Well....
How to start? I guess for those of you not in the know, I have been placed on orders back to Korea, with a report date of 12 July. This is really short fused, but there are a multitude of factors which made this happen, with which I will not bore you. The BLUF (bottom line up front) is that I'm gone for a year. You steelheadin' fools had better leave a few of the spawners in the river so that they can make little steelies for me to catch when I get back---IF I get back. Therein lies the dilemma. There is no promise that I will return to Ft Lewis. I have been told by my most senior Sergeant Major that he will do his best to get me a return assignment here, but talk is cheap. He assured me three weeks ago that I would not go.... nuff said there. I am also screwed out of the Cowtilla, because Nicole, my 5 year old daughter, has a dance recital on the Saturday of the Flotilla at 2 in the afternoon, and I dare not miss that. Damned if you do, and surely damned if you don't. There is also the possibility that I will not get the return assignment to Ft Lewis; if that happens, I will drop my request for retirement for Feb 05, at which time I will most likely be extended in Korea until Dec 04 until my terminal leave and permissive TDY go into effect. BLUF, I'll be back in Dec 04. 23+ years is enough if those in control (*******s!) won't deal with me in good faith. So, all being said, I'm going to get short changed on the MadCowtilla (and a lot more ), and I might not see you all for quite a while. It's been fun, save a few fish for the ol' SGM, and I'll see you on the high ground.
Bob (the REALLY big one, expect a call for a trip when I get back-I owe it to ME!! I'll be going through fishing DTs!!)
I'll be doing cyberfishing from Korea, and bouncing off of the walls!
Mike