Heading for Iraq

Just wanted to ask all of my fellow bp-netters to say a little extra prayer for my son who is heading off to Iraq at midnight tonight, 3-22-06. This is my youngest son and second son in the military but the first to head off to a hostile land. Also keep all of our other military personel in your prayers.
I really thought I was prepared for this day, but as the night wares on I realize the shock is only begining to set in. I am a mess right now but sure that I will make it through this time. Heck, you might even want to say an extra one for me.
This is the best picture I have of him in his uniform when he was here on leave last month with his God Mother.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC01124.JPG

And this is his niece sending off a salute to her Uncle Bubba.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...UncleBubba.JPG

If any one is interested in sending him a card, letter or whatever...his address will be while in Camp Fallujah:

Lcpl Phillips, Brandon M.
2D AABN Mnt Plt
Unit 73580
FPO AE 09509-3580

Thanks,

Carl

I can't imagine how you must feel now.. but I will offer my prayers for you and your family.

..and that is one CUTE little girl!

Stay strong. You and your family will be in my prayers. :hug:

I would be interested in sending something, is there anything in particular that he likes or enjoys.

Carl, our prayers are certainly with you, your family and your sons who serve this country so proudly, most especially Brandon as he faces this duty overseas.

I noticed the Marine Corps behind the lovely young girl and remembered something I'd read once that Ronald Regan said....

"Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem."

I know my children sleep safe in their beds tonight because of the men (and women) who serve as Brandon is doing to ensure that safety....god bless him and keep him safe always.

/wolf whistle!
What a handsome looking young man!

Sending my prayers for his safe tour...and please do tell us of anything special we can send. =)

Thank you for sharing your precious children to help protect our great nation. =) /biiiiig huuuuuug

Carl :hug: My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family while Brandon is on Iraq that he will be safe as he fights with the other brave young men and women of our country to protect this great nation of ours! You should be very proud of him.


I too am interested in sending something special in a care package to him while he's there.

It's quite interesting that his name is Brandon. My boyfriend is Karl and his son is also named Brandon. He's also considering joining the military himself (he's 20).

Wishing him the best of luck... :grouphug:

best of luck and safe return.

Thanks everyone for your support.

As far as anthing special he likes. he is partial to Oatmeal creme pies, Beef jerkey, Jalapeno Cruncher chips and Muscle (car) magazines, especially ones dealing with the Nova. He has a 69 Nova that he is going to restore when he get's back. Any health and hygiene items are allways needed. He will be spending his 21st birthday (Aug 31st) over in Iraq so Birthday cards also would be nice. Just a note: it takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks for letters and packages to travel from the states to its final destination in Iraq.

Again, thanks to all for your support.

brandon will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers as he spends time in iraq. you must be so proud of him--what a wonderful service he is doing for his country. perhaps when it gets closer to his birthday you could give us a little reminder so we can get cards in the mail to him? :sunny:

My heart and prayers are with you and will be with your son until his safe return.
I will include him in the prayers I say everyday for all the brave men and women all over the world.

Semper Fi

May the Lord protect him
and keep him.


Jody

Well God be with your son while he is over there and bring him safely home to our shores when he is done.Haven't had to go thru the waiting and worring for a child over there yet hopefully that war is over by the time there old enough but shure enough there will be another one when they are old enough to serve if they choose to. However I did spend six months in sadui after they blew up kovar towers and its amazing how soon being there for you turns into just anohter day at the office know my parents went thru the worring and waiting back then dont know if it will make it any easier while he's away but anytime you feel you need to or want to talk about it you can look me up here or give me a drop me a pm and i can give you our # if you need or feel like talking about it.

I will keep him in my thoughts man. I wish him a speedy and safe return back home!

Your son and your family are in my prayers. And whether we agree with the reasons behind the war or not, we can't help but feel regret at how young our fighting men seem to be when they leave, nor help but feel a deep swell of pride at the men they have become.


Semper Fi

--Judy

I echo many of the wishes already extended - may it be as brief and safe as possible and you see him home again soon!

Just a short update...

Recieved a call from Brandon after he landed in Kuwait. All is well so far. He said he really dislikes all the sand blowing in his face. Didnt think I would hear from him again for a long while but recieved another phone call from him two days later after he arrived in Iraq at Camp Fallujah, again telling me that all was well and that they had met no resistance on the way in and the sand was still a problem. If that is the only problem he faces while there, I shall be a very happy pappy.
Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers.

