The following are stories, accounts
and photos from the brave men and women of Illinois who are proudly
serving our country. Their sense of duty, honor and commitment are
outstanding. Take the time to look through and appreciate what these
brave warriors have done for us.
If you know or are a member of the
armed forces and would like to have a story or picture included, please
send it to
DanRutherford@DanRutherford.com.
Please have them be 'first person' and from the soldier personally
along with their hometown in Illinois.
I received an e-mail from my
friends Judy and John Dudek telling me that her son, Electronics
Technician 1st Class Petty Officer John Dudek, was named 2007 Naval
Surface Combat Systems East Coast Sailor of the Year. John was
chosen over the West Coast Sailor of the Year and will now compete
against Sailors of the Year from the remaining naval organizations.
We are all very proud of John and wish him good luck at the next
level of competition.
East
Coast ET Takes First Step in Quest for Sailor of the Year
Story Number:
NNS071025-04
Release Date: 10/25/2007 9:24:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Christopher Dollar, Center for Surface Combat Systems Public Affairs
DAM NECK, Va. (NNS) -- An electronics technician assigned to
Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) Unit Great Lakes was named
the 2007 CSCS Sailor of the Year on Oct. 16.
Electronics Technician 1st Class (SW) John Dudek, representing the
East Coast, was selected for the award during a head-to-head
competition with Sonar Technician Surface 1st Class (SW) Michael
Durel of Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center in San Diego.
"What started out as a nomination by my command evolved -- to my
surprise and delight -- into Sailor of the Year for CSCS," said
Dudek.
Dudek, a native of Canton, Ill., enlisted in the Navy in 1999. After
attending Electronics Technicians "A" School in Great Lakes, Dudek
served aboard USS Valley Forge (CG-50) until her decommissioning in
2004. Currently, Dudek is an apprentice technical training
instructor at CSCS Unit Great Lakes.
CSCS SOY begins with a competition at the local level and the
selectees from the detachments compete for CSCS SOY East and West by
sending their packages to CSCS Unit Dam Neck to be reviewed by a
board, explained Command Master Chief Charles Hardin, CSCS. The
board chooses two Sailors to compete as the CSCS SOY East and West
for the opportunity to be the CSCS SOY.
The selectees go through a rigorous process of performing basic
military drill and answering a series of questions in front of a
board of master chiefs.
"After all the interviews and before the individual scores are shown
to the board, a vote takes place to see how well the board thought
each Sailor did," said Hardin. "It was amazing to see how well the
votes reflected the scores."
Dudek and Durel were selected from a group of 11 finalists that also
included Gunner's Mate 1st Class (SW) Tere Patterson of CSCS
Detachment West, San Diego; Mineman 1st Class (SW) Brandi Jimenez of
CSCS Ingleside, Texas; Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW) Chris
Witkemper of CSCS Detachment Pearl Harbor; Operations Specialist 1st
Class (SW) Raymond Graves of CSCS Detachment Yokosuka, Japan;
Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW) Christopher Rowan of CSCS
Detachment Mayport, Fla.; Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Alan
Middeker of AEGIS Training and Readiness Center, Dahlgren; Fire
Controlman 1st Class (SW) Mikel Grandey of CSCS Detachment Wallops
Island; Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Kwon Johnson of CSCS
Detachment East, Norfolk; and Operations Specialists 1st Class (SW)
Edward Suders of CSCS Unit Dam Neck.
Dudek is scheduled represent CSCS at the Naval Personnel Development
Command level in December.
Rod Hieronymus
Hi,
I’m not
a soldier, but instead an Air Traffic Controller doing contract work
helping to train Iraqi controllers to take back their own control
towers and Air Traffic Centers. I retired from 25 year at O’Hare
this past June.
I can’t
hold a candle to what these true soldiers are doing over here,
although I did just live through my first few rocket attacks
yesterday. I would not want to take away anything from the real
soldiers over here who are putting their butts on the line for me.
You’re
more than welcome to use any image of me but be sure to mention that
I’m not with the military.
I can
probably get a better picture in the next few days … one that has a
clearer shot of my “No Hillary” collection of shirts. (I’ve got a
few!)
Just a short note to brag a little. My son John ( you meet
t him in East Peoria at the TV station last year) just called to
let me know that he was chosen Sailor of the Year at the Great
Lakes Command. Very proud of him and all he has accomplished in
the last year.
In the Chicago Tribune, I recently
discovered a couple of websites about U.S. service members. I think
that you will find them of great interest.
The first website allows you to
watch the soldiers from Bonecrusher Troop’s 3rd Platoon,
who are serving in Iraq’s most dangerous area. Click on the
following link to watch:
Unfortunately, one of the realities
of war is that brave men and women die. At this website, you can
learn more about the men and women who have given their lives to
protect our freedoms and this great country. The address is:
http://www.legacy.com/chicagotribune/Soldier/Home.aspx?track=ctpromobar
I hope you find the stories about these heroic men and women
informative.
This little excursion to Djibouti in
support of Enduring Freedom is almost complete. The
plane arrives Friday to take several of us back to Norfolk where we
will begin Active duty outprocessing.
I want to thank each of you for your
support throughout this period. The e-mails, letters, packages, and
phone calls to Kim have been most welcome. During this deployment,
I have developed a high regard for what members of active duty go
through every day to protect us at home. I also can appreciate that
those of us here in Djibouti do our part so that those on the front
lines in Iraq and Afghanistan can do theirs. After all, Djibouti is
full of activity, but daily mortar and IED attacks simply don't
happen here at this time. The hardest decision we face around here
is what kind of ice cream to go with following chow.
Working as an information analyst
has been extremely rewarding out here. While some guard the
perimeter and others work to supply the base, I've been able to
explore the stories behind the story here on the Horn of Africa and
for that I'm grateful.
As you may know, I've been working
the "country" of Somalia, just 15 miles south of where we are in
Djibouti. The political, economic, and health crises so pervasive
there really were'nt on my radar before, but are now old hat.
Enclosed is a picture taken yesterday with Admiral Hart, the
one-star I've been briefing three times a week on the various tales
of woe coming out of Somalia. As an aside, nothing has really
changed in Somalia in 17 years so a case could easily be made
for eliminating a few of them for this poor man! But it is his
unrelenting interest in topics large and small that has made working
under his command so enjoyable. Also, a side project I managed
resulted in a greater understanding of the 'insurgency' or
'insurgencies' in the country and served as the impetus for an intel
sharing program with the Ugandans on the ground in Mogadishu. The
poor Ugandans have been the only country in the African Union to
have peacekeeping forces on the ground since early this year. The
Burundians are expected to deploy next but they have been delayed
several times due to shortfalls in funding and equipment.
Kim and I will be taking a little
vacation in the coming weeks and then it's back to the bar exam.
Again, I can't begin to express my
appreciation enough for your support on this deployment. I hope to
talk to each of you soon.
Patti Welander
STREATOR -- Families of Central Illinois National Guard members
serving in Iraq have gotten some good news. About 170 soldiers from
the 1744th Transportation Co., Streator, are expected home in
mid-September from their year-long deployment in Iraq, said Guard
spokesman Stacey Rieger.
This afternoon our executive officer asked me three questions. He
asked, “Is the war winnable? Are we winning? Is it worth
winning?” So I answered him . . .
When our team arrived in Baghdad, we decided that our efforts
needed to focus on achieving the following objectives. First, the
community needed to be secure, dominated by combined forces
(Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces) and free of enemy
control. Second, the community needed to be able to conduct daily
routines. And third, Task Force Patriot needed to be fully combat
ready and prepared to assume a different mission. In my mind, for
our team to “win” the war in Iraq, we are responsible for
accomplishing these goals.
Yarmouk and Hateen are relatively secure, dominated by a
significant and capable combined force and compared to other parts
of Baghdad, free of enemy control. The winning stops here.
To win the war in Iraq, Iraq must transform a populace, oppressed
by decades of dictatorship and years of war, into a functioning,
committed and selfless community led by a legitimate government
capable of providing for basic needs and economic growth. That is a
hell of a leap! The average Iraqis that our men meet on patrols
everyday are good individuals who want to take care of their
families and achieve some acceptable quality of life. Despite
tribal ties and religious affiliation and an acknowledgement that
life in Baghdad is NOT GOOD right now, there is little incentive or
desire for individuals to unity the masses. We regularly comment,
“Where is their George Washington?” We are searching for men to
write newsletters, control work forces, join neighborhood watches
and report criminal / extremist activity. We cannot find a single
man ready to fairly help other individuals form a united community.
American Soldiers are tired. Tired of deployments away from home
and family, tired of political leaders pointing fingers rather than
creating solutions and tired of Iraqi people complaining about their
problems, but doing little to improve their plight. Our Army is
equally tired. Equipment is worn. Specialty skills, like those of
our artillerymen, are lacking. Units continue to operate in one of
three phases of service . . . preparing to deploy, deployed or
redeploying. The deployed phase grows longer while the other two
phases continue to lose predictability and length. I acknowledge
that soldiers in previous wars served longer tours, in harsher
conditions, with fewer resources. They served in a different Army .
. . different size, different demographic, different society and
different global threat.
