Daily Life of a Marine Mom

2011-08-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

Do you think that the VA provides services to mothers of the military who develop PTSD from dealing with their child who has PTSD? They need too.

Another wonderful day ahead for which I am grateful. Eric should be going to a group PTSD meeting today but I bet he doesn't go. I told him last night that if he wants to be treated like an adult he needs to start acting like one. At least make an effort to keep his appointments and at the very least ... look for a job. Mama is tired of taking care of you!

My life pretty much revolves around -- well nothing -- at least right now. I guess I could say that it revolves around my job. I think the stress of dealing with a son who is pretty much an alcoholic and doesn't seem to care much about his own life has made me into someone who just goes along day to day without thinking about it. I used to enjoy life, love life and live it to the fullest. Now when I come home from work, I don't do anything. I think I need to take my own advice (let's see ... how many times have I told Eric to do this) and start doing something with my life again. Maybe a dating site?

Till next time ... as my biker friends say ... keep the shiny side up.

2011-08-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

So ... still haven't managed to talk to the counselor at the Peru CBOC about Eric but at least he seemed a little better last night. Got home at six and he had actually gotten out and mowed the lawn. Probably because he wanted a couple of dollars to got somewhere but at least he did something productive. Believe me, that does not happen very often.

After Eric left, friends of his showed up (a couple of times). Everyone just opens my door and walks in. Told them all, 'you need to start knocking'. I am not prepared to be parenting these 20-somethings that think that Eric's home is just like their home. They are all in for a rude awakening. I am taking my house and home BACK. Probably going to have to start locking the doors. Everytime someone walks in like that, my little dog, Dora (name courtesy of Landon), darts outside and even though she is only three months old she likes to run. That dog STILL has more right to be in my home than any of those ... adults that still act like kids.

Can you tell that I am just about done with all this?

2011-08-17T04:19:00.000-07:00

It may be hard to believe that I have not posted here for so long but it is even harder to believe that life can take such a drastic change for the worse when I read my past posts.

Eric and Patty separated in May due to his behavior. Patty took my beautiful little grandson back to California to be with her family (even though she really didn't want to leave, Eric forced her to) so now my only grandchild is 2500 miles away from me.

Over the remainder of 2010, Eric went deeper and deeper into alcoholism and depression. I knew from his symptoms and behavior that he was suffering from PTSD and urged him continuously to get help at the VA. He refused, saying he didn't like to talk about it and he didn't need help.

Well, here it is over a year later and in June when he finally became so depressed that I was afraid he was suicidal, I managed to convince him to go to the VA. They confirmed what I already knew. He is suffering from severe PTSD and almost unable to function.

Luckily, during this time I managed to graduate with a degree and finally found a great job or we would probably both be homeless. I can't give him money anymore because he drinks it all up but I am still supporting him. Patty and Landon did come and visit us for 2 months this summer and I supported them too while they were here. It seemed like the VA was helping Eric a lot during that time although both he and Patty were doing things that I didn't think was appropriate for the parents of a small child (nightly parties?).

Patty had to leave and go back to California for a while (and Landon too of course) and the weekend after she left, Eric ended up in jail for PI and resisting arrest. Things have went downhill from there.

I am now afraid for his safety and my own. He is abusing alcohol (drunk every day, how does he do this with NO money??), abusing the medications that the VA is giving him to keep him calm and help him sleep, and threatening me when I try to hide his pills when he is drunk so he doesn't overdose.

The friends he does have all have one thing on their minds and that is when is the next party? They were using my house as a party pad (Eric has the whole basement to himself most of the time) and I finally put a stop to that this week. I don't want to drive all his friends away but they apparently are not very good friends since they seem to be the reason that he manages to get alcohol without any money.

The doctors/counselors at the VA helped him file for VA disability in June. Still none of that coming in (may have to get a VA lawyer to expedite this) so I am STILL supporting him. He has had one job at a pizza place that lasted for two weeks then he got fired because he threatened to punch the manager out. This is NOT the good-natured boy that I raised ;(

All-in-all, life for me is a daily bad adventure. I never know what I am going to walk into when I get home from work. Last night, Eric was so drunk he couldn't talk clearly but he kept taking his sleeping pills. I tried to stop him, but like I said before, he threatens me if I hide the pills. I went downstairs this morning to make sure he was still alive before I left for work.

I have the number for his counselor at the CBOC and am going to call her today. Eric told me last night (as much as I could understand of what he said) that he talked to her yesterday about they did talk about him voluntarily entering a in-house program at the VA for PTSD victims that have substance abuse issues. Going to push that or he is going to end up in jail or dead. I love my son, but this person that I see most of the time now is a side of him that frightens me deeply. From the way things stand now, I am going to need to treated for PTSD.

Keep us in your prayers. I will be continuing this blog now, it helps me to write.

2010-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

Wow ... it is hard to believe that I haven't posted here in so long.

Lots to update on. Eric retired from the USMC in Oct of 2008, a month after their son, Landon, was born - big and healthy. Eric, Patty and Landon all moved back to Indiana after that are are sharing a house with me. I lost my job in Feb 2009 due to economic cut-backs and went to college to get a degree in Computer Information Systems. I will graduate with a dual degree in Database Management and Web Site Design and Management in Dec this year (2010).

Landon is a perfect little copy of his papa. Patty claims that somehow Eric cloned himself LOL. I love getting this chance to spend time with him. Even with the downfalls in the economy - we are all so lucky.

I shall be back with photos!

2008-05-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

So much to say and so little time. Isn't that how life goes for most of us?

First of all ... please keep our deployed Marines in your prayers even harder this week as they advance in Afghanistan through Taliban territory. You can read more about that at this link: Marines launch massive assault in Afghanistan

Secondly ... our little 'nugget' is growing fast and reached the halfway point in his preparation for entering the world yesterday. Patty is scheduled to have another ultrasound on May 7th and believe me when I say there will be PICS! Hopefully they will find out the sex (although Eric and I are both convinced nugget is definitely 'Eric Junior' at the rate he is growing) since Patty is on pins and needles waiting to find out so she can buy color appropriate clothing for the little Marine. Now if 'nugget' just cooperates and doesn't hide those body parts during the ultrasound LOL! Here is a pic of Patty during her 18th week. I don't really think 'nugget' is actually just a nugget anymore! But isn't Patty just the beautiful picture of a glowing new mom!

And lastly ... for those of you who are really interested in scientific discoveries as I am and heard about the capture of a 'Colossal Squid' last year ... the New Zealand museum that the large chunk of frozen calamari was donated to is about to unfreeze and examine it before preserving it for posterity and display at their facility. They have LIVE video cams showing it defrosting at the moment but sometime today they are going to unfold it and do the examinations. For those of you not in the know on this amazing discovery - it weighs in at 990 lbs and is the largest and ONLY adult colossal squid to ever be examined although they have had what they believe to be juvenile colossal squids to examine before. There are a lot of great stories about how it was found and stored available at the museum site as well as links to the live webcams. The Discovery Channel is going to be doing a whole show about the entire thing later this year. I am definitely hoping to catch the webcam just as they are unfolding this huge sea creature (it was folded and stuff into a container before being frozen so they could transport it). See the highlighted text below for the museum and cam links:

Museum of New Zealand

Live WebCam Link

Stay tuned for the news of nugget's sex and if Eric and I are right about nugget being a boy! We'll be happy either way but we are betting on boy!

Semper Fi and God bless you all. And keep all our troops in your prayers as I do please.

2008-05-01T05:32:00.000-07:00

Okay - normally I would cut and paste my posts here from my Spaces blog but I kind of got out of the habit doing that (much to my chagrin).

Going to try to start doing it again.

A lot has happened in my life since October (my last post here). Eric got back safely from Iraq in November the day before Thanksgiving. So MUCH to be thankful for there. His battalion came back with all the people that went with him thank you God!!!

He and Patty came to visit over the holidays. They were here for Christmas and New Year's - yay! I had moved into my boyfriends house about a month before that thinking he was truly my 'soulmate'. Well - things went okay there till he started trying to control everything I did around the house. And if I didn't do things the way he wanted - well let's just say things got unpleasant.

About this time Eric and Patty told me good news. They are going to make me a grandma! That's my Marine hehe! Patty is happily pregnant and due about the middle of September. 'Nugget' (as we have been calling the baby) is healthy and growing fast too. The 7th of May Patty has another ultrasound and we will hopefully find out Nugget's sex. Eric and I both are betting on boy hehe. Boy or girl though we will be equally happy as long as Nugget is healthy. I think Patty wants a girl first (well Patty LOVES pink) but she is thinking that Eric and I may be right.

I think the fact that Eric is about to become a father for the first made a major difference in his desicion not to re-enlist in the Marine Corps in October 2008. So for now - the plan is that Eric and Patty are coming here to make their home in Oct and staying with me for a few months. I am looking forward to it.

So - I am about to be a grandma - and I now live alone again since the relationship with my EX-boyfriend degenerated rapidly when he realized that he couldn't control me the way he controls his daughters. Now bear in mind that I never did anything actually wrong - just wrong in his eyes. I would get yelled at for really stupid stuff. Like if I wanted to let the dishes soak in the sink for a couple of hours. And he was mean to my dog. I think when I told him I was moving out he was really mad because he decided I loved my dog more than I loved him LOL. By that time - it was probably true!!

In any case I am happily living alone with my dog in a house big enough to let Eric, Patty and Nugget stay with me for the winter at least when they come home this fall.

Thanks about it for me. But I will post my last post on Spaces here and start mirroring what I write there again for my blogger friends. Its a good idea to double up your posts anyway - in a way I don't trust Spaces not to lose everything I write!!!

2007-10-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

Update on Patty: She's doing good. Took some furniture and Eric's car (it was being worked on) to their house on base yesterday so she will have some furniture there when she moves there later this month. She is still slowly improving from her short-term memory loss but she still isn't back to par yet. Hopefully in the next month things will get a lot better for her so she can move over there soon.

Hope everyone is having a great day today. Mine is busy like it has been a lot lately but I did want to pass on new information about 'Veterans of Valor'. I talked about this some after meeting the young Marine who was severely wounded in Iraq, Cpl Klay South. He started it a few months ago and finally got some new info to post on it from his mother, Janet.

So below you will find the info and links that I received in an email from his mother.

Dear Friends,

As you know, Klay has started a not for profit called Veterans of Valor. The mission of VoV is to assist the combat wounded who have 6 months or more of recovery. VoV provides live wire backpacks that can be attached to a wheelchair or conveniently carried. The value of the live wire feature is the ease of operating the ipod design for user friendly easy touch on the straps of the backpack…a great advantage to sight impairment, wounded limbs, or missing limbs. Each back pack also comes with a PSP to occupy the mind during long recovery hours between treatment, therapy, and surgeries. Breakaway pants are a welcome addition as leg wounds are common and clothing is a challenge for the wounded legs. Veterans of Valor has several other needed benefits to the combat wounded as well and is unlike other organizations.

Veterans of Valor does not fund salaries so the commitment is purely from the heart. The recipients reap the benefit of all the dedicated volunteer board members and help.

Klay’s determination to keep Veterans of Valor funded and active was planned with the long term in mind. Klay decided he needed a company to fund VoV as well as donors. Operation Care Package 247 (www.operationcarepackage247.com) was launched by Klay as well. OCP247 will be live and ready to use in just a few short days. Operation Care Package 247 offers the best care packages available and from someone who has been there and stays connected with those who are actively serving. OCP247 has the convenience of shopping while supporting those who have greatly sacrificed. Other care package sites may have good intentions or even be a not for profit…however, Operation Care Package 247 www.operationcarepackage247.com is the only web site owned and founded by a wounded veteran AND is committed to supporting our wounded Heroes. I urge you to consider purchasing care packages from http://www.operationcarepackage247.com/ when it goes live in the next few days. Please pass the web site onto others.

You will find the prices competitive, products comprehensive, and the very best selection with name brand products.

I will send out an email when it goes live and ready to order.

Warmest Regards,

Janet South
Event Media Coordinator

2007-10-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

First off -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SON, ERIC!! I got to talk to him yesterday and he said although things are better where he is, things still do happen (vague as always). But he and his platoon are all well and for that that I am grateful. I sent him the last three books in Stenphen King's Dark Tower series so he is estastic about his incoming birthday present hehe. I'm glad he called since I didn't get it sent out in time to get to him by today. We are at the less than 60 day mark for his homecoming now. When he gets home we will have to celebrate his 23rd birthday right!

Now I want you to go and watch this video and then come back and tell me what is wrong with these people?!?

Marines Mistreated

BTW - This is the SECOND time in less than a month that I have heard disparaging stuff coming out of the Bay area concerning our Marines. Are they not part of the United States?!? GRRRRRR.

Semper Fi and God bless all our Marines, troops, and their familes.

2007-09-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

OORAH to the Marine Corps! Just a quick update here on the slogan competition going on. The Marine Corps great slogan "The Few, The Proud, The Marines" won! Thanks to everyone that took the time to vote! Click the link below if you want to read the article about it in the Marine Corp Times.

Corps slogan takes out the competition

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Sep 27, 2007 5:57:50 EDT

The Marine Corps’ legendary recruiting pitch, “The Few, The Proud, The Marines,” defeated such famous ad slogans such as “Just Do It,” “Have It Your Way,” “Take a Bite Out of Crime” and “Think Outside the Bun” for a spot on the advertising industry’s Walk of Fame in New York City. --- (click the title above to read the rest of the article)

2007-08-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

First of all Patty is doing well as is Eric who is still in Iraq. Patty still has some healing to do and her memory is a still a bit fuzzy at times (getting better everyday) but the main reason for the surgery seems to have been a complete success. Her brain is processing the fluid correctly so she no longer needs the shunt she has lived with all her life. Keep the prayers coming though for both of them! And thank you for that!

Secondly, 32 years ago today I had a miraculous thing happen to me. I found out I could love another human being with all my heart when my oldest son was born to me (yeah ... I can't believe I have a 32 y/o son either!). Now he is grown and married to a great girl. And working at becoming a professional writer of the fantasy/scfi genre! He regularly posts excerpts from his writings as well as short stories on his myspace blog (which is open to read by anyone). If he will let me I want to publish one of his short stories here. We'll see.

