Staff SGT Donald Wayne West, Jr., enlisted in the United States Army National Guard on September 11, 2001. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Company A of the 150th Combat Engineers served active duty Aug 29, 2004, until Dec 30, 2005. SSGT West returned to college in January, 2006. He married Lauren Ritchie June 9, 2006, at Seaside, Fla., and they have three children. SSGT West completed military service at Camp Minden, LA on Aug 23, 2009.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Day 222 - Home, Home on the Rangers


Summer school started again for Lauren today, but not before the newly engaged couple had a chance to take in a Texas Rangers baseball game in Dallas over the weekend.

“We strolled through the Highland Park Village shopping area late Saturday afternoon,” Wayne recounts. “Later that evening, we ate some great Mexican food while listening to live music.”

Officially welcomed home to Louisiana by his dad, Don West and his wife Brenda, Wayne was disappointed to learn his dog was run over and killed when he escaped the yard during a thunderstorm on Wayne's birthday last month.

This morning, Wayne hung out on the LSUS campus, reading emails in the library until Lauren emerged from her classes. The rest of his R&R schedule is still a work in progress. We’re all looking forward to our turn to visit with him.

Until

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