Its been said build it and they will come.
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Its been said build it and they will come.
Sorry folks, hit the wrong button. As I was saying build it and they will come, and they did. couldn't tell you how many but there were cars parted in the cemetery across the street as usual but it was soon filled up, so they started parking cars on the side of the road of the memorial
and it to got filled so they started parking cars on the side of Rt.24
Like All Memorials it was short and to the point. Marines being there for Marines a lot us never new, still our Brothers, still Marines, and that may be what sets us apart from all the rest. Twenty Five years and we will
never forget, for they would not have forgotten us. may they Rest in peace.
Bruce
http://wallofhonor.bravehost.com
Mark(fontman), Chuck(Phantom Blooper) and myself were there...
I believe this was the largest turn-out since the beginning...
A little later there will be pixs placed in taken by Mark at the Beruit Memorial, and at Camp Geiger....
Marines mark 25th anniversary of Beirut bombing
By KEVIN MAURER, Associated Press Writer
2 hrs 40 mins ago
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – About 1,000 Marines and others at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina are honoring nearly 300 people who died when suicide bombers attacked a U.S. barracks in Beirut in 1983.
The bombing occurred while Marines were part of an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway told visitors in Thursday that none of the victims thought they would die on a mission for peace.
Almost 250 American serviceman — including 220 Marines — were killed when two truck bombs struck the Marine barracks. Another 60 Americans were injured.
The attack was the deadliest single-day death toll in Marine Corps history since the Battle of Iwo Jima. It was the deadliest single attack on Americans overseas since World War II.
God Bless!
Ellie
Ellie, Sorry I could not find you and Mark and Chuck, I walk around the place a few times looking for you guys, I met Chuck once a mouth or so ago, but alas I could not find you in the crowd. I was the guy with the Recon Marine hat and the red Marine jacket and a few patches on the
sleeves and a big Marine logo on the back....Oh, I forgot there was a couple of hurdred of them. My eyes don't let me see as well as I did with Macular Degeneration, as I told Chuck and were I met him, I work at Home Depot in the lot so if you happen to stop in look me up and say hello.
Bruce
Bruce
I'm sorry we missed You too....but I do remember a few red jackets around the hat I did miss...;)...Now I did see the sniper on top of the truck...:D
We did walk around ourselves and that is how we saw Chuck...
We did stand behind the seats where the Purple Heart Org. were seated, since we do know a few of the Marines...
Mark had the chance to talk a few minutes with Gen Gray since he was Admin Chief to SgtMaj Summer, and did see Gen Gray in his rounds...
It would be my pleaser to stop in Home Depot to say Hello to You Bruce...
Ellie
Pix from today's observances are located below:
http://fontman.smugmug.com/gallery/6...00031655_NNwKD
Good bless our Brothers ,May the Rest In Peace .
http://i2.tinypic.com/35dddnm.jpg
Its a dry assessment. Over 240 of our loved ones and Brothers came to meet God too early that day.Quote:
At around 6:20 a.m., a rainbow Mercedes-Benz truck drove to Beirut International Airport, where the 1st Battalion 8th Marines under the 2nd Marine Division had set up its local headquarters. The truck had been substituted for a hijacked water delivery truck. The truck turned onto an access road leading to the Marines' compound and circled a parking lot. The driver then accelerated and crashed through a barbed wire fence around the parking lot, passed between two sentry posts, crashed through a gate and drove into the lobby of the Marine headquarters. The Marine sentries at the gate were operating under rules of engagement which made it very difficult to respond quickly to the truck. By the time the two sentries had locked, loaded, and shouldered their weapons, the truck was already inside the building's entry way.
