture reading was from 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." He spoke eloquently and very much too the point. He spoke of great sacrifice, death & fear. He acknowledged the great respect he has for our soldiers pointing out that God's word says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
Pastor Waters then reminded us that nothing we can do will get us to heaven apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Wow! That means that, even though our soldiers are willing to lay their life down for one another, they won't go to heaven without the knowledge and belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
I guess it is sometimes understandable how some believe that earthly goodness will get you to heaven. However, we know the way, the truth & the light.
I am proud to say that there are many believers in our military, however, there are those that do not believe and really need our prayers. These are not good people, in many ways they are great people, yet their salvation uncertain.
Please pray for the truth to be revealed to all who are blind by the ways of this world. Pray for God's will in Iraq and His will in our lives as we pray that God will use us according to His will for His glory. If you Love the Lord you will suffer. May I count my time away from my beautiful wife and kids as my sacrifice for Jesus. Use me Lord according to Your will & bless my family with Your comfort & care.
God bless you all & God bless the USA. I love this country!

Thankful

Today was one of those days. They don't come along much, but ocassionally I have one of those days where I just miss my family and friends so much I forget about all of the blessings in my life. I feel miserable, or make myself feel miserable, and just don't want to do anything accept mope. Then you call on those that understand, right?
Well the first person I called understood perfectly well and basically put me in my place. She doesn't care much for mopers and helped me to remember how grateful I am, or should be, to be in the position I am in. That person is my wife, Nancy. God uses her regularly to put me in my place and I don't mind admitting it. In fact, I am grateful for it.
The second person is one who understands great suffering yet never let's it get in the way of worship. Tommy & his wife Claire have been through the ringer and always seem to come out fine on the other side. I don't mean to say that everything turns out rosy, but they have achieved something many never will. They are content with their situation whatever that may be at the moment. They would love for things to be different, but they never complain and are always a blessing to others. They know that God is in control. I know they are a blessing to me.
Tommy, Claire, I love you both and I am glad God has put you in my life. I will continue to pray that God blesses you and heals you.

Psalm 139:1-10

This morning's sermon at Church was on Psalm 139:1-10. It was an excellent service & I encourage you to read the scripture again or perhaps for the first time. Verse 1 alone, "Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me", is enough to both scare me and fill me with joy at the same time. It scares me because with God there are no secrets & my sin cannot be hidden. It fills me with joy because I know I can never be the man I should be, but that's OK because Jesus Christ gave himself for me so I wouldn't have to be. I am redeemed!

One other observation I want to share with you from this mornings service. Men out numbered the women two to one. Men with battle hardened faces, some with wives and children and many on their own or with other Godly men. What significance does this hold? Perhaps it is but a small sign that our men, God's men, are ready to fulfill their roles as the spiritual leaders of their families, Churches & communities. Not weak men, but men of great courage, strength & power. I was moved by their presence.

Thank you Lord for all You do & all You are. God bless our military & God bless our Country.
Isaiah 6:8 "Here am I. Send me!"

Roll Tide Roll!

Wow! I have been waiting on this day for the last year with great anticipation. For those of you who know me you know I am a Crimson Tide man through & through. While I may pull for the USC Gamecocks (when they are not playing the Tide), the Crimson Tide has and always will be my team. You college football fans can understand my excitement with Alabama's 34-10 victory over the #9 Clemson Tigers & USC's in State rival. Roooooll Tide!

I know it may seem trivial to most, but my biggest disappointment with my impending deployment overseas is that it takes place during the heart of the college football season. Please pray they play a lot of Alabama games on the Armed Forces Network.

I know most of you would rather here about my military experiences, but please indulge me the occasional totally unrelated blog.

