I am one Mom out of the thousands, who try to hold onto a sliver of sanity while our children are in harms way.
Thankfully, I have a strong family and friend support group who keep me smiling when I am feeling down.
Thank you Mr. J. for being my strength and for sharing your heart with David.
2nd Verse - Same as the 1st 
I am one of the little people who support your son and all of our service members and families , I work at Armed Forces Emergency Service Center we handle Emergency Messages and routing traffic we handle not only messages, we handle suicide calls and casualties, as a mother myself with several family members serving I wan tto thankyou for sharing these letters and messages from the servicemembers , to us they are family not just a number-many of us suffer from-believe it or not Compassion fatique
yet I am honored to be here in thier time of need-because of my clearance I am not permitted to reveal much more- thank again from one mom to another
Latina7208 ~ Your service is very appreciated by us, the families of the Troops. Today, is my day to carry the baton for the RVF. I would like to make a special dedication to you and those who serve at your side. I am forever grateful of your kind heart and compassion for those in need.
As the mom of another once-upon-a-time member of the 1st Cav, I applaud all your efforts and those of so many others to honor and support our military forces. I wish I could put my arm around your shoulder, look into your eyes and tell you that everything will be OK, but you know, as I did during the cold war and the Vietnam war, when my husband was a young Air Force officer and my brother, also the same, was serving in Vietnam, that our young often give the ultimate sacrifice. Instead, I would say to you to stay strong, as loving and supportive as you are, and that millions around the world hope for David’s safety as I do. You are a national treasure, too, like David and all the others who serve. As I have told you before, my son saw people being shot because they were running toward the freedom of the west, across the East German border. What we have is so precious that the rest of the world craves it, many are willing to die for it, and the biggest part of what we have and who we are is because of our military. Bless them, you, and all those who care deeply about our young that are in harm’s way tonight and for many nights to come, so that we may be safe here at home. I don’t have adequate words for what I feel for them. I’m just another mom, but I know what is in my heart and my heart goes out to yours.
Barbara ~ Thank you for reaching out. Your kind words brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. So many Moms from so many wars… All reaching out to each other to give comfort and hope.
I received a sweet letter from an 83 year old woman, who’s son had served in Vietnam. She just wanted to offer me a shoulder.
It all is so humbling. America is truly a great nation, full of great people. Who each in their own way keep us solidified.
I pray that the voices of the majority ring out strong, shouting their support of the fine men and women who are fighting for our freedoms.
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=3181
3/5/6/ Mitt is a team of 4-9 Cav soldiers working with the 3/5/6 Iraqi Army
Thanks for the link! The pictures and articles are excellent!
Hello, I recieved an email from a family member with an article that was written by my son, SGT. Michael Leonhardy(currently stationed in Iraq) and I wondered how I could be a part of your community so i could recieve some of this info first hand? Thanks, Marisa
Marisa ~ We are all family here. 🙂 You are welcome to drop in at any time and share your thoughts. If you would like, I will send you an email whenever I post a story written by your son.
Thank you for the article “Cache found in Western Ghazaliya.” My son, 1st Lt. Scott Pharis, shared it with me.
I am very proud of my son and his service to our country.
People always look at my “sympathically” when I tell them where he is. I know they mean well, but I know that God is protecting him and sent him there for a reason. Our soldier’s are making a difference, and I could not be prouder of all them.
I am a very proud mother and may God Bless all of you!
Patti ~ Thank you for stopping in. You have much to be proud of in your son Scott’s accomplishments!
I know what you mean about the “Oh Poor You” looks. If I mention in causal conversation that my son is in Iraq, the first words out of people’s mouths is always, “Oh, I am so sorry.”
How do you respond? What are they sorry about? Perhaps they are sorry that our children are in a position that causes us to have anxious moments when we watch the news.
I am more sorry for parents who’s children have no ambitions, no goals, no job, and no desire to get out of bed in the morning. My son’s work is not easy, but don’t be sorry for us. We know he is in danger, yet we also know he is trained and prepared to face the obstacles.
Don’t be sorry… Although our hearts ache with the desire to give our child a hug, we are also filled with much love and praise for our child’s accomplishments.
We parents do not want your sympathies. We only ask for you to offer support to our children; the young men and women who so bravely protect us.
Thanks to you Cavmom, I am a Cav mom as well my son is currently serving in Iraq as well, he has just recently joined up with the 4-9. I was given your blog name by one of our FRG leaders. I have not completly gone through the site, but I look forward to it. I saw the Memorial Day pictures, they are awesome. I would like to talk more with you in reguards to all that you do for the soliders and their families.
