My son, 20 year old LCPL Branden R. Bell, Arriving home to base
in Twenty Nine Palms, California, from deployment in Iraq.
March 18, 2008 YEAH!
Kimberley Campbell
Sgt. Grit;
I grew up in a household that though it was not anti-military it
sure was not pro-military. As many others in our country I
simply took my freedom for granted; after all we are the
greatest nation in the world. As I grew up I began to understand
that the only reason we are the greatest nation in the world is
because we have young men who are willing to put themselves in
harm's way. Young men whom I have never met made the decision to
protect me. In spite of my upbringing I thought I understood it,
"We owe many thanks to our military...and so on, and so on."
Last year my oldest son enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program
then early this summer my younger son likewise enlisted. The
older son shipped to MCRD at the end of August and will be a
Marine by the end of October. As a result I have been
researching and reading as much 'stuff' as I could find about
recruit training and about the Corps. I ran across an excerpt
from the journal of a young man who was in the middle of the
crucible. At the end of the excerpt he said that, as he was
receiving his EGA, he questioned whether or not he was worthy of
wearing the uniform. One of the mostly highly trained recruits
in the world was questioning his worthiness to defend his
country.
It suddenly dawned on me. All this time that I thought of the
military as a job that someone just volunteered for I was
deluding myself. I finally got it. I came to the realization
that because I have never put on a uniform and picked up a
weapon to defend my country I will never get it. I finally got
it; I will never understand what it means to those boys who have
put themselves in harm's way to protect me. The only reason I
will ever come close to understanding is because I will have two
sons serving as members of the greatest fighting force on earth.
As never before my hat goes off to all those who have served
this country. We who have never worn a uniform owe a debt that
can never be paid. The only humble words I can come up with is,
"Thank you."
Extremely proud father of Recruit Mike and Poolee Pat.
Mark
"I heard the bullets whistle, and believe me, there is something
charming in the sound."
George Washington
Alexa, I know how you feel about getting surprised by an early
return! This was our son's second deployment to Iraq and being
through one already, we figured that the time posted on our
1-800 number would be different than the actual return time.
And boy, was it! We had gone to the mall to "kill time", and
had just pulled up in to a parking space and let my daughter out
to purchase a book when the phone rang and it was our Kyle,
letting us know that they were at Cherry Point, getting ready to
pull out and head over to Camp LeJeune! I ran in to the book
store, where, thankfully my daughter was just making her
purchase, and we rushed over to our hotel, grabbed our banner
and headed over to the grassy knoll to wait their arrival. God
Bless the Marines for getting our son and the other men back
safely, AND early! Semper Gumby, right?
Sharon McClendon
VPMM of LCpl Kyle
"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the
United States was too strong."
Ronald Reagan
First I want to thank Sgt Grit for the fantastic news letter.
Reading the story's each week brings back many memory's of a
time that seems like a hundred years ago but only 27. Like
running PT through the hills of Edson Range where the wild anis
plants filled the crisp morning air with the smell of black
licorice. Or the complete thrashing we received when one recruit
made some small mistake. We learned as a group as each of us put
our individuality in the same box that our personal effects went
into when we got off the bus at MCRD. The ( What did I get
myself into thought) that runs through every recruits head when
you meet your drill instructors for the first time. I am envious
of our active duty Marines and both of my sons as they are both
active duty Marines as well. I would trade places in a hart beat
and draw my 782 gears and weapon if they would let me.
But that is in the past now and my time spent in the Corps will
always be in my hart. To be part of such a distinguished
fraternity steeped in history and traditions has truly been a
honor for me. And when I look at the young men and women serving
now I see the same hard chargers that demonstrate the same esprit
De Corps and Gung Ho spirit that has been one of the cornerstones
of our Beloved Marine Corps. To see a tear run down the face of a
recruit as he or she try's to maintain there military bearing
while he or she is handed the eagle globe and anchor for the first
time is proof that the Change is complete, The transformation was
a success and there name will be added to the duty roster located
in the guard shack at the main gate in heaven. If I were to give
any advice to young Marines it would be this. Take advantage of
every minute you spend in our Corps, Soak up every bit of history
and lore you can. And when the time comes to talk to your career
planner give him or her the time of day, Thank long and hard about
your decision. The old saying goes couldn't wait to get in, once
in couldn't wait to get out, once out, you want back in.
