1st Lt Prifogle’s Blog

It was about 7 pm. My roommate was on her way to work when she came back in calling my name. I heard it in her voice. That voice of panic and fear when you know something is wrong and in a few seconds everything will change forever.
The thing I […]

Growing up I the middle of 5 kids was an adventure to say the least. All five of us were involved in everything my mother could afford to get us to in that big red van. We drove around the country to Native American Powwows, went from volleyball season to off-volleyball season, to […]

You get back. You find a place to live as far away as your old life that you can get without making too long of a drive to work. Beer is cheaper then gas these days, but if you have to drive to the Sod (or any bar) you know you won’t […]

“How was it?” people ask like if they talk to me they are somehow connected to the war. Connected to the service that they were too lazy, too fat, too undisciplined, too sick, too whatever to join themselves.
“Hot and sandy.” I answer not feeding their images of CNN and MSNBC […]

This is it. My last few hours here. It is as surreal to return as it was to leave. I cannot describe the mixed emotions raging through my body right now. I’m scared, apprehensive, excited, happy, tired. My body and mind is about to go through so many changes, starting […]

I have been writing a monthly article for our CO’s family newsletter. The article was called “Running with the LT” and this was my last submission!
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At 3:45 in the morning I do not want to get up. I do not want to put on my running shorts, tank top, sunscreen, Yankees baseball hat, […]

It’s close enough to count down now.  Count down the weeks, the days, the workouts, the miles left to run on an empty desert road.  At the chow hall we talk about the first thing we’re going to do when we get home.  What restaurant we’ll eat at, beer we’ll drink, who will be waiting […]

“Group, Atten-hut.” The Personal Security Detachment (PSD) First Sergeant (1st Sgt) calls the Marines to attention and does an about face to me. “Good morning, Ma’am.” He holds his hand up in a perfect salute.

I salute back, squinting in the burning sun. “Good morning.” I lower my hand to a […]

I overslept. I wake up and look at my clock and it’s already past 8. I didn’t go to bed particularly late, but when my alarm went off I must have turned it off in my sleep. My room is dark and I stumble to find a flashlight (recently all my lightbulbs […]

It’s 4:02 according to my little plastic alarm clock I bought at the PX over four months ago. I gave myself two minutes on purpose. I knew I’d be exhausted and hearing that god awful buzzing sound, something akin to a dying seal, at 4:02 opposed to 4:00 means I got up after […]

There is a sign as you walk outside one of the chow-halls on base, “complacency kills.”  It is engrained in our minds during training, “complacency kills.”  During staff meetings, “complacency kills.”  It is the signature of emails, “complacency kills.”  Everywhere you go you are reminded, “complacency kills.”  It is a fight.  Complacency sets in after […]

It’s easy to forget.  Forget why you are here.  Forget what you left behind.  Forget what left you behind.  It’s easy to forget that you are here.  Here – Iraq.  Habits, both good and bad, become routines and routines become a way of life.  Things that not too long ago felt like movements and sights […]

“You married or single?” Ali asks me bluntly. I am in Iraq wearing a flak jacket and Kevlar helmet and do not feel feminine at all. I am not surprised when I am greeted as “sir” in all my gear so this question takes me off guard. I have just introduced […]

            Why run?  It’s a question normal people always ask runners.  To most people it seems insane that anyone would wake up at 5 in the morning to go run 11.5 miles, but to a runner not running seems insane.  To a runner, running is as essential as breathing and eating.
            Unlike football or […]

It’s less than a month until the XO’s challenge 11.5 on 5-11. Slowly and gradually CWO Colter and I have worked up to 9 miles on our long Sunday morning runs (5 miles on our weekday runs). In the mornings the base is quiet, peaceful, awaiting the day to come. We run […]

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 […]

            “Captain White.”
            “Present.”
            “Major Thompson.”
            “Present.”
            “Lieutenant Colonel Maddox.”
            “Present.”
            “Lieutenant Colonel Walls.”
Silence.
            “Lieutenant Colonel Walls.”  The voice echoes through the silence of the Memorial Chapel.
            Silence.
             “Lieutenant Colonel Walls.”  Now, with an annoyance in each syllable like the sound of a teachers voice calling for a child skipping class.
            Silence.
 “Lieutenant Colonel […]

Let me tell you about the sky. It is perhaps my favorite part about being here. You have to picture yourself at home. Just sitting and drinking a cup of coffee – early, long before anyone else is awake. Now, imagine someone putting a giant bowl over you and everything you […]

I’m sitting outside. It’s 0924 AM on my computer – California time. That means it’s 1924 (7:24 PM) here. I am sitting outside trying to get a connection to the wireless Internet. The cool air blows my hair in my face. I always let my hair down at night. […]

I wake up. I barely open my eyes and the light in the room burns my eyes. I rub my eyes and hope I am not getting another eye infection from wearing my contacts while sleeping. I don’t think I could explain more scar tissue on my eyes to a doctor. My eyes burn and I rub them as tears roll down my cheeks rewetting the lenses on my eyes.

Where am I? I wonder before opening my eyes again. I’m not at home with Megan and Mom – that must have been a dream. Yes that was just a dream. I let myself go back to sleep for a split second.