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Hey Sarge,
I can only relate this once. After reading the many outstanding
letters from the families of Marines.....I come away with a lump
in my throat or else a tremendous feeling of pride regarding my
Marine family. The Marines have always been the tip of the
lance and, the Brotherhood will always remain within
me.....Thank you, Semper Fidelis, John Velar, Old Corps
Warhorse.....1st and 2nd MARDIV.....WWII
0
"We are face to face with our destiny and we must meet it with a
high and resolute courage."
Theodore Roosevelt
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory
however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there
is not survival."
Winston Churchill
I would like to address the letter from Beth who had a dad with
her father for the movie "We Were Soldiers". I totally agree
with what she said. I feel that all of our military our heroes.
My son is a Marine and returned back from his deployment from
Iraq the April. He is my hero. All gave some and some gave all
but all are Heroes. I thought the stress, tension, worry and
crying would leave me once my son was home. It doesn't. I
still cry at the sight of an American Flag, the Marine song,
seeing a military personnel in uniform etc. It might be a
different reason for my emotions. I have always been proud of
my son but knowing what he did while deployed and saw at his age
(21) is what makes my emotions run. He did what he had to do,
as all do. I just want to say THANK YOU to all military. The
4th of July is for you and are fore fathers. Again thanks. You
have given me the FREEDOM to be able to send this.
Marine Mom
I'm a Viet Nam Vet who was touched by the letters from the
mothers and daughters of Marines young and old who know that
their men have seen a lot but are holding it in. I can only say
that the more they talk about what they experience the faster
they can lead a healthy life and start feeling again without
fear of breaking down. It took me 39 years before I even knew
that I had demons inside that would eat me alive as I grew
older.
I had no one to talk to back then and isolated, so if your son
or dad seems distant, engage him with love and understanding
hoping he will open up, otherwise they will live a life of
guilt, and grief until they can unload. They need to start
enjoying the good life they have deserve and earned. Semper Fi
Noe B 1/1 69
"The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of
public men."
Samuel Adams
First, this is not the first time you have heard from me. I'm an
unapologetic promoter and admirer of Marines.
For 30 and a half years, I was a Calif Highway Patrol Officer.
For 27+ years, I worked in San Diego County, which means Camp
Pendleton, MCRD, and from 1993 on, Miramar MCAS.
And, yes, just like Insurance Actuarial Tables, most Marines are
between 18 and 26, and is usually reflected in their driving.
Most Marines that I stopped for run-of-the-mill traffic
violations drove away after simply being told why they were
stopped. Why?
By the time I was at their window they had in hand: Driver's
License, Registration for the vehicle, Insurance card, and
Military ID.
Upon being told why they were stopped, a prompt "Sir, Yes Sir"
was heard, instead of the standard retort of a sailor: "What the
H&ll did you stop ME for?!" (Don't worry sailor, it will be on a
piece of paper that you will carry away with you, necessitating
arranging your schedule to make way for a morning or afternoon
in court)
If I had said, "You are going 200 miles an hour" to a Marine,
the response would have been "Sir, Yes Sir".
What I did not tolerate:
Lying and/or Drugs. one case.. Stop a Marine.. billows of
marijuana smoke come out.
"Been smoking in here?" "Oh, No sir". (Called the Sgt Major
later. Sgt. Major, "Thank you officer, we'll take it from
here".)
DUI
Any idiot knows that you do not drink--then drive. If you think
it's cool, you thinking is outdated by about thirty years.
100 MPH
Anyone over a hundred got a ticket--and I mean anyone.
One of the points that generates my admiration of the Corps is
that line from the Marine Corps Hymn
First to fight for right and freedom, And to keep our honor
clean,
It may be hard to teach younger guys this fact: If you are a
member of the military or a Law enforcement agency, and you are
arrested for ______(Fill in violation, from misdemeanor to
felony), the general population doesn't look at you as John
Smith. No, you are "another criminal Marine" or "Another Dirty
Cop".
You reflect on your organization.
And the Corps does not need that kind of publicity.
