Prayer...

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

Lil Sheep Herder Boy...

Today at 6am my phone started to bark. (my cell phone ring is actually that of a dog barking) I don't get many calls on my cell phone and when I see "unknown" come up on the caller ID...I know it's RJ. Happy days!!

RJ is doing fine. I don't have much to tell unfortunately as he was going to call back but for some reason was unable to. But what he did say was that what's going on now is "a hair raising experience". That should be interesting being that none of them have any hair. ha! I guess a lot has been going on there. That's why communication has been cut-off so often. Whenever there is an incident, they shut it down. I hadn't talked to him in 9 days (originally I thought it was 8). That call was very short. We barely got past the "so what's going on?" stuff. But he did sound just fine. Spirits are still pretty good, it's just been crazy lately. I hope it isn't like that the entire time he's there, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. Fingers crossed that it won't be.

They spend a fair amount of time searching for IED's (improvised explosive devices) and doing look-outs. I'm sure there is tons more they do but that is what I heard about this morning. He said they're difficult to find even in the dark when they use their night-vision goggles. I've read that they learn more of what to look for all the time, so hopefully they are one step or more ahead of the insurgents.

The weather has been in the very chilly 30's in the evening and the low 70's during the day. He said the nights are very cold. Those tempuratures should start to warm up soon unfortunately warmer for not just the evening but also the day.

I guess at some point when RJ was out, probably goofing off (KIDDING!!!), he ran into a young sheep herder boy and his brother. He gave them some candy and had a little chit-chat. RJ has made a couple new friends. He sounded like he was sort of smiling when he was describing it. Cute.

Please keep sending emails/Motomails/letters and packages as I'm sure they help keep up his moral and let him know he is loved by many and missed terribly. He sounds pretty good but this is the beginning of a long road. I wouldn't ask any important questions in any of those forms of communication as he doesn't answer them. I'd wait until you have him on the phone, if it's important. Motomails are good because he can get them fairly soon after writing them. Packages and letters take about 3 weeks to get to him. And as far as emails go...don't expect a lot of them. His online time is limited and after reading the one's he's gotten and checking his pay there is little time for much else. So email responses are very few. I've sent him a handful of ecards too. He hasn't said anything about them, but I know he's gotten them. If you'd like to send one I'll put a link or two under "links" (listed to the right).

Have I mentioned how much I absolutely hate this deployment thing????!!! But despite being half asleep, there is nothing like waking up to his voice.

Safe travels. Warm nights. Cool days. Any food other than MRE's. And peaceful, happy dreams. All wishes for RJ and the troops in Iraq.

Carrie Ann

First-class ways to support our troops

Monday, March 28, 2005

Connie Schultz / Plain Dealer Columnist

Fourth-class cadet Tim Gaydosh had just folded his lanky 6-foot-4 frame into an aisle seat at the back of the plane when he locked eyes with the civilian headed his way.

Tim, a first-year student at the Air Force Academy, was on his way home to Cleveland for spring break. As always, he was in uniform, and he'd been on the receiving end of enough strangers lately to stiffen just a bit as the man plowed through the busy aisle.

Would this guy be one of those nice folks who shook his hand and thanked him for his service to our country? Or was this going to be like that day in Wal-Mart, when another customer took one look at Tim's uniform and shook his head in disgust?

The middle-aged man headed his way wore bluejeans, a sweat shirt and a few extra pounds on his tall frame. He came to a stop at Tim's outstretched knee and extended his hand.

"I really appreciate what you're doing for our country," he said.

Then he handed Tim his ticket.

"I want you to sit in first class," he said. "I want you to take my seat."

The soft-spoken Tim politely protested. "You paid for it, sir," he said. "I can't sit in your seat."

The man would not be deterred.

"I said I want you to have it, and I mean it. You go up there now, and take my seat."

After a little more wrangling, Tim finally agreed. He heard other passengers thanking the man and praising his generosity as he walked up the aisle.

"It gave me such a good feeling," Tim said later. "And it's quite an experience up there in first class. They come up to you every five minutes asking if you need anything."

He sighed ever so slightly. "I had to say no to the wine, being only 18."

I first learned about Tim's flight upgrade from his father, Joe, an electrician at the Ford plant in Avon Lake.

"I just want to thank all the people who've been so nice to my son since he put on a uniform," he said in a phone message. "You hear so much evil about people, but there are so many nice people out there, and many of them are coming up to my son."

Joe is especially grateful to that man named David who gave up his first-class seat for Tim. "I wish I could tell him, Sir, I appreciate that you saw what you saw and did what you did for my son.' "

Tim insists that "the real soldiers" -- the ones coming home from active duty in Iraq -- are the ones most deserving of Americans' kindness.

