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Category: Military Life

Happy 239th Birthday Marines!

Posted in Military Life

Happy 239th Birthday Marines: A Message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps In his birthday greeting 70 years ago, General Alexander Vandegrift, our 18th Commandant, noted that, “A birthday is a fitting time to peer backward – and forward.” That year, Marines reflected on an extraordinary year in combat during their amphibious drive across the Pacific. Despite the challenges and the horrific conditions, Marines prevailed at Guam, Saipan, and Peleliu. On 10 November 1944, Marines looked back with pride on their accomplishments – confident in their ability to meet future challenges. In 2004, 20,000 Marines deployed to Al Anbar…

Girls Night In

Posted in Family, and Military Life

Ever since Munchkin was an itty bitty girl, I’ve tried to make time away from Daddy a little easier. When he was TAD or deployed, I did my best to have at least one big special event each month and a smaller special thing each week. Somehow, looking forward to lease events eased the hardship of Daddy being gone if only a little. You see, Munchkin is totally a Daddy’s girl, so having him gone was always very difficult for him. Fast forward to today…. Every month when Daddy has duty, I schedule a Girls Night In for Munchkin and…

Remembering September 11, 2001

Posted in Military Life

A sequence of events took place on September 11, 2001, that would alter the lives of many Americans for years to come. For some Americans, it would change their lives forever…. At 08:46 EDT, Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At 09:03 EDT, Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. At 09:37 EDT, Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon. At 09:58 EDT, the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses. At 10:03 EDT, Flight 93 crashes in field in Pennsylvania. At 10:28 EDT, the North Tower of the…

Happy 105th Birthday Carroll “Super Gramps” Dick

Posted in Military Life

A little while ago, a childhood friend of mine decided that she was going to do something special for her grandfather’s 105th birthday. She wanted to celebrate by having friends send cards from all over the country to Super Gramps. (See project here: Super G turns 105.) It was going to be a fun surprise for him. Little did she know how this little gesture of love would take off. At the time of this writing, the mailed card count was up to 299 cards. Carroll “Super Gramps” Dick has not had a dull life, and the stories he tells…