Daily Life of a Marine Mom

Then following is long but well worth the read if you have a Marine in your life!

To know the Corps is to love the Corps, which is why Marine Corps Times
compiled the following list of 232 reasons to stand proudly at this
year’s birthday ball.

1. Cpl. Jason Dunham. First Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since
Vietnam. If jumping on a grenade to save a buddy isn’t worth the top of
the list, nothing is.

2. Civilians have to find time to go to the gym. Marines get paid to go.

3. The National Museum of the Marine Corps. It’s like a Smithsonian of
leatherneck.

4. There’s no such thing as an “ex” Marine.

5. Re-enlistment rates are higher IN the war zone.

6. Stink-proof socks. Well, almost. Systems Command is working on them.

7. Jalapeño cheese.

8. “Every Marine Into the Fight.”

9. Lump-sum re-enlistment bonuses up to $80,000. Many of you would
consider doing it for free.

10. New uniforms #1. Pixel-pattern cammies? Yeah, the Corps came up with
that.

11. “Doc.”

12. Flexed arm hang is harder than it looks. We tried it.

13. Barracks parties on non-payday weekends.

14. Marine Gunners.

15. The Wounded Warrior Regiment.

16. MarAdmin 266/07: Letting 18-year-old Marines drink on base at this
year’s birthday ball.

17. No receipt necessary for travel claim expenses less than $75.

18. The lance corporal underground.

19. Fallujah II.

21. Archibald Henderson’s couch, re-upholstered, is still in the
commandant’s living room.

22. “No better friend, no worse enemy.”

23. Typhoons approaching Okinawa often spark islandwide beer runs.

24. Waivers.

25. Gen. James Jones, who followed his tour as commandant with
appointment as “supreme intergalactic overlord” (OK, it was Supreme
Allied Commander, Europe, but close).

26. 10 rounds from the 500-yard line.

27. Per diem.

28. To civilians, every Marine is recon.

29. Recruiting in Texas is like hunting at the zoo.

30. The “boat cloak.” Because every super hero needs a cape.

31. You can re-enlist in the IRR.

32. The wallet in your sock.

33. Motivating television commercials.

! 34. The “horse shoe” haircut, gone but not forgotten.

35. The global address list. Find your buddies and send them links to
Marine Corps Times.

36. Running cadences that mention napalm. And Eskimos.

37. Stories that begin with, “So there I was ...”

38. Modified parade rest.

39. The transformation. Who you are when you join is not nearly as
important as who you become.

40. Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis getting a fourth star.

41. If you’ve been on liberty in Twentynine Palms, you’ve been on
liberty in Yuma and Barstow, too.

42. Grooming standards. Not only can you not act like a thug, you cannot
look like a thug.

43. It’s not the Army.

44. Women in Manhattan have all seen the Fleet Week episode of “! Sex and
the City.”

45. Combat shotguns.

46. Combat Action Ribbons. IEDs count now, and should have counted all
along. Duh.

47. The occasional free beer. Wear your blues into a bar and see what
happens.

48. After decades of debate, there remains no resolution on whether sand
fleas trump “The Reaper.”

49. The Corps’ doesn’t call its officers, commissioned or not, “petty.”

50. Cpl. Gareth Hawkins, lying on a stretcher after an IED shattered his
leg, demanded re-enlistment before medical evacuation. And got it.

51. Whereas Army, Navy and Air Force jokes are funny, Marine jokes are
potentially dangerous.

52. The occasional friendly debate. Refer to a Marine staff
noncommissioned officer simply as “sergeant,” and see what happens.

53. That troublesome “10 percent,” making good Marines look g! reat since
1775.

54. Everyone at a high school reunion is obliged to justify his last 10
years, except the guy wearing alphas.

55. As if ranks that include the words “master” and “gunnery” aren’t
intimidating enough on their own, the Corps uses them both. At once.

56. Soldiers have Hooah Bars. Marines have Ka-Bars. The second will
generally get you the first.

57. The dress code. You can wear your cammies to meet the commandant or
repair a tank.

58. From “Aliens” to “Doom,” the future vision of warfare almost always
includes Space Marines.

59. The Corps was formed in a bar.

60. Marines predicted the WWII campaigns in the Pacific years earlier
and prepared for the inevitable. So when a Marine says, “Hey, I’ve been
thinking …” perhaps you should take notes.

