UPDATE: I have a solare pump headed my way for the aquaponics project I want to start up here in Nawa. Additionally, I have permission to start the project, along with space….now it’s time to design.

Last year, I created a newsletter to help folks back home keep track of my deployment, and this year I’ve done it again. I welcome you all to read through my deployment newsletter, which you can download from here.

Back home, Maira is doing well, but could use some assistance with nanny selection. She has been keeping up with the Sequoia, growing her business, and the household, to include my aquaponics project – she has even had some of our lettuce already. Sequoia is now 4.5 months old. I miss my girls terribly, and can’t wait to get them back in my arms.

Sgt Holzmann, Matthew J
1/5, H&S Co., Comm Plt, Data
Unit 40320
FPO AP 96610-0320

Our journey, thus far, has taken us from March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA, to Bangor, Maine, to Leipzig, Germany, and finally to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishkek
We are awaiting our departure to Afghanistan. Fortunately, this place is beautiful. It is very much like Colorado Springs, with dramatic, large mountains punctuating our view. The range is completely covered in snow.

As we get updates, I”ll be sure to post what I can, when I can.

Thank you all for the wonderful support and love you’ve given me. Please, keep Maira & Sequoia in mind.

It’s been so nice to get your updates. Thanks for taking the time to give us such an informative and interesting glimpse into your adventures! Seriously, I so appreciate your service and all that you’re doing to serve those of us back home. Since becoming a mom, I have been even more aware of the incredible gift of safe soil, and so grateful for everyone who is working to make sure that Benjamin grows up in a secure place. It’s incredible to me that the only “background noise” he has to grow up with is noisy neighbors, yappy dogs, and poorly-timed lawnmowers. So many kids all over the world have a soundtrack that’s much more disturbing and gut-wrenching. Thanks for everything you’re doing.

Sarah, thank you for the email, and we’ll keep doing the best we can to keep Benjamin safe back home.

• I’m married (to the wonderful woman I used to write about – 3 July)
• We’ve our respective in-laws
• I’ve ’sold’ my Vespa to Jonathan, for safe keeping
• I’ve been to FL to visit my mother, and up to NoCal to visit my father
• I’ve purchased a Mac
• My wife will be moving out to San Diego this weekend
• I’ve been in the field* since 3 Aug
• I’ve turned 30

**Field: Currently a hellish part of the Mojave Desert known as Ft. Irwin. We sleep in refugee style tents, work in a portable command center, enjoy temperatures in the 110’s, fly kites (namely us) in the nightly windstorms (a.k.a. sandstorms that coat EVERYTHING in a thick cloak of sand), go without bathing for weeks, and try to maintain network connectivity over several satellites and through several hops of another force’s gear (ahem). Oh yeah…and our battalion plays GI Joe everyday in a ‘notional’ campaign against desert-going insurgents. This is practice for some desert-like place, in which we may be expected to perform our duties. Gee, wonder where that could be?

Getting married was great, but I’m really looking forward to our ceremony in San Diego, 27 Oct, 2007…yes VERY soon. Turning 30 was kinda a non-event, but I was fortunate enough to live the day for 39 hrs before finally getting to sleep – we moved our unit out of the ‘rear’ and into the field the day after my birthday.

Currently, I’m typing through a satellite connection w/ downloads of glacial speeds, which seems to impact the loading of pages to the point that simple buttons, like Reply and Delete, often don’t work. So, if I haven’t replied to your email, it’s b/c I haven’t been able to do so.

I love and miss my wife. I miss talking to friends and family. I can’t wait to take a shower.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST ENTRY CATEGORIZED UNDER ‘DATING’!!!

Today, I received several awards upon graduation from the Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School (MCCES) 0656 Tactical Data Network Operator’s Course (TDNOC).

1st in class – Meritorious Promotion to Lance Corporal

Warrior’s Award – Peer award for Marine that most exemplifies Core Values

Highest PFT (Physical Fitness Test) – 295pts (out of 300pts)

CO’s Challenge Coin, an extra honor received from the Bravo Company Commanding Officer.

Director’s Award – Received by entire class for outstanding academic and physical achievement, community service, and no negative paperwork (Non-Judicial Punishments or Page 11’s)

Needless to say, I’m very happy. Additionally, I’m very proud of the class with which I served. They showed outstanding character and commitment by staying out of trouble, studying, and staying physically fit. I also thank them for selecting me to receive the Warrior’s Award.

UPDATE: Other big news, my orders were changed this morning. I will still be serving at Camp Pendleton under the 1st Marine Division – the oldest and most decorated Division in the United States Marine Corps. More specifically, I will now be serving a Victor Unit, known as 1/5 – 1st Marine Division/5th Regiment/1st Battalion - the most highly decorated Regiment in the Marine Corps.