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Mark's Web Log

November 12, 2003

I have some good news. My big news is that on October 31, 2003 I was awarded the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB). I had tested 27-29 Oct. I only had 3 days of training instead of the normal 2 weeks that everyone else had. I was a 'bladerunner' from day 1 (I had 2 no-go's; 3 no-go's is a failure).
Not much else to add. I am still working on Task Force Soldier. We should be through this week. I don't know what I wil be doing after this is over. I guess I will just 'Blackbird' for a while-not doing anything at all excpet signing in twice a day.
Suzanne is still feeling ill somewhat. She is still getting bigger. Jackson is moving alot lately. You can feel him kick. It is pretty neat to feel him-sometimes you can tell that it is his feet or even his head. On November 1st, Suzanne had her only baby shower. We got a ton of stuff.

September 29, 2003

Well, I am not going to Ranger School just yet. Instead, I am going to work for Task Force Soldier. I am working on the Warrior Ethos team. We are putting forth recommendations which will change the Army for the better(hopefully). I should be here for a few months.

December 2, 2003

I don't even know how to say this, but my mother-in-law is gone. She was killed in a car wreck on November 13, 2003. She was a wonderful woman, mother, and mother-in-law. She was Suzanne's and Brian's last living parent. I need to do a tribute page to Jeannie.
Needless to say, Thanksgiving was not very good. We didn't have any fancy lunch or dinner; we just went out to eat at Cracker Barrell. I don't know how Christmas is going to go this year.
On Baby news, Suzanne is gaining about a pound a week. She is having real difficulty sleeping (of course that means that I am also).
More on the lighter side; on November 12th, my sister informed me that she was pregnant!! Wow, that was unexpected but good nonetheless.
In Army news, I am still working for Task Force Soldier, but we aren't doing very much at all. I will probably be here till the new year.

August 20, 2007
It obviously has been a long time since I updated my website. So, a whole lot has occured since my last entry at the end of '03. I will list many of the important events since that time:
February 2007 - We found out that Suzanne was pregnant again.
August 2006 - We took a vacation to Walt Disney World.
July 23, 2006 - Redeployed back home to FT Drum. Suzanne had Jackson dressed out in a 3-star General's uniform; he was cute as ever.
June 30, 2006 - I took command of HHC/2-22IN in Iraq. What fun, counting property in Iraq, where it was hot as ever and my property was scattered all over the place.
May 15, 2006 - I relinguished command of D/2-22IN and went on two weeks of leave back home. It had been a fun 20 months of being in command.
December 15, 2005 - My father, Herbert Rieves passed away, resulting from a coma sustained in an accident in Oct. He had suffered from a stroke he had in June of 2000. He was 58 years old. We all miss him terribly.
Early September 2005 - Deployed forward to Iraq
August 9, 2005 - Deployed to Kuwait
July 17, 2005 - My 30th Birthday! We went to MS for it; Suzanne went all out for my big bash.
January 15, 2005 - Jackson's 1st Birthday! He had a blue & white cake, which he got all over himself; quite funny.
September 16, 2004 - I took command of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. This was a real opportunity as not only did I take command, I actually was 'starting up' the company, basically building it from nothing. We trained hard and then prepared for deployment to Iraq. This was a great job.
Late January '04 - We moved from FT Benning to freezing FT Drum, NY. What a trip, especially with a two week old and two dogs. A few weeks after arriving, we bought a house in downtown Watertown. We eventually sold it that Oct and moved onto post. I started work in the G3 (Operations) as a Plans Officer. It was an OK job.
January 15, 2004 - Jackson Mark Rieves was born at FT Benning, GA!!!! He weighed 9.82 lbs and was 22 1/2" long. Whoa, he is a big kid.