Ultimately, the United States Army possesses the manpower, skill
and equipment to secure our area of operations and train the Iraqi
Security Forces to prevent enemy domination in Baghdad. Without the
full compliment of American Might involved in the war in Iraq, we
simply come up short on the greater effort. Other elements of
national power, especially from the diplomatic realm, and kings of
industry, experts in business and veteran civil servants owe this
war effort their talents, skills and experience. Finally, a serious
look at our future war fighting and defensive structure demand
serious thought and revision. So yes, this war is winnable. And
no, we are not winning . . . “we” needs to mean more than just the
Army.
This war is completely worth winning! Our nation’s reputation,
security and future are at stake. Additionally, the fate of this
part of the world and the evolution and expansion of the extremist
agenda everywhere hinges on us winning or losing the war in Iraq.
This problem demands a solution developed, resourced, implemented
and executed by the full force of AMERICA.
Without a solution that leads to the growth of a community
capable of conducting daily routines and a long term plan to defend
our nations interests worldwide, this winnable war, will be lost at
great cost to everyone.
Jill
and I enjoyed a terrific vacation in early July. After a couple of
days in Washington DC visiting LTC Gadson and his family, we flew to
Chicago and saw family and friends at my parent’s Fourth of July
party. We spent a week in Riviera Maya, Mexico pretending to be big
shots at a wonderful all-inclusive resort before ending the trip at
our house doing little projects. What an incredible break! Thank
you for your continued prayers and support. I am a lucky kid.
Erin Zweigart was sworn in as a
First Lieutenant Wednesday July 25 to the USAF Judge Advocate
General's Corps. She will be stationed in Charleston, SC.
"I'm honored and grateful to have the opportunity to serve my
country in the Air Force JAG Corps," Zweigart commented.
Zweigart also announced her engagement to Michael Dixon on Saturday
July 28.
I am writing to
you about a young man that was killed in action June 2,2007, he was
22 and left behind a 4 yr. old daughter, a mother, brother and many
friends, all who which are having a very hard time dealing with his
death. We are so very proud of him, he was doing what he thought was
right, he wanted to make a better future for his daughter Lilian. He
is dead now and she has a future with no daddy. I don't know much
about politics nor this war other than it is killing our young
people and our future. I have great pride for what our men and woman
are doing and fighting for. Why can't we protect them better, like
the trucks or something that can detect these roadside bombs. I just
don't understand, he was like a son to me, he called me mom, and
believe me it hurts as if he were of my blood.
He was full of
life, enjoyed every moment of it, he was my son's best friend and
bro, they did everything together, when Jeremy was home in Feb,2007
he and my son went and got matching tatoos, they were gonna get
brothers but decided to get friends. Please help us to understand
and give us hope that this will be over soon. Also he has a brother
in Iraq, Joel.
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John Gebhart, of the 332nd
Expeditionary Medical Group at Balad, Iraq, cradles a young girl
as they both sleep in the hospital. The girl's entire family
was executed by insurgents; the killers shot her in the head as
well. The girl received treatment at the U.S. military
hospital in Balad, but cries and moans often. According to
nurses at the facility, Gebhardt is the only one who can calm down
the girl, so he has spent the last several nights holding her
while they both sleep in a chair.
I
have been home and am already back in Iraq. Unfortunately I did not
have enough time to do every thing that I wanted to do. I didn’t
even get to T-off, fish, or go see the Sox loose. The entire time
was running the miles up on my truck and Harley trying to see the
family.
Don’t know if
I told you or if you already found out but our Unit did get
extended.
Thank you
again for everything Senator and I look forward to seeing you when
we ALL return.
Tom Kelly (left) and his buddy Harris
Tom Kelly (bottom left) and his platoon
Dan Rutherford,
My name is Specialist Tommy Kelly
and i am a Paratrooper in the 27th Engineer Battalion out of Fort
Bragg North Carolina. My unit just got back from a year deployment
in Afghanistan and are stateside now. My job is a Combat Engineer
and over there we did route clearance, which is clearing the roads
for bombs. I have alot of pictures if you would like them. Attached
are my favorites because they were taken after long missions.
I am from Chicago in the
neighborhood of Beverly and my Parish is St. Cajetan. It is a very
Patriotic neighborhood and there are alot of young men who serve
that live there. A lot are my close friends and twin brother who is
in the Marines. Our Priest also joined to be a Chaplain and is in
Iraq now on his second tour of duty.
JACKSONVILLE -
State Rep. Jim Watson announced Friday that he has re-enlisted in
the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
"I thought about
two decisions - about doing it (re-enlisting), and announcing it
without making it a bigger deal than it is. I thought I needed to
let my constituents know," the Jacksonville Republican said.
Watson, a
veteran of the Gulf War, re-enlisted in May as an E-6 staff
sergeant, USMC Reserves, attached to the Civil Affairs Group (CAG)
at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He is attending one weekend a month there.
"We are at an
important point in our nation's history," he said. "The war on
terrorism is being fought on many fronts. My old unit is currently
serving its third tour of duty. There is a general sense of duty
that does not end when you take the uniform off. For some time now,
I have felt the call to again serve my country."
Watson was a
member of the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve from 1985-1991,
and served in war zones in Iraq for seven months during Operation
Desert Storm 1990-91. "My experience in the first Gulf War and as a
legislator give me a unique skill set which can help the CAG," he
said. "Right now, the same individuals are being asked to carry the
water over and over again. I believe I can make a difference and
help support our troops that have already given so much."
Watson, who is
divorced, has three children, ages 8, 12 and 15. He said the
decision was not an easy one for his family, either.
"It was tough on
them, for my children, my mother and brother. But, again, it's not
any different than any other soldier, Marine or airman," he said.
Watson said he
does not feel his military duty will adversely affect his
legislative obligations.
"It's one
weekend a month," he said. "If something should happen and we are
mobilized again, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. My
job right now is to get a budget passed and take care of my
constituents' needs."
Watson has been
a member of the legislature since 2001.
Jeremy decided to enter the service
his junior year of high school. He felt that this could be a
stepping stone to becoming an Illinois State Police officer. His
daughter, Lilly, was born in October of 2005. Jeremy worked at
Jerseyville Wal-Mart and attended school. He later worked for a
telemarketing firm in Alton and then at Rent-A-Center for one year.
It was then he decided it was time to join the military and wanted
to make a career of the Army. He was a truck driver in the U.S.
Army. His hobbies included pool and basketball. He played football
his freshman year in Carlinville. He was a member of Vaughn Hill
Church of Christ.
He was preceded
in death by his father in January 1999.
Surviving are
his daughter, Lillian Angel Costello of Alton; mother, Debbie
Costello (fiance, Bob Hughes) of Bunker Hill, and Steve Springman of
Tishamingo MS; four brothers, Joel (Terrie) Rhodes of Colorado
Springs, Colo., Darrell (Tina) Titus of Marshall, Yancy Costello of
Carlinville and Ken Costello, formerly of Carlinville; grandparents,
Amelia Burger of Greenfield and Donald and Mary Jane Wilson of
Hamburg, Barry and Donna Lakin of Carlinville and several aunts and
uncles; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Remains are at
Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Carlinville, where friends may call
from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 10, 2007. Services will be held at 10
a.m. Monday, June 11, 2007, at Carlinville Southern Baptist Church
with the Rev. Coy Siddall officiating. Burial will be in Mayfield
Memorial Park Cemetery, Garden of Valor, in Carlinville.
Memorial
contributions may be made to a trust fund for his daughter's needs.
FROM SENATOR RUTHERFORD: My
deepest condolences to Barry and Donna Lakin. My prayers are
with the family.
As and undergraduate political science major in 1983-84, I recallparticipating in discussions of the then-pending Iraq-Iran war
at Global Review events. Never in my wildest imaginings did I
suspect that some 21 years later I would find myself in the midst of
another war in Iraq. But on the 4th of July in 2005,
after being called from my civilian job as an associate judge in
Bloomington to active duty with the Army Reserve, I was deployed to
Abu Ghraib, Iraq. I served as a Judge Advocate officer assigned to
Task Force Medical344 (TF MED 344).
My duty in Iraq was to serve as the Army’s legal officer overseeing
medical treatment of detainees throughout the country. I was
responsible for advising the medical command on issues such as
confidentiality of records, medical ethics and end-of-life issues,
and standard of care issues for detainees. I advised our medical
staff on all issues relating to their care of detainees, as well as
providing legal services to all soldiers housed at Abu Ghraib. I
had the opportunity to meet with and advise the presiding judge of
the Saddam Hussein trial on due process issues, as well as come
face-to-face with Hussein himself on several occasions.
I am extremely proud of the small contributions I made to the
success of the very difficult mission given to TF MED 344 in Iraq.
I am convince that the development of a reputable court system and
respect for the rule of law is fundamental to eventual peace in that
country. But perhaps the most gratifying experiences I had there
had no connection to my legal assignment. With the help of my wife,
Traci (Skelley) ’86, and children back home, box loads of toys,
school supplies, and hygiene items were sent to me. I, along with
other soldiers in my unit, regularly distributed these items to
impoverished children in the area around Abu Ghraib.
The environment at Abu Ghraib was harsh and dangerous. The heat was
oppressive, the accommodations Spartan, and the installation was
frequently attacked by rocket and mortar fire. The separation from
my wife and children was almost unbearable. Having now safely
returned home, and being able to sit in the stands again and watch
the Redbird football and basketball teams, has truly taught me to
appreciate the many blessings in my life.
Camp Le Monier
is the base of operations for U.S. forces in the Horn of Africa.
Chris Winslow will be giving us periodic updates while stationed
there. I truly appreciate his contributions.
