My little brother is coming home!

I have been religiously watching the clock today (though it is NOT moving fast enough)...waiting for it to hit 4:00pm so that I can head to the airport. I am flying to San Diego today to greet my "little" brother (or should I just say younger brother, since he's about a foot taller than I am) as he returns to Camp Pendelton tomorrow night, after fighting the war in Sangin, Afghanistan for the past 7 months.

Alex is the one on the far right.

I think this picture was recently taken in Afghanistan (I found it on his facebook).

Alex is a 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine (3/5) "Darkhorse." English please you say...the 3/5 is comprised of 5 units, H&S, India, Kilo, Lima (Alex's unit) & Weapons. The 3/5 is a battalion composed of infantry Marines and support personnel. Infantry battalions are the basic tactical units that the regiment uses to accomplish its mission of locating, closing with and destroying the enemy by fire and close combat.

This has been a hard 7 months for my family and also anyone else who has a son, brother, nephew, grandson, etc. in the 3/5 battalion. This battalion has seen the most casualties in the decade that we have been at war. But the good news is that the 3/5 is almost HOME!!!

This video will give you an idea of what life has been like in Afghanistan.

- Jane