Carl

I support the troops, not the decision...:handshake
Your family is in our prayers...

The worst of conditions is still to come -

April - When it rains the sand will root everything in place
May thru Aug - Oh geeez was that hot..
Sept - Still hot with temp drops at night:).

I wish for a safe and speedy return home. Keep us posted as time permits.

Thoughts and prayers to your family and all the others. I myself am not to far out from asking for some myself, June starts the progressive training and sometime in August I should find myself in Iraq with my Guard unit on a SecFor mission.


He will do you proud and he will do his best and then some...no matter what branch we are all trained by the best.

Very best of luck and hopefully a safe trip back home!!

I dont know you or your son, but am an american living in ireland. I grew up in a military family and so know what it is like on that side of things. I will send your son a few things from Ireland and mabye some homemade oatmeal raisen cookies for him. I will also do something else, I know it takes up to 6 weeks for something to get to him from the usa BUT i AM CLOSER IN DISTANCE AND CAN PROBABLY GET THINGS TO HIM IN HALF THE TIME IF THAT IS A HELP FOR YOU. oops sorry for the caps. If that can be of any help to you in getting info to him or him to you please let me know and I will do my very best.

God bless,
Beauty the BP

What a lovely offer Beauty! Best send a lot of cookies though LOL...I bet Brandon will have to share with his buddies.


Heath our thoughts and prayers are with you, your wife and kids as you approach your overseas service. Keep your head down buddy and get back safe home okay.

Carl, please keep us updated on Brandon and as always he's in our thoughts and prayers daily. I cannot know how you feel right now but having two sons of my own I can only look at them and wonder if the world will one day need their bravery and service. I pray not.

Thanks for the offer Beauty I will keep you in mind if needed. Everyone else thanks for the thoughts and prayers.
Heath, your in my thoughts and prayers also.
Jo, I told Brandon that when his packages come along to make sure that he distributes some out to his buddies, which he said he would more than gladly do.
A good friend of mine sent a family heirloom pin of an angel to him. Told him to keep it with him until the day he leaves and then he is to hand it off to another service member that is coming in and for them to do the same when they leave and so on. Thought that was such a neat idea.
Recieved a call from Brandon yesterday, and this morning at 1:30am (hate the time difference) bored silly he said. I told him much better bored than being shot at. He is a chaperone (sp) right now for an Iraq translator. He wants to be working on the tracks but has this duty for now.
Will update more when more comes in.....

Carl

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ironhead

bored silly he said. I told him much better bored than being shot at.

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Amen to that Carl! I will keep him in my thoughts and please keep us posted!

Your baby will be in my heart and prayers. -Hug.- I'll be sending my best friend out within the year...

!0 dozen cookies ok? I bake in mass when I get to doing it. He will be in my prayers and I will light a candle everyday at my local church until I hear of his safe return. I hope they have enough in stock.......lol I will do what ever I can to help you if you need me to get news to him fast. It is all I can do and I truely hope it is enough.

I live by A few sayings in life. Smile at everyone as they cant help but smile back, and to always treat a person as I would wish to be treated ( it goes for animals as well) Respect and kindness can go a long way. It even spreads like wild fire if allowed to.

Regards,
Beauty the BP

Just wanted to let you all know that I received a call from Brandon today. He sounded pretty good other than that the young Iraqi translator (19) that he was escorting around base was killed in a roadside bomb yesterday. 3 Marines were injured in this blast also, one seriously. He also said that some mortars hit a building just three buildings down from where he works. No one was injured in this blast.
He received his care package from Cassandra and appreciates it very much. Thank you Cassandra.
Again, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Carl

I'm a new guy and just got through this thread. I'm delighted to hear that Brandon is doing well...guys like your soon give me goose bumps, they are Americas true heroes. God Bless Him, your family, and all the others doing time for our country.

Gaaah, I'm glad to hear Brandon wasn't near those incidents. =P But that's awesome my goodies made it there! More coming soon! :D

I am a fairly new member to the boards as well, and just found this post. As a U.S Marine that just recently spent 2 tours in Afghanistan, I would like to let every know of another great thing that the troops like to receive in care packages. CALLING CARDS! Ironhead, good luck to your family and son. I know he will return home safe, because he is surrounded by the best protectors he could have, Fellow Marines.

I work offshore, and will not be home for another week and a half, but let Brandon know that when I get home, I will be putting a Calling Card in the mail for him.

