2/23 BN IN

3rd Platoon Weapons squad

2nd Platoon

Praying For Their Safe Return..we love you all.

Welcome to the world, Baby Kaiden. Congrats Alia.

See the care packages in the background? Recognize anyone?

Daniel and some of his stryker buddies 2/23 Bravo

May you rest in peace in the comfort of our loving God's Arms

SGT Joel Dahl - June 23, 2007

Jesus Christ & the American Soldier...

This is short and to the point. Cindy Sheehan asked President Bush, "Why did my son have to die in Iraq ?" Another mother asked President Kennedy, "Why did my son have to die in Viet Nam ?" Another mother asked President Truman, "Why did my son have to die in Korea ?" Another mother asked President F.D. Roosevelt, "Why did my son have to die at Iwo Jima ?" Another mother asked President W. Wilson, "Why did my son have to die on the battlefield of France ?" Yet another mother asked President Lincoln, "Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg ?" And yet another mother asked President G. Washington, "Why did my son have to die near Valley Forge ?" Long, long ago a mother asked, "Heavenly Father, why did my Son have to die on a cross outside of Jerusalem ?" The answers to all these are similar - "So that others may have life and dwell in peace, happiness, and freedom." This was emailed to me with no author and I thought the magnitude and the simplicity were awesome. IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM!!! Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier; one died for your soul, the other for your freedom

Something Funny

There is a comment in a foreign language on one of our posts. I used Google's translator feature --- it is Portuguese.

Oi, I found yours blog for google tá
well interesting I liked this post. When to give gives passed for mine blog, is
on personalized t-shirts, shows step by step as to create a well personalized
t-shirt way. Until more.

Looks like an ad, but I wanted to be sure. If it is an ad, we might want to start monitoring comments. Let me know.

Jo Ann
AustinsMom

Think we're all feeling a little scared for our soldiers right now...we have to remember to pray for them everyday. Me and my family and friends and their friends, say a prayer everyday at 11:30 (east coast)...Joe prays then too ---



We all want to know, but don't want to know what's going on. The only thing we can all agree on is that we're here to love, support and pray for our soldiers.



We'll always be afraid and we'll always be worried...but we have to lay that burden on God because He wants us to live life not afraid --- we have to put on His full armour and pray and spread His Word --- we have to have faith. No matter what.

JRM'sscaredStrykerMom Kathy

In Case You Missed This on the Forum

Saturday I had lunch w/ Kylesmom! We live about an hour and a half away from each other in Florida. Her son was in Iraq with the 172nd last year so she's definitely "been there, done that!"

It was GREAT to talk with another mother who knows exactly how I'm feeling right now. She also shares my concerns about the apathy of most Americans towards the war these days. "War, what war? Oh, that." is what I think non-military-related people are thinking -- IF they even think about it at all.

Another shared topic of concern is our own extended families either complaining about their 'little' problems or NOT caring enough about our BIG problems --- our sons' lives being in danger!

I loved the story of her sister wanting her along when she left her daughter at college. "How will I ever be able to leave her and drive off by my myself?" Excuse me?

AustinsMom

Cafe Press- 4th Brigade shirts etc..

http://www.cafepress.com/lotacatspix/3180737

go to the link click on it, then find the design you like best click on it and you can see all your options. She made these up just for us and said she can make more customized items if we want- She made some really cute stuff for the 172nd-

Amanda

This is my soldier in late May, does the background look familiar snipermom?

Amanda

UNTIL THEY ALL COME HOME SAFE

Jesus will be with me...

And this just says it all....Kathy

CUTE!!

Saw this on photobucket and thought you'd all like it...made me chuckle.
JRM'sStrykerMom --- Kathy

OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS

Be Not Afraid
Be Not Afraid
You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst. You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way. You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand. You shall see the face of God and live.
Be not afraid.I go before you always;Come follow me, and I will give you rest.

Austin's Mom here . . . yes, it is quiet here AND on the forum.

