Jan'10

Awesome Paint Job!!!

Email sent by several crumbs:

Hey Dad,

Do me a favor and label this 'The Marine' and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US; I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don 't have much time anyway.

You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech. 'When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it.' Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do.! Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby,! but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon.

Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.

Aaron

THE MARINE

We all came together,

Both young and old

To fight for our freedom,

To stand and be bold.

When a soldier comes home he finds it hard......

....to listen to his son whine about being bored.

...to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes

...to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work

...to be understanding when a coworker complains about a bad night's sleep

..to be silent when people pray to God for a new car

...to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying

..to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather

..to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold

..to just walk away when someone complains they only get two weeks vacation a year

A moving and powerful video tribute to our U S Military by Lt. Colonel Oliver North

Check out what some of our boys overseas did to their helicopter.

This very special Mi-24 helicopter is presently flying in Afghanistan, where it is no doubt causing quite a stir.

In the midst of all evil,

We stand our ground,

And we protect our country

From all terror around.

More from Afghanistan: One of our recipients, Lt. Commander Michael Hartley, was on Channel 7 Military holiday greetings for the holidays. Click to view his message - (a short commercial will appear prior to his greeting.) Following is his latest "update" on Afghanistan:

From: Michael Hartley

Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 12:27 AM

Subject: Update Twenty-Six

Another two weeks gone by. I spoke to soon about spending time at both compounds until I leave. Shortly after sending my last update I was told by USFOR-A I had to give up my room at New Kabul Compound (NKC) since I have a room (vice tent) at the airport with IJC now. Living at the airport has its advantages. The room is a little larger however we have three people in it. There are more shops to buy things and even a few restaurants opening soon. There are two chow halls and they are bigger with more seating. The food has improved a bit or I am just getting use to it. The only real downside is there is no internet in my room. It hurts my communications back home with Bonnie and the Girls. There are some wireless internet spots around the compound but they are crowded and slow. I saw workers installing wireless in my building but no one knows for sure when it will be up and running. Probably the day I leave.

Monday was an eventful day in Kabul with a complex attack in the city by up to 10 suicide bombers and gunmen. Tactically the attack was a failure because they did not make it past the guards of the government buildings targeted. All the bombs detonated in the street or outside the compounds with little damage. (Except for the Bombers themselves) The most spectacular pictures where from a shopping center that caught fire after the insurgents ran there because they were unable to enter the Afghan government buildings. The fire eventually got out of control because the fire fighters were not allowed to get close due to the gunfire making for a large fire. A positive sign was the Afghan Police and Afghan Army Commandoes stopped the attack with no ISAF assistance. A small ISAF reaction forces was sent to the area on standby but were not needed. Although tactically the attack did little, I am sure sensationalized stories will make a large psychological impact. I read an article online that compared it to the tet offensive. I find that a very large stretch.

This week I participated in my first ramp ceremony. A ramp ceremony is done when they transfer a fallen solider to the aircraft to leave for home. Most transfers are due to a combat death but some are non-battle deaths. This solider collapsed in the barracks after working out at the gym. Speculation is he had a Heart attack. Still a sobering ceremony, especially for those who knew and worked with him. I expected a shiny silver transfer case to be loaded onto the aircraft. So it was slightly unnerving for me when they rolled a stretcher out and transferred a body bag to the helicopter. I guess he was transferred to Bagram Airbase to be processed out of country back to the US. I expect to participate in more ramp ceremonies living at the Airport now.

I had to wonder was this any less important or honorable because it was a non-battle death (NBD)? I came to the personal conclusion it was just as important and honorable. He died far away from home and family doing what his country asked him to do. I did not know there were multiple three letter acronyms describing casualties until working here. Killed in Action (KIA) = Died immediately due to combat, Died of Wounds (DOW) = Died after initially surviving, Vital Signs Absent (VSA) = not a good thing, Non Battle Death (NBD) = Natural causes, traffic accident, etc.

Sorry for all the negative subjects. I am doing well just anxious to be done and counting the days. The weather here has been spring like the last few weeks which makes me forget it is only January. Even a few flies showing up. I am looking forward to my favorite three letter acronym End of Tour (EOT).

Pray you all are doing well!

Michael

LCDR Michael Hartley

Peace and not war,

Is what some people say.

But I'll give my life,

So you can live the American way