Girl, 8, organizes parade for Iraq-bound dad

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Aug 1, 2008 9:44:25 EDT

BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Eight-year-old Rylee Dreffs wanted to make sure that her father got a proper send-off before he’s deployed to Iraq.

So she organized a parade in his honor, right in their own neighborhood.

Wednesday night’s procession for Army Master Sgt. Shawn Dreffs went off without a hitch.

A dozen children paraded around the street on foot, bicycle, scooter and Big Wheel. About 50 neighbors, friends and relatives lined the street as Rylee, who stood tallest among the group of children trailing behind the American flag she carried, led the parade.

The Pledge of Allegiance began the 15-minute event and an abridged rendition of “America the Beautiful” ended it before an emotional Dreffs gave his daughter and his 5-year-old son, Connor, a pair of bear-sized hugs.

“I’m just flattered that she did it,” Dreffs, 38, told The Jackson Citizen Patriot.

After 19 years in the Army and National Guard, Dreffs will be eligible to retire from the military when his 400-day tour is completed. He works for Consumers Energy as an information technology analyst.

Rylee had heard last week that a big send-off was planned for a Jackson-based military unit being deployed to Iraq. While her father also was set to leave soon for the war, he belonged to another unit and wouldn’t be a part of that event.

“My mom said that my dad wasn’t in that parade,” Rylee said. “So I thought it would be nice that he could have his own parade.”

So the third-grader decided to plan one to take place on the family’s street in Jackson County’s Blackman Township. Bicycles were decorated, invitations were distributed, neighborhood children practiced singing patriotic tunes and flags were made available — all within a week.

The planning and practicing was done in secret. Dreffs didn’t know about his parade until about an hour before it started.

“We made this up, and we called our dad and he came outside and he’s been happy,” Connor said afterward.
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Three Generations - Four Services

Okay…so many things have happened in the past few months, but I would like to go back to Christmas which was the first Christmas that my family has spent together since my son became a Marine. As you can perhaps maybe tell from the picture above, we have a slew of Military Men in the family -- three generations and four services. Since some of the “elders” could no long fit into their respective uniforms, my brother found some covers (a term I had to correct him about) for them to use. I may have to pay dearly for using the following pictures with the blurbs - sorry guys - but I did have to definitely show what a difference a day (or so) makes.

A History of the Generations

On the far right in the picture above is my dad, Gene (Marine grandpa). He is a retired Army Sergeant First Class. He began his career in October 1950 at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. From there he went to AIT at Ft. Gordon, Georgia to train in pole line construction with the Signal Corps. He then went to the Test & Evaluation Command at Ft. Bliss, Texas. From Texas, he made a big puddle jump and spent a few years in Germany doing pole line construction then back to Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Ft. Rucker, Alabama for aircraft maintenance was the next stop on the Army tour then onto Columbus, Ohio. Dad was back at Ft. Bliss, Texas to attend about 6 months of training at the Radar school after which he was reassigned to the Test & Evaluation Command and promoted to E-6 (yeah Dad!). Another puddle jump over to Korea where he worked on electronics at a radar site. Once again, back to Ft. Bliss (they must’ve really liked him) to Test/Evaluation & Research/Development Command. One more hop over to Germany where he was stationed at Kaiserslautern. There he was Platoon Sergeant for five maintenance teams and worked in Communications/Microwave Radio. It was here that he was promoted to Sergeant First Class (another yeah!). The final stop was at Ft. Knox, Kentucky working in Depot Maintenance. Throughout his career, Dad received many Army commendations. After 20 years, Dad retired, moved to Texas and worked for Texas Instruments until his final retirement. He now spends his time learning how the Marine Corps works and hunting deer for jerky for our care packages.

Next to my dad is my oldest brother, Mike (Marine uncle). He joined the Air Force in June 1985. From September 1985 through June 1989, he was stationed at Langley AFB in Virginia where he was assigned to the 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron and the 48th Fighter Interceptor Squadron working on the radar and navigation of the F-15. Mike was also crossed-trained in the Communications and Computer Systems career field. He then worked on various computer systems for the 1912th Computer Systems Group; the most notable system of which was the World Wide Military Command and Control System. In January 1992, he was assigned to the 8th Communication Squadron stationed at Kunsan Air Base, Korea where he was NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge) of the Base Communications Center and the Small Computer Repair shop. After a year in Korea, Mike headed over to Misawa Air Base, Japan to join the 35th Communications Squadron. In Japan, he was NCIOC of the Base Communications Center and Data Processing Center. After a couple years in the Orient, Mike was off to Brooks AFB, Texas. While at Brooks AFB, he was assigned to the Office for Prevention and Health Services Assessment which is part of the Air Force Surgeon General’s office. He did computer systems support for medical research doctors and was also the technical lead for a DoD wide program called the Health Enrollment Assessment Review. September 1999 found Mike stationed at Royal Air Force Base in Molesworth, England. There, he was the NCOIC of the Theater System Operation Center which basically provided computer support for over 2,000 intelligence analysts throughout Europe. The final leg if his journey was at Buckley AFB, Colorado. At Buckley, he was one of two Test and Configuration Managers for the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS). The SBIRS detects missile launches around the world. On July 1, 2005, Mike officially retired from the Air Force; however, they could not get rid of him that easily. After retiring, he went back to work on the SBIRS as a government employee doing software logistics support.