1-63 CAB Batallion Ball

Yesterday I attended my first military ball. It was amazing with all the pomp & circumstance our military hero's deserve. The Battalion Commander, LTC Bradford & CSM Lehr were there in their formal dress blues with all the ribbons & medals earned the hard way. They stood for the first hour or so greeting the hundreds of military men & women & their spouses who came for this memorable formal occasion. As things got kicked off they honored those before them & those present with a time honored military tradition of mixing a brew of different types of alcohol poured in a large agricultural tub by each of the Company Commanders and their First Sergeants. It begins with a punch beverage but is quickly transformed in to mixture of wine, brandy, whiskey, beer, rum & vodka. The CSM has the duty of ensuring the brew fit for consumption. Before acknowledging that it was fit for consumption CSM Lehr requested permission to add his own special ingredient. With permission being granted he pulled out an old holey military sock and mixed it in. Again he tasted to ensure it was fit to drink. When it was complete the junior enlisted soldier at each table was given the duty of rushing to the tub and filling a pitcher for those at their table.
The guest speaker for the event was Lt. General Caldwell who's father was the Commanding General of Fort Jackson, SC when my family arrived there in 1973. A building on Fort Jackson is named after his grandfather. As you can tell General Caldwell has quite a family history of distinguished military service. During a conversation with the General he gave me a coin. Military coins representing your command are also a time honored tradition and getting them is considered an honor.
At the conclusion of the of the formal event and dinner a DJ played while the soldiers and their significant others danced throughout the rest of the evening.
Not being a drinker I am not accustomed to being around all the alcohol & those liberally partaking in it. However, even in this environment I couldn't help but admire the men & women who were being honored at this ball. The last formal event prior to being separated from their loved ones & deployed to a war many of there own politicians don't support despite an overwhelming vote by congress to send them in the first place. Yet their commitment does not waver. The motto of the Big Red One is "No mission to tough, no sacrifice to great, danger forward, mission first".
Continue to pray for these young soldiers and the loved ones they leave behind. We may never be able to repay them for what they do, but we can make sure we honor them with our support, respect, love & prayers.
God bless our military & God bless America!

Half Century Mark

Yesterday I celebrated my 50th birthday here at Fort Riley, Kansas. I missed my wife & kids very much, as always, & longed to be with them. I am thankful, however, that I have a friend here and I was able to enjoy a wonderful day. It started with Church, then a round of golf, and then a cook out. It ended with me seeing & speaking to my family thanks to Skype (web cam). While it was not as nice as being able to hug them it certainly was better than nothing. Thank God for technology.

Yesterday's sermon was from Acts 3:1-10. It was delivered beautifully by the Division Chaplain who was obviously anointed to deliver this particular message. The scripture tells of the crippled man who was placed at the temple gates, called Beautiful, where he was carried everyday in order to beg for money. When the man sees Peter & John coming he ask them for money. Peter looks at the man dead in the eye and says "look at us" as to say "do we look like we have money". I love what Peter then offers the man. "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Lately my biggest prayer has been that God would fill me overflowing with His Holy Spirit and to give me His authority to minister to His people. This sermon answered a question that often nags at me & sometimes keeps me from being who God wants me to be. What do I have to offer? I have little money, little talent, and I am getting old, or older. What do I have of value that I can pass on? We, Christians, have the most valuable gift of all & one we received free of charge. We have the Holy Spirit residing in us and the ability to share Him with others.

I am working with a bunch of young men who don't have much in terms of material wealth, but what they have, their very lives, they are willing to risk for their country & you. I miss my family very much, but I have to remind myself that there are young Sergeants here who have deployed several times, each time leaving their family for you, me and even those who don't support what they do. Perhaps we can share God's gift with them.

I am thankful for these young American heroes and grateful for a home church that is willing to support these young men in prayer while they are deployed. Nags Head Church, led by Pastor Rick Lawrenson, will be teaming up with the Big Red One, 1st Battalion, 63rd CAB in our mission to free Iraq & her citizens from the fear of terrorism.

Thank you Nags Head Church family. I know I didn't speak much of my birthday, but as we like to say "it's not about me". Besides, the most important birthday is our spiritual birthday which I share with Nancy, April 1993. Evan accepted Christ & was born again in 2002 & Emily in June of this year. I rejoice in the knowledge that my family is heaven bound. We are not perfect and will never be, but we have been redeemed by the perfect Lamb, my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
Because of what He did, my day was blessed.

