My Pretty Rachel...

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


IF YOU ARE READING MY BLOG FOR THE FIRST TIME, REALIZE THE FIRST ENTRY IS THE MOST RECENT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET MORE BACKGROUND, START AT THE BEGINNING, AUGUST 2004 IN THE ARCHIVES (links on right side)

My daughter Rachel went to a friends wedding this weekend... I got to take care of her puppy... lol ('don't worry Dad, I'll take care of him... you won't have to do it"...) lol...

She says she had a good time and she looked great... puppy looks good too... lol



(below) Rescue... is a mutt... but he's a cute mutt... and a learns quickly... he now (most of the time) does his "business" outside and knows how to bark when asked to talk as well as sit and give you his paw... ain't he cute??



more later....

Nationally Famous Cpl Dan, USMCR

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


IF YOU ARE READING MY BLOG FOR THE FIRST TIME, REALIZE THE FIRST ENTRY IS THE MOST RECENT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET MORE BACKGROUND, START AT THE BEGINNING, AUGUST 2004 IN THE ARCHIVES (links on right side)

Well??? That might be pushing it a bit... To me he's famous... Dan is an amtrac (amphibious assault vehicle) Crew Chief, and driver in Iraq with the U.S.Marines 4th AA Bn. His unit, from all I can gleem from conversations with Dan on the phone, and he cannot say much... is that his unit goes to a forward operating base for awhile, goes on patrols does their thing for awhile then goes back to the safer base for a rest before starting all over again.

Before Dan was injured, he participated in these patrols with the rest of his crew and platoon... Apparently, one day while on the road, a USMC photographer caught a picture of Dan in his trac... Well, lo and behold, that picture is on the July 2005 issue of Leatherneck Magazine. And Dan is there in the turret...

Dan obviously heard about his infamous photo from someone over there in Iraq and called me one day to let me know... I flipped... I was so excited I did not know what to say... I had to get my hands and eyes on that picture... It's amazing to me that with somewhere in the vicinity of 135,000 troops over there in Iraq, my son's photo is on a leading USMC magazine. WOW... Amazing is more like it... No credit as to his name, exact unit or anything... but it's Dan alright... I know it and he knows it and that's all that matters.... WOW... The picture of the cover of the July issue is below... (that's Dan on the left in the turret)



A VERY PROUD POPPA POINTS TO SON DAN...
EVEN HAD POSTERS MADE OF THE COVER.



I received calls from his unit's "key volunteers" (people who keep in touch with reservists families while they are deployed, and are wonderful people) Mary for one and Kim, (a Gunny Sgt's wife) both called me excited with of news of Dan's unit and Dan's photo on the cover of Leatherneck. The Marine Corps is really family oriented. I think that's terrific. I am just bursting with pride.

I'm hoping to hear from Dan again soon so that I can tell him about the calls and the well wishes from friends and relatives.

In the meantime, word has filtered down that several members of Dan's unit have been injured. Please PRAY for their speedy recovery and for ALL our troops safe and speedy return. Thanks.

More later... thanks for stopping by...

Lots of News From Dan in Iraq...

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Well... it's been some time since my last submission here. Let's catch up...

My son Dan is a Corporal (USMCR) stationed in western Iraq with the 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion.This is Dan's 2nd deployment to Iraq and hopefully, but probably not, his last. He was recalled to active duty in January 2005 and spent from 8 Jan 2005 (approx) to 13 March 2005 in additional training at Camp Lejeune, NC.

After arriving in Iraq and doing whatever his unit was doing, somewhere around the middle to the end of June 2005 Dan was injured while doing mechanical maintenance on his trac. Some sort of bolt (spring loaded?) went through his right hand and then ricochetted (sp) to his left jaw. Considering wounds suffered by some of his fellow Marines in Iraq, his were minor injuries... Not to ME and Dan (I don't think)...

Anyway... Dan took 15 stitches in his right hand and thank G-d has full feeling and motion (use) 6 stitches in the jaw (cheek)... His face has hence healed but the hand has been a problem, having broken open on first use after the stitches were removed. So it will probably take a little more time for his hand to heal fully. For Dan. the worst part about staying back (at base) is not being with his men. He's bored as hell and wants to get back with the guys asap.

Below is a picture of Dan, captured from a video Dan had made while enroute to Iraq.


Anyway... Dan is slowly healing and I am lucky he has the ability to call home periodically. It is a thrill for me to hear his voice... I send him packages of necessities and the extras he asks for... It's all I can do, keep him supplied and as happy with news from home. His Uncle David and Aunt Marilyn Moto Mail him often and David sends him videos (and other neat stuff...lol) to while away the hours.Knock wood... almost all the news is good here... More later... and especially some FANTASTIC news...