What I am doing now? Well, That Changes Daily ~I am now the State of Indiana Women Veteran's Program Director~ I work for the Government! HA!
**Update** I am missin my Marine Family!!! I am now in remission, and have recently gotten a promotion! I now work for the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs as a State Service Officer & assisting the Director.... It is definitely amazing! I am very blessed to have the opportunity to do what I do. I am a disabled veteran, 80% service-connected as of right now. While on active duty in North Carolina, I broke both feet and my right pelvic bone ~ And was in a wheel chair for 18 1/2 mos. I am now walking, with cane assistance, but feel so very blessed to be home. There is not a morning I wake up that I dont wish I was back in the Corps. Giving to Veterans now, were I could no longer give in the Corps, is the ultimate for me! For me to have the chance to be a Marine and do what I had the opportunity to do, it took those Marines before me to set that path a blaze.... And to you all I am forever thankful. A 'Thank You' would never be enough... Semper Fi
VIETNAM : SGT Robert Davison of Muskegon, Michigan joined the marines at age 14 and died in Vietnam December 17th, 1966 at age 18. The last American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was Kelton Rena Turner, an 18-year old Marine. He was killed in action on May 15, 1975, two weeks after the evacuation of Saigon, in what became known as the Mayaguez incident. The youngest Vietnam KIA is believed to be Dan Bullock USMC, at 15 years old. DAN BULLOCK is honored on Panel 23W, Row 96 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. At least 5 men killed in Vietnam were 16 years old. At least 12 men killed in Vietnam were 17 years old.FATHER AND SON: Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr. was killed June 08, 1956 his son Richard B. Fitzgibbon III was KIA September 07, 1965. Leo Hester Sr. Died March 10, 1967 in a aircraft crash his son Leo Hester Jr. was KIA November 02, 1969 also in a aircraft crash.
The Marines of Morenci
They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home. Robert Dale Draper, 19, was killed in an ambush. Stan King, 21, was killed less than a week after reaching Vietnam. Alfred Van Whitmer, 21, was killed while on patrol. Larry J. West, 19 was shot near Quang Nam. Jose Moncayo, 22, was part of an entire platoon wiped out. Clive Garcia, 22, was killed by a booby trap while leading a patrol. FOREVER REMEMBERED
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MCL Detachment; Wortman-Lowe Enduring Freedom Detachment #1263 Morristown, In.UPDATE: Thank you to all for your kind words of encouragement. I am definitely staying strong!! The Doc's have said that they have caught the cancer early... so I am hanging in there!! Thank you all for prayers and thoughts! Semper Fi!
What is a veteran? A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of - "up to, and including my life."That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.~Author unknown.The following Information I have found on TheWall-USA.Com. Here are a list of Marines on the Vietnam Buddie SystemSteven E. Amescua and Anthony J. Blevins joined the Marine Corp on the buddy plan. Steven was KIA May 15, 1968 and Anthony was KIA August 23, 1968.
John A. Jensen and Charles D. Turnbough were buddies who graduated from high school together and joined the Marines together. John was KIA August 27, 1967 and Charles was KIA three days later on August 30, 1967.
The picture below is the link to TheWall-USA.com!!!!
"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you....and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.....Be not ashamed to say you loved them.... Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own....And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind...." Quote from a letter home by Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell KIA 24 March 1970. Distinguished Flying Cross: Shot down and Killed while attempting to rescue 8 fellow soldiers surrounded by attacking enemy forces. We Nam Brothers pause to give a backward glance, and post this remembrance to you , one of the gentle heroes and patriots lost to the War in Vietnam: Slip off that pack. Set it down by the crooked trail. Drop your steel pot alongside. Shed those magazine-ladened bandoliers away from your sweat-soaked shirt. Lay that silent weapon down and step out of the heat. Feel the soothing cool breeze right down to your soul ... and rest forever in the shade of our love, brother. Thank you Marines for your Sacrifice and Valor. God Bless you all, I love you like brothers and sisters, and know you all are constantly in thoughts and prayers. Semper Fidelis, Ashley A. Roberts State Service Officer Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs 302 W. Washington Street; RM E120 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2738 O: 317/232-3921 asroberts@dva.in.gov
At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that Black Granite Wall. Now, everyday and night, my Brothers and my Sisters wait to see the many people from places afar file in front of this Wall. Many stopping briefly and many for hours and some that come on a regular basis. It was hard at first, not that it's gotten any easier, but it seems that many of the attitudes towards that war that we were involved in have changed. I can only pray that the ones on the other side have learned something and more Walls as this one, needn't be built.