Dave Hollenbeck
Hi Sgt Grit,
I have a stepson who served 5 years in the Marine Corps and who
did a tour of duty in Iraq. Last year he returned home from his
5 year enlistment. I am very proud of him and as such, I have
bumper stickers from Sgt. Grit on both of my trucks. I was on my
way to the local home improvement warehouse last weekend in my
truck that has the sticker:'My kid fought in Iraq so yours could
party in College'. As I pulled into the parking lot, a vehicle
followed me and parked right next to me. The man got out and
walked over to me to tell me how much he liked my sticker! I
then noticed his sticker across the entire back window of his
vehicle: 'Retired US Marine'. I then proceeded to thank him for
his service to our country and we had a nice visit. As I was
walking towards the store, he got back in his vehicle and left.
He made the effort to stop and talk to me because of the sticker
I bought from Sgt. Grit. I was amazed!
Thanks for a great newsletter and a great catalog!
Larry Lemieux
"It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be
more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a
misfortune. This necessity however exists; and the problem to be
solved is, not what form of Government is perfect, but which of
the forms is least imperfect."
James Madison
My brother-in-law recently joined the Marines at age 27. He has
his bachelors degree, but couldn't figure out exactly what he
wanted to do with his life. He fell into a rut since nothing
out in the working community appealed to him and that he was
didn't feel like a real man since he never really achieved
anything worthy of being called a man. He decided that the USMC
had what he was looking for in achieving his place in this
world. He knew he'd get a far greater education that any
university would give him and that he would be a part of the
greatest brotherhood in existence. He asked me what I thought
about him becoming a Marine, and honestly I couldn't of been
more proud. I know his parents didn't quite understand his
decision since they aren't a "military" family. I was raised as
an Army brat, and after high school I enlisted in the Navy. The
time I spent in the Navy I can honestly say was enjoyable
because of the friends that I called brothers who were Marines.
The professionalism that they had on and off the job was second-
to-none. I tell you it sure made the Navy look second-rate. I
knew my brother in law made the best decision he could of
possibly made due to everyone wanting to feel part of something,
and he decided to become part of the most elite, most
professional, and most respected team in the world. My prayers
are with him while he starts his training into becoming a
Marine, and my prayers and thanks go out to each and everyone
current and past who have served with the Marines. You men and
women are the best of the best, and I thank you from the bottom
of my heart for everything you have done for this country.
Respectfully,
Chris Drake
Airman/ABH USN
"Some day, in years to come, you will be wrestling with the
great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your
life. But the real struggle is here, now, in these quiet weeks.
Now it is being decided whether, in the day of your supreme
sorrow or temptation, you shall miserably fail or gloriously
conquer. Character cannot be made except by a steady, long
continued process."
Phillips Brooks
This goes out to Cpl Ryan Walden. First "SEMPER FI!" My family
and I just came back from a week in North Carolina, Got an
awesome tour of Cherry Point (where I was stationed) Anyway on
the flight down I was speaking to an elderly gentleman, He asked
if I was headed for Cherry Point. I said yes but have been out
of Marines for 20 years. (I have a Marine Corps tattoo) He said
"doesn't matter I always feel safer with a Marine onboard! You
could have knocked me over with a feather. As you said we always
represent whether we know it or not...God bless all our brothers
and sisters in harms way. And a special thanks to LCpl Poole who
gave a the tour of Cherry Point, She was very professional and
knowledgeable. Her Sgt husband is in Iraq watchin our backs. Say
a prayer to bring him home safe! Anyway take care all ! Happy
4th!
Cpl James d Hatheway 1983-1987
"If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun."