Give him a BIG birthday present and head over here (copy and paste the link below in your browser if it doesn't take you there by clicking on it):

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=167880853

and read his great writings. One of these days he will be famous, I guarantee it!

Happy birthday and know that I love you Jason!

Semper fi and God bless our troops and all of you.

2007-07-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

Patty (Eric's beautiful wife) had her brain surgery in California Tuesday. According to the doctors it was a success and will allow her to live without the shunt that has been part of her life since she was born. But that said, she is still struggling with some of the aftermath of any kind of surgery like this. She could use prayers. She told Eric she would be strong and so far she is trying. Hopefully she will be doing better today when I talk to her.

Thanks, God bless you and Semper Fi

2007-07-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

I know I have been remiss at copying my posts from my msn spaces blog over here the last few months but I am really trying to rectify that. A lot has been going on with me. Eric is back in Iraq and has been for almost 3 months now. Another 4 or so to go. Patty (Eric's new wife) came to visit with us for 3 weeks just recently. We all stayed busy and enjoyed our time with her while she was here! Got some great pics to post. For now I want to reiterate the post I added to my MSN Spaces blog this morning. Lately it seems I am too upset with our nation's leaders to even begin to write anything remotely political with anything approaching a reasonable tone. As you can see below, this one has me up in arms though. Sometimes I feel like we are taking a step forward and two back unfortunately. We certainly have this time.

God bless all our Marines, soldiers and their families.

MSN Spaces post today from Daily Life of a Marine Mom (my mirrored blog)

So, do you think that because of the dissatisfaction surrounding our government's performance at forcing Iraq to take over their own security that your Marine or soldier is going to receive a much needed reprieve from spending more time in that wartorn country? Do you have hopes that things will turn around and our Marines and soldiers will be redeployed back home where they are so sorely needed? Well ... think again. A recent executive order (issued July 17th) by our REPLUBICAN president has almost surely blocked any efforts of our DEMOCRATIC congress from bringing about the withdrawal from a country that is refusing to help itself. You can read it for yourself here:

Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq

In essence this order can cause the seizure of any property OR person from anyone that disagrees with the president about Iraq (it actually stipulates 'violent' acts but the government officials under Bush's control are already twisting that as per the letter they sent to some Democratic candidates). Hilary Clinton has been sent a letter from the Whitehouse threatening her already. [Read about that by clicking here.] I imagine all the Democratic candidates have been by now. Also the Replubicans that are seeing the mood of the country and are turning away from the war proproganda to listen to their constituents.

Do you know that the Iraqi Parliment, instead of doing their job and trying to meet the benchmarks are taking a three-month long vacation? While our men and women are in Iraq in the 120 degree heat, wearing all their gear, working to help the Iraqi people.

I am so digusted that I can't even begin to tell you how bad it is. Besides, if I actually did I would probably have all my assets seized and be sent to one of the 800 empty prison camps that have been set up INSIDE the U.S. by FMEA for emergency measures (to hold dissenters to the Iraqi war effort pushed on us by Bush and gang - who knows?). Now are all the people that voted for Bush happy? It makes me sick.

2007-05-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Well ... the guys are in Iraq again and I am trying to decide how I am going to handle it this time. I know that where they are at is safer than it was last time he was there but nowhere in Iraq is exactly safe these days.

Thanks to my Marine family I got links to pics taken by the Maine Troop Greeters. This a wonderful group of people that meet and thank our Marines as they pass through Maine on their way to and from depolyments overseas. They also take pictures of all the Marines they can. I found three of Eric when he passed through Marine. Thank you so much Maine Troop Greeters for being there for our military and their families!

Arriving in Maine for their layover before heading to Germany. It breaks my
heart to see them doing this. They are all SO YOUNG.

Typical Eric expression on being surprised with a camera :)

Now this is just typical Eric period lol. I am glad he has buddies
like this with him if he has to go over there.I know the last name of the other
young man but I don't know his first. So he shall remain 'unidentified buddy' here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a lot of other stuff I wanted to cover lately but I just find myself lacking the energy to sit down and blog. I have gotten the entry for LCpl Klay South's Veterans of Valor organization almost done though. Will be posting that and more information about Klay here soon. He's a remarkable young man and I think he will do more for our wounded Marines than anyone has in a long time. Thank you to Klay and his family for what they are doing. I promise I will cover that before the week is over!

I also attended the Kokomo, IN Support The Troops motorcycle ride this past weekend. The people in central and northern Indiana are just awesome in their support of our Troops. It was a 75 mile ride and all the way along it there were people waving flags and cheering. Several times (espesically in light of Eric leaving for Iraq again) I had to fight back tears so I could see to ride my bike! I want to thank all the people that made that ride one of the best I have been on, including the Vets and other friends that I rode with.

Yes, that's me ready to roll. You can see some of my friends behind me there.This just shows a small portion of the bikes and people that rode to show their support for our Troops. There were well over a thousand bikes -- OORAH!

For now, this Marine mom is out.

Semper Fi and God bless all our troops and you.

2007-04-26T05:53:00.000-07:00

22 and a half years ago I woke up feeling like an elephant that had just had a very wet bath. After almost ten long months and a 65 lb weight gain, my water broke. Yes I did say ten months. You know how long the gestation period of an elephant* is ? Another reason to feel like one!

(*The gestation period of an elephant is about 640 days or 2.5 years actually. It just felt like that long!)

Since my husband and I had been trying to have another baby; we had learned I was pregnant when I was less than two weeks along (I was taking a pregnancy test every month; yes we were eager to add to our small family). Therefore we knew almost to the day when our newest addition was due. At six months I went into premature labor and had to take drugs to stop it. After six months of pregnant areobics every day I thought I could spend some time with bedrest like the doctor ordered after our brush with prematurity; after all I was in great shape from all that exercising. Little did I know my appetite wouldn't take a bedrest. I gained almost 50 lbs of the elephantitis-causing weight during those last few months. I could balance a plate on my belly by the time he was born!

When we were within a few weeks of the orginal due date they let me out of bed. Well ... the boy had gotten too comfortable in there and he decided he was just going to camp out till he graduated! It took a fall over his three year old sister the day before (I couldn't see her under my huge belly) to make him decide it was time to appear. Thank God I fell over her and not ON her though. In any case the newcomer decided to finally make his entrance. But not without drama. This one never makes an appearance without drama!

At the hospital -- only because my water broke and they made me go -- I waited patiently for the labor pains to start ... NOT. About 1 pm in the afternoon I finally got the first real labor pain. Thirty-five minutes later, Eric was born in the hallway of the hospital as they rushed me to the delivery room. They ripped the call button right out of the wall moving the bed I was in that fast (it was tied to the bed). If the nurses had listened the first two times I told them he was coming maybe they could have untied it first lol. The nurse delivered him there in the hallway (hmm ... WHY is the doctor's name on his birth certificate? ... that doesn't seem right to me). They put him on my belly as they pushed my bed the rest of the way into the actual delivery room and I wondered over this little bundle of joy that was squirming quietly into my heart.

No crying from this one even with the quickly forced explusion (the pregnant aerobics?), he was tough. Even when they took him from me to clean him up he made a few noises but he never cried. The nurses though, they were oohing and aahing a lot!

Dimples, they told me, just look at those beautiful dimples. Every nurse in the hospital fell in love with him when they saw him.

Finally, they put him back into my arms before they started to repair the damage he did to poor mom on the way out and I never felt a thing looking into those big wide beautiful eyes.

Not a day of grief did that one ever cause me intentionally. I was blessed with all my children but Eric was the best behaved if not the most industrious (that is his sister) growing up . But the grief he unintentionally causes me and the rest of his family now is a pain that is once again gnawing at my heart with razor-sharp teeth of dread. All because he had to be the best of the best. Because he HAD to be a Marine. That thought never wavered in his head after he was thirteen. He was going to be a Marine and he fulfilled that goal with all the stubbornness of that baby that refused to come out for ten months. He is not only a good Marine, his battalion is the 'Best of the Best' as far as we are concerned. If he has to do it, I want him to do it with people that he isn't afraid to have at his side.

Once again though, I have to watch that precious, dimpled person -- so ingrained to my soul that I feel his pain for him even when he won't admit to it -- get on a plane to where he lost so many friends and brothers last time they were there. This time he is leaving behind a wife he loves very much. That pain I feel for both of them. No matter how strong he is and how determined he is that his guys are not going to war-torn Iraq without him, I know it will break his heart to leave Patty.

It's tough ... but I also know we will all make it through it again. It's shorter than the ten months it took for him to be born. Its only seven months and we will make it.

Hold onto that bolt, Eric. That symbol of hope and prayers working that you carry with you since your last time in Iraq. And hold onto the prayers that helped all our Marines through their deployment last time. Those prayers are in the air again and taking wing for our Marines and their families. Add yours if you will. They are much appreciated and welcome.

Semper Fi and God bless you all.

2007-04-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

I am up to entry 155 (well here its entry 111, 155 on MSN Spaces though) even though I have neglected this blog for some time. I can just about guarantee that I will be blogging here more regularly over the next few months. Eric is due out for another depoyment way too soon for me and it is already breaking my heart. Now, not only do I have him to worry about, I have his new wife, whom I also love dearly to worry about as well. She will more than likely be having surgery to remove a shunt from her brain in June. Eric wanted her to have it done while he was here but since they moved up their deployment things didn't work out that way. At least her parents and family will be with her through this. Since she is having the surgery in California I doubt very much that I can be there to help her but my prayers will definitely be with her.

Nooner from Nooner's Comedy Blog who happens to be one of my oldest blog-friends in MSN spaces (okay Nooner ... I didn't mean YOU were old hehe) left a very special comment for me in the last entry. His nephew, who is currently serving in Iraq was recently home on leave for a week and is now returning to serve out the rest of his tour of duty. Unfortunately, his tour has been extended and he will be away from his family for even longer than they expected. This is happening to more and more of our soldiers when the tours they were already serving were placing hardship and stress on their families. Please remember to keep our soldiers AND the families they have to leave behind in your prayers. One of these days I may have to blog on the stress of having a military husband/father during wartime. I think I am going to have a lot more insight into that since Patty is already experiencing the increased stress that our military wives go through and I am one of the people she feels she can talk to about it.

I attended our Indiana Marine Parents conference that is held yearly at Pendleton, IN and I want to pass on some important information that I learned there in my next blog. It will take me a while to write it up as it deserves to be written though so give me a little time. One very important thing is that I got to talk to LCpl Klay South who has started a non-profit organization called Veterans of Valor. The website is still under construction at the present time (4/17/2007) but should be up and running soon. Klay was wounded two years ago during his second tour to Iraq and has spent the time since he was shipped home recuperating. He knows what it is like to be wounded and sent home with nothing but the gown on your back. His mission is now to make sure that every one of our soldiers coming home wounded is given a backpack that contains clothing (sweats) and entertainment items as well as necessities. This is a new organization but it is coming along nicely and I will feature more information about it in the upcoming blog. I am going to make a special request of bloggers then that you get this info to as many as you can. Its one way to help our soldiers!

I promise, I will be back soon!

Semper Fi and God bless.

2007-04-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

All I can say about this ... is Remember Them. Please watch this video tribute to our soldiers and Marines.

Semper Fi and God Bless.

2007-03-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

I suppose over the next few months my forays here in blogland will increase since Eric is due to return to Iraq with his battalion soon for his second tour. Writing this blog was a way to relieve my frustrations and fears while he was in Iraq before.

The Marines in Eric's battalion are all hard at work training now in an effort to get their newest Marines up to par (with a much decreased training time due to Bush's demand that we send more troops). Things are going okay but Eric's new bride has not had the chance to spend much time with him being in the field training so much. And more than likely (we are afraid of this btw) they will have an extended tour of duty to keep the troop levels up to where the Government has decided they want them to be. Seven months of having my son in the hell that is Ramadi was almost more than I could bear before. I suppose the tranqualizing shall have to begin earlier this time so I don't end up in the hospital because of stress again. I hate the idea of taking meds to be able to handle the added stress of having someone you love in constant danger but I guess taking the meds is better than the alternative in my case.

I wanted to share with you an email that has recently been circulated about the situation at Walter Reed. Of course the media won't tell you some of things that are in this email. I did verify that this was written by who it says it was by and even though he didn't plan for this to circulated outside of the people it was sent to orginally, I think it needs to be addressed. I hope he will forgive me for posting it but those of us that worry and pray for our wounded soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed need to know these details.

This is an e-mail from the Chief of Chaplains at Walter Reed AMC. He provides quite a different perspective on the Walter Reed issue.

Subject: Can't be quiet any longer

I have had enough and am going to give my perspective on the news about Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Please understand that I am speaking for myself and I am responsible for my thoughts alone. The news media and politicians are making it sound like Walter Reed is a terrible place and the staff here has been abusing our brave wounded soldiers; what a bunch of bull!

I am completing my 24th year of service in the Army next month so you decide for yourself if I have the experience to write about this topic. I have been the senior clinical chaplain at Walter Reed for four years and will leave to go back to the infantry this summer. I supervise the chaplain staff inside Walter Reed that cares for the 200 inpatients, the 650+ daily outpatients from the war who come to us for medical care, the 4000+ staff, and over 3000 soldiers and their families that come for clinical appointments daily. Walter Reed has cared for over 5500 wounded from the war. I cannot count the number of sick and non-battle injured that have come through over that timeframe. The staff at this facility has done an incredible job at the largest US military medical center with the worst injured of the war. We have cared for over 400 amputees and their families. I am privileged to serve the wounded, their families, and our staff.

When the news about building 18 broke I was on leave. I was in shock when the news broke. We in the chaplains office in Walter Reed, as well as the majority of people at Walter Reed, did not know anyone was in building 18.I didn't even know we had a building 18. How can that happen? Walter Reed is over 100 acres of 66 buildings on two installations. Building 18 is not on the installation of Walter Reed and was believed to be closed years ago by our department. The fact that some leaders in the medical brigade that is in charge of the outpatients put soldiers in there is terrible. That is why the company commander, first sergeant, and a group of platoon leaders and platoon sergeants were relieved immediately. They failed their soldiers and the Army.
The commanding general was later relieved (more about this) and his sergeant major has been told to move on -- if he gets to. The brigade sergeant major was relieved and more relief's are sure to come and need to.

