Friends & A Very Special Gift

First and foremost, from the bottom of our hearts Gina and I want to say thank you to everyone for keeping Thomas and us in your prayers. We have been humbled by all the lovely comments and thanks to Thomas for his service and condolences for Uncle Jim. We feel truly blessed by God that he has placed so many wonderful friends in our lives.

After receiving the news of Uncle Jim’s death and praying for our family we decided we needed to head to our house in Louisiana. Nicole, our daughter is driving home from New York and Ashley our other daughter is flying in from Grenada. After telling Ashley, our daughter in law bye we departed Victorville, California Thursday morning and arrived back in the desert near Bouse, Arizona where our good friends Jim & Ellie, Mike & Janna, and Rod & Deb are parked. On our arrival we were greeted with lots of hugs from everyone and were treated to a wonderful travel day meal at Jim & Ellie’s. After a heartfelt and much needed prayer from Ellie we enjoyed an excellent meal consisting of grilled pork steaks by Jim, mac & cheese casserole by Deb and roasted brussel sprouts, carrots and onions by Janna.

After dinner we walked over to Mike & Janna’s where she gave Gina and I a special gift. While we were gone to California she sewed a Service Flag for us. Immediate family of service men and women can fly the Service Flag during times of war. The blue star represents each service member, the gold star imposed over the blue star signifies a family member who has died as a result of conflict or has died while in service. The lower blue star is for Thomas, the upper blue/gold star is for our son Rollie who died while serving in the Navy. Janna, this flag will be displayed with pride and will always be a reminder to us of the love that was sewn in each stitch.  Thanks Janna & Mike for such kind and touching words in your blog entry yesterday.  I encourage everyone to read her blog (www.tinteepeelogcabin.blogspot.com).

Our Precious Gift

After we all finished crying and wiping our eyes we decided it was time to go home. We made it back around 9:30 and with both of us tired we just went to bed thanking Our Heavenly Father for such caring and loving friends we have been blessed with.

I do not seem to have words that can adequately describe the feelings and emotions Gina and I have for all the wonderful people God has placed in our lives. We call them friends but in reality they’re like family and like family they are always there when you need them and right now Gina and I need them. We love you all and thank you for being there for us.

We are now heading for North Ranch, which is in Congress, Arizona to visit with Mom & Pop's for a little while before we continue our drive to Louisiana.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Telling Thomas Bye & Watching Him As He Deploys

Sunday night we took Thomas and Ashley to Fleming’s for nice night of dining. The meal was wonderful and the atmosphere was excellent. We enjoyed a great night with them.

All of us at Fleming's

Monday morning I rode in to work with Thomas so I could spend a little time with him. We made it back home around noon and for the rest of the day Gina and I helped him to get ready for Tuesday morning. Gina sewed a name tag on for him and fried chicken tenders with homemade mashed potatoes for dinner. We didn’t stay too late since we were all leaving at 3:30 in the morning.

We were up at 1:30 and at Thomas & Ashley’s apartment at three o’clock. We arrived at Camp Pendleton at 5:30. We first watched Thomas load all of his gear in his humvee and then he went to his office to grab his remaining gear and load it too.

Thomas and I

Thomas with his Mom

Watching Thomas load his gear into the Humvee

We got our hugs and kisses in and said our goodbyes. We then waited for him to drive his humvee off.

Thomas waving from his Humvee

Thinking that we wouldn't see him anymore but then realized that there was a convoy of vehicles leaving for the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) loading area better know as Assault Craft Unit Five.  The same place Thomas was heading.

Entrance sign to ACU 5

We decided to follow them and to see if we could see him off. Well, low and behold not only were we able to see him off but we got to spend more time with him. We were treated to a very orchestrated show by the Navy & Marines. We got to spend more time with Thomas after watching the Marines line up all of their vehicles.

Thomas and his Humvee lined up

The LCAC ramp / loading area empty

(it wouldn't be like this for long)

During this time we watched the five LCACs that were deploying get moved down the ramp and into position for all of the Marine vehicles to be loaded on to them.

LCAC-33, Thomas's ride moving down the ramp

All five LCACs in position ready to load the Marines

Ashley, Thomas and I

Thomas telling Ashley bye

After more hugs & kisses we sadly watched Thomas walked to his humvee so it could be loaded on to LCAC-33. I commented to Thomas that it was weird watching him leave because it was always me leaving for deployments.  During my Navy career I made seven deployments and saying goodbye was never easy. Gina and I were very impressed as we watched the Sailors and Marines do their job.

The Marines lined up and moving toward the LCACs

Thomas backing onto the LCAC

Thomas and his Humvee all loaded and him standing on top

One final wave goodbye

While we waited we could see two warships on the horizon. These two ships, USS Green Bay and USS Boxer will be carrying the LCACs along with the Marines and their equipment to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. There is one other ship USS Comstock that is deploying with them. Here’s a link to a news article about their departure (article). At the present time Thomas is headed for Afghanistan. Once all the LCAC’s were loaded we watched all the loading ramps get raised and then one by one they proceeded out into the ocean.

LCAC-33 turning around

Still turning

Here she is on the water

LCAC-33 and 48 flying out to load onto the USS Green Bay

USS Green Bay waiting

As much as we will miss Thomas we know that it’s because of men and women like him that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we have in America. We pray for his and all the men and women going in harm's way today a safe return back to us and their families.  Gina and I would also like to thank everyone who has either commented, sent emails or mentioned him in your blog thanking Thomas for his service and for keeping him in your prayers until he returns.


About 20 minutes after we watched all of the LCACs depart we received a phone call from my dad that his brother, Uncle Jim had passed away.  We were stunned and in disbelief.  Uncle Jim was like a father to Gina and a Grandfather to our children.  He lived around the corner from us and he was always there for Gina and our children while I was serving in the Navy.  Gina and I ask that you keep Aunt Nell and Dale, their son along with our family in your prayers.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

A Day Of Fun

Saturday morning started off with us driving over to Thomas & Ashley’s apartment to decide what we would do today. Thomas was preparing his gear for his departure on Tuesday and decided to have a little fun with his mom.

Gina looking like she's ready for battle

Thomas loves his mom

There is snow on those mountains

We decided to drive down to Ontario where there is a mall so Ashley & Thomas could do some baby shopping. The weather was nasty with rain at low altitudes and snow at the higher elevations with winds over 30 mph. We made it over Cajon Pass while driving through the snow. Gina and I had a lot of fun watching Ashley & Thomas shop today. They bought a few items but mostly they did a lot of looking.

Ashley and Thomas shopping

Thomas having fun

By five o’clock we were all hungry and Thomas had Joe’s Crab Shack on his mind. This is his favorite restaurant and would be his last opportunity for a while to eat there, so Joe’s it was.

Thomas & Ashley

We enjoyed a great meal with them before heading back over Cajon Pass toward Victorville. It was snowing really hard over the Pass but we made it.  We made one final stop at Babies R Us so they could show us the baby bed they picked out.  I was overwhelmed by everything they have for babies today.  They sure didn't have all that stuff when we raised our babies.  Nevertheless, we finally made it back to their apartment and Ashley & Gina laid out all the purchases from today so I could get a picture.

"Ashley & Thomas had successful day of shopping"

For sure Abigail Faith will be Daddy's girl

We enjoyed a great day with Thomas & Ashley before we headed home and called it a night.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.