Ben Franklin
As you know Marines take care of their own and have since the
Marine Corps was founded in 1775. Today, June 28,2007, I
witnessed some thing outstanding, when the City of Hickory,
North Carolina through many of its citizen's paid their final
respects to a fallen Hero, a Marine who transferred to the Army,
who was killed in Iraq Tuesday, June 19, 2007 and was laid to
rest today with a moving service conducted by two of his former
Pastors. Their must have been 50 motorcycles or more, with the
flags flying leading the hearse and Family with a line of cars
that might have reached 1 1/2 to 2 miles long and respect was
shown all along the way, but the thing that impressed me the
most was the turn out of the Army, led by a One star General, a
Command Sgt/Maj with an additional 15 or more Soldier's, and
they did an excellent job in the folding of the Flag, the
presenting of the Flag, the Firing detail and the Taps. Army
Spec. Darryl Wardlaw (Ward) Linder, who served four years as a
Marine then transferred to the Army, and as he was a Brother,
our Catawba Valley Detachment 1163, Marine Corps League,
attended the vitiation on Wednesday Evening and presented his
Father, Darryl Linder with a Certificate of Appreciation for his
Son's service to his country and Corps. We also attended the
services on Thursday June 28, 007. paying our final respect with
a hand salute over the casket. His Father, said, that he died
in an Army uniform, but he died a Marine.
John w. Grindel Sr.
District Vice Commandant
Northwest District
Department of North Carolina
"But to manipulate men, to propel them toward goals which you—
the social reformers—see, but they may not, is to deny their
human essence, to treat them as objects without wills of their
own, and therefore to degrade them."
Isaiah Berlin
Sgt Grit,
I am a proud Marine mom that is dealing with my son being
deployed to Iraq back in April on his first tour. I can't thank
you enough on sending me these newsletters. It really helps me
to cope as I read the many letters and comments of the other
parents and former Marines that have gone through this same
thing. I am extremely proud of my son and all other service men
and women that have served for our country. I can't understand
how so many Americans choose not to support what our fellow
service people have provided for us as they defend our country.
Even though my son will not be able to attend his sister's
wedding, he reminds us that he is doing what he does to give her
the right and freedom to get married as she chooses. I would
like to thank any serviceman that reads this that I am deeply
grateful for your service and I hope you will pray for my son
and his platoon for a safe return in December.
A proud mom in Michigan,
Sally Lonk
I would like to thank all Marines serving our nation at this
time. I served from 81-85 and everyone I come in contact with
knows that I served. While I was not in combat we did lose
friends during this time period in Beirut. A few I knew were
lost. I have since become a High School football coach and have
had the pleasure of seeing some of my players follow in my
footsteps. There are now three former Ledyard HS football
players in Iraq doing there duty. I continue to stay in touch
and meet and greet every time they come back. Semper Fi to all
serving at this time. Cpl O'Donnell 81-85
"Men don't follow titles, they follow courage."
Mel Gibson in the Movie Braveheart
When I read the letter from PFC Sanchez (Young Marines) about
his not telling his father that he cried while visiting the Iwo
Jima memorial and the Viet Nam Wall I could understand how he
felt. I just hope that he doesn't lose his feelings because that
is what every Marine must have. Without feelings we would be
nothing but walking machines.
A lot of people feel that when a man cries that he is showing
weakness. This is a falsehood! When a man cries it shows that he
is deeply effected by the situation and when that situation is
about our beloved country, or our Marine Corps, then it is a
manly thing to do.
I will be the first to tell the world that whenever I see the
Viet Nam Wall, or almost any other historical memorial, it
brings tears to my eyes. When the USMC flag passes by during a
parade, and the Marines Corps Hymn is played, I stand-up with
tears in my eyes.
Semper Fi
Gilbert Snodgrass
Sgt. Of Marines
1962 - 1966
Viet Nam Vet
Love this site & have passed it on to many.....
My cousin was a Recon in the 1960's - Viet Nam & he's made sure
I have plenty of t-shirts (and other things from this site)
When I go to the local super Wal-Mart, in a dicey neighborhood,
I generally have one of your shirts on - and my dad's dog tags
(I put them on the day he died & have worn them ever since -
WWII, Medical Corps) I get a lot of looks, but NO ONE messes
with me. Sometimes I get a nod from some people...mainly they
just move out of my way. It's the t-shirt because I am not
intimidating - so the Marines are protecting me even when I'm
alone.
