Author Topic: Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men  (Read 4166 times)

Offline G-man

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Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men
« on: December 07, 2008, 09:40:06 AM »
So---long story short--I spent Thanksgiving with my daughter, step son and their mother, (my ex-wife). For what its worth---be friends with your ex's--life is too short. This is NOT a political post--it is about three young men.

Anyways.. My step son is a US marine, and went home for T-giving and brought 2 of his marine buddies with him who could not afford to go back east to their home. (One is from Tennessee and not sure where the other was from). We ended up going bowling and then hanging out in the karaoke bar attached to the bowling alley. The boys were rambunctious--as boys are, and after a few "four horsemen"---(shots of Jack, johnny, Jim and Jose), the boys were having fun.

They got up to sing--which was painful on the ears, ::knockedout:: and they were about to be thrown out of the place, when someone mentioned to the bar that they were marines about to be deployed for the SECOND time---yep, SECOND time. My stepson has already spent a year on deployment in the middle east---when you see the picture below--you will be shocked too at how young they look. He ONLY just turned 21. One of the boys is not yet 21--(don't tell the bowling alley..).

Well, the bar patrons stepped up to the plate, and EVERY one sang  This and started buying them drinks. Also one "cougar" wanted to send the boys off with a night they would "not forget"  ;D ;D ---"mom" was having none of it though,  :'( :'( <from the boys.. Well me and "mom" as she became to ALL three of them, ended up holding them up, giving them water, listening to their sob stories. In Mom's case--administering love, support, holding heads over buckets.. and aspirin.

Why do I share you may ask.. in the words of Timothy Leary--"why not". These are the young of America, and could be the young of any country---including Afghanistan  Iraq or "insert country name here". As Mike will agree--he has been there too---war is UGLY.. You do not need to support war, BUT, you do need to support the young who choose to join your military, (regardless of which country), and protect your freedom, and hopefully the democracy of the world.

They go on a one year assignment aboard a ship here soon. I raise my martooni glass to three young men---Ben, Andy, and Daniel..  ::bow:: ::bow:: ::bow:: ::bow:: ::bow:: This is the picture they wanted me to share, (bear in mind--they were toasted).

« Last Edit: December 07, 2008, 09:56:40 AM by G-man »
Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........

Offline Oddball

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Re: Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2008, 01:02:07 PM »
 |:)\
"You can teach monkeys to fly better than that!"and "spring chicken to sh**e hawk in one easy lesson"

Offline 4X-NTY

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Re: Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2008, 02:53:59 PM »
 |:)\ |:)\ |:)\
Let them know that they do not fighting only for America, they are fighting for the whole world, and without great men like them,I probably wasn't here talking to you!
 |:)\ |:)\ |:)\
Nitay "Pitz" Ronen

Offline leiafee

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Re: Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2008, 05:42:16 PM »
You do not need to support war, BUT, you do need to support the young who choose to join your military, (regardless of which country), and protect your freedom, and hopefully the democracy of the world.

Well said.

Offline G-man

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Re: Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2008, 05:52:31 AM »
A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

What are you doing?  I asked without fear,
Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said, Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice.  I'm here every night.
It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December.
Then he sighed, That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue...  an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
So go back inside, he said, harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.

But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money, I asked, or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........

Offline TheSoccerMom

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Re: Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2008, 04:28:19 AM »
Thank you for that, G-Man.

 :)
Don't make me come back there!!!!

Offline G-man

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Re: Three kids who WILL come home--A story of 3 young men
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2008, 09:45:26 AM »
Thank you for that, G-Man.
 :)

Welcome---but for once it is not about me.. It is not about politics---it is about young kids, who for what ever reason stand guard.

Whether one chooses to believe in war or not..

Whether one is Republican, democrat, conservative, liberal, labor, green, SNP, pink or just a plain fire pilot..

It is about those who do their part for the good of mankind. Substitute firefighter for marine, substitute mechanic for firefighter--we ALL do our part, some are just more in harms way is all. Too many people mix politics with life.. Life is not about politics.


Phew---philosophical huh?? So riddle me this---WHAT if there were no more hypothetical questions? Too deep huh?
Life may not be the party we hoped for---but while we're here--we might as well dance..........