My older brother Wayne (Marne uncle) is the next in line. Wayne was a Navy man – joining in May 1984. He did Recruit Training at Great Lakes, Illinois; then went on to Journalism-A School at Ft. Harrison, Indiana. While at school in October 1984, Wayne was presented the award for Youngest Sailor present at the Indiana Navy Ball. In November 1984, he worked as Shipboard Journalist on board the USS Pensacola (LSD-38) in Norfolk, Virginia. Near the end of 1988, Wayne moved over to Italy. He worked as a journalist for a couple years on the Panorama Newspaper at Naval Security Activity in Naples. The next three years, he was stationed at the Naval Security Group Activity in Winter Harbor, Maine. There he was a Base Journalist and won a Chief of Information Award – Third Place for small station newspapers (way to go Bro). In about October 1993, Wayne went back over to Italy. He worked as a Broadcast Journalist for the American Forces Network in La Maddalena. In December 1995, Wayne left the Navy and moved back to Texas where he completed his Journalism degree at Texas Tech University. He did some work for the university radio station and then worked for a local television station. He now lives and works out in California.

Last but not least, on the far left….my pride, my joy, my son, my Marine (yes…I am a little biased here). He is a 2005 graduate of Lubbock High School. While in high school and a member of the Navy Junior R.O.T.C., he had the opportunity to meet General H. Norman Schwarzkopf who was in Lubbock as keynote speaker at the Ethical Leadership Conference. During his senior year, he was part of the Delayed Entry Program for the U.S. Marine Corps. On July 11, 2005, he headed off to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, graduating in October 2005. What made his graduation even more special to me was that the day he received his EGA was also my birthday. Who could ask for a better present!?! After boot camp and a little visit home, he returned to complete his MCT (Marine Combat Training). The next destination for this Marine was Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. for MVOC (Motor Vehicle Operator’s Course) which he completed in December 2005. In January 2006, he completed LVS (Logistics Vehicle System) training at Ft. Leonard Wood. He then came back to lovely Lubbock, Texas and reported to the Marine Corps Reserve Center. By April 2006, he got word that he would be making his first deployment to Iraq. By early July 2006, he and his unit left for Camp Pendleton for training, and by last August 2006 was in Iraq. It was the first Christmas that we had without him, which is why this one was so great. He returned home in March 2007. He is now readying for his second deployment. He wanted to go on this deployment because he has become good friends with many in his unit. I know they are truly ‘brothers’ because they all joke, hassle and give each other the “what for” all the while watching each others' back. He says when he gets home from this deployment, he would like to go Active Duty and I will stand behind him 110%.

Special Recognition

I know, I know….when am I going to stop? However, aside from the U.S. Government having to deal with this bunch so did a very special person. I could not close without giving a special kudos to the woman who has dealt with so many aspects and services of the military…my mom. Being a Military Wife, she had to deal with the rules and regulations of the Military Spouse and raise three children (hooligans at times) alone while my dad was stationed or training elsewhere; and do it all with grace, understanding and the ability to not totally lose all her marbles. As a Military Mom, she had the joy and pride of watching her sons work their way through basic training and become honorable men. Now as a Military Grandma, she has shared with me the joy and pride as my son became a Marine. She has let me “volunteer” her to do projects for the Marine support groups that I am associated with. She, and of course the rest of the family, have been my leaning pole of strength during my son’s deployments. And yet, through the years and through all the changes the world has experienced, she still manages to handle it all with grace, understanding and the ability to not totally lose all her marbles. I am in awe!

I have always been very proud of my family’s accomplishments and service to this country. Men and women like this are the best thing to ever happen to America. I honor and respect each and every one of them…past, present and future.

They Also Serve

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Treasure, Turkey
Have a happy Thanksgiving and remember to keep our troops in your prayers today and every day.

Discounts for Marine Families Attending Homecomings

Marine Corps News November 20, 2007

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Families have spent thousands of dollars attending homecomings of returning Marines, but with costs of airfare sky rocketing, many families can’t afford to make the trip.

