The Offical Armed Services Support Thread.
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Daily life
This really puts things in perspective.
Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.
__________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.
__________________________
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
__________________________
You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
__________________________
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
__________________________
You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
__________________________
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
__________________________
You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
__________________________
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.
__________________________
You make your bed and wash your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
__________________________
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
__________________________
You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
__________________________
You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
__________________________
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's
perfume.
__________________________
You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
__________________________
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.
__________________________
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
__________________________
You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
__________________________
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told.
__________________________
You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
__________________________
You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gunfire.
__________________________
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him.
If only there were more men like him! -
I found this on another forum I frequent and wanted all of you to read it as well.
Amazingly Brave Marine Moms
(My nephew Jason Blume is a USMC Capt, currently at Camp Lejeune after 2
tours in Iraq and one in Afganistan. I just received this e-mail from his
mom):
This is a letter from the Yahoo web group that I belong to, Friends and
Family of the 3rd LAR. As you'll remember this was Jason's unit both times
he was in Iraq. They are back in Iraq again. Jason tells me I should
separate myself from that unit as he has but I just couldn't until they get
home from this deployment. We know that Jason wants to protect us from
more worry but Charles and I have felt that we could at least support these
other parents, family and friends with our thoughts and prayers.
The unit has been there again for almost six months, due to come home in a
little over a month. Once again the battalion is mostly in Al Anbar province.
On July 29 four of the Marines in the unit were killed in an IED attack. Adam
Galvez was injured in that attack. He was injured seriously enough that he
could have probably come home but he didn't want to leave without his
buddies. So he stayed and pressed to go back to duty as soon as they
would let him. On August 20 Adam and two others were killed in another IED
attack.
This letter is from Adam's mother, Amy, to the 3rd LAR Yahoo group. It is a
testament to the strength that God can give and the words of a truly
courageous mother. It is so sad and yet so uplifting. I am in awe of this
brave Marine mom. Please keep her in your prayers for the next days that
will be so difficult.
First, I want to thank every one of you for your love and support. I would
like to give you some information about what we know and what is going
on here. Sunday, at 5:45 PM, we were notified that the vehicle Adam was
in hit an IED and Adam had been killed. For now we are doing alright. The
support we have received is amazing. We are feeling God's presence and
comfort in a way we never have before. I remember reading letters GiGi
Windsor had posted when Kenny was first injured and was amazed at her
strength and faith. Well, I have never been as strong as I am now. There
is nothing normal or natural about how well we really are doing. We know in
our hearts Adam was supposed to be in Iraq with his guys, which comforts
us. We are not sitting here saying 'why, if only or what if' Adam survived
the attack of July29th. That was nothing short of a miracle. Adam told us
many details about that attack and he shouldn't have survived. But he did.
While he was recovering we were blessed to have had several hours of
phone conversations with him. Adam needed to stay there with the guys
and I know that. Even with his ankle injury, he found a way to get right
back to work. That is just how Adam was.
The Marine Corps has been nothing but wonderful to us. I can't begin to
tell you how well they have treated us. Capt Portiss has spent many hours
with us making sure we are okay and that everything is taken care of.
Adam and Bobby Clark grew up together and joined the Marines together.
They joined on the buddy system and went through boot camp together.
LCpl Bobby Clark will be Adam's escort back from Dover later this weekend.
Please pray for Bobby. This will be the toughest duty he will ever face.
Services will be held for Adam at Calvary Chapel in Salt Lake City on
Tuesday.
Capt. Rawlings called us from Iraq yesterday. That meant the world to me.
He gave us more details but also just talked about Adam and told us little
stories. We also talked the the 1st Sgt and Lt. You could hear the sincerity
in their voices. Capt. Rawlings is going to come and visit us when they get
back. That conversation meant more to me than you will ever know.
For now, thank you all for your support. Please continue to pray for us, the
next few days are going to be very hard. God continue to bless every one
of our Marines and their families serving here at home.
Amy -
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On the 24th of August I completed 30 years of military service.
It seems like 300. I want out. -
Congratulations George!!....And thanks!!
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Another cut and paste from the web. Please take the time out of your day to read this ladies and gents.
Part 1
From the net...courtesy of Reads...
