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 Posted: Sat Jan 23rd, 2010 10:09 pm
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aloy
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This was emailed to me ...


Semper Fidelis Mac


Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together..


After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.


No, he responded.


Heading out I asked?


No. I'm escorting a soldier home.


Going to pick him up?


No, he is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I'm taking him home to his family.


The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.


I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you, Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.


Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.


"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."


Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.


So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.



US MARINES EXPAND HAITI QUAKE EFFORT

1/23/2010

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20100123-248948/US-Marines-expand-Haiti-quake-effort

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 Posted: Sun Jan 24th, 2010 08:03 am
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Tony Duronio
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Beautiful story............as much as I hear of these stories, I still dont think I have a clue as to the honor, strength, and courage these men and women have. God Bless our military men and women.

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 Posted: Sun Jan 24th, 2010 11:13 am
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Newton
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Semper Fidelis,

I watched a movie late last year called "Taking Chance" with Kevin Bacon.  It is based on the true life story of Lt Col Michael Strobel a military escort who volunteers to escort the body of a 19 year old Marine Chance Phelps back to his family in Wyoming.  Although the movie will absolutely rip your heart out, I highly recommend seeing it to understand the sacrifice of these fine young men and women who sacrifice so much, and ask for so little.

On a personal note, I served in the USMC, and my daughter is dating a Marine who just returned from his first tour in Afganistan.  His unit came back with HALF the Marines it was deployed with 50% KIA !!!!!  He is convinced he will not make it back from his next tour.  Yet he will not complain, he will do his duty, and risk everything.

These men and women who serve our country exhibit bravery on a scale few of us ever get to witness, or experience.  They are our best, and our brightest.

Their sacrifices should not go unnoticed or unappreciated.  It is an honor to know them.

Peace

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 Posted: Mon Jan 25th, 2010 12:47 pm
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KenC
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ALOY...thank you for your post...now matter how many times I hear stories like this...it always makes me chake up!

Newton, Thank you for your service...about your statement that 50% of his unit was KIA all has to do with the size of his unit.  A total of 961 American warriors of all branches of the service have been KIA in OEF since troops 1st deployed to Afghanistan 10 years ago (including the 1st month 0f 2010).  An additional 626 coalition troops of all nations have also been KIA.

SOURCE:http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/oef.casualties/

Total US Military Casualties in OIF in 8 years (including the 1st month 0f 2010) of combat are 4374

 SOURCE: http://www.icasualties.org/

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 Posted: Mon Jan 25th, 2010 01:02 pm
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Newton
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I recieved the unit KIA numbers indirectly from my daughter, so I have to assume a great deal.  The Marine in question is a saw gunner on an urban assault team which pretty much puts him in the middle of the "s**t" on a daily basis.  My assumption is he lost half his squad, or team.  Its been a long time but my recollection is a squad would be in the neighborhood of 10 - 12 Marines.

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 Posted: Mon Jan 25th, 2010 01:39 pm
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KenC
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Could happen...I have observed the recent Urban Warfare training for Afghan an Iraq Advisors at Ft Riley recently...and my nephew was over there in an Urban Warfare unit which operates mostly in 3 man teams and occasionally 4 man teams...at any rate, your daughter's boyfriend desrve's praise and thanks from all of us for his service.

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 Posted: Mon Jan 25th, 2010 06:43 pm
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aloy
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Newton, thank you for the movie reference. I have passed it on to the person who I received the email from. He has a very personal sentiment towards the USMC which I have yet to discover. I will watch it as well but not at this time and will explain why later. And as Ken so succinctly put it, thank you for your service. Your daughter's boyfriend is one of a special breed of men and women who possess unfaltering loyalty and devotion, and the courage to face the very likely possibility of the loss of their own life - such dedication that although I personally can't fathom myself, I am thankful for, respect and admire with all my heart and mind.

I am a single mom. I have one child. This email, all the related posts I've read here, and former service men and women who are part of my extended family here have affected me in a profound way. Last year, my 17 yr old son, Evan, became very passionate about joining the Marines after being contacted by a recruiter instead of going to college as planned. As a mom, I was scared to death. He is my one and only child. Though I didn't want to stop him from following his heart...his dream, I prayed that he would make the right choice. After what seemed like an eternity he finally made his decision.

Today although he still wears his Semper Fidelis t-shirt with great pride, he plans on attending NIU in the fall. Though I am relieved, I am also proud that he had the courage to seriously consider braving the reality of becoming an infantryman fighting for our country at the frontline, risking his very life. I am proud of the way my son turned out, (I am not taking any credit - it's all him.) in spite of a difficult childhood. He has shown me the meaning of fortitude, relentless spirit and the heart of a lion. When I look at him I see a man of conviction; that he has what it takes to be a hero. I am truly blessed.

God bless the Marines and all service men and women, their families and loved ones, past and present.

*~Alina~*

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 Posted: Mon Jan 25th, 2010 07:02 pm
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KenC
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I believe that movie was an HBO "made for TV", but is is terrific...as good as any movie you will ever see in showing the respect we have (with a few exceptions) for our fallen, especially in this conflict.  Thank God this is one of the lessons learned from Vietnam.

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 Posted: Tue Jan 26th, 2010 08:21 am
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Newton
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It is the best movie that I only want to see once.  For me it is so emotional that I am not sure I can get through it a second time.

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 Posted: Tue Jan 26th, 2010 01:29 pm
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KenC
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Newton wrote:
It is the best movie that I only want to see once.  For me it is so emotional that I am not sure I can get through it a second time.

I can truly understand that...as many times as I have been to Wash., DC, I have never been able to force myself to go to the wall!!!

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