Addressing this issue, Christie Rooney, a Marine mom from Bixby, Okla., contacted America Airlines in order to ease these costs with fare discounts for Marine families, traveling to homecomings, discounts on airfare.

“Over the past few months, I've heard Marine families discuss the [difficulties] of making travel arrangements for homecomings,” said Rooney. “I decided to call America Airlines to see if they could help.”

Within two weeks America Airlines signed a contract with SATO Vacations to offer discounts to families traveling to their Marines’ homecoming from Nov. 1 – Dec. 15.

“The only airport that America Airlines flies into near the Camp Lejeune area is Raleigh-Durham Airport, which is why this is the only airport where we can honor the discounted prices for military families,” said Jerry Krus, for America Airlines.

If the arrival dates are changed and the military families notify America Airlines about the changes, the fee will be waived, as long as the families purchase their tickets through SATO Vacations, said Krus.

If America Airlines handles the exchange transaction, a $15 reservation fee will apply, he continued.

Marine families, who are unable to make the flight due to uncontrollable circumstances will be able to refund their non-refundable tickets for travel vouchers, concluded Krus.

For more information about the discounted airfare, call SATO Vacations at 1-877-698-2554, or visit the Web site at http://www.satovacations.com/.

Slogan Press Release

I know that blondiebee has already posted that the Marine Corps slogan has won its way onto the Advertising Slogan Walk of Fame. I just wanted to pass along the Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s official press release.

MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND (Quantico, Va.) – Madison Avenue’s Advertising Walk of Fame now has a new member in its ranks. “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.” will be forever enshrined on the famed walk, the announcement, Sept. 26, was done during Advertising Week 2007, held in New York, NY.

Advertising Week, the largest and most prestigious annual gathering of
advertising and media industry leaders in North America, has named the United
States Marine Corps an inductee to the “Walk of Fame” for advertising slogans.
Voting took place via the World Wide Web Aug. 28 through Sept. 25.

"This slogan reflects the unique character of the Marine Corps and underscores the
high caliber of those who join and serve their country as Marines," said Major
General Richard T. Tryon, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. “Such recognition reaffirms the special relationship we have with the American public.”

“The Marine Corps is proud to receive this prestigious recognition. This award not only celebrates the slogan “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.,” it also is an opportunity to recognize the men and women who serve our country around the world as U.S. Marines,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mike Zeliff, assistant chief of staff, advertising, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.

We recognize the extended Marine Corps family—former Marines, family and
friends—who took the time to vote to help the Marine Corps receive this award,
Zeliff added.

“During this celebration, we remember our Marines deployed around the world, their friends and families and our partnerships with agencies like J. Walter Thompson, who help the Marine Corps succeed in protecting our nation,” Zeliff said. Our heartfelt thanks for voting “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.” into history as an inductee into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame.

Free oil changes offered to military families

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Aug 22, 2007 17:22:29 EDT

Spouses of deployed or wounded military members can apply for a free oil change through Dec. 31, donated by Chevron Products Co. in conjunction with Operation Homefront.

The company is donating 1,000 free oil changes featuring its new “Havoline with Deposit Shield” motor oil, including lube and filter, at participating Texaco Xpress Lube locations. Military families in financial need can apply through one of Operation Homefront’s 31 local chapters, or online at Operation Homefront.

Operation Homefront will help administer the program by handling the distribution of the oil change gift certificates in various locations, spread over the rest of the year.

Each family can qualify for only one oil change.

“Our organization receives hundreds of requests for oil changes from our network of military families, but until now, we were unable to fulfill the requests,” Amy Palmer, executive vice president of operations for Operation Homefront, said in a statement announcing the program.

More information about the program is available at the Operation Homefront Web site.
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Military themes used as summer camp bond

By James Hannah - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Aug 7, 2007 7:43:06 EDT

CLARKSVILLE, Ohio — High above the ground, a young girl walks backward on a narrow wooden beam, her ponytail swaying as she works to keep her balance. It’s a daredevil act on the ropes course, but the sweet security of a safety belt makes it fun.

A boy spots a bullfrog at the edge of a murky, frond-filled pond and races over to his friends, breathless with excitement. Two girls, arm in arm, tramp down a trail chanting “Throw up the window, stick out my head ...” The ditty leaves them helpless with laughter.

But the nightly campfires at Camp Graham bring tears. And the faces of the campers darken when they remember who they are and what they face.

Their parents are U.S. troops dodging bullets and bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Along with doing typical camp activities such as canoeing, soccer and line dancing, the children get a taste of how their parents live overseas.

