Most recent letter is dated Dec 09, 2009. He had just received many of the packages I sent and he sounded very happy. He did make an odd request...a special kind of gun cleaner. Excuse me but shouldn't the USMC supply that? I might need to call that 1-800-mothers-of-america number and complain! I will see what I can do and I will send him anything his heart desires! Wierd requests will be honored by this mommy! January may bring some changes to his location so we are all a bit on edge about that. For now, as far as I know, all is well.
Julie
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Letter from Capt. Burns 12-30-09
Good Afternoon,
Please see message below submitted by Capt Burns. This message applies to all families & friends of Marines/Sailors attached to A Co in Camp Leatherneck.
Dear family members of Alpha Company,
Two months down and five to go, and these two months have been VERY busy. Over the course of the past two months we distributed dozens of goats, hundreds of pounds of rice, beans and sugar to locals in the surrounding area who are in desperate need. The Marines and Sailors conducted dozens of patrols, interacted with countless locals while successfully executing six Shuras (an informal meeting) with the local villagers surrounding Camp Leatherneck all in an effort to build and gain the trust of the Afghan people. Additionally, we started to shift more focus on integrating the Afghan National Army (ANA) into our regular patrols in an effort to build the trust and faith of the locals that the ANA will be here to instill order and discipline long after coalition forces leave.
We are currently in the beginning of the rainy season here and the once fine “Moon Dust” has now turned in to the consistency of pudding throughout the entire area; recovering a stuck vehicle has become a very common occurrence. This would be the perfect playground for any 10 year old boy who likes to play in the mud.
A few weeks ago we received word that we would be relieved from this mission and after the New Year be reunited with our beloved LAVs. Although we have taken ownership of this current mission, we are LAR Marines and that’s where or passion lies. Our replacements arrived on December 26 and over the next few weeks we will be conducting our turnover. Details of what we’ll be doing are still being determined but until that time we will “Focus and Finish” on the mission at hand.
Please take time to look at http://www.dvidshub.net, and search for 4th LAR. It is a website that contains raw footage from the military Public Affairs Office (PAO). I always welcome PAO to go out with us in an effort to show you and the world the great things your Marines and Sailors are doing here in Afghanistan.
Thanks again for all your support and on behalf of my wife Andrea and I; we hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.
Semper Fi and Happy New Year,
Captain Ed Burns
Please see message below submitted by Capt Burns. This message applies to all families & friends of Marines/Sailors attached to A Co in Camp Leatherneck.
Dear family members of Alpha Company,
Two months down and five to go, and these two months have been VERY busy. Over the course of the past two months we distributed dozens of goats, hundreds of pounds of rice, beans and sugar to locals in the surrounding area who are in desperate need. The Marines and Sailors conducted dozens of patrols, interacted with countless locals while successfully executing six Shuras (an informal meeting) with the local villagers surrounding Camp Leatherneck all in an effort to build and gain the trust of the Afghan people. Additionally, we started to shift more focus on integrating the Afghan National Army (ANA) into our regular patrols in an effort to build the trust and faith of the locals that the ANA will be here to instill order and discipline long after coalition forces leave.
We are currently in the beginning of the rainy season here and the once fine “Moon Dust” has now turned in to the consistency of pudding throughout the entire area; recovering a stuck vehicle has become a very common occurrence. This would be the perfect playground for any 10 year old boy who likes to play in the mud.
A few weeks ago we received word that we would be relieved from this mission and after the New Year be reunited with our beloved LAVs. Although we have taken ownership of this current mission, we are LAR Marines and that’s where or passion lies. Our replacements arrived on December 26 and over the next few weeks we will be conducting our turnover. Details of what we’ll be doing are still being determined but until that time we will “Focus and Finish” on the mission at hand.
Please take time to look at http://www.dvidshub.net, and search for 4th LAR. It is a website that contains raw footage from the military Public Affairs Office (PAO). I always welcome PAO to go out with us in an effort to show you and the world the great things your Marines and Sailors are doing here in Afghanistan.
Thanks again for all your support and on behalf of my wife Andrea and I; we hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.
Semper Fi and Happy New Year,
Captain Ed Burns
Letter from the Commander #3
Good Afternoon,
Below is a message from the battalion commander:
Happy Holidays to our family and friends back home.
It's been a little over a month since my last letter. Since then, we celebrated Thanksgiving and are now getting ready for Christmas. Our Thanksgiving meal was surprisingly pretty good. Additionally, because we have local nationals (our interpreters) who live and work with us on a daily basis, many Marines have taken to the "local cuisine". Most, if not all, of the interpreters are "accomplished" cooks, at least in our minds. They make a delicious rice mix, with goat or sheep meat when available, and flat bread.
What have we been doing? 4th LAR is the southernmost unit in Afghanistan. We are in a very remote area consisting of predominantly farmlands along the Helmand river. Our daily tasks are patrolling the villages along the Helmand river in order to meet the people, get to know them, identify what they need and assist them in any way possible with improving their way of life. Essential services out here are basically non-existent. What coalition forces bring to the table, the Taliban do not. To date, we have done this very well. Your son/brother/husband/friend has done a superb job getting to know their area and the local people. At this point, local Afghans come to us when they have a problem and need assistance. This is what we want and speaks volumes to how well we're doing after only 5 weeks of operating in southern Afghanistan.
I know it's challenging for all back home to completely enjoy the holiday season while your loved one is deployed. I received an email from my mother the other day stating "this was the first time you've been away for Christmas and New Years"...(which happens to be my birthday). I had to laugh because...she's wrong (sorry Mom). In 1992 I was deployed for 6 months to the Mediterranean from Oct to March. My point is 5 to 10 years from now this deployment will be viewed as nothing more than a "speed bump" in the bigger picture of life. I ask that we continue to support our Marines and Sailors with positive thoughts and encouragement during this time of year; we too miss being with our families. The support and encouragement from home is appreciated and good for the morale of Iron Horse Marines and Sailors.
