A Fellow Dad - Robert Stokely

Long time friend of this blog, Gold Star Father and fellow blogger here and at Blackfive Robert Stokely sent me this email last night:

I had the privilege today to eat breakfast with a Retired Marine Veteran of Vietnam and other combat action. He moved to my area about two years ago. We share a bond neither wish we did - having both lost sons to the War on Terror. Some say the War on Terror began on 9/11. I look back and consider it started October 23, 1983 when a suicide truck bomber hit the Marine Barracks in Beirut Lebanon....

The father I met today lost his son in the suicide terrorist attack on the USS Cole October 12, 2000 as it was refueling in Aden Yemen. A few months ago I met a sister, now grown, but then age 8 when she lost her 20 year old brother in the Beirut Lebanon Marine Barracks bombing. In meeting her I thought of Mike's sister who was 13 when he was killed by an IED on August 16, 2005 near Yusufiyah Iraq in the Triangle of Death.

As I live life and grow older, I meet more and more who have lost sons and daughters who were brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and dads and moms. They were someone's grandchildren, nieces and nephews. And they were friends to many. Next time someone says freedom is not free, ask them if they know what the cost of freedom is? Freedom has many costs. If lucky, some come home with only time out of their lives away from family and the privileges we enjoy in our good life in America. Some come home from war so changed they can't adapt to what they left nor those they left adapt to them. Some come home maimed for life in body and often their mind as well for PTSD is a terrible battle to fight. But there are those who give a cost so high it can only be measured in love evidenced in grief.

Today I talked with this tough Marine Dad - a career Marine who has fought and bled himself, a Drill SGT to others. Yet today, 11 years later, he wept as we talked, for he and his son gave a Lifetime of Love, a truly high payment for Freedom that is not free. Then he shared with me how he went to GITMO to witness the trial of the AQ Thug whose heavy hand was in the USS COLE attack that took his son's life. This father may weep tears, but he remains unbowed.

I was humbled and in awe of this father.

Robert Stokely
Proud dad of SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG

Robert may be in awe of these fellow parents and family members of those who have given their last full measure of devotion to their country, but I am in awe of a man like Robert who can look upon others who have done as he has done and think that somehow he hasn't done anything special, a man whose only mission now is to remember the love and sacrifice of his oldest son.

Robert is right, the price of freedom is a heavy price, and many in this country and around the world are no longer willing to accept the payment that it entails. Many in this country are willing to dine at the table of freedom and then leave the bill to be paid by another, and still there are many who want to accept teh cost of their freedom but when the time comes shy away from being able to commit what is really needed.

Without people like Spc Ronnie Wildrick Jr., Sgt Mike Stokely, 1LT Robert Siedel and Captain John Dennison and the thousands of others who have given their life for this country, and the tens of thousands who have given parts of their body and mind, this country would have ceased to exist a long time ago.

We owe them and their families who continue to serve a debt of gratitude.

To Our Fallen Brothers and Sisters Who Gave Their Last Full Measure in Service to Our Country

It is 1500 hours....please join me in a moment of silence.

Memorial Day

Created a few short years after our own Civil War, we set aside this day to honor and celebrate the lives of those who died in service to our country.

I am not going to write what I think about Memorial Day, you all know my thoughts concerning the over commercialization of our lost brothers and sisters. Today I am only leaving you with the images of those that I honor this day.

Sgt Mike Stokely


1LT Robert Seidel III


Capt John Ryan Dennison

To our "Absent Companions" a toast! Rest easy on Fiddler's Green.

~~~

The Armorer has some thoughts you will want to read.
Jimbo at Blackfive speaks out!
Laughing Wolf also remembers his fallen comrades and family.
And even more at Blackfive from: McQ and Deebow.
Video at Chuck Z's place.
Cassandra remembers 15 Marines from 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.
Greyhawk in his usual fashion out does us all.

~~~

Please post a link to your Memorial Day post in the comments.

Some One Doesn't Like Me - The Saga Continues...

As I am wont to do, I regularly peruse my sitemeter stats to see how people find The Thunder Run. One of those links brought me to this page in honor of 1LT Robert Seidel III.

The funny thing about this page was that this morning it was titled: Iraq Occupation Veterans 1st Lt. Robert Seidel III. Don't believe me....just google Iraq Occupation Veterans and see what the top link is...I'll wait.

Pretty f*ing cool how that works....

So, since I was already pissed off about another matter I penned a little note to the contact info provided. Which was as follows:

To Whom It May Concern,

I want to thank you for honoring one of our fallen heroes but I have a question.

Why do you insist on titling the web page dedicated to him as Iraq Occupation Veterans. I do believe your bias is showing.

Please leave your politics out of it, you are an historical society not a politcal action committee.

Thank you

Yeah it was snarky...so sue me.

The "officers" reply...is even better....