The suicide bomber detonated his explosives, which were equivalent to 5,400 kg (12,000 pounds) of TNT. The force of the explosion collapsed the four-story cinder-block building into rubble, crushing many inside. The blast was described by a U.S. federal district court judge as having been the largest deliberate non-nuclear blast ever.[dubious – discuss] According to Eric Hammel in his history of the Marine landing force, "The force of the explosion initially lifted the entire four-story structure, shearing the bases of the concrete support columns, each measuring fifteen feet in circumference and reinforced by numerous one and three quarter inch steel rods. The airborne building then fell in upon itself. A massive shock wave and ball of flaming gas was hurled in all directions." The explosive mechanism was a gas-enhanced device, probably consisting of bottled propane, butane, or acetylene, placed in proximity to a conventional explosive such as primacord, all of which are readily available on the retail market. Despite the lack of sophistication and ubiquity of its component parts, a gas-enhanced device can be a very lethal weapon. These devices are similar to fuel-air or thermobaric weapons, explaining the large blast and damage. Following the Beirut barracks tragedy, the realization that terrorist organizations have weapons of potentially enormous yield deliverable by an ordinary truck or van led to the placement of protective barriers (bollards) around critical government facilities throughout the United States.
About two minutes later, a similar attack occurred against the barracks of the French La 3ème Compagnie, 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (3rd Company of the 1st Parachute Infantry Regiment), 6 km away in the Ramlet al Baida area of West Beirut. Another suicide bomber drove his truck down a ramp into the 'Drakkar' building's underground parking garage and detonated his bomb, leveling the eight-story building and killing 58 French soldiers. Many of the soldiers had gathered on their balconies moments earlier to see what was happening at the airport.
Quote:
Its a dry assessment. Over 240 of our loved ones and Brothers came to meet God too early that day.
God’s Lent Child
“I’ll lend you for a little while
A child of mine,” God said
“for you to love the while he lives,
And mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years
Or forty two or three.
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you
And – (should his stay be brief) –
You’ll have his lovely memories
As a solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth returns;
But there are lessons taught below
I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the whole world over
In my search for teachers true
And from the things that crowd life’s lane
I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love?
Not think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take
This Lent Child back again?”
“I fancied that I heard them say –
“Dear Lord, Thy will be done
For all the joys Thy Child will bring
The risk of grief we’ll run.
We will shelter him with tenderness,
We’ll love him while we may
And for the happiness we’ve known
Forever grateful stay.
But should Thy angel call for him,
Much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.”
- Author Unknown :flag:<!-- /\ end html -->
Thanks Mark for the pictures of the memorial.May we never forget the ultimate sacrifice these men made.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...son/154908.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...aghlfstf-1.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/semperfi.gif
Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God."
Carlson, Randall A...USA...MAJ...09/25/1982
Reagan, David L...USMC...CPL...09/30/1982
Maxwell, Ben H...USA...SSGT...04/18/1983
McMaugh, Robert V...USMC...CPL...04/18/1983
Salazar, Mark E...USA...SSGT...04/18/1983
Twine, Richard...USA...SFC...04/18/1983
Losey,Donald George..USMC..2LT...08/29/1983
Ortega,Alexander M..USMC..SSGT...08/29/1983
Clark, Randy W...USMC...LCPL...09/06/1983
Valle, Pedro J...USMC...CPL...09/06/1983
Soifert, Alan H...USMC…SGT...10/14/1983
Ohler, Michael J...USMC...CAPT...10/16/1983
Abbott,Terry W..USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Alexander,Clemon S..USMC..LCPL...10/23/1983
Allman, John R...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Arnold,Moses J. Jr..USMC..CPL....10/23/1983
Bailey, Charles K...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Baker, Nicholas...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Banks, Johansen...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Barrett,Richard E..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Bates, Ronny K...USN...HM1...10/23/1983
Battle, David L...USMC...1stSGT…10/23/1983
Baynard, James R...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Beamon, Jesse W...USN...HN...10/23/1983
Belmer, Alvin...USMC...GYSGT…10/23/1983
Bland, Stephen...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Blankenship,Richard..USMC..SGT..10/23/1983
Blocker, John W...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Boccia,Joseph J. Jr..USMC..CAPT..10/23/1983