Chris Winslow
Dear Senator
Rutherford,
Greetings from the Horn of Africa.
Terri Winfree, whom you know through Community College and Chamber
lobbying, was recently married to my Uncle Rick Seeley. Below is an
e-mail from her suggesting I include you on my distribution list for
a bi-monthly e-mail I
send out regarding my experiences etc. here at Camp Lemonier in
Djibouti.
As I understand from your website, you have been to some of the
better
areas in Africa. Djibouti is not among those so luckily dubbed.
I am a graduate of Mary Washington College and Thomas Jefferson Law
and
between those degrees worked as Rob Bell's campaign manager and then
Delegate Bell's (R-Albemarle) legislative assistant in Richmond, VA.
Please feel free to use any portion of the distributed e-mail as you
wish.
Thank you for your service. It seems as though Illinois needs it
more
than
ever.
SPC
Gebur was killed in action while serving in Iraq, the following
are letters from friends and pictures of Ron, his wife Bethany,
and his son Gage:
Mrs. Boswell,
My name is Craig Osborne and I was Ron's Battalion Commander in
Iraq. My friend Bob Babcock forwarded me your recent email to him
and I felt compelled to write you. I hope that you do not think
that a response via email is impersonal - it truly is not meant to
be.
I cannot fathom the depths of your loss, but can only tell you
that my thoughts and prayers are with you and will always be.
There
isn't a day that passes that I don't remember Ron, Bethany, and
Gage and pray for them. His picture is on the wall in our
headquarters and I see him over and over each day. I know he will
never be forgotten.
When he was killed, I went to the hospital in Baghdad to be with
him but arrived too late. I knelt next to his body and prayed for
God to comfort you and your family in the days ahead and to take
care of Bethany and Gage, in particular. When the time came, I
personally escorted his body to where it needed to be. It was
where I was supposed to be that morning and nothing was more
important to me. I then went to the site where the IED detonated
and I walked about attempting to comfort those who were with him
and knew him best. More than anything, we shook hands, put our
arms around each other and hugged one another, and nodded as tears
filled our eyes. Words were inadequate.
I called Bethany the day after Ron died but she was already on a
flight back to you. We were able to speak the following day and I
told her how special Ron was to us and how sorry I was for his
death. I am sure she only vaguely remembers talking with me but it
was important to me that I call her. When I confirmed where you
lived, I wanted my family to
represent me at Ron's funeral since I could not be there myself. I
was fortunate enough that some were able to attend. Ron was one of
us and I wanted to pay our respects in an appropriate manner and
ensure that you knew we had not simply forgotten him when he left
our midst. I also know that my wife Lois was at the service at
Fort Hood that honored Ron. When I return to Decatur after the
deployment, I will visit Ron's grave and pay my respects.
I felt many emotions that day and have felt even more since. I
felt a great sense of sorrow for having lost one of our own, I
felt proud of him for never shirking his duty for his nation and
brothers here, I felt selfish for feeling the loss while knowing
how much it would effect
you and your family even more, and I felt like I had let your
family down for not bringing him back alive with us. I will always
be sorry that I was unable to do so. Unfortunately, we have lost
men both prior to and since the day Ron passed away, but none have
been so widely mourned as Ron. He was unique - but you already
know that.
I am old enough to have teenage children and many of our Soldiers
are not much older than my own daughters. In so many ways, I view
our Soldiers as my own sons and daughters. When something happens
to one of them, it is very personal to me. I am certain that the
loss I have felt and continue to feel for Ron pales in comparison
to the devastation that you have endured, but please know that
countless people also grieve with you. I wish that there was
something I could say or do that could ease your pain. I would
eagerly do it if I could or knew how.
You
and your family remain and will always be in our thoughts and
prayers. You have sacrificed for the nation just as other families
have done and I want you to know that Ron and his life will never
be forgotten. He was too important to us for that to ever happen.
As long as I live, I will always be there for you, your family,
Bethany, and Gage. I owe that to you and to Ron.
May God bless you and give you comfort in these days and the days
ahead.
Craig Osborne
Message by Dr
Kevin Marsh - Battalion Surgeon 1-22 Infantry
To the family of SPC Ron Gebur,
As the battalion surgeon, I do not always have the opportunity to
meet every soldier in the battalion. For SPC Gebur, I had met him a
few times when he came to the aid station and I noticed how he had
an upbeat attitude. I did not know it at the time, but I later
learned that this was an extension of his faith in God.
Occasionally, I would hear his name in conversations and learned
that he had become a good friend with one of our medics (and that he
was a good example of model behavior).
On May 8th, I was beginning a 4 day class designed to teach more
medical skills to the line soldiers. I was pleased to see that Ron
was in the class, knowing that he was a leader amongst the men.
After a few lectures, he informed me that there was an upcoming
mission and that he might not be able to finish the course. I let
him know that he would be welcome at future classes, but to let me
know what the decision was. He expressed a desire to be with his
unit, and let me know that he would rather finish the course another
time. The next day, he left with his men.
In the early morning hours of May 13th, I was informed that our
battalion had suffered casualties. When the hospital called me
for
an update, my heart sank to learn that it was Ron. This information
was passed to the men in the operations center and everyone stopped
what they were doing when they heard his name. We all knew that we
had lost a great man.
It is a lasting tribute to a man's character when it can
consistently be said of him that he was a leader, kind, and
dedicated. Everyone that I have talked to has said this of him. In a
wartime environment, he exuded an attitude that only comes from a
Christian faith.
For his wife and family, I pray that you will find comfort with the
LORD during this time. For his son, Gage, you can be proud that your
father was a man of courage and character. Know that all the men who
served with him loved and respected him.
FROM SENATOR RUTHERFORD: I attended
the wake of LCPL Holzhauer from my Senate District. I know the
family and his grandmother is a friend of mine. My prayers are
with the family.
‘Always one to serve'
Holzhauer honored
Monday for a life of service and faith
By Jo Ann Hustis Herald
Reporter
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 3:00 PM CDT
U.S. Marines
bear the casket of Lance Cpl. Raymond J. Holzhauer during the
commital service Monday at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Dwight.
(Morris Herald Photo/Jo Ann Hustis)
DWIGHT - From the
church to the cemetery, hundreds of people showing American flags
lined up Monday in tribute to the life of the late Marine Lance Cpl.
Raymond James Holzhauer.
“The thoughts and prayers of the people of St. Patrick's Catholic
Church, and the people of Dwight, are with you,” church pastor, the
Rev. Jim Rickey, said to the family during the funeral for the
19-year-old Marine.
“We are all here because we have faith.”
He recognized Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, who arrived about 20
minutes before the service began at 11 a.m. Monday.
“We're honored he is here,” said Rickey. “We know of the great work
he does in respect to those who died in the service of our country.”
The son of Lori Fraher and Raymond
Holzhauer, the Marine was found dead on Thursday, March 15, in the
Armory in Al Anbar Province in Iraq where he was assigned to duty.
The military announced he died from what was described as a
non-hostile incident. The death remains under investigation.
Placing a white pall on the coffin in remembrance of the baptismal
garment, the pastor prayed for “Your son Raymond, whom You have
called from this life, welcome him into the company of Your saints,
in the kingdom of light and peace.”
During the eulogy, the pastor recounted the story of the rabbi whose
son was murdered.
A Marine escorts
the family of the late Lance Cpl. Raymond J. Holzhauer to his
funeral Monday in Dwight. Holzhauer died March 15 in
non-military combat in Iraq. (Herald Photo/Jo Ann Hustis)
“He knew the Bible well,” said Rickey.
“He said, ‘Always be grateful to the One who gave you the gift of
the Lord. We repay the loan when it is demanded.'
“The rabbi's wife said, ‘Today, God called our only son.' The rabbi
said, ‘The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.' We thank God for
the gift of Raymond James Holzhauer.”
The pastor recalled the Marine's vibrant, yet quiet personality, and
his willingness to help others.
“You could count on Ray. He listened, and he cared. He loved cars,
racing, and fishing. He loved his country. It's called service,”
Rickey said. “He went to serve all people. He was a Marine - always
faithful.”
The pastor recounted the serviceman's
early life, from his first communion at St. Patrick's Church, to his
graduation from the local grade and high schools, and his enlistment
in the Marine Corps.
“He was always one to serve,” said Rickey.
His gaze on the flag-draped casket before him, the pastor spoke to
Holzhauer.
“Thank you for your generosity to all of us,” Rickey said. “You
returned your life to the Lord through your service to us.”
“He was there. And then when the Lord called him, let it be said,
‘The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.' Blessed be the name of
the Lord.”
Rickey told the congregation to live, and cherish and respect life,
giving of it generously and freely in service to others.
“Semper Fi,” he said, quoting the Marine Corps motto to be ever
faithful. “Always be faithful and be ready for when the Lord calls.
Jesus said, ‘Love one another.' The people who are important to you,
show them by your actions you love them.”
Lastly, the pastor reminded the congregation to not forget the wake
for the Marine, and his funeral and burial.
“The family will need your help and support,” Rickey said. “Share
his memory - keep him alive. And help us be ready to go home
whenever You call us.”
The communion bread and wine were the gifts of the Marine's
godparents at baptism, Rick Stevenson and Bonnie Kelly.
Internment followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery at Dwight. The service
was conducted with full military honors by members of the United
States Marine Corps, who also served as pallbearers at the cemetery.