"They shouldn't have to come home to a Vietnam," he said, referring to the ridicule and hostility many soldiers of that era experienced upon their return to American soil.

Long after that war ended, Vietnam veterans finally found the courage to speak out about the torture they endured, not in Asia, but at the hands of an angry and condemning public in their own hometowns. Their honesty about that unspeakable pain forced us to face our own ugly past, and they are the reason that, this time, most of us know the difference between the men who plan the war and the soldiers who fight it.

Recent polls show that most Americans now oppose the war in Iraq. Our support, though, for the men and women risking their lives in that guerrilla warfare remains strong.

Earlier this month, I was standing in a long line at Cleveland's airport. There must have been a hundred of us slowly winding our way through the maze of straps and posts just outside the waiting area where all arriving passengers eventually exit. Most of us couldn't help but notice the jolly band waiting to welcome a soldier named Ryan.

"Welcome home, Ryan!" read one sign.

"You're our hero, Ryan!" read another.

Several were holding small American flags, and all of them eagerly peered with stretched necks waiting for their soldier.

Finally, a young man wearing camouflage and boots and a grin wider than the bill of his cap bounded through the entryway.

Without a word, nearly a hundred strangers put down their bags and purses and started to clap.

Welcome home.

To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
cschultz@plaind.com, 216-999-5087

© 2005 The Plain Dealer © 2005 cleveland.com All Rights Reserved.

Communication varies....

Hi everyone-

I've spoken with a variety of people who have loved ones in the 3/25 as Corpsman. We know where they are all stationed but I found out, as many of us suspected, that not all companies see each other if at all. Even within the companies communication is different. Meaning that one Corpsman might be better at communicating with their loved ones than another. Hopefully they have their reasons other than they're just too tired or don't feel like it when they don't communicate. Even when we know they can. I think this is where the "stay strong" comes into play more than ever. No, that doesn't make it any easier when all you really want to know is if they are ok.

Keep sending emails, packages, and Motomails. We all need communication but I tell ya, I wouldn't want to be in their boots right now. And I'm trying the best I can to keep that in mind and keep a stiff upper lip when I can hear his voice on the other end of the line.

If you have a site and would like to share it with others in the 3/25 please send me a link and I'll include it in these posts. Or if you have general information, that would be great too. Please be careful with information in regards to the guys and their where-abouts. Any and all info sent to me with be reviewed and "edited" if needed for security reasons. Thanks!

Semper Fi!

Carrie Ann

PS: A client sent this to me the other day. I don't know where it came from but I thought it very appropriate for some of us as we all get used to this new chapter of our loved ones being away from us...
Just remember "The road you are on now with him may seem to be a long, dark and hard one at times, stay strong for the sun will shine. Don't think too much into what he is or is not doing by judging him based on the actions of others. We know not what weighs on others' mind and sole. If we truly love them we have to help bear the load at times."
-He was a counselor for the Army when he was deployed.

Sempertoon...

These and more can be found at: http://www.military.com/cartooncontent/0,14763,Wolf_031605,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl

Just for fun...

This is a little fun thing to do called "What number are you?". My number and description of that number and it's characteristics are below and there's a link at the bottom for you to follow to find your number. Check it out. Just for fun...

I am "the Loyalist"

6 You have strong relationships and are intensely loyal. People find you easy to love and care for. You like your world to be stable and secure, no surprises. You're cautious. You prefer your inner circle to the outside world.

What number are you?

Do your job!

It's God's job to judge the terrorists.
It's OUR job to arrange the meeting - USMC
Semper Fi!

A Marine's Prayer

Hello all. I came across this prayer today. Thought it was interesting and that I'd share it with you...

Marines Prayer
•••
Oh Lord, we have long known that prayer should include confession.
Therefore on behalf of the Marines, I confess their sins:

Lord, they’re just not in step with today’s society. They are unreasonable in clinging to old-fashioned ideas like patriotism, duty, honor and country. They hold radical ideas believing that they are their brother’s keeper and responsible for the Marine on their flank. They have been seen standing when colors pass, singing the National Anthem at ball games, and drinking toasts to fallen comrades.

Not only that, they have been observed standing tall; taking charge and wearing their hair unfashionably short. They have taken Teddy R’s and JFK’s words too seriously and are overly concerned with what they can do for their service and country instead of what the country can do for them. They take the pledge of Allegiance to heart and believe that their oath is to be honored. Forgive them, Lord, for being stubborn men and women who hold these values as genuine. They are aware of the price for honor and with total command of their spirit, they have been willing to pay that price.

After all, what more can you expect? They’re Marines!