Stand tall Brothers and Sisters
Semper Fi
Fortun Fortuna Juvat
JMA once a Corporal Forever a Marine
"A bureaucrat is the most despicable of men, though he is needed
as vultures are needed, but one hardly admires vultures whom
bureaucrats so strangely resemble. I have yet to meet a
bureaucrat who was not petty, dull, almost witless, crafty or
stupid, an oppressor or a thief, a holder of little authority in
which he delights, as a boy delights in possessing a vicious
dog. Who can trust such creatures?"
Marcus Tullius Cicero
On Friday Sept 26 My wife, son and his family, made the trip to
Twenty-Nine Palms in hopes of getting to see my grandson newly
promoted LCpl. Jeremy Thomas, of the 3 Bn. 8th 1 Marine
Division. He had just finished his five week pre-deployment
desert training. To our delight he finally texed us we could
see him, securing our passes we headed about five miles inland
to his temporary houches. Gosh we were greeted by a much more
mature young man. We discovered they let us on base to see him
as he was the only west-coast Marine in the battalion, all the
rest were east coast men. We got to spend about Three hours with
him in the sand box. the reason behind it being the thought the
other guys would have a chance to see their people when the
returned to Camp Lejeune in three days time. We met his Lt. and
the Sgt in charge of his section who both spoke with us and
eased some of our fears we also met a few of his buddies. While
these guys look like little kids they talk like mature Marines
confident in their knowledge and training. We spent most of the
time around the PX and felt like we were in a war zone every
young man had his weapon on him at all times in the PX, going to
the head, it was on their chest or back. Of great interest to me
was the rolling equipment I saw mostly from a distance. the new
explosive resistant personal carrier, and the newer armored
humvees. But most impressive to me was the huge 7 ton trucks
gees they dwarf the old 4 duce of my day. These boys are
deploying Nov.1. God Bless all our Troops and bring them home
safe. and Thanks to the leaders of 3-8-1 for letting us see
our boy.
Pfc. Robert Young 56-58, 1st Ser. Bn. 1st MarDiv
Smilin_Bob Young
"Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an
anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and
no man's life or property or reputation or liberty will be
secure, and every one of these will soon mould itself into a
system of subordination of all the moral virtues and
intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit
and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and
the execrable cruelty of one or a very few."
John Adams
I can admit- in the beginning, I did not support any kind of
war, defense system, etc.. I chose to be naive, & ignorant to
the world around me.
Three years ago, my Fiancé & I walked into a USMC Recruit office
due to his interest in doing the right thing & supporting his
country. I learned so much, & am extremely proud to say that my
Fiancé is now thru his 2nd week in training at MCRD San Diego.
His Recruiter, & now a true friend, SSgt. Henry Echeverria
helped me to see & understand that I can, & should stand for
something. It took a while to get there...but I am so proud!
I wear a United States Marine Corps shirt everywhere I go,
almost everyday. On the days I don't, I carry my keys around on
a USMC lanyard.
My Fiancé & I have a Daughter 9 days away from turning 2, & she
will grow up appreciating the world around her. Her Father & I
will teach her that there are true heroes in this world. They
belong to the United States Marine Corps!
Jayme
"Only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain
that they will never be employed."
John F. Kennedy
To the Grandmother of Cpl. Matthew Wyatt.
What ever the outcome in Iraq, your grandson did not die in
vein. He gave his life not for just what he thought was right,
but also for his fellow Marines and for the entire Corps. He
follows in a long line of Marines who gave their lives' for what
was right in their own mind's and heart's, that could never be
in vein. Those of us who have survived War and "Conflicts"
will remember his sacrifice and his commitment to his Country,
his Corps and his buddies.
May God Bless You,
Bob Treitler
Vietnam Vet
"A wise and frugal government... shall restrain men from
injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to
regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and
shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.