Pallbearers at the church service were Jonny Biswell, Sean
Cleveland, Zach DeLong, Kristen Feddersen, Elliot Gernantz, Scott
Oswald, Rick Stevenson, and Garret Tripp.
About 50 members of the Patriot Guard Riders were present to protect
the services from a Wichita, Kansas, church group which demonstrates
at military funerals.
Arrangements were by Martin-Burke Funeral Home of Pontiac, and Hager
Memorial Home in Dwight.
Senator Rutherford, I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put a place
on your website to show special recognition to those who are
working hard to protect our great nation. I grew up in
Fairbury, IL, graduated Prairie Central in 2002, and I'm
currently a Junior at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.
After graduation, I went to Monterey, CA and went through the defense
language program there to learn Arabic. Afterwards, I applied to the
Academy, and to all of you interested, the process isn't as
challenging as it may initially seem. Congressman Johnson was very
helpful in getting the Congressional recommendation, and it
turned out to be a surprisingly smooth process. I've never
regretted my decision to attend the Academy, even though it's not
even close to the normal college experience. The classmates and
company mates I've been lucky enough to have are closer than any
fraternity brother anyone could ever have. We do a lot together,
whether it's traveling across the world or working together to
organize the Saturday morning training regiment for the Plebe
(freshmen) class.
As a junior, things are a little better, because I can finally have a car,
wear 'civilian' clothes, and have at least one weekday evening free
to enjoy in town (Tuesday evening). I usually have weekends free, so
I can explore the DC/Baltimore area, and go back home or up to NYC
and elsewhere. I was just accepted to go to the early
interview for the nuclear engineering program for my post-graduation
career selection. While getting the early interview doesn't ensure
me to get into the program,
it's still an exciting prospect. If I get accepted, I'll spend a year and
a half in Charleston, SC to go through the Navy's nuclear power
school after my graduation and commission in May 2008. Afterwards,
I'll be assigned to a submarine in either Kings Bay, San Diego, or
Hawaii.
Fehr on a navigation training mission with a
British sailor
I want to take a moment to recognize those who are on the
front lines servicing our great country at this time. While
I'm at the Academy, we're often required to wear our uniforms into
Annapolis, at airports, and other locales throughout our nation. As
a freshman and sophomore, we aren't allowed to wear normal
clothes at all, and this leads to many opportunities to wear
our uniforms into public. We hear a lot of 'thank yous' as we walk
around in our uniforms, and as a student at the Academy, I feel this
distinction is misleading. What they mean to thank is the
service of those who do wear our uniform all over, and hopefully
someday I'll have a chance to really deserve their thanks. But for
now, when they thank me, I remember their thanks is an expression of
appreciation to everyone who serves the United States. So, I
want to forward all those thanks to everyone serving--whether you're
spending long hours on watch in the desert, time on a ship's bridge
in the Pacific, protecting our coast lines, or flying sorties
against enemy targets, your efforts are kept in the minds of
Americans everywhere, as I'm constantly reminded of our nation's
appreciation.
If any of you are interested in the Academy (whether Navy, WestPoint, or
Air Force), please email me at m082118@usna.edu and I'll be happy to
answer any questions. I've made friends at each of our sister
academies, and the rigorous lifestyle and regimency has changed me
in ways I never imagined. This is an oft-felt sediment by cadets and
midshipmen at each of the three service academies, and most
will agree it's a highly rewarding and worthwhile experience. It's
been a great ride, and I look forward to finishing up my time here
as I prepare to go lead the best our country has
to offer.
Senator, thanks again for the opportunity to share my story to everyone
out there. I wish you a successful Spring and look forward to seeing
you on my next trip home.
State Representative Ron and Lisa Stephen's Family
Greenville
Tod Stephens
Ron and Lisa's son, Army
Ranger and Captain, Tod Stephens, currently stationed in Iraq on his
third tour of duty there. He is so dedicated to following through
with what he feels must be done and for staying with his unit, he
actually volunteered to go on his third tour of duty.
Greg Cueto
Ron and Lisa's son in
law, Army Spc. Greg Cueto currently stationed in Afghanistan. As a
married college graduate, he was spurred to join the military after
witnessing the 9/11 attack on our citizens at the World Trade
Center. He considers it an honor to serve and his duty for his
generation.
SPC Zwettler, son-in-law of Donna and Victor Linas, was recently
awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Zwettler also just recently re-enlisted.
She
wasn’t deployed to Iraq. She didn’t fight in Afghanistan. The
battles she waged left a different kind of scars. She died at age
27 while in the service of her country. She was my daughter,
Airman First Class Julie Marlene Chattler.
In the spring of 2000, Julie called me and said “Mom, sit down.
I’m joining the Air Force”. To say I was struck speechless is an
understatement. Since no one in recent history except her paternal
grandfather who fought in World War II and passed away before she
was born, has served in the military, enlisting in any branch of
the armed forces was a very foreign concept. I had very serious
concerns because in my estimation, my beautiful daughter, whom I
loved dearly, was the laziest young woman on the planet when it
came to the mundane of daily life. Making her bed or washing,
drying and putting away a dish didn’t even approach her list of
1,000 top priorities. I just hoped that her paradoxically strong
work ethic would carry her through.
Just as there “must have been some magic in that old top hat” that
Frosty the Snowman put on, the BDU’s that Julie donned, likewise
had mystical powers. Much to my surprise and extreme pride,
Julie’s star shined ever so brightly during her tenure in the Air
Force. In basic training, her flight was honored at graduation and
she personally received recognition for leadership and commitment.
In October, after basic, she was stationed at Sheppard Air Force
Base in Wichita Falls, Texas where she worked at the Family
Advocacy Center. During her first months at Sheppard, Julie was
required to study for her Career Development Course to become a
mental health technician. This involved 10,000 pages of
independent study in the mental health field. She took her exams
and passed on her first attempt. with an exceptional score of 90
and was recognized with two separate certificates for this
achievement. Shortly thereafter she was promoted to Airman First
Class and was then selected as Airman of the Quarter of the 82d
Medical Operations Squadron, then Airman of the Quarter of the 82d
Medical Group and finally the Airman of the Quarter of the 82d
Training Wing. She was Number One out of 3,500. Could I have been
more proud of my little girl? It is my understanding that
immediately following her promotion to Airman First Class, the
package was being compiled for her promotion to Senior Airman.
Sadly, this promotion was never to happen. On Wednesday, May 23rd,
2001 Julie woke up feeling ill, achy, dizzy and had a rash. She
did not go to work but did go in to sick call at Sheppard. She was
seen by a physician’s assistant who gave her a shot to relieve her
achiness and sent her home to recuperate. When I spoke to her on
Thursday, she sounded groggy but coherent which I assumed was due
to the Benadryl she was taking for the rash. Friday I called and
could not reach her at all. I contacted her office to see if she
had gone to work but she had not. Sgt Pat Dwyer went to her
apartment to check on her and found her unconscious on the floor
and immediately called an ambulance. I was on the first flight I
could get to Dallas where I rented a car and drove to Wichita
Falls. When I got to the hospital at about midnight, there were at
least a dozen officers and friends, both civilian and military,
that Julie worked with, standing vigil. Julie was comatose and in
intensive care. She briefly responded to my voice when I walked
into her room and said “Julie, honey, I’m here now and everything
is going to be ok”. She opened her eyes and they quickly darted
around the room looking for me. I will never know if she saw me
but I am certain and grateful she knew I was there.
So, for the next 4 or 5 days, I spent 100% of my time between the
hospital and the few hours I slept, at the local Holiday Inn.
During the waking hours, I was never alone. Julie’s friends and
superiors made sure I had the support I didn’t know that I needed.
Miraculously someone would just show up at lunchtime or dinner to
make sure I ate. I could not have been less interested in eating
but they knew the importance of my being able to keep my strength
up. Major Kirk Martin of Julie’s chain of command, was a very
frequent visitor as was Colonel Dennis Marquardt. Major Martin and
his wife both had great affection for my daughter. It seemed that
at any hour of the day or night, there was someone there to stand
vigil with me. The friendship and respect she had garnered was
very gratifying for me as her mom. In the middle of the week,
probably Wednesday, it all sort of runs together in my mind, Julie
and I were flown by Med-evac plane to San Antonio where she would
be cared for at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force
Base. It was there on Saturday, June 2, 2001, almost exactly one
year after her entry into the Air Force (May 25th, 2000) Julie was
removed from life support and quietly slipped away. It would be
months before I would ever know that encephalitis was the villain
that took her life. I will never know for sure how she contracted
it.
We brought Julie’s remains back to Chicago where she grew up and
her funeral was planned by the Air Force. Julie was buried at
Shalom Memorial Park in Palatine where she was honored by the Air
Force with an honor guard, color guard and 21 gun salute. She was
also presented, posthumously, with an Air Force Commendation Medal
for Meritorious Service. The accomplishments listed on the
certificate read as follows:
Airman First Class Julie M. Chattler distinguished herself by
meritorious service as Mental
Health Technician, Family Advocacy Program, 82nd Medical
Operations Squadron, Sheppard
Air Force Base, Texas. During this period, 10 October 2000 to 2
June 2001, exemplary diligence
and devotion to duty increased customer satisfaction to an
astonishing 99.4 percent ; her superb
actions aided in achieving a 30 percent reduction in family
violence and significantly contributed
to Sheppard Family Advocacy receiving the best Health Services
Inspection rating in over 6 years.
