A Veterans' Day pass

Editor's note: As a special service for our readers, WND is running a series of dispatches from Allan Wall chronicling his transition from civilian life as he prepares to fight with his National Guard unit in Iraq. Allan will write for us as often as he is able in order to let our readers vicariously experience what people in his position are going through. We hope you will check regularly for Allan's dispatches and encourage your friends and family to do likewise.

My National Guard comrades and I, preparing for duty in Iraq, were given a four-day pass for Veterans' Day. It was our longest leave period since reporting for duty in August, and it was well-received.

Veterans Day honors our veterans. It used to be known as Armistice Day, and originally commemorated the signing of the World War I armistice in the Forest of Compiegne on Nov. 11, 1918. The armistice was signed at 5 a.m., and took effect at 11:00 a.m. That was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (November). This anniversary is also observed in other English-speaking countries, where it is called Remembrance Day.

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That was the occasion for our four-day pass.

I had to leave later than most of the guys in my unit, because I had some special duty. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., another soldier and I were manning the entrance of the battalion building and answering the phone. It was not a busy night, we only got a few calls, and nothing out of the ordinary happened. In fact, I was able to do some reading and writing, for which I was glad.

After we were relieved in the morning by two other soldiers, I was free to go. I went to an international airport in the area of Fort XYZ, where I took a plane on a Mexican airline to Mexico.

When I arrived, my wife and two boys were there to meet me at the airport. Lilia was looking great, and it was good to be back with my family. It was a great three days, but came to an end quickly. Looking back, it was all pretty everyday stuff. Which is what I really miss here at Fort XYZ.

I took some walks with the boys. We rented and watched a video (not that great a movie, but OK for viewing once). Lilia and I did some Christmas shopping for the boys. We ate out twice with my suegros (Spanish for father-in-law and mother-in-law) who have been very supportive during this deployment.

When my time was up, my family took me to the airport. But I was in for a surprise. My plane was delayed, so after being rerouted, I was finally able to take off for the United States, and eventually returned once again to Fort XYZ.