Military Appreciation Thread

[Heather]

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howizzitor. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime.

He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have woman over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.......

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

I highlighted the parts that are particularly true of my brother. As for his helmet, he had my picture inside...

[WisteriaJ7]

Wow. That's...amazing.

And that is so sweet that your brother has your picture inside his helmet.

[Heather]

Yeah, the first time I read that I cried, thinking, "My God...that IS Stephen. The part about letters is what particularly struck me. Because hes dyslexic, so writing letters home is always a trial for him. But he would email me whenever he could. I was his sounding board. lol. When he was in Baghdad, and needed to rant, I was the one he ranted to. I got one email from him that had me laughing so hard.

Stephen: If you have a problem with America...then get the **** out!!!!
Heather: You okay?
Stephen: Yeah, its just these celebrities piss me off. Like they have a frigging clue as to what it is like over here. THey can kiss my ass. And Madonna. Protesting us from England! Fricking England! Well, you know what! You can stay there. We dont want you! Sorry...Im done.
Heather: You sure?
Stephen: ****ing Johnny Depp. Okay, now Im really done. So, how are you, Heath?

That cracked me up. When I told my mom, she couldnt stop laughing.

And yeah, he kept my pic in his helmet. One time, I asked him if he had anything in his helmet, and he was like, "Yeah, why?" And I told him I was just curious as to what he kept in there. And he said, "Your graduation picture...from college. And a letter from Nicole." I almost started to cry when he told me that. How, in a war zone, he kept close to him a picture of me, and a letter from his girlfriend.

[WisteriaJ7]

No kidding. Wow. Aww. And that conversation between you and Stephen is funny.

[Heather]

Yeah, he is pretty hysterical.

[Heather]

OK, so Im making this the military thread. Any emails, stories, or anything having to do with the military can be posted in here.

NOTE: This thread is a military appreciation thread, not a criticism thread.


I just read this...and thought it was so poignant, that I had to post it.

Who'll Take the 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 his 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 someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice shouted 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 every thing!"
--author unknown

[Ol'blueyes]

My cousin served a term in Iraq and now he is stationed in Saudi Arabia so I'm 100 percent behind the military AND what they believe in.

[oclover24]

My cousin (I don't really know him) is/was in the Air Force (not sure if he is currently active), my other cousin is joining the military once he makes up some credits for high school, and my uncle was in the Marines.

[Heather]

A little about my brother...lets see.

After Basic, he was stationed in Manheim Germany for a two year stint. Three months after getting to Manheim, his unit was deployed to Baghdad for a year. They got back at the end of last March. He's finishing up his term in Germany (which will end in December), and then hes being transferred stateside (hopefully).

I say hopefully, because if theres one thing Ive learned about the military, is that the only thing that is certain, is that nothing is certain.

[oclover24]

^I hope all goes well with your brother's tour of duty, Heather, and your cousin, Bridget.

[Ol'blueyes]

Thanks christine:)

He won't be back till next June.

[Heather]

Wow, Bridget. Thats really hard. If Stephen cant get out of Germany in time, he's being sent to Afghanistan, so I know how you feel.

I'll keep your brother in my prayers. :)

[Ol'blueyes]

Well, hes actually my cousin, but I consider him my brother since I have 3 sisters, but thanks.

has anyone else got REALLY mad at the latest Green Day video or is it just me?

[Heather]

Oopss....my bad. :)

No, I havent. I tend to stay away from MTV when its not airing Laguna Beach. :lol:

What is the video about, Bridget?

[Ol'blueyes]

Ugh. well first the song is called, "wake me up when september ends."

Here are the lyrics.

Summer has come and passed,
the innocent can never last.
Wake me up when September ends.

Like my father's come to pass,
seven years has gone so fast.
Wake me up when September ends.

Here comes the rain again,
falling from the stars.
Drenched in my pain again,
becoming who we are.
As my memory rests,
but never forgets what I lost.
Wake me up when September ends.

Summer has come and passed,
the innocent can never last.
Wake me up when September ends.

Ring out the bells again,
like we did when spring began.
Wake me up when September ends.

Here comes the rain again,
falling from the stars.
Drenched in my pain again,
becoming who we are.
As my memory rests,
but never forgets what I lost.
Wake me up when September ends.

Summer has come and passed,
the innocent can never last.
Wake me up when September ends.

Like my mother's come to pass,
twenty years has gone so fast.
Wake me up when September ends.

The song is fairly decent but once you see the video, you would want to vomit. Why? Because contemporary Green Day likes to incorporate Propaganda into its videos. For example, in this video, a boyfriend and a girlfriend are shown together and happy and the whole, "don't ever leave me." Evan Rachel Wood plays the girl. Then all hell breaks lose because he decides to join the military and shes like,"WHY DID YOU DO THIS I CANT BELIEVE YOU DID THIS." then he states, "I DID THIS FOR US, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND." She starts breaking down crying, then the music starts up again. The next shot we see is him preparing for war. Basically he is thrown off a bus, looks completely depressed like every other guy who has to get a buzz cut, then we see Evan Rachel Wood crying and looking upset and depressed in her home. Then the last scene is him fighting in Iraq and hes hiding and then he comes out and gets shot.

