As the end of the extension neared people were simply holding tightly on to the hope that this time they would be heading home for real.

Meanwhile at Camp Ferrin-Huggins, members of the 127th Military Police Company were settling in for the long haul. Having arrived in Iraq in late May 2004, the Darmstadt, Hanau and Baumholder-based MPs were still in the process of training Iraqi Police, fortifying their living quarters against regular mortar attacks and getting a handle on life (and death) in and around Baghdad.

"They’re glad we’re here," said 1st Lt. Erik Archer, executive officer for the 127th MPs, about the Iraqi Police at one of the many stations in West Baghdad his unit has been supporting. "But if there was any fighting most of them (the IPs) would leave."

Like Archer, who carries around a bag of lollipops for the children he meets on the streets of the capital city, Spc. Bryan Bailey, a crew chief on a 2-501st Aviation Blackhawk, keeps his eyes open all the time for friends and foes alike. In his case, while holding tightly onto his helicopter’s machine gun, one hand is always ready to let go and wave to the many children who do likewise as the chopper patrols the skies overhead.

Iraq is still an extremely dangerous place. The threat of an attack is always there — whether one is out on patrol or sleeping in a tent at one of the many Forward Operating Bases scattered throughout the country.

As the transfer of sovereignty approached June 28, as predicted, insurgents were doing everything possible to bring even more instability to the fledgling government by killing and maiming people of all nationalities, ages, religious backgrounds and political persuasions.

But despite the constant threat from those determined to wreak havoc and cause harm, enormous changes continue to unfold. Electrical power and water have been restored, children are in renovated schools, more and more people have jobs and hope for the future exists.

And those risking their lives in a faraway country who have witnessed the changes firsthand say it is an effort worth fighting for. Like Americans everywhere they do it with compassion and a sense of humor.

"Hooray we’re home," remarked one Soldier to a round of laughter from his fellow passengers aboard a flight as it touched down in Kuwait on its way back from R&R leave. "Let’s just hope that no one gets shot in our unit this time," added a fellow traveler, to general "hoo-ahs" from the same people who had laughed moments earlier.

Another memory that sticks out as being unique to the times we live in is an announcement heard at the military terminal at the Kuwait Airport June 20:

"Attention — to all those fathers in the terminal today, Happy Father’s Day. And to all those mothers in the terminal who play both mother and father to their kids, Happy Father’s Day, too."