Tag Archives: Marine Corps

Season Of Christmas Continues, Day 3

27 Dec

This is the first year my youngest son wouldn’t be home for Christmas. He’s  a U.S. Marine stationed in California, pulling 24 hour shifts so he can come home on the second block leave.

A week before Christmas he called on the phone and reminded me that he wanted LOTS of food when he got home, especially my cookies, pretzels, and deer jerky. Little did he know a care  package was on it’s way with everything included on his list.

Along with all his favorite treats was this tree , don’t know if he put it up (I hope so), but I wanted to send a piece of home his way. (His older brother, stationed in Arizona, also got a care package)

Christmas tree for my Marine

But it is my youngest Marine who got the special treatment this year. He is a corrections officer in the Brig and received the box during his 24 hr “sleep break”. He called and opened the box on the phone with me, which I love. I got to hear the excitement in his voice as he pulled out the Chocolate Covered Candy Cane Christmas Peeps, Reeses Candy Canes, and deer jerky from the stocking. When he opened the cookie tin, he exclaimed “Oh my God, this smells soooo good!!” Thank you, thank you!

I always send a Santa hat, to be worn when they open their presents and add a little frivolity and holiday spirit.

Does a Mom good to hear appreciation from her sons. Makes me want to send another box really soon. But, I don’t have to.

He’s coming home tomorrow night for a 10 day leave!

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Remembering Veterans Day

11 Nov

This is the weekend to be paying respect and homage to our veterans. Yesterday was the Marine Corps birthday and today is officially Veterans Day. May we never forget to honor those veterans who have served in all branches of our military: The Army, Navy, Air Force, and the United States Marines.

Don’t just remember our veterans on the national holidays like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, but remember and thank them everyday. Everyday you hear of a conflict in another country, every time you see an American flag, and every time you hear on the news that another soldier died. Remember they defend our freedom of speech, our way of life, and liberty of the United States of America.

Veterans Days MessageIn addition to my two sons, currently in the Marine Corps, this day and weekend I also remember my “Daddy”.

I wish I had asked more questions, I wish I had listened when you started to tell me the stories, but alas I was a child and only thought of childish things. I wish I had more time with you, and I wish you had lived to see your grandchildren grow up.  You would be proud of them. I miss you now more than ever.

Private Leo Tyrrell, 82nd Airborne

Private Leo Tyrrell, 82nd Airborne (1952?)

Served WWII (2 years 11 months), Army Airborne (1951-1954) Ft. Benning GA, Ft. Drum NY, Co “C” First Battalion, 508th Airborne and 369th Quartermaster Battalion

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How Marines Relieve Stress in Afghanistan, with “Call Me Maybe”

17 Sep

I don’t know why this song by Carly Rae Jepsen has inspired so many lip synch covers but everyone seems to be doing it, including the United States Marines.

When my son returned from his Afghanistan deployment in late July he had not seen the below video yet and was super excited.  He knew some of the Marines in the video via his job in Air Wing support at Camp Bastion, but this was filmed in Kandahar before the squadron moved to the larger, more secure, base. It wasn’t until he returned home he learned about about the video.

This version below is especially poignant now. They are part of the 3rd Marine air Wing‘s Marine Aircraft Group 13 out of Yuma AZ,  the same ones who recently was attacked September 14, 2012 where two of their Marines were killed. I heard first the news on Facebook where I’m friends with a number of Marine Moms who have sons stationed at Yuma, or connected to the Harriers, posted the news on Friday and I slightly freaked out thinking it could have been my son if he was there.  I can’t help but think of the Marines and their families as they waited for news from their sons and husbands.

As my son said, this is what we do Mom, other Marine bases get a “..whole lot more IDF’s”  (indirect fire) it’s our job. So as a good Marine Mom, I go on and want to remember the young men and women as they took time out for this very fun video.  I think they would want their families to remember them this way, with a smile on their face, taking a break from the seriousness of their jobs.

