Tag: Ways to Survive

Posted on

Being Deployed to the Bay of Pigs

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. The response has been wonderful .  We just past 2,870 new subscribers. That is a huge increase in one year. We only had 1,000 a year ago. Our goal for 2015, is to make it to 4,000.

Help us continue to grow by subscribing today if you haven’t already. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that.

____________________________________________________________

We are listening! I asked you to subscribe if you like having posts about the military, and the response was very clear. The subscription rate doubled this week from the previous week. That is telling us you want more posts about the military, so they will keep coming, plus updates on the book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.”

____________________________________________________________________

+ Here is the latest update on the progress of the book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.”

July 9, 2015

The main body of the book is about finished. I am now working on the appendix, and putting the Table of Contents in order. This means that it is getting very close to being complete.

Last week, I sent out three mini proposals to two publishers and an agent. The proposals will be read and given back to me on August 11th (My birthday BTW..)at a writer’s conference. They may like what they see and meet with me at that time.

Hopefully this book will reach out to the many military people currently serving their country, and the millions of those who are now veterans.

It really doesn’t matter what country you are from. Much of what is being written pertains to any country.

I have added the following sections to the book to cover most everything that a military person may face:

  • PTSD
  • Deployment
  • Domestic violence
  • The spouses left behind
  • Death in the families
  • Basic training problems
  • Foreign assignment stories
  • Loneliness, fear, anxiety, depression, doubt, and the many other usual suspects
  • Personal thoughts
  • More

_______________________________________________________________

I have a son that is retired from the Army. He was a Colonel. He had two tours in Iraq being commander of a field hospital. (Nothing like MASH!)

He doesn’t like to share too much about his time in the service. Some of it is too painful to share. Do you have experiences to share? Were there times when you faced fear? Did you have moments of depression, or anxiety. I sure did when I was in the military.

My time of fear came when I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. It was the end of my duty time for the military. I only had days left before I was to be discharged.

Just when I thought that all I had to do was put in my time, the intercom came to life saying, “All soldiers report to headquarters immediately. This is not a drill.”

I had heard this before, and they have all been drills, but he said this wasn’t a drill. I ran as fast as I could to headquarters, and got into formation. The commanding officer walked up to the mike and said, “The commanding general of the Army has notified me that we are to get ready to be deployed to the Bay of Pigs. This will put you in harms way. Get your gear fast and report back here.”

What? I only have a few days left and I am being deployed into a war zone? I packed quickly and reported back.

They loaded us into buses and took us to the base airport. They then marched us to several planes and started loading us into them. We were in full combat gear.

I sat on the plane with my M-1 rifle between my legs. Those legs were shacking. I looked at the other men, and they too looked very concerned.

Then the plane engines started to roar. The plane started moving to the take-off area.

I began to think about home, and that I may not make it back home if I am going into combat.

The engines got louder like they were ready to take off. Then the plane turned around and headed back to the departure spot. The pilot came on and said, “The mission has been aborted, we are going back to unload you!”

You could see the relief on the men’s faces, and some even began shouting for joy. We came a breath away to being in a war, and on the front lines.

This really happened and is a chapter in the book, “Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of”Life.”

I will have more stories about the military. So keep coming back to find out what is going on.

To make sure you know when there is a new post about the military, subscribe to this blog by clicking on the icon right after the title. You will then be notified each time there is a new post.

__________________________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

 

 

Posted on

A Bitter Defeat Brought Out the Best in Them

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. The response has been wonderful .  We just past 2,730 new subscribers. That is a huge increase in one year. We only had 1,000 a year ago. Our goal for 2015, is to make it to 4,000.

Help us continue to grow by subscribing today if you haven’t already. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that.

____________________________________________________________

I am happy to announce that I have another guest blogger tonight. He is from Australia. His name is Dennis Booth, and his country is remembering a defeat they had 100 years ago. This is a story you must read, because it honors those who gave up their lives for their country just like many soldiers have in many other countries. Please subscribe if you like having Military guests share their stories here at my author site. Just click on the icon right after the title to do that.

____________________________________________________________________

 

On Saturday, April 25, Australia and New Zealand will remember a military defeat that has turned into a commemoration of what is known as the Anzac Spirit….Anzac standing for the Australians and New Zealand service personnel who fought at a place called Gallipoli.

And this is no ordinary remembrance day….it will be 100 years since that time when troops took to the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey and were mown down by gunfire as they stormed the beaches.

They did manage to make some ground up the reaches of the often steep hills but the fact is they had in the end to retreat after pitched battles leaving behind many dead and taking home many wounded.

And so was borne out of WW1 and in particular Gallipoli the Anzac Day march which remembers those who have returned from armed conflict in wars fought since WW1.

For years it was a march of soldiers, sailors, airmen and women who did their part in the wars…and also for the children of those who had perished but proudly wore their relatives’ service medals.

