FINALLY A TIME TO JUST TALK

It happened this weekend, not the way it was planned but it happened, FINALLY. As most of you know Jacob returned from Iraq in March. Due to the passing of his uncle that same day, our reunion was cut short. When his leave FINALLY rolled around in June, it was vacation to Atlanic City, compliments of the in-laws, thank them very much, then back to Ft Bragg because the boys started summer basketball.

During the July we managed to corral one of the grandsons and held him for ransome. We knew dad would come and get him sometime before school started. We were right! Got him!!

He rolled into the homestead about 2120 hrs, (9:20PM for you civilians) Friday evening. A two hour parking lot (accident) on the West Virginia Turnpike (?) caused the delay of a normally 8 hour trip. But he's home. Sit down eat some pizza from his favorite pizza joint and just talk and listen. Oh, what a wonderful experience. Just Mom, Dad, and child, (man). Conversation ran the gamut (sp?) from re-enlistment, buying his first home, little sister who is with child, was Michael, the grandson good?, (grandchildren are always good for grandparents!). It was just fantastic!

Saturday morning I went to work for a couple of hours and then.....the tradition breakfast at Bob Evans. We went there on a regular basis and just talked about everything and nothing. Dad's know about this type of talk. The first thing that happened was so emotional I had a hard time telling it to his mother when we got home.

I gotta set this up. We go to BE and are dressed in shorts, t-shirts and tennis shoes. No military stuff at all. We are shown our table and before the waitress give us our menus a guy from our church walks over. He puts his arm around Jacob and declares to the tables near and some far, "Welcome home soldier, we are so proud of you and what you are doing for us." Let me tell you a very humble rough tough soldier was visibility moved. Thank you's came from various other tables around us then. Of course dad was bustin' the buttons off his t-shirt but my soldier just sat there quite and humble and replied thank you sir and nodded thanks to the other people. It was a very moving moment in his life and mine. I believe it meant more to him than anything that he has ever had happen in his life. He understood the path he had chosen was the right one not only for him but for his county and the people who live here. He knew what he and all of our young men and women were and have been doing was well worth it.

Saturday we had a little surprise cook out with just family and friends. He and his little sister were talking and she asked him about PTSD. Do you have it, she asked, yes, he answered a mild case. What are you doing about it? Dealing with he says. This struck me as I began to think while they talked about it. Every soldier must have some PTSD coming back home. How do they deal with it? It was good to see little sister and big brother talking it out. Just for the record little sister is 2 years older but about 8 inches shorter than her big brother.

Later in the evening we just talked about everything and nothing. He told me the day went "good pops, good". That coming from a person who does not like the spotlight. Now just more talk and listen until midnight and our soldier racks out on couch, a place we found him on many a morning. Then just mom....and dad...and child asleep. In Jacob's bedroom his son was sleeping. The cycle begins again, another child and perhaps someday another parents worry but, for now, for this one night, this one moment, parents just breath a sigh of relief, thank their God, their child is home safe.

I just wish all of you could have been here. For Airborne Dad and Infantry Dad and the rest of you with sons and daughters "in harms way" I know you know the feeling.

He's off again back to Fayville and ready to do what all of our brave sons and daughters do. Protect us and give us the best county in the world to live in. They are so very special. That's why they are "The One Percenters"!

Please note the addition of two more of America's One Percenters on my Prayer List

Greg Funk, Army
Nathan Petty, Army

Have a great week and God Bless America!

Good Morning All,

I have yet to ask for donations for this blog as I personally wouldn’t pay for most of the information that is printed here but……OH BOY, here is comes. Nah, not for me. If you haven’t figured it out yet I write on two blogs, Mark 1:11 http://markoneeleven.blogspot.com/ and Conservative Outrage http://conservativeoutrage.blogspot.com/ .

Mark 1:11 was started when my son Jacob went to Iraq to follow him and his unit. Conservative Outrage was started a couple of months ago to stand up for Conservative causes. I didn’t want the two blogs to mix as I support my son and the military and I support the Conservative base of America. Sort of “my son”, “my country”. That being said I read a number of blogs on a regular basis. One of them http://www.restart.typepad.com by Pastor John Slider has a post on July 30,2007 that not only affects our military but is an Conservative Outrage!