Airman Chattler, in completion of her Career Development Course
testing, achieved one of the
highest scores in her field. Frequently assuming the role of
Noncommissioned Officer in Charge
of Family Advocacy, Airman Chattler easily exceeded the most
challenging performance expectations of that position, ensuring continuous care for as many as
60 family members per week. In
recognition of her leadership, energy, and dedication to duty,
Airman Chattler was selected as the
82nd Medical Operations Squadron Airman of the Quarter, the 82d
Medical Group Airman of the
Quarter and the 82d Training Wing Airman of the Quarter. The
distinctive accomplishments of
Airman Chattler in the dedication of her service to her country
reflect credit upon herself and
The United States Air Force.
This medal was awarded by General Sharla Cook who personally told
me that my baby girl had been “the finest troop” she had ever
seen.
The story of my daughter does not end there. Because of the
respect she received for her obviously amazing achievements, the
Family Advocacy Center at Sheppard Air Force Base underwent a name
change. On Friday, January 18, 2002 a dedication ceremony, which I
attended as a guest of the Air Force, took place. I am proud to
say that the center is now known as the Chattler Family Advocacy
Center. Her picture is on the wall along with a brief bio. The
extraordinary number of people that she touched, the families that
she helped to stay together, the domestic violence she helped to
stem, the children who will grow up in healthy families may not
remember her and the role she played in their lives, but I know
the extent of her dedication and accomplishments . For sure she is
an unlikely hero but in my eyes, a hero still.
The following individuals are Illinois State
University graduates who have served or are serving in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
1st Lt. Trevor Conrad, M.S. '04; Missouri Army National Guard
1st Lt. Joe "Friday" Barker, '01; U.S. Marine Corps
1st Lt. Terence Bacon, ’99, U.S. Army
Capt. Doyle Bedwell, ’04, Illinois Army
National Guard
Sgt. Joseph E. Bierbrodt, ’00, Illinois Army
National Guard
1st Lt. Matthew Buck, ’01, U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Jame Buol, current student, Illinois
Army National Guard
1st Lt. Jeff Burchfield, ’98, U.S. Army
Lt. Michael A. Cap, ’01, U.S. Marine Corps
2nd Lt. Nicholas A. Carbone, ’02, U.S. Army
2nd Lt. Michael J. Cotovsky, ’03, U.S. Army
IS2 (SEAL) Ryan P. Crowley, ’00, U.S. Navy
Maj. Eric Dailey, ’90, U.S. Marine Corps
Reserve
1st Lt. Nicole Danca, ’03, U.S. Army
Capt. Terrance D. Deuel, ’98, U.S. Army
Maj. Kelly P. Donna, ’91, U.S. Army
Maj. Austin Elliott, ’91, U.S. Army
Maj. Norman Emery, ’89, U.S. Army
Lt. Ryan L. Francis, ’01, U.S. Army
Maj. Robert Freitag, ’84, U.S. Army Reserve
Maj. Marvin Fuller, ’75, U.S. Air Force
Staff Sgt. Michael Galassi, ’00, Illinois Army
National Guard
Maj. Donald Gardiner, ’89, U.S. Army Reserve
Lt. Col. David R. Gault, ’81, U.S. Army
Sgt. Joseph D. Goff, ’03, Illinois Army
National Guard
Sgt. David B. Goode, ’92, U.S. Army
Sgt. Benjamin T. Gracey, ’94, U.S. Army Reserve
Lt. Col. Anthony E. Haager, U.S. Army
1st Lt. James D. Hannigan, ’03, U.S. Army
Capt. Denise Hatcher, ’99. U.S. Army
Sgt. Mark Hocker, current student, Illinois
Army National Guard
Cpt. Jason Horn, ’95, U.S. Army Reserves
Lt. Col. William B. Hughes, ’87, U.S. Army
Lt. Col. Mark Jackson, ’87, Illinois Army
National Guard
Capt. Erik Jaspers, ’94, U.S. Army Reserve
2nd Lt. Cory M. Jones, ’02, Illinois Army
National Guard
Capt. Nicholas Karch, ’99, U.S. Army
Maj. Kelly Kilhoffer, ’89. U.S. Army Reserve
Capt. Robert Kus, ’02, U.S. Army
Maj. Thomas M. Lawicki, ’80, U.S. Air Force
Lt. Col. Timothy R. Lemmons, ’86, U.S. Army
Reserves
Lt. Comdr. Chris Long, ’89, U.S. Navy
Capt. Michael Mannion, ’97, U.S. Army
Airman 1st Class Daniel E. Maslowski ’02, U.S.
Air Force
Maj. Shawn McConnell, ’89, U.S. Army Reserve
Spec. Alan M. McCubbin, ’02, U.S. Army
Maj. Robert McGuire, ’89, U.S. Army
Lt. Col. Raleigh Meiser, M.S. ’93, U.S. Marine
Corps
Sgt. Chris Murdoch, M.B.A. ’01, Illinois Army
National Guard
Col. Yvette Nonte, ’83, U.S. Army
Capt. Troy O’Donley, ’02, Illinois Army
National Guard
Maj. Timothy J. O’Neil, ’84, U.S. Army Reserve
Sgt. Christopher J. Ohlsen, ’92, U.S. Marine
Corps Reserve
Lt. Col. Craig Osborne, ’89, U.S. Army
Capt. David A. Peterson, ’94, M.S. ’98, U.S.
Army Reserve
Capt. Glen R. Petersen, ’93, Illinois Army
National Guard
Spec. Michael Pyburn, ’01, Illinois Army
National Guard
Maj. Cory K. Reid, ’94, U.S. Air Force
2nd Lt. Stephen Rice, ’02, Illinois Army
National Guard
Lt. Cdr. Suzette Robinson, ’85, U.S. Navy
Reserve
Lt. Col. Turner A. Rouse, ’80, U.S. Army
Reserve
1st Lt. Christopher Rozhon, ’00, U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Michael F. Sass, ’03, Illinois Army
National Guard
Lt. Col. Charles Schlom, ’84, U.S. Army,
Afghanistan
Spc. Megan Schukar, ’02, Illinois Army National
Guard
2nd Lt. Lynn Scott, ’04, U.S. Army
Sgt. Joni L. (Snyder) Sefton, ’96, U.S. Army
Reserve
Sgt. Michael R. Sharrard, ’96, U.S. Air Force
Capt. David O’Neil Singley, ’94, U.S. Marine
Corps
Nathan Slider, ’95, Lt. U.S. Navy Reserve
Lt. Col. Dirk Spanton, ’82, Illinois Army
National Guard
Lt. Cmdr. Linda M. (Choe) Szot, ’89, U.S. Navy
Reserve
Lt. Col. Mark Talkington, ’86, U.S. Army
Capt. Troy Temple, ’99, U.S. Army
1st Lt. Philip Thompson, ’00, U.S. Army
Capt. Dan Tingwall, ’87, U.S. Air Force
2nd Lt. Caprice A. Vargas, ’02, U.S. Army
Capt. Jeffery David Walden, ’87, Illinois Army
National Guard
Sgt. Robert White, ’04, Illinois Army National
Guard
2nd Lt. Ginger Wietholder, ’02, U.S. Army
Maj. William John Wilson, ’87, U.S. Army
Cpt. Anthony Zimmerman, ’94, U.S. Marine Corps
Illinois State faculty and staff:
Petty Officer 2nd Class Victor S. Brown, U.S.
Navy Reserve
Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew K. Frank, U.S.
Navy Reserve
Spc. Michelle R. Hall, U.S. Army Reserve
Maj. Jack L. Howard, Illinois Army National
Guard
Sgt. Rod Nathan Repp, Illiniois Army National
Guard
IN MEMORY
Jessica L. Cawvey, Specialist, Illinois
Army National Guard
Jessica Cawvey, a 21-year-old Illinois State
University student, was killed in October of 2004 while serving in
Iraw. A member of the 1544th Transportation Company of the Illinois
Army National Guard, Cawvey was a junior at Illinois State. She
studied accounting and sociology prior to being activated. She was
traveling in a cargo truck convoy along a supply route near Fallujah
when an improvised bomb exploded.
Jeremy L. Ridlen, Specialist, Illinois Army
National Guard
Jeremy Ridlen, a 23-year-old Illinois State
University student, was killed in May of 2004 while serving with the
United States Army in Iraq. A member of the 1544th Transportation
Company of the Illinois Army National Guard, Ridlen was a sophomore
general studies major before being activated. He was killed when a
suicide bomber drove a dump truck rigged with an explosive device
into an American military supply convoy traveling near Fallujah.
Timothy L. Ryan, Capt., U.S. Marine Corps
Timothy Ryan, a 1997 graduate, was killed in
May of 2003 when his helicopter crashed during a resupply mission in
Iraq. Ryan was a music major who played in the Big Red Marching
Machine, Pep Band, and Wind Symphony while at Illinois State. He
enlisted in the Marines shortly after graduation to pursue his
long-held dream of joining the elite, 80-member U.S. Marine Corps
Drum & Bugle Corps. He performed at military functions across the
United State and Europe. Ryan also discovered a love of flying
during his military training and pursued this dream as well. He
graduated from the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at
Quantico, Virginia, and was deployed to the Persian Gulf in early
February of 2003.
Christopher E. Zimny, Corp., U.S. Marine
Corps
Christopher Zimny, ’00, died in January of 2005
from hostile action in Iraq’s Babil Province. The 27-year-old School
of Social Work alumnus enlisted in the Marines one month after the
terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He served with the 1st
Battalioin, 2nd Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force at
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He had been awarded two Purple Hearts
for injuries received in earlier battles.