As any leader knows, if you do not take care of soldiers, lie, and then try to cover it up, you are not worthy of the commission you hold and should be sent packing. I have no issue, and am actually proud, that they did relieve the leaders they found who knew of the terrible conditions some of our outpatients were enduring. The media is making it sound like these conditions are rampant at Walter Reed and nothing could be further from the truth. We need improvements and will now get them. I hate it that it took this to make it happen.

The Army and the media made MG Weightman, our CG, out to be the problem and fired him. This was a great injustice. He was only here for six months, is responsible for military medical care in the 20 Northeast states, wears four "hats" of responsibilities, and relies on his subordinate leaders to know what is happening in their areas of responsibilities. He has a colonel that runs the hospital (my hospital commander), a colonel that runs the medical brigade (where the outpatient wounded are assigned and supposedly cared for), and a colonel that is responsible to run the garrison and installation. What people don't know is that he was making many changes as he became aware of them and had requested money to fix other places on the installation. The Army did not come through until four months after he asked for the money, remember that he was here only six months, which was only days before they relieved him. His leaders responsible for outpatient care did not tell him about conditions in building 18. He has been an incredible leader who really cares about the wounded, their families, and our staff. I cannot say the same about a former commander, who was my first commander here at Walter Reed, and definitely knew about many problems and is in the position to fix them and he did not. MG Weightman also should not be held responsible for the military's unjust and inefficient medical board system and the problems in the VA system.

We lost a great leader and passionate man who showed he had the guts to make changes and was doing so when he was made the scapegoat for others.

What I am furious about is that the media is making it sound like all of Walter Reed is like building 18. Nothing could be further from the truth. No system is perfect but the medical staff provides great care in this hospital. What needs to be addressed, and finally will, is the bureaucratic garbage that all soldiers are put through going into medical boards and medical retirements. Congress is finally giving the money that people have asked for at Walter Reed for years to fix places on the installations and address shortcomings. What they don't want you to know is Congress caused many problems by the BRAC process saying they were closing Walter Reed. We cannot keep nor attract all the quality people we need at Walter Reed when they know this place will close in several years and they are not promised a job at the new hospital. Then they did this thing call A76 where they fired many of the workers here for a company of contractors, IAP, to get a contract to provide care outside the hospital proper. The company, which is responsible for maintenance, only hired half the number of people as there were originally assigned to maintenance areas to save money.

Walter Reed leadership fought the A76 and BRAC process for years but lost. Congress instituted the BRAC and A76 process; not the leadership of Walter Reed.

What I wish everyone would also hear is that for every horror story we are now hearing about in the media that truly needs to be addressed, you are not hearing about the hundreds of other wounded and injured soldiers who tell a story of great care they received. You are not hearing about the incredibly high morale of our troops and the fact that most of them want to go back, be with their teammates, and finish the job properly. You should be very proud of the wounded troopers we have at Walter Reed. They make me so proud to be in the Army and I will fight to get their story out.

I want you to hear the whole story because our wounded, their families, our Army, and the nation need to know that many in the media and select politicians have an agenda. Forget agendas and make the changes that have been needed for years to fix problems in every military hospital and the VA system. The poor leaders will be identified and sent packing and good riddance to them. I wish the same could be said for the politicians and media personalities who are also responsible but now want it to look like they are very concerned.

Where have they been for the last four years? I am ashamed of what they all did and the pain it has caused many to think that everyone is like that.

Please know that you are not hearing the whole story. Please know that there are thousands of dedicated soldiers and civilian medical staff caring for your soldiers and their families. When I leave here I will end up deploying. When soldiers in my division have to go to Walter Reed from the battlefield, I know they will get great medical care. I pray that you know the same thing.

God bless all our troops and their families wherever they may be.

God bless you all,
Chaplain John L.
Senior Chaplain Clinician
Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Semper Fi and God bless us all.

2007-03-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Received this article from another Marine mom. Its a nice way to honor one of the 3/7's fallen heroes.

New U.S. Warship Will Honor Marine

By CHRISTOPHER P. CAVAS

The name of a U.S. Marine who gave his life to save his comrades in Iraq will grace a new destroyer, the Navy announced March 20.

Cpl. Jason Dunham received the Medal of Honor on January 11 for his actions April 14, 2004, when he grappled with an insurgent after his unit was ambushed in Karabilah, Iraq. Dunham threw himself on a live grenade to shield fellow Marines and, although he survived the initial explosion, died of his injuries after 10 days.

Navy Secretary Donald Winter plans to officially announce the ship’s name March 23 in Dunham’s hometown of Scio, N.Y.

The USS Dunham (DDG 109) will be the 59th DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The ship is expected to be delivered to the Navy from the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine, in the fall of 2009.

Dunham is the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the advent of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A machine gunner for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Dunham was 22 years old when he died. The Navy provided an account of Dunham’s heroic actions:

“On April 14, 2004, Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah when his Battalion Commander’s convoy was ambushed. When Dunham’s squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines."

If you would like to read more about Cpl Jason Dunham cllick the following link: Medal of Honor

Semper Fi and God Bless you all.

2007-03-08T05:36:00.000-08:00

Its been a while since I had a chance to rant so today I am going to break that trend. YOu know what is really burning my butt today? When I heard on the news that the Book It! program that has been sponsered by Pizza Hut since 1985 is now under fire from an advocacy group that says it promotes bad eating habits and turns teachers into corporate promoters.

What the h377 is WRONG with these people?!? Don't they have anything better to do than to attack a program that has given pleasure to our kids and helped promote reading for more than 20 years?!?

I remember when the time each year would roll around and my kids would earn their personal pan pizza coupons. We would all pile into the car and head out to the local pizza hut so they could use them. That was about the only time out of the year that I actually took them into Pizza Hut but it was a TREAT that they had earned and that made it all the more precious to them! They LOVED it.

Now as far as giving them pizza promoting bad eating habits, yeah if you feed them pizza every night it is not going to be good for them. But for probably fully half of the underprivledged kids that earn these coupons that may be the only time each year when they get pizza at Pizza Hut. And guess what ... for almost the whole time my kids were living with me we had pizza from Pizza Hut a couple of times a month on Fridays! And on the other Fridays we would carry in from someone else like ... OMG .... Mickey-Ds (I hate it, but the kids loved it). My kids should weigh 300 lbs each right?? Not a single one of them is overweight (or even has an ounce of fat on them). Probably because for the other SIX nights out of the week I cooked good healthy homecooked meals for them. Maybe because when they wanted snacks they got good things for them like baby carrots (they still love those) or apples and cheese (OH NO ... I fed them CHEESE) or celery and peanut butter. Maybe they should put a skull and crossbones on the Pizza Hut's door to warn us huh? Well, I guess if you go there every night to feed your kids maybe they had better! But everything in moderation folks, then your kids will learn good eating habits and still be able to enjoy life!

What is really stupid about this attack is that they are saying that the program makes the kids want pizza, and doesn't make them want to read. Well DOH, guess what? Giving a child an incentive to do anything that is good for them (like reading books) has to be an incentive they LIKE (like pizza)! Its always been easier to draw bees to honey than salt people!

I know that I for one think that they should leave the 'Book It!' program alone! It gave my children years of pleasure and those times when I could see their smiling faces sitting across from me at Pizza Hut enjoying the fruits (or meat and cheese and dough) of their own effort will forever live in my heart as special.

Okay ... done ranting for today and my yes, I do feel a bit better.

If you want to read about this you can find the story at this link. http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/06/Business/Some_pan_reading_for_.shtml

Semper Fi and God Bless you all and God bless Pizz Hut for making it possible to get some of these kids to read!

2007-03-01T05:37:00.000-08:00

Through the efforts and help of a dear friend I managed to make it to Eric and Patty's wedding this past Staurday. I have been depressed the past few weeks because I was sure I was going to have to miss it since I didn't have the money to fly out there. In the end everything worked out and I was California bound Friday and stayed with them till Monday morning. I am thrilled to have Patty as a daughter-in-law! She's a sweet beautiful girl for a handsome wonderful young man and both of them are lucky they found each other!

Now I want to introduce you to Lcpl and Mrs. Eric ********

I will try to write a little about the wedding later. Been a busy time lately.

Semper Fi and God bless.

2007-02-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

If you look on the internet for the full text of the Democratic response spoken by Sen. Jim Webb (as I did) to Bush's SOTU address, you realize just how little attention most of the media is paying to the Democrats (except when they do something wrong). Ummm, what has happened to 'freedom of the press'? Are they all so afraid of the republicans currently at the top of our government feeder chain that they won't let the American people know the TRUTH?

From what I have gathered in the news lately, the media is trying to cause another 'panic' so that Bush can invade Iran. The facts are that once again, we are being mislead. If they had ANY proof that the Iran government was behind any of the recent news blurbs about Iranians helping the Iraqi insurgents and factions don't you think we would hear about it?!? Just as in America, there are bad people willing to take advantage of unrest when they can in Iran. The criminal element should be erdicated if they are caught in the act but does that give the U.S. the right to attack a COUNTRY?

In any case, I digress. I wanted my readers to have the availibility to read the full text of Sen. Webb's speech and see for theirselves that this is a man that is tired of people hiding the truth.

Sen. Webb wrote these remarks himself and he had full rights to turn down the speech that the ruling democrats wanted him to read and do this. Why you ask? Because not only does Sen. Webb have a distinguished military service, but he also has a son, currently serving in Iraq with the Marine Corps.

This is a man I would be willing to vote for, if he ever wants to proceed farther in the potical arena. His demeanor was like he was talking to you, not at you. If you missed this speech, you missed seeing the change that America CAN undergo if we, The People, take a stand.

That's all I have to say, please read Sen. Webb's Democratic response and listen with your heart.

Democratic response of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., to President Bush ‘s State of the Union address Tuesday, as prepared for delivery and provided by his office:

Good evening.

I'm Senator Jim Webb, from Virginia, where this year we will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown an event that marked the first step in the long journey that has made us the greatest and most prosperous nation on earth.

It would not be possible in this short amount of time to actually rebut the president's message, nor would it be useful. Let me simply say that we in the Democratic Party hope that this administration is serious about improving education and health care for all Americans, and addressing such domestic priorities as restoring the vitality of New Orleans.

Further, this is the seventh time the president has mentioned energy independence in his State of the Union message, but for the first time this exchange is taking place in a Congress led by the Democratic Party. We are looking for affirmative solutions that will strengthen our nation by freeing us from our dependence on foreign oil, and spurring a wave of entrepreneurial growth in the form of alternate energy programs. We look forward to working with the president and his party to bring about these changes.

There are two areas where our respective parties have largely stood in contradiction, and I want to take a few minutes to address them tonight. The first relates to how we see the health of our economy, how we measure it, and how we ensure that its benefits are properly shared among all Americans. The second regards our foreign policy, how we might bring the war in Iraq to a proper conclusion that will also allow us to continue to fight the war against international terrorism, and to address other strategic concerns that our country faces around the world.

Economy
When one looks at the health of our economy, it's almost as if we are living in two different countries. Some say that things have never been better. The stock market is at an all-time high, and so are corporate profits. But these benefits are not being fairly shared. When I graduated from college, the average corporate CEO made 20 times what the average worker did; today, it's nearly 400 times. In other words, it takes the average worker more than a year to make the money that his or her boss makes in one day.

Wages and salaries for our workers are at all-time lows as a percentage of national wealth, even though the productivity of American workers is the highest in the world. Medical costs have skyrocketed. College tuition rates are off the charts. Our manufacturing base is being dismantled and sent overseas. Good American jobs are being sent along with them.

In short, the middle class of this country, our historic backbone and our best hope for a strong society in the future, is losing its place at the table. Our workers know this, through painful experience. Our white-collar professionals are beginning to understand it, as their jobs start disappearing also. And they expect, rightly, that in this age of globalization, their government has a duty to insist that their concerns be dealt with fairly in the international marketplace.

In the early days of our republic, President Andrew Jackson established an important principle of American-style democracy that we should measure the health of our society not at its apex, but at its base. Not with the numbers that come out of Wall Street, but with the living conditions that exist on Main Street. We must recapture that spirit today.

And under the leadership of the new Democratic Congress, we are on our way to doing so. The House just passed a minimum wage increase, the first in 10 years, and the Senate will soon follow. We've introduced a broad legislative package designed to regain the trust of the American people. We've established a tone of cooperation and consensus that extends beyond party lines. We're working to get the right things done, for the right people and for the right reasons.

International affairs
With respect to foreign policy, this country has patiently endured a mismanaged war for nearly four years. Many, including myself, warned even before the war began that it was unnecessary, that it would take our energy and attention away from the larger war against terrorism, and that invading and occupying Iraq would leave us strategically vulnerable in the most violent and turbulent corner of the world.

I want to share with all of you a picture that I have carried with me for more than 50 years. This is my father, when he was a young Air Force captain, flying cargo planes during the Berlin Airlift. He sent us the picture from Germany, as we waited for him, back here at home. When I was a small boy, I used to take the picture to bed with me every night, because for more than three years my father was deployed, unable to live with us full-time, serving overseas or in bases where there was no family housing. I still keep it, to remind me of the sacrifices that my mother and others had to make, over and over again, as my father gladly served our country. I was proud to follow in his footsteps, serving as a Marine in Vietnam. My brother did as well, serving as a Marine helicopter pilot. My son has joined the tradition, now serving as an infantry Marine in Iraq.

Like so many other Americans, today and throughout our history, we serve and have served, not for political reasons, but because we love our country. On the political issues, those matters of war and peace, and in some cases of life and death, we trusted the judgment of our national leaders. We hoped that they would be right, that they would measure with accuracy the value of our lives against the enormity of the national interest that might call upon us to go into harm's way.

We owed them our loyalty, as Americans, and we gave it. But they owed us sound judgment, clear thinking, concern for our welfare, a guarantee that the threat to our country was equal to the price we might be called upon to pay in defending it.