I invite you to clik on http://www.restart.typepad.com , scroll down to the July 30 post and read it. If you feel strongly about our military and the Conservative base that founded the greatest county on earth clik the “Contribute Now” and make a donation. This good Marine, an Iraq veteran of 3 tours in combat is being persecuted not prosecuted! He deserves our support!

Thanks,

ABNPOPPA

Proud father of an 82^nd AIRBORNE Paratrooper

Let's Not Forget Them

One thing I have noticed lately and I feel a little sad about it is the frequency of blogging has slowed down. I am not sure why, perhaps it is summer and people are on vacation. Perhaps it is because the young soldiers our blogging family has been keeping track of and praying for are safe at back home. As I look back on the last 18-19 months when our soldier left it seems as most of the world I live in has stood still. Any vacation was taken at Fort Bragg to support our daughter-in-law and the grandkids. Preparations for them to come back to home (Ohio) for holidays were done. Finally the big preparation for the return of Jacob to the United States was done. The world just stood still, at least mine did. I am pretty certain ABNMOMMA’S did too. We need to keep in mind the 110, 000 brave soldiers still serving in Iraq.*

When Jacob deployed it was for 12 months and was bumped up to 15 months. Since he left in January we decided we would leave Christmas decorations up until he came home in January. Being a rather bull headed person after we learned of the extra 3 months I said something to the affect “those damn decorations are staying till he comes home.” Then he did come home to Fort Bragg and we found out his 30 day leave wouldn’t be until June.

ABNMOMMA put her foot down and the artificial tree and Nativity Scene succumbed to her wishes or at least I did. Now, herein lies my problem. We have 14 foot tall ceilings in the Great Room. Hanging in the Great Room are 16, 12 inch ornaments about 2 to 3 feet from the ceiling. To quote Subvet, “she who must be obeyed” has requested they come down. I say, since I am the one who has to climb up the ladder and reach about 6 inches longer than my arm will allow they should stay. Christmas is only about 4 months away! Safety first, don’t you agree?

What say you? C’mon guys I need your help on this one. Save me!

*Please note the addition of SSG David Cross to my Soldiers Prayer List. He was recently deployed to Iraq and his parents are part of our church family. Your prayers for his safety are appreciated.

G-d Bless All

ABNPOPPA

Who among us would not post on our blog this memorable day. The day that gives freedom and justice for all of us in the greatest county in the World. Sure there will be the flags, parades and fireworks, a tradition that has spanned over 200 years. We are so lucky and blessed.

As my children were growing up and as I tell my grandchildren today one only needs to read two documents to live a righteous life. The first is the Bible and the second, of course is The Declaration of Independence. I firmly believe if one puts time and effort into these two instruments, lives by what the authors wrote, and follows them as the authors intended a person will have a successful life.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

I have only copied the first part of the Declaration of Independence because I feel it contains two very important statements. The first,

"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator".

It doesn't say only in church, it doesn't say not in the place you work, it doesn't say not in a court room and it doesn't say not in a school. The Creator endows every man, woman and child all the time everywhere!

You only have to go back to when prayer was taken out of the schools to see the moral decline that has taken over. First the schools, then work and now some state and local governments are trying to pass laws that would prevent Pastors, Preachers, Priests and Rabbis from preaching what the Creator has endowed on every man.

The second statement, "

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

The key here is with the consent of the governed. It is not just the last Congress that was elected two short years ago but ones that were elected several years ago that began the downward cycle the Greatest Nation on earth faces today. The term "do nothing congress' is appropriate for the current congress. The slippery slope started when "we the people" began to demand less of the people we elected. It began when we decide it wasn't worth the effort to study who was running for what office or what they wanted to do, or...who they were connected with. Our elected officials have health insurance they don't pay for, bank accounts they don't have to balance, can take a trip anywhere in the world and say it is for government business and drive in cars we can't even begin to afford. All at taxpayers expense.

I say Bull Crap! It is time, "we the people" begin to form a more responsive government. It all starts with holding their feet to the fire this coming election day. The President of this great country is the most powerful man in the world but....it is the Congress that holds the purse strings. I don't care who you vote for as it is none of my business. I do care that you vote and encourage everyone you know to find out where these current congressmen and women stand on issues. What have they done in the last 2,4, or 6 years? Is it for their own political gain or is it for the betterment of this county! Have they voted on issues or skipped town when they thought the vote might hurt their chance for re-election? If they have put themselves before the betterment of this country. I say Vote them OUT! We don't need do nothings guiding this country. What do they stand for? If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything! (Garth Brooks)

IMHO these last two that are running for President of the United States should resign NOW! Getting paid while being absent from your job to campaign is an insult to every American working man and women.