I am a very proud mom of a 1st Calvary Scout, who was willing to give up the comforts of home, to serve his country.
Thanks to all our men and women
Big Hugs Deb and WELCOME to the 4-9 family! Our Troopers Rock!
I have sent you out an email. 🙂
Forgot to mention… Hugs to your L’il Trooper. I hope he enjoys his new home away from home. He is in great company!
Keep up the great work! Your postings give me such a connection to our sons, and I want to thank you for keeping this up. I’m another mom of a current 4-9 Scout.
Welcome ‘another 4-9 mom’ ~ I am thinking we should have shirts made up. 😉 I hope we all get a chance to meet when our boys come home.
Hi Cavmom:
My two sons are in Iraq, one with the 2-23 Inf of the 4/2; the other w/ 111th Sapper Co. I’m a terrified Mom too. I just found on a Google search and will be back often.
Thanks!
Welcome Army Mom Times Three! Dang two sons in Iraq at the same time! We will be sending out double doses of hugs and prayers.
To all the Mom’s keep us posted on your Troopers. Here is another site that is great for checking in with other parents.:
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/90700030713
I was a Cav wife. My husband was severely wounded in Iraq w/ 1-21 FA when it was with 1 Cav here in Ft Hood. I now run a non-profit agency that helps caregivers and the wounded get training and business opportunities to build financial independence and stability.
Love your blog here and will check it out more often.
Blessings
Harker Heights TX
Wow! C.Saffron ~ I just stopped by your website. Thank you so much for all of your hard work in helping our wounded. Hugs out to you and your husband.
🙂
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the many ways you’ve blessed our young men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world. May the ground always tremble under the steel ponies of the 1st Division Army Cav, may its soldiers use restraint and mercy when it is possible, and may they serve justice upon their enemy when it is not. Let the Banner of Liberty fly always, and may freedom one day ring where tyranny and fascism rule today. Amen.
Cavmom,
There’s something so powerful about family and loved ones rallying behind their loved ones away at war. I’ve been where your son is many times. God bless you for your sacrifice.
Ask him about my psp.
(edited to avoid slander)
Ruh-Roh…. does this have anything to do with the gaming wars that I have been hearing about? 😀
I am the Proud Army Mom of SPC Stephanie Gould of the Hafia Street Project! Are you related to anyone in the band? or, are you just a devoted fan? I can’t wait to get a DVD of their concert. It sounds like the Iraqi’s will be filming it and selling it at their stores. I told Steph, I BETTER get one! LOL
Welcome Nancy ~ My son is a 4-9 Cav Trooper, but not a member of the band.
I have never heard him sing. I don’t think you would even catch him singing in the shower. 😀
Although I have heard stories of group karaoke singing.
In response to the PCP via Ebay, he never received it. So you tried to rip him off! Thank God you are not in our military defending our country. Don’t prey upon our military serving our country!
CORRECTION:
In response to the PSP via Ebay, he never received it. So you tried to rip him off! Thank God you are not in our military defending our country. Don’t prey upon our military serving our country!
Patti ~ PCP is a drug and from what you say, it might have been a Freudian slip! I thought this was in reference to the gaming wars that the different units have. My son ordered an item from ebay while he was home on leave. 3 months later and the item has not been shipped. Thankfully he was able to get his money back.
Hey Mr. About ~please provide facts before bashing the reputation of a Soldier. Without facts I will always side with our Soldiers. No, on second thought, don’t post your grievances here at all.
Dear CavMom: I am a Cav Mom too. My daughter and three of her friends, whom are like my own, are stationed at Prosperity. My future son-in-law is stationed at FOB Rustimayh. Like you and the rest of the Army moms I do what I can to get through the day until my kids come home. It is nice to have someone else that I can talk to when the days get dark. Thanks, Jo Ann
Jo Ann ~ Hugs to you and you fantastic daughters (I am including the adoptees) 😉
The Cav family is a very large but welcoming group. Keep me posted on all of your military kids! Perhaps we Moms can meet up at the Hood when they roll back to the States.
I am sending you an email… That way if you ever want to chat and do not want to share with the entire world, you have my info. 🙂
Spread the word……Finally, we get the truth about the war and what our troops are sacrificing. It’s a side of the war you won’t see on the news. It’s a book written by a U.S. soldier. I hear this is a fantastic book…..even better than Blackhawk Down. Spread the word! Support our troops! You can order it now:
This first-hand account of the 2004 Battle of Fallujah, Iraq, is written by a former soldier who tells what it was like to fight in close combat, against an enemy on its home territory. The American soldiers eventually won the block-by-block battle, but the cost was great. David Bellavia conveys the intense experiences of combat, and presents well-drawn portraits of his fellow soldiers, as he captures their heroism and sacrifice in horrible situations.