At Camp Graham, they wore red, blue, green or orange dog tags engraved with the words “Operation Purple” and the name of the camp (a hot item) and sampled military rations (roast beef, ravioli, vegetarian).

In a mock deployment, campers at Pine Bush, N.Y., filled out paperwork and received simulated inoculations and fake medications. They did calisthenics and were lectured on cultural differences in Iraq. (Putting a hand out and gesturing someone to approach you is an offensive gesture.)

Sandra Nencetti, camp director, said the military themes are used to create pride among the campers and make them understand that the military is the bond that brings them together.

At Lake Wenatchee, Wash., campers met with members of a military bomb squad, tried on bomb suits and checked out a robot used to defuse explosives. Campers in Hudson, Wis., climbed into a Black Hawk helicopter, clambered over an obstacle course and had their faces painted in camouflage tones.

Camp also is a chance to learn to cope with depression, anxiety and nightmares of being notified that their father or mother was killed in combat or of the military taking away their other parent.

“I never knew so many people were going through the same stuff,” Maria Rodriguez, 14, of Mason, Ohio, said softly as campers fired off arrows on the archery range nearby. “It kind of comforts me because now I can break down and cry instead of try to hold it in.”

Her parents are in the Army Reserve. Her father, Abel, is scheduled to go to Iraq this month. Her mother, Wendy, returned from Iraq last summer and may be sent again.

About 155,000 children in the U.S. have a parent serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to the National Military Family Association, which sponsors the Operation Purple summer camps. At least 40 percent of U.S. troops who are currently deployed have children, according to the Pentagon.

The program — named for the color the military uses to signify inclusion of all branches of service — started with 10 camps and 1,000 children in 2004, the second year of the war. This summer, nearly 4,000 children will attend one of 36 camps in 26 states. Nine thousand children applied.

The camps are funded by private groups and are free for the children, ages 7 to 18. Most camps last a week.

Writing journals, painting pictures and even screaming into pillows enables the children to express and vent their feelings. Rope climbing and horseback riding build their confidence so they feel they have some control over their lives.

Bonding by working as a group, campers learn to use Global Positioning System devices to find tie-dyed flags hidden in the woods. They encourage each other on the ropes course.

“You can do this,” one camper calls as a boy inches his way across a shaky rope bridge with wooden slats. The tension eases as a camper begins singing the Oscar Mayer song.

Campers in Bandera, Texas, are making place mats for the families of wounded troops and going caving.

“It’s a chance for them to step out of their comfort zone,” said Ruth Beaudry, co-director of the camp. “It shows them they can be much stronger than they know.”

At the Ohio camp, there were also typical sights and sounds.

Swimming trunks and towels hung on a clothesline shaded by a canopy of leaves overhead. Basketballs slapped an asphalt court. A whistle cut through the sounds of campers playing.

Kyle Killingsworth’s mother, Theresa, served in Iraq with the Army National Guard for more than a year. Now, the 14-year-old Akron boy is trying to cope with the possibility that she will be sent again in a few months.

“She’s usually the one that makes everybody laugh in my family,” said Killingsworth, who wore a camouflage head wrap and silver-rimmed sunglasses. “And she makes everybody kind of feel normal, so without her it’s kind of empty.”

Elena Keller’s father, Martin, has been deployed overseas three times with the Air National Guard.

“I’ve always been a daddy’s girl,” the 14-year-old from Columbus said. “So whenever I really needed him, he wasn’t there. If I had to ask him a question, I had to wait at least a week for an e-mail.”

Her words stream out at first, but she stops talking abruptly, a slight tremor in her voice.

Kuuipo Ordway, behavior health consultant for Operation Purple who has attended some of the camps, said many of the children are nervous and have trouble concentrating and sleeping because they worry about their parents’ safety or are overwhelmed by the changes in their lives.

Once home, their parents seem different.

“I want to know why the military is making my dad mean,” one 8-year-old girl told Ordway.

Some kids listen to music with headphones on so they don’t hear their mother or father screaming in their sleep. Others stay away from their parents’ bedroom because they might wake up thinking they’re still in combat.

Campers talk about how their parents “freak out” when they are driving and see a paper bag in the road, a flashback to roadside bombs in Iraq. Others describe how their parents moved the furnishings in the house back to exactly where they were before they were sent overseas.

Killingsworth’s parents said their son keeps in touch with friends from Camp Graham so they can support each other. And the camp has enabled him to open up more about his feelings.

Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute, said there is a much higher percentage of fathers and mothers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan than in Vietnam, where many of the troops were young and single.

“That means there is a much bigger problem with children who have to bear the emotional scars of parents,” Thompson said. “It’s very valuable for children whose parents are in danger to be able to talk to other children who understand what they are going through.”
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