This is the sum of good government."
Thomas Jefferson
A Sad Note:
The Marine Corps family lost a true example of a superb Marine
SNCO, a husband, father and friend when MSgt Joseph D. Monaco
passed away in Vista, CA at the age of 80. Joe was a
communicator in Korea and the senior recruiter at both the
Kensington & Allegheny and Castor & Cottman sub-stations in
Philadelphia in the mid 1950's. He was my recruiter in 156 and
again in 1958 in a relationship that encompassed mentor,
advisor, role model and life-long friend. He set the example in
all things for many, many Marines, for family and with business
associates after his retirement from the Corps. Joe died on
September 18, 2008 and fittingly his memorial service will take
place on the weekend of the Marine Corps birthday. I can truly
say that I have known and respected this Marine for more than 52
years. His presence will be missed by his personal family and
the Marine Corps family. Semper Fidelis Joe, permission to go
ashore.
Joe Featherston, Platoon 351 MCRD PI (1956)
Major, USMCR. Retired
Ancient Rome
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled,
public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom
should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign
lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People
must again learn to work, instead of living on public
assistance."
Cicero -- 55 BC
Sgt Grit
Semper Fi! You have a great organization that reaches out and
networks with all Marines and their friends and families.
Terrific window of opportunity to outfitted and keep updated and
maintain open lines of communication. For those that have come
before, serving presently and those in the future of the Corps,
I salute you one and all. We live in a different world: some
good and some ...We face challenging financial times and 24-7
security for our family, friends and country. I served with 2nd
Bn 4th Marines in Vietnam and Special Ops. From Guerilla warfare
to urban warfare the challenge is the same: The Few The Proud
The Marines.
I devote as much of time assisting those that have served with
my brothers with VFW in Vancouver, Washington . My team leaders
start each work day by asking, " How can we positively impact
and help those that served?" Personally rewarding, self-
gratification to reach out and help all that have served. The
personal satisfaction to know that you have helped a veteran in
need : words cannot adequately express.
No matter where you served, when you served, or for how long you
served: we are a unique family of a 'few' and yet 'proud'. Not
enough take the time to say thank you. I was filling my tank @
local Costco when a customer across the pump must have noticed
my Sgt Grit decals..." Excuse me, but I couldn't help notice you
served USMC/Vietnam...I just wanted to say thanks for serving
our country.." No one had ever approached me, in all these years
( 62 years senior ) and said thanks for serving our country.
For those that have given the ultimate sacrifice, I challenge
myself each day to give more time to serve those that have
served. It was an honor to serve then and it is an honor to
serve in the capacity I do now.
God Bless you one and all. I am proud to be a member of this
Company.
Semper Fi One and all
Hugh Casey [Case]
Former USMC Sergeant
2nd Bn / 4th Marines /Second to None
'The Magnificent Bast*rds'
"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be
easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is
preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally
ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under
their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders."
Samuel Adams
I have been reading your wonderful news letter for the last
three years since my son headed off to boot camp. I read it all
through his first deployment to Iraq finding comfort and tears
in all the stories submitted. My son was set to deploy again
next week for his second tour but that is not to be. He was
killed two weeks ago doing his other passion, riding his
motorcycle. He did everything right from wearing gear head to
toe, taking classes and but sometimes we're in the wrong place
at the wrong time. I don't understand the reasons but I'm sure
he is standing guard with his fellow Marines and best friend
killed in Iraq last year. I'm not sure that I can handle
reading the stories now but I just want to thank you for
providing such a place for this large Marine family to express
their thoughts and providing us with a place to buy all the
items we've needed to show our pride in our son. I will always
be proud of this large family he joined and the caring support
of everyone is his unit, the ¼ Weapons Co. out of Camp
Pendleton. I pray for their safe mission and return as they
have become our extended family.
Proud mother of Cpl Jayme Vines
"We should never despair, our Situation before has been
unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will
again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new
Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the
times."
George Washington
Sgt Grit,
My friend Will and I have been best friends since middle school.
