On the Front Lines

[Fayebelle]

Many people are missing Family and Friends much more this time of year b/c they have to be away serving our country.

This will be a thread where they can tell us about them and we can post anytime we want to show support to our troops. If you see something on the news or hear a good story - talk about it here (POSITIVE ONLY!!!)

If you are spending time w/family and feeling truly blessed- take time to post here and give an aknowledgement that you are sharing those warm thoughts w/others far from home.

I dedicate this thread to Cindy's son and all the other friends and family strong enough to think more of us and our country then they do their own simple pleasures. I ask that every time you see a holiday decoration you take a moment to send a prayer or good thought to those who can't be home to see them this year.

[Samson]

Well said,

Hope LadyA appears tomorrow so I can buy her a drink.

[Fayebelle]

I hope to hear from her SOMETIME- it's been awhile

[Stone]

I'll send her an email, and everybody else can too maby she'll respond. Maby she's on vacation for the holidays

[Duke]

I posted this in the other topic but if anyone here talks to Cindy can you pass on my thoughts of well wishes for her and her family? I don't know Cindy as well as many of you, but that doesn't stop me from considering her a friend.

Thanks Teri for letting me know about this thread and reminding me of all the wonderful friends I have. Reading this thread made me cry...not tears of sorrow but of appreciation for all the supportive people.

We're doing okay...thanks for asking. Our son is now located at Haditha Dam, northwest of Baghdad. They are working very long hours and it has gotten very cold there. He is running in convoys several times a week to three different locations in that area, including one which is in the news frequently.

His battalion had their first death on December 2nd very close to where they are, at the hands of a suicide car bomber. That was extremely hard on all of them, as well as the families here at home.

We would love to hear from him before Christmas but are afraid to get our hopes up. We spoke to him almost three weeks ago, and his wife heard from him early this week. He's hanging in there. Three more months to go, if everything works out like they hope...keep your fingers crossed.

Once again, thank you all so much for thinking of me and my family. I am so touched. Sorry I haven't been in touch, but I'm doing a lot of volunteer work for the battalion, attending family functions, and staying very busy here at home as well...time goes by faster that way.

Our Marine moms and wives group has adopted the family of one of our Marines whose wife is dealing with their five children on her own, including a brand new baby. It has made us appreciate how good we have it compared to people like her. It feels good to be able to help, rather than feel sorry for yourself.

I promise not to be such a stranger, though gentle nudging via email does help. Thanks Teri.

Cindy

p.s. Samson, you better have me a Crown&7 ready when I arrive!

[Duke]

Thanks for the update Cindy, nice to hear from you again as well!

[Fayebelle]

*hugs* Cindy! It is so good to hear from you.

I'm very sorry for the loss of your son's comrade. My ex lost 2 very close pals when he was there- so I know it is hard on them. Just remind him that many of us here see them all as individuals and not just faceless statistics halfway around the world.

I hope you get to hear from your son before Christmas but if not I'm a huge supporter of the No News Is Good News mentality.

Keep us posted when you can.

Luv!

Teri

[Samson]

Samson, you better have me a Crown&7 ready when I arrive!

Nothing will be spared. Crown & 7 is easy.

See ya,
Samson

[Merika]

(((((((CINDY!)))))))))

Please POST so we can catch up! I hope some of the Christmas cookies we sent to Iraq reaches your son's batallion!!!! They were sent from Barb's (Ladywings) efforts and you know that means MARINE!

I braved the front lines for you all tonight and I survived! Samson's bark is definitely worse than his bite. What a sweetie!!!

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

I braved the front lines for you all tonight and I survived! Samson's bark is definitely worse than his bite. What a sweetie!!!

Oops...I forgot to sign in last night (er...this morning) before I posted that. Okay, okay...I'll be honest. I couldn't remember my password at that particular point in time. It suddenly came to me this morning when I had a point of clarity. :wink:

p.s. Hi "Merika" (isn't that a pretty old picture?) and others whose screen names I don't recognize but think I know. I'm still a little confused. Definitely lots of catching up to do.

[Stone]

Hey Cindy, I am sending you and your faimlly prayers often. I'm glad to hear that you are getting togeather with other military Faimlies and that you have a support system. Wishing you a Very meryy christmas and a Happy New Year.

[Fayebelle]

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE
MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN
THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I HAD PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT
A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA, DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM
THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.';

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"

[Cindy]

I didn't know where I should post this, so I'm posting it here. I got a call from our nephew in Iraq this evening. It was a pleasant surprise. He usually emails or IM's, but I hadn't heard from him in a while. He's at the same base where our son is technically based, although John's not there right now and may not be back there until the end of his deployment.

Kevin (nephew) is a Captain and flies jets for the Marines. I can't even imagine how stressful his job is, out there flying around every night, waiting for the call to drop a bomb when needed. He said it gets monotonous, every day is basically the same; fly, eat, shower, sleep, get up and do it again. Of course he downplays the times when it's NOT "the same."

He wished us a belated Merry Christmas, but his heart definitely wasn't in it. Kevin is always such an upbeat, joking kind of guy. It's depressing to hear him the way he is now...tired, homesick, so serious. He just kept saying, "I'm ready to come home." Breaks your heart.

He wanted news about John...had we heard from him, where is he, what is he doing, that kind of thing. He's more worried about him than he is himself and feels bad that he's in such a safe and relatively comfortable place when John is out doing convoys all over the place in crappy living conditions. When he was there at the base Kevin felt like he could "keep an eye on him" for us. I know it must be frustrating for him.

My husband is out of town right now. I wish he could have been here when Kevin called. Whenever I hear from one of them I'm happy to hear their voice but sad when they hang up and cry like a baby wishing I could reach out and hug them and make everything better.

[Star]

I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be to have loved ones so far away fighting for your country. I would also be happy to hear their voices on the phone and sad that the call would have to end. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I'm sad for your whole family.

I was watching the dr. phil christmas special he had and I cried for every family that is spending christmas without their loved ones because they're away fighting for their country. I found it all to be so sad.

I really and truly hope with all my heart that they'll come home very soon to be with family.