Temporary Duty

Yesterday, after several hundred trips to Anchorage, countless parades and festivals in Palmer and Eagle River, three flights to Sitka, several road trips to Delta Junction, a drive each to Nenana, Seward and Valdez, and a flight to Juneau, I completed my final temporary duty assignment outside my home of Fort Wainwright, Alaska.  While the number of missions my unit performs is relatively low compared to many other Army bands, the amount of travel has been extensive.

David, hiking in the Chugach Mountains with Travis Anderson in April 2008.

As a horn player, I've traveled with the Denali Brass, the Arctic Brass, the Concert Band, and the Ceremonial Band.  As a photographer, I've accompanied the Arctic Groove Orchestra, the Jammin' Salmon Dixieland Band, the Arctic Rock and the US Army Alaska's new show-band called the Chill Factor.  In addition, I've been to Anchorage several times for supply missions and run lights for various popular ensembles.  In the past five and a half years, I've performed in countless ceremonies, photographed numerous public events and performed for balls, dinners and schools where the Army has required my service.

Members of the Arctic Warrior Band perform for a Treelighting Ceremony at Fort Greely in December 2010.

While we only stop to rest at three different places per trip to and from Anchorage, the variety of these breaks has been numerous.  On the Parks Highway, I've been to countless stops in the 15-passenger van, the 44-passenger bus, the box truck and numerous POV's.  I've driven to Nenana, Healy, Wasilla, Cantwell, Denali Village, Trapper Creek, the North and South Viewpoints for what the Athabaskans deemed the "Great One," the Veteran's Memorial and Byers Lake.  I've also seen the Matanuska Glacier, flown over the Knik Glacier in a four-person plane (not official government travel), and been to Girdwood, Bridal Veil Falls, Thompson Pass, Glenallen, Paxson and Delta Junction.

David takes a walk across the bridge in Sitka with Greg Mikat in October 2006.

Flying in the winter, I've experienced a six-hour layover in Fairbanks, watched its airport transform from a sixties-era plane depot with four gates to the modern terminal it is today (I think it has eight gates now), and accumulated enough air miles in five years to fly three family members up from the lower-48.  (Yes, that's a lot of flying.)  I've also flown twice on C-130's out of Anchorage en route to Sitka.

Members of the 9th Army Band participate in the 5K/10K "Fun Run," hosted by the Sitka Coast Guard in October 2010.

In addition to all the places these trips have brought me, I've also met an enormous number of people, so many it would be impossible to name them all, but to name a few, I would start with Joe & Kathleen Miller, (and his parents, Rex and Sherry), the Shields family, Amy Walker, Dirk Moffitt, Matt Johnson, Mark Fish, Karen Perry and Jessie Chilstrom.  Also I have been given the rare opportunities to meet both senators from the Great State, Mark Begich (once in Anchorage and once in Sitka) and Lisa Murkowski (once in Sitka and once in Palmer.)  In 2006, I played for a Christmas Party hosted by Ted Stevens but don't specifically remember meeting him.  I've also met two of Alaska's governors of Alaska, Sarah Palin and Sean Parnell and played for a third, Frank Murkowski.

Members of the 9th Army Band perform for Governor Sean Parnell and Major General Thomas H. Katkus at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage

While I am looking forward to the amazing opportunities at my next assignment, one of the things I will truly miss about Alaska is the remarkable places I've been able to visit and the truly wonderful people I've been able to meet in the past five and a half years.  Alaska, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." (Philippians 1:3, KJV)