[amberdawn]

Im praying for your brother Heather and your cousin Bridget. Im so greatful for everything they do.

[Ol'blueyes]

Aw thanks Amber:)

[Heather]

OMG, Bridget! That is detestable!!!! I am completely disgusted right now! :pissed:

[Ol'blueyes]

Haha I told you, it would make you want to vomit. I almost punched them via-television but then i'd realize i'd break my hand and I didn't want to waste it on them. And I used to be a big Green Day fan until they became annoying and ignorant. Whats sad is that kids of all ages watch MTV and they don't even know the difference between what is right and what is wrong about the war and if they listen to their favorite band, they will automatically believe in what they say. They call it music, I call it brainwashing.

[Heather]

You're right. Thats why I have absolutely no tolerance for celebrities like Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon. They make me want to vomit. And dont get me started on Barbara Streisand... :lol:

I yelled at my TV last night. After the Emmy's, I put on the Channel 11 news, and there was Cindy Sheehan, and coverage of her in Brooklyn (i think...either Brooklyn or the Bronx). Anyway...she said:

"This is about me, losing my son. This is about me, never hearing his voice again. This is about me, never running my hand down his face again."

At which point I screamed, "Thats right!!! Its not about Casey and what he wanted, its about YOU!!!!!"

[Webeh]

I'm from Canada, so I won't comment on the US miliary, but rather on the Canadian one. Ours follows a peacekeeping ideology (foreign aid, food, shelter, etc) and often work in association with other blue helmets (UN peacekeepers). Our military is very small, poorly funded, poorly paid, and stretched to their bare bones, but incredibly well-intentioned. So, I have to say that I'm extremely proud of my home's soldiers, who selflessly put their individual aspirations on hold and lives at risk to help others. These are truly good people. (As are most soldiers everywhere.) :)

[Kaylan]

Comment on Green Day video, i really don't understand why they decided to make a war video out of that song. I enjoy the song, then saw the video and thought 'what is going on'. To me, the video had nothing to do with the song/lyrics.

[Heather]

Because their using their celebrity as a political platform, which way tooo many celebrities do, in my opinion. How often do you hear about Conservative or Republian actors/celebrities using their fame as a platform? Never. Why? Because if they do, they are categorized as uneasy to work with, or like Tom Selleck, attacked by liberal talk show hosts. Its disgusting.

Back to the military. I was going through some old threads the other day, and I found this post I made, in which I posted an email from Stephen when he was in Baghdad. It was in response to a blog I made. I wont post all of it, just part of it. And his email. Because it really opens your eyes to what the reality of what life in Iraq is like for these soldiers.

...My brother, is in...Baghdad, and I get to talk to him every week, and here first hand what is going on over there. And what I hear is a message of hope, and faith.

The people in my life...the people I love, both online and in real life, are amazing. They give me hope, and inspiration on a daily basis, and keep me going, even on the darkest of days. I am truly blessed.

I was watching "The Prince of Egypt" today, mainly because I want to show it to my kids this week, since I am teaching Judaism in social studies. Which, btw, I love teaching. I know it like the back of my hands. Usually, I take notes, which I refer back to as I teach. Today, not a single note. I was so animated, and the kids were so drawn in as I talked about Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Ishmael. They were so into the lesson. And because Im a Catholic, (11 years of Catholic school paying off here), I was able to portray it in a way that made it both real and interesting.

Anyway, while watching The Prince of Egypt, I listened to the theme song, "When You Believe", and it made me think of my brother. How much I love and miss him. How much I cant wait to see him again.

I thank you for what you said I love and miss you too sis, I miss all of you. You're right, what we are doing down here is important although hearing all the negative comments about how what we are doing is wrong makes me feel somtimes that we shoudnt be here. Then I see the faces of the people of this country and how happy they are that we are helping them make a better tomorrow and nothing feels more right.

And like a famous Roman once said,"those who desire peace prepare for WAR."

love your brother,
stephen

[oclover24]

In response to why the Green Day song "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is about war: You're right, Kaylan, in wondering why the video is the way it is. The song was not written in relation to anything about war. I've read it was about Billie Joe Armstrong's father. I also wonder why it was made into a 'war song.'

[Ol'blueyes]

From AOL NEWS

Iraq War Supporters Follow Anti-War Rallies
March Comes Day After Opponents Descended on D.C.
By ELISABETH GOODRIDGE, AP

WASHINGTON (Sept. 25) - Support for U.S. troops fighting abroad mixed with anger toward anti-war demonstrators at home as hundreds of people, far fewer than organizers had expected, rallied Sunday on the National Mall just a day after a massive protest against the war in Iraq.



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

Talk About It: Post Thoughts



"No matter what your ideals are, our sons and daughters are fighting for our freedom,'' said Marilyn Faatz, who drove from New Jersey to attend the rally. "We are making a mockery out of this. And we need to stand united, but we are not.''

About 400 people gathered near a stage on an eastern segment of the mall, a large patchwork American flag serving as a backdrop. Amid banners and signs proclaiming support for U.S. troops, several speakers hailed the effort to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan and denounced those who protest it.

