Being on a Plane Heading to the Bay of Pigs Was Frightening

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Military news…

Turns out, the reason the Army fired its head of Installation Management in 2019 had nothing to do with Army housing being plagued by mold and insects.

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An investigation into an Air Force colonel found that he failed to promote a culture of safety and failed to maintain a healthy command climate, according to leaked investigation results.

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For the first time in nearly 15 years, Marines can have “sleeve tattoos” that cover most of their arms and legs under the latest revisions to the Marine Corps.

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If you’re going to jump out of a plane, you might as well do it with the best of the best. Woman shares about her experience jumping with the Golden Knights, the Army’s performance parachute team.

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An Air Force lieutenant general warned airmen to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after she contracted a ‘breakthrough’ case of the virus herself.

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The Marine Corps is investigating how several artillery projectiles at Camp Pendleton wound up closer to the barracks than a live-fire range.

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Another excerpt from the upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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Sitting on a Military Plane Ready to Fly to the Bay of Pigs

I know of some of the fears you face or have faced as a soldier. I have had my share of scary times while in uniform for my country.

I had put in three years of active duty, and was very near to my discharge date while at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. As a matter of fact the discharge date was just days away.

It seemed like a normal day of “putting in your time,” but then there came a sound that I never want to hear again. It was the intercom in our section of the company I was stationed with saying, “This is an alert.” This is not a drill, all personnel report to headquarters for a briefing right away.”

I couldn’t think of why there would be any problems that serious happening, and still thought it was a drill as I ran towards the headquarters building.

When we all assembled, the commander went to the podium and spoke.

“I am here to inform you that all leaves and weekend passes are concealed. We have received a message from the commanding General of the Army to stand by for a possible mission to the Bay of Pigs. This is a very serious mission, which will put you in combat and in harm’s way. Our unit is being deployed, to help monitor the security of the communications while there. We will serve in the field headquarters of the mission. You have about two hours to go home to pack your full field clothes and equipment. Dismissed!”

That was it. No more explanations or chances to ask questions.

I drove home quickly, packed all my gear in a duffel bag.

I got back to the headquarters, and it looked like pandemonium and chaos had sat in, with soldiers running everywhere.  

A few minutes later everyone had made it there and we were all in formation. The commander then told us to come to attention.

We all headed to buses that were waiting to take us to the military airport on base. When we got there, we unloaded and marched to the area of several planes. They had us board the planes with full gear and field uniforms on. The pilot came on to tell us that we will be in a combat area when we land at the Bay of Pigs.

I sat down in my area, and was holding my weapon (M-1 rifle) between my legs. I was numb with fear and anxiety. I had never thought I would actually be in a conflict where I could die.

The plane started its engines. The plane shook as the engines roared to get up to the speed they needed to get off the ground. It taxied to the runway and stopped.

Then we waited for the pilot to push the throttle. We sat there for what seemed like hours. I could see the fear, in the eyes in the soldiers around me. I was only about twenty years old then, and began to see my life unfold before me. I had thoughts of not coming back. I had thoughts of my loved ones I would never see again.

The plane was shaking from the vibrations of the motors. I said a prayer because it looked like we were going to take off. The plane was moving. However, it was not going done the runway. It was heading back to the area where we boarded.

The pilot came on the intercom and said that the mission had been aborted, and we were going back to our companies.

I felt such relief along with men and women around me who were yelling for joy. We were safe and heading back to our homes.

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I only shared this story because I know some of you have gone through the same thing. You also have been sent into combat, and faced the fear of not coming back. I was very lucky, but many of you actually left the ground in your plane, and headed into harm’s way.

Fear is something that is hard to control. Even the most-brave face it. We all have been there in some capacity.

It could be the doctor’s appointment that has information on your health. It also could be the times when you have to leave your loved ones for any mission. It may be the crises of your marriage when your spouse is tired of going through the pain of wondering if you will come back alive.

Did you know that Jesus faced fear? He even asked God to take away the fear by relieving Him of the cup of the responsibility God had placed on Him. He sweated blood during that prayer. God heard the prayer, but let Jesus go through the fear, pain and agony of going to the cross and dying for you and me. 

I am not making it sound like we shouldn’t be afraid. I know we are quite often. I am not saying you are a bad person if you are afraid of something. We all have our spots where we fear the unknown.

I think that is the key. It is the “unknown.” It’s not knowing what will happen next.

What I have learned from so many times of facing fear that 99% of what we fear never happens. We just need to give the other 01% over to God.

Is it that simple? I can honestly tell you that it is. God has big shoulders. He wants to take the burdens of our day away from us. We just need to depend on Him to keep His promises and know that He will never put us in a situation that we can’t handle with His help.

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There are many other chapters in this book. It will be full of my time in the military, plus reaching out to help soldiers with PTSD, TBI, war wounds, and much more.

Keep coming back to see more excerpts. Better yet! Go to the top of this page and click on “subscribe.” When you do all future posts will directly to your inbox. Do it now, and you will also receive up to date news from the military.

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Bed check… How are you doing today? Too many dark storms coming your way? Having a hard time sleeping?

FEAR NOT!!

There are over 13,290 fellow veterans subscribed to this site who have your back.

If you are just too overwhelmed, GET HELP!

Here is a toll free number to call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255..texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

Deployment Can Be Very Hard on the Military Family

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Military news…

They finally released Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller from prison. However, he may still face a court marshell. He told the truth, and questioned the nation’s top military leaders about how we withdrew from Afghanistan. He shouldn’t be charged for telling the truth.

