Always Loved, Always Remembered
A Military Tribute
By: Theresa Johnson
and Various Authors
Copyright 2011
Published by Theresa Johnson at Smashwords
This e-book is licensed for you personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, then please return this to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This book is dedicated to the men and women of the US Armed Forces, contractors of the US Armed Forces, and their families. This is our way of saying thank you for the great effort that you have given to our country. Your work and charity to us has not gone unnoticed. You are the walking and talking definition of a hero. Thank you.
I would also like to take a moment to thank the ones who have made this e-book possible. Thank you Brandy Parrish and David Lanier (also known as Mystic Dave) for the fine works of literary art that you both have supplied for inclusion in this e-book. Thank you to Christopher Ruetschle and REPuckett for sharing some of your memories with us. Thank you to Lt. Jamie Hawke, Mrs. Heather Hawke, and Mackenzie for the beautiful cover picture. I would also like to thank Mrs. Heather Hawke and Mackenzie for the beautiful and touching letters that they contributed. Without these people, this project would never have been quite as great as it was to work on.
Enjoy.
Theresa Johnson
The Thanksgiving Feast
By: Theresa Johnson
The turkey upon the table
Only three of four chairs filled
Holidays are lonely
They wish he were at home still
A picture sits
At daddy’s seat
A picture of him and his family
Sits there while they eat
Their dad can’t be home
For the Thanksgiving feast
Since in Afghanistan he sits
Waiting to call home at the least
He may be home
By Christmas if all go well
Until the orders come, though,
Afghanistan is where he will have to dwell.
So when you sit down
For you Thanksgiving feast
Remember our military men, women
And their families at least
"The Call to
Prayer"
REPuckett
I was in Afghanistan and was one of
about forty paratroopers sent to a particular area on the
northeastern border in a town called Khost. The mere forty of us were
sent there to set up a forward operating base (FOB) to support an
anticipated infantry battalion. The only U.S. military element there
before us was six special forces soldiers. They left the same day we
arrived.
This area had a decent presence of Al Qaeda and
Taliban combatants. The six special forces soldiers had already
established a basic triple perimeter around the area. They also made
a deal with the local warlord to have Afghan militants guard the
outermost perimeter for a generous financial compensation authorized
by the U.S. Government, of course. Well, our small element of forty
paratroopers was not privy to this deal. When the special forces
soldiers pulled out, the militants stopped getting paid. Since they
stopped getting paid, they decided to stop guarding the outer
perimeter and spread the word to the local resistance and even
allowed them access beyond our perimeter. Again, we were completely
oblivious to any of this as yet.
We hadn't been there two days
and I was on guard duty manning the .50 caliber machine gun on the
wall of the innermost perimeter. It was evening and getting dark.
After a couple of hours passed, I was observing my sector of fire and
saw an individual approximately 500 yards out. I watched to see what
he was doing, if he had anything with him in the way of weapons, if
there were any more of them; that sort of thing. He didn't seem to
have any kind of weapon from what I could tell. He was very far away
so, he possibly could have had anything without me being able to
discern it. However, he seemed to be just walking back and forth in
one spot and stopping every now and then and looking in my direction.
At one point he laid down on his side and just watched. He was doing
the same thing when I was relieved by another paratrooper assuming
guard duty. I passed the information on to my relief as well as my
chain of command.
I then went to my tent, took off my Kevlar
helmet and vest and then laid down with my weapon always beside me.
About fifteen minutes passed and I was just starting to doze off when
I heard a distinct sound. It was the sound of a mortar flying through
the air and the sound was getting closer very quickly. As if a
collective awareness hit us all at once, every one of us in the tent
hit the floor while attempting to cover ourselves with our vests and
Kevlar helmets to protect us from the impending explosion as best as
we could. The sound got closer and closer as we braced ourselves. The
moment of impact was upon us and we all believed we were dead. At
that point I heard a loud thud, a bounce and a roll. Mortars
generally explode on impact. A brief moment passed when we realized
it was a dud.
I could not believe that we were still alive.
After a quick, silent expression of gratitude, we all threw on our
gear, grabbed our weapons and took our positions on the wall. The
position I took on the wall wasn't more than fifteen feet from where
I had just come off guard duty. This was the beginning of my very
first battle. The sight I saw from my position on the wall was
surreal. About the same distance where that guy was earlier, was a
long line of approximately sixty enemy combatants. Remember, there
were only about forty of us. They stretched almost all the way around
our inner perimeter just barely surrounding us but not quite. It is
when the first rounds are fired that you really begin to entertain
the prospect of not seeing the sun rise. The fight had begun.
