Operation Yellow Ribbon Blog #7 Last entry When we talked last I think I said something like. “What can the Major do; He can’t make me cut my hair”. Or so I thought. When I woke up Friday morning it was going to be my last day with the 1 Battalion 24th Marines at Camp Bahariah. I was sad to be leaving my friends. I met so many great people on my trip. Sgt Garwood from Troy, LCpl Brambilla from Warren, LCpl Beahon from Dearborn Heights. The list goes on and on. The Master Sergeant came to my quarters to get me and told me the Major wanted to see me and it was not good news. There was no way I was going to leave without getting a Marine hair cut. He suggested that I pull the Major aside and explain that it’s too short already. Good advice or so I thought. I then told the Major that and he said I don’t care if the General calls, I am still getting it cut. So I put on my gear, full body armor and all, off we went. A minimum of two gunners have to be with you at all times when you leave base. So well all left for the mile trip to Camp Fallujah just to get my hair cut. As I walked through the door the Iraqi barber was ready to kiss me. You would be too if you were the one getting a $5 tip from the day before. Seeing that the haircut is only $3 he was doing pretty well. I don’t want to say it was a bad haircut BUT the saying is true. “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR”. Did you know the less hair you have the bigger your face is? If Chauncey Billups was next to me he would dribble my head. My head is the exact regulation size of a Spaulding basketball. But let’s not talk about that I am trying to pretend it never happened. If anyone knows a good wig shop let me know. After the haircut we headed back to camp to get my things together so I could fly out that night. I needed to be there 4 hours early. Why I have no idea but those are the rules. Once again with the military its hurry up and wait. I said goodbye to everyone and that was harder then I thought. Lots of hugs and e-mail addresses exchanged. I promised them I would be at Selfridge Air Force Base when they return home in April. I guess they have a big welcome home party at the base. I told them all that I wouldn’t miss it for the world. On the ride to the landing zone I was told by an officer that statistics showed one of the guys I met would not be coming home with us. It’s sad to hear that 32 people have died from the camp I was at in Fallujah and 9 of them from our deployment. In Iraq most travel happens at night. Not early night but late night. None of the Blackhawk Helicopters fly during the day. It’s just too dangerous. So after a 4 hour wait to take a 15 min flight I arrived in TQ at 2am. Now I am told if I want to get on the flight to Kuwait, I need to be back in a few hours to see if there is space available. No sleep again tonight I guess. This is becoming a bad thing for me. I am so beat and can hardly function. I was up all night waiting to see if I can get on the 10 am flight from TQ to Kuwait. Good news! The guys in the office felt badly for me and confirmed me on the flight even though I didn’t have a seat. I sweet talked the pilots again and they let me sit in the cock pit of the C-130. It’s a lot of fun of there listening to air traffic control. Its very different in a military plane. Its not like your typical Northwest flight. It’s a lot different flying when a war is going on. On final approach you feel your stomach in your mouth. They drop as fast as they can to get on the ground as quickly as possible as not to be a target. A couple of guys told me a few months back they dropped so quickly that some people popped their ear drums. Nice huh? The Air Force pilots I rode with were awesome. All great guys that went out of their way for me. They called ahead on the radio to have a car pick me up on the runway. There are two parts of Ali Al Salem Air Base that I flew into. They Army have one side and the Air Force on the other side. After the mistakes the Army made when I arrived I told the Air Force Commander that I would rather walk home to the states then go back to the Army side and have them screw up what little time I had left of my trip. He told the staff sergeant to get the papers in order and they would have his guys drive me the hour and a half to Kuwait International Airport. Another problem the paper work took almost two hours. Nothing is ever easy. The guys told me I feel asleep talking to them on the drive there. Did I mention that I am kind of tired? Now at Kuwait International Airport I am ready to get on the KLM/Northwest flight except Northwest doesn’t fly today. I guess they were wrong when I called the 800 number. This is not my day. I am a day early leaving Kuwait and I just want to get home. So off