Ty with Flat Stanley

Ty, Myself (Joshua Laird), and Flat Stanley

Well,  Ty came to visit me and Flat Stanley in Jacksonville, Fl while I was on leave.  I came home to spend some time with my wife and kids for a little while and Ty and Logan came along with with my parents for my daughter's Birthday. It was good for Flat Stanley to get a chance to see Ty.  It has been a long time since he last saw him.  Sorry, it has been so long since I blogged about Flat Stanley.  We have been quite busy and are certain that you will like the pictures that are will be coming soon.

Flat Stanley at Little Paris in Las Vegas

Flat Stanley in front of the fountains at the Bellagio Casino

Flat Stanley in the Aircraft ready for a Cross-Country Flight.

Flat Stanley with AM1(AW) Joshua R. Laird ready to go.

Flat Stanley at the Cabin Door waiting for the other Aircraft to get ready for 

take-off.

Flat Stanley has had an interesting couple of weeks.  He spent the last three week in Las Vegas, Nevada. He got to meet Terry Fator, see tons of Casinos, and fly cross-country in a HH-60H. He has seen a lot of sights and it seems that he is just getting started. He is currently back in good ol' Norfolk, Virginia where he will be for a little while.  I am not certain when he will get to go on another trip.  It may be soon, but it may me a little ways away.  I guess that we will all just have to sit back and wait to see what happens next. Flat Stanley hopes that every one is ready for a good vacation.  He will continue to stay busy and do all he can while he is with AM1(AW) Joshua R. Laird.  He hopes that you will continue follow him on all of his adventures as he continues to travel the world.  He has been in a lot of places so far.  Lets recap and see where all Flat Stanley has been. He started in Jacksonville, Fl; San Diego, Ca; Ft Jackson, SC; Norfolk, Va; Las Vegas, Nv; and a score of small stops along the way.  I think that he is doing pretty good.  We still haven't made it overseas, but I am sure that we will get there soon.  Take care and have a safe Summer Vacation from Flat Stanley, and check out AM1(AW) Joshua R. Laird's blog  at iraqi-am1.blogspot.com  to follow his travels as well.  You can definitely see some more pictures there.

Hello to Magee Elementary

To:  Ty's 4th grade Flag Class

From:  AM1(AW) Joshua Laird  (Ty's Uncle)

Well, I hope that everyone is enjoying Flat Stanley's adventure with me.  I just wanted to let everyone know that even though the school year is almost at an end that it will not prevent me from continuing on with the stories of Flat Stanley.  I was hoping that we would have something to tell you from Iraq, but it doesn't seem like we will make it there before the school year is out. I would just like to tell you that I will keep this journey going until I complete this tour with the Red Wolves of 84 and back in Jacksonville, Fl.  I hope that you will continue for follow his progress and have a safe and wonderful summer vacation.

Flat Stanley, Jay, Terry Fator, and myself

Well,  in the event that you have been living under a rock for a while, Terry Fator is a winner of "America's Got Talent".  He is a ventriloquist and impersonator.  To tell the truth, he is better than that.  Jay and I went to go see his act while in Las Vegas and we took Flat Stanley around to see the sights.  Sorry, I forgot my cord to upload the photos onto my computer.  I will get them up when I get back to Norfolk.  For now, this is what I got and will probably be the highlight of the trip.  Don't know how I can top meeting Terry Fator, but I guess that I will have to try.  Flat Stanley enjoyed the show a whole lot. He laughed so hard that he just about blew out his laminate.  

HSC-84 Home of the Redwolves

Flat Stanley has landed himself in one of the finest HSC Commands around.  He is now proud to call himself a Redwolf.  It has been a little tedious for Flat Stanley with getting checked into his new command and getting all the qualification that he needs to become a productive member of the Redwolve's Nation.  It is going pretty good and he is doing all that he can to do his part.  He will be going on a little trip pretty soon, so stay tuned.  We can't tell you where he will be popping up next due to Operational Security, but he will definitely be popping up somewhere interesting.

Gone From Camp McCrady

Last day of class for Flat Stanley

Senior Enlisted Platoon Leader, Senior Chief Dobison with Flat Stanley

Senior Officer Platoon Leader, LCDR Smith with Flat Stanley

Drills Sergeant Price with Flat Stanley

Well,  we are all done at Camp McCrady.  Above Flat Stanley is with the leadership of Bravo Company, 1st Platoon.  Drill Sergeant Price was responsible for directing Flat Stanley and Bravo 1st through our training.  We learned a lot in the short time we were in Camp McCrady and would go back again in a heart-beat.  We were directed in more than 1,8oo hours of instructional training, fired more than 1,000 rounds of ammo through various different weapons, and were blown up by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).  All-in-all, we had a really good time.  We are now in Virginia where we will be indoctrinated in to our new command.  Unfortunately, I don't think that Flat Stanley will make it to Iraq before the school year is out, but we will try.  Flat Stanley and myself hope that every one in Magee Elementary's Fourth Grade Flag Class is enjoying the exploits of Flat Stanley goes Navy.

Battle Gear

Flat Stanley in Battle Gear with Ty's Uncle Josh

Flat Stanley is in his full battle gear along with AM1(AW) Joshua Laird.  It is bullet proof and it will keep him safe when we go overseas.  It is really heavy and weighs approximately sixty pounds.  You really can't complain about the weight when compared to the protection that it provides.  So, no one really complains about it, they just complain about how they feel after wearing it for a while.