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A Marine Mom’s Real Fear

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Camp Bastion Attack

On Friday September 15, 2012  two Marines were killed at Camp Bastion in Southern Afghanistan by what is claimed to be a Taliban attack.  This was just just a few days after the September 11, attack on Bengazi. This series of events sent a chill through my spine. My oldest Marine son had just returned from Leatherneck/Bastion in August (OEF 12.1) and I was thankful to have him home during his post deployment leave.

He was assigned to MALS 16, or Marine Aviation Logistics and spent his time between the hangers, the flight line, and the warehouse. He worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week on night crew, during the same time the attacks occurred. He always assured me he was safe, there hadn’t been IDF (indirect fire) the whole time while he was there. He was inside the wire with nothing to worry about.

This created a false security with Mom back in Nebraska. I had the attitude that he was just as safe on this base as he was in Yuma. (Which in a way is a good way to view a deployment) Marines are told “Don’t give information that would cause your family back home to worry”

Marine in Afghanistan

How wrong I was. He could have been in the Harrier hanger when it was bombed, it was his replacements who got injured.  Thoughts run through my mind now of how I would be feeling had my son still been deployed and working in the shop on night shift. Could I even sleep until I knew he was safe? I’m sure I would be calling his FRO (Family Readiness Officer) for the latest news. But he’s stateside now, I got to hug him and tell him I love him. He’s safe and I thank God for bringing him home.

During his leave he showed me his deployment photos and where slept in the barracks  “next to the wire”. I’ve heard the phrases “outside the wire”, “inside the wire”, and there is a big distinction between the two. For those Marines who never get “outside the wire” moving “next to the wire” may be a subtle difference, but it’s a big deal. The small huts I saw in the photos were the same ones described in news accounts that may of aided in the attack. (don’t have permission to post those, for OPSEC can only publish non distinct photos without landmarks)

He said it was kinda crazy being able to see the wire and know just beyond, within eyesight, was clear and present danger.

AEF 12.1 Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
AEF 12.1 Camp Bastion, Afghanistan

Many Marines were disarmed previously in the year, and unarmed, although my son told me his unit always carried their weapons with clips. (see above) It has been over two years since the Benghazi and Bastion attacks of 2012 and my son is still outraged over what happened and the coverup. Families are still trying to get answers over a year later on how this happened. A year later four Marines from my son’s base in Yuma Arizona received the Purple Hearts they deserved.

I pray for the all Marines and troops in harms way and for their families at home worrying about them. Although I am furious at the indifference the media seems to have on the incredible increase of attacks and violence against Americans and our allies in the Middle East and Muslim countries.

The attack on Bengazi, the lack of media attention and outrage baffles me. I remember the Beruit embassy attack and it was plastered all over TV and as a country we were outraged. The initial report of the Ambassador and three other Americans seem to be a diluted way of not recognizing that two Navy Seals were killed.

President Obama was quick to point out their responsibility in killing Osama Bin Laden, but does not give them the credence and recognition when they are killed in the line of duty.

So many emotions run through the mind of a Marine Mom, I can’t help but think of my son and the Marines of Yuma Arizona when I hear Camp Bastion, Camp Leatherneck, or even Benghazi. It makes me furious when politicians minimize the cost, risks, or try and hide the truth. What Difference Does it Make? A lot. Just ask the families and follow #whatdifferencedoesitmake on Twitter to learn more.

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What is there to Say About US Marines?

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A lot has been said about United States Marines and leading up to the Marine Corps 237th birthday I thought it only fitting to list a few quotes about Marines here.

US Marine overseas heading to Afghanistan

“I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front,
and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world.”
– General Douglas MacArthur, US Army, outskirts of Seoul, 21 September 1950.

“Don’t you forget that you’re First Marines!
Not all the communists in Hell can overrun you!”
-Col. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, USMC rallying his First Marine
Regiment near the Chosin Reservoir, Korea, December 1950.

“The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines.
Lord, how they could fight!”
-MGen. Frank E. Lowe, US Army; Korea, 26 January 1952.

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they’ve made a difference.
The Marines don’t have that problem.”
– President Ronald Reagan.

“Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans,
because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean,
or skinny and mean. They’re aggressive on the attack and
tenacious on defense. They’ve got really short hair and they
always go for the throat.”
-RAdm. “Jay” R. Stark, US Navy; 10 November 1995.

“The more MARINES I have around the better I like it!”
GEN. MARK CLARK, U.S. ARMY


Bring on the Marines, Bayonets, and the Cavalry

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Bring on the Marines

As a Mom of two Marines, I was appalled at President Obama’s lack of knowledge, understanding and his utter contempt for our military during the 2012 third presidential debate. His condescending attitude and rude responses was not at all presidential and did little to bring honor to the presidency, or our country.

I totally agree with the other Marine Mom @SpunkyBraun who recently posted what could be the “Tweet of the Year”

Dear Mr. Obama, Amb. Stevens would have loved a horse or a bayonette or a 
Marine with either one. Sincerely, mom of 2/Marines #debate

Marines, Bayonets, and the Cavalry
Buy this T-Shirt on CafePress

So, in honor of @SpunkyBraun and all Marine Moms who are proud of their sons and daughters I created this T-Shirt design as a reminder there Americans who support our military.

This design was found in my CafePress Military and Marine store, but for some reason they took it down. I spent a lot of time on it and was pretty proud of how it turned out. Click on the images to take you to my store for other designs.

Marines, Bayonets, and the Cavalry
Marines, Bayonets, and the Cavalry

FACT: There are more bayonets used now than in 1917.

FACT: The military still utilizes the Cavalry, although the last time the Cavalry invaded was in 2001 to invade Afghanistan.

FACT:  Bayonets are standard issue in the Marine Corps

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Two Marine Heroes Killed in Afghanistan

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Commemoration of a Marine, Yuma AZ
USMC Base, Yuma AZ

A commemoration of Lt. Col. Christopher K. Raible, former commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, stands within the halls of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma‘s chapel, Sept. 24. Raible, 40, a native of North Huntingdon, Penn., died while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 14. A dedicated aviator, Raible amassed more than 2,000 hours in the AV-8B Harrier. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Hundreds of service members, family and friends pay their respects to Lt. Col. Christopher K. Raible, former commanding officer, Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during his memorial service at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma’s chapel, Sept. 24. Raible, 40, a native of North Huntingdon, Penn., died while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 14. A father and husband as well as an accomplished aviator, Raible served the Corps faithfully for 17 years.

Ceremony for a Marine killed in Afghanistan
USMC Base, Yuma AZ

Sgt. Bradley W. Atwell, 27, of Kokomo, Ind. was honored during a memorial service at the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Chapel on Sept. 21. Atwell served with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing as an avionics technician and died Sept. 15 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. His awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and NATO-Service Medal-International Security Assistance Force.

So many Marines, soldiers, and airmen have been killed and wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past ten years. These two stand out in my mind due to their connection with my oldest Marine. I read the words of the squadron and think of my son Nathan. I think that if he had been approved his deployment extension he could have been in that hanger, instead of just returning home from Nebraska on post deployment leave.

It takes my breath away. They are a reminder of how it could of been his funeral. Nathan served with these men in Afghanistan and my heart goes out to their families and friends.

Families of Marines live in silent fear their loved ones will pay the ultimate sacrifice.  It’s unspoken, yet lies in the heart of every Marine Mother, wife and family member. Thank you to every service man and women and their families who support them.

The above information and photos were found on the MCAS Yuma AZ facebook page.

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

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

US Marine overseas heading to AfghanistanWhen 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  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 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.

Marines Lip Synch Call Me Maybe

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 a  “Deployment Drive”. This is a portable hard drive loaded with an electronic library of  specific downloaded YouTube videos, games and movies

The the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders version was watched SEVERAL times a day, my son said 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 terrorists and people who want to kill them for a little while  is fine with me.

Gift Ideas for Deployed Military

By the way, for anyone looking to buy a gift for someone in the military who is going to be deployed or already in country, this solar charger is ideal. They listen to a lot of music, but batteries can be difficult to come by in the desert, especially if they are outside the wire. It will charge a cell or smart phone in less than two hours in the sun.

Marines in Afghanistan