I recently received a long awaited honorable discharge from the active duty Army assignment which brought me to Las Vegas in July of 2002. I will always be thankful for the changes that this assignment has brought to my life and for the good friends I have made while stationed here.

For the next phase of my career, I decided to reenlist in an element of the Army Reserves which allows me the flexibility to request and future assignments. I have decided to put my recent experience in Afghanistan to use. I have selected a new assignment with the Army Corp of Engineers in Afghanistan where the primary focus of my mission is to serve the troops arriving in the near future. This assign is for six months with the likelihood that I will extend to complete another year there. I will miss you all but I am just an email away. I will probably get a new temporary email address when I arrive. Till then I can always be reached at the following:

Deborah.galan@us.army.mil

I miss Vegas. I miss the lights, the all you can eat buffets, and the GREAT and talented entertainers.

Attacks on the place that our troops are, are low. The Corp of Engineers are all about rebuilding Afghanistan and improving the lives of many local nationals here by giving jobs to the community and improved facilities. As well, they are building better housing for our troops and civilians. I have never been so proud to be a part of a mission as I am today.

I have heard that our wonderful city isn’t doing too well, though. And that the unemployment rate has increased even more since I left. Some friends were in Las Vegas and learned that I was deployed, so they decided to visit all the places that we go together when I am in town. They reported back to me with depressing feedback, saying “it was a ghost town”. Naturally, they assumed it must be because I wasn’t there. But as they continued to stroll the shops and streets they longed for the Vegas they remembered and often complained about. The crowded streets, casinos, and cocktail lounges that is or was Vegas.  I think of Vegas all the time and worry for it and hope that things get better.

Meanwhile, I have learned that my VFW post is trying to send us a Karaoke Machine. It will be a wonderful enhancement to boost morale for us here in Kabul at Qalaa House compound. I will send photos of the first time it is used. I am sure the smiles will warm your heart. Our Kabul Engineer Family does all they can to make things pleasant here. Karaoke just seems to be the thing so many people here miss from home. I would be happy to accept any CDG music discs anyone might want to get rid of, as we will try to build a library for the first and biggest karaoke party ever on Kabul.