I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday.
Semper Fi,
LtCol Mike Martin
Below is a message from the battalion commander:
Happy Holidays to our family and friends back home.
It's been a little over a month since my last letter. Since then, we celebrated Thanksgiving and are now getting ready for Christmas. Our Thanksgiving meal was surprisingly pretty good. Additionally, because we have local nationals (our interpreters) who live and work with us on a daily basis, many Marines have taken to the "local cuisine". Most, if not all, of the interpreters are "accomplished" cooks, at least in our minds. They make a delicious rice mix, with goat or sheep meat when available, and flat bread.
What have we been doing? 4th LAR is the southernmost unit in Afghanistan. We are in a very remote area consisting of predominantly farmlands along the Helmand river. Our daily tasks are patrolling the villages along the Helmand river in order to meet the people, get to know them, identify what they need and assist them in any way possible with improving their way of life. Essential services out here are basically non-existent. What coalition forces bring to the table, the Taliban do not. To date, we have done this very well. Your son/brother/husband/friend has done a superb job getting to know their area and the local people. At this point, local Afghans come to us when they have a problem and need assistance. This is what we want and speaks volumes to how well we're doing after only 5 weeks of operating in southern Afghanistan.
I know it's challenging for all back home to completely enjoy the holiday season while your loved one is deployed. I received an email from my mother the other day stating "this was the first time you've been away for Christmas and New Years"...(which happens to be my birthday). I had to laugh because...she's wrong (sorry Mom). In 1992 I was deployed for 6 months to the Mediterranean from Oct to March. My point is 5 to 10 years from now this deployment will be viewed as nothing more than a "speed bump" in the bigger picture of life. I ask that we continue to support our Marines and Sailors with positive thoughts and encouragement during this time of year; we too miss being with our families. The support and encouragement from home is appreciated and good for the morale of Iron Horse Marines and Sailors.
I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday.
Semper Fi,
LtCol Mike Martin
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Christmas PRESENT
Steven called Christmas morning. Both Austen and I got to talk to him. He also called Amber and Doug. Hearing his voice was incredible. The call dropped once but he called back.Thank goodness! He had just gotten back from a 2 day "adventure" (my word) and seemed to feel he might get some much needed rest. The mom in me could hear the weariness in his voice. He loves the letters and packages. I completely forgot to ask if there was anything he needed - oops. I'm sure he would have mentioned something specific. He will be writing a letter for me to read to all the Steele Canyon students who wrote to him. He appreciated the outpouring of kindness. I started to cry when I was talking to him but I knew that our time was precious so I sucked it up and then let it out after we hung up. I think it was a combination of relief and wishing he could come home. Remember you can send a motomail letter or snail mail. If you need the addresses just email me at flipperjwl@aol.com.
Merry Merry Christmas,
Julie
Merry Merry Christmas,
Julie
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Letter #2!
Steven sent another short and sweet letter. As usual, he makes it sound like summer camp - takin' care of his mom I think. He really appreciates the motomail letters and pictures you can attach. He didn't mention the 9 packages I sent but I'm sure he got them. He did mention he wanted more homemade cookies from Amber. She recently sent him more so he should be a "happy Camper" soon. It is so great to get any information and then...the big feelings hit! What a ride this is. I don't like it but I am so proud of Steven! I watched a homecoming on the news tonight. Marines that had been gone 7 months where Steven is. I imagined Steven walking up the steps with a big smile on his face and being "attacked" by all of us! I have to keep that picture in my mind.
Julie
Julie
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
More pictures from far away
Steven emailed Amber a few more pictures. I'm so happy to see them and yet they made me cry! He looks good to me. I will refer to his fellow Marines as "the campers" because it helps me not to cry! Humor is good and I mean no disrespect. Since they are at Camp Leatherneck...you understand.
Julie
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Christmas bag
I received the Christmas bag full of letters from students at Steele Canyon High School where I teach. A co-worker of mine had all of her students write to Steven. There are over an hundred letters! I know Steven will be amazed to get this bag full of love and support! It made me feel so good to know so many people love and support my son and they don't even know him! I am sending it off today. I hope it makes it by Christmas but even if it doesn't, he'll love it! Thank you Steele Canyon performing arts students!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Christmas cheer
Steven talked to Amber. He wants some Christmas lights to make the camp seem more Christmas-y! If you have any spare lights around please send them so he won't be so sad on Christmas! Thank you! I also have to give a huge thank you to Joan Gerner and the performing arts students in her classes at my school. Each of them wrote a letter to Steven. She has collected all of them in a Christmas pillow case and I will send them in the next few days!I wish I could see his face when he gets THAT package. It will take him weeks to read them all! That HAS to cheer him up. It makes me so thankful for wonderful friends and thoughtful kids!
Cheers,
Julie
Cheers,
Julie
Thursday, December 3, 2009
He called Amber again!
Amber got a call and she said Steven was exhausted from 4 days "out and about". He was about to go on a watch so he wasn't even bothering to go to bed! He started talking about when he gets home and how good his own bed will feel! I know how good my bed feels after a day or two away from home in a decent hotel so...wow...yeah!If I could send him his bed - I would! I am so glad he calls Amber and I am kind of hoping that maybe he can make a phone call home around Christmas time. Right now we can't communicate back and forth so coordinating such a call seems impossible. I am going to keep the hope alive for that call to happen. Thank you for keeping Steven in your thoughts! I know it helps! I appreciate all the support I receive on Steven's behalf. I'm hanging in there.
Julie
Julie
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