As a make-up artist, I travel a lot. I did have a 3 week
assignment at a local mall that I seldom visit. One week day
while sitting in the food court reading Smithsonian, I had one
of those "oh my gosh! So that's what that means!" moments. As
I looked up with eyes popping & mouth dropping, I didn't realize
a Gunny was walking towards me. Bless his heart, he thought I
was pop-eyed over him - when in reality I was in shock over what
I'd just read. When I refocused and realized he was there, all
I could do was let him think he'd bowled me over. If it made
his day, good for it. The Marines - and all our people in
uniform - deserve it.
"The most terrifying words in the English language are:
I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Ronald Reagan
Before I snag my nap, quick update. I couldn't get to sleep
before 3 AM worrying about this.
Talked to Ed Shaffer (Army, D-Day) last night and told him I had
a wounded eagle and his mom incoming. He brought over one of
his original D-Day invasion maps. There is no way I could have
scripted this. Ed was loquacious and magnificent. Thank God
Bill Ruth wasn't here or we'd still be on the deck. As it was
it was 2.5 hours with Sgt. Horn and his mother Jeni.
Kid got some serious injuries and we'll see how that plays
through the Marine bureaucracy. He is supposed to be out in
September, and I gave his mom the two page resource list that
Michele sent me and contact info.
How do you deal with PTSD? Drink beer and eat fruit and
munchies and talk about other stuff. I think we did that quite
well and focused on a different perspective. Captain Shaffer
was just great and I think for no less than 90 minutes Sergeant
of Marines Horn forgot he'd been shot up and his body hurt like
H&ll. Bring a D-Day vet together with an Iraqi vet and add beer
-- geez I hope my tape recorder worked. It was a great
afternoon. I think I need a nap.
s/f Dennis
Hi
My son is in the Marines, 1st Lt...now serving in Afghanistan,
with 82nd Airborne Division, Army in COM, only Marine on
staff.....
Semper Fi....He has now decided to go career, I am so very proud
of him.
Tattoo was done by Roz
Janet
"If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than
intellect."
Ben Franklin
The last time I saw this was close to a year ago at a luncheon.
Invited to join my friend Karin, we listen to the guest speaker
General Williams who began with this video; we were all invited
to join a campaign against the drugs in our schools today.
Yesterday celebrating the Fourth of July truly brings on a
deeper meaning to my heart and as I pass candy out during the
parade to young children I know later in life they will remember
getting dressed in their red, white and blue and seeing by the
representation of each float what a great country we have.
As soon as my first son joined the Marines I was scared; a line
from the movie A Few Good Men "You can't handle the truth" kept
running through my head when he left for boot camp. As soon as
I was able to hug him and speak to him face to face on the
Parade deck I asked him, "Do you have any regrets?"
My community involvement grew the moment I got home from MCRD
Graduation. I was patriotic before, growing up on Air Force
bases all my life, but there was a new intensity after seeing so
many of our boys turn into men in front of our eyes.
I joined everything I could, attended city council meetings and
read not only the major newspaper in our area but the local
community paper as well. Getting involved as a volunteer is
worth so much more than a 40 hour work week with a paycheck;
sometimes it can be overwhelming with so much to do. I was
supposed to attend my first State Ladies Auxiliary conference
this past weekend. David had taken off work for a road trip,
just the two of us, down to Corpus Christie for this event. One
of our sons Michael friend was home on leave. I say Marine
Michael's friend but truly he is like an adopted son to us.
E.J. is what he goes by after being ribbed so many times growing
up given the name "Elvis" by his parents. I will not go into
detail, but his family life was hard. He was top of his class
in middle and high school; he could retain everything without
studying. Just before graduation, he had enough and dropped out
of school. We worried about him, wondering where he will end
up. Making $7.50 an hour seemed like a lot, without insurance
or a car payment and living in an apartment with a room mate;
"Is this where you want to be two years from now?" I would ask.
The calls stopped coming after this question each time and our
son Michael was in the delayed-entry program with the Marines.