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
All I havent written very much from Iraq. Theres really not much to write about. More exactly, theres not much I can write about because practically everything I do, read or hear is classified military information or is depressing to the point that Id rather just forget about it, never mind write about it. The gaps in between all of that are filled with the pure tedium of daily life in an armed camp. So its a bit of a struggle to think of anything to put into a letter thats worth reading. Worse, this place just consumes you. I work 18-20-hour days, every day. The quest to draw a clear picture of what the insurgents are up to never ends. Problems and frictions crop up faster than solutions. Every challenge demands a response. Its like this every day. Before I know it, I cant see straight, because its 0400 and Ive been at work for twenty hours straight, somehow missing dinner again in the process. And once again I havent written to anyone. It starts all over again four hours later. Its not really like Ground Hog Day, its more like a level from Dantes Inferno. Rather than attempting to sum up the last seven months, I figured Id just hit the record setting highlights of 2006 in Iraq. These are among the events and experiences Ill remember best.
Worst Case of Déjà Vu - I thought I was familiar with the feeling of déjà vu until I arrived back here in Fallujah in February. The moment I stepped off of the helicopter, just as dawn broke, and saw the camp just as I had left it ten months before - that was déjà vu. Kind of unnerving. It was as if I had never left. Same work area, same busted desk, same chair, same computer, same room, same creaky rack, same . . . everything. Same everything for the next year. It was like entering a parallel universe. Home wasnt 10,000 miles away, it was a different lifetime.
Most Surreal Moment - Watching Marines arrive at my detention facility and unload a truck load of flex-cuffed midgets. 26 to be exact. I had put the word out earlier in the day to the Marines in Fallujah that we were looking for Bad Guy X, who was described as a midget. Little did I know that Fallujah was home to a small community of midgets, who banded together for support since they were considered as social outcasts. The Marines were anxious to get back to the midget colony to bring in the rest of the midget suspects, but I called off the search, figuring Bad Guy X was long gone on his short legs after seeing his companions rounded up by the giant infidels.
Most Profound Man in Iraq - an unidentified farmer in a fairly remote area who, after being asked by Reconnaissance Marines (searching for Syrians) if he had seen any foreign fighters in the area replied Yes, you.
Worst City in al-Anbar Province - Ramadi, hands down. The provincial capital of 400,000 people. Killed over 1,000 insurgents in there since we arrived in February. Every day is a nasty gun battle. They blast us with giant bombs in the road, snipers, mortars and small arms. We blast them with tanks, attack helicopters, artillery, our snipers (much better than theirs), and every weapon that an infantryman can carry. Every day. Incredibly, I rarely see Ramadi in the news. We have as many attacks out here in the west as Baghdad. Yet, Baghdad has 7 million people, we have just 1.2 million. Per capita, al-Anbar province is the most violent place in Iraq by several orders of magnitude. I suppose it was no accident that the Marines were assigned this area in 2003.
Bravest Guy in al-Anbar Province - Any Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD Tech). Howd you like a job that required you to defuse bombs in a hole in the middle of the road that very likely are booby-trapped or connected by wire to a bad guy whos just waiting for you to get close to the bomb before he clicks the detonator? Every day. Sanitation workers in New York City get paid more than these guys. Talk about courage and commitment.
Second Bravest Guy in al-Anbar Province - Its a 20,000 way tie among all the Marines and Soldiers who venture out on the highways and through the towns of al-Anbar every day, not knowing if it will be their last - and for a couple of them, it will be.
Best Piece of U.S. Gear - new, bullet-proof flak jackets. O.K., they weigh 40 lbs and arent exactly comfortable in 120 degree heat, but theyve saved countless lives out here.
Best Piece of Bad Guy Gear - Armor Piercing ammunition that goes right through the new flak jackets and the Marines inside them.
Worst E-Mail Message - The Walking Blood Bank is Activated. We need blood type A+ stat. I always head down to the surgical unit as soon as I get these messages, but I never give blood - theres always about 80 Marines in line, night or day.
Biggest Surprise - Iraqi Police. All local guys. I never figured that wed get a police force established in the cities in al-Anbar. I estimated that insurgents would kill the first few, scaring off the rest. Well, insurgents did kill the first few, but the cops kept on coming. The insurgents continue to target the police, killing them in their homes and on the streets, but the cops wont give up. Absolutely incredible tenacity. The insurgents know that the police are far better at finding them than we are. - and they are finding them. Now, if we could just get them out of the habit of beating prisoners to a pulp . . .
to be continued...
__________________
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Part 2
Greatest Vindication - Stocking up on outrageous quantities of Diet Coke from the chow hall in spite of the derision from my men on such hoarding, then having a 122mm rocket blast apart the giant shipping container that held all of the soda for the chow hall. Yep, you cant buy experience.
Biggest Mystery - How some people can gain weight out here. Im down to 165 lbs. Who has time to eat?
Second Biggest Mystery - if theres no atheists in foxholes, then why arent there more people at Mass every Sunday?
