you think that i would post more often

Well, it has been some time since i last posted. there has not been a lot that has been happening. we have been doing a lot of spring cleaning here on Camp Vilseck. we are preparing the base for the arrival of the stryker brigade out of Ft Lewis WA. it has been a really interesting experience to return all of the equipment that we have been using, and clean out everything. there has been a lot of dirty work and busy work around here lately, but that beats sitting around and doing nothing.
I have found out that i will be going to the 49th Corps at Ft Lee. That will mean that i may be going back to Iraq shortly after i arrive. there are rumors that four companies will be deploying to Iraq and another two will be going to kuwait. although, until i get to the unit i will not know whether i am going. I will be sure to keep you posted.
The events in London lately have given the european community quite a shake. I morn the loss of the brits in the bombing campaigns, and i stand along side tony blair in any decision that he makes for the safety of his country. it is truly heartbreaking to see how many enemies to freedom that there are in the world. I hope that Blair remains a steadfast ally in the War on Terror. I would be a considerable blow to the coalition to loose such a faithful contributor to our efforts throughout the world,
I look forward to being stateside and look forward to spending more time with my friends and family. I will post some more later. good luck and god speed.

AJ

update 2.0

as many of you may know, and still others may not, my Papa passed away this last weekend. It was quite sudden, and took a lot of us by suprise. i was unable to get time off to return stateside for the funeral, but my parents were able to make the trip.
I miss him already. he was truly a servant, and a righteous man of God. An example for us all to follow. It is hard to understand or begin to contemplate how life will be now that his is no longer with us. I do know one thing for certain. He is walking with God, and he is much better off than he was here on earth. I am sad that he is gone, but i do not mourn like those who have no hope. I will see him again. Thank you for you patience, i will try to post some more about what is going on in my neck of the woods at a later date.
Matt it was good to chat with you and thank you for your prayers. Chris and Tom-thank you for being friends to me when i need it most-it means a lot.
Please continue to pray for Nana, and my father-
More to come
Andrew
1319

Another reason to get fired up...

This moron thinks that freedom is free. just take a look, but beware you may get angry.

http://www.filecabi.net/v/file/MichaelCrook/wmv

Trying to Adjust...

got some bad news over the weekend, and i am trying to get a grip. i will post more later.

Thank you chris for ruining my breakfast-Hey at least jack isn't this ugly... 

This was the Bomb ass hotel that we stayed at in Berlin-really nice, and quite affordable. and it was walking distance from Charlottenburg. 

Ich Bin Ein Berliner-I am a jelly doughnut...JFK

Yet another weekend has passed with the opportunity of travel well taken advantage of. I went to Berlin this weekend with a couple of my friends from basic training. Our intention was to take in the sights, but this time I was playing the role of tour guide. I had already been, so I was somewhat familiar with the city. We were fortunate to arrive on the 2nd of July, and we were able to catch some of the live eight concert. I was not too interested, but it was fun to catch it in passing. The Reichstag building, location of the last battle between the soviets and the Nazi’s, still impresses me, with its seamless transition between the modern architecture and the neo classic shell. The transparency of all of the German government buildings is an interesting design feature.. it is a sort of non-verbal communication to the citizens that the government is not holding any secrets from the people. Every time that I walk through the city, I see the inlaid bricks that show where the wall once stood, shows me the power of freedom. The wall was more than just a lot of concrete, but contained many items, all produced in Germany, that made it a barrier to peace. It was a hinterland wall, electric fencing, observation towers, expanded metal fence, arc lamps, dog runs, bunkers, hank barriers, barbed metal tatting, and the border wall, which the guards called Mauer feindwaerts, or the wall facing the enemy.
It is truly amazing to me that such an obstruction to justice and freedom was allowed to stand as long as it did, but it is even more amazing that, without resorting to war, subversion and civil disobedience, and the ray of hope known as freedom, was able to bring the wall down. On August 15, 1961, 2 days after the wall was put up the first border guard defected from the east, and he was the beginning of a movement that spawned great development by private citizens in the art of escape. One should never have to flee his own homeland because of the desire for freedom.
Enough history for now, I will add a few more posts about other sites later. While I was in Berlin, I went to a bar, to celebrate the 230th birthday of the United States. While I was at the bar I met some charming, and humorous American College students on holiday. We had many adventures to include barhopping through Charlottenburg, and walking barefoot through Berlin in the wee hours of the morning. It was great to have someone to hang out with that understood, and appreciated, the 4th of july as much as I do. I now have their blog address, and intend to keep in touch with them as long as possible.
Well, enough for this post, I will add more in a day or two. Much love to the Patriots of Freedom, and the Warriors against terror, here and around the World-