A BIG decision for a young Man

[Regor]

It's not fish related or Kayak related, but I think you will all appreciate something I am VERY proud of.

In this day and age of unrest in the world where we seem to be getting our hands into everything.

There are those who fight for our rights to fish, and they are appreciated.

My son has made a big decision in his life to fight for our freedom, and was sworn in yesterday to the Army!

Many in our family are prior military to include me (USMC OOORAH), and I know a lot of fishing folks here on BWE are either Prior or Active military, so needless to say we are proud of his decision .

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http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/674/IMG_0094_640.jpg

[yakrider]

Thanks for sharing your patriotic pride!
And thank you young man for steppin' up!!!!

[StinkyMatt]

Proud Papa!

Beaming smile.

[JeffB]

That's too cool. I have a brother in the Army who got a bronze Star in Afghan. Myself, I did 4 tours in Iraq and 1 in Afghan. I spent 9yrs in the Corps. Once again congrats on your son!

[mtnbykr2]

Congrats on raising one fine young man there Greg, the pride definitely shows
congrats to your son on all his accomplishments thus far, thanks to him and all that serve to protect our country...b

[lowprofile]

As a Marine how did you let this happen? Lol
best of luck to him.

[DanaPT]

best wishes for your son. I appreciate his service.

:cheers1:

[oneyedeer]

Sweet!

[addicted2sp33d]

Thanks for sharing!

Army? In San Diego? How did you let that happen?... everybody around here is Navy, Marines, and a few black sheep Coast Guard, but they mostly stick to themselves. :)

[ful-rac]

That's great! God bless your son and your family. It's a brave thing to enlist in the military, especially like you said with alot of unrest in the world....I know he will make his family and his country proud! :cheers1:

[blitzburgh]

Tell your son :you_rock: for me! And by the way, :you_rock: for raising him to be such a selfless, upstanding, proud American!!!

[Badtaste2k]

Way to go! :you_rock:

Dan

[THE DARKHORSE]

He looks like a fine young individual. Mom looks over the moon, too. Two proud parents in that photo, no doubt! Well done.

[old_rookie]

Congrats and thank you!

[Phatford]

AWESOME!

I was also in the Army... Great place to get a start in life...

[BlueDeep]

Thanks for Serving :you_rock:

[Cbad Mike]

Congratulations, you and your wife look very proud of your son, and a big THANK YOU to everyone and their families who are presently serving or who have served in the past.
:cheers1:
Mike

[Gigafish]

Selfless act indeed, American pride. Thanks for sharing.

[mtnbykr2]

Enjoy the Memorial Holiday everyone, these are the people we are celebrating,
thank you one and all....b

[WahooUSMA]

HOOAH.....A special thank you - Not only to your son for his upcoming service to this great country, but to you as well (USMC), and to your wife for the sacrifice of having your child serve in a time of war. My son is a 1st Lt., and currently serving - 3rdID.

Ingrain it into his head now...............BEAT NAVY! (sorry pop's)

[WahooUSMA]

As a Marine how did you let this happen? Lol
best of luck to him.

We only take the brightest!

[Hypoxic1]

Congratulations from ex Air Force. A great oppurtunity to learn more about the world too!
You must be very proud

[yani]

God Bless your son and family. Thank You.

[lowprofile]

We only take the brightest!

some recent events would have some say otherwise...:D

make sure you take his bootcamp, or basic training whatever they call it now, pic and embarrass him by making a huge sign and hang it on a lamp post on a main street like my family did.

so now when i go home myself and everyone else sees this...
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i214/katguy/Marinephoto.jpg

[Jimmyz123]

Thank you for volunteering, I was turned down due to a knee injury I had in high school. My dad served 20 years in the Navy, and I was about to join the Marines but the knee was not approved, thus I was not approved. Again thank you for your service.

[echo1er]

ohrah! Its getting harder to get in to the military now these day. So at least we know the best is joining. God luck to him.

[tagyak]

HOOAH.....A special thank you - Not only to your son for his upcoming service to this great country, but to you as well (USMC), and to your wife for the sacrifice of having your child serve in a time of war. My son is a 1st Lt., and currently serving - 3rdID.

Ingrain it into his head now...............BEAT NAVY! (sorry pop's)

wow roger; it has been a short time since he graduated from West Point and for him to be a 1st Lt. you must be very proud too!!! :D

regor; congrats to you and your wife for raising such a good son

[Hunter (The 80's Man)]

Well done. God bless!

[T-Rex]

Congratulations and thanks to your son for his service to our country.

[jorluivil]

That's awesome! Such a Noble thing to do.