Heros at Home

I just finished watching all the different slide shows of this year's "Impact Outerbanks" and it touched me, made me miss all of the youth (especially two in particular), and at the same time made me swell with pride because of the outstanding things our young people are doing under the guidance of some Godly adult leadership.
It reminded me that being a hero does not just mean that you are willing to sacrifice your lives for freedom, but it also can refer to simple acts of love & kindness that each of us are capable of showing others. Being a hero does, however, require some form of sacrifice. Thanks to all the adult leaders, and youth who sacrificed their summer time to impact others for Christ. To me you represent the heros at home by your efforts to save the spiritual lives of others.
Hello to all the FCA leaders at First Flight Middle & High School! Miss you all and hope to see you soon.

In Christ we are one,

Dale

Living The Dream

Yesterday I had the opportunity to train on the BATS/HIIDE. This equipment takes bio-metric measurements and is responsible for the capture of many wanted terrorists. In short you can take a picture of someones iris, take a facial picture, and scan their fingerprints all in one unit that then uploads the information in to a large database. Amazing technology, but even more amazing are the young warriors using the equipment.
A couple of weeks ago I was put through my toughest physical challenge to date. I participated in a tactical M-4 course in which I had to run 75 yards in full gear (approx. 40lbs.) carrying a 5 gallon water container in each hand. I have to say for a guy who turns 50 this coming Sunday I was impressed with myself. I not only kept up with the young Sgt running the course with me, but I actually hit some of my targets while huffing and puffing. The course included 4 different shooting positions all of which were about 25 yards apart and required you to run for cover. I made it! However, my pride was short lived when I realized that to be one of the guys that meant I had to lug the water containers back to the starting position for the next shooters. I struggled, but I was determined to finish the entire process. One of the Sgt's running the course noticed my struggles and took one of the containers from me. I accepted his help with a great deal of humility, but I was more determined to at least get the last container back on my own, which I did. However, before I made it all the way back the young Sgt I ran the course with had returned his two containers and came back to help me. I refused, but the whole process spoke to me about the type of young men (& women) we have serving our Country.
Part of the warriors creed is to never leave a soldier behind. What I have come to realize is these guys don't just read the creed, learn the creed, know the creed, they live it! When it comes to purpose & conviction, these guys get it.
Paul got it too. After being blinded in his encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus, Paul discovered his purpose. He received clear vision. He was convicted by the Holy Spirit and this conviction directed the rest of his life. Very much like our young warriors, who face great danger with purpose & conviction, Paul went about his purpose with out regard to the pain or chains he would encounter on more than one occasion.
What is your purpose? What are your convictions? Pray that God will give you clear vision to see the purpose He has given you and the conviction to live that purpose.

I'm In the Army Now!

Wow! Who would have thought that after nearly 30 years of law enforcement I would find myself in the Army? To tell you the truth I am not in the Army, but I am embedded with the 1/63 CAB, 2 HBCT, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. Either way, I can't believe that God has called me, at this age, to go into a combat zone with a bunch of young warriors to do what I do best with such significant consequences. My job is to determine who is financing, making, placing and detonating IED's that injury and kill our soldiers and innocent Iraqi citizens. While the thought of me in an army uniform at this stage in my life seems to be somewhat humorous, the consequences of my doing my job well are not. God has given me the opportunity to help save lives. I have never felt part of such a significant mission in all my life. Nor have I been around so many great Americans. These young soldiers are absolutely amazing. It is my prayer that God will use me to save both physical & spiritual lives & to do everything in my power to bring our young soldiers home safely. They inspire me.They are dedicated, tough, intelligent patriots who choose to serve their country despite the ugliness of politics, the criticisms of the ungrateful, or the risk to their own personal safety. Everyone of these young men & women deserve our undying grattitude and respect. Please let them know when ever you see one of our finest how much you appreciate the freedom they so valiantly defend.
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Evan at FCA Leadership Camp 2008

My son, Evan, recently attended a leadership camp for FCA highschool students. I am so proud of him and the young man he has become. The guest speaker, Perry Tuttle, apparently made quite an impression on Evan and others who attended this wonderful event put on by David Wall and the Eastern North Carolina District of the FCA. Evan spoke quite eloquently when asked about his experience at the camp. I will try to post part of the newsletter with Evan's response later.
God, thank you for Nancy, Evan & my beautiful daughter Emily.