Favorite Iraqi TV Show - Oprah. I have no idea. They all have satellite TV.
Coolest Insurgent Act - Stealing almost $7 million from the main bank in Ramadi in broad daylight, then, upon exiting, waving to the Marines in the combat outpost right next to the bank, who had no clue of what was going on. The Marines waved back. Too cool.
Most Memorable Scene - In the middle of the night, on a dusty airfield, watching the better part of a battalion of Marines packed up and ready to go home after six months in al-Anbar, the relief etched in their young faces even in the moonlight. Then watching these same Marines exchange glances with a similar number of grunts loaded down with gear file past - their replacements. Nothing was said. Nothing needed to be said.
Highest Unit Re-enlistment Rate - Any outfit that has been in Iraq recently. All the danger, all the hardship, all the time away from home, all the horror, all the frustrations with the fight here - all are outweighed by the desire for young men to be part of a 'Band of Brothers' who will die for one another. They found what they were looking for when they enlisted out of high school. Man for man, they now have more combat experience than any Marines in the history of our Corps.
Most Surprising Thing I Dont Miss - Beer. Perhaps being half-stunned by lack of sleep makes up for it.
Worst Smell - Porta-johns in 120 degree heat - and thats 120 degrees outside of the porta-john.
Highest Temperature - I dont know exactly, but it was in the porta-johns. Needed to re-hydrate after each trip to the loo.
Biggest Hassle - High-ranking visitors. More disruptive to work than a rocket attack. VIPs demand briefs and battlefield tours (we take them to quiet sections of Fallujah, which is plenty scary for them). Our briefs and commentary seem to have no affect on their preconceived notions of whats going on in Iraq. Their trips allow them to say that theyve been to Fallujah, which gives them an unfortunate degree of credibility in perpetuating their fantasies about the insurgency here.
Biggest Outrage - Practically anything said by talking heads on TV about the war in Iraq, not that I get to watch much TV. Their thoughts are consistently both grossly simplistic and politically slanted. Biggest offender - Bill OReilly - what a buffoon.
Best Intel Work - Finding Jill Carrolls kidnappers - all of them. I was mighty proud of my guys that day. I figured wed all get the Christian Science Monitor for free after this, but none have showed up yet. Talk about ingratitude.
Saddest Moment - Having the battalion commander from 1st Battalion, 1st Marines hand me the dog tags of one of my Marines who had just been killed while on a mission with his unit. Hit by a 60mm mortar. Cpl Bachar was a great Marine. I felt crushed for a long time afterward. His picture now hangs at the entrance to the Intelligence Section. Well carry it home with us when we leave in February.
Biggest ****-Chewing - 10 July immediately following a visit by the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Zobai. The Deputy Prime Minister brought along an American security contractor (read mercenary), who told my Commanding General that he was there to act as a mediator between us and the Bad Guys. I immediately told him what I thought of him and his asinine ideas in terms that made clear my disgust and which, unfortunately, are unrepeatable here. I thought my boss was going to have a heart attack. Fortunately, the translator couldnt figure out the best Arabic words to convey my meaning for the Deputy Prime Minister. Later, the boss had no difficulty in conveying his meaning to me in English regarding my Irish temper, even though he agreed with me. At least the guy from the State Department thought it was hilarious. We never saw the mercenary again.
Best Chuck Norris Moment - 13 May. Bad Guys arrived at the government center in the small town of Kubaysah to kidnap the town mayor, since they have a problem with any form of government that does not include regular beheadings and women wearing burqahs. There were seven of them. As they brought the mayor out to put him in a pick-up truck to take him off to be beheaded (on video, as usual), one of the bad Guys put down his machinegun so that he could tie the mayors hands. The mayor took the opportunity to pick up the machinegun and drill five of the Bad Guys. The other two ran away. One of the dead Bad Guys was on our top twenty wanted list. Like they say, you cant fight City Hall.
Worst Sound - That crack-boom off in the distance that means an IED or mine just went off. You just wonder who got it, hoping that it was a near miss rather than a direct hit. Hear it every day.
Second Worst Sound - Our artillery firing without warning. The howitzers are pretty close to where I work. Believe me, outgoing sounds a lot like incoming when our guns are firing right over our heads. Theyd about knock the fillings out of your teeth.
Only Thing Better in Iraq Than in the U.S. - Sunsets. Spectacular. Its from all the dust in the air.
Proudest Moment - Its a tie every day, watching my Marines produce phenomenal intelligence products that go pretty far in teasing apart Bad Guy operations in al-Anbar. Every night Marines and Soldiers are kicking in doors and grabbing Bad Guys based on intelligence developed by my guys. We rarely lose a Marine during these raids, they are so well-informed of the objective. A bunch of kids right out of high school shouldnt be able to work so well, but they do.