Semper Fidelis,
SGT Timothy Bailey, USMC

I must say i know exactly how you feel. i am the second oldest, of four, and the only child in the military. i have been deployed four times over the past four years. and the worst was when i was in saudi arabia during the last war, it was also my first time. my mom was going out of her mind, emailing me all the time to make sure that i was safe. but we both got thru it just fine. just when he calls make sure you tell him how much you love him and how much you miss him, it may not seem like it but it means more that you can ever imagine.


i wish gods blessings on the both of you, and i will pray for the both of you that you both make it thru happy and healthy.

Jason

Thanks Tim, Jason and Carcassfan.

Tim, I sent Brandon your message about the calling card via MOTOmail. That would help alot seeing that old pops here keeps adding time to his rechargable calling card. I dont know where he finds the time to make all the calls he does, but he does it. Not home sick one bit...lol

Again thanks to all....

Carl

Just thought I'd give a short up-date since it has been better than a month since the last one, not to mention he called 5 times yesterday because he had heard through a different phone call that our area had been hit by 2 tornado's. No damage here, but some small damage just 10 miles North West of us. Now....

He has been busy lately with lot's of Duty. He cut the end off of a finger while working on a track and had to have it sewed back on, so since he is unable to do his job efficently they have assigned him lot's of Duty...He hates it but thats the military for ya. He wanted me to say hey to all my ball-pythons family and a big thank you to the ones that have sent him cards and packages. He appreciates it very much.

Carl

Thanks for the updated Carl! I hope his finger heals up soon...yeoch...=P

Carl, Has Brandon received my package and letter? I sent it on 1st may.


It contained, 2 dozen oatmeal rasin cookies and a batch of devil fudge brownies. Socks (Every guy can never have enough socks), A guardian angel lapel pin blessed by my local bishop, and an embroidered four leaf clover done by my own hand. Just a bit of the irish luck.

I hope he enjoyed them.

Beauty the BP

Just wanted to give a little update and share a photo that was sent to me. Brandon is doing well and half way through his deployment in Iraq. He met up with his cousin, Gunny Chris Jourdan. They are both stationed at the same camp in Fallujah and have made plans to meet once a week and have chow together. It sure boosted his morale to have his cousin so close. Enjoy!

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ubandChris.jpg

Thx soooooo much for the update. Our prayers (and thanks) are with all of those in our armed forces.


I was thinking of your son the other day and was hoping he was was still safe and well. Glad to hear he is! :salute:


R.

Hi, I don't post much in here, but I saw this and felt I needed to. I'm a Nam Vet and fully support our troops overseas. Wish him well for me:salute:


Quig

glad to hear he is still doing well. is his finger all healed up now?

I'm glad he had some family close. I know that has to be a major comfort for him as well as you. You and your family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

:salute:

Wow, i apologise for it taking me so long to see this thread. I hope your son is doing good over there and that's awesome about being so close to his cousin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ironhead

As far as anthing special he likes. he is partial to Oatmeal creme pies, Beef jerkey, Jalapeno Cruncher chips and Muscle (car) magazines, especially ones dealing with the Nova. He has a 69 Nova that he is going to restore when he get's back. Any health and hygiene items are allways needed. He will be spending his 21st birthday (Aug 31st) over in Iraq so Birthday cards also would be nice. Just a note: it takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks for letters and packages to travel from the states to its final destination in Iraq.

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Whoa, this came up fast! Just a reminder for everyone wanted to send Brandon a b-day card and/or goodies in time for his birthday, it's time for us to start thinking about what you want to send so its not late! Address is on the first post in this thread.

Thanks for the posting the recent picture (which I just somehow saw =P)!

Just wanted to bump this thread since a couple of you wanted me to remind you of his birthday coming up.

Talked to him this morning after a week out on patrol. All he really said about it was that 2 mortars hitting within 100 meters of where he was "Kicked @$$" Im glad he found this to be so cool.....old man is sitting back here soiling his pants...lol

Thanks to all that have sent him letters or packages.

Hi,


Will he be stationed there during the winter time? We have some sports type gloves we sell on e-bay that are windproof/waterproof. If you think he could use these (we have sent several to troops stationed there), I would be happy to send a couple pairs (along with some goodies). If so, let me know what glove size (M, L, XL).

Tell him to keep his head down and come home safe. I for one am grateful for what he (and others) are doing there.

Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aaajohnson

Hi,


Will he be stationed there during the winter time? We have some sports type gloves we sell on e-bay that are windproof/waterproof. If you think he could use these (we have sent several to troops stationed there), I would be happy to send a couple pairs (along with some goodies). If so, let me know what glove size (M, L, XL).

