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53-year-old Marine proud to get recalled
Bakersfield Californian ^ | 12/21/04 | Carolyn Kaster - AP

Posted on 12/21/2004 3:34:09 PM PST by NormsRevenge

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) - This is what Frank Ryan is bringing with him to Iraq: Fourteen pairs of socks, 10 pairs of underwear, eight uniforms, and an alarm clock with his son Matthew's picture in it. Four razors, the lubricated kind for dry shaving, a knife, one sweater, two hats, long thermal underwear for sleeping and more family photos on a CD.

And that's not to mention the venison jerky for instant protein from Jan and Chuck Soulliard, friends from the post office.

Ryan is a 53-year-old retired Marine colonel with 32 years of active and reserve duty under his belt.

An accountant from Lebanon, he got a phone call from the Marine Corps' manpower office in August. Officials wanted to see if he would come out of retirement to serve in Iraq.

Could he pass the physical? Was he interested?

Yes, he said, he would be ready to go. "Being able to be part of this is very important to me," he explained.

On Nov. 3, his orders came in the mail, marked "Involuntary Presidential Select Recall." This was no longer a courtesy call. He would deploy on Dec. 5 to serve as deputy chief of the multinational force in Iraq. Ryan's assignment: to be responsible to the chief of staff and commanding general to coordinate the planning and operations of ground forces.

For Frank Ryan, 2004 is ending in ways he could hardly have imagined when the hectic year began.

In preparation for deployment, Ryan started jogging four times a week to lose the 20 pounds he had gained while running for the 17th congressional district seat in central Pennsylvania. He lost the Republican nomination to Scott Paterno.

He had to close his accounting business temporarily and refer his current clients. He had to finish landscaping the front yard. He had to prepare his four grown children and his wife, Sherrie. He was going into harm's way.

One of the hardest parts of the deployment for Ryan was stopping the adoption of a baby girl from China.

When he retired two years ago, he and Sherrie thought it would be wonderful to have another child, and so they started the adoption process. Just before Ryan got his orders they were told they would be paired up with a child and travel to China to get her as early as January. They chose the name Julia Rose.

The deployment made the adoption impossible, since the Chinese adoption agency required them to pick up the baby together. The adoption will have to wait. It's for the best, Ryan said.

"This is not going to happen, but if I became a casualty, what would it mean for the baby?" he said.

He had already set up an education fund for Julia Rose.

In the period before deployment, Ryan prepared himself mentally for combat.

"I tell this to any of my young Marines: You are going into a different world and have to be prepared for just about anything," he said. "They can't afford to take anything for granted."

For Ryan, that means breaking up normal everyday patterns, such as getting up and having a cup of coffee. "Don't have a pattern to your daily life," he said. "Patterns will get you killed."

Another aspect of mental preparation is what he calls "personnel accountability."

"It is real easy to wake up in the morning and say, four kids, my wife, three dogs, I'm covered," he said. "Now I need to know where everybody is every second of the day, and: Are they OK? And so you mentally have to be prepared. You can't take your eye off of one person once. Real leadership is defined by your ability to care for others."

Ryan joined the Marines as soon as he turned 18, at the height of the Vietnam War.

His son, Matthew Ryan, 22, enlisted with the Pennsylvania National Guard right out of high school. He will be commissioned in May when he graduates from Penn State. He has chosen the infantry and expects to be sent to Iraq.

On Sunday, Dec. 5, Frank Ryan had a cup of coffee out of his favorite mug. He put on his new uniform and loaded his bags in the family Volvo station wagon. He gave the dogs a goodbye cookie.

Then he and Sherrie and three fiends headed for Harrisburg International Airport. First, he'd fly to Camp Lejeune, N.C., then later to Iraq.

As Ryan checked in at the airport counter using his one-way ticket, he struck up a conversation with another traveler, John Hatton, a retired New York police officer and former Marine. When they parted, Ryan gave a quick salute and smile, and Hatton said, "I will say a rosary for you, Colonel."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: callups; marine; pennsylvania; proud; recalled
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To: Hot Tabasco
Since you don't say what to search on or are too lazy to search and furnish your alleged point, I'll give you the expert opinion you wish. My partner of 20 years adopted two boys, both in the US, they are very happy. The boys are growing up well. Regardless of what their ethnic heritage may be, they are and were Americans. He did somethong for an AMERICAN. In addition my Son In Law was adopted. As a result I have several G'Kids. Of course my G'Kid is part AMERICAN Indian. So what is your problem and alleged knowledge, if any.
41 posted on 12/22/2004 3:52:36 PM PST by -=Wing_0_Walker=-
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-
No smartass, you are the one who is too lazy to do your homework. Took me all of 35 seconds to find what I was looking for.

Here's the Cliff Notes, you do the rest!

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT -- THE ADOPTION OF AN UNWANTED CHILD

42 posted on 12/22/2004 4:07:14 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (I was born to be naughty and Santa knows it.......must be why I only get socks and underwear)
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To: Hot Tabasco
Dear ass schmuck, I do not search at your direction. Are you dense and egotistical?
Why do you ASSume anyone would search for what you search for? What interests you doesn't interest me. That is becoming more obvious.
If it is absolutely definitive, post it. I have proven my point. Prove yours.
43 posted on 12/22/2004 4:12:37 PM PST by -=Wing_0_Walker=-
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-
Since you don't say what to search on

Since my response was to the adoption of the child, I just naturally assumed you would key in on the words "adopt" or holly molly, maybe even the word "adoption"........