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One-hundred percent of the soldiers who served under Brig. Gen. Amy Johnston, the recently-suspended Army Chief of Public Affairs, said she created a hostile work environment.

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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was recently guarded by an all-woman team of three sentinels for the first time in history.

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The Navy and Marine Corps are testing out a new rifle scope that allows users to lock onto a target and bring it down, even if the target is a very small drone.

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The Space Force is making changes to its service dress pants after people made fun of them for being too baggy.

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I told you in my last post that I would start sharing excerpts again. My excerpt on Monday was very successful in that 24 new people subscribed to this site.

Here is my excerpt for today:

Deployment Can Be Very Hard on the Military Family

As parents get deployed in the military, there is a void created. The children a left without a mother or father to have for love and guidance. So, remember, it can be very hard on the children as well.

As for boys in the family there is a need for a father figure to help show them the way. A father can help them acquire knowledge and confidence they need.

There is a time when they need to seek out their father for attention. There is a need for someone to play catch with; to wrestle with.

I didn’t have a dad that came home each night to give me a hug and share my day with. My parents were divorced when I was about six years old.

My mother called me her “little one,” when I was very young.

However, I needed a dad to say, “Hi Ace, or How’s it going to today champ?” I never heard that. It was like my dad was deployed somewhere else, but he was never coming back.

My mother was my only comfort zone. She had to be the one that showed interest in me. She was the only one who could support me when I needed it. She was my protector, but I needed someone to show me the excitement outside the realm of our home. My mom worked long hours and was very tired when she came home each day.

My mother did teach me toughness. She allowed me to play with toy guns, beebe guns, and let me play with GI Joe figures. She did this becasue three of her brothers fought in WW 2.

I didn’t have a dad to go fishing with. That was probably the most glaring thing thing missing in my childhood. I loved to fish, but I didn’t have the proper skills to know how to do it. My uncle Paul taught me how to fish, but he was a farmer and didn’t have the freedom to go with during the summer months because that was the busiest time for him. So I grew up fishing by myself. I needed a dad to get excited with me as I pulled in a fish.

Today, I go fishing with my two sons often, and there is a special bonding there.

Daughters need their father or mother to be there for them as well. Sometimes it is the mother who is deployed, and the father becomes “Mr. Mom.”

He needs to find ways to give his daughter the love she needs without mom around. He needs to join her is fantasy tea parties. He needs to allow her to paint his finernails a special color. She may even want to give dad a perm.

No one expects a mother or father to be perfect in a military home, but you should do what ever you can to keep the family united and happy.

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There is more to this chapter, and you will be able to read the rest of it if you aquire the upcomg book, Signs of hope for the military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

I will share more excerpts in the future. Come back so you won’t miss them. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

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Bed check… How are you days going? Some good, some not so good? Do you fear sleeping at night?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 13,160 fellow veterans on this site who have your back.

If the nights are just too scary for you, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number to call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

____________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

____________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

If You Feel Overwhelmed From Your Service to Your Country, Get Help!

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

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Military news…

China is building missile silos left and right, and it has the new Air Force secretary on edge. Former Army officer Frank Kendall warned that the new silos indicate China is developing a “first strike” nuclear weapons capability, which represents a major “destabilizing move,” Kendall warned.

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There is a massive 2000-year-old gold treasure missing in Afghanistan and the Taliban is trying to find it. In fact, it’s one of the largest collections of gold in the world, and until recently its existence was known by only a select few.

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A married Army officer who allegedly spent years creating an elaborate web of lies to deceive women has been fired following an investigation. Lt. Col. Richard Kane Mansir, a civil affairs officer based in Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, had a “playbook” of lies he he told women, one of them said.

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Army Lt. Richard Collins III had just been commissioned as an intelligence officer when he was killed in an apparent hate crime. Now his parents are trying desperately to have him buried in Arlington National Cemetery. But it is an uphill struggle, and all because of a loophole in Army policy.

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You wouldn’t think that a big, lumbering C-17 cargo jet could pull off a hair-raising aerial stunt, but one such aircraft just did in Australia. A video posted to Reddit shows a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 flying between skyscrapers in a stunt which looks cool but is incredibly dangerous, according to one U.S. Air Force pilot.

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I have been sharing the table of contents from, Signs of Hope for the Military: in and Out of the Trenches of Life. So here is some more chapter titles:

Ft. Bragg

Sitting on the Military Plane

We were all sitting on a plane ready to fly to the Bay of Pigs.

White Lightening

My first experience with homemade booze

Scars Only Show where you Have Been, Not Where You Are Going

It is hard for service men and women to come home after the scars they acquired while on duty.

No Reinforcements Coming

There are times when we feel we are fighting our battles alone

F.E.A.R.

Forget everything and run, or Face everything and rise

People Don’t Understand Me

What can we do for those who have PTSD in their Marriage?

Deployment Can be Hard on a family

Leaving a spouse behind to take care of everything can be very hard.

Marriage is Not a Four Letter Word

There is no “perfect marriage,” just two imperfect people who refuse to give up.

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In my next post on Wednesday, I will share the rest of the chapters in my upcoming book, Signs of hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

Be sure to come back and check them out. BETTER YET!!

Go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

____________________________________

How are you doing? is the world spinning too fast for you? Are the nights fearful.

FEAR NOT!!

There are over 13,025 fellow veterans on this site who have your back.

If you are dizzy still, GET HELP!

Here is a toll free number to call 24/7. They have highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until the know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…Texting 838255.

______________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

______________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know .