He's always been the kindest of gentlemen-matter of fact the way
we met was by him showing my grandmother to the nurse's office
to pick me up from school.
Well our sophomore year in high school Will decided to graduate
early so that he could be off to boot camp earlier than
scheduled. His dedication to the Marines has always been
unbelievable. Well I hadn't seen Will in two years because he's
been back and forth between California and Iraq.(and I live in
Texas where we were both raised) but one day I get an unknown
call and usually I don't answer them because its always a
telemarketer, but this time it was WILL! He said "hey
Brandy! Turn around" and to my dismay he was right behind me
in target! I ran and gave him the biggest hug ever.
While catching up I learned so many new things about my dearest
friend-I learned that he had been shot in the back on his right
side while he was out with his troop in Iraq. It was time for
him to head back to California and recoup so that he could
redeploy to Iraq...I have no idea how we made it to the
airport..it was the sunniest day but at one point and time I had
to pull over and let him drive because I was sobbing so
uncontrollably. Before he jumped out of the car he handed me
this T-shirt that says "USMC always faithful" and a necklace
that he gave me ½ of..I didn't notice until I put the shirt on
and he called me that it was the shirt he was shot in..so I wear
it every week and people say you should really throw that shirt
out its got a hole in it and I just cant help but smile...
Brandy Walker.
"Freedom is something that cannot be passed on in the blood
stream, or genetically. And it's never more than one generation
away from extinction. Every generation has to learn how to
protect and defend it, or it's gone and gone for a long, long
time. Already, many of us, particularly those in business and
industry, there are too many who have switched rather than
fight. And it's time that particularly, some of our corporations
learned, that when you get in bed with government, you're going
to get more than a good night's sleep."
Ronald Reagan
Sgt Grit:
It really makes my heart feel good to read letters from young
wives like Alexa that is waiting at home and ready to stand
beside her husband, love him and be there when he needs her.
When I came home from Vietnam there was no posters, no bands, no
cheering crowds, only me. As I walked through San Francisco
Airport going to my next flight coming home, people would get
just as far against the wall and turn their heads as I walked
down the runway wearing my Marine Uniform with my Navy rank of
Hospital Corpsman on it.
My son did not choose the Navy or the Marines, but he is been in
the army for 20 years now and he has come home from Iraq 3
times, We were there for the last 2, and no matter which branch
of service your were or are in when these men come home to large
banners, bands and all kinds of brass standing around at 2am in
the morning waiting on these men to arrive, you really know then
what the military is really like in today's world.
Not long ago a former Marine and myself took some supplies for
the Backdoor Boutique, and I asked him this question not being
smart or anything but just asking. "What is the difference of
the Marine of today and the Marine of our time is", without
hesitation he replied, "Doc we had a choice and this is what I
want to do and am very proud to do it" in your time you didn't
have a choice you were called and you followed your countries
demands.
This Marine was assigned to 1st battalion 9th Marines but they
were not going to Iraq soon enough for him so he requested a
transfer and has already been once and is going back again soon.
To all of the Men and women in the military, I say you are our
heroes and my son who is a Drill Sergeant at Fort Knox, KY of
which I ( a Navy Corpsman with 1st battalion 9th Marines 3rd
Marine division Vietnam 1967-1968) thank you from the bottom of
my heart and you are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Paul L. Lawing
HM3 US Navy 1965-1969
US Marine Corps 1967-1968 (and d*mn proud of it)
"Speak seldom, but to important subjects, except such as
particularly relate to your constituents, and, in the former
case, make yourself perfectly master of the subject."
George Washington
Massacre you say, these are the same ones who held off a
superior enemy at Belleau Wood and helped end WW1, massacre you
say, these are the same ones who planted the flag on Iwo Jima,
massacre you say, the same the same ones who held off the whole
Chinese army on Inchon, massacre you say, the same ones
surrounded by NVA and Viet Cong in Khe Sanh, Vietnam. These same
ones have answered every call for disasters overseas including
the recent one in Indonesia. These same ones now deal with an
unscrupulous enemy who hide behind women's skirts, mix in with
women and children and their only way of killing their enemy is
with roadside bombs and suicide missions. They are cowards.