Tell him to keep his head down and come home safe. I for one am grateful for what he (and others) are doing there.

Neil

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He will be heading back home in October so Im guessing he will be missing the winter months there. Thank's for the support.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ironhead

Just wanted to ask all of my fellow bp-netters to say a little extra prayer for my son who is heading off to Iraq at midnight tonight, 3-22-06. This is my youngest son and second son in the military but the first to head off to a hostile land. Also keep all of our other military personel in your prayers.
I really thought I was prepared for this day, but as the night wares on I realize the shock is only begining to set in. I am a mess right now but sure that I will make it through this time. Heck, you might even want to say an extra one for me.
This is the best picture I have of him in his uniform when he was here on leave last month with his God Mother.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/DSC01124.JPG

And this is his niece sending off a salute to her Uncle Bubba.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...UncleBubba.JPG

If any one is interested in sending him a card, letter or whatever...his address will be while in Camp Fallujah:

Lcpl Phillips, Brandon M.
2D AABN Mnt Plt
Unit 73580
FPO AE 09509-3580

Thanks,

Carl

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OOHHH Raaaaaa M.O.M (mother of a marine)

:banana:

The Unitied State Marine Corp! When it absolutley possitivley has to be
Destroyed over night.

We are a corp green family here. My little bro just returned form there. My prayers and hopes go out to you and your family. I know the fear of the no calls for days seeing thing on the news. Hearing a Marine Bat. has gone down and trying to see if it guy fo your unit or your sons. Just remember that no news is good news and the familys are notified before the media.

We had a big scare when Ben got hit with a mortor round, put him in the M.B for 2 weeks. They have to tell you when these things happen. My mom freaked when the black car with the marine logo pulled up out front.

Chin up and God bless.



Every person that steps foot on us soil or calls their home America owes !!!!everything!!!! they enjoy to the blood and the familys of the brave.

Just wanted to give a little update.....

My boy leaves Iraq tomorrow night, Oct 8th, and heads off to Kuwait. He is expected back into the states on the 11th of this month. I am flying down to N.C. (Camp Lejeune) on the 19th and we are driving back to Illinois on the 20th. He was going to drive himself up here but was worried that he would get lost..So I guess he will just have to get lost with me, at least it will be quality time fun..

It will be so nice to have him back on American soil and home for a while.

Thanks to all for your support!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ironhead

Just wanted to give a little update.....

My boy leaves Iraq tomorrow night, Oct 8th, and heads off to Kuwait. He is expected back into the states on the 11th of this month. I am flying down to N.C. (Camp Lejeune) on the 19th and we are driving back to Illinois on the 20th. He was going to drive himself up here but was worried that he would get lost..So I guess he will just have to get lost with me, at least it will be quality time fun..

It will be so nice to have him back on American soil and home for a while.

Thanks to all for your support!

---

So VERY glad to hear his time there is almost over and drawing to a safe conclusion. A HUGE salute to him and all our soldiers, sailors, and airmen who put their lives on the line in so many different ways to keep our country safe! :salute:

Good to hear! Hopefully they won't be sending him back over there anytime soon.

One of my good friends has done two tours in Iraq as a marine, and hopfeully he won't have to go back before he's out of the service.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ironhead

Just wanted to give a little update.....

My boy leaves Iraq tomorrow night, Oct 8th, and heads off to Kuwait. He is expected back into the states on the 11th of this month. I am flying down to N.C. (Camp Lejeune) on the 19th and we are driving back to Illinois on the 20th. He was going to drive himself up here but was worried that he would get lost..So I guess he will just have to get lost with me, at least it will be quality time fun..

It will be so nice to have him back on American soil and home for a while.

Thanks to all for your support!

---

Thats great news!! Tell him Thank You from a fellow Illinois member :salute: :salute: :salute: .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ironhead

Just wanted to give a little update.....

My boy leaves Iraq tomorrow night, Oct 8th, and heads off to Kuwait. He is expected back into the states on the 11th of this month. I am flying down to N.C. (Camp Lejeune) on the 19th and we are driving back to Illinois on the 20th. He was going to drive himself up here but was worried that he would get lost..So I guess he will just have to get lost with me, at least it will be quality time fun..

It will be so nice to have him back on American soil and home for a while.

Thanks to all for your support!

---

Hey that's great news Carl! I'm glad for you and yours! :salute: