Project Darkhorse

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

 

 

"Darkhorse" is the name given to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the most highly decorated regiment in the Marines.  These young men are currently serving in Afghanistan.  There are five companies in this battalion and this represents a large number of Marines who would appreciate any love we can send their way.

 

Weapons Company received several care packages in December and then HAE moved on to Lima Company.  When all have finished up mailing their boxes, Lima Company will be put to "bed."  The next, and probably last company, we will do is Kilo Company.  There are about 170 Marines in this group, all males.  The mailing date for Kilo Company is February 7.   This should give us enough time to get sufficient pillowcases ready for mailing.  As with every project, we need to have sufficient pillowcases for each Marine in the company to receive one.

 

For OPSEC reasons, I would appreciate your letting me know via PM (make me a friend on N4M if I am not already one) the number of pillowcases you will send in your box.

 

Sue sent me this "Semper Fi" poster.  I watched the video about the Marines in Bethesda.  The attitude of the Marines who have suffered terrible injuries is absolutely amazing.  Here is a link with a video of Kilo Company.

 

[Birdie]

Our buddies

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4474580/christmas-on-the-battlefield

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

love that report.  I am going to mail pcs to the weapons company of the Darkhorse this week.  I talked to Dori about it and it was one of the smaller ones in the battalion.  I need to move some pcs. haha

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

I am having to put the pcs for the weapons company on hold now.  didn't really have a peace about it and now last night, I found out that I'll be mailing more to the Lincoln.

 

Dori, I can send them a care package tomorrow though.

[Birdie]

Has anyone else ordered and shipped toiletries items through AllTravelSizes.com? Just want to make sure we use them, since they're willing to work with HAE.

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

I haven't yet but do plan to do so soon.  I agree that we should support them.

[Michele]

Ladies, I want to share this with you all regarding this Battalion. Some of you may or may not know, but I present the Gold Star flag to the families of fallen in my demographic area. Sue and a few others are aware of my involvement. It just so happens, we have a fallen Marine here, who passed away on Christmas Eve. He was wounded on December 5, arrived at Bethesda on December 9, ultimately losing the battle and paying the ultimate sacrifice. I was contacted regarding the presentation. I spent today with the CAO (Casualty Affairs Officer) regarding this Marine, and lo and behold he is from this very 3/5 regiment. My heart dropped when the CAO informed me of this, and I shared with him that we had recently undertaken them as our current project.  We further discussed at length many of the horrific events that have been bestowed upon the 3/5.

 

For what it is worth, I am not going to go into great detail, however, I have been plagued with this in the forefront of my mind today... and have spent several hours today praying, trying to determine why this has affected me, feeling that there is something that I am supposed to be doing.

 

My best answer is, that I will find out tonight which Division this fallen Marine is with, but I would like to strive to ensure that we do manage to get this particular Marine's division provided with letters of encouragement and support along with our pillowcases for them.

 

I think I am going to ask one of our extremely talented HAE members if they would make one of the special PCs in honor of this Marine and his Regiment. The story evolving around the family left behind is not what I choose to discuss on this open forum. I am, however, open to any suggestions any one may have about other thoughts of what I have shared and suggested.

 

This is the second death here in the last week. Another marine was killed en route back home to Idaho. He had just returned from Afghanistan, and had yet to arrive back home when he was killed in an automobile accident.

 

I just wanted to bring to light that this particular Heads at Ease suggestion as a project was, indeed, meant to be. Dori, for whatever the reason, God sure knew what he was doing, as always.

 

By the way, my sailor arrived home today at 4:42 am (YES, I was at our airport waiting with baited breath to greet him after a 14-month hiatus) and will be spending the next seven or eight days basking in our reunion. It will be with great honor to present the Gold Star flag to this family, and while I did not ask, my sailor has indicated that he will attend with me. I am truly grateful for all of the blessings that I have been graced with... and whole-heartedly recognize that in one day's time, I can feel such sorrow and also such happy, joyful emotions. Will not ask how I am able to manage it, but am forever humbled that God grants me the ability to do so.

[Birdie]

My prayers go out to the family of our fallen hero.

I will do whatever I can to help. May God bless you for what you are doing.

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

Birdie,  I think that the best any of us can do is to say the prayers, for the safety of those in harm's way and for healing peace for the families of our fallen heroes.  Then we all need to do what we can to make the lives of any soldier a little bit better, be it with a pillowcase, a care package or an encouraging letter.

[DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor]

Michele, Janice and I have been talking about doing special pillowcases for the fallen of 3/5.  The other night I was on the Internet and read about this particular Marine.  My heart broke ... to lose a son on Christmas Eve would be so incredibly hard.  It would be terrible no matter when it was but somehow this seems even harder.  Then I looked at all the lives that have been lost since 3/5 arrived in Afghanistan.  Looking at the faces of the Marines, Army and Navy personnel of those who have died in that short time was hard.  The faces are of the young, most the serious bc pictures but some are smiling.

 

When my grandson was in Marine boot camp, one of the families on RecruitParents was also a Gold Star Family.  I can't imagine putting so much enthusiasm and support of a second son who is becoming a Marine when you already have a son who paid the ultimate sacrifice.  Yet this family met another recruit family at the airport.  Both families were putting their sons on the plane for boot camp.  Later family #2 indicated they had no idea that family #1 was a Gold Star family.  All Gold Star families deserve our deepest respect.

 

I know I am rambling but, like you, I have been thinking lately about all our soldiers who are in harm's way.  I wish we could touch the lives of all of them.

 

Enjoy your visit with your son!  In two weeks my g'daughter arrives!!  It has been over two years.

[Michele]

YIPPEE for you, finally. I, too, hope you all have a wonderful reunion.

 

As for the family above, yes, how difficult it has been for them all. And with a second one who will soon be making his way there, as well, so soon after this most recent life-changing event.

[LLovesmysailor]

I would be glad to do a pillowcase in memorium for the Marine. I won't be able to get it done until later in Jan.  So, if some one else can do it sooner, that would be OK as well.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

you all touch my heart.  I think Janice can work on it Lyn, she has an idea.   Thank you for offering.  It seems that we have developed a side ministry with the beautiful pcs that you ladies do.  Thank you!