Many demonstrators focused their ire at Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whose protest near President Bush's Texas home last summer galvanized the anti-war movement. Sheehan was among the speakers at Saturday's rally near the Washington Monument on the western part of the mall, an event that attracted an estimated 100,000 people.

"The group who spoke here the other day did not represent the American ideals of freedom, liberty and spreading that around the world,'' Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, told the crowd. "I frankly don't know what they represent, other than to blame America first.''

One sign on the mall read "Cindy Sheehan doesn't speak for me'' and another "Arrest the traitors''; it listed Sheehan's name first among several people who have spoken against the war.

Melody Vigna, 44, of Linden, Calif., said she wants nothing to do with Sheehan and others at nearby Camp Casey, an anti-war site set up to honor her son, Casey, who was killed in Iraq.

"Our troops are over there fighting for our rights, and if she was in one of those countries she would not be able to do that,'' Vigna said.

The husband of Sherri Francescon, 24, of Camp Lejeune, N.C., serves in the Marine Corps in Iraq. One of the many military wives who spoke during the rally, Francescon said that the anti-war demonstration had left her frustrated.

"I know how much my husband does and how hard he works, and I feel like they don't even recognize that and give him the respect he deserves,'' Francescon said. "I want him to know and I want his unit to know that America is behind them, Cindy doesn't speak for us, and that we believe in what they are doing.''

Organizers of Sunday's demonstration acknowledged that their rally would be much smaller than the anti-war protest but had hoped that as many as 20,000 people would turn out.

On Saturday, demonstrators opposed to the war in Iraq surged past the White House in the largest anti-war protest in the nation's capital since the U.S. invasion. The rally stretched through the night, a marathon of music, speechmaking and dissent on the mall.

National polls have found steadily declining support for the war in Iraq, with a majority of Americans now believing the war was a mistake.

In an AP-Ipsos poll this month, only 37 percent approved or leaned toward approval of how Bush has handled the situation in Iraq; strong disapproval outweighed strong approval by 2-1, 46 percent to 22 percent.

[Heather]

Im really glad about that, Bridget. I wish I could have gone. The ironic thing is that most of the anti-war protestors will say that its because most Americans are against the war. When in reality, that isnt true at all. And most of the supporters do so quietly, and have full time jobs, and lives. :lol:


I dont know if you guys saw Extreme Makeover: Home Addition tonight, where they renovated a home for an injured soldier and his family. But this poem was in their original home, and framed in the new house, and I just had to post it, because its so beautiful and poignant.

FINAL INSPECTION

The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass.

"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The Solider squared his shoulders and said
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just to steep,

And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgement of his God.

"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

...Author Unknown

[Webeh]

The be perfectly honest, I have absolutely nothing against people expressing their opinions on issues (as long as it doesn't stoop down into hate). Especially considering that we live in democratic countries where the freedom to express a person's thought is a right.

However, if opinions ever goes beyond directing it towards the government and onto the soldiers themselves, I think it's probably gone too far. Despite what the mission may be, most soldiers (I'm not going to say all because I know that's probably not true) join the military with very good intentions. To be realistic, why would someone willingly take a job with a massive pay cut and a reasonable potential for death, unless they truly believed in providing safety for their nation? It'd be very difficult to justify an argument claiming that soldiers initially had bad intentions.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is that right now I think the protesting/supporting of military decisions is still acceptable as long as they continue to only direct it towards the government and not the soldiers themselves. The government is a civilian voted-in institution and is thus answerable to the public for every decision it makes. If there is a problem or disagreement, it should be brought to the government and not to the individual soldiers. (I'm likely to kick someone who questions/insults an individual soldier's intentions.) That's why they're (the government) there, to make the country a better/functional place to live for their citizens.

The lesson of this rant? Don't shoot the messenger (AKA soldiers).

Random comment: Oy, this really came out of left field, didn't it?

[Heather]

The thing is, that there is a time and place for everything. And the Academy Awards the very night our troops head into battle, isnt the place. The Emmys, or Grammy, or another Academy Award shows, when soldiers are watching, and dying for us, isnt the place.

[Webeh]

For awards shows, I agree. Those should just be about the awards and not about politics. (Politics make people angry and distracts everyone from the real purpose of the night.) Unfortunately, certain people like to take advantage of the fact that they're on television. (However, I do love it when the Arrested Development crew totally hijack whatever guest appearance they're doing and pimp their show. Even if it's on a competing network. ;) )

As for protests and Q&A sessions with political leaders, that's where people should be making their voice known. Those events are designed specifically to allow the public to express their opinions.

I thought the Emmys this year were relatively politics-free. Didn't really see anyone make any noise, except for a few neutral "Come home safe, troops" comments.

[Heather]

There were a couple of snide comments.

[Webeh]

Hmm... I must have missed them. Or are you referring to the Jon Stewart segment? Technically, none of his comments did get through because of the freaky funny editing and censoring. Heh heh heh! Censors are funny! ;)

Michael Moore (I made this jump because a few years ago he did some loud speech at the Oscars), now there's one obnoxious man. I generally lean more towards liberal views, but I feel that this man in no way represents our views as a whole. No people, Michael Moore is not the Liberal's public spokesperson. For one thing, he's too loud and lacks professionalism. And another, he makes stuff up in his documentaries, especially that one about cars. Apparently he changed the order of different events in history to create a false cause-and-effect relation that would support his view. Tsk tsk!

