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)

For all our loved ones, My God Almighty give them strength

momusaarmy

1Armymom says, Listen to this....

Click on Finlandia: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=170887661

1ARMYMOM Pics

202nd BSB Bco 4/2

1ARMYMOM Checking in!

Here is my Good Looking Soldier.

He just had his 33rd Birthday.

I miss him sooo much.

Hi everyone! Let's see if I finally have this one figured out...... This is Proudstrykermom, (Daniel's Mom) I am posting a video from YouTube that a friend of Daniel's made for our guys. I believe these soldiers are all from the 4-2. I hope you see your boy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzsISBjE_Ls

proudstrykermom
Danna

4-2 2-23 Bravo Co 1st Platoon

Does anyone have any pictures of the 2/23??? I cannot find a single article, video, or picture of them!!!! I need pics of my boy!!!!

Ladies,

momusaarmy, thanks for the info and opprotunity to share my thoughts and some pictures of my son.

While I'm not a StrykerMomma, I'm a StrykerDad and proud of it. Charlie's in B CO, 1-38 IN, 4-2 ID.

First picture was taken by the Freeport Flag Ladies in Bangor, Maine as Charlie was on the phone with his wife, waiting for the next plane on his trip to the sandbox.

This picture is of him somewhere in Kuwait, just not sure where!

Once again, thanks for this opportunity.

I will continue to check this blog and the strykernews forum as many times a day as possible to help with my sanity check.

Prior to stumbling onto the strykernews forum, I was clueless about any support for parents with kids (that's what they'll always be in my heart) serving in the military.

Thanks again for all the support during the toughest time in my life as a parent!

Dick

1-38 Bayonet Co.

That's my son sitting in the front with his weapon.









It does my heart good to see that they can still goof around! My son loves tuna....really!

momusaarmy

Music Playlist

Who put up the music playlist? Now did you do that? Are the tracks on a server? I have 2 songs that would be good to add - 1) Tim McGraw - If You're Reading This; 2) I Go On Missing You - Tecia McKenna (this song was written specifically for the 172nd SBCT).

Kathy

My son, Keone, and squad (2/23 - C Company)

Okay, so here is Keone's squad (2/23 - C Company). Keone is the one "cuddling" his weapon with crossed arms ... the brown bald one! He gets pinned Staff Sargeant this Friday 6/8!

Here is the "tag" the mother/wife of my "adoptive family" made for me. I posted it on Let's Talk but wanted it in a more permanent place too.

The photo of Austin that she used makes me really sad -- but very proud. He just looks so young and sweet in that photo. Here's the whole photo -- he's smoking (bad boy).

This next photo is Kris in full body armor taken recently in Mosul. It sure looks like it'd be hard to move with all that gear on. And think of the heat. Kris has seven months left of his 15.

Kris and his wife are meeting in the Bahamas for his R&R break in July. No invite for us yet --- think we'll get one?

Left is the last time I saw Austin. I miss my sons so much.

Hi Mommas!

So I just wanted to say to everyone! I'm infantry_wife02. I think its great that this is set up so we can actually see who we will be connecting with over the next 15 months, ok maybe not 15 now, but you all know what I mean. Here are a few pics of my soldier and I, and are two kidlets. Oh btw our names are Rob and Amie. Most of the pictures were taken at Family day.

Rob and Amie


Rob and Jonathon, taken the night before Rob left


Rob and Austin, Also taken the night before Rob left

Jonathon inside the stryker

Austin holding a gun...sorry don't remember the name of it

Our Hero


Sorry for all the pictures, I just couldn't decide which ones to post and not. Hope you enjoyed seeing who we are.