Met Joe Galloway in Vegas

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Originally uploaded by Rob Wooldridge.

Joe Galloway (of "We Were Soldiers" fame) spoke at the dinner Sarema and I attended this past weekend in Vegas. I don't agree with all of his politics, but this guy definitely has my respect. As far as I know, he's the only civilian to ever receive a Bronze Star with V device. (the V is for Valor). He rescued wounded soldiers under fire in the la Drang Valley of Vietnam in November, 1965.
I got him to sign my copy of "We Were Soldiers Once... and Young," the book that the movie is based on. I was very cool to have met him.

Vegas, Baby

Just got back from a long weekend with Sarema in Vegas. We dropped the midgets off at her parents and flew down for a military event with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. We stayed in most of the time, playing craps, blackjack, and pai-gow. It was nice to just be a couple again and it was the perfect amount of time away from Sarah and Hunter... any longer and we start to miss them too much.

Haven't seen him in 17 years

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Originally uploaded by Rob Wooldridge.

No sh-t, there I was... walking to breakfast in my hotel on Thursday morning. All of a sudden, this tattooed biker dude walks up to me and says, "Hi, Major Wooldridge."
Turns out it's Lopez, who went to college with me briefly in 1990-91 and was part of the Recondo club at Cal Poly ROTC. We both loved to go out on infantry patrols in the field at Camp SLO. He bailed out of school after the summer of 91 and went to be with his girlfriend in LA. That was the last I heard of him until Thursday.
He just got married and has been doing some great things serving the public since I last saw him in 91; it was cool to see him again.
Small world.

Swampmate Reunion

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Originally uploaded by Rob Wooldridge.

Had dinner with my roommates from Kuwait, Jim the Judge and Dave Ceniti, on Wednesday night at some trendy Sacramento restaurant. It was great to hang out with them and catch up. Nothing earth-shattering to report, just good times, lotsa laughs, and some good cigars had by all.