OK… this one almost got the best of me. I was still tired from doing that rope climb thing.

Here I am climbing the Berlin Wall with LT Cogen.

Here we are right after I slipped. She’s trying to pull me up.

I climbed back up and slipped again. Each time my fingers were just half an inch from grabbing the top. Some guys from my platoon tried to help me up but I told them I was coming down. I didn’t want to do it like that. Once I got down CH Crisp asked if I was OK. I answered no then fell flat on my face. Still determined to make it to the top, I took off a few layers of snivel gear [cold weather clothes] caught my breath and tried one more time… My platoon had moved on to the next event but my squad leader, platoon leader, staff group leader and battle buddy stayed behind to cheer me on.

Here I am trying one last time.

LT Razzano climbed back up to help me over the edge. Here we are at the top.

OH! Wait… now I have to get down!

That was the last event we had time to do. I was wobbly and dizzy, my hands were shaking and my face was tingling. But I finished. As I caught my breath, I remembered the song they sing at the Church of God Patricia and I have been attending…
In Christ Alone.

“In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone.”