#1 son sailed tuesday for a six month deployment to the Mediterranean and/or parts unknown . Emails say they are sometimes working 20 hrs a day. Makes me glad I am back here with a union contract so that I have a little bit of time to mash metal. :)

Brian, your #1 Son is added to our Prayer list here, please relate our gratitude to him for his service. My #1 Son retired with 20 years service over a year ago as HM1, ships corpman while on sea duty. We are very proud of him and glad he's home.

What branch?

May God keep him safe.

What the heck are those pansies doing with the OTHER four hours???!!!!

Apprentice man- U.S. Navy. He is a 3rd class petty officer, Gas turbine systems tech. (electrical). He also serves on the flight deck crew during air ops and is a member of the boarding party when needed.

Thank you all for the kind wishes.

Brian,
The Marine Corps moto is "Semper Fidelis." In latin this means "Always Faithful." Us jarheads say "Semper Fi" as a common greeting to other jarheads but as I've said before it fits any close knit group to mean "I got your back!" Thats what I mean in my signature that "its not just for breakfast anymore I never saw any combat or overseas duty for that matter while I was in but we were always prepared for that "call to duty". Your son has answered that call and to him I offer him a hearty SEMPER FI!!

Brian C.
I wish your son, you and the rest of your family well!

JWB

Brian C. My prayeres are for your son, you and all your family. May he return home safely! GOD BLESS AMERICA! and all those who serve her.

God keeps all soldiers in special places. Some of those places are by His side and some are in Fox Holes. There are no Athiest in Fox Holes! Tell him to keep his Head Down, his Powder Dry and to take care of his feet! Our prayers are with him and his Brothers and Sisters in Harms Way. May they all be safe and achieve Victory!

Brian,
I know the feeling well. My son is an Intelligence Spec. 3rd class and just returned from a 6 month cruise aboard USS Abraham Lincoln. He's with VAQ-131 Lancers, which is part of CVW2 (Carrier Air Wing 2). He recently earned his enlisted aviation warfare specialist quals and also serves on the flight deck when needed. He thinks he might get sent to Iraq or Afganistan on an "augmentation billet". I pray that they keep him "on the rock" 'til their next deployment. I worry less when I think about the "company my son keeps" while depoyed. Check the photo, you can't touch this from air, surface, or subsurface (Carrier group from last cruise). The Lincoln (or any of our carriers for that matter) is about the safest place to be durring combat ops. What ship is your son serving on? We'll include him in our prayers.

Mcraigl,

Pat is on the USS Boone, a frigate. Little bitty spit-kit compared to a carrier.

All,
I spent 9 years in the VA Guard but never went "anywhere". I have a little brother who dropped his employment as an LEO and SWAT team member to become a trainer in BPC, a relatively well known police college in the middle east. He leaves tomorrow for the second half of his 1.5 year contract. We talked a little about what he does, who he works with, and what he has seen.
Nobody should have to see, never mind live with the things he has seen and lived with. I know there is a different spot in the forums for this stuff, but please keep him in your prayers.

Carpe Malleus,
pt

Brian I know what it's like to be a long way from home on active duty (Christmas was always especially empty) and it sure is nice knowing that the folks back home have you always in their prayers. Please know that your son is included in those prayers. Semper Fi

Brian,
Your son and your family are now in our thoughts and prayers, along with our family and friends who are serving in the military of the greatest country in the world. And by GODS grace and his many blessings it will stay that way........

I read and reply on several metal working forums as time permits. I have been ending my threads: Please remember to PRAY for and SUPPORT our troops and their families. It seems as if some are annoyed by this. If it due to the loss of a loved one you have my deepest sympathies and also my appreciation. As we all should know by now is that Freedom is not free...... If this annoies you because you are tired of hearing about it Think about where you are and all that you have,and thank GOD. Then thank our soldiers and their families. With out GOD and our military we are nothing...............................
Remember to PRAY for and SUPPORT our troops and their families. May GOD richly bless.
Kevin Middleton
Rome Ga.

I can relate to this situation. My brother-in-law, the younger of the two, is scheduled to deploy to Iraq sometime in late October, early November. He is a 2nd Lt. Ranger so he will be on the ground. My other brother-in-law, the older one, has already spent one year in Tikrit. He is an Apache pilot and got to see a lot of action. He was scheduled to go back in October of 2007 but just found out he was accepted into the masters program so he will be starting back to school instead of shipping out. God surely did answer our prayers. Now we just need to pray for the safety of my younger BIL and for the safety of all the troops.

Rush