Oh Lord our God, bless these men and women of ideals, continue to raise up in this nation strong leaders and deliver us from “me first” managers and “don’t ask me” followers. Be our honored guest this day, Oh Lord, and join with us in laughter, good food, good drink, and the telling of tall tales and legends that occasionally exceed the truth. We bow our heads to those who were lost in places that had names meaningless until the mud-Marines landed, and in that mud reaffirmed the one legacy that brings all Marines together, the blood and tears shed for service and each other. Watch over and keep safe all those who wear this nations’ uniform with special attention to their families and loved ones everywhere.

With brandy and cigar in hand, I salute you all for through this day and all of the following nights and days ahead.

God bless you, God bless this great nation and God bless the Corps.

“Arrruggha”
Amen

Semper Fidelis

A call from the wild....

It happened today. March 8th at 10:27 am. RJ called. Whew! Thank God and so much more.

He sounded very good. It was short but good. He said there were many, many people lined up to get on the one of four phones they had available to them to share. Not to mention the six computers. And that's it. His phone time was limited. All were anxious to contact their loved ones. He stole a couple extra minutes when the monitor wasn't paying attention...tee hee.

He said they have been very busy. No ops were run yet but I guess it's been mostly training and keeping track of their gear (?).

I can say that he's in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq and will be doing a lot of moving around. No other specifics are available. He has a phone card that he purchased. I bought him one as well but I'm not sure he can use it there, he might have to wait until he's at another base due to the fact that they are so removed from everyone. The one I bought was from the Military Exchange and I knew there was a small chance it might not work where the troops go at one point or another. That's ok, he can use it later, hopefully. He got his from SegoviaIP.net? I just looked at that website and saw some calling cards but they don't look like the ones he was talking about. He said he got his for 4cents/minute. I've just emailed him asking for more specifics on it. I know some of your guys are in different areas...let me know what cards are working for them and I can post them to this blog for others.

Let's see what else...he said you can't drink the water there. No reason was given but my guess would be something comparable to Montazuma's Revenge? Who knows.

He described to me his first meeting with some of the troops that have been there for a while already. I don't know if you recall what his fatigues/camoflague looked like...it's digital camo. Little varying colored squares make up the "camo" pattern on their tan based colored attire. He said the digi-camo on the guys already there was SO worn that it almost looked completely one color, tan. And the guys were dirty and looked worn out. They were very happy to see RJ and the other troops fresh and ready to relieve them apparently but also saddened. Showing thoughtful gazes of "Thank God you're here and sorry you have to deal with this now, it's really going to suck". The new guys felt for the guys already there, all beaten up and worn out emotionally and physically and the old guys felt for the new ones in that they now too have to go through the hell they just endured. Like they didn't want to hand over the burden. I can only imagine.

RJ tries to stay positive and always wants to know what's going on back home. I wish I had something exciting to share with him. Other than, "Hey! I got a call from RJ last week!!". He knew that, he was there. It isn't wild and crazy here, like it is there...unless you're talking about Cleveland weather. [wink, wink]

It made my day, no, it made my week to hear from him. So relieved to hear he was ok and doing fine.

Saturday is the Potluck at the Brookpark Headquarters. I don't know much about it other than I'm going with Lizette and Cynthia and that I should be there. Want to be there too.

I know that Lizette had heard from Brett and he is doing good too. I don't know about anyone else. I'll post it when I have more info.

That's it for now. Have a great day!

Later taters-

Carrie Ann
PS: Map of Iraq (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/iraq_rel_2004.jpg)

Vegas and beyond....

Hi everyone-

Well, I believe all the boys have gone and are overseas wreaking havoc on the camel/sand spiders. Let's hope that's the worst of it (a little mind trickery there).

RJ left on early this week and called me at 4:15am from one of the stops en route. He was in great spirits and said he'd call again later that day, but didn't. My guess is that he just wasn't able to. I haven't heard from him since. He's been moved to a different company. Not sure of any more than that, Lizette is working on finding that out for me.

Vegas was really nice. Hard at the same time. I could tell he was in a different state of mind but still the same ole RJ for the most part. Just not enough time as far as I'm concerned. Although we were together the whole time we didn't really get to "talk" until just before we both left. It was really nice. He was more excited about sleeping in a bed and eating real food than a lot of other things. Too funny!

I'm understanding that many have switched to the Motomail option for communication. I've done so myself but again due to the fact that RJ had a company switch just before he left, I'm not sure that he's getting them at the moment.

I will post Vegas pictures as soon as I can and I'd love to get links from others Vegas pictures pages too. I'll post the links here.

Take care everyone. Keep in touch. Semper Fi!

Carrie