During that year before going into the Marines, E.J. saw a
difference in Michael, they grew somewhat apart. But Michael
never stopped caring for his friend E.J. and would ask him the
same question I use to ask him on the phone. E.J. showed up one
day unannounced at the door; he had some news to tell. "I want
you to know I have joined the Army!" he told us. "I want to do
something more with my life." I knew he was too embarrassed
before but now had something to brag about. He wrote us from
basic training and when he called he told us he loved us. Last
Christmas was wonderful walking in the door and seeing Marine
Michael with his friends Navy Rob, Army E.J. and Chris all
playing video games in the house just like before. "Hi Mom"
they would yell out, "What's for lunch?" E.J. has now
completed his job training, something to do with bomb detonation
and will be stationed in Germany for the next three years.
While home on leave, we spent some time together. Without his
"Military" friends here, civilian life was hard to get use to
and he decided to head on back early. Upon arrival at the
airport, being young as they most all are, his ticket was not
purchased but on reserve and cost way more than he thought.
David being the person he is, whips out his credit card and
informs him "Just come home with a patch for me." He will leave
Germany to Iraq for his tour of duty. With the "merchant hold"
on the credit card for being swiped twice, the Ladies Auxiliary
convention will have to wait another year.
Yesterday on July 4th Marine Matthew called from Iraq to tell us
"Happy Fourth of July" and asking how the parade went. Again we
tell him how proud we are of him and thank him for serving our
country. Quietly he replies as they all do, "It's my job, it's
what I do."
At the end of the video you see families standing behind the
barricades waiting for their love one to get off the plane; it's
what we call "Homecoming" and we will be there sometime in
November!
Proud Mom Karen Marks
"By liberty I mean the assurance that every man shall be
protected in doing what he believes is his duty against the
influence of authority and majorities, custom and opinion."
Lord Acton
I read the newsletter faithfully and I thought I would write
about brotherhood and "paying it forward". I was in LAX in 1980,
fresh from WestPac. My orders were to El Toro but my home was
Florida. The squadron unceremoniously dumped me at LAX. I was 20
bucks short of the cost of the flight and was visibly bummed.
All this 20 year old wanted to do was get home and see his
family. A Staff Sergeant, a total stranger, saw me looking
despondent and struck up a conversation. To make a long story
short, he gave me the 20 bucks, telling me "To pay it forward"
to another young Marine in the future. Well, I have lived by
those words, and whenever I see a young Marine family at dinner,
I will pay their bill, or stop to help with a broken car when I
see that EGA on the vehicle. To all who have or are serving
Semper Fi. To all my brethren serving in harm's way. Take care
of each other and leave no one behind.
Tony Folds
Brandon, Fla.
Sergeant, USMC 76-81
You never win when you play NOT to lose.
Dear Sgt. Grit,
Please allow a wife, mom, and grammy some time on her soap box!
I am so sick of what I was fed while I was in "a politically
correct" master's program at my university... it goes along with
the media, unthinking people, and people who will swallow
anything that the media sells! The "we should all hold hands
and sing Kum-ba-yah", everyone is nice... What really gets me
even more are the so-called vets against the war in Iraq; etc.
right up there with Cindy Sheean!
As a volunteer Chaplain for our local Military Family Support
Group, what do I say to the parents of children whose sons and
daughters are there in the Sandbox now, or who are preparing to
go?? What about this, "I don't support the war, but I support
our military?" That's an oxymoron if ever I heard one! Sorry
folks, you can't have it both ways! Either you support our men
and women in uniform AND their mission, who are protecting you
while putting their lives on the line to liberate others and
keep us liberated, or you don't!
I don't know of anyone who truly wants war. However, we don't
live in a perfect world! Not everyone wants to play fair and
get along! Picture our beloved USA as your personal home. Why
do you lock your doors at night or when you leave your house?
Why do you pay companies to "watch" your home when you are
gone on vacation? Why do you call the police when your home has
been robbed? What would you do if you came back from work to
find someone had moved in to your house, expected to be paid for
living there, fed, clothed, and catered to? How long would you
put up with it? Worse yet, what if they met you with guns and
took over your home?
Yes, we are citizens of a country who come from various
backgrounds and nations. However, just as in our families, we do
not reward our young for violence and willful disobedience,
destroying our way of life, and allow them to take over running
the household, neither should we as a nation allow anyone else
to do the same! Thank God that there are still those who
VOLUNTEER to serve God and country... our beloved men and women
in uniform! Where would we be without them???
