Dear Gang
I had a great time up in DC at my folks house and on Friday night was able to go protest in front of Walter Reed Hospital against the Pinko’s who give our Marines and Soldiers a hard time when they are bused in there on Friday nights. You guys would be proud of our supporters who have coffee and pizza out to make the night go by nice and fast. One of my Mom’s friends “GunNut” was out there and I wanted to thank her for my present!! You are awesome girl!! If you live in the DC area and can visit these guys on a Friday night, go help out to let the troops know that the Pinko’s are down the street and mean nothing. Also, AnySoldiers.com is needing some funding, if you can send them a donation, it will be going to the most important cause around!! I sent Marty Money via paypal and it was painless. Below is a memory I had, thought I would go back now and type out memories for you since I’m home and limited to the amount of time I can spend on the computer with the little ones begging me to build forts and play “Daddy GI Joe” to their Barbie’s.
Hope you guys are doing well and I’ll talk to you soon.
Semper Fi,
Taco
The two Marines stared out of the window overlooking the parking lot next to the old Iraqi control tower. It was windy as all get out, a light splattering of rain falling as passing cumulus clouds sailed overhead. There was a ton of gravel dumped two weeks before, that while all smoothed out, was far too deep. The SUV’s parked next to the building would have to back out in four wheel drive because with all the rain sitting below the gravel that was intended to keep them above all the mud, they would get stuck.
There below was a lone Marine with a shovel in his hand, the constant crunch of metal biting into gravel could be heard 80 feet over head. With each scoop, another sling, the gravel pit slowly started thinning out. Of course, this taking hours to do. The first Marine sipped his coffee again, the only sound between them. They watched for another ten minutes. The door to the office opened with a slight knock, both Marines by the window turned to acknowledge the visitor and returned to the lone figure below. The visitor joined them at the window, “What did he do this time?” The Officer with the coffee took another slow sip of his coffee and replied “Well, our young devil dog was caught doing doughnuts over next to the new Can Camp in our Trooper yesterday afternoon in the rain and mud. He even made the General’s blotter in the morning meeting. I got over ten phone calls on it this morning.” He paused and then continued “I figured if he liked being out in the mud and rain, he could take care of our gravel problem down there.”
The visitor nodded and they watched this guy work like a piston engine. “Man, he just keeps going like that little bunny” mumbled the Staff Sergeant next to the Major. The Officer shook his head, “that boy is dumb sometimes, at least he could have put a fake number in the window and blamed it on Grunts next door or even better, the Army” The visitor, a Gunny, smiled. “Are you going to have him doing this till you leave next week?” The Officer, thought about it, “The jury is not out on this kid yet, might let him go for another day or so to keep him out of trouble, hell it makes me tired just watching him!”
They all nodded and went back to the sound of his metal blade digging into the pit. The Gunny summed it all up for us “Life is tough, tougher when you are stupid”
The SandGram 
March 24, 2006 at 8:49 am
Uh, forgive me for being ignorant, but who exactly is harassing wounded veterans at Walter Reed?
March 24, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Excellent post, thank you. Glad you had fun in DC with your folks. I am so looking forward to meeting GN and your mom on Friday night before The Conference, it’s gonna be a great night! Hug the kiddos and thank heaven you get to be GI Joe, not Ken;)
March 24, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Oh cool, the withdrawal symptoms are fading a bit…I needed a Sandgram “fix”!
So glad you and the others take time to counter those “pinks” at WR.
What a terrible thing to come home to as a wounded vet!**%^%#
Enjoy those little gals!
and continued thanks!
March 24, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Your presence at WR was the best present of the night! Thank you again for everything you’ve done.
March 24, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Good Job on going to Walter Reed. Wish I was closer, instead of the Left Coast.
March 24, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Soj I don’t know if you got your question answered? but try going by Gunnutt’s site
http://gunnnutt.blogspot.com/
and that should do it! Great post,Sandgram!
March 24, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Soj,
We were in Texas when the story hit the Internet about this group called the Code Pink and how they held their weekly vigil right outside the main gate to Walter Reed Hospital. I thought they were despicable to target young men and women who had been wounded and I knew I wanted to join the counter protest!
