Half Man/Half Boy…Half Woman/Half Girl

HALF MAN/HALF BOY – HALF GIRL.HALF/WOMAN

      every now and then I recieve a E-maill I feel is worth sending on and more so than just forwarding on E-mail, I want to expose more on my blog.  This is the start of the Memoral Day weekend and this is one I feel is apporate for all to see.  As you know if you are a regular reader I am a patroicotic old cuss, and a supporter of our millitary people.  Being a NO LOAD MARINE  (no longer on active duty) of fifty years now, I am always looking for something about our service people to pass on.  I know that not all of our  troops are kids, but many are,  Including my grandson  PFC Jeremy —– USMC, soon to be active.  So please read the following, and enjoy, which I recieved and my daughter  posted for me:

If you read this, you WILL want to forward it on — You just won’t be able to stop yourself.

The average age of the military man is 19 years.  He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country.  He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father’s, but he has never collected unemployment either.

He’s a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.  He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.  He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.  He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.

He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity.  He is self-sufficient.

He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.

If you’re thirsty, he’ll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food.
He’ll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.

He can save your life – or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to ‘square-away’ those around him who haven’t bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.

In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom.  Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot

A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

Prayer wheel for our military… please don’t break it

Please send this on after a short prayer.

Prayer Wheel

“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need; Amen”

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq…

There is nothing attached…

This can be very powerful…….Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.I can’t break this one, sorry. Pass it on to everyone and pray.

     You will notice in the first photo the trooper is carrying the linked ammo for the squads automatic weapons draped around his neck, this is easier than carrying it in the ammo can but can be rough on the neck.  In the third photo they are loading the magazines for their rifles,  with what is called ten round stripper clips.  And the sleeping girls look like they should be primping for the prom.  

     let us remember these kids as we are Bar-B-Q’ing, or watching Old WWII movies, the war dead on this Memorial Day.  Let us remember the ones serving  now, and the wounded from this war and the ones from the past wars also.

     You can send a card to thanks, and cheer up a wounded service member at,

MARINRE, SALIOR,AIR MAN (YOUR CHOICE)

NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL HOSPITAL

8901 ROCKVILLE PIKE

BETHESDA, MD.20889-5600

or

MARINE, SOILDER

WALTER REED ARMY HOSPITAL HOSPITAL

6900 GEORGE AVE. N.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. ,20307

      Pick the service member of your choice, send a card or letter just seal the envelope with a small peice of tape  incase they feel the need to inspect the contents to insure that it does not contain some  crap that would be detremental to the morale of a serviceman.  It is sad to say that some people do send hatefull stuff to these brave people.  Any thanks is apprecated by our service people.

GOD BLESS, AND  KEEP

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE

AND BRING THEM HOME SAFE

AND MAY YOU BE BLESSED AND KEPT SAFE

 ON THIS HOLIDAY

thanks for riding along on this ramble

ramblinbob

Kilroy was here!

     I was a WWII baby, born in Oct. 1938.  I remember the war years remarkably well for being so young during this time.  One thing I remember was KILROY he popped up everywhere even in rural Missouri.  I remember seeing him on passing boxcars of when  steam locomotives trains rolled by.  I was always fascinated with him.  In news reels at the movie theater he would show up in clips on the sides of tanks and painted on bombs being loaded on to planes.  Later when I was a little older he showed up during the Korean conflict (no one called it a war, Police Action was the correct term).  He made a appearance in Viet Nam, and had shown up on fighting vehicles in the gulf War and is ridding along side of our people in the current conflict in the Mid -East.  The following post is taken from a site I receive weekly devoted to Marine Corps related subjects.  I found it quite interesting, and since the author gives permission for it to be passed around I asked my daughter to  place it into a draft for your enjoyment. 

     Below is an excerpt from The Sgt. Grit Newsletter I subscribe (and occasionally contribute) to: Sgt Grit American Courage Newsletter #169 – 6 Mar 2008 .

     It is preceded by a comment from my daughter. 

      Hi Dad – I remember Kilroy, I thought he came from the hippies or during the psychedelic 70’s. Goes to show ya what I know! I remember I had a red rubber kilroy that I could put in a pocket and have him peeking out. It’s neat to read about the ties to the armed forces. Love ya!!

KILROY

My first brush with “Kilroy” was in 1950 as a youngster in Athens, Greece, where at the Anglo-American School the children of war-time multi-national expatriates attended classes. Our mixed lot was comprised of a far ranging and diverse group. Most were American children, but included were Brits, Indians, Turks, Egyptians, Italians, Spaniards and others from respective embassies, military services and even missionaries.

Kilroy was more legend than fad, the small drawing and inscription was ubiquitous and in the most unusual places. It was found on black boards, on the walls of restroom stalls, on the playground walls and basketball backboards. At that early age, it bugged me that “Kilroy” had been someplace ahead of me, but I soon got in the spirit and although too young to grasp its significance, like many of my cohorts, I would occasionally adorn some spot with the famous, or infamous depending on ones perspective, sketch and statement.