It is high time that we as a nation show our gratitude and
support to our military personnel and their families! God
forbid that it would take another "9/11" to rekindle our
patriotism!
Mother of a US Marine, wife of an Army Vet, and daughter-in-law
of a WWII Army Purple Heart Recipient (earned, not purchased!)
and proud of it!
Thanks for letting me vent, Bro!
Sincerely,
"Chapy"
Dear Sgt Grit,
The 4th of July has always been special to me. I get to
celebrate my birthday (a day late) and our country's. This year
was the best. I was in the Corps for 15.5 years and married a
Marine as well. Raised two great Marine kids. We divorced in
1992 and each got a child. I lost track of my son for 15 years.
three weeks ago he was able to track me down and made the trip
to see me on my birthday.
I found out that my son had tried to enlist in the Marines, but
was unable to get in, so he went to the Navy. There he went to
Hospitalman's school and was assigned to FMF duty. He was on the
front lines when we went into Iraq with Romeo Co. 5/11. He
served two tours there and a total of 8 years in service. His
unit received the PUC and he left as HM2.
I didn't know anything until he found me. No Mother ever got a
better birthday present than her son, a "Doc", who served and
cared for my beloved Corps.
My pride in him can and will never die.
Marine and Navy Mom
Johnnica Ingle
SSgt 1975-1991
"Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the
U.S. was too strong."
Ronald Reagan
Please Tie Your Shoes.
I have always told my son to tie his shoes or he might fall and
break his neck or don't run with that stick or you will poke out
an eye. It's almost our family joke, "I know mom, tie my shoes
or I will fall and poke out an eye." He kids with me, but my
fear has always been genuine.
In September of 2006 my fear increased about 500 percent, my
world turned upside down and I thought my life was coming to an
end. I was not afraid of my dying; in my mind it was my only
choice if, God forbid, anything were to happen to my son and he
died before me. I figured I would be five minutes behind him;
that my heart would just stop.
I could never explain how this felt to someone who had not been
there except to say imagine someone had just blindfolded your
baby and set him on U.S. Interstate 80, or 95 or any freeway and
left him there in the dark. Now imagine someone shooting at him
too.
In reality, my baby had been sent to Iraq in his third year of
his four-year active duty commitment to the United States Marine
Corps. My son, the rifleman, was deployed to Iraq for seven
months.
The weeks leading up to that day were the worst. Every fear
magnified a million times by what I didn't know and more
importantly what I did know. Having been a peripheral part of
the Marine Corps community for nearly three years, I knew one
thing. Any mother's son can die. I think most of us military
parents go through the numbers game and the endless questions in
our heads. When was the last time someone in my family died? Are
we due? When was the last time I prayed? Is it too late? What
if something happens to him? Will I feel it or will I have to
wait for the knock at my door? And I thought; will my daughter
in law be able to call me or will she be so devastated that she
curls up in a ball and I won't know for hours?
My thoughts were always wandering to the dark places. I felt
melodramatic at times and other times simply practical. Rarely
was there a moment of time when my son was not on my mind. He
was my first and last thought everyday. I struggled through
conversations with God not wanting to appear that I was asking
anything for myself, even though I was. I also didn't want God
to think that I was a hypocrite and that I would start to go to
church all of a sudden if he let my son live. And sometimes I
would think, maybe God plays no part in this at all. Maybe this
is not his job, this whole war and warrior thing.
Night after night I didn't sleep. Even before he left the United
States I would watch the news all night, knowing full well the
news we got at home was seldom accurate and almost always
incomplete, and my mind would wander to all the places it
shouldn't.
I foolishly signed up for the online news alerts, including the
Department of Defense causality releases. One after another
would pop into my email. "The Department of Defense announced
today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom"...Day after day until I could no longer read the names
of someone's son or husband or father and my head hurt just
looking at the first few words.
My son was able to call me from Iraq on a few occasions. He
always assured me he would be fine and I wanted to believe him.
I wanted to tell him he better be... but I carefully chose my
words every time we spoke just incase it was the last.
