Hot Potato

FT. HOOD, TEXAS - Sometimes, I'm shocked our military made it to Baghdad and didn't mistakenly end up in Boston. On a day to day basis, it seems nothing works with the military and everyone smiles and gives you the cliche, "Well, you know what they say, 'Hurry up and wait,'" as if that makes everything better.

My conversation with a National Guard official before leaving for Texas to cover Idaho National Guard soldiers training to deploy to Afghanistan went something like this:

Me: "Do you think you could get me numbers on which Idaho Guard units have deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and when and could I start talking to troops the night we get to Texas since we only have two days?"

Official: "That will be no problem."

It was a problem.

After getting off the plane, we were whisked to our hotels where we were told we would be getting dinner in an hour. When I mentioned my request for troop interview the official said she had no idea where the troops were staying and that I would have to wait until the next day. I asked for the numbers I had requested. She didn't have them either. Then I made what I thought was a simple request: I had to file my story before we got back on the plane to meet deadline. This puzzled her (we'll see how that goes today).

Even the military vending machines don't work. My good 'ol American dollar bills and coins, which these folks have fought to protect, were powerless to bring me the spoils of war I desired: Keebler soft batch chocolate chip cookies.

About the only thing that did work was the C-130 we rode to get here, and it was a good thing because we left Boise in a heavy snow storm.

Well, it's not even 7a.m. and I'm grumpy and now I'm heading out to talk to troops, which is a much sunnier prospect than the day o' officials that was yesterday.