thedrifter
04-04-07, 12:35 PM
To Tarpley from Iraq
The Bandera Bulletin, TX
From a million miles from home to the middle of nowhere
By James Taylor - Staff Writer
Generally speaking, Iraq is not a pretty place right now. The continuing War on Terror has American troops on extended stay in the Middle East, and life abroad just can't compare to the comforts of home.
It was these comforts that brought Marines-on-leave Steven Springer and Jamie Sparks from the Al Anbar Province of Iraq to the quiet hillsides of Tarpley, Texas.
The wonders of the Internet and e-mail brought Steve and Jamie in contact with Mark Grubbs of the 7 Canyons Ranch in Tarpley, a world-renowned hunting locale. Grubbs offered the two a no-cost visit to the ranch to say "thanks" for their service and to show his family's support for American troops placed overseas.
"Mr. Grubbs offered us a hunting trip, and we were looking to do something when we got back, so we took him up on it," Steve told the Bulletin on Sunday before driving back to California.
Steven and Jamie were in Iraq at the time, but have occasional access to e-mail. They are both in the same unit, Marine Air Support Squadron 3, and they are roommates. The pair met and became brothers in the Armed Forces. In their unit, they handle air support control, talking with anything flying over their zone in Iraq.
"It's easy to make friends in the military," Steve said. "It's all you've got; you have no family out there, so all you've got is your brothers."
The two Marines spent six days at the ranch hunting deer and hog, and relaxing. While Steve is on a four weeks leave, Jamie has only been on leave long enough to make the drive from Camp Pendleton, Calif., (their home base) enjoy Tarpley, and head back west for training and redeployment.
"Tarpley is absolutely amazing," Jamie said. "This is my first time in Texas, so Steve being from here, he showed me around as best he could. It's absolutely gorgeous here; I think I fell in love."
Jamie hails from Indianapolis, Ind., and joined the military in 2003 after a patriotic upbringing. Steve, a native Texan from Argyle, wanted to "take a break from college" in 1998 and joined the Marines then. Both have bachelor's degrees thanks to their service time, Steve in Agriculture through A&M and Jamie in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue.
Steaks and crawfish were two of the Marines' favorite things about their visit to Tarpley.
"You miss home a lot more when you're over there," Steve said. "You don't know what you're missing until you're away from it. We had great steaks and crawfish; the ranch put on a big crawfish boil for us."
Naylene Dillingham-Stolzer of Mac and Ernie's gourmet restaurant of Tarpley served up the grub for the pair's visit. Both Steve, 30, and Jamie, 27, said that family, and the hospitality of people at home, were the things they missed the most.
To show their appreciation, the two Marines presented Grubbs and his family a flag that flew over Camp Ar Ramadi near Fallujah, Iraq, a city that made headlines last year during some of the most violent clashes of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During their downtime in Iraq, both are vigorous readers; Steve likes Texas Monthly, and Jamie enjoys car and truck magazines. His pet project is a '78 Ford Pick-up that he is dropping a brand new Cummins turbo diesel into.
As has been true for many years of American military deployment overseas, the best way to help make life easier for these soldiers abroad is to show support and send care packages.
"The best thing for us is just to show your support," Steve said. "Remember that people are still over there; bottom line, right or wrong, our boys are still over there."
Care packages, letters from home, and other reminders of the good life back in The States makes the days a little easier on the desert-weary soldiers.
"Mail is a big thing; you check every day to see if you've got mail," Jamie said. "No matter how big or small, it makes a big difference."
Many local organizations arrange care package drives for deployed soldiers; contact your local church, lodge, fraternal organization, or VFW post for more information.
Ellie
The Bandera Bulletin, TX
From a million miles from home to the middle of nowhere
By James Taylor - Staff Writer
Generally speaking, Iraq is not a pretty place right now. The continuing War on Terror has American troops on extended stay in the Middle East, and life abroad just can't compare to the comforts of home.
It was these comforts that brought Marines-on-leave Steven Springer and Jamie Sparks from the Al Anbar Province of Iraq to the quiet hillsides of Tarpley, Texas.
The wonders of the Internet and e-mail brought Steve and Jamie in contact with Mark Grubbs of the 7 Canyons Ranch in Tarpley, a world-renowned hunting locale. Grubbs offered the two a no-cost visit to the ranch to say "thanks" for their service and to show his family's support for American troops placed overseas.
"Mr. Grubbs offered us a hunting trip, and we were looking to do something when we got back, so we took him up on it," Steve told the Bulletin on Sunday before driving back to California.
Steven and Jamie were in Iraq at the time, but have occasional access to e-mail. They are both in the same unit, Marine Air Support Squadron 3, and they are roommates. The pair met and became brothers in the Armed Forces. In their unit, they handle air support control, talking with anything flying over their zone in Iraq.
"It's easy to make friends in the military," Steve said. "It's all you've got; you have no family out there, so all you've got is your brothers."
The two Marines spent six days at the ranch hunting deer and hog, and relaxing. While Steve is on a four weeks leave, Jamie has only been on leave long enough to make the drive from Camp Pendleton, Calif., (their home base) enjoy Tarpley, and head back west for training and redeployment.
"Tarpley is absolutely amazing," Jamie said. "This is my first time in Texas, so Steve being from here, he showed me around as best he could. It's absolutely gorgeous here; I think I fell in love."
Jamie hails from Indianapolis, Ind., and joined the military in 2003 after a patriotic upbringing. Steve, a native Texan from Argyle, wanted to "take a break from college" in 1998 and joined the Marines then. Both have bachelor's degrees thanks to their service time, Steve in Agriculture through A&M and Jamie in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue.
Steaks and crawfish were two of the Marines' favorite things about their visit to Tarpley.
"You miss home a lot more when you're over there," Steve said. "You don't know what you're missing until you're away from it. We had great steaks and crawfish; the ranch put on a big crawfish boil for us."
Naylene Dillingham-Stolzer of Mac and Ernie's gourmet restaurant of Tarpley served up the grub for the pair's visit. Both Steve, 30, and Jamie, 27, said that family, and the hospitality of people at home, were the things they missed the most.
To show their appreciation, the two Marines presented Grubbs and his family a flag that flew over Camp Ar Ramadi near Fallujah, Iraq, a city that made headlines last year during some of the most violent clashes of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During their downtime in Iraq, both are vigorous readers; Steve likes Texas Monthly, and Jamie enjoys car and truck magazines. His pet project is a '78 Ford Pick-up that he is dropping a brand new Cummins turbo diesel into.
As has been true for many years of American military deployment overseas, the best way to help make life easier for these soldiers abroad is to show support and send care packages.
"The best thing for us is just to show your support," Steve said. "Remember that people are still over there; bottom line, right or wrong, our boys are still over there."
Care packages, letters from home, and other reminders of the good life back in The States makes the days a little easier on the desert-weary soldiers.
"Mail is a big thing; you check every day to see if you've got mail," Jamie said. "No matter how big or small, it makes a big difference."
Many local organizations arrange care package drives for deployed soldiers; contact your local church, lodge, fraternal organization, or VFW post for more information.
Ellie