Posted on 11/13/2004 1:22:27 PM PST by wagglebee
PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The mother of a Marine from eastern Kentucky now fighting in Iraq said she was thrilled to see her son's photograph on the front pages of newspapers this week.
Maxie Webber of Robinson Creek in Pike County said the close-up of Lance Cpl. Blake Miller, his face covered with dirt and a cigarette hanging from his lips, let her know that her son was OK.
Miller, 20, a graduate of Shelby Valley High School, is serving with Charlie Company of the U.S. Marines First Division in Fallujah, an insurgent stronghold.
Fallujah has been the site of some of the most severe battles with the Iraqi insurgency, and this week U.S. troops began a fierce battle for control of the city.
The photo, taken by Los Angeles Times photographer Luis Sinco, has appeared in newspapers across the nation. Webber said she first saw it when CBS News anchor Dan Rather showed it to viewers on Wednesday. Photo editor Alan Hagman confirmed Friday that the photo was of Miller.
"I just sat here and I thought, that's my son," Webber said. "I couldn't believe it. To me, it's just God's way because Blake is a Christian. It's just like God saying, 'I'm letting you know he's OK.'"
Webber said she stays home as much as possible in case her son calls.
"I don't want to miss his call because you never know if that call will be the last one," she said.
Webber said she also bought an answering machine for her phone just in case Miller, the oldest of her three sons, calls while she's out. She has one message on the answering machine from Aug. 1.
"And when I get lonely, and it's been a few days, I play that tape," Webber said.
Webber said her son's decision to join the Marines has changed the way she thinks about America.
"Until my son went into the Marines, I never really realized what that flag stood for - but now I do," she said.
Alas, no. Although this one is also a great laugh and a keeper.
I hope to have the one I remember in hand soon. I just ordered what purports to be a complete collection of her columns. Two copies: STET Dammit!, from the NRO Store.
www.nationalreview.com
Charlie Company of the U.S. Marines First Division. Here is the Marine Corps locator page on the Marine Corps website. You might try them.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/ind.nsf/locator
Here's another link to the article from the Albany paper
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2004/11/13/news/nation/nat09.txt
A nice fat contract with Marlboro would be nice.
Welcome to posting---you did it just right!
Thank you. Jim
There was a VERY interesting comment at the end of that clip, about how these women liked this Marine's look better with the "war paint" on him.
I wonder if these women considered all the "war paint" they wear on the set of their TV broadcast and how it makes them look better?
Try the Marine Corps locator. I'm sure they've had several thousand calls on him this week.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/ind.nsf/locator
He may smoke 3 packs a day, but more importantly, he's smoking terrorists left and right.
Obsessive compulsive neat freak - get to the back of the line.
There are a lot of women out there who will be glad to wash his feet and work up to his face.
But you still get a grade for curiosity.
Fox News showed a picture of him "cleaned Up" earlier and the way they repeat stories, I'm sure you can catch it sometime today.
The "broken nose" look is probably because Fox said he played everykind of sport he could growing up.
I told my husband that if I were the Marlboro co. I would supply free smokes to him AND all of his buddies. He says he smokes 3 packs a day, but I bet not much makes his lungs while he is fighting.
Oh man, he is gonna need to big stick to beat them off with.
That was why a lot of women changed to Republicans this year. Zell Miller's spit ball speech was the speech of a real man.
Also, the war has shown a whole generation of girls and women what REAL men look and act like.
Charlie Company of the U.S. Marines First Division.
The 1st Marine Div. is based here in San Diego at
Camp Pendleton
Try the Marine Corps locator.
WASTES 3 packs a day, is probably closer to the truth. I don't think those guys have TIME to really smoke that many cigarettes. It's one of the reasons I quit smoking: It's a terrible time-waster...
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