"..my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

God Bless America & Happy 4^th of July

General Electric, Who do you Support?

This just really upsets me! I would use stronger words but my mother taught me better. It is OUTRAGEOUS! I heard it on O'Reilly again last week and it triggered something in the ol' grey matter. I finally found it and can't believe it is happening. It was originally reported in January of this year and apparently continues.

Several of us bloggers have sons currently serving in the GWOT, Global War on Terror. It has been reported that General Electric continues to do business with Iran. This after it has been proven that Iran continues to train, fund, and equip terrorists in Iraq.

Why this information is not aired in a big way is beyond me. On the O'Reilly show he stated that several states have divested all interests in investments in Iran. Has your state, or your, pension fund? Have you contacted your Congressman or Senator to find out why they have allowed this to continue? This is truly a "do nothing congress" and as long as our sons and daughters fight for this county major corporations in this county need to put their lives before the stockholders interest. If it weren't for our sons and daughters there wouldn't be any company or stockholders.

Boycott General Electric in everything and every way you can.

Supporting Links

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/22/60minutes/main595214.shtml

doctordalai.blogspot.com/2008/01/general-electric-is-doing-business-with.html

And.... thanks for your support!

OH MY!!!

OK,

Gotta get this going before I start to work replacing what was so carefully constructed over the past week. You see, the boys were here for a little weeks vacation while mom and dad went to Atlantic City, compliments of the in-laws, to gamble the milk money away. Well not really the milk money but to have a good time after 15 months in the City of Sadam and 2 months home at Fort Bragg waiting to go on the well deserved 30 day leave. So ol’ ABNPOPPA and my better half to quote Subvet, “she who must be obeyed”, ABNMOMMA were re-activated to the parental guidance role.

What was once a nice efficient, passive solar house and homestead was transformed by two of the three grandsons in to the Skateboard/bicycle Track of Champions while I was at work performing my super secret government operations, so secret I can’t even tell myself what I do. Zak, and Evan the 11 and 10 year olds without help from any adult or older sibling constructed the park you see in the pictures.

The good news is that after 4 days of riding and boarding in various stages of construction no trips were made to the hospital. ABNMOMMA was pressed into nursing duty for several scraps and abrasions but no broken bones. If you are wondering were the bricks came from if you look at the background you will see a partially dis-mantled flower garden wall. This wall must be rebuilt as the boss said it makes the ranch look trashy. Like the skateboard park is aesthetically appealing?

Oh well, I better get to work, the real boss is due home shortly and if it looks like I did something I might just get dinner.

Grandkids, you gotta love ‘em!!!

Hooah!

Flag Day

Hi Folks,

My post is short and sweet this time. I borrowed it from a man named Red. In these times of trouble and tribulation maybe we ALL need to remember what it means to ALL of us who live in the best county in the world. Clik onthe link, The Pledge, on the left. You may have to paste it to your browser but it is worth it.


http://unknownprogrammer.home.comcast.net/~unknownprogrammer/index.html

Hooah!

Memorial Day

1218 HRS. 05/25/08 (Sunday afternoon for you civilians)

It's strange how things work out. I had no real intention to post for a while as my family has been tied up in the ICU for the past week. ABNMOMMA's father had been ill. Our family was sadden when he passed away Thursday morning. He was a good man and a Veteran of the US ARMY. Nothing seemed right and I was resigned to not post on this important day. I returned home and read some emails and to my surprise a couple of my fellow bloggers mentioned my not posting. I had a couple of ideas but they just didn't seem right.

It's been said I have never had an original idea. So today I am borrowing from a man I will call a friend of mine, (he might disagree) but, here goes.