My name is Adam Wojcik. My Dad recently informed me of your
desire to
post notes from Soldiers to share a first hand account of the war
effort
with the rest of America. If it is alright, I will add you to the
distro
list I keep and include you on updates I plan to share with my
family and
friends throughout the year.
I am a field artillery captain originally from Chicago currently
serving a
second tour in Baghdad, Iraq. My parents live in Orland Park and my
wife
and I own a home in Tinley Park. I will leave the military
immediately
upon redeployment. Continued service to our nation is something that
drives me. Although I have never considered myself political, I
believe
our nation's current situation demands stronger leaders and selfless
commitment. Where do I look for my spot in the political machine in
order
to serve?
Looking forward to knowing more about you and your service.
First, I want to thank you for your service to our state as a
Senator, and for the courage to run your campaign for Secretary of
State in spite of the overwhelming popularity of Mr. Jesse White. I
respect you both, inspite of your differences in parties. Secretary
White and I have a common bond in that he and I both served in the
101st Airborne Division at points in our military careers (his much
earlier than mine!). I also want to compliment you on the fact that
you get the concept of "priviledge" of service, in that I truly feel
that you are a servant leader for the residents of Central Illinois.
I appreciate your adherence to conservative fiscal principles while
remembering that our government was established as the most liberal
of governments, providing each citizen the opportunity to pursue
happiness in a manner he or she wishes, economically, spiritually
and politically, under a common approved set of laws designed to
protect both the individual and the state.
I was mobilized in November 2007 as a member of the Illinois Army
National Guard's Joint Headquarters Embedded Training Team-1,
missioned to support the Afghan National Army. After training in
Fort Riley for 60 days, we began movement to Afghanistan. Here is a
picture looking south over Camp Clark, which garrisons over 1/2 of
the 1st Brigade, 203rd Afghan National Army Corps and provides
security for Khowst Province. As well, we have an outstanding team
of Guardmen from through out the United States, Active and Reserve
Navy Garrison Mentors, and a support team from the Air Force. We
also have the Corps of Engineers here helping adminster projects to
improve the lives of Afghan citizens in this province. I am
priviledged to serve here, and feel personally that we are making
progress against the forces that oppose the spread of liberty and
freedom, and that with each passing day, we are getting closer to
where we need to be.
(l-r) MAJ Bogenhagen, LTC Haerr and LTC Selchert
Picture number two is one of MAJ Doug Bogenhagen (on the right),
myself in the middle, and LTC Jim Selchert (on my left). Both Jim
and Doug are from the South Dakota National Guard, and have been
working out of the Camp we are at since it opened in November 06.
They have been in various duty positions, ranging from advising
battalions to our higher headquarters, the 203rd, since June 06. Due
to their efforts advising the Afghans, the camp is much more secure
than it was when it opened. I sent this photo back to my wife in
Eureka during the height of the storm last week. Jim and I just
finished a three mile run around the Camp prior to the picture, in
the atire we are wearing. Every place on earth has it's advantages.
Michael W. Haerr
LTC, IN, IL ARNG
1-203 RSAC SR MENTOR
Rough Rider Six
Hi. My name is Joseph Graham. I’m currently
stationed in Yorktown, Virginia. In 2005 I went on a 6 month
deployment to the Middle East. I went to Greece, Bahrain, United
Arab Emerits, and Kuwait. In 2006 I went up to Annapolis, Maryland
at the naval academy to relieve the marines that were standing post
at the gates. Currently I’m doing harbor security in Newport News,
Virginia. I've only been in three years so I don’t have to much to
write about but I just thought I would tell you and everyone else
who reads this that there are huge variety of places military people
can go to in a short period of time. I have enjoyed every place that
I’ve been with the exception of Kuwait due to the heat but other
than that it was a great experience. My home town is Ashkum,
Illinois.
FROM DAN: Joe, thanks for sharing and
highlighting that there are many places our military goes. The
photos are great!
FROM
DAN: Joan Bullard, from Odell, shared a story of her son, 1SG James
Schultz, (posted on the Family & Friends site) and in it she writes:
“Jim
has a young private soldier named Dillon Cannon from Texas that was
shot in the neck right after Christmas. I wish everyone would go
into his website at
http://dilloncannon.com/DillonCannonSite/Home.html
and read every article on the site. It tugs at your heart
strings. We owe so much to these young men and women.”
Thank you, Joan, for sharing your son and the link to Dillon’s
website. I have looked at the site and it is definitely touching. I
encourage others to visit it also.
While serving in
Iraq as a Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Team Leader, I supported
the USMC. After the invasion of Fallujah, my team was re-assigned
to the town of Karmah, about 10 miles NE of Fallujah. We arrived in
that town in early December 2004. We arrived at night and noticed
that the entire town of about 70,000 people was completely dark.
The main power lines that supplied power to the region were damaged
by insurgents during the invasion. The following morning I met with
some local townsmen who worked in the area. They explained the
problems they had been having since the invasion started with not
only the power, but with the water as well. The water facilities
ran off electricity and although they had diesel generators to keep
them running, the generators could only provide about 6 hours of
running water each day to the town. The diesel was hard to get and
very expensive because much of the diesel fuel was controlled on the
black market. I told these townsmen to bring the city water and
power manager to my post and I would meet with them to see what
could be done. Although this was more of a Civil Affairs (CA)
responsibility, there had not been a CA team assigned to the town at
this point. The water manager met with me later that morning and
gave me a descriptive diagram outlining the problem areas and what
lines needed to be repaired to restore power. This man asked for
nothing from the American Forces but our support. After clearing
this with the Company Commander of the Marine element I was
supporting, the water manager was cleared to do what he needed to
get the power running as long as he allowed the Marines to inspect
his equipment and his personnel and inform me where he would be
working that day prior to beginning the repairs. (This was
necessary both the Marines safety and the workers.) A few of the
Iraqi police from that town even accompanied the water manager to
provide some security for the workers. Within 72 hours of my team’s
arrival on the ground, power had been restored to 75% of the town.
Within two weeks, 95% of the town had power AND water. By serving
as a liaison between the local Iraqi government and the Marine
Commander, I was able to help these townspeople get their lives back
and greatly improved the relationship between the Iraqi people and
the American forces in the region. Many of the people saw me as a
friend, not a soldier. Once the locals realized that we were there
to help, they started reporting suspicious activity to the Marines,
which ultimately helped reduce insurgent activity in that town and
saved countless American and Iraqi lives.
The attached picture was taken at a
feast that was made by a local in the town of Karmah to thank us for
our work. I am at the far left. My interpreter is wearing the
black jacket. I would not have been able to do my job without him.
He was a native of Iraq. Many people think I am crazy when I tell
them I want to go back to Iraq, but it was moments like this that
made it all worth it and make me want to go back to help. Two
members of my 60 man company lost their lives their and many more
were wounded, some so severely that they had to be medically retired
from the Army.
the following is a reprint from the summer edition of
the Illinois State University Alumni Magazine
Support our
troops
Eight men with
Illinois State connections served together in the 2nd Battalion,
130th Infantry Regiment in Iraq. The battalion is a part of the
Illinois Army National Guard and was mobilized in January of 2005 in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion trained four
months in Georgia and California before arriving in Baghdad in May
of 2005. The first task was patrolling the Abu Ghraib Market area of
western Baghdad. In September the battalion began patroling
Radwaniya, southwest of Baghdad. Enormous weapons caches were found
in Radwaniya, where there was fierce insurgent resistance. In
November the 2-130th moved out of the Baghdad area and headed west
to Al Taqaddum, a logistics outpost in the Al Anbar Province. The
battalion took over the base defense mission. In late April of this
year, the 2-130th returned home, thankful for having completed a
successful deployment to Iraq.
Redbirds who proudly
served in the 2-130th include, front row from left, Sergeant Mark Hocker, a current student;
Staff Sergeant James Buol, a current
student; and Captain Doyle Bedwell ’04. Back row from left,
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jackson’87, Specialist Michael Pyburn ’01,
Sergeant Robert White ’04, Staff Sergeant Michael Galassi
’00, and
Major Glen Petersen ’93.
(l-r) SSG Leonardo Biondini
(Florida), CPT David Benjamin (Illinois), SGT Victor Escalera
(Colorado)
Barrington
I stepped off the C-130 airplane in August 2005
in Baghdad, Iraq to what I can only describe as oppressive heat. I
had been in Afghanistan in 02-03 and dealt with heat before but
wasn’t quite ready for the dry heat I encountered in Iraq. The best
way to describe is to imagine having a hair blower in your face
almost constantly. To this day I still don’t grasp why anyone would
have lived there prior to air conditioning, ice, and oil.
I was a Company Commander for Golf Company, 10th
BSB, 1st BCT, 10th Mountain Division and I had
the responsibility and privilege to command 91 Soldiers. It was the
most rewarding thing that I have done in my professional life. I
say professional life because the most rewarding thing I have done
in my personal life is become a father. It prepared me for treating
my Soldiers like my sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.
We were responsible for base defense and the
maintenance of 3/6 FA Battalion. We manned towers, entry control
points, conducted patrols, recovered damaged vehicles and fixed
non-mission capable equipment. There was no time off we were always
vigilant. Everyone in my company came home but we had lost family
from other batteries and companies. It was the most difficult time
of my life but also allowed me to see what is important in my life.
I would never trade the time in Iraq or Afghanistan for anything. I
will always be grateful for the chance to serve with and command the
Soldiers that I have met.
Here is a story written to my commander after the funeral
of Brian Romaines.
2LT Dayton Loyd 2BN 123FA
Marion, IL
Sir,
I
just wanted to give you a brief about the return of the body
of Brian Romines last night from St Louis, MO. At the St
Louis airport, the firefighters and the department showed up
with their trucks and in respect, they fully extended their
ladders and crossed them with a flag in memory of SGT Romines.
I was not there for that part, but Chief Hancock said that it
was very well done and that the family really liked it. They
left there in a motorcade and traveled on I64 to I57 in Mount
Vernon.
In Mount Vernon, IL as the motorcade drove down the
interstate they were greeted by what appeared to be several
hundred people on the Mt Vernon overpass each supporting a US
flag and each person was either saluting or had their hand
over their heart. It was an awesome show of respect. Once
the motorcade passed under the overpass, they were met by 50
to 60 motorcycles, which lined the shoulder of I57. Once the
hearse passed, all the motorcycles fell in behind the
motorcade becoming one massive convoy. Semi trucks and cars
were pulling over to let us pass and some got out of their
vehicles on the side of the road and in various ways showed
their respect. It was truly a very emotional experience to
see all the bikes two wide and in one long convoy and it was
even very surprising to see that no cars traveling on the
interstate broke the line. I noticed that many guys from
the
unit were in the motorcycle convoy in civilian attire.
We
traveled down the interstate with the state troopers in front
and behind, lights flashings. About 10 miles into the trip we
encountered an overpass that was lined with police cars,
lights flashing and the police officers were on the edge of
the railing saluting our convoy as we passed. Each overpass
for many miles was very similar; they were lined with people,
law enforcement, or firefighters each doing what they could to
show the Romines family and their son Brian Romines the utmost
respect. As we traveled, the convoy grew. At many
entrance ramps, motorcycles were waiting and they joined us as
we passed. Starting at the West Frankfort exit, it was
very similar to the Mt Vernon experience, fire trucks lined
the overpass, signs were posted, flags were flying, lights
flashing, and a large crowd had gathered.
Every 10 to 15 miles police cars were in the Interstate medium
with their lights on as well, officers were either waving or
saluting. Once we changed from I57 to I24, we ran into a
major car accident, which had the traffic backed up for many
miles. Our police escort drove on the shoulder of the
road passing the 3 mile long traffic jam with, at this point,
about a 300 bikes in tow. Reaching the accident scene
the firefighters and officers at the accident stopped what
they were doing and held their helmets and hats over their
hearts as we maneuvered through the wreck. At this time, it
was getting dark and being at the back of the pack it was
impressive to see the long trail of motorcycle tail lights
flowing back and forth, up and down with the curves and hills
of the road.
The trip from the interstate to Anna was equally impressive.
Many residents on the motorcade route had gone through the
trouble of putting up signs and flags. Each little town
that we traveled through reminded me of a night time parade;
the only difference being that the people lining the streets
were somber and for the most part, were holding their hand
over their heart or holding lit candles. Cars lined the
night streets with their flashers blinking. For the
country roads between the small towns, we encountered many
residents that had set up near the road and waved as we
passed, again many with lit candles.
We entered Anna around 1030 p.m. and it
appeared as if the entire community had come to be present for
the arrival of SGT Romines and his family. Channel 3 and
channel 12 news were present with their big trucks and
cameras. The long line of motorcycles converged into one very
long line, each bike took his turn stopping at the side of the
crying mother, and each received a hug from a most grateful
family. From there the bikes parked in an assembly area and
the riders formed a horse shoe mass around the front of the
funeral home. Our uniformed soldiers then appeared at the
back of the hearse and very professionally removed the coffin
from the car and proceeded to move it into the funeral home.
They did an outstanding job, you would have been proud of
them. Once inside the crowd of several hundred remained
outside and you could have heard a pin drop for the first 30
minutes. I was awestruck from the entire experience.
At some
point around the 30 minute mark, an elder woman just could not
hold it any longer and she just started balling. Loud enough
to be heard for blocks. That is all it took to start a chain
reaction that opened up the watery flood gates. It only took
one split second and it seemed as if the entire crowd teared
and up and begin to cry. I had to walk away to keep from
being overwhelmed by the event myself. I noticed many
tough-guy types walking away for the same reason, each looking
uncomfortable in the process. I would say that the entire
experience from Mt Vernon to Anna was the most humbling
experience that I have ever had. Absolutely awesome!!
6 June 2005
Illinois Army Guard SGT Brian M Romines, 20, of
Simpson, Illinois died in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised
explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Romines was
assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 123rd
Field Artillery, Milan, Ill.
It's probable not what you were looking for and it's a little long
for a
website but it really shows the support and respect that the average
person
has for the Soldiers. The experience inspired me to stay in the
military
past my retirement and now I plan to stay in the military in some
fashion till I
am 62. At a time this late into the War I applaud you for bringing
the
Soldiers and their sacrifices to the attention of your followers. My
wife
and I are both in the military...she's AF and I'm Army, and I am all
too aware
of the many sacrifices that Soldiers give on behave of this county;
Everything
from long separations from their young children that need their
attention to
long term financial, marital, and in some cases mental problems.
There's a
strong brotherhood between members of the military and I know that
most
would die for each other just because of that connection alone.
Thank you for emailing my step father and pledging your support to
my fine marines and other brave sailors, soldiers, marines, and
airmen fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am a Sullivan,
Illinois native currently serving on my third tour in Iraq. I
willfully and gladly volunteered to come over here the past two
tours to ensure that my marines receive the best training and are
well taken care of. I am very thankful for all of the support that
the American Public and Government has shown in these trying times.
It shows in the quality of life that I am receiving while overseas.
Once again, thank you for your email.
"Semper FI"
Ssgt Elsea, Hugh D
Company Gunnery Sergeant
Company C 4 Combat Engineer Battalion
Sgt.
First Class Randy Henk is a former Elgin resident and stationed
with the US Army in Iraq. He writes a column for the Elgin Courier
about his experiences. Senator Rutherford has been in contact with
Sgt. Henk. Randy has sent photos and comments…he will send more, on
a regular basis.
Sgt. Henk, kneeling, center, black cap
Dear
Senator Rutherford,
Thank
you Sir, for your words of support and respect. I am happy to hear
that you enjoy my weekly writings which have been a sort of hobby of
mine during each of my four deployments through the years, just to
try to paint a picture for everyone back home to better understand
through a soldier's eyes.
Sgt. Henk in front of gun truck with robot used to detect IEDs
I will
be attaching some of my writings as well as some pictures over the
course of the next few days, as our internet time is limited here to
30 minutes and moves like "pondwater" (smile) I deeply appreciate
that you want to honor all of us on your website.
Thank
You for your support Sir!
Respectfully,
Randy A. Henk
SFC, USA
A little girl, a
grenade and an awful choice
January, 2007
Al
Hit, Iraq
'A
child," I thought to myself after hearing the recitation of Spc.
White's mission within the city.
He had
been out over a week and had endured various attacks, most of which
had been children around the ages of 8 to 14, including one lobbing
a grenade over a wall. He is one of our combat engineers I
frequently see in passing.
"How
the hell could I shoot at a kid, Sgt. Henk?"
"You
did the right thing, man," I replied, thinking to myself how crazy
it is, an 8-year-old girl lobbing a hand grenade over a wall, the
difficult decision to fire and live with that or not fire, risking
the lives of soldiers. Either way, one has to live with the outcome
and the choice you make.
For
me, I was happy to hear that he did not fire.
I can
remember my first few days entering Kosovo, seeming like yesterday
although eight years already have passed. We were the first ones in,
the spearhead as the Serbian Army retrograded out of the province.
We had entered a small village outside of Urosevac, and were
conducting our initial sweep of the village, an assessment of
displaced families: if they needed food, numbers of inhabitants, the
usual data we would collect.
We
were guided to a compound that had served as a headquarters for the
paramilitary police. I will never forget what we found that day.
One
room had served as an interrogation room, littered with primitive
and inhumane means of intelligence gathering: car battery, vices,
bolt cutters. I can remember rummaging through a mound of pictures.
One to this day still in my mind of a little girl, maybe in her
pre-teens, clad in a white dress, one probably worn for a church
event, a little girl's formal dress. In the next room piles of
clothing, most with blood spatter -- that very same dress and the
question that still is a burning ember in my mind, whether or not
that little girl is alive.
That
experience later would attribute to my focus back then to help the
children, even spending my own income to purchase paint and school
supplies for the schools in the villages under my tank crews'
control -- many of you reading my writings of today helped impact
the lives of three villages through your donations of school
supplies, toys and clothing for those children back then.
Here, it is different.
It is
not uncommon for a 14-year-old boy to be an IED (improvised
explosive device) emplacer, a little girl lobbing a hand grenade, a
16-year-old boy firing an AK-47. Here I do not wave or pass out
candy. I watch them and try to look at their faces. Some smile and
are children, as children are, but there also are those who have the
look and the air about them that, given the chance, they would
surely relish the thought of our death.
"Yeah
man, it's a crazy world. You did right," I reassured him as he
parted.