[Heather]

Yeah, Michael Moore is pretty much a scumbag. When he was in Baghdad, my brother saw Fahrenheit 9/11, and called it a "crock of s***". I refused to see it. The way I look at it, Im not going to help make money for that man, when everything he says or does is an absolute abhoration.

[Webeh]

Yeah, in film class his name came up when we were learning about documentaries. There's a type of documentaries where facts are moulded to suit the film-makers' arguments. Michael Moore films were examples of that. He just flat out lies in them. They're not necessarily bad films (I haven't seen any of his works and not going to), just not true.

[ladydeath]

I'm in U.S. Army JROTC in high school, I've been in it for two full years and this is my third, as a cadet I'm authorized to wear the U.S. Army uniform. I wear it proudly every Wednesday. I'm very proud of our troops. Colonel, one of my JROTC instructors, had his daughter and son, who are in the army and served in Iraq, come and speak to the JROTC classes at my school about what Iraq was like. I was glad to have this oppurtunity to hear that most of the people in Iraq were happy to know that our troops are there.

[Heather]

Thats so wonderful! I did that with my students, too. I took my brother to see them when he was home on leave. They got to ask him whatever they wanted, although he couldnt answer some questions of course (security and all that), but it was an amazing experience for both him, and my students.

Thats so admirable how you are involved like that. Its people like you that make this country great. :)

[ladydeath]

Thats so wonderful! I did that with my students, too. I took my brother to see them when he was home on leave. They got to ask him whatever they wanted, although he couldnt answer some questions of course (security and all that), but it was an amazing experience for both him, and my students.

Thats so admirable how you are involved like that. Its people like you that make this country great. :)
All I know what to say is thank you but I think LTC Breslow (Ret.) is the one to be admired. He's a great teacher and the program really does it's mission to motivate young people to become better citizens. He really inspired me to be a better citizen and so did 1SG Shaw (Ret.), my other JROTC instructor. They both spent around 20 years in the army. They're really great.

P.S. I loved the comentary on Cindy Sheehan, it's kind of the way we all feel.

[Heather]

I got some really good news this morning. Stephen just got his new orders. He is being transferred to Fort Bliss, TX, for the next two years.

:dancing:

[ladydeath]

That's good to hear I'm happy for both of you. :)

[amberdawn]

Oh my gosh Heather, Im so happy for your family! Thats wonderful news. I keep your brother in my prayers all the time.

[oclover24]

Heather, that's so good about your brother! :)

[Heather]

Aww...thanks, guys!!!

And yeah, we're pretty much over the moon about this, and so is he. El Paso is a lot better than Afghanistan. :lol:

[celebfan2005]

they are risking thier life to protect us :) i say god bless then everyday and hope everyone comes back home soon

[WisteriaJ7]

Aww, that's great, Heather. I'm glad to hear that. :D

[Heather]

he called the other night, and we had another amusing conversation....

Heather: Did you get your orders?
Steve: Yeah, last week, so its official now...since the stop/loss date already passed.
Heather: Thats good.
Steve: Well, I guess. I hadnt decided whether or not I would deploy, but that date passed, so I guess I cant now.
Heather: Excuse me?!?!
Steve: And now Erin is completely freaking out about me going stateside, and everything.
Heather: EXCUSE ME?!?!
Steve: What? If I want to deploy, I will. Its my life, Heath. Deal with it.
Heather: [shocked speechless]

Its times like that I just want to shake him, to make sure a brain is still rattling in there somewhere. :lol:

[Heather]

Yeah, so my Bubba (Stephen...I call him Bubba for some unknown reason...lol...I started doing it when we were kids, and it stuck, and he hates it, but oh well...) He called today, to tell us that it was definitely official.

"How do you feel about your brother being a Texan?"

Thats what he said when he called. He's packing up his stuff now, to be shipped to TX, so that there's no way he can be called to Afghanistan...better safe than sorry. :)

I cant wait to visit El Paso. I just wish I had gotten the chance to visit him in Germany. But I guess a birthday present from Germany will do. I cant wait until Dec. 6th. Thats when he flies out of Manheim for the last time. *sigh* Its such a relief, knowing that he will FINALLY be stationed on US soil for the first time since Boot Camp.

[WisteriaJ7]

That is so awesome. :)

[Heather]

Well, my brother called today, and made me listen to this song (several actually), apparently he was on a music high today. :lol:

Anyway, this one song that he loves, brought tears to my eyes, and gave me chills. So, I thought it would post the lyrics, since the words alone are so powerful....


I never thought that this is where I'd settle down.
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown.
They gave me this plot of land,
Me and some other men, for a job well done.

There's a big White House sits on a hill just up the road.
The man inside, he cried the day they brought me home.
They folded up a flag and told my Mom and Dad:
"We're proud of your son."

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.

I remember Daddy brought me here when I was eight.
We searched all day to find out where my grand-dad lay.
And when we finally found that cross,
He said: "Son, this is what it cost to keep us free."