I go to see if I can get to Frankfort Germany and then catch a Northwest flight to Detroit. I asked how much the Ticket would cost on Lufthansa Airlines. The lady behine the counter tells me $260 dollars. Wow that’s not a bad price for a 5 hour flight. Ok remember this now. I didn’t say U.S. Dollars now did I? So Steve says book it. I don’t care I will pay that to get out of this place. Now I have some time to kill because I have 6 hours before the flight leaves. Nothing like a 2:40am flight. Did I mention I am tired? Now it’s off to shop and kill time. I wanted to get some people gifts. Not much in Iraq for shopping malls. I found a few tee shirts and some cookies. Once again such cheap prices I am finding here in Kuwait. Now I am buying stuff like crazy and have a big bag full gifts. Then at my last store in the airport, the lady asks if I want it in U.S Dollars or Kuwaiti Dollars. I asked what the Exchange rate is. OH NO! One Kuwaiti Dollar equals 3 ½ U.S. Now I got to thinking and the 3 tee shirts I bought was $126. My plane ticket was over $800 for a one way 5 hour flight. I spent $1200 in 30 min. Ok I will admit it I am an idiot. I hope the CBS payroll can’t read Arabic because I sure do have some sahdy expenses coming in. That was an expensive lesson. Thank god I didn’t buy business class for only $475.00. HA HA Now on to Customs. I don’t know what it is with myself and customs officers. They just don’t like me. The Kuwait customs asked where my Visa was. I said they took it when I flew in. Then he said that my papers and stamps were not in order. Go to the office snapped. After an hour and a half of being locked in a room I started to get mad. I got up and went to the door and asked to see the Capt of the Kuwait Army. I said I want to talk to your boss now. He then called him on the cell phone. I told him you have 5 min to let me go or I am calling the American Embassy. Now you and I both know I cant even spell Embassy let alone know anyone there. ( the only reason I can is that I have spell check on my computer ha ha ) I talked to his boss and started throwing names around. I don’t know why but I even made some up. Ok I wont lie most of them were made up. Guess what….It worked. Thank god he spoke English. He then told me I was free to go. I still don’t know how or why this happened. I didn’t really care I just wanted to go home. I am broke and tired and miss home. As I sit on the plane flying home from Germany I am reflecting on my trip. I am having a hard time putting my thoughts and feelings into words. There were lots of smiles laughs and tears. Was my trip fun? No it wasn’t. Was it fun being shot at? No. It was more work and effort then I have ever given for any one thing in my life. I can’t begin to mention all the people that made it possible and how many who helped make it happen. You know who you are. I would like to thank the Oakland Press for printing my ramblings. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Most importantly the hundreds of men and women serving our country in Iraq thank you. I wish everyone could see what I saw. Maybe not everything, I don’t think some of the horrible acts of war anyone should ever see. But the smiles and the commitment these men and women have to protect our freedom. I don’t care if you believe in the war or not. It doesn’t matter. What matters is these people will and have laid down their lives for you and me. Past and present. You and I would not have the life we do if it was not for people like them. If you ever think we don’t have it good in the U.S., let me get you in touch with some people I know. Visit Iraq where all they want to do is feed their family. They would work in 120 degree heat all day for a dollar. I think we all take what we have for granted including myself sometimes. On a sad note I want to say to the Burgess family of Westland how sorry I am for your loss and our country. There is nothing I can say to you that will bring your son back. I don’t know you nor did I ever meet your son but I heard so many stories on what a great person he was. You should be so proud. All the Marines I spoke with from his unit wish they could have been there for the Funeral and wanted me to pass that on. My prayers are with you. My experience in Iraq will change me forever. I hope that hearing and reading my story will change you also for the better. I told everyone If I could make just one person happy by my trip, then all the pain and struggle was worth it. I hope that you feel the same way. Please everyone do me a favor and go out of your way to stop and thank the next person you see defending our country. Even a policeman or Fireman because they all deserve it. Just say “Thank you”. They will understand. Semper Fidelis! Steve Grunwald