The
week had been mostly uneventful, at least for us. That was sort of
evident by Scott's pacing from time to time, the amount of
cigarettes smoked and daydreaming of what it will be like to finally
get out of here. How awkward civil life is going to feel: wearing a
pair of jeans, sitting on a toilet, normal food, feeling clean. We
finally began packing.
Dust.
Mounds of dust on bags and things we even forgot we had brought with
us. Some of the gear I never even used. As we moved a dormant bag or
box, a mouse would scurry from one corner to the next.
Question: Do I still need this? Unpack. Pack. Unpack. Cigarette.
Pack.
Post
Deployment Health Survey: Have you entered a destroyed vehicle? Have
you witnessed death? Check all that apply -- coalition forces,
enemy, civilian. Have you had diarrhea? Muscle aches and pains?
Nightmares? Trouble sleeping? Chronic cough?
Hey,
was that incoming?
In
between packing. The guys' more frequent topic of the "I can't wait
to's..." "I can't wait to walk around my room barefoot ... have a
beer ... sleep ... wear civilian clothes ... go to Ireland ... Mom,
Dad, Wife, Son, daughter. I can't wait ..."
Now,
the complex task for me is to keep us all in check, not to allow
complacency to set in, as our time is still ample here.
Daydreaming. Door opens, "EOD (explosive ordnance disposal)!"
Thank you for taking an interest in our unit. We are
Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field
Artillery based out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Including myself, we
have (8) Soldiers in the Battery that are Illinois residents; which
equals just about 10% of the unit. Each of them is anxious to
provide you with first account information on their experiences here
in Iraq, and to thank those Illinois residents that have been
continuously showering us with care packages throughout our first
100 Days.
Who are we? Well, currently we are the only Multiple Launch Rocket
System in the Iraqi theatre. Our Battery was hand selected by the
Department of the Army and specifically task organized to deploy in
support of the Global War on Terrorism. Our primary responsibility
is to engage time sensitive targets, targets of opportunity and high
payoff targets with a precision guided rocket that is ideally
constructed and specifically tailored for urban warfare. The
success of our mission thus far has played a key role in bringing
validity back to the Field Artillery as well as offering our senior
commanders with another precision weapon for their arsenal.
Additionally, due to the varying weather conditions in Iraq, which
have proven to be problematic for the Air Force, our Battery is
becoming the first choice to use in direct support of U.S. Forces
that are in contact with the enemy.
Unlike other Field Artillery Batteries, whose Soldiers have
primarily one specialized skill; our Battery is a combination of
over 100 Soldiers with 9 different specialties. Our Illinois
Soldiers are as diverse in their backgrounds as they are in their
job descriptions, and each of them plays a specific role to the
collective success of our unit.
Sergeant Michael Gray is from Brookfield, Illinois, and a 1991
graduate of Riverside/Brookfield High School. He is one of the (2) Fuelers we have in the Battery. He is responsible for ensuring all
33 of our vehicles are fueled, and ready to roll out on a moments
notice. He asked if you could give him a “Shout Out” to all of his
classmates from Riverside/Brookfield High School, and of course he
wants to send his cheers for the Chicago Bears.
Specialist Craig Landfair is from the Southside of Chicago vicinity
71st and Ashland. Coincidently, he is the other fueler
in the Battery. He reports to SGT Gray, and together they form the
Illinois tandem that is directly responsible for ensuring the
readiness of the most lethal battlefield asset in Southwest Asia.
Specialist Michael Sipin, is from Naperville, Illinois, and
Private
William Klier is from Algonquin, Illinois. Private Klier is a 2002
graduate of Jacobs High School. They are 2 of the 12 Soldiers in
the unit responsible for Fire Direction and are responsible for the
technical fire direction of the Battery. When our Battery receives
a Fire Mission, SPC Sipin and PVT Klier are responsible for
notifying our Launchers and directing them to the firing location,
as well as computing the mission data in the fire direction computer
in order to send a firing solution to the Launchers. Pretty
technical stuff, especially when you’re dealing with precise target
locations! Their margin for error is just above 0.
Specialist Ryan Long is from Oregon, Illinois and a 1999 graduate of
Oregon High School – he also just celebrated his 26th
birthday on 23 January. SPC Long is an ammunition specialist and
his primary responsibility is to ensure the pods that hold our
rockets are on hand, safeguarded, stored, transported and loaded
when needed. This is a very detailed task that requires an alert,
trained, and physically fit crew. SPC Long is also interested in
attending Devry University and hopes to become a designer of video
games after his tour of duty is complete.
Specialist Jacob Klein is from Carpentersville, Illinois and a 2003
graduate of Dundee Crown High School. SPC Klein manages our
Battery’s training room and ensures all of our files and training
documents are up to date and that our Senior Leaders have the most
current situational awareness of operations within our battle
space. Although this job is normally reserved for a senior
Noncommissioned Officer, SPC Klien has proven to be just as adept
and proficient handling these tasks himself. His attention to
detail has been very important for our whole unit.
Specialist Matthew Meadows is from Bradley, Illinois and a 2002
graduate of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School. SPC Meadows
is a combat medic and he is responsible for the physical readiness
of the whole unit and for providing immediate care and triage to
Soldiers if the need arises. He is an absolutely spectacular
Soldier, and one of the greatest young Americans I’ve had the
privilege to serve with. He has the highest physical fitness score
in our unit and he carries himself with the poise and discipline of
our most senior leaders.
As for me, I’m a 1994 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High
School, and Norwich University. I have been a commissioned officer
since 1999. I’m honored and humbled to be a part of this
organization at this critical juncture in our country’s history.
Thank you again, Senator Rutherford for your interest in us and for
your support of our brothers in arms.
Top row from left to
right:
SPC Michael Sipin,
SPC Matthew Meadows, SPC Jacob Klein, SPC William Klier
Front row from left
to right:
CPT Matthew Smith,
SPC Craig Landfair, SGT Michael Gray, and SPC Ryan Long
I wish you would have asked me last year. I just returned from Iraq
with my Naval Reserve battalion. Naval Mobile Construction
Battalion 25 was mobilized January 9, 2006. We deployed in March
from Port Hueneme, CA. Our battalion headquarters is at Fort McCoy,
WI. However, more than half of our members are from Illinois.
Seabees handle contingency construction for the Marine Expeditionary
forces and Marine air bases. Our jobs include road repair, bridge
repair, rapid runway repair and water-well drilling in more remote
camps just to name a few.
If you want more info I can give it to you. However, as I mentioned
we all returned last October. I don't know of anyone who is still
over there from Illinois.
We lost three great people while we were over there and had two
others with near fatal injuries. Two of the deceased are from
Illinois.
Navy Equipment Operator 1st Class (Petty Officer 1st Class) Gary T.
Rovinski, 44, of Roseville, Ill.; was killed June 5 as a result of
enemy action when his Humvee was struck by an IED in Anbar Province,
Iraq.
Navy Builder 1st Class Jerry A. Tharp, 44, of Aledo, Illinois;
assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25, Rock Island,
Ill; killed July 12 as a result of enemy action when his dismounted
patrol was struck by an IED while operating in the Anbar province of
Iraq. His wife's name is Gail and she still lives in Aledo.
When I retire in July I will have served 25 years in the Army, both
Active and Reserve. I am once again on Active Duty, this time I am
actually serving near my home in Schaumburg, IL at Headquarters,
85th Division (TS), Arlington Heights, IL. The Army is ever
changing and our command is in the midst of a transformation to a
new entity, Regional Support Group West. It will be exciting to see
its birth, but I won't be a part of its birth, I will be back in the
'real world.' I have raised four children while in the military and
these 'GI Issue' children have turned out to be fine contributions
to our society though they were required to travel more then their
civilian friends. So, 'we' were in the Army as a family.Over the
years, my military service has caused me to miss birthdays, plays,
ball games, recitals, party and even one graduation. I am grateful
that my four 'Army brats,' Rockelle, Erik, Heather and Sagirah were
understanding of why I couldn't be there for them during those
times. They would say things like "Mom is out saving the Army, one
soldier at a time." It's true, my focus was on being an extra right
hand to soldiers and making sure their personnel records were
correct and assuring the forward movement of their career. I was so
busy helping others career management that I fooled around and let
my own slip, thereby missing even making it to SFC. I never stopped
being a person who smiled and was playful, even through the hectic
pace and the dirt while wearing these ugly military glasses, also
know as military birth control devices. My children have been good
sports even when I made them wear T-shirts with a picture on it of a
very curvy uniformed female soldier toting a rifle, with the saying,
"My Mommy wears combat boots." Or the T-shirt from Fort McCoy with
a bicycle built for four with the mommy bird in the lead and her
baby birds on seats behind, on which I labeled all of our names.
Those were difficult times, but good.
And I am very proud of my son, Erik who followed me into the corp.
One of our best photos in our family album is of both Erik and I in
uniform on his graduation day from Boot Camp at Fort Jackson, SC, a
place I swore I would never return to once I escaped my own Boot
Camp there! But a parent will do anything for the ones they love.
And that's why I'm in the Army and protecting the country that I
love!
God bless the families that support us soldiers back home and are
stronger that most families are called upon to be. It is they who
deserve a lot of credit for keeping us "ARMY STRONG."
FROM DAN: Geetanjali, thank you for sharing and all the best to
you and you children. Thank you for giving so much!
A great young man, a friend of mine and a true American that makes
us proud; Kenny sent these photos from Iraq. God Bless you Kenny and
your fellow soldiers. We are happy to welcome you home!