I
was laying down more suppressive fire than anything trying to keep
them from advancing on us any further, but I wounded a few that I
know of. The battle had lasted a couple hours. Some would charge at
us giving up their lives hoping to take some of us with them. Some
held their position and continued to fire on us. Their numbers began
to dwindle and some ran away while those that remained gave up there
lives in a last ditch effort to take ours.
It was one of these
more brave individuals that came charging in my direction. I have
always been a very good marksman. However, I fired around him hoping
it would help to dissuade him from his intentions; it did not. I
still delayed the ultimate choice until I knew that there was,
indeed, no other choice. At that time, I willed myself not to think
about what I was doing and I placed three rounds directly in the
middle of his chest. He fell quickly and lay motionless. That was the
first time I had ever taken a life.
It is hard to tell you my
state of mind shortly after that. It wasn't more than a half hour
afterwards that all was quiet and the sun began to rise. Have you
ever seen the sun rise in the desert? It's beauty spreads across the
entire horizon and is nearly indescribable. It was ironic, however,
to see this magnificent sunrise cast its brilliant golds, reds, and
oranges upon a field of death. I sat and took this surreal view in
while I had a cigarette and contemplated the implications of what I
had just done. There were no sounds; just the wind and my
thoughts.
All of a sudden the silence was broken by the call
to prayer. Never before had I felt the reality of the situation I was
in than at that precise moment. I had a very difficult time
justifying what I had done. I began to think of how I had taken a son
away from his mother and pondered how my mother would feel if it had
been me. I began to think of the possibility of him having a wife and
kids hoping that he comes home. When it came down to it, the only way
of justifying it was to tell yourself that I possibly saved countless
lives by taking one. Maybe he could have been the next suicide bomber
with a bomb strapped to him in the middle of a couple hundred
civilians in the cities business center looking for employment. Or
maybe he could have been the one that gave a bomb to that
seven-year-old girl to take it to the nearest U.S. troop killing him
and herself and as many others that were nearby.
While I
formed justifications to find reconciliation for my actions, I found
that solace in the call to prayer. Its mesmerizing tone resonating in
my own psyche. Just that among all of this death, faith still existed
somehow; somewhere. I stood up and walked over to the body of the man
I had just killed. I noticed that he had dog tags on which was
strange since most of them didn't. I bent over and took one of them
and put it in my pocket. I have that dog tag to this day. We removed
forty-nine bodies, five of them were ours, from the desert floor that
morning while the call to prayer was carried on the wind from the top
of a distant minaret. We worked to clear the field in utter silence
as if we all collectively agreed to allow the Call to Prayer to
dominate our senses at that time. Its sound continues to haunt me to
this day bringing the memory of an epiphany; the true value of life.
My Dad The Soldier
By: Brandy Parrish
A little
girl asks for her daddy to read her a story,
So, her mother puts
in this night’s recording.
This little girl sets the table, for
a family of three,
But only two at the table is all we see.
A
little boy hits his first homerun,
His mom records it, so dad can
watch his son.
A little boy falls and scrapes his knee;
His
mom kisses it twice and says, “from dad and me”.
A teenage
girl goes to her first prom,
Pictures are sent to dad, by a very
proud mom.
A teenage girl walks, across the graduation stage,
Her
mom cries as she knows that dad missed this important day.
A
teenage boy gets his first car,
His mom smiles and tells him how
proud her and his dad are.
A teenage boy is troubled about this
thing called romance;
His mom talks him through it, since his dad
doesn’t have the chance.
Yes, it is
true that these dads seem to not be around.
But a case of
abandonment will not be found.
For the dads in this poem are not
gone because they want to be,
They are simply fighting, for us to
stay free.
These dads are our soldiers that give up their lives,
So they can protect us, they go to the fight.
These dads have
given more than their share for us.
Don’t you think it is time
for us to Thank them for caring so much?
They leave
families at home, and go overseas
Some give up their lives, so we
can stay free.
So, find you a soldier and thank them today,
For
without them, our lives would be in disarray.
