USO Canteen FReeper FRiday.......June 21,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

We are honored to introduce to you
G'nad

...."My mom always said she wasn't surprised I wanted to be a Marine...I still love scars and bruises...I acquired quite a collection over the years...

Newly commissioned, boot 2ndLt g'nad......

1stLt and Mrs. g'nad headed for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. She's my best friend...my reality check...God has blessed me with her.

Above and Below...Desert Storm, cleaned up afterwards ... somewhere in Kuwait.......

Reunion with Mrs. g'nad, this photo ran in the OkiMar Edition of Stars and Stripes.......

On the range at 29 Palms with a buddy, our custom rifles, and M-14s...Life is good!.......

Winter warfare training with some of my Marines at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, CA. I'm the one standing far left. This was with 2d Marine Regiment... my best time, and my best Marines.......

The family as of Nov '01. Rebecca, Mrs. g'nad, Jake and me on the beach at Emerald Isle, NC.

I knew I wanted to be a Marine since I was three-years-old. I signed my Delayed Entry Program papers in Oct of my senior year, but in December the Officer Selection Officer (OSO) asked me if I wanted to try for an NROTC Scholarship. I never had any intention of being an officer, and my family was too poor for me to even consider college. I was accepted and attended Iowa State University and OCS, and was commissioned. I owe the Marine Corps a great debt.

. Still on active duty as a Major at Headquarters Marine Corps...my first desk job, and it's killin' me...

Been a lot of places, seen a lot of things... some bad, some good. But I have always served with the finest of men, Marines.

I trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior...I believe in Duty, Honor, Sacrifice, Integrity...

I believe that there is no substitute for hard work... that pain is a good thing...if no one's shooting at you, there is nothing to stress about...oh yes, and beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy...

Die first, then quit.......

G'nad

Thank you G’nad for serving our country and for sharing with us here at the FReeper USO Canteen. It is an honor and blessing to know you.

[Pippin]

Good Morning, Sassy! I agree!

come to think of it, we should make an exception for Tom. I didn't know about the skunks! <p. Tom! They're not cats!!!!

[SassyMom]

Well, I'm off for the last day of VBS. Yesterday we had a magician come. It was sooooo cool to watch the faces of each child. They were trying to figure out what he was doing. But, the best thing was how he explained what he was doing. He told them that there is no such thing as magic that the only person capable of performing miracles is Jesus and that what he does is illusion or tricking their eyes. We had a lot of fun. :) I still don't get how he does that stuff. hahahahahaha

[SassyMom]

OOPS, I meant for post 82 to go to everybody. Really, I'm not talking to myself....... honest..... *giggle*

See y'all this afternoon!

[Pippin]

Talking to yourself, Sassy?

Hope you have fun at VBS today and your not supposed to fugure out how a magician does his tricks!

[LadyX]

Beautiful presentation, g'nad, of all you represent...God, Family, Country, Corps - a life well lived.

I lived in North Carolina many years and had friends at Emerald Isle.
Their house was a block from the ocean on a high ridge with windows all across facing the water.
It was spectacular to have thunderstorms flashing across the horizon from that safe vantage point.

The last time I was there, stopping in Jacksonville to have breakfast, there was a Corps family with a daughter and son (about 11 and 9) at a nearby table.

Their children sat up straight and exhibited beautiful manners, never chattering and fidgeting nor talking loudly.

When I rose to leave, I paused by the table and complimented them on their wonderful family, remembering when my own children were young and military 'brats.'

You'd have thought I had bestowed upon them the Medal of Honor, lighting up and so thrilled to have recognition of what it takes to produce well-behaved children!

It takes SO LITTLE to make someone else's day - especially a military person and family.

If you live near a military base, please often thank them in person for their being there for us.
It lightens their load, and costs you nothing.

THEY ARE NOT STRANGERS - - THEY ARE THERE FOR YOU AND FOR AMERICA, far from home and comfort!!

Semper Fi, g'nad; thank you and Mrs. g and may you be forever blessed.....

[SAMWolf]

Members of the Honor Guard aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, from left, Jamal Hudson of Columbia, S.C., DeMario Eiland of Louisville, Miss., Richard Barreto of New York and Matthew Henderson of London, Ky., stand at attention as the ship gets underway Thursday, June 20, 2002, from Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Va. About 7,500 sailors and Marines with the carrier and its battle group left to head overseas and likely into combat. The Navy will not disclose the ships's destination. (AP Photo/Gary C. Knapp

[Pippin]

Good Morning, Sam. Hope your day is going fine.

[SAMWolf]

Faith Tycz, 7, center, Samantha, 3, left, and Tiffany, 5, right, daughters of the late Sgt. First Class Peter P. Tycz II, who was killed June 12 when an MC-130H plane he was riding in crashed in Afghanistan, leave a memorial service for their father Thursday, June 20, 2002, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The adults are unidentified. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)

Felicia Tycz, 10, second from right, daughter of Sgt First Class Peter Tycz, who was killed June 12 when an MC-130 plane he was riding in crashed in Afghanistan, wipes away a tear after a memorial service for her dad, Thursday, June 20, 2002, at Fort Bragg, N.C. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)

An unidentified woman wipes away tears as she listens to a bagpiper Thursday, June 20, 2002, at Fort Bragg, N.C., after a memorial service for Sgt First Class Peter Tycz, who was killed June 12 when an MC-130 plane he was riding in crashed in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)

An honor guard fires a 21-gun salute Thursday, June 20, 2002, at Fort Bragg, N.C., during a memorial service for Sgt. 1st Class Peter P. Tycz II, 32, of Tonawanda, N.Y., who was killed June 12 when an MC-130 plane he was in crashed in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan)

[SAMWolf]

Morning CS. It's Friday at last. Now we'll see if I have to work this weekend, so far it looks like I will.

[COB1]

It's beach day at South Padre!

[g'nad]

Thanks DMWMC. God bless you and yours...

[Johnny Gage]

Enjoy VBS and have a great day.

SB & G'Nad, thank you for the great write up! It's wonderful to learn more about other Freepers who are/were serving our beloved country. Thank you for you service.

TGIF

Time Out: 08:51
KMG-365

Dave

[Pippin]

Looks like fun! Happy Summer!

[Johnny Gage]

How sad.. May the Lord be with this family and the families of our other servicemen/women who've died in combat during this war.

Very touching photos. Thanks for posting it.

Dave

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

OH Cobby, whisper when you mention South Padre, my daughter is wanting to go there so badly....lol....apparently the 1200 miles or so of East Coast beaches just won't suffice............

[Pippin]

Good Morning! What part of Minnesota are you in? My grandparents on my mother's side were born in Minnesota.

My grandpa was born in Perham (Ottertail County) My grand ma was born in Lake Hwnry. I don't know the county.

[g'nad]

Hoo-yah Sam! Don't fill out any forms, but I go through reams of paperwork and gigabytes of e-mail...When I retire I don't even want to see another computer...wait a minute...how will I get my FR fix?...Lemme get back to ya... Thanks my FRiend...

[Johnny Gage]

Good Morning to you.

Born, raised and currently living in a suburb of Minneapolis.

My parents and grandparents are all from Int'l Falls, on the canadian border.

[COB1]

"my daughter is wanting to go there so badly"

I REALLY like your daughter!
She's smart!

You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl!

[HiJinx]

Carrying on in the finest tradition of the Corps...
Thanks for showing us a little about yourself and your wonderful family!