Update on my Son

congatulations to your son , on his promotion into the academy .
and to you and the wife , for your support in his decisions .
( even though it was hard on you ) .
now we can pray for those still ” over there ” and their families .
get some sleep now , dad !

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

Don, you should be very proud of your son. Sometimes it is difficult to stand back and let our adult children make decisions in life that we, as parents, do not agree with, but that is part of the road to becoming a responsible adult. It sounds like your son is well on his way and let him know that we are proud of his sacrifice.

I know what you mean about sleepless nights. I have two nephews in Iraq right now and, while I realize that this was a conscious decision on their parts to join the military, I still worry about their safety. But I do let them know, every chance I get, that I am supportive of their chosen career path.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Unlike allot of kids these days, your son seems to have a solid head on his shoulders. It’s refreshing to hear about a young man thats interested in something other than partying, and getting laid. You and your wife should be very proud..thank him for his service to his country from all of us.

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

Thanks for all the kind words guys….it means allot to me and mine !!!

-- Don S.E. OK

This is a great story that I’ve followed for quit sometime now, thanks Don for sharing with all of us here the story of your son and the trail and tribulation of being a parent of a solider. My parents have 5 vets in the family and I know first hand the experience of having a family member in combat. My best wish to you and your son and may God watch over him through out his military career. He sound like a fine young man with a great sense of patriotic duty. Take care your friend in woodworking…Blkcherry

Congratulations to both your son and you! Very glad he made it home safe. I can see why you are proud of him. He didn’t take the easy way out on anything. Not a lot of people make it through special forces training, a lot don’t finish jump school and most don’t finish SEAL training. I was a parachute rigger in the Navy, and dealt with SEALs and Marine Recon on many occasions and always had/have the utmost respect for them-even if some of them were a bit crazy. The academy should be just about be a cake walk for him at this point. Definitely a ring banger worth saluting.

-- a little bit of stupid goes a long way

This is the right way to be an Acadamey grad. From one who served to one who is, May God Keep Them Safe.

-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"

I’m so happy for you and your family if only all are troops can get home safe

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

God Bless you and your son. I appreciiate him serving this fine country. I know you are very proud of him and I wish him the best of luck at the academy.

-- Scott in Texas

Hey proud daddy, got a larger hat yet? Any buttons left on the shirt? Great news Don. I can almost hear the shouting from here. Sometimes these things work out just perfectly and it looks like this one did. Man, you’d better start getting ready for that graduatiion. That’s gonna be something. My best to you and, give my best to one of America’s Hero’s

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas

My father-in-law went to the Air Force Academy. They’re very selective, so your son must be exceptional (which I’m sure you’d agree with!).

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

glad to hear that… better here than there. plus he’s getting good training, and education at the academy.

thanks for keeping us a part of it.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Congratulations proud Dad!

I hope & pray that he stays Safe and Sound and returns home ASAP!

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"

Kind regards to you and yours. God bless America.

-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au

Congratulations to your son on his selection to the Acadamy, and congratulations to your family on your part in bringing him to these decisions in his life.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Hi Don

It is good that the boy is back in the USA. My thoughts and prayers goes out to your family.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Thanks ALL for the kind words !!! And Gary….at the moment I do not believe they make a hat big enough for my head, lol.

-- Don S.E. OK

Congrats and thank your son from all of us for his exceptional service to our country.

As a former Marine I can understand your concern about him joining the corps, especially during the times we are in now. But as a seal and a FCC he probably was closer to harms way just the same. Great to hear that he has been offered such a great opportunity.

As an officer he will get excellent training and the possibility of a wonderful career. He is indeed someone to be proud of…

Thank you for sharing his story with us.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Congratulations Don. How big of a hat would we have to make for you?.........................LOL

From one vet to another, tell him thanks for serving and making this country safer.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

Jerry, I would say a 25xxx might fit lol.

-- Don S.E. OK

congratulations to you and your family, his past training and experiance will serve him well at the academy, I do hope he never has to eat any “baluuts”

-- Smitty!!!

“baluuts”......ugh….If we are talking about the same thing….I had a few of those while over seas in the navy as a SeaBee when I did not know better…(As in very drunk)

-- Don S.E. OK

yes, you did mention that one time, lol

-- Smitty!!!

LOL…I remember…our “Sea storys” lol.

Thanks for the congrats Smitty !!!

-- Don S.E. OK

I would imagine that your son has a few of his own “sea stories” by now, especially after being assigned to a Seal unit. does the Air Force issue bell bottoms for those assigned to a Navy unit? I run into an HM3 one time and he was wearing a Marine uniform, it kind of startled me and I asked him what he was and he said “I’m a Marine”, it was strange to see Navy insignia on a Marine uniform.

-- Smitty!!!

Smitty, No..the Navy only does the Dungrees (Big bell bottoms) now when you asigned to a ship…and from what I hear they are duing away with those now and going to digi-camo like everyone else. He wore the same regular comabat camo as the seals did…and when they had to “Dress up” for formal stuff…he wore his Air Force uniform…but with a red beret (Sign of a combat controller)

-- Don S.E. OK

heck Don, I thought he should at least wear a “dixie cup” lol . one thing for certain, I am glad to see that the services are now working together more, it is as it should be, there used to be too much rivalry, to the extent that it was detrimental to a mission. I would not be supprised to one day see only one service, but different catagories, depending on the needs of the service, same uniform different insignia etc. that is most likely far into the future, we will not see it, but it may happen. I have heard talk of it.

-- Smitty!!!

My son finished college ($150,000) and THEN told me he was going to OCS. At the time, I didn’t even know what OCS was. He said the same thing your son said…”I can’t sit behind a desk at (XYZ) and let others carry the load for me”.
He became a marine infantry officer. Currently on yet another tour in the sandbox commanding a heavy weapons company. I wear a ‘USMC Dad’ hat most of the time. I had it custom embroidered on the back; it says “you’re goddam right I’m proud of him”.
I’m with you. Torn between worrying to death, and too proud to describe.
Be sure to let him know we all thank him for his service o his country.

-- Its a HOBBY...I already have a job.

I wish you and your sone and family well.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Congratulations to all of you and best wishes to all that are still serving to keep the rest of us safe : )

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

Thanks all… RajinCajun,
Thanks I will do it. And thank your son for me also….it’s good to know that the whole “New Generation” is not as bad as everyone makes them out to be. Sounds like you did a helluva job raising your son !!!! A man to be proud of !!!

-- Don S.E. OK

Thanks to you and your son, Don. Sounds like he’s quite the exceptional young man.
My USAF kid did his combat aboard a C130 gunship. He neglected to tell us when he deployed and where he was going. Told us when he finished a series of TDYs.
He’s a MSGT now, in Okinawa.
Gene

-- Gene

Thanks Gene,
I saw some spector gun ships in action before from my time in the military…everytime we saw them come in we thought “Alright…someone is about to get their A$$ kicked”...They could cause someone to have a “Very bad day” lol.

-- Don S.E. OK

Thanks again for sharing the stories of these exceptional young men.

I am proud of all our young men in uniform. They carry on a long tradition of other fine men that have given so much for us and our country. Thankfully we have such individuals that are willing to make sacrifices to keep us all safe. May they remain out of harms way and return home to their loved ones. I was one of the lucky ones in that respect.

Ragin…that was a nickname I carried for a few years as I am cajun and choctaw from New Iberia. LA.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!