I was in the process of going through a divorce between my 4th and 5th deployments. I was in a bad spot emotionally and tried to run from my reality by going to the bars with my friend Jim. I was at the lowest point in my life, and I had given up on ever finding a decent woman. Then it happened. We were at a local bar for Jim’s birthday, and a group of girls walked in; friends of Jim’s. I very politely introduced myself, and that was the exact moment when it happened. I shook her hand. That was it for me. Game over. Eventually, I married her. I never thought I’d fall in love again. My wedding day closed a dark chapter in my life but opened a brand new journey for me.
I was only able to spend about four months with her before gearing up for my next and final deployment. It was a long six months before I was able to come home on leave. It took about five days before I was home from a remote compound in the middle of Afghanistan. I was exhausted from jet lag and still dealing with a swollen ankle I received out on patrol earlier in the week. To say I was looking forward to my three weeks leave, or as the Army calls it “R&R,” was an understatement. I had been thinking a lot about my girlfriend Holly and how lucky I was to have found a girl who games this worn out soldier a home.
I was home less than 24 hours when I told my dad I was thinking of asking Holly to marry me. “Gib, she is an angel. You cannot let her go,” he responded. My dad quickly put a “welcome home” dinner together with my family and her dad as a way for me to pop the question. We went to dinner the next night. I had never been so nervous in my life. I forgot to ask Holly if she would marry me! I asked her dad’s permission first. Once he agreed and gave his blessing, I sat back and took a swig of my beer. My dad leaned over and asked, “So, do you want to ask Holly?!” I sat up, looked at her and said: “So ya wanna?!” And that was the beginning ...