1st Lt Prifogle’s Blog

This piece is a joint effort for our Commanding Officer’s monthly family newsletter.  My Marines, LCpl Shivers and LCpl Curlee helped write this piece.  I think it’s rather amusing so I thought I’d post so everyone can see the lighter side of life out here.  Kill.

Happy Birthday

On a deployment units become like family.  We work together.  We live together.  We eat together.  We learn each other’s button’s to push or not to push.  We learn the names of each other’s children and spouses.  We also learn to read each other’s facial expressions and the tone in each other’s voices.  Also on deployment Marines tend to find ways to embarrass each other – as in any group of people forced to spend so much time together.

The daily grind can be grueling after a few months in Iraq, but there are occasions to be celebrated here – Easter, wedding anniversaries, birthdays back home and of course birthdays out here.  In Supply, Corporal Marold celebrated his 21^st birthday here in Al Asad.  As a shop we took him to the chow-hall in order to celebrate with family dinner, cake and ice cream.

At a large table at the chow hall the Supply Marines sit together talking and laughing.  As soon as Corporal Marold gets up to get his birthday treat there are immediate whispers.  “Let’s sing him Happy Birthday when he gets back.  Really embarrass him.”  1^st Lt Prifogle says to the table.

“Are we allowed to Ma’am?”  Lance Corporal Shivers asks?

The Ma’am ensures that we’ll be allowed to and she’ll take the beating if anyone says anything and soon enough Corporal Marold walks back over to the table with his ice cream.

“Ready,” Staff Sergeant Sharpe announces to the table.  As she does Lance Corporal Shivers takes an enormous breath with his entire body and prepares to sing with bravado.

“HAPPY BIRTH…” Lance Corporal Shivers belts out louder than anyone else at the table.

“STOP!”  Staff Sergeant Sharpe yells like a drill instructor interrupting a church choir, drawing attention to our table.  “Not that loud, geez!”

Corporal Butler explodes with laughter! After a moment he tries to regain self control but, the best he can do is kick the table softly while smothering his mouth to cover up his girlish snickers.  Priceless.

We continue the song, much quieter this time, receiving even more looks now that we had caused such a commotion.  “Happy birthday Corporal Marold. . .”

Corporal Marold laughs and inevitably turns red.  Lance Corporal Shiver sits with his shoulders slumped down like someone just blew out his birthday candles.

“Shivers, what is wrong?”  The Ma’am asks.

“I just really like the ‘Happy Birthday’ song, Ma’am.”  We all laugh and enjoy our ice cream and cake.

At the end of the table Corporal Butler is still laughing at the whole incident.  He starts to choke on some food and after we realize he is okay – we laugh once again at the shenanigans of the evening.

Everything seems more dramatic in the desert.  Perhaps because the monotony of the days or perhaps the monotony of being around the same people; whatever the reason simple things like singing happy birthday in the chow hall or Corporal Butler’s laugh becomes more and more hysterical after time.  We celebrate, we live, we do the best we can with what we have.  Happy Birthday Corporal Marold.

Oorah Wife- LCpl Shivers
Semper Fi Mom - LCpl Curlee

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