New "PFC"

[jimmy six]

Some of you will see this on the "list" and others here. It's a message just to show there's other things happening in all of our families other than the LSR which we all enjoy.

My wife Jean and I just returned home from spending 2 days in San Diego for family
day and graduation of one our countries newest Marines. Our oldest grandson
Tyler, Patricks oldest son, followed in his fathers footsteps 22 years later
by graduating from the United States Marine Recrut Depot San Diego with 452
of our nation finest. He was a member of Platoon 1030. After 10 days leave,
he will be stationed at Camp Pendleton for extended rifle and combat
training before leaving for Lynchburg Va. He graduated Private 1st class due to his
5 years in ROTC from the 8th grade thru high school in Chandler Az.

Tyler was denied his first ride in the family roadster in October by a
broken rocker arm shaft in our GMC. We hope The USMC will see it to fit in
some leave during race time. His first trip off the base for for a stop at
In-and-Out for a double-double with cheese..........you west costers will
know what I mean.............who-ra.....Semper-fi................JD

[Freud]

JD, the PRIDE shows.

Congrats,

FREUD

[Stainless1]

Cograts Tyler, Patrick and JD... MCRD, SD is not the easy path to the world but it is the high road 

[Glen]

JD, that's super, congrats to him and the family.

[HotRodV8]

Hello JD --

Congratulations on the grandson's graduation as a PFC. Glad you let us know.

I never made it into the military service, but I'm teaching my 9 yr old daughter all about our military. It has become our tradition when we see a "soldier" in our community, she salutes them, thanks them for their service and awards each soldier one of her gold challenge coins.

My daughter Rizzy would be honored to meet your PFC grandson, in between roadster runs, salute him, thank him for his service and present him with one of her coins. It may be of interest that 546 Marines at the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Base, Hawaii, already have received her coin, one at a time.

Hope to see you on the salt.

Who - RA

[wobblywalrus]

We have two sons in the west coast marines a son in law in the army.  The marines appear to be the better organized, they train their troops more, and they take better care of them.  Your son made a good choice.

[Stainless1]

JD, Patrick and Tyler, just got this from a kid that worked for me in the USAF 35 years ago, we still keep in touch... it will help Tyler understand what he is in for.... his dad as well as many here already know.

Veteran to Veteran

When a Veteran leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many are
jealous, some are pleased, and others, who may have already retired, wonder
if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.

We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few
experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.

We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long after
the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.
 
We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step
and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of
the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people
suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and
always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what
they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.

Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only
escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active' duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your
heart you never forget for one moment that you are still a member of the
greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

A veteran - whether active duty, retired, served one hitch, or reserve is
someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to
'The Government of the United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to
and including my life'.

From one Veteran to another, it's an honor to be in your company. Thank you
for your service to our country and defending the freedoms we enjoy!!

Tyler, thanks for your service

[Glen]

Well said Stainless.

[dw230]

Totally awesome Stainless!

Tyler, thank you for your service.

JD, Jean and Patrick - your family is truly what an American is about. It has been my honor to know you since the 1970s.

To all of the board members who served, thank you!

DW
USAF
1964-1971

[Richard 2]

JD and wife congrad's and congrad's to your Son. Our youngest son graduated from there a few years ago also. It was quite an experience and an honer to watch the young men Graduate. Our son was in Iraq for 13 months. His mom made it through that too.  Glad He Went, Glad He's Home.
Richard

[nrhs sales]

Good for him!!!

US Army retired myself.

[NathanStewart]

His first trip off the base for for a stop at
In-and-Out for a double-double with cheese..........you west costers will
know what I mean

Hahahaha that was exactly what my first stop was after coming home from basic training for Christmas.  Right around the corner from Ontario Intl on Vineyard.  It was also my last stop before I left.  Yum!

[Tman]

Congrats and thanks to him for serving!

[DocBeech]

Congrats to the new shipmate. It was my Honor to serve as a Corpsman of Marines with 3rd Recon, and I am glad to see the pride you have in your new PFC. If he ends up deployed there are four things you can do for him.

First teach him to stay away from tag chasers and easy marriages. It will be very enticing. The money, the girl, the house. Teach him he needs to take the time to make sure shes the right woman. So he doesn't end up with the other 80% of the Marines in divorce.

Second remember that if he deploys he might come back jumpy. I jump out of bed everytime they drop the dumpster across the street. I catch myself avoiding freshly paved roads and pot holes. Its been over two years since I set foot in Iraq and I still can't shake some of the things from over there. The dreams, the habits, and the smells never seem to go away. So y'all might have some patience learning comming up.

Third the blue star moms. I havn't known my mom since I was little but my best friends mom raised me, spanked me, and taught me. It is a great community for his mom. They will help teach, and help calm a her through what can be a really tough time.

Fourth is soldiers angels. I had an angel while I was in Iraq both times. His name is Bruce and he was a godsend to me. Litearlly when I needed thing for my boys he got it. Foot treatment, simple first aid, hygene supplies. He even sent us a giant box of condiments. Mainly hot sauce lol. Soldiers Angels made the job I did in Iraq easier. They got me some supplies the miiltary couldn't get us. Even things we didn't need but brought comfort. Books, canned foods, candy, chips, hair brushes, sun screen, they even sent us a portable electric razor. We used this to keep our heads and beards shaved down. They sent us phone cards to call our families with over the sat phone. Without them I don't know what emotional state I would have been. I think Bruce and his family all the time for what they did for us.

Y'all taught him well already to make it to this point, but the easy part is done. The hard part is the next "X" number of years he spends in the marines. Until he is a Staff NCO his life won't be easy, but it will be the greatest time of his life. I hope he cherishes the memories he develops as much as the rest of us have. Good luck to him, Hoorah and Semper Fi Brother.

For those of you who want to help out a veteran you can join soldiers angels as well. This is an esay way to support someone in need. Those paychecks are better, but still record numbers of military families are in need of help. My brothers and I didn't do it for the money. We did it for each other, but times were hard for new families and even new service members. The paychecks were a struggle at first, and some of the guys with kid and families could really use the help.

[SPARKY]

Doc,  Thanks for the insights and especially your service!