Iraq
The president took us into this war recklessly. He disregarded warnings from the national security adviser during the first Gulf War, the chief of staff of the army, two former commanding generals of the Central Command, whose jurisdiction includes Iraq, the director of operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many, many others with great integrity and long experience in national security affairs. We are now, as a nation, held hostage to the predictable and predicted disarray that has followed.

The war's costs to our nation have been staggering. Financially. The damage to our reputation around the world. The lost opportunities to defeat the forces of international terrorism. And especially the precious blood of our citizens who have stepped forward to serve.

The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military. We need a new direction. Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos. But an immediate shift toward strong regionally based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq's cities, and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq.

On both of these vital issues, our economy and our national security, it falls upon those of us in elected office to take action.

Regarding the economic imbalance in our country, I am reminded of the situation President Theodore Roosevelt faced in the early days of the 20th century. America was then, as now, drifting apart along class lines. The so-called robber barons were unapologetically raking in a huge percentage of the national wealth. The dispossessed workers at the bottom were threatening revolt.

Roosevelt spoke strongly against these divisions. He told his fellow Republicans that they must set themselves as resolutely against improper corporate influence on the one hand as against demagogy and mob rule on the other. And he did something about it.

As I look at Iraq, I recall the words of former general and soon-to-be President Dwight Eisenhower during the dark days of the Korean War, which had fallen into a bloody stalemate. "When comes the end?" asked the general who had commanded our forces in Europe during World War II. And as soon as he became president, he brought the Korean War to an end.

These presidents took the right kind of action, for the benefit of the American people and for the health of our relations around the world. Tonight we are calling on this president to take similar action, in both areas. If he does, we will join him. If he does not, we will be showing him the way.

Thank you for listening. And God bless America.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Now I say to you, Semper Fi and God bless and help us all.

2007-01-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Well life is getting back to normal a little bit. Still trying to pay off the Christmas bills but aren't we all?

Eric and Patty are leaving to go back to California on Sunday. They are having a fine vacation that I know they are going to be sad to leave. Patty fits right in with my crazy (well, crazy but lovable) family. I hope she will consider coming back home with Eric when he does get out of the Marine Corps and making their home here. She already asked me to adopt her LOL. I just said 'sure!' and I truly meant it :).

Here's a few pics. Patty is so cute. All I can say is that she is a keeper!

Happy New Year!!!!

So for now, things are going okay and I hope you all have great plans and wonderful times over the next year! I know I am going to try to!

Before I go I want to start the new year out right and share some history with you. I know you have probably read this before but I love this story so much I am passing it on again. Till next time, Semper Fi and God Bless you all in this new year!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: Real Heroes- I knew about Lee Marvin and Captain Kangaroo, but I didn't know about Mr. Rogers, the mild-mannered kiddie show host who could be a killer!

America's real heroes sometimes hide from us in plain view and in packages that we'd least suspect.

Quite a few of us grew up with Captain Kangaroo, as you or your children probably did. I knew nothing of his background, only that his show was both entertaining, educational, and as kids, we looked forward to it with great anticipation. Captain Kangaroo turned 76 recently, which is odd, because he's never looked a day under 76 . (DOB: 6/27/27) It reminded me of the following story. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Some people have been a bit offended that Lee Marvin is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys?

Well, following is the amazing answer:

I always liked Lee Marvin, but did not know the extent of his Corps experiences. In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces, often in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award... the Medal Of Honor. If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima... and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the ass and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi...bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys gettin' shot hauling you down. But Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. The dumb bastard actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me lying on my belly on the litter and said, 'Where'd they get you Lee?' Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse! Johnny, I'm not lying... Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew..... Bob Keeshan... You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another on those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long sleeve sweater to cover the many tattoo's on his forearm and biceps. A master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. He hid that away and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

America's real hero's don't flaunt what they did, they quietly go about their day to day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedom's that we all enjoy.

Look around and see if you can find one of those hero's in your midst.

Often, they are the one's you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened.

2006-12-31T06:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been making entries lately. I have my marine, Eric and his new finacee staying with me right now (they are here for another week YAY) and have not had the energy to do the space thing if you know what I mean. Thanks for all the kind sentiments from my spaces friends. It really does mean a lot to me that you are here. I hope you all had a wonderful time this last couple of weeks and have a safe and happy New Year's! I am spending mine with my kids and my sister's kids so it sounds like fun to me! Congrats to my niece Nicole too who is marrying her high-school sweetheart, Derek (who is in the Navy and now in school for air traffic control) tomorrow. They are starting out their new year with a band!!!

For now ... I want to share something I got from a good friend a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea who wrote it but its an interesting story. Its kind of a Christmas thing too ... but it works for a New Year wish to you all!

Till next year,

Semper Fi and God Bless you all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take My Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.

A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art."

The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.

"Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

"We have $10, who will bid $20?"

"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."

"What about the paintings?"

"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!"

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?"

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

God Bless (pass this on if you wish, it may change someone's life!)

2006-12-11T12:54:00.000-08:00

Many of you know how ill my father has been the past few months. He spent the last two weeks of his life in the hospital during which time I didn't have the time to even post here at all. We were all trying to spend as much time with him as possible because we knew how ill he was. We got Eric home to see him a week ago today, and many thanks to the Local Red Cross chapter for their kind and excellent help in getting Eric here through an emergency family leave. You can find a link to the info for Red Cross emergency leave in my helpful sites list. So I don't have to type this all again ... I am posting the email here I sent to my friends the first part of this week:

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Eric flew in yesterday morning [Dec. 2nd]] and we went right to the hospital in Ft. Wayne from Indianapolis since it was the shortest way to get there. My dad's condition had been deterioating rapidly since about Thursday so we didn't even go home first.

When Eric saw his grandpa he leaned over him and held his hand and talked to him and my dad did manage to tell him "I love you too' which is what he has been saying a lot to all of us the past few days. He was in very bad shape, struggling to breathe and in pain the morphine they were giving him didn't even touch though. Eric turned around, looked at me and broke down at which made me start crying too. I opened my arms and he was in them just like he was when he was little. My heart was breaking for him and my poor dad. Later that afternoon my father asked the nurses and all of us to stop the treatments. The hospital took him off the drugs (except morphine) and put him in a private regular room where we could all be with him. He also asked that the assisted breathing mask be removed and they just put a regular oxygen mask on him. After they let us in with him there ... he looked more at peace than he had for several weeks. He passed away peacefully with his whole family around him and my mother holding his hand at 5:02am this morning [Dec. 3rd]. We miss him but it was truly for the best. None of us wanted him to suffer anymore like he was either. To the end, my father was a loving special man, taking the burden off of all his family by asking us to let him go home.

Thank you all for your prayers. They are so much appreciated.
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The Marine Corp extended Eric's leave so he could stay for the funeral which was held Wednesday. I extend a big thank you to Eric's command too. When his grandmother heard he could be here she was so happy she actually jumped up and down a little! Dad's funeral on Dec. 6th was special. He was a special, giving man to his family and it was hard to say goodbye to him but we did it together. I am so lucky to have a family as close as mine is. We will all be there for my mother and she knows it so she is doing okay.

During my father's funeral I got up and read a poem I wrote for him and I actually made it through it. I broke down a couple of times and halfway through it I had to turn around and look at my dad to gain a little of the strength he passed onto me back, but I did manage to say what I needed to and it helped us I hope. Now ... in remembrance of my father ... I am sharing my eulogy to him with you. Just like I did at the funeral ... I need to say that my dad was a wonderful father and grandfather ... but mostly he was also our friend. A true friend to the end.

My father, my friend

If you are lucky in your life,
You will meet a simple man,
Who will stand with you at your lowest point
And lend you his helping hand.

A man who loves his family
And shows it in every way
He's there for all the little things
His devotion takes your fears away.

A man who believes in honesty
And places that above most everything
He would not accept anything less
From those that mean the most to him.

A man who is there when you need him
Who stands willingly by your side
Or holds you in his arms of strength
When you must break down and cry.

Who comforts children when they're sad
Sings them a powerful little song
And the sound of his strong voice
Eases their tears before too long.

A man who loves so many things,
His family and all his friends,
Even the dog always by his side
Both are loyal to the end.

I was so blessed in my life
To have known just such a simple man
Who held me tight the day I was born
And said "Welcome home, my newest friend."

Now I know that he is standing,
With another giving, simple man.
Both waiting to one day hold me tight
And say, "Welcome home now, my dear friend."

written by Tami, in honor of my father, who went Home Dec. 3, 2006
Till we meet again, we all love you.

2006-11-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to our brave members of the U.S. Marine Corps. Check out the great tribute that GoDaddy.com did for the Marine Corps by clicking the picture below. Use the 'Back' option on your browser if you want to return here after seeing the tribute.

Semper Fi and God bless all the men and women in the service of our country.

_______________________________________

And not to leave out all our Veterans and other military members:

So sorry I didn't get a BIG HUGE THANK YOU out there to all our Veterans and current military folks for their service on Veteran's Day but I was in the process of moving and didn't have a chance to log in to do it. So here it is now:

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU from Marine Mom!!!

Will post pics of the new home soon. Its cute and I feel very comfortable there!

Semper Fi and God bless.

2006-11-01T05:54:00.000-08:00

Luckily for me this year, I will have my Marine son (and his new finacee hopefully!) at home with me for Christmas and New Year's. Its the first time in three years that Eric will be able to come and spend Christmas and the holidays with his family. I am one of the lucky ones as far as military families go.

As Christmas draws closer for many of our military families, we all need to start thinking about our troops that will be far away from home and start trying to get things together to send to them in order to make their Christmas' a little more like home to them. This coming Saturday our local Marine family group will be packing boxes to ship to our Marines for the holidays.

In an effort to help out here I am going to start compiling a list of Christmas package projects that you could help with across the nation. Watch for that soon.

Till then, keep our troops, our government and our country in your prayers if you pray. We all need those prayers right now.

Semper Fi and God bless.

2006-10-27T05:51:00.000-07:00

Many of my readers may wonder why I haven't been posting much lately. Due to time constrants and the difficulty of getting Spaces to load on a dial-up (which is all I have at home) is, I must admit, only part of the reason. I have tried consistently to just support our troops and their families here. Unfortunately if I write anything, my feelings of betrayal by our present administration comes out in full force. I feel like I need to address this at times. This is going to be one of these times.

I read a post from a Marine mom on her blog, Blue Inkblots, that I really think everyone should read. I have independantly read the articles and items she refers to in her blog and I feel it is as close to the truth as you can get. Just so you get an idea of where my mindframe is ... read my response to what she wrote in its entirety:

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To Deanie from me: I thought your son should be home by now, I am thankful that he is safe (for now) and saying a prayer for his peace of mind (and yours).

Facing the impending return to Iraq of my son's battalion next spring, I have to say that this post has probably hit home with me more than anything else I have read recently (and seeing it all pulled together here, made more sense). I am dreading having my son and my friends' sons going back to the nest of vipers that Iraq has become.

Even though on my blog I intentially tried to stay away from the political ramifications of this ridiculous excuse of a war brought on by power-hungry greedy men that care little for the fate of our country and focus on supporting our troops (which is why posts are few and far between lately, my feelings of betrayal by our government are BOUND to come out in my blog), I feel like I can no longer deny my feelings and I may start writing again on it. I KNOW I am going to post a link to your blog here in my main blog. People NEED to read this.

Thanks for saying what so many of us have tried not to think about Deanie.

And give your son a hug from this Marine mom.

Semper fi and hugs to you,
Tami

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Now ... if you are willing to face reality (and even if you are NOT). Its important to go and read Deanie's entry in her blog. Click the title below:

SEND A MESSAGE TO WASHINGTON SO LOUD & CLEAR THAT EVEN RUMSFELD WILL HEAR by Deanie Mills.

Semper Fi and may God bless us all.

2006-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Below is the link to an informative letter written and sent home to his family and friends from a Marine officer. He wanted to remain anonymous but allowed the Time website to publish the letter. This letter sounds a lot like what Eric has told me about his tour of duty there. The Marines he mentions waiting to go home all packed quite possibly could have been Eric’s battalion. Reading this gave me goosebumps knowing that Eric was in Ramadi at the times this officer was writing about.
In any case I wanted all my readers to have the chance to read it too so …

The Secret Letter From Iraq

A Marine's letter home, with its frank description of life in "Dante's inferno," has been circulating through generals' in-boxes. We publish it here with the author's approval. Click here to read the letter from the Time’s website.

Semper Fi and God Bless you all and our military.

2006-10-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

So sorry I haven't kept all my loyal readers updated but I can't log into Spaces at home anymore (stuck in the dark ages with dial-up in the country arggghhhhh) and I have been super busy at work with computer problems so not even much time at lunch to pop in here! I promise to try harder though especially with all the new things going on.

First ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear son, LCpl Eric who turned 22 a couple days ago! He lost the cell phone he JUST got a few weeks ago (or it was stolen) so I couldn't call him but lucky for me he called ME hehe! He has been a lot better about calling since he and his beautiful girlfriend Patty hooked up, thank you Patty :). He and his buds went out for a night on the town for his birthday, I think they kind of got him lit up a bit. Or so it sounded when he called my house at 3:30am (12:30am his time) to tell me that it was his birthday and WHY didn't I answer the phone LOL (umm ... it was 3:30am OKAY !! ).

Second ... my family is growing. Not only do I continue to gain Marine family but ... Eric asked Patty to marry him and the silly girl said YES! I am glad, they seem to be meant for one another and her family (who live in CA) treat Eric and love Eric like a son already. I am so glad he has someone like that for him out there so far from his family here in Indiana. It lightens my heart at least a little although we all mis like crazy everyday. So .. I can't take a vacation till next February, but they are going to wait till I can come out there to have the wedding, they are good kids!

For now, other that thinking our country needs some serious house-cleaning lately, that is all that is going on with me. Will try to keep you all posted on the doings of Eric and his family a bit better but for now, take care all.

Semper Fidelis and God Bless you all.

2006-09-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

I am sure all of our servicemembers have been informed of this reimbursement. But, we all know they don't always act when they need to. Thought I would pass this along to the parents to "remind" their Marine or soldier.