These ones I am talking are US MARINES. If they massacred anyone
it was because the enemy mixed in with some women and children
because they were too cowardly to face US MARINES. If anyone is
being massacred it is US MARINES by those cowards.
JOE HAWKINS Marine DAD
"Victory will never be found by taking the line of least
resistance."
Winston Churchill
I joined before 911, I was in boot camp when the towers fell. I
loved my time in Corps. I got out in '05 after two tours to
Iraq. I wanted to go back in this year. They were makin me doing
a lot of stupid things. I wanted back in the military so I
didn't wait for Gunny to make it happen. I instead went corrupt
and joined the Army. I'm deploying to Afghan at the begging of
the year. My time in the Corps has helped me make it so far in
the army. I'm a team leader as a specialist. I have also taught
my new platoon that they can't outshoot me with any weapon
system. I will always remember my time in the Corps.
The once Cpl, now Spc Brown
"War may make a fool of man, but it by no means degrades him; on
the contrary, it tends to exalt him, and its net effects are
much like those of motherhood on women."
H.L. Mencken
Gunny Sizemore and Sizemore Stables
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether
it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the
wrong remedy."
Ernest Benn
Somebody in Iraq with a great sense of humor and it makes you
want to move there....maybe?
View the presentation
Sgt.Grit,
I recently ordered from you .Thanks for your catalogue.
My son had just returned home on leave before leaving for Iraq
and was in a car accident. He is stable but has burns on his
face, chest and arms. He had a break in his pelvis which has
been repaired and faces surgery on his jaw. He enjoyed looking
at your items and still does not know what I ordered for him.
Tell all your Marines to keep him in their prayers. His name is
Jeremy Willis and was about to fight for his country but now is
fighting for his life. I hope that this will not humiliate him
but after reading your newsletter I wanted to respond. Thanks to
all Marines, past and present who have served our country.
Susan Willis.
"It's incredible how generous you can be with other people's
money."
Star Parker
I recently attended a reunion in Fredericksburg, VA of Marines
who went through Boot Camp at Parris Island in "The Summer of
'48". We tagged along with a group called Marines of Long Ago.
While at the reunion, we went through The FBI Academy, had lunch
with the young Officers in Training, saw the Marine Corps Museum
and on the last night, had a banquet at the Quantico NCO Club.
What a show. Made me want to re-up.
While there, the Base Commander, Colonel Charles A. Dallachie
read a letter he had received from a young man concerning an
acquired respect for the National Colors. I asked the Colonel to
send me a copy of the letter as I thought it worth passing on.
The letter is enclosed below. I hope you will agree it should be
passed on and will include it in one of your newsletters.
Semper Fi,
Andy Anderson
Carthage, Texas
USMC 1948-52, Korea August 3 - September 27, 1950
Sir:
I go to a small gym in Floral Park, NY everyday. Like most
gyms, there is always a radio station playing over the
loudspeakers. One of the radio stations is K-JOY FM. Everyday
at noon, the station plays the National Anthem in honor of the
members of our Armed Forces. I've heard it numerous times and I
am ashamed to say, paid little attention to it.
One day last week, when the anthem was played, I was working on
one of the weight stations. There were four or five of the
regulars at various places in the gym; and one young man who I
did not know was working on the Peck-Deck. I watch as this
young man, alone out of all of us, stood up and faced the
loudspeaker. But for the fact that his hands were folded in
front of him, he was clearly standing at attention. He remained
in position until the music ended and then resumed his workout.
I walked over to him and complimented him on the fact that he
had done the correct thing while the rest of us, who should've
known better, did nothing. He said that he stood as he did, not
exactly at attention, because he wanted to show the proper
courtesy without drawing too much attention to himself. I asked
if he was in the military and he replied - no surprise! - that
he was a Lance Corporal home on leave from Quantico. We talked
for a while, and I went away quite impressed!
