From Mike the Marine
Marines
10 Things That Make Me Happy
- Giving and receiving a bear hug from one of “my” Marines. (Thank You Justine – I really needed that hug!!)
- Seeing a smile on a formerly grumpy face when I say “Thank You for Your Service”.
- Getting a letter back from someone I don’t even know in response to a note I wrote them. I know military personnel that are deployed are BUSY, and it means a lot to hear from them.
- Having a whole houseful of people I don’t know show up to pack boxes to send overseas.
- Getting offers of help from people I meet while standing in line at the Post Office.
- People that, when I ask for one small thing for the troops, go over and above, not only giving what I ask, but more.
- The community of bloggers that work so hard to promote the Valour-IT fundraiser and let me participate, even though I am nowhere near the caliber of writer that they are.
- The great support from our whole community for our troops.
- Knowing that the little things we do will have a positive affect on the morale and well-being of our deployed troops and their families.
- Seeing the fund raising thermometer go UPPPPP!!!! Go Marine Team!!!!
Rules….
Reasons why Marines win….
US Marine Corps Rules for Gunfighting
1. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
2. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.
3. Have a plan.
4. Have a back-up plan, because the first one probably won’t work.
5. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
6. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun whose caliber does not start with a “4.”
7. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.
8. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral & diagonal preferred.)
9. Use cover or concealment as much as possible.
10. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
13. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating your intention to shoot.
Define: Valor
Valor
Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller – Medal of Honor Operation Enduring Freedom
Official Narrative
Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, U.S. Army, heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the U.S. while serving as the Weapons Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Special Operations Task Force–33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force–Afghanistan, Forward Operating Base Naray, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Read More Here (Scroll down to
Robbie Miller Awarded the Medal of Honor – SYSK Follow Up
Providing Tools for Our Wounded Warriors to Recover
Valour-IT
It was the last day of Valour-IT’s first Veterans Day (2005) fundraiser, when I was still stunned by its success and thrilled Valour-IT was now a viable project. Amid that emotion, arrived an email requesting a laptop for Bryan, then just two weeks into his recovery. I shared it anonymously here: “If I have to think enough to comment on it, I will end up on the floor in a puddle of tears, and I don’t have time to cry today,” I wrote. The email read:
…He has a long road ahead of him. His mother said that they are doing everything for him and it is getting very frustrating for him. He wants to talk to his friends but he just is not ready to do it yet. With this laptop he will be able to communicate with family and friends and will be able to do it without the help of anyone. This is going to be the first step in showing him that he will be able to do things on his own.
When I told her about project Valour-IT, she almost cried. She couldn’t stop thanking us for this wonderful gift and opportunity that you are giving to B. She says that B is a fighter and that he will be getting prosthetic legs. She also said that he will be water skiing again in the future. She is so upbeat and positive over all of this.
Thank you so much for this project. This project Valour-IT is an amazing project…
Less than four months later, in February 2006, Bryan was walking. The same correspondent shared:
B came in town for a benefit dinner to help raise funds for his family. He walked into the room with his prosthetic legs, he was smiling and overwhelmed at the support he and his family received. No one was aware that B was going to be there. I do not think there was a dry eye in the room. He still has therapy but his spirit is strong. He has an amazing support group of family and friends.
The laptop was the first step to the road to recovery. It proved that he was going to be able to do all the things that he did before.
(Excerpt from Villainous Company)
100% of your donation will go towards helping wounded vets fight the longest of long wars. Selfless dedication, courage, commitment, grit. These are the qualities that define wounded vets. Won’t you show them that America still honors men who accept no excuses?