I went to a local church today, pastored by a retired ARMY Chaplin. He had invited me previously and today seemed appropriate. Here's a plug for you Pastor (Chaplin) Flesher, http://www.greencastlebiblechurch.org/. It was a good service started off by the Pledge of Allegiance being led by Sgt. David Grubb, and Iraqi Veteran. A moment of silence for those who gave their lives for us. Then a prayer by an Air Force retiree who in his prayer gave blessing for living in the greatest county in the world and being allowed to pray in any church or way we wished. This struck me as exactly what the thousands of Veterans who have died did for us.

How do we, the living, say Thank You to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice? How do we, the living, say Thank You for allowing us to pray in any way and any church we want? How do we, the living, say Thank You for those who never returned to the county they died for while in places named, The Argonne Forest, Pork Chop Hill, Omaha Beach, the Mekong Delta, Mosel or some unnamed mountain or valley in places like Afghanistan? The answer is we can't. I truly believe we can't. Saying Thank You is not enough, but it's all I have! May you find Peace in Heaven.

We go out wave our flags, go to the cemetery watch the parade and then off to the barbecue. I was in a major retail store yesterday and the display for grills was bigger than the display for flags. What has this county become? Folks, it is NOT about money, big houses, or fast cars. It's about Freedom, it's about Democracy, it's about being able to pray in any church, at any time, in any way.

A soloist sang a song, entitled "How can it be (he died for me)". Today, I will change that slightly and ask myself, Veteran, How can it be you died for me?

The Heart of It All

Hi Folks,

Mathew 8

5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

I was going to start of with "My fellow Americans", but I hear someone else all ready said that!

I will warn you now this is more personal blogging than thought provoking, then again, some would say I have never really had a thought provoking idea.

WOW, is all I can say! ABNPOPPA has been pressed back into service for the US ARMY. Nah, I didn't re-enlist, and didn't get called up, too old. I did, get a call from Fayetteville, home of the 82n AIRBORNE Division to report for duty as a youth monitor, aka, grandpa or baby sitter. Am I up to the challenge, you betcha Charlie! Three grandsons, 10,11, and 14 and me for 72 fun (?) filled hours. One of my fellow bloggers suggested something like chocolate about an hour before mom and dad get home. I am thinking about that!

It seems some of the husbands and wives get to visit Myrtle Beach this weekend as part of their debriefing since returning home from Iraq. Debriefing? Gotta think that one over. Anyway since ABNMOMMA'S dad has been in the hospital for some breathing difficulties, I am in Fayville, as I like to call it. and it's easier to type.

This is one town let me tell you. Flags and signs supporting our soldiers and of course Fort Bragg. What can I say? Fort Bragg, Home of the 82nd AIRBORNE, Special Ops, Delta Force. For an older Army veteran like me this is the mecca for our fighting forces. I am sure the Marines and Air Force and Navy and Coast Guard might disagree. Next week is All American Week and there is going to be more parades, brass, exhibitions than one can imagine. There have bowling tournaments, baseball games for our returning soldiers. The media may want to say the returning veterans are not getting greeted the way they should be and people are ready to give up on the GWOT but these soldiers want to win. You can just feel a difference in the air. You can feel the Pride, the Dedication, and the Courage of these young men and women soldiers as they walk with pride and their heads held high! These are the GREATEST Soldiers in the world.

You can run stories about barracks in poor repair but forget to mention they are barracks from WWII and haven't been lived in for two years. The media also forgets to mention about the millions of dollars spent in new barracks for our fighting forces. Sorry, not meant to be a slam fest.

This is double high for ol' ABNPOPPA. Mom and dad away and the boys and grandpa play. And I am so lucky to be playing in Fayville and Fort Bragg. All I can say is WOW!

I am so lucky to be an American G-d Bless the USA and blogging from Fort Bragg!!

Hoooah! ATW!

This War Just Got Too Damn Close

Lance Cpl. James Fredrick Kimple

Lance Cpl. James Fredrick Kimple (Freer), 21, was killed in action on Saturday, May 3, 2008, in the Province of Iraq. He served with First MLG CLB1 Security Company and was stationed out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

This young man lived just a few short miles from our home. Jacob played basketball against his school during his high school years. Please remember his family in your prayers as they go through these trying times.

James died doing what he wanted to do since age 16. He did it for his family and his country and will always be our hero. The few, the proud, one of our finest.

Please go to this web site to read more about this Fallen Warrior.

lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/OBITUARIES/805070305/1023

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a trust fund which has been established at Fifth Third Bank for the education of his three children. All I can say is:

Freedom isn't Free.