The next day I discussed this incident with several of the
others at the gym. Each one of them felt as I did. That day,
when K_JOY played the anthem, several of us stood and faced the
flag which the gym owner (whose brother, a West Pointer, served
in Iraq) has hanging in the window. This has become our regular
practice, and will continue. Today, a busy Saturday, the entire
gym stopped all activity and rendered the correct courtesy when
the National Anthem was played.
All thanks to one young Marine who did the right thing when
others who should've known better did not.
I have the Marine's name and while I do not wish to embarrass
him by naming him here, I will be writing to tell his commanding
officer about this.
Awards citations often end with the statement that the awardee's
actions were "in keeping with the highest traditions of the
United States Marine Corps." I am not suggesting that this
young man be given a medal (God knows they are already giving
away too many); but clearly, having the moral courage to risk
embarrassment by being the only one in a crowd to pay proper
respect to our National Anthem is in keeping with the Corps'
highest traditions!
So - Thank you, Lance Corporal for leading the way. And thank
you, USMC, for (Among other things!) continuing to turn out men
like this Lance Corporal.
Semper Fidelis.
"The first virtue on a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage
is only the second virtue."
Napoleon Bonaparte
I spent 4 years as a grunt with 1st. Bat. 8th. Marines. Most of
my time was spent in the Middle East. While serving in Desert
Storm we used to get a huge amount of mail that would be
addressed to any service member. I was given one of these
letters from a young school girl who sent a scarf to put in my
pocket for good luck. Well I put that scarf in my pocket like
she asked. The next day the ground war started and that evening
we were dug in our fighting hole after a long day of breeching
the mine fields. Well on that evening we got hit from arty
rounds and a huge blast hit next to my hole, it was the worst
feeling of my life and why my team survived without a scratch is
unreal. The only thing that I could think of was my good luck
scarf that was in my pocket from that little girl. I am sure
that little girl is a young Lady now and I wish I could thank
her for her support in person. That little scarf helped me
mentally more that anything.
Semper Fi,
Jon Feldman
Note: The Dept. of Defense no longer delivers mail addressed to
"Any Service Member".
"It is freedom itself that still hangs in the balance, and
freedom is never more than one generation from extinction."
Ronald Reagan
Hello fellow family and friends of the U.S Marines. Its been
awhile since I've posted a letter and thought I would take a few
minutes, to write a line or two now.
My son, CPL. M.C Guynes, is serving his 5th year as a Marine and
I'm just as proud of him now, as the day he graduated.
He's been to both Iraq and Afghanistan and will return again,
soon.
As his Mother, I have gone though so much worry and stress.
Just as we all have done.
It comes with the territory.
It's important that we keep the support of our troops alive.
I do this, by posting photos, of their lives over there, on the
back of my car window.
I take a photo to the local Wal-Mart, have it blown up to 8x10
on paper that withstands the elements, paste it with Elmers
school glue and the reactions of others, is overwhelming.
Guess that makes me a Moto Mom.
Anyway.....
God Bless each of you and keep the prayers going out.
God Bless our troops.
P.Doucet
Lake Charles, La
"No man in his senses can hesitate in choosing to be free,
rather than a slave."
Alexander Hamilton
Sgt. Grit
My husband, Rick Dobbs, was a Corpsman in Viet Nam, and, like
many other veterans, suffers from PTSD. It took many years of
broken relationships, lost jobs, various compulsive behaviors,
and finally the onset of horrible nightmares almost 30 years
after he came home to prompt him that he needed help. With the
help of the Veteran's Service Center here in Sacramento he began
counseling & spent a month in a program at Roseburg, Oregon
which helped him tremendously. For the first time, he began
talking about his experiences, his "survivor's guilt," the pain
of not being able to save everyone, and other horrors of war. I
felt I was finally getting to know him after almost 20 years of
marriage, and I love him even more if that's possible. But the
story I want to share is something totally unexpected that
happened that helped him more than anything else. After a
series of events only God could have put together, our Pastor
asked us to go to Uganda as husband and wife to represent our
church as part of a "sister parish" program.
