thedrifter
03-17-08, 06:38 AM
Neighborhood supports parents of Ukiah Marine deployed to Iraq
By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal
Article Last Updated: 03/16/2008 12:33:25 PM PDT
When Sgt. Dustin Madole returns from his first deployment in Iraq with the Marines, there will be a yellow ribbon waiting for him, in fact, there will be several.
After they heard Dustin was being deployed on Monday, his parents, Carolyn and Don Madole, tied a yellow ribbon around the oak tree in their front yard. Within a few days, close to a dozen people in the neighborhood had done the same.
Dustin was sent to a base in Ireland on March 10 and from there to Kuwait, where he will spend three days before being flown to the base he will be deployed to, north of Baghdad.
"He can't tell us any more than that," Don said.
Dustin is 24 and in his seventh year of service with the Marines; he joined on an early entry program in 2001 out of Ukiah High School, where he played football all four years.
Don said the military is always where Dustin wanted to make his life.
"He's going to make a career out of it," he said.
"That's his life," Carolyn agreed. "All those Marines are his brothers."
A picture of Dustin in his Marine uniform, shortly after graduating from boot camp, greets visitors as they enter the Madole home on Alicante Lane.
"They all look so intense," Carolyn said.
The Madoles are both incredibly proud of their son.
"He was ready to go," Carolyn said. "9/11 had already happened when he joined."
Carolyn said she tried to encourage Dustin to pick another branch to serve in, such as the Air Force or the Navy, but Dustin was adamant.
"He said he wanted to be a Marine," Carolyn said. "They're the best."
Dustin is a small arms expert, and Don said his son will be sleeping in the armory and taking care of the base's weapons.
"He's a gunsmith, is what he is," Don said.
"He's not going out there and kicking in doors," Carolyn said.
"But he would," Don said.
"We have a lot of faith that he will come back safe," Carolyn said.
Dustin is not the first member of his family to join the armed forces or to serve in a war. Don was a diver for the Navy during the war in Vietnam.
"I told him to always be aware of his surroundings," Don said.
Don said he hoped displays of patriotism like the yellow ribbons that wave in the light breeze on his block mean that soldiers returning from Iraq will be treated better than returning Vietnam veterans, some of whom were spit on by protesters.
"I don't ever want to see that again," he said. "These young men and women are part of us."
Until they return home, that yellow ribbon will keep flying.
Ben Brown can be reached at udjbb@pacific.net.
Ellie
By BEN BROWN The Daily Journal
Article Last Updated: 03/16/2008 12:33:25 PM PDT
When Sgt. Dustin Madole returns from his first deployment in Iraq with the Marines, there will be a yellow ribbon waiting for him, in fact, there will be several.
After they heard Dustin was being deployed on Monday, his parents, Carolyn and Don Madole, tied a yellow ribbon around the oak tree in their front yard. Within a few days, close to a dozen people in the neighborhood had done the same.
Dustin was sent to a base in Ireland on March 10 and from there to Kuwait, where he will spend three days before being flown to the base he will be deployed to, north of Baghdad.
"He can't tell us any more than that," Don said.
Dustin is 24 and in his seventh year of service with the Marines; he joined on an early entry program in 2001 out of Ukiah High School, where he played football all four years.
Don said the military is always where Dustin wanted to make his life.
"He's going to make a career out of it," he said.
"That's his life," Carolyn agreed. "All those Marines are his brothers."
A picture of Dustin in his Marine uniform, shortly after graduating from boot camp, greets visitors as they enter the Madole home on Alicante Lane.
"They all look so intense," Carolyn said.
The Madoles are both incredibly proud of their son.
"He was ready to go," Carolyn said. "9/11 had already happened when he joined."
Carolyn said she tried to encourage Dustin to pick another branch to serve in, such as the Air Force or the Navy, but Dustin was adamant.
"He said he wanted to be a Marine," Carolyn said. "They're the best."
Dustin is a small arms expert, and Don said his son will be sleeping in the armory and taking care of the base's weapons.
"He's a gunsmith, is what he is," Don said.
"He's not going out there and kicking in doors," Carolyn said.
"But he would," Don said.
"We have a lot of faith that he will come back safe," Carolyn said.
Dustin is not the first member of his family to join the armed forces or to serve in a war. Don was a diver for the Navy during the war in Vietnam.
"I told him to always be aware of his surroundings," Don said.
Don said he hoped displays of patriotism like the yellow ribbons that wave in the light breeze on his block mean that soldiers returning from Iraq will be treated better than returning Vietnam veterans, some of whom were spit on by protesters.
"I don't ever want to see that again," he said. "These young men and women are part of us."
Until they return home, that yellow ribbon will keep flying.
Ben Brown can be reached at udjbb@pacific.net.
Ellie