National Prayer Day

May 1, 2008
National Day of Prayer

Have you heard this on the news? Have you heard it at work? Have you read it in the newspaper? I think not! Folks, let me tell you I have heard more hoopla over Sweetest Day, Grandparents Day, and St. Patrick's Day. What gets me is only a portion of this great county we live in can celebrate these days. Never heard of Americans from Italy celebrating St. Patrick's Day with the same zeal as my Irish friends...have you? Mom and Dad don't celebrate Grandparents Day 'cause they have their own days to celebrate. What I am getting at is what has got to be one of the most important days of the year and nobody seems to be celebrating it, or at least a very few. This is not just Catholic Day, Jewish Day or even Muslim Day or Baptist Day. We in America what ever faith we are can certainly celebrate National Day of Prayer.

Why aren't the TVstations announcing it or the newspapers printing it. Hey America! National Day of Prayer!! One day every free American can celebrate. C'mon folks for once in your life do something a little different perhaps, say a prayer. I know my G-d won't mind receiving an extra one or two and I am sure the Jewish G-d, and the G-Ds of the other faiths will have some time to listen also.

Some may say this is blasphemy because there is only one G-d, but I think you get my point. Take a moment, ask a friend or relative or for goodness sakes someone you don't even know. Give thanks for living in the GREATEST county on Earth, The United States of America. And, while you're at it you might just remember the 140,000 young men and women in the military currently fighting to keep us free and safe, giving us the chance, without fear of reprisal, to pray any doggone place we want. Better yet, call your local TV and radio station and ask them where the coverage on National Day of Prayer is. I think I will. So in keeping with my thought of National Day of Prayer I, ABNPOPPA, am going to pray now for all of you and the soldiers, and the leaders of all the countries, and people of all faiths for a better tomorrow......Will you say a prayer for someone now, here's your chance.........

G-d Bless,

ABNPOPPA

Children of ABNPOPPA & ABNMOMMA

This blog was not meant to be a running diary of my life and family however, it was strongly pointed out to me by a good friend we had more children. My friend pointed out my other children may feel left out since they had not been mentioned as my posts have been of my son, Jacob, who is with the 2-319th AFAR, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. I tried to explain to my friend our other children received the same attention when they excelled only not over the world wide web.

This I find quite hard,but easy to do as our other two children are safe and secure in the US of A and not in the military. So now if you do simple math you know we have 3 children. They are two young men and one lovely daughter, all adults with families of their own. I wrote a story once and described them in this manner.

I was married to a beautiful, younger woman who graciously allowed me to help her raise 3 wonderful children; they are, Aaron, the elder, a carpenter by trade and a builder of ,strong sound buildings and homes. He took time to build ABNMOMMA and me a beautiful home. One we had been wanting for the first 20 years of our marriage. As I say to people who visit it, Aaron was the ramrod, I just wrote the checks. I am always careful to point out his signature door arch that he has put into every home he has built. He is quite the perfectionist and creative in his work. He has given me the next line in my family generation and an athlete. His son, Ryan, the spitfire is a soccer player extraordinaire, in poppa’s eyes or course. And his daughter is always willing to talk with poppa on the phone, and sometime never stop.

Our daughter, Sarah, is by degree a teacher, or rabbi in Hebrew. She worked her way though college and earned two degrees. One in what my un-political correctness terms as Special Education. Because of her I have grandchildren who can “sign” at 5 years old and have vocabularies better than old ABNPOPPA. She is the first child in my family to go to college and earn a four year degree. The whole family is exceptionally proud of her and what she has accomplished. Although educated she and her husband decided that raising a family in a Christian home was more important therefore, she is a stay at home mom. Her husband is a farmer, provider, father and good Christian man who believes in being a helpmate as was intended by G-d. I am extremely proud to call him my son-in-law and never worry about my daughter or the grandchildren.

Of course, if you have read my Blog you know of Jacob, the warrior, who has taken up the sword to protect the clan and homeland. Jacob could have been Joshua save the fact his great grandfather was named Jacob.

As you might have noticed our children's name all are Biblical which was somewhat intended. I wonder though about their occupations. A carpenter, a rabbi, and a warrior, do you believe G-d works in strange ways? Hmmm?