TSA detains Marine escorts

Trio escorting body of fallen comrade are stripped of dress blue coats, searched at airport
By Gidget FuentesTimes staff writer

It wasn't the city of "brotherly love" for a trio of Marine noncommissioned officers escorting the body of a fallen Marine through the Philadelphia airport.

Each decked in their blue dress uniforms, the three enlisted Marines made their way through a security checkpoint at the Philadelphia International Airport about noon on May 3 when they were pulled aside by security workers with the federal Transportation Safety Administration.

The Marines - a sergeant and two corporals - were escorting the body of Sgt. Lea R. Mills from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to his family in Gulfport, Miss. Mills, who was married and lived in Oceanside with his wife, was killed in Iraq on April 28 by a roadside bomb. He was one of three leathernecks killed that day in Iraq's Anbar province.

They were brothers-in-arms. Like Mills, the Marine escorts are members of the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion.

The trio had to go through the terminal's security in order to reach their flight that would take them to Houston and make sure that Mills' body was properly placed on the airplane. While their uniforms likely would trigger the metal detector, they had figured they would be able to zip through the screening process and get on with their business.

"Wearing the blues, the metal detector is going to go off," said Sgt. John Stock, a mechanic, who was accompanied by Cpls. Aaron Bigalk and Jason Schadeburg.

Click HERE for the rest of the article.

This is just sad. The hubby was accosted by the customs agent when he brought the dog home in April and now this. Why is it that I can spend two minutes talking to a German customs agent explaining why I haven't left Germany in six years without the hassle - yet when we try to go home or travel in our own country they act like tyrants? This just pisses me off.

Here's to the stubborm wife

I was overjoyed when I read the news today! Looks like SC Eagle's wife has the bestest news around - she's beat her illness and will keep on keeping on. I knew she was stubborn enough to kick cancer's butt!

The only thing that bothers me was the idiot that told SC Eagle to back off on allowing the FRG to help them out with food and a baby sitter a while back. I mean after reading that the docs originally listed her cancer as 'terminal' but these fools were irritated that the family relied to much on the kindness of the FRG? Ugh, whatever! Forget the stupid people...

She's got some of the best news of the year.Go here and wish her well okay?

Support the Patriot Guard Riders

The first time I heard about what these folks do, I knew they were my kind of people. The PGR provide a shield if you will between the idiot protestors and those attending a funeral procession of a service member. Good people doing good things....

Looks like there is a little raffle going on to help support PGR & you could win your own bike. Nice! See AWTM about it here. Here are the basic details, but the raffle ends May 17th:

"The wonderful folks at the Greeley, CO VFW are raffling off a brand new 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail with the proceeds going to the Patriot Guard Riders. They are doing this in conjunction with their annual poker run that will benefit us, Rocky Mountain Military Moms, and sending real care packages to the troops. The contact for the VFW if you are interested in raffle tickets is Jeff Policicchio and he can be reached at 303-829-7922 or apolicicchio@msn.com. There will only be 600 tickets sold for this bike and the VFW has 200 spoken for. Below you will find a picture of the bike and the flyer for the poker run. Get ahold of Jeff quickly as the remaining 400 tickets will go fast at $40."

There are only about 175 tickets left. You must call Jeff Policicchio, at the above #, he will set the tickets aside for you. Then please mail your check or money order to...

*check made out to VFW benifit 2121*
c/o Jeff Policicchio261 East Holly Street
Millikin, Colorado80543

You must also send a SASE, with your check.
Raffle ends on May 17th!!

10th Mountain Soldiers

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of DefenseNo. 424-06

IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 10, 2006 Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000Public/Industry(703)428-0711

DoD Identifies Army CasualtiesThe Department of Defense announced today the death of 10soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died east ofAbad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province, on May 5, when their CH-47 Chinookhelicopter crashed during combat operations.

Killed were:Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty, 41, of Fla.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten, 34, of Texas.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, 28, of Ill.
Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, 34, of Hamburg, N.Y.
Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, 24, of Fontana, Calif.
Sgt. John C. Griffith, 33, of Las Vegas, Nev.
Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, 23, of Utopia, Texas.
Spc. Justin L. O'Donohoe, 27, of San Diego, Calif.
Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., 23, of Lewisville, N.C.
Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr., 19, of Worcester, Mass.

All those killed were assigned to the 10th Mountain Division(Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y. Fenty, O'Donohoe, Timmons and Moquin were part of the 71st Cavalry Regiment. Totten, Donaldson, Howick, Brewster,Griffith, and Wiekamp were part of the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment.

This incident is under investigation.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairsat (703) 692-2000.
===========
This saddens me greatly. These were the folks that replaced my husband's unit. Sadly, this is the time a of year for crummy weather, for sandstorms. My spouse reflected last night that this time last year was another large accident. I niavely asked why they fly in bad weather, he told me because mission must go on, because somebody out there may have needed what was on that chinook. I grumble at that thought, I know mission is important but at what cost does mission outweigh lives? Isn't that the point, that mission is supposed to save them instead?

Sorry soapbox and distressing philosophy are being put away now.

Happy Military Spouse Day

Well with the finals done and the paper back (it earned an A), I am finally back to normal. I still can't look at blogs while at work but at least I can post a little more than I have been.

I just wanted to say Thank You to all the girlfriends and spouses of a service member. Life as a military spouse is different. Like a few other folks have said, its not that this life is better or that we are all that much stronger, but that it takes a different kind of person to learn how to live in a military world.

Growing up I was shy, introverted, quick to flare my temper and not all the fond of change. Being married for almost 8 years now, most of these traits have changed. I am still shy and introverted - at least for the first few months while I figure you out. But my temper has calmed to the point that folks that knew me from college stand slack jawed when I shrug because my luggage hadn't arrived. I also look forward to change - to move to another place. Yeah okay so I wish I was going to the new place WITH a job, but along with being able to cope with change I have learned how to be resourceful.