But in the last 10 years in particular there has been a tremendous upsurge of appreciation for what our forefathers in Australia and New Zealand have done for both countries in their respective uniforms.

So much so that the shores of Gallipoli once despised by  many as being a killing field is now the meeting place for a dawn service on Anzac Day attended by thousands and where Turkey proudly stands with the Anzacs to remember this terrible time.

The site of so many young people who now journey to this place and sit in the cold proudly wearing medals in many cases and sobbing as they hear the speeches is watched on national television by the rest of Australia and New Zealand.

And of course on this same day in Australia and New Zealand dawn services are held everywhere and now attract huge crowds cheering yesterday’s service personnel for their sacrifice they undertook to defend our countries and for those who never returned.

It has shown beyond doubt that there is a fierce patriotism alive in Australia and its close ally New Zealand and shows that in a time when the world is concerned about terrorism that it would be grave to misjudge countries who are not at war and may appear to be “soft”

Faith is the substance of things hoped for but not seen…..but one might also say that hope is the substance of things that come from having faith and having faith in one’s country and its people is the greatest faith characteristic of all.

Posted on

Semper Fi- Always Faithful

Thanks to all of you who have been joining us here. The response has been wonderful .  We just past 2,725 new subscribers. That is a huge increase in one year. We only had 1,000 a year ago. Our goal for 2015, is to make it to 4,000.

Help us continue to grow by subscribing today if you haven’t already. Just click on the icon right after the title of this post to do that.

________________________________________________________________________________

I have been working very hard on my new book, “Signs of Hope: For the Military. I feel that it will help many soldiers and their families. The appendix for this book will have one of the most complete lists available for finding help in any area a person may be searching for pertaining to the military.

Be looking for updates on the book and other news at this site, or at http://www.dailysignsofhope.com.

____________________________________________________________________

I am very excited to let you know that I have a guest blogger for today’s post. Her name is Lynn Mosher. She is a regular guest blogger on my blog, www.dailysignsofhope.com. Her post is for this coming Sunday on the other site, but I couldn’t wait to share it here. Her post is about the military and is very timely. Thank you Lynn for your support for the military.

________________________________________________________________

Semper Fi – Always Faithful

Recognize the slogan? I’m sure you do. It belongs to the Marines. Semper Fidelis. Though usually heard in the shortened form, Semper Fi. As they say, they are The Few. The Proud.

All military branches are heroes to me. I love them all. The men and women that serve our country, risking their lives for ours, stand tall in my eyes.

But the Marines. There is something a little different about them.

Other military services offer a career but the Marine Corps offers a new life, as they say. And their lives are expected to be exemplary. The Marines’ site says, “Marines are held to the highest standards, ethically and morally. Respect for others is essential. Marines are expected to act responsibly in a manner befitting the title they’ve earned.”

They are on duty 24/7, every day of the year, on base or off base, in uniform or out if it and are to act with decorum, defined as dignified propriety in behavior, speech, and dress.

Their dress regulations say, “Marines may well be associated and identified with the Marine Corps even when not wearing a uniform. Therefore when civilian clothing is worn, Marines will ensure that their dress and personal appearance are conservative and commensurate with the high standards traditionally associated with the Marine Corps. No eccentricities of dress will be permitted.”

Even their uniform, the dress blues, projects a special image.

Their watchwords are loyalty, honor, courage, and commitment. Semper Fi, as one site says, voices “loyalty and commitment to their Marine comrades-in-arms.” Therefore, in combat, Marines never leave a wounded comrade behind.

Officers.marines.com says, “Semper Fidelis means Marines are “Always Faithful” to the country, the Marine Corps, and each other. Our nation entrusts us with its young men and women and we respond with an unbreakable commitment, in combat and in life.”

So, what does ‘faithful’ mean? The dictionaries say that it means…

* loyal, constant
* reliable, trusted
* full of faith, believing
* consistent with truth or actuality
* steadfast in affection or allegiance
* true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original
* showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility
* a faithful worker, true to one’s word, promises, vows, etc.
* adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, faith, cause, duty, or idea
So, are we, as Christians, as faithful as the Marines? Do we thump out chests with our fists and say, “Semper Fi” to our Christian comrades-in-arms?

Are we…

* loyal
* reliable
* devoted
* constant
* steadfast
* consistent
* responsible
* true to our word?

Are we faithful in our…

* work
* wealth
* witness
* worship
* wedding vows?

Are we faithful to our heavenly country, being quality citizens? Are we faithful to each other? Are we faithful in our behavior, speech, and dress, 24/7? Do we keep the highest standards, ethically and morally?

Are we committed to our Christian comrades-in-arms? Do we have an attitude of unbreakable commitment, in combat and in life, so that we do not leave our wounded brothers and sisters behind when they are in a battle? Are we courageous and disciplined warriors in our efforts to fight off the enemy?

Do we long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matt. 25:21 NKJV)

So, are you…the few? The proud? Always faithful? Semper fi!

From His feet, Lynn

lynnmosher.com