OT: Young Military Folks ** Need Help

[Guest guest]

Butch - certainly is hard to be away from family this time of year. I remember being in college and waitressing and still not having enough money for a ticket home for the holidays. my parents told me not to worry all would be well they'd send on the care box and I should just take care and be good. had a holiday meal in the dorm cafeteria and Wendy's for dinner that night after walking a mile down the road from campus!! they taught me the lesson of providing for myself and how to truly value the work that earned the dollar that I chose how to spend. distance doesn't ever keep us apart. did you write the poem at the end? it was warming! Dale Nightengale .. obviously I don't know your son personally. But I cansay from deep within my heart that I might love him more than you do. My love is a different kind than yours but at this stage in his life itmight be a more valuable type of love. He has joined a fraternity thatall soldiers .. especially old soldiers like me .. hold to be sacred andwe honor and protect our brothers and sisters who are or have beenmembers of this very elite group. :-PY'all keep smiling, Butch http://www.AV-AT.comThe Night Before Christmas and All Is SecureT'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVEI LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,AND ON THE WALL PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARD OF ALL KINDS,A SOBERING THOUGHT CAME TO MY MIND.FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT SO DARK AND SO DREARY,THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, NOW I COULD SEE CLEARLY.THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ:CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND SOON DRIFTED TO SLEEP,I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL,AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD EVENING'S CHILL.I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT."MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."How To Make Rose Petal Jam - Step By Step Instructionshttp://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.htmlTo Un send a blank e-mail to: -

[Guest guest]

Hey Butch,

No I am not up set about your e-mail. You help me look

at things a little differently. My son is coming home

for x-mas. And he is doing it all on his own. They are

many parents out there who's kids can't afford to come

home. I guess if that was my son, my husband and I

would drive out there. NC and MO is not that far away

fOrleans Orleasn.

This has been a big adjustment for me. Just 5 months

ago he still had to answer " where are you going " , how

late are you going to be " and etc. This is so hard

for me. He was always independent, he started working

with my husband cutting yards at 9 yrs old. At 14

against my wishes, he started working on a tree lot at

x-mas. He was capt. of the football team, funny

personality-which no the marines did not mess up his

head and make him loss his personality. I would hear

that so much from people thinking the kids are

brainwasmental mentaly changed. No he is still a goofy

and friendly boy. What they did do was make him more

maturresponsibleponsable young man.

So I guess it is time to let go. This is so hard for

me to do.

I love the poem, in fact I was crying at work while I

was reading it.

Thank you for all you info and help, I would never

want to embarrass him. He would be very upset with me

if I did that.

Thanks again Butch,

Nightengale

--- Butch Owen <butchbsi wrote: > Hi

Nightengale,

>

> > Merry Meet everyone,

>

> Right. I'm gonna give you my opinion of the below

> and odds are you

> won't like it .. but then, those who come across

> with lots of sympathy

> aren't gonna do you a danged bit of good. I am NOT

> your enemy!!!

>

> > My son is in the Marines and I am shocked on what

> the airlines are

> > doing to all military men and women who want to

> come home for x-mas.

>

> There are close to a million young military men and

> women who want to

> come home for Christmas .. it is NOT the mission of

> the airlines nor of

> the Department of Defense to be charitable in that

> regard. Nor would

> the shareholders of the corporations allow such

> charity.

>

> > My son is going to put out 375.00 to come home for

> 13 days. Now we

> > may not think that is a lot but if you knew a new

> marines pay you

> > would understand.

>

> Its a lot for sure. And I've always been a champion

> for increasing the

> salary of military folks .. got into a big peeing

> contest on one wimp

> butt list about it and resigned because of that. At

> the same time, I

> don't think young soldiers or young civilians should

> expect to live a

> champaign and cavier lifestyle on a hamburger and

> beer pocketbook. If

> your son stays in for a time, he will be in better

> financial shape and

> will climb the ladder as is the norm in any

> professional organization.

>

> > I offered to help but he is independent and newly

> married so he

> > wants to do this on his own.

>

> I salute him on two counts .. one for joining the US

> Marines and two for

> wanting to cut loose from his parents purse strings.