61. Give a Marine some free time, and he’ll rip down your dictator’s
statue.

62. If it ain’t raining, we ain’t training.

64. Duty station garden spots: Jacksonville, N.C.; Yuma, Ariz.;
Bridgeport, Calif.; Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Yes, we’re kidding.)

65. Making morning PT on time.

66. Recruiters who promise everything EXCEPT a rose garden.

67. Mustangs #1. It’s easier to take crap from a CO who went to boot
camp.

69. Gen. Peter Pace, the first Marine chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He
left his four-star insignia with his fallen! comrades at the Vietnam Wall
when he retired. Nice move.

70. The people zapper. Using microwave energy to disperse a crowd sounds
like fun. Semper fry, gunny.

71. Nothing says “Good morning” like a mouthful of Copenhagen and
freeze-dried coffee.

72. Nothing says “I love you” like a welcome home sheet hanging on a
chain-link fence.

73. Bill Barnes. In June, the former Marine beat the crap out of a
27-year-old pickpocket who tried to make off with his dough. Oh yeah,
he’s 72.

74. Leftwich Trophy. Heisman winners only think they know about leaving
it all on the field.

75. EOD. If you don’t know why this is on the list, defuse the next IED
yourself.

76. Tax-free combat pay. Doing what you signed up for and! not having to
give Uncle Sam a dime back.

77. Montford Point Marines. The first African-American Marines know a
little something about honor, courage and commitment.

78. Front toward enemy. It’s not just a visual reference on a Claymore
mine, it’s a Marine Corps way of life.

79. Mustangs #2. You know at least three Marines who drive them. It’s
like a Ford dealership exploded on base.

80. Fred Smith, founder of FedEx. Only a former Marine could truly
appreciate the value of getting your mail on time.

81. CMC: The tallest member of the Joints Chiefs. OK, so we haven’t
actually measured, but he looks the tallest anyway.

82. No more spit shining boots.

83. Chuck Norris was in the Air Force. Steve McQueen was a Marine.

84. The Crucible.

85. 1/9, 2/9 and 3/9. Welcome back, fellas.

86. The FROG uniform. You are now sweat-wickin’ AND flame-lickin’.

88. The M4. More rifles in the fight is generally a win-win.

89. MRAPs. Trucks straight out of Mad Max. We still love a good Humvee,
but we loved jeeps, too. Things change.

90. Arty guys who do civil affairs. They blow it up, then they fix it.
Circle of life.

91. Service Charlies. They look so good, the Navy’s copying ’em.

92. Fake Marines. No one eats ’em up faster than real Marines.

93. John Lovell. A 71-year-old former Marine is sitting in a Subway
restaurant when two armed men try to rob the place. Lovell grabs his
.45, kills one and w! ounds the other. No word on how Lovell’s sandwich
fared.

94. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Six Navy Crosses so far. Six.

95. Staff Sgt. Lawrence Dean II, aka the “BadAss Marine.” He recites a
poem. He gets uploaded to YouTube. Thousands get motivated.

96. Gen. James Conway takes over as the new commandant. Among his
demands: a new PT uniform, new tattoo regs, a plan to add dress blues to
the seabag, a change-up in medals and 22,000 more Marines. Someone’s
been thinking about taking over for a while, huh?

97. Body-fat standards. Everyone hates them, until they see a fat
Marine.

98. “Jarhead.” Only a former Marine could write a war story about not
fighting anyone and make it last for 200 pages, then get Jamie Foxx to
star in the movie.

99. The Stumps. The Rock. The Sandbox. Oh, the places you’ll serve.

101. Tattoos #2. Getting a fallen friend’s name tattooed on your other
forearm, and knowing the same.

102. The new PT running suit. Sure, the Army had them first, but the
Army gets most things first.

103. Marine expeditionary units: The cheapest cruise you’ll ever take.

104. Camp Lejeune: The closest interstate and the nearest good shopping
mall are both at least an hour away.

105. Camp Pendleton: There are roads and malls, but try affording a
house near the main gate.

106. Tattoos #3. Meat tags. Getting your blood type and other info inked
on your ribcage isn’t necessarily a bad idea.

107. The Ma! rine Corps is getting bigger. The Navy is getting smaller.

109. 30 days’ paid vacation, plus federal holidays off, is obscene by
civilian standards.

110. Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, the Corps’ first fighter ace. First
Marine to fly a helicopter. Two Navy Crosses, five Distinguished Flying
Crosses, 14 air medals. In 1998, the 82-year-old was killed during a
home break-in when he jumped in front of a shotgun blast aimed at his
longtime wife, Edna.

