These Are The People In My Neighborhood
Posted by Erik Rupard on July 29th, 2008
I have spoken often of the people with whom I work on a daily basis. Here, then, a few more introductions for you, via pix of the weekend’s barbecue.
- SSG C-P, SPC Cordero, SFC Langer playing cards
Pictured here in the obligatory card game are, from left, Staff Sargeant Carla Cano-Perez (C-P to all of us), 5′4 and with an “Hecho en Mexico” tattoo on the back of her neck, is in charge of the medics; SPC Cordero, whom you already know; SFC Catherine Langer, the Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge of our clinic. SFC Langer is the powerful, maternal figure who keeps our clinic together. She is a Wii-fitness fanatic, and has truly excellent taste in music, books, and movies (i.e., she agrees with me on most things).
SGT Stephen Evans, chillin'.
SGT Stephen Evans of Asheville, NC, who just got back from leave in Vegas. SGT Evans is another one of my favorite kids. A solid medic, and one of the best schmoozers I have ever known, which has served him (and us) well in Al Asad, where he has been able to finagle and trade for the things we so desperately need, from air conditioner parts to entire vehicles.
SGT Castulo Vera
And sauntering up the row of cans is one SGT Castulo Vera, known is our clinic as the World’s Tallest Mexican. Fortunately, SGT Vera is not standing sideways, or you would not be able to see him. Vera is a fine medic, and one of the few natural athletes in our company. A soft-spoken guy who doesn’t put much money in the “swear jar.”
SGT Ernest Hert and CPT Joshua Baker
SGT Ernest Hert of San Diego, CA is on the left. He is NOT soft-spoken like Vera, but is a good guy who would take a bullet for any one of his comrades, and one heck of a barbecue chef—the man of a million seasoning salts. SGT Hert will be heading to Ft Carson in a few months, but he doesn’t want to stay there; Hert loves to be where the action is, and will probably be in Afghan sometime next year, heading up a team of medics somewhere.
To SGT Hert’s right is my closest friend here, CPT Joshua Baker, who is our clinic’s optometrist (and the only one on Al Asad or any of the surrounding posts). CPT Baker is originally from upstate NY and currently from Alaska. He has been the personal fitness trainer for our entire company. He’ll be heading to Germany when he gets out of Iraq. I have publicly predicted that Baker will be the top Optometrist in the Army within 10 years. Not a tough call, really, as he is the epitome of “squared-away”: smart, in good shape, and with unimpeachable integrity. (Also, note the pre-formed beef patties on the grill.)
SGT Andres Villareal
This is another one of my favorite kids, SPC (p) Andres Villareal, who will be a SGT in one short week, and has given me the honor of “pinning” him (i.e., putting the rank on his uniform for the first time in a ceremony). SPC Villa is another one of those quiet, reliable, solid medics, who does whatever he is asked to, quickly and efficiently, with no complaining or excuses. One of my work-out buddies along with Baker, though he doesn’t look too tough here with his pink-hued leukemia water. Villa plans to get his nursing degree and become an officer.
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Finally, this little guy did not attend our barbecue (at least, not that I know of), but Maya made me promise that I would post a picture of the lizard we caught in clinic a month back (a cute little dude, and well-behaved), so here it is:
Lizard in the Al Asad TMC
July 29th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Erik-we rec’d a call from Dr. H’s wife (from around the corner) who said she is in need of a reliable babysitter for the next few months as Dr H. will be deploying soon–so she was asking if Drew wanted the job. She starts this Friday.
I can’t begin to imagine doing what I’ve done for the past 5+ months with 4 small children. Some people are made of pretty resilient stuff. Maybe we can also help them out in other ways when you get home.
Hey-where’d you get the camera?
Your neighbors look loud.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:06 am
The camera is just something I had laying around…
My neighbors/co-workers are not timid by any stretch, but are good peeps all around.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Hi, Erik,
I loved this blog. So nice to see the people you work with every day. They look like a great group of kids. Love, Mom
July 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Egad, Erik and family and friends, I simply cannot believe that no one has yet replied that it looks like “A Beautiful Day in Your Neighborhood”!
July 30th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Erik,
It was great to see that none of your friends were wearing a cardigan and Keds. Either way, they seem to be great people, and the YW of Waterford ward are honored to serve them with 4 boxes of goodies mailed off today, this morning, actually. they should be there within a few days. Poor Becky and Caroline have one more day of tooth freedom, and Caroline has to spend hers getting a cavity filled. Stinks for her. Stinks for our checkbook, too.
Anyway, I hope you are all doing well. we miss and love you beyond reason. thank Lorri for helping to keep your bald head bald for me, and all the others who get to view its shiny magnificence.
Loved your lizard. It looks a bit like a leopard gecko. Nueve, our gecko would be in love. speaking of love, we love and appreciate you and all your service people in Al Asad.
Love, Mit
July 30th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Hi Erik,
Everyone in your neighborhood looks like they’re enjoying being together at the barbecue…nice pictures, Erik. My thoughts turn to a day when you and Lorri and Maddy were living in Utah, and Mike and I were visiting from our Toronto area. I got Maddy’s stroller ready. She was between 2 and 3 years old. I said, “Maddy, Grandma’s going to take you for a walk in your neighborhood.” With her little serious expression, she said, “Well, we don’t have one of those yet, but we’re getting one soon.”
I loved that response and wonder if she’ll comment on your new neighbourhood. Where are you Maddy?
July 31st, 2008 at 1:51 am
Audrey: I remember well Maddy’s serious expressions. She was a serious kid back in those days, constantly saying things like that. I love that one. We’ll have to put that in the memory book.
Melissa: I am looking forward to getting your boxes o’ stuff. Doesn’t matter what it is really—our medics, patients, and doctors love to get a package. I will send a letter to your young women as soon as I get the boxes. In the meantime please thank them (and their leaders) for me.
MKB: Won’t you please be my neighbor?
July 31st, 2008 at 4:56 am
My favorite Maddy-ism: we were sitting in a packed waiting room at Kimborough Army clinic and Maddy was perusing your human physiology text. She kept studying the pages/photos of trauma patients and cadaver studies(she was five-years old). You said, “Maddy, I don’t want you seeing some of these pictures because they’re disturbing, although I don’t mind if you want to look at the pictures of bones.”
She turned to you and very sincerely protested, “But I’m really into blood too.”
Mom and Erik-the aforementioned quote is already in the memory book–I tend to write things down.
Mom-Maddy is still hosting a friend from Maryland besides trying to get her last summer reading/essay done and gear up for senior year which starts in 11 days.
She and I spent two hours on Wed. morning with her academic counselor piecing together a schedule for fall-she can’t take zero-eth period classes as they conflict with seminary.
Our French Exchange student also went home on Monday, so we were shopping with her in Atlanta all day.
And Maddy and her friend Liz, spent the last two days taping/editing a promo/PSA that ran at our youth talent night Wed. which I had to organize and execute. The kids/talent made it great.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:47 am
Well my ears were burning and now they’re on fire, so I might as well comment.
=]
I loved this blog dad, it was nice to see what kind of reptilian creatures you have acquired by now. Is there anyway you can bring him home? That would be amazing. Anyways, I’m posting a youtube video today that I think it’s important for you to watch. It will comfort you if you listen to its message.