Our church had sponsored the Pastor of our sister parish there
to come here and meet our congregation, and he wanted to host
someone from our church and let them meet the people in his
parish in Uganda. As a result, my husband and I came home
totally changed from seeing the lives of the people, especially
the AIDS orphans, there. Some of the landscape and houses
reminded Rick of Viet Nam, but it didn't cause the problems he
thought it would. Instead, after we came home we both began
feeling more and more strongly that we were supposed to do
something to help the orphans in Uganda. We made several more
trips there on our own, and Rick became the hero of the local
children. He would go out every day with pockets full of
balloons and lollipops. The kids would swarm him, giving him
hugs and vying for his attention. He got to know all their
names, where they lived. He made up little games with them that
they remember between our trips. When they hear we will be
coming, they are all there waiting in front of the Pastor's home
when we arrive. They mob the mob the car and start chanting
"Rick, Rick, Rick."
He has been absolutely transformed by this. We felt God was
calling us to build an orphanage in that town in Uganda. We
spent our savings on buying a piece of property, setting up a
non-profit to raise funds for the building and operation of the
orphanage. Rick sold his pickup truck and his Harley-Davidson
and put the money in the orphanage account. He has quit
smoking, quit gambling, even quit having as many war nightmares
and sleepless nights. He is now president of our non-profit and
working hard all the time to raise awareness about the orphans'
plight and raise money to keep the orphanage going. And (this a
really beautiful part), three of the biggest supporters of this
project are Vets. Rick has become really close friends with all
three of these men. He has known them all for years as
acquaintances, but it was this chance to do something to help
the helpless that has brought them together as brothers. This
is huge. Rick has never had any real friends or been close to
anyone but me in the 22 years we have been married. Helping
these kids has been so healing for Rick and the other veterans
involved. I know I will never truly understand what he
experienced, but I can see the healing and transformation this
orphanage has brought with my own eyes and I thank God for it.
Anyone who wants to know more, or help in any way with the
orphanage, please check out our web site at
www.shepherdslove.com. Or just send Rick an e-mail through the
web site to say "way to go, Doc!"
I want to conclude by saying a big thank you to all the men and
women who have served this great country by giving years of
their lives in the military.
Proud to be the granddaughter of a WWI soldier, daughter of a
WWII sailor, aunt of a Green Beret, and really proud to be the
wife of a Corpsman.
April Dobbs
"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where
government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect
us from ourselves."
Ronald Reagan
While doing close order drill at Parris Island, NC back in 1959,
our D. I. Sgt. Jones caught a recruit looking up at a Piper Cub
flying by. The recruit wore glasses. Sgt. Jones went into the
squad bay and came back with a grease pencil and Sgt. Jones
commenced to draw little airplanes on the recruit's glasses. He
then hands the glasses back and says "Now you don't need to look
up to see airplanes, screw"!
Frank "Ski" Kaminski
"I have nothing to offer you but blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
Winston Churchill, 1940
I was stationed at MCDEC Quantico as my 1st duty station. I was
a 5831 Correctional Specialist assigned to the Correctional
facility there. We were reporting to the facility one morning
and told to report to the dorm for a briefing. Well the day
before John Hinkley had shot the president and our CO was
telling us that this was a secret that he is being housed at our
facility. The CO went on to tell us that we were not to tell
anyone that he was at our facility and that there would be
increased security at the brig. I was at the rear of the
formation and the T.V. was on and the volume was on low. I could
still hear it and as the CO was talk I heard the report telling
all that he was at Quantico . I then stopped my CO and told him
about it. The news showed a 15 car motorcade from Washington
D.C. to Quantico lights sirens all the way. Now that was a sure
way to keep a secret.
D.McDermott
Cpl 78-82
"Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from
another; that it must pay with a portion of its Independence for
whatever it may accept under that character; that by such
acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given
equivalents for nominal favours and yet of being reproached with
ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error
than to expect, or calculate upon real favours from Nation to
Nation.
'Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride
ought to discard."
George Washington
God Bless America!
Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done.
Semper Fi
Sgt Grit
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