As I sit here at the University Medical Center in Tucson with one of my soldiers I get to think about being asked to go back to Iraq a third time.
Said soldier was scheduled to deploy at the end of this month with his dog but as of a couple days ago after getting his wisdom teeth pulled, he has ended up in ICU with a cracked skull and blood on the brain. He's going to make a full recovery but it's going to be a 6-12 month journey.
The day following the extraction of his wisdom teeth, all doped up on vikidon, he tried to go to the restroom but instead fell and hit the toilet with the side of his head which resulted in a crack in his skull right behind the ear, a ruptured ear drum and air/blood on his frontal lobe.
He's conscious and aware but is having horrible headaches(go figure). Family is down here and as soon as he is released, he will be going home to recuperate.
...but the mission doesn't go away. We (my kennels) is still tasked with the mission. Without compromising Opsec on our manning strength let's just say the options are limited. So I should find out in a week or so if I'm going back over, which if happens, will happen relatively quickly.
Good thing I keep my bags packed. The toughest part will undoubtedly be telling the wife if/when I get the green light.