Coming home

For several weeks now, I've refrained from writing about the most unexpected but most pleasing development involving our soldier boy, Jordan, and his wife Jamie.

They're coming home! To the Northwest, that is. Jordan's request for a transfer was approved and he's being reassigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, near Olympia, Washington. We'll see them sometime later this month as they pass through en route to their new home just outside Lacey, which lies southwest of Fort Lewis, the Army base that recently was consolidated with McChord Air Force Base.

We first heard of the possibility of this happening in May, but knew we needed to keep quiet until the Army went through all its processes and gave Jordan the final OK. The green light came inJune and Jordan recently went through the formality of a re-enlistment ceremony with the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry (above). Now, here it is the Fourth of July, the most patriotic of holidays, when I finally sit down to share the news.

Why the move?

Two reasons: Our Northwest-born and bred kids were miserable in the relentless sun and heat of El Paso. They longed for trees, green hills and, yes, overcast skies and rain. Also, Jordan is eager to get overseas. Transferring to Lewis-McChord will speed up the timetable because Fort Lewis has been a staging area for soldiers going abroad since 1945.

What's next?

The latest word is that Jordan and Jamie will leave Fort Bliss behind on or about July 13. They'll visit with Jamie's parents in southern Oregon, then come up to see us, no doubt driving a U-Haul truck and towing their car. We haven't seen them since we exchanged goodbyes the day after their honeymoon in late November.

They'll continue north to get settled in their new place --a duplex on a horse ranch that we checked out for them (on our return trip from Orcas) after Jamie found it online. It's a 75-acre spread and the landlord, an energetic widow who rents out space to about two dozen horse owners, seems like a nice person. If all works out as planned, Jamie can bring up two of her horses from her parents' ranch.

Jordan is supposed to report to duty sometime in early August, so they should have ample time to move in and get acclimated. He will be part of a Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the light and mobile units that have been used in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. I could be wrong, but my understanding is that the soonest Jordan could deploy would be the fall of 2011. By then, let's hope the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan has begun.

Once the newlyweds are in place, they'll be just two hours and 100 miles away, instead of two time zones and 1,600 miles. We're hoping they can get away to our cabin before Jordan starts his new job. Even if they can't, maybe they can join us for our traditional Thanksgiving dinner on the island.

Whatever works out is fine by me. Lori and I are just so happy that we'll soon have our youngest son and daughter-in-law back in this corner of the country. Happy Fourth!