Bohannon, Leon Jr...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Bohnet,John R. Jr..USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Bonk, John J. Jr...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Boulos,Jeffrey L...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Bousum, David R...USMC… CPL....10/23/1983
Boyett, John N...USMC...1stLT…10/23/1983
Brown, Anthony...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Brown, David W...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Buchanan,Bobby S. Jr..USMC..LCPL.10/23/1983
Buckmaster,John B...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Burley, William F...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Cain, Jimmy R...USN...HN...10/23/1983
Callahan, Paul L...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Camara, Mecot E...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Campus, Bradley J...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Ceasar,Johnnie D...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Cole, Marc L...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Coleman, Marcus A...USA...SP4...10/23/1983
Comas, Juan M...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Conley, Robert A...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Cook, Charles D...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Cooper, Curtis J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Copeland,Johnny L..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Corcoran, Bert D...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Cosner, David L...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Coulman, Kevin P...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Croft, Brett A...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Crudale, Rick R...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Custard, Kevin P...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Cyzick,Russell E...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Davis, Andrew L...USMC...MAJ...10/23/1983
Decker, Sidney S...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Devlin, Michael J...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Dibenedetto,Thomas A..USMC..LCPL.10/23/1983
Dorsey,Nathaniel G..USMC...PVT...10/23/1983
Douglass,Frederick B.USMC.SGTMAJ.10/23/1983
Dunnigan,Timothy J..USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Earle, Bryan L...USN...HN...10/23/1983
Edwards, Roy L...USMC...MSGT...10/23/1983
Elliot,William D. Jr..USN..HM3...10/23/1983
Ellison, Jesse...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Estes, Danny R...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Estler, Sean F...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Faulk, James E...USN...HM3...10/23/1983
Fluegel,Richard A...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Forrester,Steven M..USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Foster,William B. Jr..USN..HM3...10/23/1983
Fulcher,Michael D...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Fuller,Benjamin E..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Fulton,Michael S...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Gaines, William Jr...USMC…CPL...10/23/1983
Gallagher,Sean R...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Gander, David B...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Gangur, George M...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Gann, Leland E...USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Garcia,Randall J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Garcia, Ronald J...USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Gay, David D...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Ghumm, Harold D...USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Gibbs, Warner Jr...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Giblin, Timothy R...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Gorchinski,Michael W..USN..ETC...10/23/1983
Gordon,Richard J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Gratton,Harold F...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Greaser, Robert B...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Green, Davin M...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Hairston,Thomas A...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Haltiwanger,Freddie Jr..USMC..SGT.10/23/1983
Hamilton,Virgil D...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Hanton, Gilbert...USMC… SGT...10/23/1983
Hart, William...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Haskell,Michael S...USMC...CAPT...10/23/1983
Hastings,Michael A...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Hein, Paul A...USMC...CAPT...10/23/1983
Held, Douglas E...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Helms, Mark A...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Henderson,Ferrandy D..USMC..LCPL.10/23/1983
Hernandez,Matilde Jr..USMC..MSGT..10/23/1983
Hester, Stanley G...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Hildreth,Donald W..USMC...GYSGT...10/23/1983
Holberton,Richard H..USMC..SSGT...10/23/1983
Holland, Robert S...USN...HM3...10/23/1983