Several members of my unit and many that I did not recognize have called me to the Wall by touching my name that is engraved upon it. The tears aren't necessary but are hard even for me to hold back. Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers. This was my destiny as it is yours, to be on that side of the Wall. Touch the Wall, my Brothers, so that we can share in the memories that we had. I have learned to put the bad memories aside and remember only the pleasant times that we had together. Tell our other Brothers out there to come and visit me, not to say Good Bye but to say Hello and be together again, even for a short time and to ease that pain of loss that we all share.
Today, an irresistible and loving call comes from the Wall. As I approach I can see an elderly lady and as I get closer I recognize her.......It's Momma! As much as I have looked forward to this day, I have also regretted it because I didn't know what reaction I would have.
Next to her, I suddenly see my wife and immediately think how hard it must of been for her to come to this place and my mind floods with the pleasant memories of 30 years past. There's a young man in a military uniform standing with his arm around her......My God!......It's has to be my son. Look at him trying to be the man without a tear in his eye. I yearn to tell him how proud I am, seeing him standing tall, straight and proud in his uniform.
Momma comes closer and touches the Wall and I feel the soft and gentle touch I had not felt in so many years. Dad has crossed to this side of the Wall and through our touch, I try to convey to her that Dad is doing fine and is no longer suffering or feeling pain. I see my wife's courage building as she sees Momma touch the Wall and she approaches and lays her hand on my waiting hand. All the emotions, feelings and memories of three decades past flash between our touch and I tell her that it's all right.
Carry on with your life and don't worry about me......I can see as I look into her eyes that she hears and understands me and a big burden has been lifted from her.
I watch as they lay flowers and other memories of my past. My lucky charm that was taken from me and sent to her by my CO, a tattered and worn teddy bear that I can barely remember having as I grew up as a child and several medals that I had earned and were presented to my wife. One of them is the Combat Infantry Badge that I am very proud of and I notice that my son is also wearing this medal. I had earned mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had probably earned his in the deserts of Iraq.
I can tell that they are preparing to leave and I try to take a mental picture of them together, because I don't know when I will see them again. I wouldn't blame them if they were not to return and can only thank them that I was not forgotten. My wife and Momma near the Wall for one final touch and so many years of indecision, fear and sorrow are let go. As they turn to leave I feel my tears that had not flowed for so many years, form as if dew drops on the other side of the Wall.
They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulder. My son suddenly stops and slowly returns. He stand straight and proud in front of me and snaps a salute. Something makes him move to the Wall and he puts his hand upon the Wall and touches my tears that had formed on the face of the Wall and I can tell that he senses my presence there and the pride and the love that I have for him. He falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes and I try my best to reassure him that it's all right and the tears do not make him any less of a man. As he moves back wiping the tears from his eyes, he silently mouths, God Bless you, Dad...... God Bless, YOU, Son......We WILL meet someday but in the meanwhile, go on your way......There is no hurry.......There is no hurry at all.
As I see them walk off in the distance, I yell out to THEM and EVERYONE there today, as loud as I can,.........THANKS FOR REMEMBERING and as others on this side of the Wall join in, I notice that the US Flag that so proudly flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and standing proudly straight out in the wind today.
.... THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING ....
.... Written by: APVNV Pat (Beanie) Camunes D/4/31 196th Lt. Inf. Bde Tay Ninh 12/66-4/67 - Tam Ky 4/67-12/67 ....
**Update** I am missin my Marine Family!!! I am now in remission, and have recently gotten a promotion! I now work for the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs as a State Service Officer & assisting the Director.... It is definitely amazing! 
For me to have the chance to be a Marine and do what I had the opportunity to do, it took those Marines before me to set that path a blaze.... And to you all I am forever thankful. A 'Thank You' would never be enough... Semper Fi 
At least 5 men killed in Vietnam were 16 years old. At least 12 men killed in Vietnam were 17 years old. FATHER AND SON: Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr. was killed June 08, 1956 his son Richard B. Fitzgibbon III was KIA September 07, 1965. Leo Hester Sr. Died March 10, 1967 in a aircraft crash his son Leo Hester Jr. was KIA November 02, 1969 also in a aircraft crash. 
The following Information I have found on TheWall-USA.Com. Here are a list of Marines on the Vietnam Buddie System Steven E. Amescua and Anthony J. Blevins joined the Marine Corp on the buddy plan. Steven was KIA May 15, 1968 and Anthony was KIA August 23, 1968. 
Thank you Marines for your Sacrifice and Valor. God Bless you all, I love you like brothers and sisters, and know you all are constantly in thoughts and prayers. Semper Fidelis, Ashley A. Roberts State Service Officer Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs 302 W. Washington Street; RM E120 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2738 O: 317/232-3921 asroberts@dva.in.gov 
