Posted on 03/27/2011 8:03:36 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck
My woman is strong, I can't even tell you how much. And I am a big strong man. But my woman has watched the tears come out of my eyes, and I have seen her shed them too.
I don't cry easy, I am a Man, but there are some things that just slay me to my soul. She saw me cry when we went to the Alamo, I could not stop it. I have seldom been in a place that touched me like that. She has seen me cry watching films, not that many, but it happens. I don't brag about stuff like this, but some things touch me in my heart to a level I can't help but express my feelings.
I have a lot of pride, but I am not too proud to bring my heart out in certain circumstances. Tonight was just too much, we both have friends who lost family in those wars over there in Iraq and Afghanistan. I can name people I knew who are dead now, slayed in battles, or in accidents of war. I'm just glad I don't have children who have gone in Harm's Way. I don't think I could take it if my offspring were over there doing that.
I can hurt, and still be a man, but some things just cut my guts out. Somehow tonight just set it all off again.
God bless our beautiful fighting forces, we are so fortunate to have them over there fighting for us. I'd take a bullet for any of them, in my mind. Thank God for our beautiful America and her men and women of valour.
Our troops are worth crying over. John Wayne did.
God bless them all. There are things that transcend politics and skin color and all the usual divisions of people in our country.
We are blessed people, and I thank God for the ones who are willing to lay it all on the line.
Many FReepers have children, grandchildren, or other family members in the service. I just exchanged posts with the parent of a Marine in Afghanistan. My daughter is on a Coast Guard cutter in the Pacific. (Today is her 20th birthday.)
Our military has better people than any other, and that’s just the facts. Except maybe the Israel Defense Forces ... but we have more!
I cried a little bit in Battle for LA, but I was alone so it didn’t count.
I think those are words of wisdom. 20th BD on some cutter out there in the sea. We are protected by angels and the best of the best.
Anoreth has six younger brothers. She’s a *very* tough girl! Deck crew, boarding party, backup riot control and gunnery support on her boat ... all 5’1” of her.
Diosa guerrera, alma de Espana ... Warrior Goddess, Spanish soul.
I spent my 20th birthday in the bar at Honolulu International Airport. I was returning to the ZI after an 18 month tour in the Philippines.
Sweet, tell her we appreciate her sacrifice and her sense of duty devotion to our country.
Warrior Goddess with a Spanish Soul, I like it. What a gal! I hope her mates treated her right today. May she grow old and laugh at me for being such a vato some day.
Amen. Preach it!
She has several young men who are loyal compadres ... comes of having all those brothers. “We’re going to the zoo!” in Singapore. “Okay.” “We’re going on the rafting trip in the jungle!” in Borneo. “Okay.”
I haven’t heard from her today, so they’ve either been whooping it up, or more likely on a drop-dead extended shift trying to get the boat out to sea. There’s supposed to be a patrol to some Spanish-speaking places, where Anoreth knows just enough Spanish to say the wrong thing in a fairly good accent!
I still remember crying like a baby when the first gulf war started knowing my brothers were called on to serve while I was lucky to be assigned to Ft. DeRussy, Hawaii..
Hey, I know just enough Spanish to thoroughly insult true Spanish speaking people. I have only one regret: after living in Texas for nearly 40 years my Spanish sucks, and I am ashamed. Why did I take French in high school?
Mi espanol is muy poquito, muy mal. My fault, I’ve lived here long enough to learn that lingo.
I’ll bet she is a cutie too. Hope she likes being at sea, I think I’d prolly puke daily if I was out there.
Seaman Anoreth and her dog ... well, her Dad's dog, now. The color is washed out here in this picture: her hair is RED.
I lived in Texas for many years and speak a definitely Texan Spanish. I can communicate with Mexicans pretty easily, but Central or South American Spanish is enough different to throw me off. I lead a Spanish choir at church, and I'm always worried that I'm telling the congregation to pound sand, instead of to sing the offertory hymn!
Oh, your daughter has a funny looking dog. Chupacabra?
I hope she comes home to her family soon and healthy.
Good looking kid. I’ll bet she is a terror on a boarding party, armed and dangerous. I can just imagine that young woman with an M4 pointed in my face.
Anoreth? Interesting name, care to expound on that?
Anoreth is her FReep name; it’s a character in a novel that I don’t think she finished. Josephine is her real name. And the dog is a greyhound, a retired racing dog. Her name is Ashdown, and she is the world’s most wonderful dog.
Anoreth was home for Christmas, with a bad case of the Ship Flu, and spent two weeks lying in the sunbeams with Ash. Don’t know when we’ll see her again ... the latest news is maybe late fall? She has FRiends on the West Coast for some substitute Home Time, if she can’t make it to North Carolina.
I never watch the show but was flipping channels and came upon the scene at the cemetery. I felt the same way. It was very well done, moving and all too real for so many people. God bless our troops and may God take care of them as they fight for all our freedoms while the enemy within try and take them away. This is when it hits home about how our freedoms are eroding while our men and women die on foreign soil. God help us all from what we are exposed to. Oh and one more thing...if a man DOESN’T cry...he should. Crying shows he has a heart and a soul and to me and many others...that’s the sign of a real honest to goodness man!!! So, never apologize for tears....
Gotta shut the lights out here: I’m keeping Ash awake. Thanks for starting the thread - we can’t give our troops of all services enough credit.
Cheers to Texas - wish I was there!
Well said my FRiend.
I’ll have my eyes open for a post from that gal. I’ll tell her I insuted her momma with my old broken Spanglish ;)
BTW, that ain’t no greyhound. Chupacabra. If your old man has that beast now YER ALL GONNA GET ET. Them things are dangerous ;)
Stay safe TC, I like yer attitude.
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