So I'm sitting here getting ready to board a plane in about 6 hours to begin my journey out of Afghanistan after receiving perhaps the best Christmas present I've ever gotten.

I got to Afghanistan in April and selected January as my R&R. The rationale at the time was that "if I make it to R&R, my deployment would be basically over when I got back". Well tonight, I was pleasantly suprised and shocked to find out that when I leave Afghanistan it will be to come home to Hawaii after R&R due to force reduction measures.

Never thought I would be so happy to be referred to as "non-essential personnel"

And to top it off, I'm heading straight from Afghanistan to my favorite place in the world. Vegas baby, Vegas.

Side Note: If you see a guy in a white cap with a Multi-Cam backpack playing Aria, Venetian, Bellagio, or Wynn from 31DEC - 7JAN. That's me, feel free to say hi

Congrats, and a safe journey home!

Amazing. Unbelievable news. Have fun in Vegas and hope you win big!!

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Soooo damn awesome man!!! Congrats!! Would love to buy you a beer if you have time!

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My Twitter: @JonFriedberg
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Thanks for serving your country, Soldier!! have a great time! I'd buy you a beer as well but gotta work that week. good luck.

I'll definitely be around Jon. I'll give more details when I hit Dallas and L.A.

At least the USO has quality entertainment while I wait, been a long time since I've seen Major Payne. Forgot how funny it is

Update: Luckily the "4 day backlog" I was promised in Bagram actually was more like 8 hours and I was off to Kuwait. That's why I don't trust admin pukes. Should hit stateside on NYE

A tons of money, plus a PS3 with all my favorite games with it.

I am way late to this post, but it seems well deserved and thanks for your services. You remind me of a person I met the last time I was in Vegas. I was sitting at a table with a Marine who was leaving on his tour in 2 days. He was overall playing bad and donating his money and didn't look to be having fun. I pulled him away from the tables (at about midnight or so) and we drank the night away on my winnings. If you ever make it to WI the beer is on me. Congrats on the return and I do hope the trip was awesome!

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Twitter @milwaukeepoker

Thank you for your service and defending our freedom to go to Vegas.