Free Republic

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johan S. Arenas Son Motivates Marine's Success By Sgt. Kevin McSwainLogistics Support Area Anaconda AR RAMADI, Iraq, March 9, 2007 -- Hit with the news that he was about to be a father, Johan S. Arenas knew he had to make a change and make it fast. Arenas, now a 20-year-old machine gunner for Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, saw his life heading in the wrong direction as a troubled teenager. Receiving failing grades in school, having repeated trouble with the law and working dead-end jobs, Arenas was ill...

CHICAGO, March 28, 2006 – Grassroots supporters of America's troops agree their efforts are acts of gratitude, not charity. America Supports You member Christina Finn, founder of the Patriotic Pillow Project, speaks with Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Schuerman, a public affairs officer at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. They met during the America Supports You regional meeting in Chicago, March 27. Photo by Paul X. Rutz  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "It's our way of saying thank you," Anna Sherony, co-chair of the nonprofit "Wounded Heroes Foundation," said. "The hardest part is to get (the troops) to call...

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Aug. 24, 2005) -- “Good morning, Marine!” shouts Chuck Miller, a retired master gunnery sergeant, from the greeting desk at Halyburton Naval Hospital Cherry Point, where he begins his work as a Red Cross volunteer at 5:30 a.m. every Wednesday. “I’m here to greet people and help point them in the right direction,” said Miller, as he shares a joke with an old friend who has come to visit. “When a buddy of mine passed away, I volunteered to take his place here. That was three years ago, but it feels like just...

The Chaplain of the Marine Corps visited the air station July 26 to express gratitude, wishes and encouragement to Marines and sailors. Rear Adm. Robert F. Burt and Master Chief Johnny Thomas, religious program specialist of the Marine Corps, shook hands and spoke to Marines and sailors from various squadrons. He also spoke to station chaplains to share his encouragement during his three-day visit of many stops throughout the station. "Our purpose in coming here is to look the Marines in the eye and tell them how great they are,” said Burt, a Springfield, Ore., native. “(We wanted) to express...