I urge you to read this article on the Conservative Propaganda blog– he goes into great detail about the origins of Code Pink.
http://conprotantor.blogspot.com/
2005/08/walter-reed-protest.html
Anyway, as soon as we were able to join the counter protesters, Taco’s Dad and I did so! We have been out there in the bitter cold and also the balmy nights to support the troops, and it has been a wonderful experience.
You need to go on Gunn Nutt’s blog of March 12th to read about how the Code Pink people lost their permit for the entrance to Walter Reed. They have been relegated to the dark mid-section block (no street lights!) and now the counter protesters have all four corners. http://gunnnutt.blogspot.com/
It is such a great feeling to see the lights come on in the bus as it turns to enter the hospital grounds, and the wounded and their families are all watching out the windows and smiling and cheering at us!!
We were delighted that Taco wanted to meet these folks to tell them “thank you.” It was a fun evening with some super patriots!!!
I apologize to everyone for such a long post, but I hope soj will have a better understanding of Code Pink and what they have been doing to our wounded.
March 25, 2006 at 1:20 am
TACO-great blog–was excited to hear that you got to join your parents at WR—that’s awesome. If I wasn’t way south I’d be there too..
Looking forward to more of your memories….and
to borrow a phrase from Forest–…stupid is as stupid does…
March 25, 2006 at 7:39 am
Like soj, I had no clue. Just thinking about it makes me feel like Taco’s pumpkin.Some therapist or social worker needs to pass out their business cards to those people. We need more mental health in this country. Thanks for clueing us in, Taco’s mom–Now for that delicious well-keeping birthday cake recipe……
March 25, 2006 at 1:02 pm
Taco,
What a wonderful way to spend your Friday night. Not just visitin’ with your mom, but welcoming home our injured boys and girls and making the presence of supporters known to them. Like SK, I’m pretty flippin’ excited to do that in DC during the conference. Can’t wait to meet you, shake your hand, and give you my thanks in person!!!
March 25, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Great post! And wonderful that you went to WR. You and your family are truly an inspiration. And to think..you are also a Barbie-Dad! Who would have guessed that the crusty Marine who wrote all those posts, was really a “soft-Taco”. Have fun with your little ones!
God bless you.
Semper gratus,
Donna
March 25, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Great pic – and glad you were able to join the great folks at WR. I wish I lived close enough to join the counter-protest, since the Code Pinkos soooo pi$$ me off!
March 25, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Hmmmm…
Taco, I’ve been wondering something since I first read this post yesterday…is there any chance there is typo in the title? Should ‘Manual’ have been spelled….’Manuel’? I hope not, but some things sound awfully familiar!!
March 25, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Taco,
So great to hear about the group counterprotesting and that you paid them a visit…Had heard about the Code Pink in front of WR a while back and I could not believe people could sink so low. I, too, wish I lived closer, but will make it a point to join the support when I am in that area.
Nice to hear your girls have put you to good use:-) Great to hear one of your stories again, too!
March 26, 2006 at 1:00 am
Karen,
That birthday cake for Taco is the same one he has asked for each year since he was about nine years old! It’s oatmeal cake!! Probably the most memorable cake was when he was in flight training in Roswell, NM. As usual, I had forgotten to send him a birthday card, much less a cake! So, I decided to bake the cake and send it out by overnight mail. When I took it to the Post Office, my favorite clerk, Rita, sold me $25.00 worth of birthday stamps and then covered the entire package with them! Would you believe it–he still has that wrapping paper–eighteen years later 🙂
March 26, 2006 at 1:25 am
Hey guys,
The Pinko’s are the scum of the Cindy (I can’t bring myself to say her last name)earth. The pro guys out there are kicking their butt and have taken over all four corners into WR. They are my Hero’s!! As to the title, yes, that was a play on words on a certain Marine…Leghound. Ha!!
More to come…
S/F
Taco
March 26, 2006 at 1:43 am
Taco’s mom, thanks for the story and the info but oatmeal cake isn’t known locally and I did a search and came up with nothing.If its a family secret I understand.
Taco, was Leghound with you? How is he?