Throughout my reading over the last year and a half, I have always seen one thing that stands out in the mil spouse blogs - pride. We all married into this world knowing that things change like the direction of the wind but even with the uncertainty, we are always proud of our spouse, their acoomplishments and their service to this nation.

It takes a different kind of woman to stand with a Service Member and to those that do I tip my hat to you!

Who, huh, what, oh yeah I am here....

Well things are still tight here, meaning that work is basically not approving of me reading blogs during lunch (especially if they accidently splill over my lunch time). So that's the jist of why I haven't read or blogged much at all.

Moving is still stressing me out, at least I've stopped dreaming about being sold to a Russian prostitution ring by my co-worker and her husband! Our car is not here yet but our Simon is promising me that it will be here by the end of this week. I will believe it once I see the car for my very own. We are still trying to find a wine dealer who will ship our wine stock. Any old Germany based folks know of one? Lastly our broken chair, that was replaced by the wrong chair is actually going to be fixed. They have the broken chair and will replace the arm on it, then bring it to us and replace the cushion so it matches. At least one thing is resolved.

On a really happy note, I belong to a military spouse board. This month I participated in a Secret Santa type of exchange and got some really cool stuff! My SS gave me stickers for scrapbooking that included doggie ones, karate ones and military ones. I also got a mini-scrapbook that she HAND MADE in my favourite colour - blue. Lastly I got a book that I just read about called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. We apparently aren't getting the timing right on the whole conception thing and keep missing the "window." I was hoping reading on how to track the whole thing might make me think I can actually do something to lend a hand to having junior during our expected time frame.

So I get to finish my finals this week and then read about how to track my ovulation - oh boy biology. Sounds like oodles of fun!

The Joys of PCS

Ahhh PCS season, the time of year when you lose your hair, learn new swear words in another language and get that general feeling of sadness, angst and elation of moving some where else.

Monday: Call the husband on the drive home – “Honey I think we have a problem.” “Oh?” he says. “Yes dear, well ummm the lemon’s engine sounds like I’ve taken a pair of your combat boots and thrown them into the washer.” “Crap, are you sure?” he asks. “Well not to be a smart arse but yes I’m pretty frickin’ sure. You drive this damn thing to work tomorrow okay?” “Yeah okay, no wait I’ll get a rental and then I will junk the lemon tomorrow. A new engine will cost us more than the car is actually worth.” Now we are in a rental car with 58 days left in the country.

Tuesday: Up until midnight finishing a paper. The rental car mess the day before kept me away from the PC Monday night

Wednesday: Spent the day going from place to place setting up our PCS. Can’t set up a date to ship our car until we physically have our car and register it, then we can call them to take care of the appointment. Will have to pay extra for bubble wrap on our schrank if we don’t want it tore up, they only get reimbursed up to a certain amount and we would have to shell out the rest. Flying home will be in cattle car, with a layover in DFW. First class or business tickets were $4K EACH. Non-stop flights to SFO in economy were $3.5K each. Needless to say our thought of our last “hurray” and flying home on first class went out the window. Oh and can’t find a wine shipper so we may have to have a wine party soon and send everyone home with a bottle! Then there’s Simon who says he can’t find out car. Yes, that’s right they don’t know where it is at the moment. We have to come back today (Friday) and see if they have found it. We are telling him if we don’t own it by the 22nd, he can keep it. I asked if we could also tell him to shove it but I am not allowed.

Thursday: I sprained something in my back carrying employee personnel files that were too heavy.

Friday: Alas, we are not pregnant this month either. Will try again this time around.

And I haven’t been around because why? Have a good weekend, I am drinking some of our wine to thin the herd!

The Dream Police...

I try to sleep, they're wide awake, they won't leave me alone.
They don't get paid to take vacations, or let me alone.
They spy on me, I try to hide, they won't let me alone.
They persecute me, they're the judge and jury all in one.
'Cause they're waiting for me. They're looking for me.
Ev'ry single night they're driving me insane.
Those men inside my brain.
The dream police, they live inside of my head.
The dream police, they come to me in my bed.
The dream police, they're coming to arrest me.
--CHEAP TRICK--

Not only will blogging be light but reading too from this point forward until we hit the states. I've already got a big brother but apparently I now have two.

Someone Borrowed

Let me tell you about a new book written by a Military Spouse here in Germany. Its called Someone Borrowed. Here's a little excerpt from her book:

Melody pressed the mare harder, urged her beyond her limits without daring to look back. She knew he was there, close behind now. She heard the thunder of his approach, sensed him reaching out to grab her.
Melody veered sharply.

The mare turned a fetlock and screamed as she buckled, throwing her rider. The ground rushed to meet the woman who landed in a painful heap, gasping for air. Her husband reined his mount, leaped from the saddle. Melody tried to crawl, tried to scurry away. He was on her.

“Why?” he raged as his hands dug into her shoulders. He shook her, oblivious to her struggle. She pulled and pulled on air but it wouldn’t come, and her husband shook her, railed at her.

“Why? Why did you do it?” He slammed her into the ground and didn’t notice the terrain until it was too late. The mare’s cries muffled the sickening crack of bone on stone. She was limp in his arms.

After years as his prisoner, at last Melody was free. (Reproduced by permission, Copyright Terri Long 2006)

The book is a bit like a soap opera and per the author it contains some adult material. It's only 9 bucks and some change. So why don't you give it a try and support a budding author & Military Spouse.

Who do I work for?

This is just too close to home (click image)....




Sorry I messed with it for a while and couldn't get it any larger before having to acutally work. Squinting never hurt anyone really, I promise.