Now for a version the Marines REALLY like to watch. Before you watch it, here’s a little bit of background. For obvious, logistics and otherwise, most Marines and soldiers don’t have internet access and they rely on other forms of electronic entertainment. For example, my sons group had an electronic library of  specific downloaded YouTube videos.

Many times a day this  particular Call Me Maybe video by the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders was watched, he had it memorized and knew what cheerleader came on at what time.  The look on his face when he talked about this song at the dinner table was priceless. Can you just guess why it’s popular with a bunch of testosterone filled young men, in the middle of a desert, in Afghanistan?

Hey, the stress over there is hard enough, 12 hour+ days, seven days a week. Whatever can take their mind off insurgents for a little while  is fine with me.

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US Marine Corp Graduation

18 Jul

A year ago this month my youngest son left for  Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego and started 13 weeks of the most challenging accomplishments anyone can face. Becoming and earning the right to be come a U.S. Marine.  At the

Across the parade deck hundreds of new Marines march in their platoons as the last maneuver they will complete before leaving MCRD full fledged Marines. The Marine Band plays to open the ceremony, the chaplain leads every one in prayer and then the parade of dress blues begin. This is my second Marine graduation, my oldest is also a Marine,  but  the tears of pride still flow just as fast and my hands shake as I hold the camera.

Marine Corps Graduation, San Diego CA

Marine Corps Graduation, San Diego CA

Marine Corp Champlain leading off the graduation

Marine Corp Chaplain leading off the graduation

MCRD, India Company, Platoon 3213, October 7, 2011

MCRD, India Company, Platoon 3213, October 7, 2011 (son 6th from right)

My New US Marine

My New US Marine, November 2011

Since graduation my new Marine has attended MCT (Marine Combat Training) in Pendleton CA, Corrections training in San Antonio TX, and is now back at Pendleton as his permanent duty station. Congratulations to my newest U.S. Marine, he makes me proud.

I found this draft sitting in my WordPress folder.In evaluating my stats in WordPress my US Marine Corps postings represent 20% of views. Very popular topic, but considering every parent of a new Marine searches the internet for every scrap of information they can find to learn more about the journey ahead, I can understand.

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U.S. Marine in Service Charlies

18 Apr

I have two sons in the U.S. Marine Corp, one stateside and one in Afghanistan and have come across a Twitter theme #WarriorWednesday. So I thought why not start a new theme and feature on my blog. I don’t know how long this will last, but at least until I run out of photos and images. So it might take a while.

U.S. Marine in Service Charlie Uniform

This image was taken on Family Day at MCRD San Diego after the MotoRun. The new Marines change into their Service Charlies uniform, and garrison hat, or cover (Marines often refer to it as their “piss cutter”.) and then have their first five hour liberty to spend with their families on base.

If a recruit wears glasses or contacts they are issued  standard-issue spectacles, S9s or commonly called  or BCG’s “Birth Control Glasses” because they are so ugly that no girl will come near you. They have been a staple in the military and are tough, sturdy and just plain ugly.

Marines joke about them, raze each other, but they are just as  much as they are hated they hold a certain affection amoung the ranks. I just read on the Marine Corp blog they are being retired for those interested “Goodbye Birth Control Glasses” is a very good read.

This photo started off as “PhotoShopFriday posting until I thought of the #WarriorWednesday. I adjusted the levels, color selected the blue sky, and darkened the blues, used shadows and highlights to open up the shadows on his face and then cropped for a better balanced photo.

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California, San Diego Style

6 Mar

While we were in California last fall  (found a draft that never got posted, couldn’t let it go to waste)  for my son’s Marine Boot Camp graduation we took in as much beach time as possible. My daughter could both live at the beach very easily, something soothing about the consistency and rhythm of the waves. Although the water was very cold, my daughter just had to go swimming, hey she’s sixteen, she knows enough to come in when she’s cold.