Now here I am, a thousand stones away from him.
He recognized me on the first day I came in.
And it gave me a chill when he clicked his heels,
And saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done.
I can rest in peace;
I'm one of the chosen ones:
I made it to Arlington.

And everytime I hear twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home to us.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property.
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company.
We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done.
We can rest in peace;
'Cause we are the chosen ones:
We made it to Arlington.

Yeah, dust to dust,
Don't cry for us:
We made it to Arlington.

He also mentioned the Greenday video to me for "September ends". He asked if I saw it. I told him I hadnt, and had no intention of seeing it, either." He just laughed.

Then he said something that struck me. He said that the video DID apply to the song.

Stephen: "The innocent will never last." We're the innocent, the soldiers. How we are fighting to protect our loved ones, to protect our country, fighting because of something America didnt do wrong. We are the innocent, America is innocent.

[kbear49]

My friend is getting shipped off to Iraq in two days. :(

[Heather]

Im sorry. What his name? Ill pray for him. I understand how you feel. When Stephen first told me, I thought he was teasing me (he does that), then when I realized he was serious, I collapsed on the floor, and wept.

I had everyone I know pray for my brother...I had all my family praying for my cousins (even the ones theyre not related to). And I truly believe that is what kept them safe. Chloe still wears a coin engraved with my brothers name.

I never believed in the power of prayer until I had loved ones serving in the Middle East.

[OTH man]

and over a year later, the thread is brought back

I'm actuaally watching Jarhead right now, and I didnt come here cuzza it, my brother put it on after i came here, irony man

anyways Heather, your brother is awsome- i've told you this- but i remember his post on here and it was awwsome- also, that covo you posted at the beg. of the thread it hilarious

[Heather]

Yes, he is. He rocks.

And you revived the thread! Thanks, Kevin!

[Webeh]

I'm actuaally watching Jarhead right now, and I didnt come here cuzza it, my brother put it on after i came here, irony man

I heard that's an interesting movie. Apparently the director was very smart. He designed the film so it could be interpretted to support either position regarding military-related issues/controversies. I'd like to see this film at some point in the future.

Yeah... I went total film geek on everyone. ;)

[Ashlyn]

I've heard that about Jarhead as well, that it is more about what soliders go through than a pro/anti-war film.

[Heather]

Ive wanted to see it, since I first saw the previews before it came out. But Im hesitant, because Im pretty sure it will upset me. :lol:

[Kari]

I have a good friend in the US army.
I got to know him at the airport and we connected immediately. He thought I was American because I was reading a book in English. "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. We went to have a beer together and we talked for hours until my plane went. He was on the way to Djibouti and he had already been serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We exchanged e-mails and addresses and ever since we have been in contact. And he might visit me this summer.

Exciting story :lol:

[Faith]

It's like a film Kari! :D

[Webeh]

Ive wanted to see it, since I first saw the previews before it came out. But Im hesitant, because Im pretty sure it will upset me.

It might not. Last term, I had this prof who talked a bit about the film. She thought it came across as anti-army because of how it portrayed gender ideologies. However, in a previous class she had a soldier/student who thought it was very pro-army. So, you never know.

[Kari]

I know, Gem...and actually I am working on a script...the main roles are going to be played by..:lol:

[Heather]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x2amHZqe6g

[oclover24]

^ I love that song! Toby Keith sings good army songs. I personally love "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" also!

Speaking of Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, has anybody seen this? The kid in the video is great...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jD5-s2_hco

My dad wants me to join the military after I graduate college as an army medic. At first I said no, but now I'm maybe sort of, just a little bit, considering it.

[Heather]

Well, I must say that the reason I posted that video was because it shows what life is like for soliders, and their families. It shows what they give up to go and fight for our freedoms. My brother actually quoted that song to me a few weeks ago. He was sick, so I called him thinking he would be home. He wasnt, he was working, and said, "its like the song says...I cant call in sick on Mondays..." :lol:

Anyone who joins the armed forces has my undying respect and gratitude. If you choose to do that, thank you. If you dont, its your decision, and not an easy one to make.

eta
OMG! That kid is awesome!!!

Its funny that you mentioned that song, since Kevin mentioned it to me earlier tonight. :lol:

[oclover24]

^ Weird about the Kevin thing! I just love that song. I also like that Alan Jackson song about where you were the world stopped turning.

I would totally think about joining the military for hours and hours. In the end, I'd probably be way too chicken to do it, but like you said, I respect all soliders for going out there and fighting for our homeland.

[Heather]

OMG...I love that song!! *runs to youtube*

eta
I just had to post this, because its so true. It describes perfectly my brother's feelings about being an American soldier, what he saw, lived through, and how you go on....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwpO8Q1u4Ss

[OTH man]

haha, courtesey of the red, white, and blue is awsome

[oclover24]

I can't watch the videos right now since I must go study, but I'm gonna watch them ASAP!

[OTH man]

also check out the "nobodys listening" link in my sig, heather i showed you, but everyone else

[Heather]

I love that Linkin Park video, Kevin. It ties everything together really nicely. I particularly liked the Iraqi boy holding up and American flag. Soooo adorable!

