Sometimes in life, I have often felt that I have not had the chance to do something truly meaningful. After a long period of contemplation I finally realized what I had to do, so I quit my job, went to the nearest Army recruitment office and volunteered to fight in Afghanistan.
I enlisted as a paratrooper and will be sent off to training in late January 2010. My airborne infantry training will be long and tough and before being shipped off I decided to travel to Singapore to see my parents and friends. I was also looking forward to seeing my dog again but he died two days before I was supposed to arrive and that made me very sad. However, I did see my old friends and that brought my spirits up tremendously.
Here are some pictures:
Ahh home sweet home ... I just wish my stupid dog was still around. Also I cut my hair.
Back when i was in officer school in the Singapore Army, there were 2 other guys with the same name as me.
Here's, Alvin, Alvin, Andy, and me back then when we were having a little R and R in Taiwan.
The 3 Alvins today ...
I met up with people from my old platoon and it was great fun to see everyone again.
I've always enjoyed the time I served in the Singapore Army and here's some pics from those times all those years ago.
Me waiting to get on chopper.
Me carrying radio on Mission in Taiwan.
Me on radio in the god forsaken depths of a Borneo jungle.
Me and an Anti Tank team.
Me on patrol. I had somehow misplaced my helmet and wrapped that stupid thing around my head but I didn't fool no one. Ha ha!
I also met and caught up with a lot of my friends from when I went to school there as a kid and it was heart warming to see them again.
This is my last night of freedom before I report for training tomorrow at Fort Benning in Georgia and I won't have access to computers and the internet for the next few months and it will be a while before I'll be heard from again.
Thank you, one and all for all your kind words and support. I am looking forward to being a part of the greatest military on earth and also to the day when I see you all again.
The great John Wayne, for all his women, fame and fortune, died a bitterly regretful man, for he passed up his one chance to fight for his country and never got another one again, and while I go to bed tonight apprehensive of the hardship ahead, I will sleep content, knowing I won't have made the same mistake.