Soldiers have until Oct. 3 to file claims for reimbursement of certain private purchases of protective, health and safety equipment such as body armor. Purchases qualify if they were made between Sept. 11, 2001 and April 1, 2006 and if they were made in anticipation of or during the servicemember's deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. Claims should be filed with the Soldier's current unit. Former Soldiers should mail their claims to the U.S. Army Claims Service at Fort Meade, Md. More information on the reimbursement program is available at www.jagcnet.army.mil. Follow the link to the "Protective Gear Reimbursement Program."

And now for a little entertainment, being the coffee lover that I am I had to pass this one on .... and Ben, my friend (another coffee lover!), this one is just for you!

Coffee Cups...

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups--porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal; some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite--telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.

"Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.

"They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and do not change the quality of Life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided.

"So, don't let the cups drive you .... enjoy the coffee instead."

Written by Dorothy Holland

Semper Fi and God bless you all.

2006-09-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

Steve Irwin quotes:

"Every cent we earn from Crocodile Hunter goes straight back into conservation. Every single cent."

"Herein lies our problem. If we level that much land to grow rice and whatever, then no other animal could live there except for some insect pest species. Which is very unfortunate."

"See, I've always seen Jacques Cousteau as a hero, mate. He's a legend - like my dad, just a legend. And so what he did for conservation in the '60s through the '70s was just phenomenal."

"So, my tactic with conservation of apex predators is to get people excited and take them to where they live."

"Crikey, mate. You're far safer dealing with crocodiles and western diamondback rattlesnakes than the executives and the producers and all those sharks in the big MGM building." (my favorite)

I didn't talk much about the loss of Steve Irwin because he is near and dear to my heart. I cried when I heard of his death too. I remember sitting with my kids and watching him on TV when they were growing up. Eric does such an awesome imitation of Steve. He used to crack me up whenever we were taking trips in the car doing them. I'll have to get him to do that again next time he visits.

Like I told you before (I think?), Eric has spent the last month in the mountains with the 3/7 learning to fight in that terrain. 'Playing in the snow' as many in the 3/7 family calls it. Eric will be home (in 29 Palms) this week and I know his girlfriend Patty is anxiously awating his arrival. I know I am eager to talk to him. Been a long month.

In light of Steve Irwin's memorial service today in Australia, I ran across the most distressing (in my eyes, INCORRECT) information on the PETA website today. As an animal lover and a believer in the fact that we should treat them humanely, it was shocking to see what PETA had to say about Steve. First, for those of us that didn't have the luxury of being able to watch the memorial service, click below to see Bindi Irwin's tribute and farewell to her famous father. Then you can click on the back button to return here and hear the ... rest of the story.

Bindi Irwin's Tribute to her Father, Steve

PETA ... oh PETA ... what can I say. It started out orginally as a good honest organization created by people that truly cared for not only animals ... but other people as well. I am afraid to say that I am now totally convinced that this is no longer true. They have lost any remaining support I may have had for them (I was already dismayed by some of the actions of PETA the last few years, although they do actually help in some cases), not only because of the scathing article that blasts Steve Irwin (as well as other famous naturalists), but because of other things as well such as the extremist attitudes they have engendered and embraced. But you can click the link below to read for yourself what PETA has to say. Needless to say I wrote them an email letting them know how disappointed I was in this. . If you want to comment to them on this .. use this email address info@peta.org .

In refuting what PETA has to say I don't think in any way that Steve ever sought to become the star he was. His goal was simple, to educate us and help animals however he could. He couldn't help that it made him famous doing it. That is just who he was. They [PETA] intimate that when he would wrestle with a croc and restrain it to move it safely he was just doing it to get it on tape. That NEVER happened. They never moved animals like unless they had to in order to protect them or save their lives, then they would tape it while it was done. In no way did I ever see the Irwins mistreat or show cruelty to animals. They handled them humanely and as little as possible. The animals they brought to shows were raised in captivity and probably had a better life than those in the wild. And to equate human emotions to animals like PETA does is, in my eyes at least, a sin. I am seeing clearly now that in PETA's opinions, keeping your dog locked in the house or on a chain is cruelty. No matter that if I let my beloved Luke run loose he would become road-gel almost immediately. I can tell you for certain, my dog is living a GOOD life that will be a lot longer because of my cruelty of keeping him from living in the wild. And HE is happy about it too. And God forbid if you have a parrot, or a hamster, or a horse ... better box it up and ship it back to Africa or the Amazon or whereever it came from orginally because it isn't happy where it is! I knew PETA had gotten a little extreme lately .. but to use the death of Steve Irwin to forward their cause is obscene.

Steve and his wife, Terri also put most of the money he made back into what he loved ... animals.

Rest In Peace Steve ... we believed in what you were doing.

PETA's shameful article that talks about Steve Irwin: http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-wildlifewarriors.asp

Sad Sad day that someone that brought so much attention to endangered animals and did so much to promote the love and information about animals would be atttacked this way. I know that Steve and his wife and family did more to help animals than many of us could ever dream to. Shame on you PETA.

Semper Fi and God bless you all, even PETA

2006-09-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

I know I have very amiss at blogging the past few months. I hope it was just a phase I was going through. I need to write about my feelings to deal with them sometimes. Its hard to do that right now though because of various things going on in my life that I don't feel I can share. In any case ... I will try to be better about keeping you informed on my favorite Marine ... Eric.

For now, even though it is late, I want to share this with you:

TWO THOUSAND ONE, NINE ELEVEN (2001-911)

Two thousand one, nine eleven
Three thousand plus arrive in heaven
As they pass through the gate,
Thousands more appear in wait
A bearded man with stovepipe hat
Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat"

They settle down in seats of clouds
A man named Martin shouts out proud
"I have a dream!" and once he did
The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives."

Groups of soldiers in blue and gray
Others in khaki, and green then say
"We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine"
The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain."

From a man on sticks one could hear
"The only thing we have to fear.
The Newcomer said, "We know the rest,
Trust us sir, we've passed that test."

"Courage doesn't hide in caves
You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"
The Newcomers had heard this voice before
A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannisport shores

A silence fell within the mist
Somehow the Newcomer knew that this
Meant time had come for her to say
What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day

"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,
Watched our children play in sports
Worked our gardens, sang our songs
Went to church and clipped coupons
We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought
Unlike you, great we're not"

The tall man in the stovepipe hat
Stood and said, "Don't talk like that!
Look at your country, look and see
You died for freedom, just like me"

Then, before them all appeared a scene
Of rumbled streets and twisted beams
Death, destruction, smoke and dust
And people working just 'cause they must

Hauling ash, lifting stones,
Knee deep in hell, but not alone
"Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman
Side by side helping their fellow man!"

So said Martin, as he watched the scene
"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."

Down below three firemen raised
The colors high into ashen haze
The soldiers above had seen it before
On Iwo Jima back in '45

The man on sticks studied everything closely
Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly
"I see pain, I see tears,
I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear."

"You left behind husbands and wives
Daughters and sons and so many lives
Are suffering now because of this wrong
But look very closely. You're not really gone.

All of those people, even those who've never met you
All of their lives, they'll never forget you
Don't you see what has happened?
Don't you see what you've done?
You've brought them together, together as one.

With that the man in the stovepipe hat said
"Take my hand," and from there he led
Three thousand plus heroes , Newcomers to heaven
On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven

Author UNKNOWN (What a shame!)

2006-09-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

Its been what seems to be a too short summer for me. Eric is somewhere in the mountains in CA as we speak learning to deal with mountainous terrain as they have 'war games' with another company (or platoon, not sure, I just know they are trying to one-up each other out there). I know he was looking forward to this. He gets bored just sticking around base and training. He is more of the 'up and at 'em' type than I would like sometimes. I do know that he will be deployed again sometime in the spring. At least over the holidays this year we should have his sorely missed, joyful presence at home! Looking forward to seeing him again. Its been way too long.

Here's a cute little story I thought I would share:

Talking about 'Flat daddy' helps soldier's family cope

Awwww.... this is just too sad :( even though it does seem to be helping this family. I had to share this.

Semper Fi and God Bless.

'Flat daddy' helps soldier's family cope

Aug. 31: Bethanie Mazzaro and her daughter Savannah talk to MSNBC-TV's Alex Witt about their "flat daddy," Sgt. Scott Poulin, and about the flat daddy/flat mommy program that was started to help soldiers' families cope with missing their loved ones.

2006-08-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

Eric is doing well and looking forward to heading up into the mountains for 'training' soon. He and his girlfriend are getting along wonderful too. She says that I raised him right LOL. I told her that if he disrespects her to let me know and I will kick his butt when he is home on leave next time! He still isn't too big and tough for me to do that!!

I wanted to get back to the roots of the reason I started this blog ... which was to support the young men and women that are willing to give their lives to protect the United States of America and her people. I therefore put forth the following story I received. Is it true? I don't know but I would like to believe so. Its just a simple variation on an email story that has been circulating for quite some time. The reason that I think this particular version touched me as deeply as it did was because this is something I could easily envision Eric (or any of my children for that matter) doing. If everyone had the empahty that is shown in the following story ... the world would be a much better place to live.

---------------------------------------------

The Daughter of a Soldier

Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest act's of patriotism I have ever seen.

Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camo's, as they began heading to their gate everyone (well, almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for it hit me.

I'm not alone. I'm not the only red blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.

Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.

Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our servicemen and women a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said "hi."

The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy?

Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek. The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter, Courtney, missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.

When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military looking walkie-talkie.

They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it. After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, "I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you."

He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying "your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon."

The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event unfolded.

As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own.

That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.

We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices.

At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.

Semper fi and God bless

2006-08-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am tired ... tired and depressed to see that things in the world continue to deteriorate on a daily basis. I don't look forward at all to seeing my yougnest son sent out of the country again to protect the interests of ... just exactly whom actually? Just whom is he really being used by now and what for? I am not sure of even that anymore, that one thing I do know for certain.

I know he joined the Marine Corps for altrustic reasons ... he wanted to serve his country and help people. He's a good person. Unfortunately I am not sure who our Corps and armed forces are actually serving anymore.

It's so depressing I find it hard put to write this blog without blasting and lashing out at the 'OFFICIALS' that are using our brave young men and women as if they are just chess pieces on a board. Let's see ... if we sacrifice this unit today then we can do this and make even more MONEY! That is exactly what I feel is going on now. How do I deal with this in my own head? I'm just so tired of it all right now. All this crap ON top of the misery in my own life that I don't even want to get into here.

I support our troops because THEY, at least, are doing what they are because of their desire to serve their country. Unfortunately for them -- and us -- they are being led by greedy and obscenely selfish people right now. I know this ... I have known it for a long time ... but I pray that our 'LEADERS' will do what is right and I pray that God gives them the knowledge they need to actually lead us BACK to the great country that the U.S. was. What else can I do??

If you agree (and even if you don't) ... you may want to read the article below:

From BUZZFLASH
by Greg Palast

So, Osama Walks into This Bar, See? and Bush says, "Whad'l'ya have, pardner?" and Osama says...

But wait a minute. I'd better shut my mouth. The sign here in the airport says, "Security is no joking matter." But if security's no joking matter, why does this guy dressed in a high-school marching band outfit tell me to dump my Frappuccino and take off my shoes? All I can say is, Thank the Lord the "shoe bomber" didn't carry Semtex in his underpants.

Today's a RED and ORANGE ALERT day. How odd. They just caught the British guys with the chemistry sets. But when these guys were about to blow up airliners, the USA was on YELLOW alert.

That's a "lowered" threat notice. According to the press office from the Department of Homeland Security, lowered-threat Yellow means that there were no special inspections of passengers or cargo.

Isn't it nice of Mr. Bush to alert Osama when half our security forces are given the day off?

Hmm. I asked an Israeli security expert why his nation doesn't use these pretty color codes. He asked me if, when I woke up, I checked the day's terror color.

"I can't say I ever have. I mean, who would?"

He smiled. "The terrorists."

America is the only nation on the planet that kindly informs bombers, hijackers and berserkers the days on which they won't be monitored. You've got to get up pretty early in the morning to get a jump on George Bush's team.

There are three possible explanations for the Administration's publishing a good-day-for-bombing color guidebook.
1. God is on Osama's side.
2. George is on Osama's side.
3. Fear sells better than sex.

A gold star if you picked #3.

The Fear Factory

I'm going to tell you something which is straight-up heresy: America is not under attack by terrorists. There is no WAR on terror because, ....... Click here and scroll down to continue reading the rest of Greg Palast's article/commentary on Buzzflash.

May God be with us all.
Semper Fi

2006-07-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Its been an exceptionally sad week for me. I just finished my first condolence book that I had the sad honor of making for another local Marine family and it was as hard to put that book together as it was to attend his funeral. My heart felt every one of the condolences that I printed out and placed in those books (I made three, one for his mother, one for his father and one for his wife). I want to thank all the Marine families that sent in condolences for Seth's family. I know his mother will appreciate having this book when I can get it to her.

Then when I got home from work one day last week and read the messages from my 3/7 Marine parents messageboard I found a sad message from one of my friends on that messageboard. Please say a prayer for this family (my friend Debi and her Marine son and his wife, Robert and Robi). Robert who was married recently and became a father just after coming back from Iraq with the 3/7 lost his baby girl, Alexa, this morning. I don't know why, I just know she passed away. She was only two months old and as far as we knew ... in good health. My heart aches for this family right now and my prayers are with them.

For now ... my own family is doing well. I thank God for that every minute.

Semper Fi and God bless

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Here is a bit of history that I was not aware of. Perhaps it is new to you also.

Subject: Iwo Jima and the Rabbi

The most famous image in American history was Joe Rosenthal's photo of the second flag raising over Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima in February of 1945, toward the end of the first week of battle. (The first flag was considered too small to be seen clearly from a distance, so a larger flag was brought in from one of the ships.) The photo is memorialized in Washington, DC, in the Marine Corps Memorial. It is an image we all know. It is an image that tells the world that Americans planted the flag of freedom at great price.

What many of us don't know is that the battle for this piece of volcanic real estate that reeked of sulphur was one of the bloodiest of World War II. Beginning on February 19, 1945, Marine forces, 70,000 strong, fought an unknown number of deeply entrenched Japanese defenders inch-by-inch, yard by yard, for five weeks. In the end, the Marines took over 25,000 casualties, with more than 6,000 killed in action taking the island.