[Heather]

Yes...Im double posting...but Im such a sucker for this song....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_YEhaw8Op8

And because the soldiers today, are the same as the ones who went before them, and braved the beaches of Normandy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd8Xi5slOMQ

Part of me has to wonder...if CNN existed in the 1940s, would the American people have supported them?

[oclover24]

^ I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Awesome song and video.

[Heather]

lol..yeah, I know...it is.

My brother and I joke about how true that song is. Like this past weekend...when he had to pull 24 hour duty...and then report to work on Monday morning. And he's in El Paso....not in a warzone, right now.

Toby Keith did good with that song.

Red, White & Blue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSWuA-RttGU)

[ladydeath]

My former high school JROTC instructor is in Iraq right now. I emailed him a couple of times and got a couple replies back. He told me that he is a large compound and the enemy rarely attacks them but rarely attacks them. Also, he told me he just does paperwork and supervises 15 people. He's a LTC and his eye is probably to messed up for him to be in combat. I still really worry about him. I wish I could be like him. While he was teaching at my former high school he was always there for all of his students to talk to and made a point to ask them how they are. He's in the army reserves though. He retired from the U.S. Army.

Then of course he mentioned to me that this guy who was in JROTC who I knew but really don't like should be in Iraq by now and he is looking for him. The guy who was in JROTC with me will be in combat though I assume. Although I don't like him I still feel bad for him and appreciate him going to fight for his country.

I appreciate both of them being there and really hope they will come back okay.

[oclover24]

^ Now, I've heard of JROTC, but could you explain more about it?

[ladydeath]

Basically the program does military type activities and in the program I was in we were army JROTC so we did things relating to the army like drill, some camping but it wasn't required, wear the army uniform once a week, learned about battle stratedgies, and played sports and ran and things like that. There are other types of JROTCs as well there are Navy, Air Force and I think even Marines one.

[oclover24]

^ Sounds neat!

[ladydeath]

I forgot to mention the most important part the high school students in JROTC, called cadets, get cadet ranks, which are modeled after the service the JROTC is. Like the army one is modeled after army ranks but officer ranks are completely different than the army ones. The higher rank a cadet is the more of a leadership position they'll have. It's pretty fun, I spent a long time with the JROTC instructor I mentioned that is in Iraq. Definitely spent more time around him than my other high school teachers.

[oclover24]

^ Are you still in JROTC?

[ladydeath]

No I'm not in JROTC any longer b/c I graduated high school. I could be in ROTC but that is for college students that wish to be an officer in the army and I don't wish to join the army and I'm currently going to a jr. college and they don't have one their. JROTC was pretty fun though, but I don't think I would succeed in the army.

[Heather]

Why dont you think you would succeed?

[ladydeath]

I wasn't really good at much of any of the things we did in JROTC and not to mention I'm really out of shape. It's not that I didn't try to get better at stuff, it's just that I'm just an average person who isn't talented and I just felt like there wasn't enough time to get good at things. Then of course if an army officer yelled at me I would probably cry because I'm so sensitive.:embarass: But I'm happy there are people who choose to join the military.:)

[Heather]

So, I got this email today. And Im warning you now...if you are against the war, do not read this post!


You stay up for 16 hours.
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 patrols 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.
__________________________

Your maid makes your bed and washes 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 tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.
____________________________

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

[Heather]

Sorry for the double post...but this was really beautiful...

http://www.pcsuccess.us/yrg/farewellmarine_final.swf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_YEhaw8Op8

[Heather]

So my cousin's wife (they've been married for less than a year) is currently in Iraq. Her name is Cristin.

He hasnt heard from her in weeks. She will be out of contact for over 30 days...and we dont even know where in Iraq she will be serving.

So, if you can...say a little prayer for my cousin Adam.....and his wonderful wife. We all love her dearly, and want her to come home to Adam safe.

[ladydeath]

^ I'm sorry to hear that. I haven't heard from Colonel, who is in Iraq, for weeks now as well. He usually replies to my emails but he did not reply to my last one. It's really hard when someone you know is over there. You can't help but worry. It must be harder when your family is there though. Although I know Colonel is supposed to be stationed at Camp Victory, U.S. headquarters in Iraq.

[ladydeath]

Sorry for the double post but Colonel sent me an email. It was his usual palace update he sends to everyone but anyways in the email he wrote "..the surge of troops coming to the Theater stressed the communications means to include the internet." So I'm guessing that is why might be why Heather's cousin's wife has not been able to write to anyone. I don't really know if that helps or not but I thought you might want to know anyways.

[Heather]

So, who else wants to see Harry Reed fired?

[Heather]

We finally heard from Cristin!!! Yay!

She's good..safe, I dont really know all the details yet, but I will once I talk to Adam (her husband). Im just so relieved that we finally heard from her. It had been a month, and we were all so frantic.

[olivetree]

http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/nm_mary_070528_ssh.jpg

This picture is one of the greatest ever. Here's the caption from ABC NEWS (http://abcnews.go.com/):

Mary McHugh mourns her dead fiancé Sgt. James Regan at Section 60 of the Arlington National Cemetery, May 27, 2007. Regan, an American Special Forces soldier, was killed by an IED in Iraq in February of this year, and this is the first time McHugh has visited the grave since the funeral. Section 60, the newest portion of the vast national cemetery on the outskirts of Washington, is the resting place for hundreds of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Family members of slain American soldiers have flown in from across the country for Memorial Day.

