My L’il Trooper

Today I am simply writing about my L’il Trooper. For those who do not know my son and our relationship, I should make some clarifications. My son is not little. At 6′ 3″ and 200lbs (and some change), he is far from little.

I use the silly terms of endearment for two reasons:

1.) I find it hilarious

and

2.) The names make him grimace. I can almost hear him mumble, “Mom don’t say that.”

Without completely embarrassing him (I will do that gradually over the next 30 or 40 years), let me tell you a bit about my eldest son.

David gave up a lot at a young age, stepping in and helping to raise his two younger brothers. It saddens me that he gave up so much of his youth. He has always excelled in everything he has tried from football and wrestling to academics. David has set the bar high for his brothers and they, thru his example are reaching for the stars. 

I have typed and deleted a gazillion things I want to say. However, at the thought of sounding like a typical Mom, blinded by personal prejudice, I will stop with this sentiment:

My Cav Trooper Rocks!!!

…and because I enjoy humor at his expense, I am throwing in an early training photo:

David with his younger brother, Jared … They were practicing blending in with their environment. Do you think all Army Scouts began this way?

What an awesome big brother! Two gorgeous young men if I don’t say so myself!

Don’t ya just want to give him a hug?

(Hey David, shall I go on? You know I have hundreds and I love to share!)

I was once asked by another Mom, “Does he know how to let off the throttle?” David only knew one speed when racing and that was Full Throttle.

Kicking back and relaxing… at the tender age of two!

This is not meant as blackmail. If that were the case, I would have posted the diaper shots, the singlet pics, or perhaps the COWBOY pose!

Are you ever going to send me the requested picture?

Love you way much son!

Wednesday Hero

My hero with one of his little brothers. 

As a new supporter of Wednesday Hero, I feel awkward with this being my first post. Bare with me when I share my thoughts on Parents as Heroes.  

We the parents of sons and daughters in the military, are just like the thousands, if not millions, of other parents in the world. We all have the exact same hopes and dreams for our children.

We all want our children to be happy productive members of society. We want our children to find someone special, get married, give us some beautiful grand babies to brag about…

And then one day, out of the blue … our child says those words. The words that infuse both fear and pride in our hearts. “Mom, I’m enlisting.”

My child did not ask me if it was a good idea, nor did he wait for a response. His decision was his alone. Although, I was concerned, (that will never go away) the pride I felt is indescribable. Too many questions jolted my mind like a bad session of Pong.

You must be as old as dirt to know of that game.

My son, is my Hero. He shakes his head and rolls his eyes when I say those words. The facts do not lie. He is the one who stepped up. It was not I. He does not see his life in such a way, but he is My Hero!

(now, if I can only get him to send the picture… Yes, David I am still waiting … and I am patient. However, I am close to digging thru my old albums and posting the cowboy picture in place of the promised one.)

Not meaning to diminish the sweet gesture… I am humbly stepping back and letting my Son have the light he deserves. 

Every once and awhile I’ll do a Wednesday Hero that doesn’t profile a single soldier. Sometimes it’s been two or three from the same unit, sometimes it’s been an entire group of soldiers like the Navajo Code Talkers. I even did an organization once, Operation Iraqi Children. This weeks Wednesday Hero is one of those sometimes. This weeks Wednesday Heroes are the parents of soldiers.

These people sacrifice just as much, if not more, than the soldiers themselves. They, in many cases, are having their babies leave home for the first time in their lives. While most parents only have to adjust to them moving a few miles away or going off to college, these Blue Star Parents have to watch their children go off to a very dangerous situation and can only hope and pray that everything will turn out okay. I don’t have children of my own, so I can’t even imagine what that is like. We have a few Blue Star Parents in the blogroll, so to them, and every parent of a Hero, I tell you we all stand with and support you and your family.There’s a site that everyone should check out if they haven’t already. Blue Star Mothers Of America.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Atrocities Uncovered in Iraq

“WARNING – Very Graphic”

In studying the war, I have found some very disturbing photographs that seem to contradict what the Military is telling us about our men and women who are serving in the Middle East.

Day after day, they feed us ‘stories’ of the good that is being done, the hearts that are being won… Now I am left to wonder, have they been telling us lies?

What are they trying to accomplish with such nonsense? Pictures do not lie. Our Men and women have been acting in a deplorable manner!

What is next? I am left shaking my head… Such Atrocities

.

.

.

.

.

.

What is next?  🙂

all pictures and captions courtesy of http://www.strategypage.com 

Army Christmas Operations Order 06-5689:

I borrowed the following post from my favorite Dragon 🙂

Army Christmas Operations Order 06-5689:
Subject: Christmas

1. An official visit by MG Santa (NMI) Claus is expected at this headquarters 25 December 2006. The following instructions will be in effect and govern the activities of all personnel during the visit.

a. Not a creature will stir without official permission. This will include indigenous mice. Special stirring permits for necessary administrative actions will be obtained through the C1. Mice stirring permits will be processed through the C2 for proper clearances and obtained through Veterinary Services, ARCENT-KU.

b. Personnel will settle their brains for a long winter nap prior to 2200 hours, 24 December 2006. See MAJ Dickenson for pre-napping medical requirements. See MAJ Adams for napping demonstration. Uniform for the nap will be: Pajamas, cotton, light, drowsing, with kerchief, general purpose, camouflage; and Cap, camouflage w/ear flaps. Equipment should have been drawn from homestation CIF prior to deployment.