I asked him once about a unit that had suffered many losses and
if he thought it was a leadership problem. "No" he said.
"Sometimes mom, it's just sh!t luck."
That wasn't what I wanted to hear. I wanted to believe that he
had some control over things. I hoped his intelligence alone
would bring him back home to his family in one piece. But I knew
he was right.
I kept thinking back to the fear I felt when he first told me he
was joining the Marine Corps. Pride never did out-weigh the
fear. When he went to boot camp I was grief-stricken the whole
thirteen weeks and when my friends compared his time at boot
camp to their kids going away to college I truly wanted to rip
their heads off their shoulders. I kept thinking that perhaps
the grief I felt was a premonition.
Halfway through his deployment when we were just starting to see
light at the end of the tunnel, we received word that the unit
would be extended. The seven month deployment would be extended
anywhere from 60-120 days. The odds of him not being injured or
worse increased in my mind if not in reality. The sleepless
nights grew longer and the one-ton elephant on my chest became a
two-ton humvee. I became even more obsessive about care
packages, baking cookies and finding ways to get him all the
foods he loved. The sense of powerlessness was overwhelming.
My daughter-in-law and I talked on the phone two, three,
sometimes four times a day. Our mutual love for him was the
common denominator that allowed us to support one another so
completely. We held each other up on days I know neither one of
us could lift a feather we were so weak with fear. She became
my best friend. My confidant.
During the deployment my son periodically had access to the
Internet. His communications with me during those times were
what sustained me the rest of the time. He was always his witty
self and we rarely talked about anything related to his job but
instead about the house, cooking, crazy animal antics or
furniture moving mishaps. I would go back to those instant
messages that I learned to save and read them days later looking
for hints of despair or signs of stress. I saw only my own.
Thankfully, time did not stand still. On May 5th, 2007 my son
and a couple hundred of his friends stepped off the bus in
California. His beautiful bride found him in that crowd of
hundreds and ran into his arms. My anticipation of seeing him
was not unlike the day he was born. I hugged him as hard as I
could as long as I could without looking like a mom over the
edge. I did a quick check for any new scars on his face or hands
and was relieved to see none. My eyes watered, but I did not sob
or pass out or wail like I thought I might. And now I am
relieved to say; I don't have to die. No more melodrama for me
please.
The interesting thing is that the fear has not passed. It's like
a bad cold that will not go away. I told my son to expect me to
keep worrying for a while. I will tell him to be careful
driving, skateboarding, swimming, walking, and breathing. He
understands I think when I just have to say to him; tie your
shoes son, so you don't trip and break your neck. Okay?
Katie Wigington
Dear Sgt Grit,
Another Marine Mom said that "When our sons volunteer, we as
moms are drafted". Maybe that's true, but I wouldn't trade being
a Marine mom for anything. I've never met a finer bunch of
people. I hope that this family will be as much of a blessing to
you, Mark, as it has been to me.
God bless you and good luck.
-Karey
Mom to the Corps
Sgt Grit
I thank you for your newsletters and write to you so u can post
this message on your newsletter.
I was born in Bogotá, Colombia but I came legally to the U.S.
at the age of 11 I'm now 15 and a legal resident awaiting to
become a citizen.
Right now I can't wait to finish High School so I can join and
become a Marine.
I get very mad when ignorant people from my school tell me
stuff like "why u wanna fight for Bush" or stuff like "ha ha u
gonna go and get killed by those Arabs" ; I really think that
commentaries like these are so disrespectful to veterans and
servicemen who fight for our beloved America; I guess people who
make those kind of comments don't understand the sacrifice man
and woman make to fight and defend this country and that the
freedom most of they give for granted isn't free at all but that
it comes at the cost blood from those who serve our country in
the military.
My condolences to all parents of wounded or killed
sons/daughters in this war against terrorism.
God bless America and God bless the United States Marines.
PS: Ohh Rahh to the Marines and thank you to all in the military
for serving my country.
and last but not least thank you AMERICA
SEMPER FIDELIS
Hebert Pelaez
Deerfield Beach, Florida
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the
rest."
Mark Twain
Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done!
God Bless America
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
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