[Heather]

Did you guys hear about the Marine widow who is enlisting in the army?

[nLOVEw/Adam]

Hello, I don't normally post out of the OC threads, but I do have a brother in the military and he is over in Iraq. Please keep him and other fellow soldiers in your daily thoughts and prayers.

Here is a pic of us:

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w60/03_ShawnaLea/IMG_6328.jpg
~His name is Joshua~

And final thing, a dear friend of mine, shared the following youtube vid and I had to share it w/ ya'll:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0

[Heather]

Aww....what a nice picture!

Give him a hug for me, and thank him for all that he does. My brother hates when I call him a hero, but thats really what all of our soldiers are.

[nLOVEw/Adam]

I'll certainly do that when he comes home... it'll be a While b-4 he gets back to the US. Tanks for your support. :)

[Heather]

Its my pleasure. I know what its like to have a loved one in a warzone. :)

[nLOVEw/Adam]

Yeah, there are so many Great men and women out there, protecting our Freedom and all. I continual pray for all their well-being, safety, and for them to return home... Gotta support our Men and Women!! :heart:

[Heather]

Yes, we do. What they do day after day is amazing, and they do it all for us, and this country that they love. There is nothing more admirable than that.

[ShannonQT85]

well hopefully they all know how much we love and appreciate them :) I don't think i could ever say thank you to them enough...

back when my sister was in her senior year of high school i helped her organize what we called a "beanie baby brigade" which was really cool. we wanted to collect something to send to the troops overseas to give to the Iraqi children they met so we went searching through old toys and had tons of beanie babies stored away so we thought those would work pretty well and it turned out to be such a great way to show some support. our entire living room was covered with a HUGE pile of beanie babies in the end lol we ended up collecting over 1500 beanie babies thanks to simply putting flyers up around school with the info...people would just come up all day long and hand me bags of their own beanie babies lol so soon enough our pile had grown to what it did and we arranged to have them sent over. not too long after that one of the soliders sent a letter back talking about how much the kids really loved them that they gave them to which was nice to hear. I'm looking to try to get more involved lately in showing support...lol i have no more beanie babies to give them but i'll think of something else in the next couple months just because i really enjoyed it and its a way to show you care. but hey if anyone else wants to start something like that with beanie babies or whatever else...i highly encourage it! :) its a great way to get a community/school/etc involved in showing support to both our troops and the Iraqi children

[oclover24]

^ That's so awesome!

Do you guys love the new Tim McGraw song about "if you're reading this, i'm already home"? It's so sad, but amazing.

[Heather]

I havent heard it...


*runs to youtube*

OMG...what a beautiful song!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz8PISGCWh8&mode=related&search=

:crying:

[oclover24]

What do you think?

[Heather]

It made me cry, and think of my brother's friend, Cole, who lost his life in Iraq. (Cole's death wasnt terrorist related, but it still effected Stephen and our family so much.)

It really is a beautiful song, and tribute to our fallen soldiers, and the loved ones they left behind.

[oclover24]

^ My feelings exactly on the song. It's so sweet and beautiful. I'm so sorry about your brother's friend. :(

[Heather]

Thank you.

So am I. I never met Cole, but I know that he knew about me. My brother had a memorial to him tattooed on his arm when he got back from Iraq.

[oclover24]

^ Aw, that's awesome!

[Heather]

Yeah...Cole actually saw my picture when Stephen first got to Germany...and he was like, "Your sister is hot!!!"

Stephen didnt like that too much....but I was flattered. :lol:

[Heather]

What do you guys think about the news that Iraqi civilians are now turning in insurgents to our troops? Does it bother you that the mainstream press isnt reporting that?

[Heather]

Sorry, for the double post...

but did it ever occur to anyone, that after 9/11, this man had the weight of the nation on his shoulders.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v28/speckled53/9-11.jpg

He was willing to do whatever it took to keep our nation safe. And if that meant removing someone like Saddham from power, so be it. The lives of his citizens is what was in the forefront of his mind. And I will always applaud him for that.

He wants his citizens to live safe lives.

[nLOVEw/Adam]

*runs to youtube*

OMG...what a beautiful song!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz8PISGCWh8&mode=related&search=


This Vid brought chills to my spine. :( Tanks for sharing. ;) And Now, I want to share something too. It's a Tribute to the Fallen Soldiers and to the fallen from the Mississippi Bridge accident; please enjoy it:


Bed of Roses (A Tribute to The Fallen):
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w60/03_ShawnaLea/BedofRosesHandcolored-1.jpg

[Taminar]

My dad was career Navy. I'm so grateful that he never had to go to war. My heart goes out to all the families who are separated right now, but I'm thankful so many men and women are prepared to make that sacrifice, to spend months away from home, in the name of freedom.

[Heather]

So am I....

I went to the Cheshire Fair in NH, last weekend, and there was an army tent. So, I went in to get some memoribilia to take home with me for my mom. They tried recruiting me...lol.