111. Tattoos #4. Reaction to the new policy: Conway says sleeves are
going away, Marines run for the chair. Tattoo parlors never saw so much
business.

113. Guaranteed pay raises.

114. Marine Security Guard #1. Duty in the Bahamas.

115. Having a WWII Marine say he’s proud of you

116. Drew Carey used to be in the Marine Corps Reserve. Now, he’s the
host of “The Price is Right.”

117. Combatant diver pins. No more of that Navy crap.

118. A Red Stripe is a beer, mon. A Blood Stripe is a symbol of pride.

119. NMCI, if only they would remove the “MC.”

120. You watched “300,” and it reminded you of your unit.

121. The “Det One” .45 pistol. Designed by Marines, for Marines.

122. Combat marksmanship. You are creeping death. And you get graded on
it.

123. Never lost six nukes on a plane.

124. CamelBaks. Water tastes like water again.

125. Give a Marine enough free time, and he’ll marry your Bahraini
princess.

126. Go to YouTube. Type in “bored Marines.” Enjoy.

127. When the president gets on a helicopter, it’s not called “Army
One.”

128. The opposite of the Peace Corps.

129. Camouflage. You can camouflage anything and make it cool.

130. No Fear #1. Marines aren’t scared of anything. Except apricots. And
Charms.

131. Combat optics on M16s. Leave the iron sights, just in case.

132. “Combat loss” amnesty for missing gear. It’s like pleading the
fifth.

133. Riding a chartered Continental Airlines flight home from the war
zone with assault weapons stuffed in all the overhead compartments.

134. In combat, the division band becomes a heavy-machine-gun platoon.

135. What do headaches, broken bones, infectious diseases, missing limbs
and hurt feelings all have in common? Motrin. Thanks, Doc.

137. Global instability equals job security.

138. When NMCI goes down, and it will, it’s like having the day off.

139. The honor, privilege and responsibility of leading, mentoring and
caring for junior Marines.

140. Gunnery sergeants. Don’t know the answer? Ask the gunny. Need
something? Ask the gunny. In trouble? Avoid the gunny.

141. Because gunny said so.

142. The line to get “tazed” at a military gear expo. Marines will do
anything for a free T-shirt.

143. Deployment reunions. Like reliving your wedding night. Sweet!

144. Gig lines. Even in khakis and a polo shirt.

145. Eight-point covers. Even the uniform stands at attention.

146. Marine Security Guards #2. They’re not cute and cuddly, but when
they greet you at the door, it’s like getting a great big hug from the
United States of America, no matter where you are.

147. The Mameluke sword. Distinctive.

148. The NCO sword. Earned, never given.

149. The World Famous Mud Run. Thousands of people pay good money to run
through 10 clicks of muck every year at Camp Pendleton.

150. John Philip Sousa. A Marine, the nation’s March King and composer
of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Ooh-rah.

151. MRE crackers. Hard as Milk Bones but much tastier. You can almost
feel your teeth getting cleaner as you eat ’em.

152. Jane Wayne Day. She’ll never ask about work again.

153. Shirt stays. Or garters. Whatever you call them, they’re a triple
whammy, keeping your shirt tucked, your socks up and removing all that
unwanted leg hair.

154. The slogans: “The Few, The Proud, The Marines.” “We’re Looking For
a Few Good Men,” “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” “Tell that to the
Marines.” If they could only purchase the rights to Hallmark’s “When You
Care Enough to Send the Very Best.”

155. Speaking of slogans, “The Few, The Proud, The Marines” beat out
such notables as Nike’s “Just Do It” and Burger King’s “Have It Your
Way” for a 2007 spot on the advertising Walk of Fame. Better luck next
year, losers.

157. Real duty station garden spots you can go an entire career without
being assigned to: Southern California; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Okinawa,
Japan.

158. Rear-party Marines! . God bless them. Whatever reason they stay
behind — injury, impending retirement or being volun-told — they are
indispensable. They deserve medals for what they have to deal with while
a unit is deployed.

159. While field-grade officers are at the company office, company-grade
officers are in the field.

160. Colonels who can take a joke.

161. Free flu shots. And smallpox shots and anthrax shots …

162. Former Sgt. Chris Everhart. While camping with his three sons in
June 2007, a bear snatched their cooler and made a play for his
6-year-old. Everhart threw an 18-inch log at the bear’s head, cracking
its skull before it could attack and killing it instantly. Then, the
park ranger gave him a ticket for leaving the cooler where the bear
could get it.

