thedrifter
11-23-07, 08:54 AM
Marine family united
Thanksgiving dinner marks son's return from Iraq tour
By Bethania Palma and Brian Day, Staff Writers
ROWLAND HEIGHTS - Thanksgiving Day gave the Brinkmans much to be thankful for.
The entire family was all together for the first time since Brandon, a 21-year-old Marine, shipped out to Iraq in April.
In the next few months, Brandon's sister, Danielle, 19, and also a Marine, will leave for her first tour of duty in Iraq.
"It's going to be one heck of a Thanksgiving," said mother Anita Brinkman. "This is going to be real special for all of us to be together again. It's going to be a real blessing."
Brandon Brinkman returned home Wednesday night, but may be going back for a second tour, he said.
"If we go, we go," he said. "If we don't, we don't."
Anita said she could hardly contain her joy when she saw her son's bus pull into the Marine base at Twentynine Palms about 8:30 p.m.
"It's the greatest gift a mom could have," said Anita Brinkman, "to have her two kids home on Thanksgiving."
Because the Marines' father, Keith, is a nine-year L.A. County firefighter, the family celebrated with the crew of fire station 145 on South Nogales Street.
"Thanksgiving is so much fun at the fire house," Anita said. "Just having everyone together is the best
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experience."
The firefighters spent the day preparing three turkeys with all the fixings for their families, periodically stopping to respond to emergency calls. The crew had responded to three such calls before the meal was ready, family members said.
Anita Brinkman said both children grew up in Rowland Heights, graduated from Rowland High, and followed their father's footsteps into the U.S. Marine Corps.
"I'm very proud of them," said Keith Brinkman, a Desert Storm veteran. "They made the choices (to join) on their own.
"It's great to see them learn how to serve. It gives a lot of depth to life, especially when you help other people from other countries, and (Brandon) has been right in the middle of that."
Being a Marine, "has always been something I just kind of wanted to do," said Brandon Brinkman. His sister agreed, and both siblings said their father's military service inspired them in large part to join the Marines.
"Who knew our son and daughter were going to follow him all the way there?" their mother said.
The Brinkmans and the other firefighter's families sat down for Thanksgiving dinner hoping the fire house alarm bell would not call their loved ones away to an emergency.
"Even if it does," Anita Brinkman said, "it's OK, because they'll be back, and we'll be here."
Ellie
Thanksgiving dinner marks son's return from Iraq tour
By Bethania Palma and Brian Day, Staff Writers
ROWLAND HEIGHTS - Thanksgiving Day gave the Brinkmans much to be thankful for.
The entire family was all together for the first time since Brandon, a 21-year-old Marine, shipped out to Iraq in April.
In the next few months, Brandon's sister, Danielle, 19, and also a Marine, will leave for her first tour of duty in Iraq.
"It's going to be one heck of a Thanksgiving," said mother Anita Brinkman. "This is going to be real special for all of us to be together again. It's going to be a real blessing."
Brandon Brinkman returned home Wednesday night, but may be going back for a second tour, he said.
"If we go, we go," he said. "If we don't, we don't."
Anita said she could hardly contain her joy when she saw her son's bus pull into the Marine base at Twentynine Palms about 8:30 p.m.
"It's the greatest gift a mom could have," said Anita Brinkman, "to have her two kids home on Thanksgiving."
Because the Marines' father, Keith, is a nine-year L.A. County firefighter, the family celebrated with the crew of fire station 145 on South Nogales Street.
"Thanksgiving is so much fun at the fire house," Anita said. "Just having everyone together is the best
Advertisement
experience."
The firefighters spent the day preparing three turkeys with all the fixings for their families, periodically stopping to respond to emergency calls. The crew had responded to three such calls before the meal was ready, family members said.
Anita Brinkman said both children grew up in Rowland Heights, graduated from Rowland High, and followed their father's footsteps into the U.S. Marine Corps.
"I'm very proud of them," said Keith Brinkman, a Desert Storm veteran. "They made the choices (to join) on their own.
"It's great to see them learn how to serve. It gives a lot of depth to life, especially when you help other people from other countries, and (Brandon) has been right in the middle of that."
Being a Marine, "has always been something I just kind of wanted to do," said Brandon Brinkman. His sister agreed, and both siblings said their father's military service inspired them in large part to join the Marines.
"Who knew our son and daughter were going to follow him all the way there?" their mother said.
The Brinkmans and the other firefighter's families sat down for Thanksgiving dinner hoping the fire house alarm bell would not call their loved ones away to an emergency.
"Even if it does," Anita Brinkman said, "it's OK, because they'll be back, and we'll be here."
Ellie