To the Soldiers I Love - Thank You for My Freedom

You were always on my mind

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila Philippines. Credit: L. Rhoades

In my and my husband’s families, there are 22 veterans that we know of. They are listed at the end of this post along with their military branches of service. Today I celebrate all of them, but especially my brother Danny and his wife Jamie.

Danny is the youngest of 7 children, with 6 sisters. From the time he could walk and talk he wanted to be a soldier. He always had toy guns, ships, and planes. When the first movie came out he was obsessed with all things Star Wars. He had all the ships, all the dolls (excuse me - action figures), and all the weapons. There wasn’t a day that went by that he doubted what his destiny was. By the time he was 18 he’d already spoken to an Army recruiter and signed up.

He was in for a several years, out for a bit, then back in. When he returned, he got really serious and applied to a unit that transported Army special forces. In an exceptionally rare twist of fate, he got a second chance at the water test which he struggled with on the first attempt. As fate would have it, the universe had plans for him. He passed and went on to do what he ended up loving the best of all - being part of Night Stalkers, SOAR. All told he spent 6 years in the Army, 2 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard, 1 year of Navy Reserve, and finally the special forces until 2016 when his body could no longer carry the weight of the world, or his pack, on jumps.

He once told me what he missed the most was the sound in the transport before the jump - when the door was open and “the silence was deafening”. This and the camaraderie of the team. Military life takes its toll on families, though. Throughout his military career he had relationships and 2 marriages end in divorce and finally met his current wife Jamie, who was also in the military for 5 years. She’s the one who completes him, if that’s a thing. She was an MP and worked intelligence in the Army in exotic places like Korea, where she developed a love of their food and culture. She too had a divorce. She and Danny are so good together. They take care of each other like couples who’ve been together much longer than their 6 years. Jamie also came from a military family, her father having been in the Air Force.

I wasn’t the best at supporting Danny while he was in. Although our family spoke of him often and wrote a few times, only my father kept in regular touch with him. I remember once sending a care package, might have been around the holidays, but one of my sisters and I made a cassette tape for him with a bunch of silliness on it none of which I can remember now. Danny, if you still have that tape let me know and let’s listen to it together. Outside of that and a couple cards or letters, I was not a great stateside supporter during those years. I’ve matured enough to understand 2 things - there’s no going back and regrets are a waste of time. We’re closer now than we ever were then and I am happy about that.

There’s a song I ALWAYS think of when I consider those times I didn’t write, or the things I didn’t say. This is the one, Danny. You were Always on My Mind (Willie Nelson version, originally written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James)

Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
If I made you feel, oh, second best (you did, you did)
Bro, I'm sorry I was blind

You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

You’re my favorite baby brother 😊, and besides my husband the one I’d turn to first in a gun fight, although it’s arguable which of us is the better shot. LOL.

Jamie, you’re the sister we didn’t know we were missing in our obnoxious, queen bee alien clan with acid for blood. You fit in like a key in a lock and we love you.

I pray for peace most every day. Still, until such time when wars end, our path to peace is paved with the sacrifice and deaths of millions and millions and millions of soldiers just like Danny and Jamie. Those who serve others in the pursuit of order. All of us know very well that pursuit is not always morally sound, but I heard someone say on the radio today that our military serve the United States Constitution, not our leaders. This is a fair assessment in my view because our soldiers’ faces are the first thing enemy combatants see on their way to destroy that constitution and the freedom it stands for.

Thank you. For standing in harms way.

Thank you. For sacrificing your marriages.

Thank you. For losing your friends.

Thank you. For being spit upon, bombed, shot, and otherwise disabled in the exorcism of evil.

Thank you. For carrying the weight of all those memories on your shoulders, into battle, far far away from all you love and hold dear.

Veterans of Our Family

Mine - Uncle Toddy Air Force, Uncle Danny Marine Corp, Uncle Bobby Marine Corp, Uncle Bill Army, Father Ken Army, Grandfather Leslie Army, Cousin Mike Marine Corp, Brother Danny Army, Sister In Law Jamie Army, Nephew Buddy Army National Guard

Husband’s - Great Uncles - Lloyd Army, William Air Force, Edwin Navy, Sanford Marines, Pepper and Johnny and Eugene Army, Grandfather Russell Army, Uncle Larry Army Reserves, Father Marine Corp, 2nd Cousin Barry Marine Corp, 2nd Cousin Junior Air Force

Danny & Jamie pics + Manila memorial

My husband’s grandfather and his 4 brothers who all made it back home from WWII, pictured with their father.

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We gossip up in here like a sewing circle. Join the fun with a comment of your own. Glad to have you!

Tango Hotel Alpha November Kilo Yankee Oscar Uniform! I’m DD214. Peace out freaks.

Thank you

Nurse Kristin

for this hotline information.

22 veterans commit suicide per day in the United States. Help is here for you. For those who know veterans, buy them a coffee, help them readjust to civilian life, help them find a job. Be a friend.

Veteran Crisis Hotline is now 988 then press 1

When you Call or Text the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, press 1 for trained responders and counselors that will listen and help. Free support for Veterans and Supporters available 24/7 and is 100% confidential.