I told them, "I dont have what you guys have." And one soldier responded, "Can you breathe?" They really dont see themselves as heroes, or special.

But they really are.

[Heather]

Why no Conservative believes that Liberals support the troops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlr3gG8q0nw

Im sorry? Our troops being successful would be a problem for you???

[Diva_Web]

Do you guys love the new Tim McGraw song about "if you're reading this, i'm already home"? It's so sad, but amazing.


Yep..one of those tear-jerkers.

[Diva_Web]

Heather, How is Stephen doing? I have not seen ya post about him in a while.

My husband was a Marine, and he is a Stephen too ;-)

[Heather]

He's good. He's still in El Paso, but he starts AIT in March. He's changing his MOS to Military Police, which will probably mean he'll be going back to Iraq.

How long was your husband in the Marines?

[Heather]

So...I found out about a month ago, that my brother will be deploying again...Baghdad. He ships out on Oct 6th. Im trying not to think about it too much, but its really hard.

I know what its like to live at home, while some one you love is in danger everyday. And I am really not looking forward to living through that again. Especially since this time, his MOS is combat.

I just lost my dad. I cant lose my brother, too.

Here are the lyrics of another song that my brother insist that I listen to...written by a former soldier, now a country singer:

American...by God's Amazing Grace
Bottom of my boots sure are gettin' worn
There's a lot of holes in this faded uniform
My hands are black with dirt and so is my face
I ain't never been to hell
But it couldn't be any worse than this place.

Tell my wife don't worry 'cuz I know what to do
It makes you feel better sometimes, but don't know if it's true.
I know if I die it's just my time to go
But I pray to God every day that I may get back home.

Well when you've seen what I've seen
Things don't seem so bad
Quit worrying about what you ain't got, thank God for what you have
'Cuz I could be raising my family in this place
But I was born an American
By Gods Amazing Grace.

For the last twelve months I've had a new address
The neighborhood smells like seweage and the streets are lined with trash.
You never know what's gonna be the next thing to explode
But unlike these people, I have another home.

It breaks my heart to see these kids out on the streets
Walking barefoot through the trash, diggin' for something to eat.
I give them what I got, just to let them know I care
And I thank God it's not my son that's standing there.

Well when you've seen what I've seen
Things don't seem so bad
Quit worrying about what you ain't got, thank God for what you have
'Cuz I could be raising my family in this place
But I was born an American
By Gods Amazing Grace.

You want to talk about it, you better keep it short
Cause I got a lot of lost time I gotta make up for.
Really don't care why Bush went into Iraq
I know what I've done there and I'm damn sure proud of that.
You got something bad to say about the USA
You better save it for different ears unless you want to crawl away.
And I laugh in your face when you say you've got it bad
Until you've spent some time on the streets of Baghdad

Well when you've seen what I've seen
Things don't seem so bad
Quit worrying about what you aint got, thank God for what you have
'Cuz you could be raising your family in this place
But you were born in America, By God's Amazing Grace!

[zealousheart]

Aw, Heather, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your brother. And that song is heartbreaking.

[BellaBlack]

I know some close friends of mine are going into the Army soon, or have left for the Army Reserves.

[*Ashlee*]

Wow best of luck to your brother Heather! May god keep him safe!

[Heather]

Thank you...please keep him in your prayers.

Stephen comes home tomorrow...which is great!

But its the last time I see him before he goes to Iraq next month. Its so bittersweet...I dont want my baby brother to leave...

[bragger166]

they should not grow old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not worrie, them nor the years comdem
in the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them.

[bragger166]

I was in the british army and was over in the gulf for 8 months when the war in IRAQ started, so i know where you are coming from how ever that dose nt mean you can start saying any thing about the britsh!.

[Heather]

WHo said anything about the British?

[nicnac]

im guessing, regarding the last part of your post here, you are referring to something said in another thread, the western economic downfall thread?

[bragger166]

just a heads up before any do !!

[nicnac]

i know and i do appreciate what our lads and lasses are doing in iraq and afganistan but do you agree whole heartedly in regards to this ongoing conflict or do you think it is time to pull out?

[Heather]

To quote a sargeant finishing his 3rd tour of duty:

"Dont let all our work, everything we've accomplished be for nothing. Do not pull us out until the job is complete."

[nicnac]

i cant see the good in staying in iraq now, i think its time for them to take command of their own land and forces. with regard to afganistan, i still think theres work to be done

[Heather]

Yes..there is.

And as much as I hate the thought of my brother going over there...as much as it terrifies me, I see what is in the common good. And I will never be against this war.

Becuase I recognize what Stephen and those like him are fighting for...its this little thing called hope...for a better tomorrow.

So, when complete strangers walk up to my brother, to shake his hand and say thank you, I feel nothing but pride. Even though I will spend the next year being terrified.

[nicnac]

i know of the path he is walking, im sure he will be fine :)

[bragger166]

one mans path to do violance for his country is so that 10 men can stay in the comfort of his home, they both have family but only one has a family full of worry, and pride in what he dose for queen and country.
Remember to remeber for his social sacrefice is the reason we live in a free westren world. god bless ever service man and woman