163. Standards. The Corps doesn’t lower the bar when recruiting gets
tough.

164. Jim Nabors. “Gomer Pyle” becomes an honorary Marine in 2001 and
makes lance corporal. It takes him six years to pin on corporal. Talk
about art imitating life.

165. Vincent D’Onofrio. The other “Private Pyle” is doing pretty well on
“Law and Order: Criminal Intent.” He’s still weird, though.

166. If you ambush Capt. Brian Chontosh’s boys, he’s going to take off
his Navy Cross and kill you. Then, he’s going to pick up your rifle and
kill your buddies. Then, he’s going to pick up your buddy’s rifle and
kill your buddy’s buddies. Then, he’s going to pick up a
rocket-propelled grenade launcher …

167. Speaking of the Navy Cross, a combat award second only to the Medal
of Honor, Marines have earned 1! 5 so far in Iraq, plus one in
Afghanistan. Of the six awarded to sailors for those combat zones, five
went to SEALs, and one went to a corpsman who exposed himself repeatedly
to enemy fire to evacuate and treat wounded Marines. Along with
Chontosh, the other recipients include:

168. Gunnery Sgt. Justin D. Lehew.

169. Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Perez.

170. Sgt. Scott C. Montoya.

171. Cpl. Marco A. Martinez.

172. Sgt. Willie L. Copeland.

173. Capt. Brent Morel (posthumous).

174. Sgt. Anthony L. Viggiani.

175. 1st Sgt. Bradley A. Kasal.

176. Cpl. Robert J. Mitchell.

177. Cpl. Dominic Esquibel.

178. Sgt. Jarrett A. Kraft.

179. Cpl. Jeremiah W. Workman.

180. Cpl. Todd Corbin.

181. Sgt. Aubrey L. McDade Jr.

182. Pfc. Christopher Adlesperger (posthumous).

! 183. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Louis E. Fonseca.

184. Iwo JIMA. Japan might have changed the name to Iwo To, but that
doesn’t mean you have to acknowledge it.

185. Col. John Ripley. Received the Navy Cross for the destruction of
the Dong Ha bridge in Vietnam. The Corps takes care of its own. In 2002,
with Ripley near death, doctors finally found a donated liver for his
much-needed transplant. So the Marine Corps sent helicopters and Marines
to Philadelphia to retrieve it, and they personally rushed it back to
Washington in! time to save his life.

186. Marine Corps Times isn’t a version of Navy Times anymore. How many
careers get their own newspaper?

188. Gatorade bottles wrapped in green, 100 mph tape so as not to offend
the sailors in the room.

189. Camaraderie. Marines will hook you up with their sisters, then
punch you in the mouth for doing what they knew would happen the whole
time.

190. Ingenuity. MRE bombs, 101 uses for cleaning rods and iPods wired
into field radio speakers.

191. Getting off the ship.

192. Getting back on the ship.

193. No beach? No problem. Marines inserted 400 miles into landlocked
Afghanistan and created Camp Rhino using CH-53 Sea Stallions. Imagine
what you can invade with the Osprey.

194. Cases and cases of bottled water mean never having to stand behind
a water bull.

195. Race as a nonissue. It wasn’t always the case, but three black
sergeants major of the Marine Corps in a row show that the Corps has
only one color: green.

196. Every day in the Corps is another reason to celebrate. That’s why
they call them working “parties.”

197. Riddick Bowe had what it took to be boxing’s undisputed heavyweight
champ. He did not have what it took to be a Marine.

198. The U.S. Army Band is called “Pershing’s Own.” The U.S. Marine
Corps Band is called “The President’s Own.”

199. “8th and I.” Ten bucks says you have no idea where the Army chief
of staff lives. Commandants don’t hide.

200. MR! E “rat boxes.” How grunts trick-or-treat.

201. The poncho liner. It’s a blanket, it’s a tent, it’s a keeper.

202. Combat fit-reps. People say they’re equal to regular fit-reps.
People lie.

203. The “E-tool lean.” Sailors don’t know how good they have it.

204. Navy Lt. Vincent Capodanno, Medal of Honor recipient. If Marines
have a hot line to heaven, Father Capodanno — aka the Grunt Padre —
would take the call. His body peppered by shrapnel, his right hand
nearly severed, the Navy chaplain and priest crisscrossed a Vietnam
battlefield Sept. 4, 1967, to render last rites to his fallen Marines
and corpsmen with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, until 27 rounds from an
enemy machine gun took his life. Last year, the Vatican de! clared him a
“servant of God.” Next step, sainthood?

