Diane has shared this with us. It comes from her MMO group. I know you'll enjoy this. Thanks so much for the things you share with us! As Diane said, "The Moms are as awesome as their Marines!"
April 24th, 2007 by CJ
This is from a Marine First Sergeant serving in Iraq and about to come home:
I guess I kinda had an epiphany two days ago when I walked outside and saw some Marines gathered around a convoy of 4 vehicles. I recognized that these were my Marines from another "Battle Position so I thought I would go see what they were up to. Because of the fact that they are 40 miles away, I dont get to see them often enough, so I always welcome "face time" with this platoon.
As I walk over, all I see are young Marines and a single Corporal. "Who is the convoy commander?" I asked, expecting to see a Sergeant", said Cpl Jansen. All of the Marines started to close in on me as if to see what they had done wrong that caused me to be looking for the convoy commander. So I asked Cpl Jansen how old he was and he replied "19, First Sergeant".
This just really hit home with me, so I decided to point out to all and head out across hostile foreign land. I bet that if you asked someone back home who was in charge of a convoy in Iraq, they would think it was a Lieutenant or Captain or Sgt. But here you are a 19 year old Corporal leading Marines into combat." (Keep in mind that 45 days ago Cpl Jansen was a Lance Corporal-before he was promoted to his present rank Meritoriously for his actions in combat.)
So, as I walked away, I just kept thinking what other kids his age are doing in America. The level of responsibility he has is truly Awe-inspiring. Thirty minutes later, Cpl Jansen mounted up his troops and headed right back out the gate and into harms way on his 90 minute convoy back to his base. What a difference eight months makes! This is just one example of how this deployment has changed lives and turned boys into men.
You know, a lot of people look down on our current generation. People are quick to point out that they play too much video games, question authority, talk back to their parents, whatever. (I myself am guilty of saying these things). But I can assure you, that if you could see what I have seen here, you would stifle yourself. They represent everything America stands for and they are perfect ambassadors of our country. My company is about 75% under 21 years old. These young men have a perfect understanding of patriotism and sacrifice.
--
"Some people live an entire
lifetime and wonder if they have
made a difference in the world.
Marines don't have that problem."
---Ronald Reagan 1983
America is not at war...The Marine Corps
is at war...America is at the mall !!
Danni Wyatt
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2 comments:
I love it! You know, it's so true. My boys are special ('cause they're my boys LOL), but I've always thought that they and their friends are so much better than people give their generation credit for. I see it in most of the young people in my third son's youth group too. Some of those kids have more of a heart for serving God and His people than I have seen in plenty of adults I know.
I know. They shoot so straight. I don't remember Aaron being a hypocrite, and he was always bold about his beliefs. I admired that about him and many of his friends. In fact, I am trying to become bolder. I think we're all going to have to get that way. The fight is on in so many ways. And I'm speaking homefront too.
We need your youth group up there in Washington right now. I am still so upset about that!
We began a Bible Marathon in Lovington tonight. People will spend from now until Thursday reading out loud over a microphone from the courthouse. We'll have the entire Bible read (plus some probably)by National Day of Prayer. We've done this for several years. Anyway, I did the opening prayer tonight and I was very bold with what I asked God, and maybe too much, because I felt the anger rise in me when I was praying for our leaders, and when I hit Congress, I even used some of Mom's words about the steak and I wanted parts instead. ooohhhh.
Later, I told Greg, "Well, that was a little radical, I guess."
"Militant" he said. :)
But I had asked the Spirit to pray through me and asked others to be praying for me, because I did not have anything "prepared." And that's what came out!
I'm anxious to see how God answers it.
And boy did I get off track here...but Aaron was always that way. I like our kids. But face it, we've got good kids!
And we're Moms! But they are good.
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