Just one month of marriage and Conor got a call to serve a tour of Operation Enduring Freedom with the Marine Corps in Iraq. We both new it was possible, but never expected it to come so soon. He spent months training and get ready for deployment before they left in June 2007. While he did not return home again until May of 2008, I did get to see him a couple times during that year.
They were training in North Carolina from June until September before they actually left for Iraq. I went out there for a 4th of July visit. We drove to Washington DC, and went to the beach and had a really great time together. Leaving him that time was significantly harder for me than when he had left a month earlier. It was so great to have a four hour plane ride home to be miserable to myself and just miss him before returning to real life. He was also allowed to come home the end of September for just enough time to tell me that he loved me and give me a hug before they boarded a plane and I wouldn’t see him again for just over seven months.
I spent my time working, snowboarding, playing soccer, and basically just living an awkward "married but single" life. Some days were harder than others were but I made it though just fine. That's mainly because Conor was lucky to be in a position to call me often and email when he could not call. I had the wonderful support of my friends, and my family during this time. I'm pretty sure the main reason I didn't go insane was my beautiful puppy Keira. I knew I loved that stupid dog but during that time, sadly, she was my life.
Conor doesn't talk a lot about what happened in Iraq. If you get the lucky chance to talk to him about it and he does open up, take advantage of it because it doesn't happen often. I do know that in general he felt pretty safe while there. With the exception of a few convoy runs to Baghdad, they were pretty much on base going to the gym and watching movies. No one in his Company was seriously injured and there were no casualties, thank goodness.
I've very lucky to have him home with me today and proud of his tour in Iraq. He's a great man and a better person than I’ll ever be. It was hard for us both but I really believe that I’m a better person for it. Hey, I’m not afraid of the dark anymore. You just can't be when you are living alone.