We would fail in our duty, not just to each other as Americans, but to our brothers and sisters around the world, if we failed to remember the eloquent eulogy delivered by an American rabbi at the dedication of the Marine Cemetery at the end of the fighting.

Rabbi Roland B. Gittlesohn was the first Jewish Chaplain for the Marine Corps. More than 1,500 Jewish Marines were in the invading force at Iwo Jima.

Rabbi Gittlesohn was in the thick of the battle, ministering to fallen Marines of every faith under enemy fire. He shared their fear, horror and despair. His unending efforts to comfort the wounded and inspire the fearful earned him three decorations.

After the battle, the Division Chaplain, Warren Cuthriell, a Protestant minister, asked the rabbi to deliver the memorial sermon at a combined religious service dedicating the Marine Cemetery on Iwo Jima. Cuthriell wanted all the fallen Marines honored in a single, non-denominational ceremony. Unfortunately the Marine Corps, being a reflection of America, was still strongly prejudiced. A majority of the Christian chaplains objected to having a rabbi preach over predominantly Christian graves. The Catholic chaplains, in particular, and in keeping with what was then Church doctrine, opposed any form of joint prayer service.

To his credit, Cuthriell refused to alter his plans. But Gittlesohn wanted to spare his friend Cuthriell further embarrassment, and so decided it was best not to deliver his sermon. Instead, three separate services were held. At the Jewish service, to a congregation of 70 or so who attended, Rabbi Gittlesohn delivered the powerful eulogy he originally wrote for the combined service:

"Here lie men who loved America because their ancestors generations ago helped in her founding, and other men who loved her with equal passion because they themselves or their own fathers escaped from oppression to her blessed shores.

Here lie officers and men, Negroes and whites, rich men and poor . . .together. Here are Protestants, Catholics and Jews together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith or despises him because of his color. Here there are no quotas of how many men of each group are admitted or allowed. Among these men there is no discrimination. No prejudices. No hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy.

Whosoever of us lifts his hand in hate against a brother, or who thinks himself superior to those who happen to be in the minority, makes of this ceremony and the bloody sacrifice it commemorates, an empty, hollow mockery.

To this, then, as our solemn duty, sacred duty do we the living now dedicate ourselves: to the right of Protestants, Catholics and Jews, of white men and Negroes alike, to enjoy the democracy for which all of them have here paid the price.

We here solemnly swear that this shall not be in vain. Out of this and from the suffering and sorrow of those who mourn this will come, we promise, the birth of a new freedom for the sons of men everywhere."

Among Gittlesohn's listeners were three Protestant chaplains who were so incensed by the prejudice voiced by their colleagues that they boycotted their own service to attend Gittlesohn's. One of them borrowed the manuscript, and unknown to Gittlesohn, distributed thousands of copies to his regiment. Some Marines enclosed the copies in letters home. An avalanche of coverage resulted with major news magazines publishing excerpts and the entire sermon being read into The Congressional Record. The Army broadcast the sermon to American troops throughout the world.

In 1995, the last year of his life, Rabbi Gittlesohn re-read a portion of the eulogy at the fiftieth commemoration ceremony at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington. In his autobiography, Rabbi Gittlesohn reflected, "I have often wondered whether anyone would ever have heard of my Iwo Jima sermon had it not been for the bigoted attempt to ban it."

2006-07-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

I wanted to pass on a story I received. Mostly because I want everyone who supports what I do and say here to know how much I appreciate that support. Thank you and God bless you all.

[author unknown, but whoever you are .. thank you]

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other Students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes" Then he said:

"Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said "It's in my diary."

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

And One Way To Accomplish This Is: Forward this message on. If you do not send it, you will have, once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something nice and beautiful.

If you've received this, it is because someone cares for you and it means there is probably at least someone for whom you care.

If you're "too busy" to take those few minutes right now to forward this message on, would this be the VERY first time you didn't do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?

The more people that you send this to, the better you'll be at reaching out to those you care about.

Remember, you reap what you sow. What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.

May Your Day Be Blessed And As Special As You Are

2006-07-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

Okay .. so summer makes me lazy! At least as far as posting here. I sincerely hope that everyone had a marvelous Independence Day.

Eric and his friends went to the fireworks at Victory Field in 29 Palms last night. I was glad to hear that he was out having some fun. I know that he misses the yearly bottle rocket fights that he and his cousins had every year after the fireworks in our small hometown. I miss seeing them shooting the bottle rockets at each other too! Although I know it used to scare us (the adults) half to death lol. They had a rule that if they ducked when a bottle rocket (okay .. they did use the smaller ones!) came toward them they were chicken and the one that ducked was razzed by the other ones for the rest of the year! Needless to say .. I don't think Eric has ever ducked hehe.

I want to share the pic of Eric and his new girlfriend with you all too. Isn't she a cutie! Eric sure thinks a lot of her. So she must be a nice girl!

And now I want to pass on a letter that Ben Stein intended to go to those 'folks at the pointy end of the spear'. It may not show at times .. but more people care about you that you can ever know. And Ben Stein is one of my favorite columnist simply because he shows that he cares. Wish more people did that.

Thank you to those who serve and God bless all of us!

Ben Stein's Letter to the Folks at the Pointy End of the Spear
By Ben Stein
4/5/2006
Tuesday

Dear Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, National Guard, Reservists, in Iraq, in the Middle East theater, in Afghanistan, in the area near Afghanistan, in any base anywhere in the world, and your families:

Let me tell you about why you guys own about 90 percent of the cojones in the whole world right now and should be d*mned happy with yourselves and d*mned proud of who you are. It was a dazzlingly hot day here in Rancho Mirage today. I did small errands like going to the bank to pay my mortgage, finding a new bed at a price I can afford, practicing driving with my new 5 wood, paying bills for about two hours.

I spoke for a long time to a woman who is going through a nasty child custody fight. I got e-mails from a woman who was fired today from her job for not paying attention. I read about multi- billion-dollar mergers in Europe, Asia, and the Mideast. I noticed how overweight I am, for the millionth time.

In other words, I did a lot of nothing. Like every other American who is not in the armed forces family, I basically just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic in my trivial, self- important, meaningless way.

Above all, I talked to a friend of more than forty-three years who told me he thought his life had no meaning because all he did was count his money.

And, friends in the armed forces, this is the story of all of America today. We are doing nothing but treading water while you guys carry on the life or death struggle against worldwide militant Islamic terrorism. Our lives are about nothing: paying bills, going to humdrum jobs, waiting until we can go to sleep and then do it all again. Our most vivid issues are trivia compared with what you do every day, every minute, every second.

Oprah Winfrey talks a lot about "meaning" in life. For her, "meaning" is dieting and then having her photo on the cover of her magazine every single month (surely a new world record for egomania ).This is not "meaning."

Meaning is doing for others. Meaning is risking your life for others. Meaning is putting your bodies and families' peace of mind on the line to defeat some of the most evil, sick killers the world has ever known. Meaning is leaving the comfort of home to fight to make sure that there still will be a home for your family and for your nation and for free men and women everywhere.

Look, soldiers and Marines and sailors and airmen and Coast Guardsmen, there are eight billion people in this world. The whole fate of this world turns on what you people, 1.4 million, more or less, do every day. The fate of mankind depends on what about 2/100 of one percent of the people in this world do every day -- and you are those people. And joining you is every policeman, fireman, and EMT in the country, also holding back the tide of chaos.

Do you know how important you are? Do you know how indispensable you are? Do you know how humbly grateful any of us who has a head on his shoulders is to you?

Do you know that if you never do another thing in your lives, you will always still be heroes? That we could live without Hollywood or Wall Street or the NFL, but we cannot live for a week without you?

We are on our knees to you and we bless and pray for you every moment.

And Oprah Winfrey, if she were a size two, would not have one millionth of your importance, and all of the Wall Street billionaires will never mean what the least of you do, and if Barry Bonds hit ninety home runs it would not mean as much as you going on one patrol or driving one truck to the Baghdad airport.

You are everything to us, as we go through our little days, and you are in the prayers of the nation and of every decent man and woman on the planet.

That's who you are and what you mean. I hope you know that.

Love,
Ben Stein

2006-06-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Sigh .. work work work and more work. I kind of feel like a Marine myself lately!

My tattoo has healed up well ... and yes the tattoo pic a few blogs down is on my right calf! I told Eric that when he got one that I would too. He now has two and is working on his third ... think I will probably stop at one. Although, I hear that tattooing yourself is addicting!

My prayers are going out right now to the Camp Pendleton 8, anyone who is, in any way, connected with the Marine Corps knows exactly who I am talking about. I am getting a lot of info on these unfortunate casualties of the war within Iraq and I hope to get some valid links to websites that tell THEIR side of the story as well as their mistreatment here after they were taken to be interrogated by NCIS and whoever else wants their story. This whole thing scares me even more because I am pretty sure that the 3/7 WILL be redeployed to Iraq and it sounds like the government, both here and in Iraq are trying to make sure that they can no longer defend themselves without fear of prosecution. Any hesitation from our Marines and more than likely they will be dead Marines. I do NOT want to see any more of that happen than already has.

Another thing that really irks me is that the Iraqi government has freely given full pardon to any Iraqi or insurgent from the unlawful killing of Americans (of course this is if they will stop fighting) and yet they are requiring us to turn on our own soldiers. I am deeply saddened by this whole thing.

I am sure this is confusing to those of you that do not know who the CP8 are. For now I will leave you with a few websites that I know are done for their defense AND to tell you some of their story. What we, as a country, are doing to these young men is indefensible in my opinion. How can we expect soldiers to continue to follow orders blindly if THEY and not the commanders are the ones that receive the fall-out?

Fighting for Tyler http://www.fightingfortyler.com/

Defense Fund for My Hero http://www.defensefundformyhero.com/

Patriot Defense Fund http://patriotdefensefund.com/

PFC Jodka's Defense http://innocentmarine.com/

CP8 .. you and your families will remain in my prayers.

Semper Fi and God bless you all.

2006-06-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

I had to take a tranqualizer for the first time since Eric got home from his recent deployment this morning. I still have the first bottle that the doctor gave me when Eric was still in the first few months of his deployment so that tells you that I didn't take many of them. Just enough to take the edge off the stress of worrying about your son and all the other Marines you have come to think of as family.

My heart goes out to the families of the missing, now found to be KIA, soldiers. I have been grieving with them and will for some time. I can't get the image of their last days out of my head. I pray for peace and ease of mind for their families. I know it will take time but I hope they find it.

You all know that I TRY so hard to be positive here and just do what I feel needs to be done which is SUPPORT THE TROOPS. I hope you also realize that I do NOT neccesarily support the politicians that have sent our sons and daughters into what I see as a fruitless situation in Iraq. I feel heartbroken for the normal Iraqi citizen that has to deal with the mess their country has been and become over the last few years. But it's THEIR mess and they need to deal with it. It is their sons that are joining the insurgents and their teachings that have caused the country to become a little bit of hell on earth. If that doesn't change Iraq will never see peace. But our young men and women should not be dying for it.

We need to get our soldiers home and let Iraq work this our for themselves, but that is just my opinion. I am still SO PROUD of our soldiers and what they are willing to do to for us. They only have to follow orders .. but they know that they are putting their lives on the line when they do every day they serve the military and our country. I am so disapointed in our present government though. In a way .. we are as crippled as the Iraqis right now. But I refuse to bring more of that here than what I have just said. Please forgive my lapse, I have grieving to do for our latest loss in this overdrawn war.

Semper Fi and God bless you all.

2006-06-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well .. the life of this particular Marine mother is way too full right now !! I love the summer but so much work seems to come with it. Maybe it just seems like more work because I am playing so much more and the work still has to be done!

On a sad note I hope everyone keeps the two young soldiers that are missing in Iraq in your prayers. As well as their families and the family of the soldier that was KIA there when the two were abducted. The Defense Department has identified the missing men as Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston, and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore., and the dead soldier as Spc. David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Mass. They're assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. They and their families are definitely in my prayers right now.

On the homefront for me, all my kids are making me proud of them. Jason, the oldest, is hard at work with his writing and seems to be intent on becoming a best-selling author (he let me read his first book and I absolutely loved it! But being the perfectionist he is, he is editing the writing to make it more readable). His wife is working at a new job and loving it. Crystal, my daughter, is working on her personal trainer certifications and is happily settling into her marriage with Jim. And of course, Eric is doing great. Loves having his own vehicle out there. Made things much easier than it was before. Especially since he now has a .. ehem ... friend in Orange County. Nice girl he met at 29 Palms when she was there visiting with her sister (who lives at 29 Palms). I think I need to find out more, don't you? hehe

Anyway ... I checked out one of our local ABATE events here this past weekend with a few friends and we all had a great time! I would like to get opinions on the following pic. What do you think? I will get back to post more here later.

Semper fi and God bless you all.

2006-06-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have some info posted below that I have been sitting on (in a draft) for almost a week. Figured I had better get it out there for you. I am really finding it hard to get here and blog during the summer! Its just that I am a major outside-type person and I have way too much to do while the weather is good!

Eric called me and told me some about the Marine Corps Ball he attended last week (29 Palms had one for the 3/7 in Nevada last week since they were deployed during the real one) . I hope to have some pics soon to post. Of course Eric says that he looks wonderful in his dress blues! He's funny, he said that even though they are uncomfortable he likes wearing them because of how good he looks LOL. I have never seen him in them yet, he promised to bring them home with him on his next leave and wear them when he takes us all out to a fancy resturant for dinner! My, but my little boy has sure grown up!

Anyway .. will try to get more here later for you all. Thanks for being loyal and stopping in to visit me! I am trying to get out and keep up with my blogging friends but bear with me while I take care of the summer stuff!

Semper Fi and God Bless you all.

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God Bless the Ones at War
Dedicated to the many soldiers serving on the battlefield
By: Norma E. Wright, Copyright 2004, normewright@aol.com

As I turned on my radio, then watched the evening news,
I saw the wars and battlefields, the bloodshed and the truth.