Happiest Moment - Well, it wasnt in Iraq. There are no truly happy moments here. It was back in California when I was able to hold my family again while home on leave during July.
Most Common Thought - Home. Always thinking of home, of Kathleen and the kids. Wondering how everyone else is getting along. Regretting that I dont write more. Yep, always thinking of home.
I hope you all are doing well. If you want to do something for me, kiss a cop, flush a toilet, and drink a beer. Ill try to write again before too long - I promise.
Semper Fi,
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Great idea FranK!!!! I've been watching and reading and I got a lump the size of a watermelon in my throat.
Joe -
Thanks Frank...
that was unbelievableI never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore -
This one is special to me. For all of my Brothers...Semper Fi!
http://www.yellowribbongreetings.us/farewellmarine.html -
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Wow Powerful video, especially seeing the pictures of your servicemen and the Iraqi children.Frank Z wrote:
May God bless and keep them safe.Testing
Testing
Testing -
GV#27,
Thanks for taking the time to watch and to reply. -
newsblaze.com wrote:America Supports You: Massachusetts Teens Ask for Nation's Support
"Cell Phones for Soldiers" founders Brittany and Robbie Bergquist of Norwell, Mass., are in the running to win the grand prize in a Volvo-sponsored awards program that highlights the generosity of citizens throughout the nation. The deadline for voting is Feb. 4.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting U.S. citizens with troops at home and overseas.
The Volvo for Life Award was designed to "recognize and reward everyday, real-life heroes across America" and for the first time in the award's five-year history voting has been opened to the American public, according to the company's Web site.
"I would feel so proud (if we were named the winners) because I'd know that the American public who voted for us cares about the troops," 15-year-old Robbie said. "A vote for us is really a vote of support for the troops, because (the winnings) go to them."
vote here: http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/awards/index.html
top of the page
Find your hero: Bergquist
left side click their box then submit vote
http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
edit: They're worse than Sid!
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/ceremony/index.html
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Here's a company I've done business with a few times. Prices are good and if they are out of stock, orders are drop shipped.
They ship to Iraq and Afghanistan so pass the word. http://www.partstore.com
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Friday Morning at the Pentagon
By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY McClatchy Newspapers
Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force
personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war
Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing
months or years in military hospitals.
This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former
roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a
year-long tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.
Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills
the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and
many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the
Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for
America Web site.
****************************************************
"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This
section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the
hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire
length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants, and
some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the
walls. There are thousands here.
"This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3
offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army.
Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen
each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the
way and renew.
Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air
conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this
area. The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares.
"10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost
of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to
the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause
with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the
length of the hallway.
"A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier
in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is
the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his
wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private,
or perhaps a private first class.
"Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and
nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I
described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat
different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for
not having shared in the burden. yet.
"Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the
wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I
think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's
chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.
"Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of
his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a
field grade officer.
"11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and
I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. `My hands
hurt. Christ. Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after
soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30. Fifty-three legs come
with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30
solid hearts.
"They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet
for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by
the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of
their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down
this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching
handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade.
More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.
"There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing
her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her
husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who
had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who
have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for
the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking
or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks.
An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the
officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the
past.
"These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our
brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every
single Friday, all year long, for more than four years." Did you know
that? The media hasn't told the story. -
God bless them.engtaz
I love how music can brighten up a bad day. -
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Keep up the good work Frank"The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage." Thucydides
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I'm tryin' to.
Here's a little somethin' I was involved in yesterday.
http://www.koaa.com/video/news/index.asp?cat=news&id=8647 -
Thanks Frank! Great job!
God bless America and the men and women serving our country.Carl -
This kid knows where to run...
http://twana.vox.com/library/post/picture1-iraq-boy.html -
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The little guy at 3:30, contrasted with the grey hairs ........
Whew.
Good work.Sal Palooza -
Thanks Frank. And thanks to all who fight for us. I won't tip my hat to you.....I take it off and cover my heart for you.
Be strong, be dilligent and I salute you. -
Here's a soldier that fought communism (sorry if it is too political for this thread) under three flags; Finland, Germany and USA. You can find pretty fascinating reading about him. If you've seen 'Green Berets', John Wayne's character is based on this guy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauri_T%C3%B6rni
I'll salute to all the soldiers, regardless of what side they are on, that are fighting for the safety of their loved ones and fellow citizens. I'll skip the ones that are doing it to create misery and chaos.