Please forgive me for being so assumptive......believe me, in your case, it won't happen again.......

44 posted on 12/22/2004 4:14:10 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (I was born to be naughty and Santa knows it.......must be why I only get socks and underwear)
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-
Let me clarify my points, as you have none. I am pro adoption. I am pro AMERICAN born adoption, I think it is a great deed on Christmas. There are 354 OTHER DAYS when you can also perform such a deed.

You have no points, only your perception of what you think I said. Your opinion is colored but your own [ersponal bias that has -0- to do with me or my opinion. BTW, I do not care what you think. Hope this helps.

45 posted on 12/22/2004 4:18:40 PM PST by -=Wing_0_Walker=-
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To: Hot Tabasco
"Please forgive me for being so assumptive......believe me, in your case, it won't happen again......." It shouldn't happen in anyone's case.
46 posted on 12/22/2004 4:20:46 PM PST by -=Wing_0_Walker=-
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To: Hot Tabasco

BTW you missed my amendment post 45 for your 43. Hope you have the clarification. What are you saying anyway?


47 posted on 12/22/2004 4:22:01 PM PST by -=Wing_0_Walker=-
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To: fuquadukie

I'm 57....a part of me wants so much to go...but I don't think I could pass the physical.

God Bless This Man and his peers.

SEMPER FI


48 posted on 12/22/2004 4:28:28 PM PST by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-; Hot Tabasco

Cool it.


49 posted on 12/22/2004 4:30:58 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-

I have nothing against American babies being adopted. I have a problem with challenging someone who decides to adopt a Chinese baby for his/her family. This has happened a couple of times lately on threads that I've noticed, and I think its wrong. American babies are no better or worse than Chinese babies, and I have no problem with Chinese babies growing up here as Americans.


50 posted on 12/22/2004 5:57:24 PM PST by Zack Nguyen
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To: Zack Nguyen

As an AMERICAN, I object.


51 posted on 12/24/2004 8:26:55 PM PST by -=Wing_0_Walker=-
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To: NormsRevenge

GOD Bless you Col. I wish that I could join you there! I hate this darned med retirement!

Shoot fast,straight,& offen. aim center mast and squeeze the trigger!

SEMPER FI!!


52 posted on 12/24/2004 8:33:59 PM PST by TMSuchman (American by birth,rebel by choice, MARINE BY GOD!)
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-; Zack Nguyen
As an AMERICAN, I object.

NEWBIE, A CHILD IS A CHILD and any individual who has a problem with the adoption of a child based solely on that child’s country of birth is nothing more than a racist!

The following statements made by you NEWBIE, have absolutely no business being issued on this conservative/christian site and are not only an embarrassment to the entire Freeper community but are also a disgrace to each and every individual who has shown the compassion in adopting a foreign child! You sir owe them an apology!

Here are your statements:

“we have enough "immigrants" in this country.”

“What do you have against AMERICAN babies for adoption?”

“I am pro AMERICAN born adoption,”

And your final statement to J.N. who stated that he has no problem with Chinese babies growing up here as Americans:

"As an AMERICAN, I object."

My suggestion to you NEWBIE is to lurk around for a while longer till you get the gist of what this site is all about. And what this site ISN'T about is discrimination against the innocent simply due to their country of origin.........

53 posted on 01/01/2005 5:16:19 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Michigan's last great flock of penguins left for the west coast in 1823 never to be heard from again)
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To: Tempest; -=Wing_0_Walker=-
The man can adopt whoever he damn well wants

No he can't. There are rules.

54 posted on 01/01/2005 5:24:05 PM PST by Age of Reason
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To: Hot Tabasco; -=Wing_0_Walker=-; Zack Nguyen
NEWBIE, A CHILD IS A CHILD and any individual who has a problem with the adoption of a child based solely on that child’s country of birth is nothing more than a racist!

Well how about this: Only China and India have more people than the United States.

We have enough people in this country--it's time to sharply curtail immigration--and I don't care if it's immigration from Sweeden--the country's too crowded; enough already!

55 posted on 01/01/2005 5:27:48 PM PST by Age of Reason
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To: Age of Reason
it's time to sharply curtail immigration

Adoption isnt a matter of immigration but rather a business of politics. As I was trying to point out to Wind guy earlier that there is a freeper who started a thread detailing how hard it was for them to adopt an American child and they were nearing the end of their trying when God blessed them with a series of events that ultimately led to their adopting a baby directly from the birth mother.

Due to the legalese in this country, it is becomming harder and harder to adopt what with the original parents now being allowed to recover the children they have given up for adoption.

The difficulty, the legality and cost involved in adopting American children is now forcing many parents-in-waiting to seek alternative routes in finding children and unforunately for American children, the route most accessable is via foreign adoption agencies.

56 posted on 01/01/2005 5:45:20 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Michigan's last great flock of penguins left for the west coast in 1823 never to be heard from again)
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To: muir_redwoods

Isn't that the truth!


57 posted on 01/01/2005 5:46:42 PM PST by exnavychick (Just my two cents, as usual.)
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To: -=Wing_0_Walker=-

I don't think anyone has anything against adopting American kids...just against the American adoption process. My husband and I have talked about adopting a Chinese girl one day...that doesn't mean we dislike American kids. (Shoot, we've got 5 between us and one more on the way).

As another poster once said, "To the contrary, they like American kids so much they thought they'd add one more."


58 posted on 01/01/2005 5:52:25 PM PST by exnavychick (Just my two cents, as usual.)
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