Josh,
Man I know ther feeling. Here I sit north of you,and I can feel your pain. I have been here for about 10 days and I really miss my family. But I know they are ok and the sacrifice I make today will be worth it down the road. I have been married for 19 years and both my kids are much older, but the distance and the being away still takes its toll. The cobra will always be there, but birthdays, anniversaries and Holidays can never be replaced.
I still have 8 months to go on my year long deployment. I talk to my wife and kids daily even ifs only for a few minutes. It make my day. It gets me through the loneliness and stressfull times. I know the conditions you live in and I what you face. Be glad you your not dodging mortars.
Things will work out and it sounds like you have the best person in your corner, which is your wife. I know mine deserves all the credit for this deployment. They deserve the medals and the recognition. I volunteered for this almost 26 years ago. If you stay I hope to meet you in Bucca. I will be coming down your way to viist my troops. I have your pad location so I can look you up and we talk cobras, and brag about our wife and kids.
Right now the best medicine besides my family, is these forum and the wonder people in the Texas Cobra club. My wife gets a calls and emails from the club asking if she needs any help. That's why we say in Texas its the people not the cars.
Becareful and you can PM and I will get you my email addy and we can trade cobra stories.
Gregg H
Located some where in Disney Sand-Bagdad