c. Personnel will utilize standard Sharq Market sugar plums for visions to dance through their heads. Artificially sweetened plums are authorized for those in the unit weight control program. Specifications for this item will be provided by the servicing dining facility.

d. Stockings, wool, cushion sole, will be hung by the chimney with care. Necessary safety precautions will be taken to avoid fire hazards caused by carelessly hung stockings. ARCENT-KU safety officer will submit stocking hanging plans to this headquarters prior to 0800 hours, 24 December 2006, ATTN: MAJ Salada, for approval.

e. At the first sign of clatter from the lawn, all troops will spring from their beds to evaluate noise and cause. Immediate action will be taken to tear open the shutters and throw open the window sashes. PMO Plan (Saint Nick), Reference LO No. 3, paragraph 6c, this headquarters, 2 February 2005, will be in effect to facilitate shutter tearing and sash throwing. Section OICs will familiarize all personnel with procedures and are responsible for ensuring that no shutters are torn open nor window sashes thrown open prior to start of official clatter. See CPT Donley for hardcopy.

f. Prior to 2400, 24 December 2006, all personnel will be assigned “Wondering Eye” stations. After shutters are thrown open and sashes are torn, these stations will be manned.

g. SSG Bekono will assign one each Sleigh, miniature, M-66, and eight (8 ) deer, rein, tiny, for use of MG Claus’ driver who, in accordance with current directives and other applicable regulations, must have a valid SF56 properly annotated by Driver Testing; be authorized rooftop parking and be able to shout “On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen, up Comet, up Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen”.

2. MG Claus will enter quarters through standard chimneys. All units without chimneys will draw Chimney Simulator, M-6, for use during ceremonies. Chimney simulator units will be requested through SPC Oswalt on Job Order Request Form submitted to the Furniture Warehouse prior to 23 December2006, and issued on DA Form 3161, Request for Issue or Turn-in.

3. Personnel will be rehearsed on shouting “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.” See LTC Pride for demonstration. This shout will be given on termination of General Claus’ visit. Uniformity of shouting is the responsibility of section NCOICs.

/s/
CHRISTOPHER K. RINGLE
Colonel, USA
OIC, Special Services

My Christmas Wish

 

I am posting this today because I hope to be away from this blasted internet, which holds me prisoner, for a few days!

With this being my last fast before Christmas, I would like to take a moment to reflect. So many emotions are running thru my mind…

I get so caught up in the “Gotta Get It Done Now.” “No Time To Stop For Dessert. ” “If You Aren’t Helping Me, You Are In The Way…. ”

… that I forgot how to enjoy the beautiful pictures the second grade students drew for me to send to Iraq…. I forgot how to sit still for a moment and watch puppies playing with a sock….. I forgot how to exhale.

It took some very special events … the times in your life, you wish you could pause, rewind, and watch over and over again…. To help me regain some balance… Some peace…

I am going to rewind a few of these…. and keep them in my mind, savoring the happiness, the peace, the love

The happiness on my son’s face… When he handed me the largest birthday card I have ever seen. The pain in his eyes, when he asked me not to worry for him when he was at war. The strength in his soul.

I could cry that he is not home now… But I will enjoy the happiness in my heart . The happiness I felt when he was home… I thank the Lord for allowing me to see him before he left for Iraq. (He must have known how much I needed that.)

The Love in my husbands arms when I need a safe place to be away from the crazies of life… The stroke of his fingers across my cheek, brushing the hair out of my eyes… The shoulder he offers me, to shed a tear. The ear he offers, to hear of my day. His voice of reason … For only he can pull me back to the world of, Well… Where people don’t shout at the shadows. I thank the Lord for sending Mr. J. to be at my side.

The letter from a soldier, sharing the birth of his daughter with us!
There have been so many moments… I need to pause, rewind, and replay…. Life is good!

However… Due to greed… I have one more wish… But it is a BIG WISH… Everyone should get one wish this year….

I have thought this out… Because there are so many things I want…

I could wish for the end of suffering … the end of the war… (it would be awesome to have David home)

I could wish for material things… A house on the ocean front…. An endless pile of money…. Or more simply, that hot little Mercedes….

But, what I would pick, if given only one wish?

The answer is simple.

I wish that every heart was filled with LOVE. The simple love of a child. The intense love of mother for her child… The love I have in my heart for my husband.

For how could anyone want to harm another… If they felt such a strong love?

Maybe we could start next year by simply liking those who have hurt us … and pray for love to fill our hearts… Merry Christmas… Peace on Earth… Good will towards men

May our men and women who are fighting the war on Terror, know that we love them back home!

Merry early Christmas from Proud Cav Mom and Mr. J.

 

 

Santa, played by Ken Rice, a civilian contractor with the AAI Corporation, and his six reindeer, Soldiers from Company E, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, prepare for launch on an unmanned aerial vehicle launcher at Camp Taji, Iraq Dec. 18. Santa is apparently trying to get an early start this year and has traded in his traditional sleigh for something a little newer and more “high tech.” (U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Winston Churchill, 615^th Aviation Support Battalion)

                     (My Favorite Marine)

 

I’ll add more as they come in!

(David, I am still waiting on that picture… You know the one!)