Holidays
By: Theresa Johnson
Things go on as normal
This holiday season
Something that many take for granted
Here is the reason
At Fort Bragg
Live a mother and two kids
Wondering if the daddy will
Be their Christmas gift
At Fort Pierce
A young wife of barely 24
Cries alone
She just heard her soldier will
not be coming home anymore
Down in Mayport
A young soldier’s mother
Is hearing the news
Her grandchild is without a father
Yet the rest of us
Shop and eat and shop some more
Never knowing
The fear of the knock at the door
The knock telling families
Your loved one is gone
The rest of us
Just keep living on
This holiday season
Loved your family, but open your eyes and see
The gifts our soldiers have given,
Freedom has never been free.
We Salute You
By: Theresa Johnson
To men and women
Who have fought to protect us
We Salute you
To those soldiers who have died
And their families left to cry
We Salute You
To the Civilian Contractors
Whom had be sent overseas
We salute you too
To the ones still active
And made to live on foreign lands
We Salute you
Whether alive, dead, retired
Missing, disabled, or still believing that
You are fighting the good fight
Out hats are off
In love, admiration, and remembrance
We thank you.
Back In ‘Nam
By: Theresa Johnson
Policing Action
War was more like it
Help fight communism
That is what we were told
Fight the good fight
Support Uncle Sam
I despise that life now
A soldier is what I once was
Human, now, is what I am
I watched children die
In the jungle nights
I watched their last tears fall
As the bombs would ignite
A soldier holding a child
Stepped on a punji stick
Over the next few days
He became deathly sick
Another soldier
Lost his life as he slept
Leaving behind a pregnant wife
Who devastatingly wept
Many returned home
Forever having their lives changed
No longer able to function
Others look on just thinking that they are strange
Death tolls climbed high
Police action, yeah right
My hat is off
To the soldiers who were forced to fight that fight
Memory
Christopher Ruetschle
I went to basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga in the
summer of 2001. I have to say, it was defiantly an experience. Lots
of physical training and mental preparation. I enjoyed U.S. weapons
week and the field exercises.
I was at Ft Jackson for AIT. My
MOS was 71L (administration specialist). A lot of class room work. I
found out I could type 93 words a minute while half asleep!
My
permanent duty station was at Ft Hood, Tx. I spent my 4 year duty
tour there with the excetion of my 12 month deployment to Iraq in May
of 2003. I worked as a Pac clerk in the S1 shop of 180th trans bn,
hhd. Right before deployment i transfered to one of our line units...
the 406th ttp as the pac ncoic.
My unit was deployed for 12
months to Iraq from May 2003 to May 2004. I think my most memorable
memory is after we returned from what ever missions... we would sit
around baker's coffee can fire and talk about whatever came to mind.
Personally... I want to give thanks to all who have served.
But more importantly, the families who supported us. I know if it
wasnt for the calls and emails from my wife... it would have been
much harder out there. Thank you, Ami! To those comrades who have
fallen and their families, thank you very much. Your loved ones gave
the ultimate sacrifice for us all! May God be with you all.
What Can I do Daddy?
By: Theresa Johnson
What can I do daddy
To make you come home?
What can I do daddy
So you are no longer alone?
Why do you cry daddy
When our calls are done?
Why do you hurt daddy
When you could be here having fun?
Where are you now daddy?
Why are you not here with me?
Please come home soon daddy.
Home is where you need to be.
You are my hero daddy
I look up to you, you know.
Please write back soon daddy.
I love you so.
Bless The Veterans
By: David Lanier
Another Veteran’s Day
is upon us, so we
need to
remember
the call to serve
is answered by
the courageous,
who sacrifice
everything,
to go off and fight
in foreign lands.
Their
lives are
changed suddenly,
from the fear and
horrors they face.
The
physical
wounds they endure,
soon heal, but
their tortured souls
forever endure
the memories
and
sorrows of
their dreadful war.
Of course there
are differing opinions
as to why
the government leads
people into
battle.
Regardless of
all that, our vets
deserve our
undying
gratitude and support,
for all they have
been put
through.
So many veterans
return home with
emotional wounds
so deep, they have
difficulty
dealing with their
"normal lives back
in the
world."
So a lot of
them wander the
lonely streets,
confused, broken
and shattered,
mourning the
ones who died,
and wondering
why they didn't.
Their wars back
home are usually
harder
than the
wars they left behind,
due to lack of
understanding
from the
people around them.
Instead of turning
the other
cheek,
embrace these
tortured vets,
showing compassion
and
gratitude
for their service.
They will carry the
scars of war deep
in their souls until
the
day they die.
With a lot of help,
love and understanding,
it
will show these vets,
their battles were not
fought for
nothing.
