V3.06-21-09

MILSPEAK MEMO
V3.06-21-09
FATHER’S DAY

One thing about being a seasoned gentleman is you spend a lot of time looking back and remembering the “good old days.” I reckon everyone has their own definition as to what exactly the “good old days” are, but I can tell you for me it was when I was in my late 20s, right after my two sons were born.

For the record, I served nearly 24 years in the United States Marines Corps starting at the rank of private and retiring at the rank of Major. They call Marines like me, “Mustangers,” which essentially means I was prior enlisted before getting commissioned as an officer.

Way back when I was a young Lance Corporal I served my time in Viet Nam and over the next several decades held many challenging assignments, including the last one in the Persian Gulf during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm when I was a Major.

It would take me several chapters of writing to detail each of the assignments I had and the related problems I faced and rewards I received which made my career a wonderful experience. For those of you who also served, this is nothing new – you likely had similar experiences and know exactly what I’m talking about.

But again, for me, there is something else in my life that has challenged me even more than any of my assignments as a Marine or as an Officer of Marines and has also provided me with even greater rewards and satisfaction. The experience I am now talking about is that of being a father.

Everyone who has ever served in America’s military knows that separation from family is part of the deal. I remember the first deployment I went on just after my first son was born – I had already experienced saying goodbye to my wife before we had our son and that alone was not the easiest thing to do. But this time after kissing her for the last time I now looked into the eyes of my son and whispered to him that I needed to leave. This is when I suddenly felt a pain that I had never experienced before. My son was just a baby when this happened, so he really had no concept as to what was actually going on, but I sure did.

Years later when my two sons were older these separations never got any easier. But on the other hand, the homecomings were magnificent. When I retired in 1991, my family and I looked back over our career in the Marine Corps and my wife and two sons told me how proud they were of my service and of all the medals, ribbons, badges and accolades I had received over my 24 years.

I too can certainly say that I am proud of what I accomplished and felt deeply honored and privileged to lead some of America’s finest young men and women as an Officer of Marines. But there was also something else that made me even more proud – my two sons.

Over the years I had grown to cherish and love one particular day every year that had nothing to do with being a Marine. It had everything to do with being a father – the most challenging and important assignment any man will ever take on.

Today is Father’s Day 2009. Both of my sons are now grown men with families of their own, but early this morning I heard the telephone ring at two different times – one was from my son Jake – the other from son, Mitch. Their message was the same, however, and it put a big smile on my face – “Happy Father’s Day, Dad.”

--HARRY P. PARMER AKA “MUSTANG”

FIRST COMBAT CONVOY
once a marine, always a marine -
but what happens when your son returns from war?
memoir by david charles

THE SADSACK, UNDRAWN
humor by vlad, milspeak memo contributing compiler

THE USS NEW YORK
HERE SHE IS, BUILT FROM 24 TONS OF WORLD TRADE CENTER STEEL

HORSEPLAY
ever wonder what the guys do during those long, lonely days away?
memoir by george nehls

A NEW MILITARY NOVEL FROM ROBERT CLARK YOUNG

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PIRATE
okay, it’s a video and pirate’s in it.

PLUS
ARMY MONKEY

END OF POST