From Daddy (in Iraq):  “I arrived here 13 months ago with hopes that when I returned, my son Marcus would still be my little “Michelin man”. When I left him in October 2006, his favorite pastimes were drinking chocolate milk and playing with everything that was not a toy…silverware, pots and pans…anything.

He always carried something in his hand…it didn't matter what it was…straws, sticks, spoons.  Sometimes he didn't even know he had it there, but whenever I would try to remove it to wash his hands, he would get so mad, jumping up and down and rolling on the carpet screaming at me. All I could do was stare and wonder, "What the heck?"

Except for a few nights, we always slept in the same bed; I have always loved waking up and seeing him there...even if his foot or his bottom was in my face. 

Driving that morning to the airport to give him to his mother was very difficult.  I had to focus on what I was about to encounter…12 months in the worst place, at the worst time...from the heat to the everyday count of people losing their lives there…it was very overwhelming.  I just rolled with it and told myself that I was doing this for Marcus.
 
Once here, everything was very confusing; it was very cold and the buildings are not made for cold weather, like in the states.  Six months down, I was given the opportunity to take leave and so I did...I went to pick up Marcus and seeing him walking and jumping was great…he could walk a lot better and do a lot of stuff he couldn’t do 6 months ago when I left him.
 
I took him to Nickelodeon Hotel in Florida, because he loves Jimmy Neutron.  We had a great time!  One day by the pool, he grabbed my hand and started pulling on it saying something that sounded like "daddy I jooju"...so I said "yes baby"...but one second later he pulled my hand again and said it once more...a little clear and louder, but this time I was looking down at him...he said "daddy I love you”.   For him to say something like that - at 2 years old - made me wonder "why am I in Iraq?"

Leaving him for the second time was not easy either.  I took him to his mother's house and he was very excited to see her...he seemed so calm and so happy, as he plopped down in front of the TV and started eating his macaroni and cheese. 

We took a couple of pictures and then I left.  While driving to the PX, his mom called me on my cell phone and asked me if I wanted to see him again before I left.  I met them at the gas station and he said "daddy, daddy"...then he got out of the car and said "bye mommy".  She seemed to be heartbroken...so I said “bye” and told him to go to her.

When I came back to Iraq, the only thing on my mind was getting this 6 months done so I could get back....but little did I know that our tour was going to be extended 3 more months.  So here I am on my 13-month mark, very grateful that my mother-in-law (along with the Benson family) is taking care of Marcus for 6 months. They send me a lot of photos showing how much love they’re giving him and making him feel so special.