Thank You !!

It is amazing the two little words can mean so much. I appreciate everything you have done - we feel like we became a part of your journey. Thank you for the experience, thank you for being our go-between. Thank 99.5 for making this moment one so manyhave shared. We love our boy (girls) and wish them a speedy return home. Sincerely, Carol

Oh my goodness, I got goose bumps reading this blog. Sorry you had to see all the bad things that you say, but THANK YOU for doing what you did, and welcome home !!!! Sheryl

Thank you for going over there and reporting the truth. We back home lonely get what the media wants use to see and hear. Thank you again. Also, is there away we can e-mail or write letters to these men and woment.

Thank you to everyone! Thanks to you, Grunwald for risking your life to take the ribbon to everyone in Iraq! See Ya Later! Janie

They were both tears of happiness and sadness - I'm so glad that you are back on U.S. soil. What you did was nothing short of amazing. I feel so bad for the families that are left behind when troops get shipped off. As for your hair - be proud of it. I definitely want to see pictures up on the website of the final version of your haircut. By the way, according to Doc, you are accepting donations of Baileys and Lamasil (not mixed together) and that people can drop them off at the station!!! Take care, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your bravery in what you did and for allowing us to share some of your experiences in Iraq with your blogs, and I am glad that you STAYED SAFE!!! Kim in Richmond :-)

Steve, There are moments in our lives that lift us up and moments that ground us. You have had the chance to experence both. You've had the rare opportunity to see with your eyes open and feel with your whole heart. I hope you are a better man for this. welcome home Gerry

Because of my father, I thank and respect every branch of the military. We are what we are today because of them. I am proud of my father for serving in WW II and am very proud to say that I am a free American to do what I want. Thanks Steve and I am sure you have changed peoples mind for the good. God has blessed you with a heart and soul

Hey Steve Welcome Home! Thanks for the reality check on what our troops deal with everyday. I help support some of thes men and women by writing letters and sending care packages. By the way awesome haircut. One of the guys I support is in the 1/24th.Julie

Thank you Steve for giving us an inside look at the lives of our soldiers....I am glad you are home safe, you have a wonderful soul - Barb

I think what you did was totally awesome. Thank you to ALL the military for all that you are doing! Stay Safe and Come Home soon

Steve, Thank you. Your words expressed the reality of the situation so well. What you did is much appreciated. Much respect!

Hi Steve Your blogs have given me even more understanding and Love for our Soldiers Thank you and God Bless. I am so cery gald you are home safe. Betty-Howell

At first I almost wanted to grill you for complaining about being tired. It is very admirable of what you did, however I do think less complaining would have made it even more admirable. I think you have gatherd a great understading on how our soldiers and their families are sacrificing for our freedom and safety.

Just wanted to welcome you back to solid ground! Thank you for sharing your experience. Thanks to all the Military over there for making the sacrifice they are. God Bless! Jerri

Thank you for bring my son closer to me. Sgt Brian is with H&S company, you probably didn't come in contackt with him but knowing you were at the same camp to hear of something going on there. As far as the hair, no Marine complains when they have to cut their hair, my son lines them up, and does a great job for his brothers. Proud 1/24Marine mom-Jackie

i just want to say thankyou steve for the great thing you did going to irack . and giving the things to our trooups. we just cant thank them enough for all they are doing there. i am working with all of my fellow organ playes. here at evola music in canton mich. also the usa . our job is to help the returening vets. who dont have much it is a big job for us but is are way to say thanks for all you have done. ps. i live near you in wixom just up the road from meijer store on grandriver. and i love playing country music on my lowrey organ sincerely richard i am also a veteran from the vetnam area.

Welcome home and Thank you. I pray that we can welcome home all our military people. They are our heroes! Kathy, Romulus

I LOVED WHAT YOU DID FOR OUR TROOPS GOD BLESS YOU I WANTED TO MAKE IT TO YOUR COMING HOME PARTY BUT COULD NOT BECAUSE I DO NOT DRIVE AND I AM DISABALED. THE REASON I DONT DRIVE IS BECAUSE I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE MOTHER DIED INSTLENTLY AND THE 2 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL DIED IN MY ARMS 5 MINUTES LATTER. THAT WAS BACK ON 11-25-90 BUT IT TOOK ALOT OUT OF ME. I STILL CAN SEE THAT LITTLE GIRL'S FACE IN MY MIND AN HER FATHER WAS A SERVICE MAN THAT IS WHY I AM PROUD FOR WHAT YOU DID. THANK YOU. MS.ROBINHOULE

It certainly seems like a different world. I know that there were those people a while ago that wrote letters (or e-mail) saying they disapproved of what you were doing. Personally, I think that you have done something that VERY few civilians would be able to do. We are so proud of what you have done. Not only have you lived through this for yourself, but you did it for every person that reads this, hears about it, or has had a family member that was touched by your experience. You are a blessing to me, and to thousands of other people. Jessica, Detroit

God bless you for your caring ways. Thank you for showing our service men (and women) that we stand behind them. Thank you for delivering that wonderful Yellow Ribbon that proved our guys are always in our thoughts.

My husband served during Desert Storm and is currently stationed in Fallujah (since November). We missed Christmas together during his first deployment. Though it was tough, atleast we didn't have children at the time. This year will be a tad tougher. We now have 3 children that are old enough to understand what is going on over there and fear for their dad's safe return. We are all proud of him. It was both, comforting and sad to read the entries about your experiences overseas. Thank you for your support and for caring.