As for myself, the "unbearable" fear has lessened whereas for the first two months I could not imagine even living through this next year+. I remember when Kris went over; I felt the same horrible fear but it lessened too after a few months. I'm still very concerned for the safety of my sons, as we are all, but I think my body's natural "survival instincts" have kicked in.

AND, I have broken my addiction to my laptop. I was spending about three hours every evening after work blogging, e-mailing, whatever, and was wasting away (not to mention wasting time). My daughter has had my laptop for almost a week so it's not even there for me to think about using. I'm sneaking this in at work (don't tell!).

Here's the "Official Father's Day Photo" that I posted on the forum -- notice the cardboard Austin. I liked Amanda's comment that they have a "Flat Daddy" at their house. "Austin" has been to concerts, theme parks, parties . . . you name it.

Yesterday my daughter Kylee (in photo holding demon dog) said "I don't understand how I can love somebody so much who used to drive me absolutely crazy when we were younger."

Good Morning!!

It's quiet on here , so just stopping by to say Happy Tuesday to you all. Hope everyone is doing well- Have a good Day you all!!

Amanda

If you read this, you WILL forward it on. You just won't be able to stop yourself.The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other.He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food.He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all.He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot…A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it.Please send this on after a short prayer.Prayer Wheel"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.Protect them as they protect us.Bless them and their families for the selfless actsthey perform for us in our time of need. Amen."When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq.There is nothing attached...This can be very powerful.......Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine,or Airman, prayer is the very best one.I can't break this one, sorry.Pass it on to everyone and pray.

"TomaHawks"

Make sure you turn the playlist music to "pause" to watch this video. I can make more with some of the other pictures if you want.- Amanda

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Snipermom's son at work

Snipermom son - some where in Iraq

Getting their rest

Danna, Daniel, and George before deployment

My son Daniel - Proudstrykermom

Me & my hubby in WY on emergency leave- glad to hold him again even for a short time...

June 2007

MY HERO, MY SON

SPC SCOTTY GREGORY

A CO 1-38

THIS IS MY MOST RECENT PIX. SCOTTY JUST RECIEVED PROMOTION APRIL 1ST. THAT'S A FALCON ON HIS ARM. A LITTLE BOYS PET. SORRY I GOT CARRIED AWAY W/PIXS. COULDN'T DECIDE. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANY FIRST PLATOON FAMILY. SCOTTY'S BEST FRIENDS ARE, ROPER & HUBBARD. BRAVEHEART MOM

SCOTTY & THE BOYS

THIS WAS TAKEN @ A WEDDING THEY ATTENDED AT FT. LEWIS. DO YOU RECOGNIZE YOUR SON? MY SCOTTY IS 1ST ONE ON LEFT.

BRAVEHEART MOM

MY HERO, MY SON

MOM & SCOTTY. ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVS. I HAVE THIS ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN.

I LOVE THIS WEB SITE. THERE ARE NO CLOSE MILITARY FAMILIES NEAR. I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A LOVED ONE OVERSEAS CAN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL.

BRAVEHEART MOM

my hero, my son

MY HERO, SPC SCOTTY GREGORY. HE'S W/A-C0. 1-38. THIS PIX WAS TAKEN @ FT. LEWIS. IT IS MY FAVORITE.

SCOTTY IS OUR ONLY CHILD & IT HAS BEEN VERY QUIET @ HOME. IT AMAZES ME HOW HE & THE OTHER GUYS IN HIS PLATOON CAN BE SO POSITIVE & DETERMINED. I FEEL THAT I COULD LOVE ALL YOUR SONS.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL. BRAVEHEART MOM

CPL Jared Hagemeier, 2/23 B Co. 1st Squad

This is my favorite picture of Jared! Most military pictures seem to show them frowning (I think they are told to NOT smile). This pic was snapped right before he married his sweetheart. I don't think I've ever seen him happier!

Jared and his beautiful bride Abigail

Back row: Jared's sissy Andrea, me, Grandma Glenda

Here's my boy!

SPC Louis Colasanti
172nd Stryker Brigade
B-Co, 1-17th Inf
Combat Medic

Kathy (armymedicmom)