Next day she learned to body surf, and did a pretty good job of it too. She was so proud.

Father and Daughter at the Beach

Father and Daughter at the Beach

Sunset on the Pacific Ocean

Sunset on the Pacific Ocean

Swimming in the Pacific Ocean, in October

Swimming in the Pacific Ocean, in October, just a little bit chilly

 

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Day 302-306: Marine Corp, Boot Camp Family Day

13 Nov

After thirteen weeks of intensive training Marine recruits see their families for the first time the day before graduation on Family Day. Up until then there are no phone calls, no emails, no Facebook, nothing. They are totally immersed in concentrated training and focused on the task. In this day of instant communication it is definitely a culture shock not only for the recruits but the families who are used to being in touch with their kids at all times.

MCRD Family Day Moto Run

MCRD Family Day Moto Run, Formation

Boot Camp, Liberty Formation

Boot Camp, Liberty Formation

My youngest son had a different experience in boot camp. He left right after high school, and experienced more homesickness than his older brother who had been in college for two years prior. My new Marine was craving food of all types and during his five hour liberty on Thursday he ate continuously.

All we could do was watch in amazement as two bags of homemade treats, beef jerky, oreo balls, “Memaws “(bran) muffins, swedish fish, pringles, cheeseburger, ice cream disappeared AFTER a full buffet lunch. Since Marines cannot eat and walk in uniform at the same time there was a lot of stopping to snack.

New Marine at MCRD San Diego

New Marine at MCRD San Diego

Open the Feed Bag for a new Marine

Open the Feed Bag for a new Marine

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Day 294-296: Veterans Day

11 Nov

On this Veterans Day I wish to salute my sons who have chosen to serve their country in the United States Marine Corps. I know the Marines seem to be the proudest, and the Mom’s are just as bad. But there is a reason why they are called The Few, the Proud, The Marines.

They are the only branch of the service that once you go through Marine boot camp you can transfer to any other branch without going through boot, or basic again. But every other service man wanting to transfer into the Marines must go through Marine boot camp. They train the hardest and the longest of any other branch. Thirteen weeks, followed by four weeks of Marine Combat School (MCT)

From boot camp, to their uniforms, Marines are disciplined to pay attention to detail. Everything has a purpose, not that you are supposed to understand that purpose, but there is a trust in every command, every directive, that there is a greater purpose in mind. Here are a few pictures taken during my youngest son’s leave from boot camp in October.

He received the Expert Rifleman award, the highest marksmanship award given in boot camp. It is pined exactly an 1/8 of an inch above the left pocket. If you don’t have a ruler in your kit the width of two nickels will do.

Attention to Dress Blue Details

Attention to Dress Blue Details

Marine Rifle Expert Pin

Marine Rifle Expert Pin

US Marine Dress Cover

US Marine Dress Cover

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Where Poppies Grow, In Flanders Field

11 Nov

I could make it to the Elmwood-Murdock Veterans Day program this year, so I’m posting last years tribute from the high school choir. It’s my favorite  and never fails to give me chills.

Thank you to all our veterans who have served and who are now serving in the United States Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force.

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Day 291-293: Happy Birthday Marine Corps

10 Nov

In honor of my two US Marine sons, a great big 236th birthday wish to the United States Marine Corps.

I am very proud of them both. This picture was taken at my youngest son’s Marine boot camp graduation at MCRD San Diego California this past October. His brother received weekend leave from his permanent duty station to attend. It was great to have them together.

I have only gotten to see my youngest son in his dress blues and like any good Mom I was beaming with pride. Who can resist a Marine in his dress blues? He had the opportunity to wear them to his high school during a recruiting visit to his alma mater Elmwood-Murdock High school.

Two U.S.Marines and a Sister

Two U.S.Marines and a Sister 

USMC Dress Blues, the fitting

USMC Dress Blues, the fitting

Marine Corps dress blues

First time wearing his Marine Corps dress blues

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