Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 33
  1. 04-01-2008, 04:14 PM #1
    Mike Barham's Avatar
    Mike Barham
    Mike Barham is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Arizona, baby!
    Posts
    5,081

    And just like that, it's over.

    I just finished my last day of demobilization briefings, and have put away my uniform for the first time in almost two years. It's a melancholy feeling in some ways. While I am happy and relieved to be home, it was strange to say goodbye to the men who have been my substitute family for the last fifteen months.

    The Bushmasters are coming home in waves, so as not to overwhelm the demobilization facilities here in Arizona. I believe more than three quarters of us are on the ground now, and I was right about in the middle of the pack, landing Sunday afternoon. Two days of demob briefings and we suddenly find ourselves free men again.

    Lots to do now! The wife and I have trips to California and Mexico planned - I have about a month of leave coming to me. I am giving some thought to returning to Galco earlier than I'd originally planned, however, if I can swing a few long weekends off. And speaking of Galco, there were several Galco employees waiting for me to walk off the plane, including Bill King (Old Padawan here), one of the sales reps and his whole family, and the VP of Operations. Patriots all!

    America is even more beautiful than I remember, and just driving around and looking at the abundance our country offers tends to remove any lingering skepticism I might have about whatever we might have accomplished in Afghanistan. As Jeff Cooper might have pointed out, after a long time in a danger area, the beer is indeed colder and the sky bluer.

    It's good to be home.
    Last edited by Mike Barham; 08-28-2008 at 08:00 AM.
    Employed by Galco Gunleather - www.galcogunleather.com / Veteran OEF VIII

    Donate to the Christian and Stephanie Nielson Recovery fund: http://www.nierecovery.com/.

    All opinions, particularly those involving politics and Glocks, are mine and not Galco's.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. Ads
  3. 04-01-2008, 04:20 PM #2
    zhurdan's Avatar
    zhurdan
    zhurdan is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Wyoming
    Posts
    1,248
    Well, I'm new here, but just wanted to say...

    Glad you made it home safe, and thank you for your service.

    Zhur
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  4. 04-01-2008, 04:41 PM #3
    BeefyBeefo's Avatar
    BeefyBeefo
    BeefyBeefo is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    2,873
    VERY good to hear Mike, glad you're home! Lots of catching up to do I'm sure. Once again, God Bless and thank you for your service to our country.

    -Jeff-
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  5. 04-01-2008, 05:20 PM #4
    bruce333's Avatar
    bruce333
    bruce333 is offline HGF Forum Moderator
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Wilson's Mills, NC
    Posts
    2,471
    Great to hear you're back home safely Mike!

    Thank you very much for serving. Your family is in my thoughts as well for enduring your absence.
    Bruce, Life Member: NRA, NCRPA, GRNC, GOA

    Naval Air Museum Barbers Point

    "I personally think we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain."--Jane Wagner
    "The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."
    -Isaac Asimov
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  6. 04-01-2008, 06:09 PM #5
    JeffWard's Avatar
    JeffWard
    JeffWard is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    St Pete Beach, FL
    Posts
    1,931
    Thank you Mike, for your service, your humor, your insight, your guidance, and your "Moderation" of HGF.

    Enjoy your time off. Enjoy your family. Enjoy Mexico, wine country, and even more, home...

    Welcome home. I'm sure you'll be on here a lot less... We'll miss you, but understand why!

    JeffWard
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  7. 04-01-2008, 06:37 PM #6
    Steve M1911A1's Avatar
    Steve M1911A1
    Steve M1911A1 is online now Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Northwest Washington State
    Posts
    4,036
    Welcome Home! ...and thanks!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  8. 04-01-2008, 06:53 PM #7
    Sig Al's Avatar
    Sig Al
    Sig Al is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    74
    Welcome home.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  9. 04-01-2008, 07:21 PM #8
    BigJim22602's Avatar
    BigJim22602
    BigJim22602 is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Northern VA
    Posts
    42

    Wink

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Barham View Post
    It's good to be home.
    It's nice to have you home, and Thanks for your service


    In my short time on this forum, I have found your posts very informative.

