10 months ago my husband Michael was called upon to do a Tour of Duty for the US Army. Although this was a voluntary deployment, he was proud and honored to be asked to serve his country in this manner. No, he wasn't deployed to Iraq, as so many others have been. He went to a very small country known as Djibouti, which is located in Africa. Never heard of it? Neither had we at the time of his assignment! Djibouti is located only 25 miles from Somalia, 60 miles across the Red Sea from Yemen and two countries south of Egypt. It is well known within the military for it's strategic location at the mouth of the Red Sea, which makes it a perfect deploying area for our military. The reasoning behind having an all four military base in this area of the world happened because of September 11th. This base is an intricate part of our current military operation, Enduring Freedom.

Djibouti has a population of 750,000, however 200,000 are refugees, most are from Somalia, while some are from Ethiopia. Djibouti has a land area of Massachusetts, with less than 1% of arable land. The lifespan for the typical Djiboutian is 46; if they reach this age they are usually considered one of the village elders. The average literacy rate is 66%, however those that can read and write is only a 4.5%. The annual household income is $700 a year.

Michael was the Country Desk Officer for Djibouti. While he was there he helped open and develop 8 schools, 2 water wells for the refugee camps, 13 dedications for 8 schools, one well, one road, one traffic circle and 1 medical clinic and 1 maternity clinic. He was also Camp Lemonier's liaison between the US Ambassador to Djibouti, local governmental agencies, non-governmental and military organizations. He was in charge of 18 Cultural Briefs for all new arrivals on base. He also coordinated the distribution of over 40 boxes of books and school supplies to 12 schools in Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia. He was also responsible for organizing and developing an English training course for the Djibouti Military.

Some of the sights he saw in and around the area was truly amazing and made him feel as if he was in a time warp. Just a few miles outside of Djibouti City you could see caravans of camels with Nomads as their masters leading the way across the desert. Huts, poverty and living conditions that would make our inner cities look like mansions in comparison. He told me that what the base threw away in food on a daily basis would feed 3,000 Djiboutians for a day.

He worked in the Joint Operations of Camp Lemonier for the whole 10 months of his tour, but he was able to get some "play" time in as well. He saw goats in trees, camels walking the streets, and was lucky enough to take an African Safari at the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. He had the pleasure of touring 4 ships that were in port and taking 3 helicopter rides. He was interviewed by the Horn Courier Newsletter, which is Camp Lemonier's all military Newsletter - four times and was featured because of the work he was able to accomplish there. To say he had an astounding adventure and experience is putting it lightly.

Michael has repeatedly told me that the people of Djibouti welcomed all Americans with open arms, were friendly and grateful for the help and assistance that our military was willing, wanting and able to give them. It gave him a better appreciation of the work that our military is doing for countries that find themselves in this bone crushing level of poverty and made him proud that he was able, even in such a small way, to help bring a better life to them.

As I said, he was proud to serve his country, but I truly believe that he has brought back from this experience more than he ever gave to them. This tour and what he accomplished will be with him for the rest of his life. But as I have said to him, the books, the wells, the clinics, the outstanding service he gave while there will be remembered for years to come. The separation and hardships that Michael and I experienced while we were apart in no way compares to the good that he was able to give to Djibouti and her people. I'm thankful that Michael was able to serve his country as he has sworn to do. I'm honored that I was able to be the military wife that was required for him to take this duty. But I'm more proud of him and the job he did, which compensates for any sacrifices we made.

We are so lucky to live in a country where we take so much for granted. Perhaps it takes an experience like this to bring this back home to us.

May all of our soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen return safely home and to their families. I thank God that mine did.

Becca