Chas
08-02-06, 02:14 PM
My son Ben is coming home on leave next month for his 21st birthday. He is starting his 3rd year as a Cannon Crew Member at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma in the ARMY.
During his training he has told me some amazing stories of the accuracy of his Paladin Howitzer, of which his job is Gunner. He has told me of getting his Hum-Vee stuck in 4 ft of mud, and the rescue tank that lifted his vehicle up out of the mud and set it down on the dry ground. He was reluctant to go thru the mud, but was instructed to do so; it was his turn to learn to shackle the Howie to the rescue boom and then took him 3 hours of washing to make it inspection ready.
This young man, I am fortunate enough to call my son, LOVES his job serving this country. Im not surprised by it, as Theresa and I both knew he would be a good soldier , as a teenager he was the definition of slacker, but given the tools and the instruction, he can do anything he sets his mind to.
He has a girlfriend in the Air Force stationed in Korea until February. At Christmas time he announced their plans to get married. She is a beautiful lady who gained her citizenship as a child , from the Philippines. Her family took refuge in America during the Marcos rein and found home in New Jersey. So im sure we will be going there for a wedding in the future. They use Vonage and have the means to talk everyday and seem very much in love with each other. So we look forward to our first daughter in-law and little grand children soon after.
He has told me about what his future holds and where he will be going, but I cant discuss it here. It don’t include Iraq at this time, but that can change in an instant.
I asked him what did he want for his birthday, he only wants to go up north Michigan and sleep for a few days in the quiet solitude of the forest. Seems easy enough to keep him happy!
He has a new car too, he bought a brand new 06 Mustang GT and has installed a supercharger on it already.
I guess that hoping he would do as good as me has already been fulfilled.
He’s way ahead of me and I cant say enough how proud I am of this fine young man I call my son.
“Who-ahh” Benjamin!
Thanks for supporting our troops…..
Charlie and Theresa Stoddart:pat
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/806094/egg001.jpg
During his training he has told me some amazing stories of the accuracy of his Paladin Howitzer, of which his job is Gunner. He has told me of getting his Hum-Vee stuck in 4 ft of mud, and the rescue tank that lifted his vehicle up out of the mud and set it down on the dry ground. He was reluctant to go thru the mud, but was instructed to do so; it was his turn to learn to shackle the Howie to the rescue boom and then took him 3 hours of washing to make it inspection ready.
This young man, I am fortunate enough to call my son, LOVES his job serving this country. Im not surprised by it, as Theresa and I both knew he would be a good soldier , as a teenager he was the definition of slacker, but given the tools and the instruction, he can do anything he sets his mind to.
He has a girlfriend in the Air Force stationed in Korea until February. At Christmas time he announced their plans to get married. She is a beautiful lady who gained her citizenship as a child , from the Philippines. Her family took refuge in America during the Marcos rein and found home in New Jersey. So im sure we will be going there for a wedding in the future. They use Vonage and have the means to talk everyday and seem very much in love with each other. So we look forward to our first daughter in-law and little grand children soon after.
He has told me about what his future holds and where he will be going, but I cant discuss it here. It don’t include Iraq at this time, but that can change in an instant.
I asked him what did he want for his birthday, he only wants to go up north Michigan and sleep for a few days in the quiet solitude of the forest. Seems easy enough to keep him happy!
He has a new car too, he bought a brand new 06 Mustang GT and has installed a supercharger on it already.
I guess that hoping he would do as good as me has already been fulfilled.
He’s way ahead of me and I cant say enough how proud I am of this fine young man I call my son.
“Who-ahh” Benjamin!
Thanks for supporting our troops…..
Charlie and Theresa Stoddart:pat
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/806094/egg001.jpg