What sport or personal life event have you missed while serving?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 20:13:40 -0500

I was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia. Big fan of Georgia sport teams. I swore into the military in August of 1998. Just prior to the start of NFL preseason. I was able to watch Super Bowl XXXIII (Broncos vs Falcons) while in AIT, but missed out on the Atlanta Falcons (Dirty Birds) 12-4 regular season record lead by Chris Chandler and Jamal Anderson. What is so amazing about this season was the fact that the Falcons's previous regular season record was 7-9 and 3-13 the year before that. I don't regret a day serving, but I wish I was home during that amazing home team season. Oh well, where you want me at sir...I'm in route!!!

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jan 9 at 2014 8:16 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 20:16:19 -0500

Birthdays, anniversaries, births, funerals... Not to disparage you for prioritizing a bowl game over some of the other events out there. But to me, the loss of intimate moments hurts most.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Jan 10 at 2014 2:46 PM

CMC Robert Young — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:46:37 -0500

The most significant were my daughter's soccer matches. She's played since not long after being able to walk much less run. Missing even one was a burden, but missing seasons is soul crushing.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 10 at 2014 2:47 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:47:09 -0500

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and I am a die-hard Steeler, Pirate and Penguins fan. I was in Iraq during the Steelers SB and the Pens Stanley Cup win that year. The SB game was sort of fun because I was the NCOIC of a BTT and we had all three of our teams inside the wire and we had a big BBQ, our "two-beers each ;)" and we watched the game on a make-shift big screen made out of 2x4s and a bed sheet between the CHUs. It was tailgate heaven...given our location. This year, during my Pirates' first winning season and post season appearance in 20 years, I was (am) stationed in Belgium and I streamed as many games as I could. My friends back home made sure to relay to me all that I was missing. Gotta love friends...lol...

Response by CPO Jon Campbell made Jan 10 at 2014 10:32 PM

CPO Jon Campbell — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 22:32:28 -0500

I missed my wedding while I was deployed, but it worked out. We postponed the wedding and my fiancé met me in London while I was on leave and we got to honeymoon in Britain. I nearly missed my first child's birth. I was again deployed and the XO walked up to me and said 'I heard that your wife is due any time.' As soon as he said it, my beeper went off (beepers were what we had before cell phones) and her water had just broken. The XO said 'You better go!' I handed him my gun and he took guard duty for me so I could make the 4 hour drive to the hospital.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 10 at 2014 11:56 PM

SFC James Baber — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 23:56:21 -0500

I have to agree with Chief,

I think my missing of 2 births, too many birthdays to count, xmas', anniversaries, children's play/sporting events and many more are much more important than any major sporting event that I could see somewhere on either AFN or online while deployed or overseas.

Response by PFC Eric Minchey made Jan 11 at 2014 11:07 PM

PFC Eric Minchey — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 23:07:12 -0500

Birthdays, xmas', family reunions, weddings, even missed my WW2 vet Grandfather's passing, But I was able to make his funeral (with help from the red cross) and even had the honor of serving as one of his pall bearers & presenting his burial flag to my grandmother.

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Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2014 7:14 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 07:14:24 -0500

Missing the birth of my youngest child was the biggest.

Also, I got deployed unexpectedly a month and a half after I got married, which caused me to miss Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and my birthday with my wife...but the first of many of them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2014 9:45 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 09:45:10 -0500

I missed the birth of my 2 youngest...deployed 07-09 and again 10-11. Didn't get to meet my kids until they were at least 4 months old..

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Apr 13 at 2014 8:57 AM

SGT Thomas Lucken — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 08:57:09 -0400

1985 and 1987 - Missed Cardinals in World Series, 87 was in Korea! 1999 missed the Rams winning Super Bowl, was in Korea again!

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Sep 2 at 2014 3:09 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:09:45 -0400

I missed my son's birth because I was at BCT.

Technically, I could have come home for it, but it would have meant I would have recycled and spent even more time away. In retrospect, I should have been there.