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Snippets From the AOR II
From a conversation with SN1 this morning:
I attended my first Ramp Ceremony. Sobering.
A young USMC Staff Sergeant was sent home today in the back of a C-17, honored by hundreds of US and Coalition troops in a short, but significant display. He was 27 years old. Sure makes you realize what you're doing over here and brings it front and center in your mind.
The ceremony is pretty standard from what I was told...but it was poignant none-the-less.
Standing there at attention, listening to the Marine Corps Hymn being played on the bagpipes, I couldn't help but think about his parents who were mentioned as his only relatives. Another young man gave his all...
So that's what's been on my mind for a lot of the day...
God bless and keep that young Marine and his parents. As I told SN1: we who "sit and wait" have no idea what it's like to attend a Ramp Ceremony. I can only imagine...
You are right - we don't have any idea such a ceremony would be for the band of brothes in arms, but we do hurt because we are parents.
ReplyDeletePeace to that young Marine's family. And God's blessings on SN1.
ReplyDeleteBuck, our SN2 called us on Tuesday morning early (Zero Dark Thirty to be exact our time), he is well and things have been quiet 'round his immediate op area. He too recounted a ceremony held for the only man in lost thus far in his unit. He said he died in transit to the big hospital at Kandahar from wounds he got throwing another Marine to safety immediately before an IED detonated. He said you will never see so many rough Men crying openly as you do at one of them.
ReplyDeleteI told him its tough when you know their name, live with them as close as they do in their austere conditions. The best memorial to the fallen is to complete the mission honorably and in their name. That is why so many bases bare the names of the dead.
Things the general public has no knowledge of.
BT: Jimmy T sends.
Lou: Your point about being parents is well taken.
ReplyDeleteMoogie: Thanks.
Jimmy: It's good to hear things are quieter in your son's area. SN1 and I had a conversation last night about your son, in that he asked what your son does and where he is located. I answered "rifleman" (Duh... ALL Marines are riflemen!) and "I dunno"... adding he's on a FOB somewhere near Kandahar.
All the ramp ceremonies are tough to watch.Since I work nights on the flight line here at Bagram, I get to see most of the ceremonies. I always participate by rendering Honors to the dead.
ReplyDeleteWhat's worse is watching the wounded and dead come off the Helicopters. That really tears me up and bothers my sleep.
william: Thanks for dropping by, and Good On Ya for rendering Honors at every opportunity. Know that we support what you're doing in The Af and are forever in your debt. Thank you.
ReplyDelete