marine friend might not make it.

a dear friends son, who has been in walter reed fighting to recover from an explosion, might not make it.
i have known him since he was a little boy. great guy, volunteered to serve his country and is now paying a heavy toll.
there's so many stories i could tell about this family.
generations of military service, father, grandfather, sister is in the navy.
when he was young, his mother had a battle with cancer, which she ended up loosing and he came and lived with me at the cabin for a while so his dad could just work through things.
i have a bunch of pictures i'd taken of them, along with a ring he made while i was teaching him how to silver/gold smith.
the kid never caught on, melted more than he ever finished, but there was one ring he did complete, silver with gold accents, star ruby.
when he outgrew it he gave it to me as a momento of the times we spent together.
it really doesn't look good for him, so i'll most likely be heading north for a funeral soon.
let's just hope for a miraculous recovery.
his dad is trying to find out if he can be released so hew may spend his last time at their home in montana.
don't know how this actually works, but will find out more.
i know there are a few military folks on this board and would like to ask one question.
what would be an appropriate gift to send the father?
i was thinking of a marine flag, i know he flies an american flag and an 82nd airborne one, but have never seen a marine flag on the pole.
would this be a good idea, or would it be disrespectful coming from a non-military guy like myself?

mods, please move if this is not the right place.
wasn't sure where it belonged, if anywhere.

reply to post by rubbertramp


Sorry to hear about your friend rubbertramp, I send my most heartfelt sympathies to him, you and the family, I hope he can make it through.

Not being a military man I can't help with the protocol of such things but it sounds like a nice idea to me, or maybe you could write some of your fond memories of your friend down in a book and give them that, it might give them some extra insight into their sons life through the private moments he spent with you.

Hope you can all stay strong.

reply to post by rubbertramp


I am not quite sure what to say so I will just let you know that I'll raise my glass to him and hope he pulls through and keep it in my thoughts.

thanx, that is all i am looking for. just some good, positive vibes.
he was in an explosion that took one leg, part of his arm and left metal in his back and head.
he has lapsed into a coma as of this morning due to inflammation and infection in his brain.
his father flew out this morning to be there.
i guess protocol is that the marines provide an escort and transportation back home so dad will be with them.

in ways this has enforced my anti-war stance, yet at the same time how can anyone not respect what this young man did.
he is 21 years old if i remember correctly.

reply to post by rubbertramp


I am very anti-war as well.
A child should never die before their parents so I feel really bad for the father seeing as he lost his wife as well.
Keep an eye on the old boy.

I salute this young man and spit on the ones who sent him to war.

reply to post by DrumsRfun


we're pretty much on the same wavelength here, except for this.

I salute this young man and spit on the ones who sent him to war.

he volunteered, knew exactly what he was getting himself into and knew the risks.
i spoke with him at length befor he went.
didn't try and talk him out of it, just tried to make sure it was really what he wanted.
didn't want him signing up for the sole purpose of pleasing his dad and continuing the family tradition.
now i feel as though i should have tied him up and locked him in a closet till he changed his mind.
oh well.

just got off the phone.
i guess it wasn't an ied and was some sort of explosion at one of the bases.
afterwords they flew him out of afg. to germany i think.
sounds absolutely insane, but when he passes he will not be counted as a causality of war.
i think this means he will not even make these lists.
death by accident and not insurgent doesn't count.

icasualties.org...

i've been flipping through some pics i took of him years ago.
i have one here where i dressed him up as a great white hunter.
was a game we played, while i taught him to track animals.
he's wearing a daniel boon hat, raccoon tail and all, my sheep skin jacket that is way to huge.
my snow boots, also way too huge along with a compound bow over one shoulder, a camp shovel over the other and much more miscellaneous stuff that i loaded him up with including a pack full of food.
we hiked through the snow for less than a mile and spent the night in a small cave by a camp fire.
i wish you all could she the # eating grin on this kids face.


ooopssss, forgot my manners.
didn't mean to use a word that was deleted.
sorry mods.

Sorry to hear about your friend.. Will light some joss sticks and pray that he recovers.. Things may sound dark but theres always a chance to pull through.. Hmm.. As to gift think that just being there for his father would mean far more than any materiel thing would...

reply to post by rubbertramp


I am sorry to hear about your friend, he will be in my thoughts today.
A present, hummm, as ex-military and a father with 2 boys currently serving, the thought of them comeing back broken or in a box is constantly on my mind. I would say, something that celibrates his life. Get a good quality frame and make a presentation of photos and text, covering the good times. Nothing somber. Addtionally, it would be something from the heart and making it will bring back the ahhpy memories for you too.

I sincerely hope that your friend pulls through. However, my friend, if the worst comes to the worst, I pray that his passing is a peaceful one and that he continues his journey through to the great mystery we all face in time.

God bless you, your family and your friends.

I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I will pray for him and for you too.

my heartfelt thanx to those who commented.
he passed away during the night.
i'll be heading north tomorrow morning.

btw, i did get my hands on a marine flag from an ex-marine friend who lives here in n.m. who insisted i take the one he's been flying on a pole outside his house.
i'm pretty sure that i'll make it to montana before his father and the casket make it back.
i'd like to have it flapping in the breeze when they arrive.

reply to post by rubbertramp


Sorry for your friends current situation rubbertramp, you seem really close to him. I wish him, his family and friends the best with recovery and support. I dont know about what kind of gift to give him or his family, but as long as it comes from your heart I am sure they will appreciate your care for him.
God Bless

Take care and be well.

reply to post by rubbertramp


I am sorry for your and your friends loss.
My sincere condolences.

reply to post by rubbertramp

Sad, very sorry to hear about your friend. Condolences and thoughts sent that way.

reply to post by rubbertramp


You and this young man have my prayers and all the positive thoughts I can muster. I would think a Marine flag would be very appropriate.

reply to post by rubbertramp


Depressing..
Knowing that I could be in the same situation. Sorry to hear he passed on.
My brother got word his next deployment will probably be to Afghanistan, driving those death traps they call humvees.

reply to post by rubbertramp


That is sad to hear about your friend, my thoughts and prayers are with you, and him and his family. I was thinking if you still have that ring that he made, what about that for a gift to his Dad? I think that would be very sentimental and probably mean the world to his Dad, the fact that his son, himself, made the ring. I know it's not a military symbol but it was created by the man himself.

I ask for peace and strength in your heart and his.

Sorry to hear that your friend didnt make it.. Sincere condolences to all who knew him.. He will live on in the hearts and memories of all who knew him..

I hate hearing that.

I DO know how some feel. I've lost my share of buddies.

Little rhyme or reason how these things occur, but I think the Great Architect has a special affection for soldiers.

A Marine flag is a great idea.

Once a Marine, always a Marine.

Even now.

May your friend find enternal peace.

Corpus Non Animum Muto ! (Though the body may change, the spirit remains)