    Now that you are back at Galco, see if you can get them to make a holster that fits the Taurus PT92 with rails.....
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  10. 04-01-2008, 07:36 PM #9
    Snowman's Avatar
    Snowman
    Snowman is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    369
    Ditto. Welcome home, Mike!

    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  11. 04-01-2008, 07:40 PM #10
    TOF's Avatar
    TOF
    TOF is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Northern Arizona
    Posts
    3,007
    Welcome home.


    It looks like I caught the news regarding one of the earlier Bushmaster groups returning and reported you were probably back a bit early. I apologise to all for that error.

    Enjoy

    TOF
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  12. 04-01-2008, 07:54 PM #11
    tnoisaw's Avatar
    tnoisaw
    tnoisaw is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    US
    Posts
    2,850
    Welcome back!
    Thanks!!!!!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  13. 04-01-2008, 08:31 PM #12
    submoa
    submoa is offline Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    784
    Mike,

    Welcome home! Glad you are safe and reunited with your family.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  14. 04-01-2008, 09:02 PM #13
    GTD
    GTD is offline In Time Out
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    73
    Welcome back Mike. Have fun with your family on vacation, you deserve it!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  15. 04-01-2008, 09:09 PM #14
    tc15
    tc15 is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    63
    Glad to hear you're back. THANKS and GOD BLESS to you and your family!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  16. 04-01-2008, 09:29 PM #15
    Baldy's Avatar
    Baldy
    Baldy is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Port St.John,FL.
    Posts
    6,741

    Thumbs up

    Thanks Mike and to all the guys/gals of your outfit. God Bless and you have a beautiful family. A job well done.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  17. 04-01-2008, 09:29 PM #16
    Wyatt's Avatar
    Wyatt
    Wyatt is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    The Naked City
    Posts
    712
    What a beautiful family!! Enjoy your well deserved vacation. Glad you and your guys are almost all home and ready to return to the sweet life of family and friends.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  18. 04-01-2008, 09:56 PM #17
    SuckLead's Avatar
    SuckLead
    SuckLead is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,353
    Welcome home!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  19. 04-01-2008, 10:00 PM #18
    Charlie's Avatar
    Charlie
    Charlie is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Kerr County Texas
    Posts
    2,828
    Welcome back!!!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  20. 04-01-2008, 11:02 PM #19
    P89Jeeper
    P89Jeeper is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    The United State of Texas
    Posts
    21
    Welcome home, and thanks for what you have done.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  21. 04-01-2008, 11:15 PM #20
    RightTurnClyde's Avatar
    RightTurnClyde
    RightTurnClyde is offline Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    368
    Allright Mike!! Congrats, welcome home, and thank you for your service!
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  22. 04-01-2008, 11:21 PM #21
    Dr.K's Avatar
    Dr.K
    Dr.K is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Webster Parish
    Posts
    95
    I bet it feels pretty sweet!

    thanks for your service

    God Bless,
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  23. 04-02-2008, 12:29 AM #22
    tschmittel's Avatar
    tschmittel
    tschmittel is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Posts
    125
    Thanks, and welcome home. Glad you made it home safe.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  24. 04-02-2008, 01:13 AM #23
    DJ Niner's Avatar
    DJ Niner
    DJ Niner is online now HGF Forum Moderator
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    North-Central USA
    Posts
    3,551
    I'm relieved that you're home safely, and glad to be able to say:



    WELCOME HOME!







    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    And a big to those Galco folks, for supporting the troops!
    Last edited by DJ Niner; 04-02-2008 at 01:16 AM.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  25. 04-02-2008, 04:11 AM #24
    madman4049's Avatar
    madman4049
    madman4049 is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    33
    Mike,

    Glad to hear you made it back safe and all is well.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  26. 04-02-2008, 09:54 AM #25
    Arcus
    Arcus is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Colorado
    Posts
    34
    Welcome home! I look forward to your future posts and educational comments.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Ads

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules