(JP, MILBLOGGING.COM) One of the real treats of my week is getting a chance to speak to both prominent milbloggers (and No, I don’t chit-chat with myself), and speak to not-so-well-known milbloggers who write just as meaningful and authentic stories from the frontlines and elsewhere. One of the other treats (now that I’m back) is being able to drink on a Friday night and watch re-runs of Full House and Saved by the Bell without being called a sissy.

Earlier in the week, I had the privilege to ask Military Blogger American Soldier and author of Soldier Life a few questions before he heads back to Iraq shortly.

This is a transcript of what he said. It has NOT been edited.

JP, HOST: Bill. It is Bill, right? Oops… Was I supposed to say your name? (Joking). You’ve remained anonymous since the get-go. Is it because of all your crazy fans out there? On your site you say “…Soldiers who disclose themselves run the risk of losing their willingness to speak bluntly about their experiences in war..” Tell me more about your decision to remain anonymous as a military blogger. Have you pushed the envelope in sharing your experiences?
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General

I even get a shameless plug in there.

(JP, MILBLOGGING.COM) The appeal to milblog for me while on deployment to Afghanistan during OEF V, was to breakup the boredom in between missions. I wanted to share stories about my experience with family, friends, and readers back home to assure them I was okay (Non Op Sec stuff, like the time my Gunner climbed into his sleeping bag headfirst).

I also wanted to write home and tell my family about the losses our unit suffered when two soldiers from my Battalion were killed only three weeks in country by a roadside bomb - or tell them about a buddy who killed himself with less than two months in country - or explain that my buddies and I were okay, but that 18 Americans were killed just outside our wire when a Chinook crashed during a dust storm. I wanted to say so much and more, but instead, I coped with my deployment by writing stories about care packages, about my 4-year old son, and about my battle buddies.

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So no shit there I was. In the middle of Target and all around me were carriages zooming in and out of the aisles. My wife and I swerved to the left and to the right. Adding stock to the carriage, from shelf to shelf. Oh my I exclaimed! The wheels were a buckling but that did not stop us. I was drawn in to the XBOX 360 on display. My wife dragged me away and we continued onward to the next stop. Toys oh toys did we buy. I can’t forget the Family Guy season 1, 2 & 3 for me. Cars and trucks and Cabbage Patch baby’s for my darling daughter. Holy moly, look at that carriage. So full, literally toys falling off the top and bottom. All around the eyes were a looking. We just chuckled and slowly crept towards the register. A new person, oh great I thought. I hope she doesn’t ring in a toy more than once. $100….$200….$300 and so on the tally rose. I look to my wife and she gave me that crooked smile. I just shruged it off and thought my gosh, I wish I were a kid again. Oh no, she scanned an item twice, and oh my god the price! She fixes the tally but yet it makes no difference, another toy is scanned and it rises some more. Finally we are done and now the carriage(s) are aimed towards the car. Will they all fit my wife asks? Being the man that I am, says of course baby, have no fear. I think to myself oh crap how is this all going in there? We finally arrive at the car and place the bags in the trunk like a game of Tetris. Oh yeah, they all fit! I stand proud.

The car strains as we drive away. We have to stop and get a drink. We laugh and share stories as we sit in our favorite restaurant. Playing footsies and taking it all in. The rest I will leave for my own memories on that cold and expensive night.

We finally arrive home and bring the gifts to our room and spread them out. Looking at each and thinking how much they will love their gifts. We sort them in bags and put them in the closet. That’s how the closet ate my wallet!

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General, Humor

Here is what I am thankful for. Being able to spend a very nice day with my family. To say grace and see my family happy. I am thankful for being able to wake up this morning and feel the warmth from my wife. I am thankful for seeing the 1st snow that fell today.

I am thankful for being able to be free and be able to serve and preserve that right. I am thankful for being able to be thankful.

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General

I’m still here, no fear.

Will post more tomorrow about what I am thankful for.

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General