A few years ago my bride and I had the privilege to ride the USS Iwo Jima on its maiden voyage from its birthplace at the shipyards Pascagoula, Ms. to Pensacola, Fl. There were about two thousand guests aboard the ship and many sat on the flight deck to enjoy the sun and breeze. As we strolled by one lady whose leg was in a cast, we noted among all the greetings was the well known image and inscription, “Kilroy Was Here.”

Few people reading this today are old enough to remember how very important “Kilroy Was Here” was to GIs in WW2, Korea, and is today in the Gulf War and Iraq. The best legend of how he started is that James Kilroy was a rivet inspector on ships in Salem MS during WWII. To prove he had inspected, he would scribble the words throughout the ship.

Often the ships were sent to sea before painting or cleaning up (one Liberty ship was actually built in four days), GIs and sailors found the graffiti in impossible places. Soon Kilroy became the super GI who always got there first and survived. They began placing him in the most unlikely places. He has been reported on enemy beaches as landing GIs approached, on the Arc De Triomphe and even scrawled in the sand on the moon. As Owen Edwards said in the Smithsonian; “‘Kilroy Was Here’ appeared almost everywhere American soldiers went.”

There is one story of Stalin after emerging from a “porta- potti” at the Malta Summit, asked, “Who is Kilroy?” Kilroy was in all likelihood the forerunner of modern graffiti which itself has a long and illustrious history.

But why did this crude drawing and scrawled words become the super GI of WWII, Korea, the Gulf War, and Iraq? We know how it probably started but why the “movement?” I see the Kilroy phenomenon as a manifestation of absolutely amazing sense of humor. GI’s were always able to find something funny to say and do under stress that those of us today can only imagine. I also see Kilroy as a comfort to GI’s suffering through a world gone mad. No matter how bad it got, no matter what the danger, no matter how exhausted, scared or fed up they got, Kilroy was there first and survived. Only those who have “been there,” “done that,” can really appreciate and understand their motivations.

Finally, “Kilroy Was Here” was an effort by millions of GI’s to be a little rebellious when their whole life was controlled by others. It broke the horrible tension and provided a little fun. “Kilroy Was Here” persisted in spite of efforts by several commands to stamp it out. Certainly several occupied territory commanders issued orders that Kilroy not be scribbled and that it be removed wherever it was found. Such orders were always greeted with monumental indifference.

He was an outward demonstration of rebellious GI’s insisting on some individuality! “Kilroy Was Here” was duty – duty to their country; duty to their buddies. These were not warriors but simple guys who were caught up in forces far beyond their control. But warriors they became! By 1945 they were the most skilled warriors in the world. But, they never thought of themselves as such. They were just guys who wanted to get the job done and go home. Actually, they felt the only way to go home was to get the job done. This was a powerful motivation! Griping was taken to an art form but whining was never heard.

Kilroy still lives everywhere GIs have passed, including courthouses, places of worship, markets, and undoubtedly other, less respectable places limited only by ones imagination.

The generation that made Kilroy famous is now going to its eternal reward at the rate of a thousand a day; it won’t be very long before its members are gone. But our memory of them will live on for their legacy of sacrifice, bravery and wit. The torch has been passed to a new generation of American servicemen and women who are equal to any challenge, adversity and enemy. If politicians would but listen to and permit them, they can and will keep this nation safe and free for another generation, until their time too has passed. Static memorials grace Washington, State Capitols and even towns across the country, but few things are as ubiquitous as a US postage stamp, and consistent with that it is fitting that a stamp to commemorate past and contemporary heroes be issued so that wherever they travel and mail follows, Kilroy will always be there.

My good friend, Pat Tillery and I call on you to make a difference by sending a postcard or letter urging the Postal Service to issue a stamp to commemorate “Kilroy Was Here.” Send you notes, cards, and/or letters to:

Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee
Stamp Development
US Postal Service
1735 North Lynn Street, Rm. 501
Arlington VA 22209-6432

Or send an email, letter or petition to www.KilroyWasHere.org

Semper Fidelis

If you wish to send a comment or ask a question of Bob Pappas please use: pappas @ gulf1.com

If you wish to read PREVIOUS ARTICLES by Col Pappas, please see: http://www.gulf1.com/columns/pappas/pappasframe.htm

Copyright © February 24th, 2008, by Patrick Tillery and Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the authors expressed written permission.  

Contact info for the author is noted in the excerpt above.

The direct link to the article in Sgt Grit’s newsletter is: http://www.grunt.com/scuttlebutt/newsarchives/2008/mar_6_ac.asp
*scroll near the bottom of the page to find the above article by Col Pappa.

