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Coming Home - 184th returns to hero's welcome!!! Greg's Men!
The Sacramento Bee ^ | 1/17/2006 | By Blair Anthony Robertson and Elizabeth Hume

Posted on 01/17/2006 10:59:47 PM PST by Swordmaker

Hugs, kisses after seeing war up close

The shrieking and shouting, the first signs of tears and trembling hands, began at 1:57 p.m. as men, women and children stood on folding metal chairs Monday to peer over a tall fence onto the tarmac at Sacramento International Airport. . . .

More Pictures

. . . Then came the roar. And more tears - tears of joy and anticipation and frayed nerves. The chartered jet was in view, taxiing toward them.

War-weary California National Guardsmen were arriving after 18 months away from home - a full year of it in the thick of combat in Iraq. The returning guardsmen are members of the Modesto-based 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, which has seen some of the heaviest action and had one of the highest injury tolls of any unit of its kind since the Korean War, authorities said. . .

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; US: California
KEYWORDS: gregparkinson; heroes; iraq; jmpmstr4u2; military; nationalguard; troopsupport; welcomehome
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To: Radix

FYI....No, jmpmstr4u2 is not Swordmaker's son....I don't think he's quite old enough to be his Dad, but I'm sure that if Swordmaker had a son, he'd want him to be like SFC Greg. Swordmaker is just a great FRamily FRiend and family friend way before Jumpmstr4u2 and I joined FR. However, he's just as proud of SFC Greg, as if he were his own. : )

Jmpmstr4u2's Dad is included in a photo in.... post #79


81 posted on 01/19/2006 2:25:03 PM PST by SoldiersPrayingMom ("....And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matt. 21:22)
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To: Mama_Bear
Too bad Fresno doesn't have a Semi-Annual Shindig, we'd all be there with bells on!! Can hardly wait until September...but that's too long of a wait!!
82 posted on 01/19/2006 2:30:52 PM PST by SoldiersPrayingMom ("....And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matt. 21:22)
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To: Syncro
Oh, if we pour the Glenfeddich out, can you make a sword for the cane? LOL

I do have several swordcanes... but I think a Gleneddichcane is much more useful and easier to sneak past metal detectors.

83 posted on 01/19/2006 4:30:09 PM PST by Swordmaker (Beware of Geeks bearing GIFs.)
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To: Swordmaker; SoldiersPrayingMom; jmpmstr4u2

Major goosebumps! Thanks, Swordmaker. My son, a Marine, returned home from Desert Storm in 1991 and I remember waiting with his brother and their father thru a long evening--when an advance party of two arrived around midnight. Then all thru the next day until evening when he finally arrived with the rest of his men. The anticipation as each bus approached, and passed, the suspense, the fellowship of all the families and the hope we would soon see them, the flags and signs and then that long-awaited moment after dark--it was incredible. And so I have some idea of how Greg's mother and brother and niece felt, waiting. It's truly overwhelming!


84 posted on 01/19/2006 5:13:28 PM PST by GoldwaterChick ("Never give in, never give in, never, never, never." Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941)
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To: Syncro

Hey there..... how could I take those pics, when I'm in them? Gail took them and I just sent them on to you. LOL

You know what I'm thinkin"?

Someone on this thread belongs in the ZOO. ROFL!


85 posted on 01/19/2006 5:35:31 PM PST by SoldiersPrayingMom ("....And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matt. 21:22)
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To: SoldiersPrayingMom; JustAmy; Jim Robinson; Syncro
Too bad Fresno doesn't have a Semi-Annual Shindig, we'd all be there with bells on!! Can hardly wait until September...but that's too long of a wait!!

Well, I have some good news for you...we have a "support our troops" rally the first Friday of each month at Blackstone and Shaw in Fresno and then go to dinner afterwards. (When we have someone special attending our rally we usually go somewhere special for dinner.) So, round up the whole family and come on down! :-)

Thanks for the picture ping, Syncro.

86 posted on 01/19/2006 5:36:25 PM PST by Mama_Bear (My heroes wear camouflage!)
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To: Mama_Bear

WelL...what can I say? Greg will be going back to Texas for a few weeks and won't be available until after he gets back. We'll see what we can do about joining ya'll one of these Friday's. We're all up in the Sacramento area so it's a good drive, but will be worth it all to come down sometime....to Frellowship with ya'll and for sure..... WE DO LOVE AND SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!


87 posted on 01/19/2006 5:47:01 PM PST by SoldiersPrayingMom ("....And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matt. 21:22)
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To: Swordmaker

I lost the sword for mine.

I should make it into a flask...


88 posted on 01/20/2006 12:45:36 PM PST by Syncro
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To: SoldiersPrayingMom; Dr. Zoo; Mama_Bear
Well Duh!

I guess I should have said the pictures you sent me instead of that you took.

Mr. Parkinson doesn't like crab so Dr. Zoo transmorphed it into steak for him.





Dad with the Sargent's hat on...which didn't fit so he passed it off to his Granddaughter.







