FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Maj Marci Hodge ~ 15 January 2018

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

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Armed Forces Today!

---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Marci Hodge

Info from here.

           

"In this job, you find out what you're made of; if you can hack it or not."

Recently promoted to Major, Marci Hodge knows a thing or two about what she's made of. She's spent ten years in the Army; 5 years on Active duty and another 5 so far in the Reserve. She returned from Camp Victory in Iraq, her second deployment, a couple of years ago.

"I'm not interested in reliving traumatic events. The job is to create stability and win hearts and minds," expressed Hodge, who spent 8 months in theater this last time.

MAJ Hodge, who served as Division Humanitarian Assistance Officer as well as the Battalion Sustainment Chief for the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion, is a logistician and civil affairs officer; simply put, "I can move anything," she said, like thousands of fourth and fifth grade level books for school children that the Department of State had been previously trying to move from Jordan to Iraq for the last few years with no luck.

Or such as in Iskandiayh, one of the 14 different locations her battalion covered in Iraq, where she worked on a project with local government to get a completely staffed plant that had survived the war back to fully functioning capacity. Working with one of the facility's managers- one of the few who spoke English at the plant- MAJ Hodge's team on the ground even helped establish organizational practices and human resources, bringing in corporate mentors from the United States.

Her team worked to ensure that the plant would be in a position to operate without the U. S.'s assistance in the future. They brought in older generators to their Forward Operating Base that the Army no longer needed but had the potential to refurbished, and presented the plant with and its employees with their first large project post-war. Local Iraqi truck drivers were also employed to transport the refurbished generators.

"It put folks back to work," said MAJ Hodge, citing at least a thousand workers associated with the local Iraqi plant's operations.

And it's the "folks" she's interacted with that have made the most significant impression on MAJ Hodge, including the Iraqi locals.

"People matter regardless of where they are," she said slowly, emphasizing that people are the same despite miles of ocean and geographic boundaries.

MAJ Hodge, awarded the Bronze Star for her meritorious service in Iraq, identified it as a "human connection" one that allows people to relate and help one another.

And according to MAJ Hodge, one would be hard-pressed to find "more amazing people" to work with than the American troops she's served alongside while in the Army, able to overcome the inevitable obstacles and disappointments that occur while deployed with camaraderie and hard work.

"It's your duty to give back," said Hodge. "You give it everything you've got."

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[luvie]

The air there must be clear as glass tonight to see all those millions of stars!

It’s supposed to be in the 50s tomorrow and then a high of 32 on Tuesday. Yep...the roller coaster continues!

[radu]

Have you checked out the Palisades Creek cam yet? You can see even more stars on that one.

We’ll get 50s Sat. and Sun. here but have to suffer those two frigid days and nights first.

It’s supposed to get above freezing Thurs. and I hope they’re right about that. Republican women’s group meeting that day and the annual county GOP chili supper that evening. Our congressman will be there and I plan to go.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUGZ*
Come pull up a chair!
Always room for you, radu!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

There’s plenty for all you gals!
Would you like some Darjeeling tea too, radu?
How’s all the critters tonight?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hot buttered rum....d:o)

[radu]

Thank ya, ma’am! *HUGZ*

Nippy nights are good for tea, strawberry cheese strudel bites, and good company. :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening/morning, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Ready to take on the new week? The weather?

[luvie]

That sounds like a good reason to go!

I did look at it. There are two or three others. The Star Valley one is amazing, too. I love a starry night!

[luvie]

Perfect for a cold night!

I don’t know about her critters but mine are fat and lazy!

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy. What a pleasant woman!

[radu]

I’ve never had Darjeeling tea but am willing to give it a try. LOL

Currently the critters are asleep, or at least lying around. They’ve been lil monsters all day long though. They’re lucky I haven’t tossed all of ‘em outside in the cold.

[luvie]

LOL! And it’s no where near the full moon! Ginger and Peaches got into a couple of scuffles this evening. I think they NEED to go out and get some exercise!

She starts it and he finishes it because he’s so much bigger than she is. Then she pouts. LOL!

[radu]

He shows up at the chili supper every year. Mighty good eatin’ and the county GOP has worked hard to get him elected and re-elected. He shows up at their events as often as he’s able to show his appreciation.

Palisades Creek seems to have the most stars in view. No city lights or cars’ headlights to wash some of them out.
I’d love to be under a sky like that during meteor showers. Oooooh myyyyy!

[radu]

Some of ours are fat but we wouldn’t mind some laziness with this “herd”. LOL

[radu]

Nope, but the new moon is in a couple of nights. That fires these cats up more than the full moon.

I let the cats who are allowed to go outside have a bit of time out the other day when it was warm. They ran around the yard sniffing, then came back up to the back porch and deck. Hubby had told me he saw a bobcat go into the barn a couple of nights before and I guess it’s wandered around the yard. They didn’t like the smell and decided to stay close where they’d be safe.

Reckon Ginger will ever learn? LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

All across the country folks are expecting some really cold weather.

How about you?

[luvie]

Ooooo...wouldn’t that be great! We have too many city lights around to see any of the meteor showers.

My telescope would get a real workout there!

[Kathy in Alaska]

w h !!

Thanks, unique!

Mooch.....#50!!

[radu]

We’re lucky enough to have dark enough skies at the farm for decent sky watching but humidity can be a factor. Even if there aren’t clouds, if it’s muggy the fainter stars aren’t visible.

Using a telescope for meteor showers isn’t the way to go. If you’re watching through the viewfinder, you’re going to miss the whole show. They’re too scattered.
Best way is to lie on your back and look up. I keep my “kit” in Clara’s living room these days, ready to go. Blankets to lie on and a pillow. :-)

[luvie]

If she hasn’t learned by now......

She fights hard, but he’s just too big. I usually just let them duke it out up to a point. Siblings, ya know. LOL!

I tell Peaches he’s a bad kitty but he sure doesn’t look repentant. :D