      There is very little I can add to this post Col. Pappa has covered it all.  I simply found it fascinating, and felt some might enjoy it who would not ever have found it otherwise.  In addition to my daughters comment I too at various times in my long life also had the little pocket Kilroy figure to stick in my pocket.  I have seen Kilroy make his appearance in Iraq on the sides of fighting equipment.  I am glad that he still exists to day and is doing his globe trotting as if he still possesses eternal youth.

     On a  more somber note my grandson who is in the Marines has just finished his Communications training at Twenty_Nine Palms and has reported to Camp Lejuine, North Carolina.  He arrived there this last Sunday evening and caledl us on Tuesday to let us know he had arrived safely and called again last night.  This time he reported that he has already been told that he will deploy to Iraq in October (2008).  This is not the kind of news we like to hear, but he is just one of thousands who have been placed into harms way by this conflict.  No matter how any of us feel about this mess, we owe the men and women who are sent there our whole-hearted support.  I fear that there is no end in sight for this damn thing no matter who gets the vote this November.  I simply hope in my deepest heart that our people get to come home whole and with their souls intact. 

GOD BLESS THEM ALL

AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT THEM

ramblingbob

Packages To Iraq

Sending Packages to Iraq

     I got the urge to send a couple of care packages to the Marines serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, wanting to do something to show my support rather than just fly the flags every day.  I started by reading all the support sites we have been made aware of.   Each site has a list of the things that the troops ask for most often, and tips on packaging them.  There were several places where I could have sent my money and they would send a package of things they had already selected.  But I was not happy with their selections and the fact that I was paying them a fee for sending it.  Also I did not think that it reflected any personal involvement on my part.

     After explaining to my wife what I intended to do she expressed a desire to be come involved also.  As I was planning to use my monthly allowance to finance the project the addition of her money would allow us to expand our scope.  I had intended to try to keep each box to a average of $20, I soon found that this  was not to be.

     First we had to determine how we would send the packages.  On of the more thourogh  sites said to use UPS flat rate boxes.  These are boxes available through the Postal Department that can b shipped anywhere for the rate of $8.98 regardless of weight.  I later found out that there was a limit of 20# for international shipping.  A trip to the post office gave me six boxes that measure 11’x8.5″x5.5″.  Also included were six shipping labels and the required international custom forms needed to ship out of country.  Since the packages are going to the military they will be going to either San Francisco or the East Coast military shipping point.  We are located in California, so our point will be SF.

     The custom form must be filled out and includes a list of contents.  It was stressed that items be listed so as to show if electronics are included and items like soap, be listed as well so if X-ray-ed they will not be mistaken as explosives and the package destroyed.    It was also advised that things be wrapped separately so as to prevent breakage and contamination of other products.  Especially listed was soap be sealed so that in the heat of shipping, food products will not wind up absorbing the odor of the soap.  On one of my sites I visit regularly I asked for advise from others who have shipped or received packages.  One girl responded that she sent a package to a friend and he had asked for Tabasco sauce, a item listed on all the sites, and she did not seal it separately and it was broken in shipping and every thing was contaminated with Tabasco smell.

      I have requested the names of four Marines and two female Marines.  So here is a list of some of the things we have assembled.  In each box I have included for the Males a adventure magazine from the National Geographic Society and two once read paperback books.  For the Females a new People magazine and a double story, soft back book.  On each list it included socks so we are sending each four pair of cushioned boot length socks.  At the local farmers market I picked up six pair of what we call Hobo gloves, the kind with the finger tips open, (I have been watching the weather over there and it has been chilly lately, heck it snowed in Baghdad last week).  We are sending each some soap bars, dial for the guys and my wife picked out some dove for the girls, along with some female hygiene products.  Each will receive a bottle of eye drops.  Several ball point pens along with some writing material’s will be included.

     Lord, we kinda went hog wild in the snack department.  We have a box of instant coffee bags, and various  little packets of drink mix for their water bottles and a large box of instant hot chocolate packets to be divided among them.  Then several different boxes of snack bars, and large box of cookie packs.  And yes I found some small bottles of hot sauce at the market to day.  I know I have left some things out, but these boxes are kinds small.  After I pack as much into each as I can, I will have a lot left over, maybe next month I will pick up some more socks at Costco and some soap and writing material and pack up the four extra boxes I picked up last Friday while at the post office and send off four more care packages.  Yes, I bought a new box of zip lock bags to separate all the stuff before packing and plan to wrap the Tabasco and soap with press and seal before placing in individual zip bags.

     I waited until I got my stuff together before asking for the names and now am waiting for the them.  The lady who runs the site I went to said she would send them to me by E-mail, so we are just waiting  now. 

     Anyone who is interest can go to–

troopcarepackage.com  or operationshoebox.com

for more information.

     Oh yes, my $20 has jumped up to $40 plus the $8.98 shipping for each box.

If we receive any communication from the recipients in the future I will post them.

as always thanks for stopping by.

ramblingbob