The men and women, uniformed, and armed to fight a war,
So men and women just like us can walk through freedom's door.

For we are in a war to fight for those who are enslaved,
And freedom is not free unless a battle has been waged.

Our Founding Fathers fought the fight to free this mighty land,
And give us peace that only comes from God's Almighty hand.

The ones upon the battlefield who take surprise attacks,
Are still the ones protecting us, who daily have our backs.

For we would not be here today without the fearless ones,
Who fly the planes and guard the ships and shoot the dusty guns.

Each time I see the front page of the daily morning news,
I am reminded once again that war reveals the truth.

For truth is every time you see a wounded soldier's arm,
Who took a bullet just to keep this country safe from harm.

And truth is every time you hear a mother shedding tears,
Who's praying for she hasn't seen her soldier in a year.

Sometimes the truth is hard to hear when work consumes our lives,
But sometimes when a soldier works, a soldier bravely dies.

They die to give us freedom for we won't be like the others,
Who grow up in a world of fear and hating one another.

So when I see the camouflage or pass an army base,
Or hear a plane fly overhead or see a soldier's face.

I am reminded once again of why I have a choice,
And why a blessed American can have a vote or voice.

It's all because of soldiers who will not give up the fight,
The warriors who are fighting through the long and sleepy nights.

Be thankful where you live today, to walk through freedom's door,
And say a prayer for soldiers now - God bless the ones at war.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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Click the links at the top to read the rest of the articles/blogs below.

BlackFive on Haditha
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/06/haditha_reasona.html

Haditha - Reasonable Doubt
Posted By Blackfive
This is probably one of the most important reads on the subject of Haditha and echoes sentiments that I've expressed on radio and here on Blackfive. ..............

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Michael Reagan on Haditha
http://www.reagan.com/article.php?id=158

Replaying Vietnam May 31, 2006
by Michael Reagan

If you pay close attention to the media firestorm over the incident in Haditha, you’ll discover constant references to the war in Vietnam in general and My Lai in particular.

That’s no accident. The crazed American left in and out of the media is trying to accomplish in Iraq what they accomplished in Vietnam – a shameful American defeat wrested from the jaws of victory.

Make no mistake about it, these traitorous anti-war zealots are salivating over the possibility that they can exploit whatever happened in Haditha last November ......

-----------------------------------------

Michael Yon on Haditha
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/hijacking-haditha.htm

Hijacking Haditha

Few people know what happened last November in Haditha. I first heard about it when the Associated Press called to ask if I was present. The answer was “no.” But I do know how our troops typically act on counterinsurgency missions, how surprisingly honest they can be about mistakes they make in the field, and the lengths to which they go to avoid collateral civilian injuries when on patrol and conducting raids and ambushes. I also know about being on the business end of an accusatory finger, after having been wrongly accused of murder. (http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/danger-close-chapter-one.htm) ............

2006-06-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

The 3/7 is an awesome Battalion. Eric is in Lima Co (which he is proud to be a member of) but has friends that are Weapons Co too. It cool that I know some of these guys. I am proud of all of them! Semper Fi !!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

6 Purple Hearts, 3 NAMs awarded to members of 3/7

Submitted by: MCAGCC
Story and Photos by: Lance Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.(May 31, 2006) -- Weapons and Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, held a formation behind their battalion command post May 31 to award two Marines and a Sailor with Lima Company the Purple Heart, three Marines with Weapons Company the Purple Heart and four Marines with Weapons Company the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

The Lima Company recipients of the Purple Heart were Lance Cpl. Benjamin J. Rende, a rifleman from Oswego, Ill., Lance Cpl. Jesse H. Hinkley, a rifleman from Las Vegas, and Seaman Benjamin L. McIntosh, a corpsman from Scottsdale, Ariz.

Seaman Benjamin L. McIntosh, a corpsman with Weapons Company, 3/7, stands at attention after he was awarded the Purple Heart May 31.

The Weapons Company recipients of the Purple Heart were Keith R. Laskey, an assaultman from Manteno, Ill., Lance Cpl. Francisco J. Conroy, a mortarman from Tempe, Ariz., and Lance Cpl. Michael M. Williams, a machinegunner from Lancaster, Calif.

The four Weapons Company recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal were Lance Cpl. Aaron M. Cassel, a mortarman from North Manchester, Ind., Cpl. Shane R. Burge, a mortarman from Lyons, Kan., Sgt. Eric C. Dunham, a scout sniper from Wibaux, Mont., and Sgt. Marcus J. Major, a TOW gunner from Cleveland.

Lt. Col. Roger B. Turner, commanding officer of 3rd Battalion,
7th Marine Regiment, pins the Purple Heart on a Marine.

Even though seven Marines were awarded medals, all members of Weapons Company were recognized for their hard work. What each Marine did for Weapons Company was very honorable during the last deployment to Iraq, said 1st Sgt. Joseph C. Breze, Weapons Company first sergeant.

"I recall everyone in the company doing an awesome job out there," said Breze as he stood in front of a ‘school circle’ formation after the ceremony. "From the depths of my heart, I greatly appreciate all the hard work everyone’s done in this company. I believe we all were so successful because of our outstanding performance."

Cassel, a member of combined anti-armor team red, Weapons Company, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his hard work after he arrived to a scene destroyed by a suicide bomber.

"When I first got out there I was shocked by what I saw," said Cassel. "I snapped out of awe and began rushing to assist those who needed help. I didn’t have time to think, I just acted as fast as possible."

Three U.S. Soldiers were killed, as well as several Iraqi soldiers and civilians, said Cassel.

"We were ordered to police call the area of any parts that lay behind from the blast," continued Cassel. "This was the time when it all caught up to me. It didn’t bother me much, but it was a really bd sight."

"It feels good to receive this award," added Cassel. "I feel like I’m recognized and appreciated. A lot of the people I worked with deserve the same recognition. The company does recognize those Marines and know who they are. Everyone did their part that day. We couldn’t ever get through days like that, and the whole deployment, without each other."

Rende, a member of 4th Platoon, Lima Company, received the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained from an improvised explosive device blast in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Dec. 7, 2006.

"We were coming back from dropping off one of our platoons at an outpost, and our [convoy] took a turn down a side street," said Rende. "The third truck in the convoy was hit with an IED, and the vehicle I was in pulled around to help secure the hit truck. Just then, another blast went off as I was dismounting from the passenger side of my vehicle."

The second IED blast threw Rende back into the vehicle and knocked him unconscious for several minutes, he said. Upon regaining consciousness, Rende continued with his task of helping injured Marines on to a medical evacuation vehicle.

"After returning to the base, my section and I went to the battalion aid station to give blood," added Rende.

Although a Purple Heart is not an award one strives to achieve during a deployment, Marines still earn them. The battalion is just glad that you are still here to receive them, said Maj. Rory B. Quinn, Lima Company commander.

2006-06-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry no blogs lately. Made a 400 mile round trip to Michigan over the weekend on the Harley and found out that I need a cruise control if my hand is going to make it through long trips! Otherwise the trip was good for riding (just really HOT).

Other news is that Ben Hardgrove is improving daily!! You can still read updates about him at Caring Bridge.Org, his mom updates that info regualrly . Visit LCpl Ben Hardgrove by clicking here.

Eric bought a car when he got back to base. Good thing ... now he doesn't have to worry about getting a ride when he comes home to visit ... just how much it is going to cost him to park his car! Sounds like he got a great deal on a nice car, not new but well cared for. That's my boy ... a smart shopper!

My father (who was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer a few months ago) now has to go on dialysis because the radiation treatments pretty much destroyed what was left of his kidney function. If you have been saying a prayer for him, please keep doing so. His prognosis is not real good at the present time and we believe that the toxins building up in his body from the lack of kidney function has affected his mental state. Hopefully once he actually starts the dialysis his mental status will improve and he will feel better.

Well .. lots of work to do for me ... I will try to actually start writing some here soon. I want to approach the problems some of our young Marines are having with their return from Iraq. Its an important issue relating to PTSD and most military families have to deal with a least a little bit of that if they have spent time actively deployed. Till then ...

God Bless you and Semper Fi.

2006-05-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

In honor of our men and women serving in the Armed Forces, I want to pass on the link to a beautiful and touching tribute done for our servicemen and women.

May you all honor and pray for our troops and our fallen heroes during this Memorial Day weekend.

Click here to view "The Amercian Flame".

And may God be with all our Armed Forces and bless us all.

Semper Fi.

2006-05-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

I'm surprised and very pleased that all my kids remembered me for Mother's Day this year! I think that is a first hehe.

I want to share a funny little video with you all that was created by a group of very talented Army fellows in Ramadi, Iraq which is where Eric spent his 7-month tour recently. I'll play this for a few days in honor of all our soldiers that in the Al Anbar provience, the most dangerous place in Iraq. I am praying for you all daily. I have a special place in my heart from these soldiers since the two SSgt.s that made the video are both from Indiana!

Just click the play button on the media player directly above the blog area (have to visit my Spaces blog for this one ... go here http://spaces.msn.com/faefyre). This one rivals the Kosovo Video!! Enjoy!

Semper Fi and God Bless you all.

Cool! These Hoosier soldiers are becoming stars in Indiana hehe. Check out the article about them in the Indy star. Way to go guys!

Hoosier soldiers rap about 'Lazy Ramadi'

Inspired by parodies of SNL short film, guardsmen post their ode to Iraq online

By Jon Murray

jon.murray@indystar.com

Armed with their rifles and a digital camera, two Indiana National Guardsmen have captured a three-minute ode to Iraq that riffs on the insurgency, daily life in the desert and pizza back home. Click here to read the rest of the article!

2006-05-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the faithful mothers out there. This is for you.

Semper Fi and God Bless you.

"Why God made moms" answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my Mom just the same like! he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?

1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.

THE MOMMY TEST

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

"Why?" my daughter asked.

"Because it's been laying outside, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs" I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked,

"Wow! How do you know all this stuff?"

"Uh,"..I was thinking quickly, "All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy."

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy."

"Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face and joy in my heart.

When you're finished laughing, send this to a Mom.

IN CHURCH

"Dear Lord," the preacher began with arms extended and a rapturous look on his upturned face, "without you we are but dust..." He would have continued, but at that moment one very obedient little girl (who was listening carefully) leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mommy, WHAT is butt dust?" Church was pretty much over at that point.

2006-05-09T08:40:00.000-07:00

Sorry no blogs lately ... only got time for a quick update now. Eric left for his base in California Saturday and it took him till late Sunday night to get there! That is a long story in itself and I promise I will post it soon. Let's just say that someone didn't do what they said they would do and he ended up in Las Vegas with no ride and no telephone numbers of the few people he does know there! But being a resourceful Marine he did finally make it back to base!

But .. my biggest and happy news revolves around Ben Hardgrove! You HAVE to go and read the latest updates on him that his mom has posted at (link is FIXED) CaringBridge (click here to visit Ben there)! Thank you God, one day after they Ben there where his family could be with him .. THEY HAD HIM OUT OF BED AND WALKING A FEW STEPS WITH SUPPORT!! OORAH Ben! I knew you could do it!!

Ben still has a long road ahead ... but he is starting to get better and I will continue to keep you updated on his progress!

For now its time for me to head to work. Have a wonderful day and God Bless you all!

Semper Fi

2006-05-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

Well, Eric heads back out to his home base in California on Saturday and my heart is already breaking. The past few weeks having him at home has spoiled me rotten! Right now he has spent the last four days over in Ohio with his father and I miss him a lot. Hopefully he will be home tonight so we can spend a little more time together before he leaves again. At least he won't be going back to Iraq anytime soon so I can breathe a little easier. Although according to him ... he likes being over there doing his job! Makes me want to smack him as well as cheer him on! Such conflicting emotions envelope the mothers of dedicated Marines all over the world I am sure. For now I want to pass on a little info that I think all military families should know.

For one .. a fellow blogger has sent me a link to an award winning story that I think everyone should read. I have to warn you, it took me so long to post it because it is so heartbreaking, especially for those of us that feel like the Marine Corps are our families. I have posted a link to it under Tributes (see the list to the right ... coming soon) but here is a link here also: Final Salute

As the mother of a Marine I run acoss (and receive in email) a lot of information that is important to know if you are immediate family of a member of the military. The inofrmation below definitely falls into that category!

Armed Forces Emergency Services (important info for Military families)

The American Red Cross is chartered by Congress to relay messages between the military and family members. When you contact the American Red Cross try to contact the Red Cross chapter nearest to where the death/emergency happened or your local Red Cross chapter. Many recruiters and the military give parents/spouses the 800 number. When you call the 800 number they have to call the local chapter to have the local chapter verify the emergency. The caseworkers at the 800 number will not verify the emergency themselves. The message will be sent quicker if the local chapter receives the call first.

Time is always a factor, especially when a family is trying to plan a funeral and trying to get their military personnel home for a funeral. So the next thing you need to know is the time factor when sending an AFES message. This is how long it may take your military service person to receive an emergency message.

If your military service person is:

in the U.S. -- up to 24 hours (possibly longer)is aboard a ship -- 24 to 48 hours (possibly longer)is stationed overseas or in a combat zone -- 24 to 72 hours (possibly longer)

***Special note for National Guard and Reserve units activated and deployed --- Please try to have an emergency contact phone number for the unit available when contacting the Red Cross. If the Red Cross AFES caseworker has to track down a unit contact number it can add hours to how long it takes the message to reach the service person.***
It is possible that you will receive a call from your military service person in less than two hours. It all depends on where they are and how easy it is to locate the service person. This is what happens when you call the Red Cross:

1) You will be asked for your name, address and phone number and your relationship to the service person.

2) You will be asked the nature of the emergency.

3) You will be asked for the name of the person involved in the emergency or the name of he person who died. You will be asked what that persons relationship to the service person is. If the person involved in the emergency or person who died has helped in the upbringing of the service person or the service member has lived with the person be sure to tell this to the Red Cross AFES caseworker. Also, if the service person has a close relationship with the person please tell the AFES caseworker. This can make a difference in if a service person gets emergency leave or not.