Hollingshead,Bruce A..USMC..LCPL..10/23/1983
Holmes, Melvin D...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Howard, Bruce L...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Hudson, John R...USN...LT...10/23/1983
Hudson, Terry L...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Hue, Lyndon J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Hukill,Maurice E..USMC...2ndLT...10/23/1983
Iacovino,Edward F. Jr..USMC.LCPL.10/23/1983
Ingalls, John J...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Innocenzi, Paul G. III...USMC...10/23/1983
Jackowski,James J..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
James, Jeffrey W...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Jenkins,Nathaniel W..USMC..LCPL..10/23/1983
Johnson, Michael H...USN...HM2...10/23/1983
Johnston,Edward A...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Jones, Steven...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Julian, Thomas A...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Kees, Marion E...USN...HM2...10/23/1983
Keown, Thomas C...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Kimm, Edward E...USMC...GYSGT…10/23/1983
Kingsley,Walter V..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Kluck, Daniel S...USA...SGT...10/23/1983
Knipple, James C...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Kreischer,Freas H III..USMC.LCPL.10/23/1983
Laise, Keith J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Lamb, Thomas G...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Langon,James J. IV..USMC..LCPL...10/23/1983
Lariviere,Michael S..USMC..SGT...10/23/1983
Lariviere, Steven B..USMC...CPL..10/23/1983
Lemnah, Richard L...USMC...MSGT...10/23/1983
Lewis, David A...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Lewis, Val S...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Livingston,Joseph R..USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Lyon, Paul D. Jr...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Macroglou, John W...USMC...MAJ...10/23/1983
Maitland, Samuel...USMC...CPL…10/23/1983
Martin,Charlie R...USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Martin, Jack L...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Massa, David S...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Massman,Michael R...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Mattacchione,Joseph J..USMC..PVT.10/23/1983
McCall, John...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
McDonough,James E...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
McMahon,Timothy R..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
McNeely,Timothy D..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
McVicker,George N. II..USN..HM2..10/23/1983
Melendez, Louis...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Menkins,Richard H. II..USMC..SGT.10/23/1983
Mercer, Michael D...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Meurer, Ronald W...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Milano, Joseph P...USN...HM3...10/23/1983
Moore, Joseph P...USMC...CPL ...10/23/1983
Morrow, Richard A...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Muffler, John F...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Munoz, Alex...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Myers, Harry D...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Nairn, David J...USMC...1stLT...10/23/1983
Nava, Luis A... USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Olson, John A...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Olson, Robert P...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Ortiz, Richard C...USMC...CWO3...10/23/1983
Owen, Jeffrey B...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Owens, Joseph A...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Page, Connie Ray...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Parker, Ulysses...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Payne, Mark W....USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Pearson, John L...USMC...GYSGT...10/23/1983
Perron, Thomas S...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Phillips,John A. Jr..USMC..SGT...10/23/1983
Piercy, George W...USN...HMC...10/23/1983
Plymel, Clyde W...USMC...1stLT...10/23/1983
Pollard,William H...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Pomalestorres, Rafael I.USMC.SGT.10/23/1983
Prevatt, Victor M...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Price, James C...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Prindeville,Patrick K..USMC..SSGT.10/23/1983
Pulliam, Eric A...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Quirante,Diomedes J...USN...HM3...10/23/1983
Randolph, David M...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Ray, Charles R...USMC...GYSGT...10/23/1983
Relvas, Rui A...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Rich, Terrence L...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Richardson,Warren..USMC..LCPL...10/23/1983
Rodriguez, Juan C..USMC..SGT..10/23/1983
Rotondo, Louis J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Sanpedro,Guillermo Jr..USMC.LCPL.10/23/1983