As a former naval officer and someone who has bent over backwards to make sure
our veterans a remembers, I find your comments fucking insulting!

Who the fuck are you to tell me what my bias is!

Go to fucking hell you ass hole!

Yeah, certainly no gentleman there. But mission accomplished, the anti-military bent is gone!

If you want to read what I said about 1LT Robert Seidel III click here.


The saga continues.....

I couldn't leave it well enough alone and responded to my new friend the "former naval officer" or FNO for now.

As a former Army enlisted I do the same thing.
I ask a question and attribute it to a possible personal bias.
You respond by cursing me.
Nice.

FNO obviously couldn't leave it alone either and writes back...

On the contrary, you insulted me with "your bias is showing"
You assumed I had a bias ... As such, I assumed you were a typical inbred ignoramus for either the left or the right more concerned with political correctness then substance.
Had you been a gentleman, all you had to do was simply say "Hi: My name is... I'm not sure it you are aware, but it appears you have the wrong title too..."
Had you done that, then I wouldn't be typing this e-mail right now. I would have gladly fired it.
So next time you decide to enforce your personal idea of political correctness - think twice. You might find you'll get more people to work with you.

Yeah the ad hominem attacks always help you prove your point FNO. I surely hope you didn't learn that at Annapolis...

And am I supposed to believe that this exemplary example of modern etiquette would have been amenable to such a flatly worded statement such as: "Excuse me, but I'm not sure you are aware but your title of the web-page honoring 1LT Robert Seidel III seems to be in error." Color me skeptical but I somehow don't believe that for a minute.

So listen up FNO. If you had bothered to do your research you'd have found out that I am anything but an example of political correctness. Yeah I'm considered right-wing but that is only because I support our men and women in uniform and believe in their mission, support limited government and in all honesty I'm only a registered republican so I can vote in the primary elections in this screwed up state I live in.

You want me to believe that I am somehow the one at fault for pointing out that you choose to honor one of our fallen heroes by slapping on some leftist drivel at the top of the page and then want us to believe that for 3 years you didn’t know it was there? Please, I know I was born at night but it wasn't last night. Was my original email snarky? Yeah it sure as hell was, but having just spent the last 7 years listening to millions of ignorant American's who think that a return to Stalin would be a good thing, I think those of us who actually are doing something deserve to be a little snarky.

Do I think you have a bias...damn right I do! In point of fact I think you are one of those leftists MoveOn types that think dissent is patriotic but only when your guy isn't leading the show. Or are you one of those "Academic Elites" that somehow can't figure out the proper meaning of words, and regularly march in Washington holding signs that say: "End the occupation" and "We support our troops when they frag their Officers"? Our troops in Iraq are not an occupation force; if they were they still wouldn't be living in trailers and drinking water out of bottles. If they were we wouldn't have bothered with a SOFA (that's a Status of Forces Agreement just in case you were wondering Mr. Former Naval Officer) that severely limits our ability to maneuver and operate.

Yeah you support the troops alright, but I think you only support them when doing so helps further your beliefs.

I wonder, when 1LT Seidel was buried in Emmitsburg, were you in that line of Patriot Guard Riders or were you with those miscreants across the road holding up the signs: "God Hates Fags!"

I know where I was...and it wasn't with Phelps and his band of inbred ignoramuses.

"To Help Those Who Have Chosen Selfless Paths to Protect and Honor Our Country"

The brave men and women who continue to serve the United States in the War on Terrorism and who are now facing a changed life because of injuries received in the line of duty have additional support thanks to Bob and Sandy Seidel, who have once again turned to the Community Foundation to help others in the face of the devastating loss of their son, 1LT Robert A. Seidel III, who was killed in action in Iraq in May, 2006.

To honor Rob’s memory and the great respect and admiration he had for the troops serving their country, the Seidels have established The 1LT Rob Seidel Wounded Soldiers Fund to support charities that provide direct services to military veterans of the War on Terrorism. Such services may include medical treatment, housing assistance, psychological, physical, occupational, recreational, music, and art therapies, companionship, mentoring, employment training, and any other service that will help veterans of the War.

The number of wounded soldiers since the War began has surpassed 26,000, with many facing lifelong challenges that will require costly short-term and long-term assistance. Bob and Sandy Seidel wanted to help in a way that would honor their son’s memory and his commitment to the troops and his country.

“We were looking for another way to keep Rob’s legacy alive and to help those who have chosen selfless paths to protect and honor our country. This new Fund enables us to do so. Rob would be extremely proud that money is being raised to help wounded soldiers and their families.”

Those interested in helping the troops who proudly serve the United States in the War on Terrorism may send contributions to The 1LT Rob Seidel Wounded Soldiers Fund by making checks payable to:

Community Foundation of Frederick County
312 East Church Street
Frederick, MD 21701.

Simply insert the Fund’s name in the check’s memo line or click here to donate electronically.
All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.