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

Lubbock corpsman killed in combat

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Oct 4, 2007 11:46:09 EDT

A Navy corpsman killed Tuesday in Afghanistan was a “tender giant” and loved the Marines with whom he served, the sailor’s hometown newspaper reported Thursday.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Mark R. Cannon, 31, of Lubbock, Texas, died from a gunshot to the chest during combat in Afghanistan, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported, while he was attached to 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.

The newspaper reported that the 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound Cannon — whose buddies kidded him for being “as big as an ox but half as smart” — enlisted in the Navy because he came from a family of public servants. Cannon’s father, Tom, was a defense attorney and then a judge, and his mother, Becky, founded a local rape crisis center. She died in 2006, six days before Mark shipped out for Iraq.

Behind Cannon’s imposing size was a “tenderness,” Tom Cannon told the Avalanche-Journal, that made him good at his job.

“He had a real tender, soft side to him, which went well with his interest in the medical field. He had that manner that could make people feel good,” his father said.

Cannon joined the Navy in 2003, his record shows, and had advanced to third class in this year’s spring cycle. His awards included a Purple Heart, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Source
To the family and friends of Mark Cannon, we are so sorry for your loss. It is with sorrow and a heavy heart that we offer our deepest sympathy and prayers. He is a true hero and will be remembered as such.

Read the Lubbock Avalanche Journal article here.

Pioneering female Marine dies

The Associated Press
Posted: Wednesday Aug 15, 2007 18:02:27 EDT



OWASSO, Okla. —
Maye Ryan, who was in the first class of the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, has died. She was 97. Ryan, who was reportedly the oldest female Marine veteran in the nation, died Monday night at the Baptist Village, where she had lived for the last 14 years.

She joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and was assigned as a typist in Mojave, Calif., where she served for 32 months. She was discharged as a corporal.

In an April interview with the Tulsa World, Ryan said things didn’t go easily for those first few
women in the Marine Corps. She said her male counterparts often would look down at the female Marines and that many of the men had ugly names for them. Eventually, though, the women became well-accepted by the men, Ryan said.

She said she was proud of being able to take care of herself and did not apply for veteran’s benefits until 50 years after she had qualified for them. She applied for Medicaid 30 years after
she qualified for that program.

She was born May 18, 1910, in Red Oak. Her father’s job as an oil pumper took the family from Red Oak to Avant in Osage County and then south to Wewoka in Seminole County, where she
finished high school. She attended college in Wilburton and then taught school.

Throughout the Depression and Dust Bowl years, Ryan, an only child, used her teacher’s pay to
help support her parents.

Our thoughts and prayers to this brave woman and for each and every one that
walks in her footsteps.

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

Get out your tissues! This is a beautiful video and song. There is a picture of our own dear friend De'on toward the end. She said they had this song by this artist at Aaron's memorial. All of our precious Gold Star families are in our thoughts and prayers today. You are loved and your sacrifices will not be forgotten.

Our Thoughts and Prayers

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

Texas Tech Students React to VA Tech Shooting