If Michael Jackson would have been here, he would have used this bathroom:


(inside joke)

Hay, did any of you see this action at the other end of the room????


89 posted on 01/20/2006 1:02:08 PM PST by Syncro
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To: Syncro; All

Thank you all so much. It really means alot to me. I appreciate all of your well wishes. Yea, you too syncro...lol


90 posted on 02/23/2006 2:53:01 PM PST by jmpmstr4u2 (CEO; 72 Virgin dating service, (We'll set you up))
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To: Mama_Bear

When is the next picnic? Just let me know ahead of time so I can put in for leave. I would love to meet all of you.

Greg


91 posted on 02/23/2006 2:55:19 PM PST by jmpmstr4u2 (CEO; 72 Virgin dating service, (We'll set you up))
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To: La Enchiladita

Hey there... Long time no speak... How are you? Hope that you will be at the next picnic. I can't wait to meet you in person... Greg


92 posted on 02/23/2006 2:59:01 PM PST by jmpmstr4u2 (CEO; 72 Virgin dating service, (We'll set you up))
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To: Swordmaker
Thanks so much for the pictures...as one of almost 150 volunteers at the USO at the DFW airport we are blessed to get to meet and greet so many of Greg's fellow heroes each week. It is a humbling experience indeed to Thank those Great Americans for keeping us safe here in America. Any American who doesn't understand that if we were not in Iraq...our children and grandchildren would not be safe here in America..
93 posted on 02/23/2006 3:06:40 PM PST by RVN Airplane Driver (Most Americans are so spoiled with freedom they have no idea what it takes to earn and keep it.)
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To: jmpmstr4u2; JustAmy
Hey, welcome home! The picnic will be September 9th with a "Support our Troops" rally on Friday the 8th in Fresno. I enjoyed so much meeting your family last year and am looking forward to meeting you this year. Prepare for some of the best tri-tip you've ever had. :-)

Amy, can you add jmpmster4u2 to your list of contacts for info regarding the picnic next summer? He needs to put in for leave in order to be able to come so needs to be reminded ahead of time.

94 posted on 02/23/2006 3:07:16 PM PST by Mama_Bear (My heroes wear camouflage!)
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To: Mama_Bear

Thank you so much. Sounds fun. Too bad it is so far off...


95 posted on 02/23/2006 3:09:14 PM PST by jmpmstr4u2 (CEO; 72 Virgin dating service, (We'll set you up))
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To: jmpmstr4u2

Nice to "see" you too! HUGS! I haven't forgotten about you, just figured you're BUSY with reunions and stuff.

Can't wait for that picnic, but darn, couldn't it be in July? Well, for now, I've got the date on my calendar. Still have your e-mail so will write soon.

Hope you're enjoying the U.S. of A.! Clink!


96 posted on 02/23/2006 3:23:58 PM PST by La Enchiladita (God bless our troops and their families.)
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To: Mama_Bear; jmpmstr4u2; SoldiersPrayingMom; Jim Robinson; La Enchiladita

Thanks for the heads-up, MamaBear.

Welcome home jmpmstr4u2! Thank you for your service.

We are looking forward to meeting you and to seeing your family again.

I've added your name and La Enchiladita's to our picnic ping list. Looking forward to meeting both of you. :)


97 posted on 02/23/2006 4:38:12 PM PST by JustAmy (I wear red every Friday, but I support our Military everyday!!)
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To: JustAmy

Thanks, JustAmy. It seems a long ways off, but you know how that goes...!!


98 posted on 02/23/2006 7:05:53 PM PST by La Enchiladita (God bless our troops and their families.)
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To: La Enchiladita

It is a long way off, but I've added you to our ping list so you will be reminded later. :)


99 posted on 02/23/2006 7:30:13 PM PST by JustAmy (I wear red every Friday, but I support our Military everyday!!)
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To: JustAmy; Mama_Bear; Syncro; jimrob; jmpmstr4u2; bethtopaz; Swordmaker; La Enchiladita

Howdy FRiends,

Would it be possible to make it a semi-annual afFRair.....like maybe a "Spring FRing" as soon as it gets warm enough.....have a potluck picnic?? Sounds like fun to me and I'll betcha a bunch of others FReepers will agree. We could meet in a pretty park somewhere in Fresno, as it will be more centrally located there. I know that Fresno will be closer for La Enchiladita to come.

I know also there is something that's going on in Santa Rosa or somewhere up around that area, but can't remember the date, but would like to added to that ping list with who ever has it. We live up by Sacramento and so does Jmpmstr4u2 and any way you slice it...it'll be a couple hours drive for us. Just let us know (give us the heads-up in advance) and we'll be there with bells on!!

I still think a "Spring FRing" is in order. Doesn't have to be anything fancy....just something simple....just to get together and to FRellowship ; ))

Think about it. ; ))
((Hugs)) SPM


100 posted on 02/24/2006 5:04:16 PM PST by SoldiersPrayingMom ("And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32)
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