4) If it is an emergency you will be asked the name of the hospital and the name of the attending physician. If it is a death you will be asked the place of death and the cause of death. You will need either the name of the attending physician or the funeral home and funeral director. If the person died in a hospital the name of the hospital is sometimes enough, the nursing supervisor can verify a death. If it is a large hospital be sure to state which part of the hospital the death occurred in (ICU, surgical recovery, emergency room, hospice). You will be asked if the funeral arrangements have been made or if they are pending. Please have phone numbers available if you have them (if not the local Red Cross chapter should be able to find the phone numbers).

5) You will be asked your service person's name, rank, social security number, birth date and unit address.

6) You will be asked if your service person is aware of the situation. You may be asked if you request the presence of a chaplain when your service person is notified. (If you are not asked and you think it would be best to have a chaplain present, please tell the AFES caseworker you want a chaplain to be there when your service person is notified)

Some other things you should know:

Emergency leave cannot be guaranteed by the Red Cross. It is up to your service person to request leave. It is up to the commanding officer to grant leave. Commanding officers do not have to grant emergency leave and in some cases will not grant emergency leave. If a unit is deployed overseas or is in a combat zone leave may not be granted. All emergency messages to the American Red Cross must be verified. This may sound intrusive but a message will not be sent until it is verified. Please let the attending physician or funeral director know that you have military personnel in the family. They will then be prepared to provide verification when the American Red Cross calls.

Because of new privacy laws you may have to sign a release form before a physician, nurse, hospital or funeral director will speak to an AFES caseworker. Please sign release forms as soon as possible.

The American Red Cross does not provide money for transportation nor do they loan money to military personnel. However, the Red Cross will help military personnel obtain loans for travel expenses through the military relief societies. The loans are repaid to the relief societies through payroll deduction. AFES can send good messages too. The American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services is there to help the families and the military personnel.

***Note for expectant mothers -

1) Currently AFES can send messages concerning births up to one month before the estimated date of delivery. The military is making an effort to grant leave to servicemen deployed to Iraq so that they can be home for the births of their children. The serviceman's command may request a verification of estimated date of delivery from an OB. The verification is obtained though the American Red Cross AFES. You may have to sign a release form so that AFES can verify this information. If there is a chance of C-section or there are complications your OB or nurse practitioner needs to tell the Red Cross when the caseworker calls to verify. Please ask your OB/Nurse practitioner's office about privacy release forms well before your estimated date of delivery. ********

Armed Forces Emergency Services are available 24 hours a day. Most Red Cross chapters have caseworkers on call after regular business hours. Call the Red Cross immediately. The sooner your call is received the sooner your military service person will get the message. If you have questions about AFES please feel free to contact me at: usnbratz@aol.com

Julie Callahan
Volunteer AFES Caseworker
American Red Cross of the Heartland
Bloomington, Illinois

2006-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

United 93 - Unsung Heroes

As I truly believe that all our military men and women are heroes. Also do I think that the people that stopped Flight 93 (or United 93) from hitting the capitol building are true heroes. There is a difference though in that these people KNEW they would not survive this. I can't imagine how brave they had to be to do what they did. If you get a chance soon, be sure to hit the movie theater and pay tribute to the heroes of United 93 by watching their story.

You can visit the website that tells more about the movie .. by clicking here (United 93)

God bless their familes .. and Semper Fi.

2006-04-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to put a quick note on here thanking everyone for your kind words and prayers. They are all very much appreciated. If anyone left a comment that I didn't respond to .. please forgive me! I do appreciate all of YOU!

I do try to visit and respond to everyone that comments here. If I have missed you for some reason, PLEASE return and comment again! One thing I really wish they would do here at Spaces (are you listening MSN?!?!) is give us an option page to just see COMMENTS. Since they only show you the last 4-5 comments you have to go back to each individual blog to read comments to them if there are more than 4 or 5. Unfortunately for me, living in the true boonies as I do, I only have DIAL-UP access to the internet () . It makes blog surfing to read comments past the last 4-5 very hard. I can't get the local wireless access because I am like 5 miles too far from the dishes, I can't get DSL because the phone lines are not good enough, and of course they don't provide cable out where I am at! I am not willing to pay the outrageous cost of satelitte internet access (which isn't much better than standard dial-up) when I HOPE that within the next year the county I live is promising to provide county-wide WIFI (please please please).

Enough with my problems there.

I did want to let everyone know that I added a couple of new lists on my MSN Spaces edition of this blog (lots more graphics and info there). You can access it by clicking the link to the right on this page or go to http://spaces.msn.com/faefyre/ . If you look up at the top left there, there is one called special requests. At the top of that list now is a request for Ben. Please fellow bloggers .. pass the page address on and let's get Ben and his family some much needed help. Thank you in advance for that too!

The second new list is in the righthand column and I am going to be adding many helpful links there for Marine families and their Marines. Since the Marine Corps and the sites pertaining to the Corps are what I know .. that is what I will post there. Especially for the parents of new recruits, some of the information there is VITAL to know. Please check it out. And ... if you run across a good site, don't be afraid to let me know about it! Networking is the backbone of how Marine families survive!

Thank you all and Semper Fi.

2006-04-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to say that my finacee's father lost his long fight to recover after his heart surgery this morning (he had the surgery about 6 weeks ago). We got word that he passed away peacefully about 8am. They don't really know why he died yet but he wasn't feeling well last night when Rick went to see him. I am still at work but Rick and his brother and sisters are with his mother right now. Its harder on them now because he had started to get a lot better and was up and moving around at the rehab center they had sent him to when they let him out of the hospital. Rick thought he was trying harder to get ambulatory so he could go home. Please keep Rick, his mother Rosie and the family in your prayers as we all deal with his loss for the next few days.

Thank you and God bless.

I did get some uplifting news from Jamie today about Ben. I am sharing this email with you (below my post in blue) but I since I don't have permission to share this particular Angel's name I have removed names from the post.

I think it is important to first update you all a little about how Ben came to be hurt. Just a couple of weeks before 3/7 Weapons Co (Ben's company) returned from this deployment in Iraq, a Humvee that Ben and his buddies were riding in took a direct hit with a mortar which pretty much destroyed the Humvee. Ben was one of the lucky ones, he walked away with minor cuts and bruises, but the mental toll of sitting on the side of the road after that attack with one of his fellow Marine brothers and friend brains leaking into his hands (Ben's words to his mother) took on a whole different aspect of the anguish a Marine can suffer for Ben. He not only lost that particular friend to this attack but another of his friends died from the injuries he received at the same time too.

This was the second HARD deployment in a row for Ben. After the first deployment, where he also lost brothers and friends, he was hard hit and it was tough for him to bounce back to the loving kind person he was. More than likely he suffered from the all too common PTSD to a certain extent (although I don't think he was ever actually diagnosed or treated for it). His mother had a hard time too, seeing the changes that war and death had wroth in her oldest son but she stood by him and he was ready to go back for this second deployment.

Thus .. when Ben returned from Iraq this time he immediately did what many of our returning Marines do and he got together with his buddies and they proceeded to drink away their sorrows, try to drown the bad memories and celebrate being back on American soil once again. For returning soldiers from Iraq .. it is VERY important that they stay somewhere safe till they acclimate back to being in the states. Unfortunately for Ben and his family (and us as his extended family), it is policy at their home base to allow the returning Marines a 96 hour leave during which time they can be with their friends and family and leave the base. Then they go back to base for a 2 week acclimation period before getting post-deployment leave. You have to understand that while they were in Iraq they are taught to NEVER stop moving. A standing target is just that .. a target with a big red circle on it. So when they get back they are still in that survival mode that has kept them alive for some many months (this is especially true for infantry Marines since they are on the front lines).

Ben had only been back on American soil for hours when something happened that made Ben run into the highway in front of the hotel they were at. I won't get into specifics ... but it was just a senseless and horrible accident, and this is the important point, that was precipitated because of what he was used to doing in Iraq to stay alive. Ben was used to things in Iraq being much different, Marines NEVER have to stop for anything, everyone else in Iraq stops for THEM. I truly believe that this accident was caused by his time in Iraq as surely as if he had been injured there. So just because he was hurt near his home base ... he is just as much an injured American hero as our soldiers that are injured during deployment.

Now .. on to the GOOD news! Prayers are WORKING for Ben! Below is the email that Jamie received recently from one of the Soldiers' Angels that is visiting Ben and keeping Jamie updated on his progress. Thank you Jamie for giving me permission to pass on this good news!

Hi [from Ben's Soldiers' Angel] !

I saw Ben this afternoon. He was heavily sedated. Apparently he is very agitated this mornings and they doped him up to keep him calm. (Must be much easier for the nurses that way... )

HOWEVER....

He blinks in response to a question. He really does! I told him you needed to know if he could blink in response to a question.

I said "Ben, I need you to blink if you can understand what I am saying" and he did.

Then I waited for a while and told him to do it again and he did.

Eventually after about 15 minutes, he got tired of playing and dozed back to sleep but we played for a while.

EVERYTIME I asked him to do it, he would do it.

Someone else can try it, but he was looking at me out of the corner of his eye and following my directions to the letter.

He also turned his head away when he didn't want the nurse washing his face anymore. Nurse admitted that was a participatory movement.

Okay, you know how I told you sometimes when I am talking to Ben about you he tries to say something...Does what I call his 'Elvis' lip curl that would be the beginning of a word if you were heavily sedated....

He about came out of the bed when Jim arrived. And he moved his mouth in a way different from how he does when I think he's trying to say 'Mom' or 'Race'......I think he was trying to say 'J'......he ended up having a coughing spell (who knows what he could say if the Trach wasn't in there??!!)

but it was just waaaayy toooooo spooky for that to be random....there's NO way that was a coincidence......he knew someone (someone important to him) was in the room and absolutely reacted...he was like a different patient...then he fell back to sleep...

Ben really likes Jim. Jim is WONDERFUL FOR HIM!!

He isn't as overheated anymore, his lips look alot better, his abrasions are healing, his hair needs cutting or something, and Jim is involved with Ben's feet....I see big differences because I don't go everyday....

Tomorrow the neuro nurse we talked about is coming.

I definetly saw responses today. I can also tell he likes some people and not others....he won't bother with some and will for others...must be tiring any ways...I think he works for me 'cause he knows I talk to you....he works for Jim 'cause he likes him (you can't NOT like Jim - he's just one of those people) but Ben ignores the nurses....that's why they don't see anything....

[End Email]

I want to say a big thank you to the Soldiers' Angel that is taking the time to go and visit Ben AND keep Jamie in the loop on Ben's progress. This is probably one of the hardest things for Ben's mother since he is so far away from her and she needs to be at home to care for Ben's much younger (preschool age) brothers and sister. In any case Ben is showing definite improvement. Thank you God! Hopefully there will be a website set up for Ben and his family later this week for anyone that would like to make a donation. The donations will be mainly to help Ben's family spend more time with him for the present I believe. He has five brothers and sisters, the three youngest are very young with the baby just turning six months old. Ben's mama has her hands full all the time.

Keep Ben and his family in your prayers if you pray. They need all the help they can get and I am positive that the prayers for Ben are working!

2006-04-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

Busy Busy Busy! We all had a GREAT time at the homecoming/slash birthday party this weekend even though a couple of us came away slightly injured LOL (the birthday was for my brother who was home from Texas for a week). I promise to get some pics up today! Although most of the pics are actually video for the party. Maybe I can actually add some of that here. We are hitting the local niteclub tonight to play some pool with the family since my brother and his girlfriend, Ginger, have to go back to San Antonio tomorrow. My kids are wearing me out but I love it! I feel like a mother again lol .. no sleep, constantly on the run, lots of hugs and 'love yous'!! Anyone who is a mom can certainly relate to that!

Here's a few pics of Eric's first night in the local niteclub with us where we played some pool and just re-connected. Since he just turned 21 while he was in Iraq this was the first time we could actually spend time together in an environment like this. I don't neccesarily want to promote going out and drinking (although I do occasionally myself, especially since I like to play pool .. but when I do .. it is SAFELY with a designate driver) but hey .. we live in the middle of rural Indiana surrounded by corn fields for 50 miles in every direction and there just ISN"T a lot else to do around here at night! Cow tipping ?? Doesn't really happen, cows DO NOT tip easily or willingly LOL. The 'cow tipping' story is more like a 'snipe hunt' than anything else . Okay .. unless you live in the country you may not know about 'snipe hunting' either! If you have a question about it add it to comments and I will explain hehe.

Be sure to check out the pics at the bottom of the blog too that I didn't post up here. Too bad that the only single female there that wasn't related to Eric was working the bar hehe! She's the dark haired one, Traci.

Eric, his sister and sister-in-law

Eric, the bartender Traci and his sister-in-law DeeDee

Crystal (my daughter), Eric, DeeDee (my daughter-in-law),
Ginger (my brother's girlfriend from San Antonio) and
Jeff (my brother that lives in San Antonio)

Boy am I ever glad that he KNOWS not to drink and drive!

Hmmm ... my son-in-law and daughter appear to be having a good time.
Where did that beer glass come from!! At least the driver was sober!

Okay ..more pics later I promise.

Ben update: Ben has been moved out of ICU but is still considered comatose, although ... the Soldiers' Angels group (I will talk more about that group later, they visit wounded soldiers) that have been visiting him on a daily basis all claim that he IS making purposeful movement and responding to simple commands (like wiggle your toes) so OORAH for Ben. I still have faith (as does his family) that he will make a purposeful recovery from his devasting injuries.

Also ... Justin, whose Aunt Patricia has a blog dedicted to him on MSN Spaces, (click here to visit and leave Justin a message) had surgery recently and came through it well. Justin has made an amazing recovery from injuries he received in Iraq and his doctors were not optimistic either! It just goes to show you, you can't keep a good Marine down! OORAH Justin!

Now here is a great little story I wanted to pass on to all the military spouses. We DO recognize how hard and how much YOU sacrifice too to support our military. A big huge Thank You to every one of you!!

The Difference
By Retired Lt. Gen. Edward J. Heinz

Over the years, I've talked a lot about military spouses...how special they are and the price they pay for freedom, too. The funny thing about it is most military spouses don't consider themselves different from other spouses.

They do what they have to do, bound together not by blood or merely friendship, but with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence of what love truly is. Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to decide for yourself.