206. Amphibious warfare means always being near the beach.

207. No Fear #2. Talk about the AV-8B Harrier’s troubled past all you
like, but brave jump jet pilots are flying missions in Iraq.

208. New Uniforms #2. Wash-and-wear combat uniforms mean no more starch,
no more dry cleaning.

209. Marine air-ground task force. Nothing like controlling the air and
the ground.

210. Slapping an eagle, globe and anchor on the back of your car and
knowing it’ll get you out of at least one speeding ticket.

211. The Navy wants to put Marines back on warships. It seems that
Tomahawk cruise missiles can’t do everything.

212. Liberty in Thailand.

213. Liberty in Australia.

214. Liberty, well, anywhere.

215. The Navy’s mascot is a goat. The Corps’ mascot is a bulldog. You
don’t need Michael Vick to tell you who wins that fight.

216. If you need another occupying land force, you can use the Marine
Corps. If you need another rapidly deployable, sea-based,
front-door-kicking, air-ground team, you can’t use the Army.

217. 1775 Rum Punch. Four parts dark rum, two parts lime juice, one part
pure maple syrup, grenadine to taste.

218. “It’s fun to shoot some people,” said Lt. Gen. Jim Mattis. He says
what he thinks.

219. The Beirut Memorial Wall. If you ever forget what you’re fighting
for, pay a visit.

221. “Son, we live in a world that has ! walls, and those walls have to be
guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant
Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly
fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that
luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago’s
death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while
grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the
truth because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you
want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor,
code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent
defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the
time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps
under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions
the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank
you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and
stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are
entitled to.” Jack Nicholson, “A Few Good Men.”

222. Maj. Meghan McClung, Marine public affairs officer, killed by a
roadside bomb in Iraq while escorting media. The PAO is more than just a
spokesman.

223. Sgt. Rafael Peralta. Like Dunham, he hugged a grenade to save his
buddies in Iraq. No Medal of Honor … yet.

224. Hearing an accidental discharge into the clearing barrel, then
waiting for the lieutenant to walk inside.

225. Call signs like “Spider” and “Assassin,” and these guys were
generals.

227. Buttered noodles for breakfast.

228. “Every Marine should look like a Marine. But a Marine looks like a
Marine when he’s got a bayonet stuck in the enemy’s chest.” Gen. Robert
Magnus, assistant commandant, discussing body-fat standards.

229. “Infantry” is the easiest job for recruiters to sell.

230. Being the youngest Marine at the ball.

231. Being the oldest Marine at the ball.

232. Marine Corps Times appreciates all you do. Happy birthday, Marines!

So much has happened for me in the last few days.   My company, hit by the financial crisis made some critical decisions in order to stay in business and my tech job was cut in the process.   So I am out of work for the first time in many, many years.

I see this as an opportunity for me to advance in my chosen career though.    Thank goodness I don't have many bills so that I can actually live on unemployment if I need to for a while.    I feel for those that have lost jobs and can't manage to survive afterwards.   

In any case, I am exploring my options on returning to college and actually getting some kind of degree in my field which is Information Technology.   Indiana has many programs and grants available for those who lose their jobs due to no fault of their own and may have trouble finding a comparable position elsewhere.   Due to the fact that I am self-taught in my field and have no actual degree, my chances of finding a decent position are negligible.   So hopefully WIA Adult grants for education will help me get that sought-after degree.  I am thinking of getting one in computer security systems which is VERY needed at this time although with my experience I could get a job anywhere with ANY degree in Computer Sciences.  I have almost 10 years of hands-on experience as an MIS Assistant and IT Coordinator for manufacturing companies.  I am well-versed in Network and Database administration, hardware and software troubleshooting and creating manufacturing mods using Access database as well as being very familiar with Quality Assurance procedures and other things concerned with QA.  But I NEED that degree (even an associate degree would help) to get decent pay and not have to actually work up to the same position I have held for the last four years.

My ex-boss gave me an excellent reference letter.   But I am getting too old to have to prove my capabilities at ANOTHER company.    So I am going to try very hard to get the funding for that degree.   Please pray for me if you get a moment.    I have faith in my own ability to pursue this dream but believe me when I say I am praying for it to work out too.

Eric and his little family are all doing well.    He has an education grant from his service in the USMC and should be starting school in early spring. 