Our Soldiers
By: Theresa Johnson
Blood has
spilled
on this night.
Corpses are the only thing
Visible
by the moon's light.
The war was said to be over
They were
coming home soon
Yet the fighting keep coming
In the dark of
the moon.
The ground that surrounds them
has been painted
red.
Here in the desert
Too many are dead.
They
said they'd come home
They would leave that place soon
Yet the
fighting kept going
By the light of the moon.
The fighting
waged on
until all of them had died.
Not a single one came
home
Only families left behind to cry.
For this was a
police action
At least the government says
To me it is still
war
For we face the same regrets.
We watch loved one
and
wait to here the news.
This is just my opinion,
We all have our
own views.
The men and women that fight for us
Have given
us that.
They place their lives on the line
which is a gift
that can not be given back.
So
cherish that gift.
Teach other to do the same
Cherish those who
lives it cost
Take the time to learn their name.
Let our
soldier know
We remember why they are there.
Send a shoebox of
goodies
or just a note to show you care.
Contracted to Hell
By: Theresa Johnson
I never held the gun
I never fought the fight
I just did my job
And did it right
I was contracted here
A civilian like you
Just doing a job
Like any one would do
My contract did not say
You will never go back
It did not say
I would be attacked
I was contracted to Hell
And there was no place to go
I was contracted to Hell
Leaving behind all the people I know
On the next two pages are two very special letters. They are from the two wonderful ladies in the cover photo. Lt. Jamie Hawke, your wife and daughter wanted you to know how truly loved you are.
Dear Daddy,
I love and miss you so very much when
you are gone on deployments. It makes me so sad that I haven't seen
you much at all since I was born, but it makes me so happy to see you
on the computer when mommy can call you on skype. Mommy made me my
very own photo album with pictures of you, me and mommy (mostly you
and me) that I carry around EVERYWHERE with me. I give you kisses all
the time and show it to everyone! It is my very favorite toy and
mommy says that I can talk to you in the pictures and you can hear me
too. The pictures were of the last time that I saw you, when you took
me and mommy to the airplane when we were being evacuated from Japan
because of the earthquake and tsunami. I was only 2 months old but
can remember you holding me and saying goodbye for the last time.
Mommy was crying a lot and I know she really misses you too. I can't
wait to see you and be able to play with you all the time and even
give you hugs and kisses in person. You are my hero and I love you so
very much! Every time I see or hear a plane flying in the sky, I wave
and mommy says, "there's daddy", so I get really excited
and giggle. I grab every phone in the house and scream DA-DA into it
hoping that you are on the other end. Da-da and daddy were my very
first words (on Father's Day) because I love and miss you so very
much! Mommy is very sad with out you here also, but I sure do keep
her busy to try to keep her mind off of you being gone all the time.
Please stay safe daddy and know that I think about you all the time
and mommy and I love and miss you very much! I am so proud to have a
daddy in the military and fighting for our freedom and safety. I wish
I could go flying with you one day and land on the air craft carrier
too. You are the best daddy ever!
Love,
Your little
girl
Mackenzie
Jamie (Bubbers)-
I just wanted to write you a
short letter you let you know how proud we are of you and how much we
miss you! Every time I look at our daughter, I see you in her and it
brings a smile to my face. She is growing up so fast and I am afraid
that you won't even recognize her when you get home. She is talking,
crawling, eating everything in sight, and trying to walk already. You
have missed so much over the past 8 months, but I am trying to take
as many pictures as I can so you can still watch her grow. I think
about you all the time and wish that you were here with us, but know
that you are in our hearts. Mackenzie is so much like you and looks
identical to you sometimes that it just makes my heart so happy and
feels like you are here with us in a way. We can't wait for your
homecoming and I can't wait to see Mackenzie's reaction to you and
watch the two of you interact with each other. I get goosebumps just
thinking about it. Just know how proud we are of you and that we pray
for your safety every night at bedtime. I worry myself sick all the
time thinking about you landing on the ship and flying around all day
everyday. I can't turn on the news much anymore because I worry about
what I might see or hear. I wait by the phone and computer every
night just to get a message one way or another that you are safe and
sound, and those nights that I don't get anything, I sit up and worry
and wonder. I can't help but worry about you and think about you
daily. I am just so grateful that you are coming home soon. I can't
wait to have you in my arms again!! I miss and love you more than
anything!! Hurry home soon and please stay safe. I love you more than
the whole wide world and back again.
Love,
Heather (Sweet
Pea)