Sauls, Michael C...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Schnorf,Charles J..USMC..1stLT...10/23/1983
Schultz, Scott L...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Scialabba,Peter J...USMC...CAPT...10/23/1983
Scott, Gary R...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Shallo, Ronald L...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Shipp, Thomas A...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Shropshire,Jerryl D..USMC..LCPL..10/23/1983
Silvia, James F...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Sliwinski,Stanley J..USMC..LCPL..10/23/1983
Smith, Kirk H...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Smith, Thomas G...USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Smith, Vincent L...USMC...CAPT...10/23/1983
Soares, Edward...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Sommerhof,William S..USMC...1stLT…10/23/1983
Spaulding,Michael C..USMC..LCPL..10/23/1983
Spearing, John W...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Spencer,Stephen E..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Stelpflug,Bill J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Stephens,Horace R..USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Stockton, Craig S...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Stokes,Jeffrey G..USMC...LCPL ...10/23/1983
Stowe, Thomas D...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Sturghill,Eric D...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Sundar, Devon L...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Surch, James F. Jr...USN...LT...10/23/1983
Thompson, Dennis A...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Thorstad,Thomas P..USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Tingley,Stephen D...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Tishmack, John J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Trahan, Lex D...USMC...PVT...10/23/1983
Vallone,Donald H. Jr..USMC..PFC..10/23/1983
Walker, Eric R...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Walker, Leonard W...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Washington,Eric G...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Weekes, Obrian...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Wells, Tandy W...USMC...1stSGT…10/23/1983
Wentworth,Steven B..USMC..LCPL...10/23/1983
Wesley, Allen D...USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
West, Lloyd D...USMC...GYSGT...10/23/1983
Weyl, John R...USMC...SSGT...10/23/1983
Wherland,Burton D. Jr..USMC..CPL..10/23/1983
Wigglesworth,Dwayne W..USMC.LCPL.10/23/1983
Williams,Rodney J...USMC...LCPL...10/23/1983
Williams,Scipio Jr..USMC..GYSGT..10/23/1983
Williamson,Johnny A..USMC..LCPL...10/23/1983
Wint,Walter E. Jr...USMC...CAPT...10/23/1983
Winter,William E....USMC...CAPT...10/23/1983
Wolfe, John E...USMC...CPL...10/23/1983
Woollett,Donald E...USMC...1stLT…10/23/1983
Worley, David E...USN...HM3...10/23/1983
Wyche, Craig L...USMC...PFC...10/23/1983
Yarber, James G...USA...SFC ...10/23/1983
Young, Jeffrey D… USMC...SGT...10/23/1983
Zimmerman,William A..USMC..1stLT..10/23/1983
Townsend,Henry Jr...USMC...CPL ...12/02/1983
Biddle, Shannon D...USMC...CPL...12/04/1983
Cherman, Sam...USMC...CPL...12/04/1983
Cox, Manuel A...USMC...SGT...12/04/1983
Daugherty,David L...USMC...CPL...12/04/1983
Evans, Thomas A...USMC...CPL...12/04/1983
Hattaway,Jeffrey T...USMC...PFC...12/04/1983
Kraft, Todd A...USMC...CPL...12/04/1983
Lange, Mark A...USN...LT...12/04/1983
Perkins, Marvin H...USMC...CPL...12/04/1983
Gargano, Edward J...USMC...CPL...01/08/1984
Dramis, George L...USMC...LCPL...01/30/1984
Hernandez, Rodolfo...USMC... 01/30/1984
Butler,Alfred III..USMC...CAPT...02/09/1984
Wagner, Michael...USN...IS1...09/20/1984
Welch, Kenneth...USA...WO2...09/20/1984
Hendrickson, John...USMC...04/13/1990
Simpson, Larry H. Jr...USMC... 08/31/1992
Hasenfus, Michael...USA ...CPL...10/20/1984
Stethem, Robert D...USN...SW2...06/15/1985
Higgins, William R...USMC…COL...07/06/1990
Slow Hand Salute! Rest In Peace Marines, We Have Not Forgotten.
Jim
__________________
GOD BLESS THEIR SOULS.
Sorry I could not attend.
Rest in Peace .
Once a Marine Always one & never Forgotten .:usmc:
Just want to say Semper Fi' Marines
As a 1/8 Marine, that attack 25 years ago was the first blow on the GWOT. We had our memorial at Ft. Pickett and it was a moving experience. I wanted to be back in Jacksonville to visit the memorial myself, but training comes first. We are doing well, and I kept everyone in thought. Maybe next year I can hook up with you some of you salt dogs and have a beer or two.
I went to boot camp with Shannon Biddle and Nicholos Bakeron the list . Biddle I went to ITS with at Camp Geiger around X-mas 1981. Biddle toward the bottom of the list who was killed in a HELO on 12/04/83. I recall a hand grenade was rolled into the CH-47 but I don't know all the details. I heard from another Marine that his wife had a baby that same day.
At the end of ITS we were all sat down in the squadbay and asked where we wanted to go. Many wanted to stay in NC to be close to family and Biddle was one of those. Othere got California and the Rock Okinawa. I volunteered to try out for Force Recon.