Matt ~ Thanks for the link. My son was there, but I did not want to open any old wounds and ask him for details.
Hey cavmom! What a great article.Think about you and David often.Thanks for the mail. God Bless .
Susan
(((((Susan))))) Thank you! 🙂
You and your family are in our hearts and prayers as well.
Thanks for mentioning Charity for Charities on your blog: http://www.vajoe.com/charity/ . We’re at it again. We’ve got a new contest on VAJoe: NFL Pick’em, http://www.vajoe.com/nfl/ .It’s the only NFL Pick’em on the web for active duty, veterans and their family members. Prizes include a Hitachi 50″ Plasma HDTV, a $500 Best Buy Gift Card and weekly prizes.
Even if you don’t follow football, you can play—it’s easy.
Thanks
This old warhorse of the 1st Air Cav in Vietnam salutes you, and leaves his prayers with you and yours, especially those in harm’s way. I enjoy your site … your pictures are so poignant, so powerful. They take me back, reminding me of terrible times I too walked the walk , which was in different times, yet so much the same too … then I see the smiles, the deep loving compassion, the brotherhood, and I feel a sense of gain, rather than loss. God bless you and your son. You bring back sweet memories of my own sainted mom, and her loving support that meant so very much.
I invite those who pass here to visit my “Vietnam Picture Tour, http://pzzzz.tripod.com/namtour.html from the lens and poet’s pen of a combat infantryman, from one who’s walked the walk, and can talk the talk…Take a walk in “the park” with the 1st Air Cavalry on combat patrol, that in reality will give you the sweet and sour taste of “the Nam” on your tongue, leave the pungent smell of “the Nam” acrid in your nostrils, and embed textures of “the Nam” in your brain as though you walked beside me in combat.
Gary, Thanks for stopping in. I am honored! For anyone who is not familiar with the fantastic poetry of Gary Jacobs, please click his link above. (make sure your speakers are turned on.)
Gary’s moving words have guided me on many days and his pictures of his experience in Vietnam are very moving.
Hus and a big thank you. I am heading over to re-read a couple of my favorites!
Hi Cavmom! Would you mind if we link your page onto our page? It’s obvious that you are a fellow conservative, and we would love to link up with you.
Have a good one
Tony
leftistdestroyer ~ I would be honored.
I will also put up a link to yours. 🙂
Hi Cindy and to everyone , This is Christopher Coopers mom the one so many helped with the funeral fund for his dad ,I just want to tell everyone thanks again and that christoper is coming home in less than a month I am so happy I just cant wait . I keep everyone in my prayers, god bless our soldiers. Laura
Laura ~ I missed this earlier. I am so EXCITED and HAPPY for you! 🙂
That is the best news that I have heard in some time!!!!!!
aww thank-you very much , there will be happy tears this time ,on his myspace main pic hes holding a sign up that he drew that says I love you mom I just cried when i saw it. but yea hes coming home thanks again so much for all your help. god bless all the parents and their soldiers. Laura
Oh, do you mind sharing with me?
If so, send me the link in an email.
hi cindy I just wanted to know if you got the pic ? I would love to share with everyone but I dont know how lol not very comp savy .
I thought this was so sweet I wanted to share .
well you see what I mean about computer savy ,I wanted to send the actual video and only sent the address lol anyway its a 6 year old singing about her brother in the army , awesome little girl.
Hi Cav Mom,
I recently came across your blog and have to tell you how much I enjoyed it. The piece about “Why can’t I own a Canadian” made me laugh out loud. My husband is a Cav Trooper and has been for many years. He even has a website for the Cavalry Enthusiast called Cavhooah.com. I think you might enjoy it, so check it out if you get a chance. I also have a fairly new site called RealArmywives.com which is a support site for military families. We would both be very appreciative if you would add our links to your blog.
I also just want to say, that I know often times the families left behind aren’t thought of, and this is especially true for the parents of soldiers, but just know that you too are in our thoughts and prayers.
Wendy ~ I would be honored to add your links! I just watched a couple of your husbands videos and posted one on the blog.
Hugs to you and your family. You are in our prayers as well. 🙂
Hi CAV MOM
I thought you might like to check out our website
http://www.gathering4soldiers.com
We are a group who supports our men and women by sending love and care packages.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
Thank you for stopping in G4S! I just peeked in at your website and I am very impressed with all that you are doing for the Troops!