> Sound like a fine

> young soldier to me .. and I've known a few tens of

> thousands of them.

>

> > So again they will have no money.

>

> This is a norm for young soldiers.

>

> > He is still in training and since he has only been

> married since

> > Oct. he is not getting the extra money for his

> wife yet.

>

> Also a norm .. he's hanging in there with thousands

> of others who got

> married afore they left home because they feared

> they would lose their

> lady if they delayed it. I've been there and done

> that myself. ;-p

>

> > This process of adding her on has not been easy

> for him to do.

>

> Right .. that's why we try real hard to discourage

> young troops from

> doing that until they are at least grade E4 .. but

> its like talking to a

> door when dealing with young folks who have a lot of

> growing to do.

>

> > He had to wait till he went to training and then

> he had to fill out

> > paper work by him self.

>

> Not sure what that means .. but the admin clerks in

> ALL military

> services assist young troops in filling out their

> requests for pay and

> other benefits. If they didn't, the documents

> wouldn't be acceptable.

>

> > He had to answer question for you new wife when

> you have no idea of

> > the answer. And of course he couldn't call right

> then and there.

>

> I think I'll not comment on this one. ;-p

>

> > So long story. I just got off a site for marine

> moms and one poor

> > mom is crying cause at one base there is only one

> airline that

> > lands at the airport near them. And they have

> raised the price to

> > over 600.00 with there discount.

>

> I think the son of that " poor mom " might be feeling

> more comfortable

> with his military comrades than he would feel at

> home .. and seems he

> had a good reason for wanting to join at a young

> age.

>

> > Of course she doesn't have that kind of money so

> her son might not

> > come home for x-mas.

>

> There are not enough airlines operating in the world

> for half the sons

> and daughters in the military to come home for

> Christmas .. and none of

> the military services will allow that many people to

> leave at one time

> anyway. Its not like a civilian company that

> announces they will be

> operating at half manning for a certain period.

>

> > I think if these young men and women are willing

> to put there life

> > on the line for this country, not knowing lately

> where they will be

> > tomorrow, the airlines could at least lower there

> prices for them

> > during the holidays

>

> I disagree .. however, there is such a thing as

> military stand-by

> flights which are considerably cheaper .. but no

> guarantees that the

> soldier will not wait 24 hours or so in this or that

> airport. Still,

> its an option that this ol' kuntry boy has used many

> times before.

>

> > and if a a death occurs in the family.

>

> EVERY military service give emergency leave and pays

> the tickets for

> soldiers who have a death in the family.

>

> > You have no idea how many military men and women

> will not be home

> > for x-mas due to the fact no one can afford the

> airline ticket.

>

> I'll say that at least 75% of them will not come

> home .. even those who

> can afford a ticket.

>

> > Most of the marines I am speaking about are in the

> age group of 19

> > to 21, and it has been hard for them.

>

> Here comes the hard part. The thing that is most

> hard on them is the

> misguided attention of their loved ones who don't

> want to let go of

> these young men and women. Let them grow up .. they

> are NOT children

> now and they need to learn that life is not a bed of

> roses!!!

>

> > Soonly MainealMainea mairne for 5 months, like my

> son, and deep

> > inside they still need to be with family and feel

> like a kid again

> > for x-mbuses he overebooked erbooked since they

> all the military run

> > there next.

>

> Not sure I understand the above .. the message was

> garbled during

> transmission .. over? But I will say that those who

> feel a need to be

> like a kid again are going to have a rougher time

> making the transition

> when they return to base and have some Gunney or

> Drill Sergeant chewing

> on their young ass in an attempt to teach them to be

> all they can be and

> learn to survive in combat without mommy and daddy

> being there to call

> when times get rough.

>

> > The bases are always out in now where land and

> there is always only

> > one airport near, where in my sons case it is 2.4

> hrs. away.

>

=== message truncated ===

 

 

 

Everything you'll ever need on one web page

from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts

http://uk.my.