I do want to share this photo that my mom took of my great-niece Aalyah and Landon.   To prepare you the caption is "Girl Gives Boy Valentine Day kiss and Boy Gets Sick"  *grin*.    You'll see why it has that caption LOL.

 
Girl Gives Boy Valentine Kiss; Boy Gets Sick !!

Well with everything that has been happening this winter: making a new type of home with the addition of Eric, Patty and Landon, getting to know and completely fall in love with my new grandson, holidays to get through and new things to do at work just so we can stay in business, I haven’t had much time to blog.   Just so you know, we are all doing well and I certainly plan on getting some updates here soon for everyone that has followed this blog these last 4 years.  I certainly hope everyone is doing okay in these current tough times.

But … I got an email that I just had to share with all my friends who support our USMC and our military as I have always done on this blog.  So here it is:

Cemetery Escort Duty

I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey's.  Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655.  Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day.  Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever--the heat and humidity at the same level--both too high.

I saw the car pull into the drive, '69 or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new.  It pulled into the parking lot at a snail's pace.  An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers--about four or five bunches as best I could tell.

I couldn't help myself.  The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste:  'She's going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to get out of here right now!'  But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.
Kevin would lock the 'In' gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey's in time.

I broke post attention.  My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.

I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk.  She looked up at me with an old woman's squint.

'Ma'am, may I assist you in any way?'

She took long enough to answer. 'Yes, son.  Can you carry these flowers?  I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.'

'My pleasure, ma'am.'  Well, it wasn't too much of a lie..

She looked again.  'Marine, where were you stationed?'

'Vietnam, ma'am.  Ground-pounder. '69 to '71.'

She looked at me closer.  'Wounded in action, I see.  Well done, Marine. I'll be as quick as I can.'

I lied a little bigger:  'No hurry, ma'am.'

She smiled and winked at me.  'Son, I'm 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let's get this done.  Might be the last time I can do this.  My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a few Marines I'd like to see one more time.'

'Yes, ma 'am.  At your service.'

She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone.  She picked one of the flowers out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone.  She murmured something I couldn't quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.

She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone.  I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943.

She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944.

She paused for a second.  'Two more, son, and we'll be done'

I almost didn't say anything, but, 'Yes, ma'am.  Take your time.'

She looked confused. 'Where's the Vietnam section, son?  I seem to have lost my way.'
I pointed with my chin.  'That way, ma'am.'

'Oh!' she chuckled quietly.  'Son, me and old age ain't too friendly.'

She headed down the walk I'd pointed at.  She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted.  She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970.  She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn't make out.

'OK, son, I'm finished.  Get me back to my car and you can go home.'

Yes, ma'am.  If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?'

She paused. 'Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons.  All killed in action, all marines.'

She stopped.  Whether she had finished, or couldn't finish, I don't know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.

I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.

'Get to the 'Out' gate quick.  I have something I've got to do.'

Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him.  He broke the rules to get us there down the service road.  We beat her.  She hadn't made it around the rotunda yet.

'Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost.  Follow my lead.'  I humped it across the drive to the other post.

When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny's voice: 'TehenHut!  Present Haaaarms!'
I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye--full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.

She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice. I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.
Instead of 'The End,' just think of 'Taps.'

As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: 'Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas.  Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.'

Let's all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts.
They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.

'In God We Trust.'

Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!
If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under!

Sorry to my friends here that I have been so negligent about posting.    But I have been busy getting to know my expanded family again!

I have been debating if I should change the title of these since as of the middle of October my son is a RETIRED Marine.   But they say that 'once a Marine, always a Marine' so I haven't decided if I should give up the title of Marine mom yet.   What do you think?

Anyway ... I have pictures!   Landon is a sweetheart and I am so glad to have him in my life and home as well as having my son back safely from four years in the Corps and two tours in Iraq.   And I have a new daughter to spoil in Patty!   Lots going on but I have had time to take some pics :)

 
This is when Patty and Landon first got to my house .   Everyone stayed up too late as you can tell by Eric's yawn lol~

Two proud new grandmas!   My baby sister,Julie and Aaliyah (my great-niece, 4 months) on the left, me and Landon (5 weeks) on the right.

Such a sweet little boy!

There will be more pics soon.  I thought I had some of Landon smiling but they must have not taken like I thought they did.   Having lots of fun here though :)    Hope everyone out in Spaces land is well and as happy as I am!!

God bless you all and Semper fi to all our Marines out there!