I came across your site while scouring the internet for anything I can read about the group my brother is with. He joined the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division last month as a medic. He is having a hard time being accepted by his peers, probaly because he is the new guy. We have a strong/ large family support system so this is hard for him because he is use to having so many people around him that accept him. I know he is staying in FOB Prosperity and his 21st birthday is coming but we have no address. Do you know of one? I know I would take a chance it would never get to him, but Im willing to do that. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks – Cher
Cher ~ I understand your anxiety. I just sent you an email. Let me know if you have any more question.
Hang in there, we are all in this together! 🙂
I just wanted to post a thank you aside from the ones I wrote in my emails.
Thank you for taking the time to help me. Although we have never met, I feel like you are a friend. We share a bond through having a family member in the military. I am privilege to work with WWII vets in the last years of their life. I enjoy listening to them and becoming friends. They sometimes have a tuff shell to crack but I think my blonde hair helps…lol! I worry about my brother and I pray daily for our military, all the men and women who serve or served. I hope one day I can assist someone as you have done for me.
Hello, I am Chers sister and I am greatfull that she found you. Any word we have on Paul is great. I myself recieved a call from him on Tuesday morning, he sounded ok. He was getting ready to go to a mixed martial arts thing. I still pray he gets accepted by the others. I also want to thank you about getting a birthday card drive going for my brother. I got tears in my eyes when I heard that. Now that we have an address I am going out today to get him some cards. He is not only my little brother he is one of my best friends and I really miss him and can’t wait to hug him.
Linda ~ I am happy that Cher stumbled upon my site. It is so nice to hear from the family members of the guys Iraq (especially the 4-9 Cav family)
Hugs to you and your family. You are in our prayers. 🙂
Hi, My son is in Kuwait now and goes to bahgdad, next week. I worry about him all the time. He calls about once a week, and sounds good on the phone. I’ve sent 2 packages already, but don’t really know what they need. So far he asked for windex wipes, and soft TP hahaha. I check the weather over there all the time, but would like to get my hands on a good map. It makes me feel better to know what its like there. If I could. I would some how find a way to actually go there and help. I’m having a hard time letting go of him. This is going to be a long year. I love seeing pictures of kuwait, and camp Buehring. I am so proud of him and all who are serving over there. I pray for all who are there, and I hope they come home safely. Thank you for sharing I’m so glad I found your blog.
Hi Cindy , its Laura ! Christopher Coopers mom, I know its been awhile since you’ve heard from me , and I am so sorry , My mother that is blind broke her ankle so bad the drs had to put 2 steel plates in it and shes diabetic so we were worried about her healing and she started dialisis and last week she had a heart attack we almost lost her and it hasnt been a year yet since the boys have lost their dad and they are very close to her, Christopher is doin good at ft hood he came home for christmas and broke his foot throwing the football with his brother , but there isnt a day that goes by that I dont thank god hes home and everyday I pray for all the troops and their families . how are you and your lil trooper ? I still want christopher and myself to meet you. I cant wait . I just want to thank you again for all you do and I want to thank all the troops for serving .
Laura
I am a medic stationed at Ft Lewis, and my brave son is earning his spurs with the 2/3 ACR currently in Iraq. Words cannot begin to say how proud I am of him and all hes accomplished so far. Its really kind of different, both of us serving…as a Mom of course I worry, but as a soldier I know theres a whole other list of things to be concerned about! Thank God for the internet and IM. Its such a blessing to be able to talk to him as often as he can manage it.
Thanks for this site and for all the help and comfort you provide to military Moms. Lord knows we need it!
Hey.
I just wanted to say thanks for the photos you posted back in May 1, 2007. The first picture of Spc. Trey McKinney touching the little boy’s hand through the window glass is my husband 🙂
He just returned from that 15month deployment a few weeks ago and I was so proud when I saw this picture.
all my regards,
Kylie McKinney- Proud Army Wife.
Hi CavMom,
I just wanted to wish you a Happy 4th! Hope all is well with you — miss you!
http://www.urbanconservative.com/2008/10/28/150000-reward-for-the-release-of-the-obama-video-by-the-los-angeles-times/
$150K reward offer for Obama/LA Times video… just saw this a few minutes ago.
hey I am a member of c troop 4-9 cav, i think what you have going on here is awesome. to me my job is not hard, but then again i love my job, and it brings a tear to my eye to see that families at home are getting this close and keeping us in their hearts and remembering the lil things that make them laugh. keep up the good work
A link to your website popped up on my Nam site.
I enjoy reading the comments…
Rob Struck
C Troop 1/9th, 1st Air Cav
Blue India (Vietnam) 1970, 71
http://www.usastruck.wordpress.com