[Guest guest]

Hi James,

I sorry I wasn't clear in the e-mail, I am lucky my

son is coming home. There are many of other on the

marine web site who are not. But you are right, I

don't want to embarrass him. Which by accident I have

already. I had to fax his new wife's notorize SS card

and I was calling up there to make sure they got the

fax. I always double check on important things. Well I

ask for the Sgt. and they ask who I was and I told

them. Next thing I know my son is on the phone. He

told me that in a room full of Marines they came out

called his name and said " You mom is on the line " Now

I wasn't calling for him, and I felt really bad about

that. He was pretty up set. I told him I was not

asking for him and who would have dream he was there

and they would give him to me. Oh course it was nice

to speak to him all of 30 seconds. So I have learn

never to call and even check.

Thanks for everything

Nightengale

--- chrisziggy <chrisziggy wrote: >

From my husband ...

>

> *Smile*

> Chris (list mom)

>

> http://www.alittleolfactory.com

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>

> Nightengale,

>

> I agree with Col. Butch. What your young Marine is

> doing is easier than

> what the Millions of Marines, Soldiers & Sailors

> before him did and yet

> it is still harder than most anything a Civilian

> will ever do. Don't

> worry about him getting a good holiday meal. One

> thing that every base

> knows how to do, is throw a great holiday meal. Mom

> your boy is becoming

> the kind of man that all little boys dream of being.

> Do not interfere

> with this. He needs your support not your sympathy.

> When he is done with

> his training he will be a capable soldier who can be

> counted on to do

> whatever it is that his God, Country, Corp and Unit

> needs of him without

> a second thought. Universe willing, he will come

> home some day and take

> on a civilian job and his employer will be very

> happy to have a person

> working for them that understands that fair is a

> child's word. Whatever

> you do please don't make a joke out of him. I had a

> friend who we all

> made fun of because his mommy called the Red Cross

> because she hadn't

> heard from her little boy in a month. Mind you that

> this little boy was

> a 6 foot 3 inch 200 pound man who had spent more

> than 2 years of his

> life in a combat zone and was a Second Class Gunners

> Mate Missiles in

> the worlds finest Navy. Of course he was serving

> aboard a war ship at

> sea when the Captain got the message that the Red

> Cross wanted him to

> call his mommy. The Captain chewed him out before he

> set him down and

> made him call his mommy. If you want to honor you

> son on Christmas then

> give him a call and tell him thanks. Remember and

> support your military

> men and women during the holidays and please don't

> cry for them. It only

> makes us sad to know our mothers are crying because

> of us.

>

> Blessed be,

> James J. Bollum

> DK2 USNR

>

>

 

 

 

Everything you'll ever need on one web page

from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts

http://uk.my.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Cheryl for all your support. Letting go is

hard and I know now I must do it.

Nightengale

 

--- Cheryl <female_tigress wrote: > Butch,

>

> Well you did it to this military person also, I

> read this portion of your email:

>

> > Nightengale .. obviously I don't know your son

> > personally. But I can say from deep within my

> heart that I might love him more than you do.

> > My love is a different kind than yours but at

> > this stage in his life it might be a more

> valuable type of love. He has joined a

> fraternity that all soldiers .. especially old

> soldiers like me .. hold to be sacred and

> > we honor and protect our brothers and sisters

> > who are or have been members of this very elite

> group. :-P

>

> It is so very very true. I agree with everything

> you have said here too, as you know anyway.

>

> It was much easier for me to let go because I

> knew it was absolutely necessary for my son. By

> letting go my son was able to pursue a dream he

> had had since he was 5 years old - to join the

> military and fight for his country. He wanted to

> follow in Mom's footsteps like most children who

> follow in their parents footsteps.

>

> Nightingale,

>

> Butch is right - all you can do is let go. But,

> if your son really wants to come home there are

> ways - like I posted in a previous email.

>

> It is really hard to let go, from one mom to

> another, but as a military person and a military

> mom - it is absolutely necessary not only for

> your son but yourself. Be there for him yes,

> listen to him and give him common sense advice

> but keep your feelings out of it. Very hard to

> do.

>

> Cheryl Smith

>

>

>

>

> Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up

> now.

> http://mailplus.

>

 

 

 

Everything you'll ever need on one web page

from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts

http://uk.my.