[Papa drew]

Thank you for supporting our country

3rd tanks / 4th tanks M1A1 heavy's
USMC

Papa drew

[WahooUSMA]

some recent events would have some say otherwise...:D

make sure you take his bootcamp, or basic training whatever they call it now, pic and embarrass him by making a huge sign and hang it on a lamp post on a main street like my family did.

so now when i go home myself and everyone else sees this...
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i214/katguy/Marinephoto.jpg

Thank you for your service! Its all in good spirits :cheers1:....Participated and trained with USMC 2nd ANGLICO in the 80's....some of the best warriors, ever! SF & Recon get all the glory, but ANGLICO were some of the best trained Marines. Sure glad they were reactivated!

Had to laugh at the lamp post reference. My son said if I sent his picture to the city to hang on a light post he would never forgive me.

[PegLegFury]

I couldn't join the USMC out of high school due to medical reasons. A couple years ago I talked to a recruiter about it again and they wouldn't accept me because of age even though I was 2 years under the recruit cap. I guess they vary criteria based on recruit statistics or something. Now I'm overage. :mad:

[lamb]

Congrats to your boy and proud parents,
and THANK YOU!!!!!!

[KatFish]

Congrats! I'd be proud too. My dad is Navy and I married a Marine. I love any branch of our military. Stay safe buddy!

[Regor]

My son made it through training, went through graduation, and left the same day for his first duty station in Texas @ Ft Hood.

We took a cruise out of Florida, then went up to Georgia for his Graduation, and now back in Florida. We leave tonight for our return flight to San Diego.

Been a hectic couple of weeks, saw our son for a few hours, and now he's out there on his own. Left home at 18, the Army turned him into a Soldier, turned 19 while in Basic training, and now ready to start his career and protect me and you. :)

[DanaPT]

Sweet. :luxhello:

Congrats proud papa.

[JarrodMc]

Thank you very much to your son and you and mom

[madncrzydm]

nice congrats to your son

[capntim]

:cheers1:Here's to your son and the proud parents. May God watch over him.

[Mobie Hobie]

I wish your son the very best! I see we have a few Marines here!

I served in the Marines. Last unit HMM-165 when it was just CH-46's. Lady Ace 09, the Phrog on display at Miramar was in my squadron. In fact I knew then Capt Berry who retired Colonel Berry and dedicated it after restoration. LtCol R.P.Bland was our CO in HMM-165 when we were in K-Bay. Capt Berry was in our squadron when 165 got moved to MAG-24 and the CH-46 pilot who landed on the embassy in Saigon and lifted Ambassador Martin off as the NVA were coming in to take over. That was Operation Frequent Wind. Great guy! LtCol Bland got the Silver Star for a bad ass extraction of a Force Recon team pinned down by NVA years earlier when he was flying 46's with the Purple Foxes. One tough CO but great guy! Loved being on the Ma Deuce in his bird and tearing it up on gun runs out over the pacific!

God bless your son Marine! I wish him the best in his Army career! Thanks to both for serving! Like you I am sure he will recall his good times with his Army buddies years from now! Best...

[IslanderFishing]

Proud parents! :you_rock: Thank you both for serving our country. God Bless!

[Regor]

It's been 4 months since I've updated the status of my son.

Let's just say, you know your not in La Jolla when the weather prediction is :

112 and Widespread Dust

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/674/Over-there.jpg

[Regor]

The extended stay over in the sand box is almost over.

My son turns 20 in just a week, and has already served 9 months in Afghanistan.

He's met some great locals, had some interesting missions, but also lost some fine young fellow soldiers and questioned our mission over there, but continues to fight for our freedom.

Should be returning to the states in just a few more weeks !!!

[FISH11]

Here's to your son and all our soldiers coming home soon and safe.

[bus kid]

God speed on his return.

[sandydiego]

Tell him thanks for his service! It's people like him that make us sleep better at night.

Cheers

Steve

[Big T]

Did a few LONG months in Bosnia in the early nineties and 6 months in Iraq AFTER the first war, babysitting and recovery missions... I know how excited he is to come home and how crazy excited YOU are to have him home! I know the dust... it aint fun. I also know about questioning the mission... too well.

He is appreciated for his service.

Go Army! Hooah!

[BigTunaL]

Congrats

[Tuff guy]

God bless, may he return home safely

[Regor]

If you've never been to a Military welcome home ceremony, or seen it on video, it really touches the heart and makes you appreciate what we have, and what they gave up for 9+ months, or the ones they left behind..

The flight leaves Afghanistan on one day, and after a day of flying, a few stops here and there in different countries, it then refuels on the East coast before heading into Texas at 3am. After turning in weapons at the airfield upon their return, they are then bused to the Ceremony field.

They exit the bus out of site from the bleachers, form up, and then the buses leave, revealing our troops. The troops then march to the stands, a few brief moments of procedures, then ..... 3, 2, 1 CHARGE, and the crowd engulfs the field to welcome home the troops.

http://youtu.be/AvItDiwi7D4

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[Fishin Phil]

Congratulations Greg and family.

[bus kid]

Welcome Home, now get him on some fish!

[rieffer]

Congratulations! Nothing is more important than to serve this great country. You and your family must be very proud. Semper Fi