March 26, 2006 at 2:34 am
Karen,
I’m flattered that you want the recipe for Taco’s birthday cake! We’ve eaten that cake for so many years now that I have no idea where it even came from! Write to Taco through the Sandgram and I’m sure he’d be happy to pass on the recipe via me 🙂
March 26, 2006 at 3:11 am
Taco,
I do believe your “Manual” Marine is related to our Marine friend, who also is stationed at Cherry Point. He visited us at Christmas and got in trouble with the neighbors for doing donuts in the parking lot of the local high school. He probably would have been with Leghound in the rain and mud, since that’s one of the things that he loves to do — mud racing! I can’t bring myself to say young and dumb — he’s smart enough to fix a jet, which is something that I can’t do…. I think it’s all that extra energy from being so young. (I remember being that way when I was in my early twenties; I could do anything!) Please tell our “Manual” Marine that we all love him and are glad that he is home safe & sound!
I am very glad that you helped out at WR by encouraging our wounded as they arrived on the buses. Thank you, Major. Thank you to you, and to your parents, and to all who do this. Double thanks, since I can’t come; I appreciate all the more those of you who do.
Enjoy the days of building forts and playing Daddy GI Joe with your girls! All too soon they’ll be off dating some young man who doesn’t appear to be good enough to be courting your baby girl.
Enjoy Mrs. Taco and tell her we said thanks for sharing you with us. Part of our delight in you is because of her. Many kudos to Mrs. Major! (….So, just how much do your parents pay her?) 😉
Love and prayers, your Friend in FL
March 26, 2006 at 3:33 am
Taco,
I want to know about the conference in DC? That’s not very far from Harrisburg PA. and I’m very familiar with the route having gone there for zillions of meetings during my Navy civil service career. I would jump at the chance to meet you in person and say THANK YOU Major Bell! Take care!
~Judy R~
March 26, 2006 at 12:34 pm
I thought it was Leghound that was in trouble!!! Glad you went to see the patriots that have countered those awful people for so long. They deserve to be honored for their dedication to our wounded troops.
March 26, 2006 at 4:16 pm
Taco’s mom, Thankyou. My nephew.Chad and his friends thank you in advance, too.
Taco, you are so lucky to have such an excellent family.
March 26, 2006 at 9:20 pm
Like your stories; look forward to more (and your book with Capt-B). Saddened by any American expressing their ‘freedom’ by trying to kick our kids when they’re down; makes this parent (and survivor) feel mighty intolerant. Good to read of your enthusiasm and participation in encouragement of those same kids. Bless you Major.
March 27, 2006 at 9:16 am
looking forward to the book 🙂
March 27, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Does the spelling in the title point to a certain famous “Leghound” that we’ve come to know and love???
Giv’em hell at Walter Reed! Later this year when I’m out DC way I’ll be there to support our very much “loved ones” who sacrifce so much for us.
God Bless,
Sam
.
.
March 28, 2006 at 11:15 pm
Taco,
That is so great that you joined the counter protesters at WR. Wish I lived closer! That is sweet about your girls and GI Joe. They love their Daddy GI Joe! =) Poor Leghound! I hope he is behaving himself since he got home… Give him our love. I’m glad you and your Marines are home safe and sound. Thank you so much for everything.
April 1, 2006 at 2:41 am
TB, Loved the post!! The military sure know how to take care of guys with extra energy!! Thanks again for your sacrifice for our Country!!! You humble us with your giving!!!
April 1, 2006 at 11:11 pm
Hey there Taco! What a great photo. As always it is great to read what you’ve been up to. I think it is super that you had a chance to be there “in person”.
I just wanted to let you and the rest of the Troop Supporters know that through eMailOurMilitary.com we send tons of mail to the “Heroes” at Walter Reed. We even have an entire support campaign dedicated to showing these returning service members the appreciation they deserve.
Additionally, eMailOurMilitary.com could use some support too and unlike AnyServiceMember.com they don’t discourage members from other military support orgs from writing to the troops they support with solicitation disclaimers. Sadly, not all support orgs appreciate that we are all in this together and the more folks we have showing support to our service members, the better.
If you are reading this and are looking for a great way to correspond with a service member one on one, check ‘em out. There are COUNTLESS service members in need of some mail from back home.
Dayngr
Proud Member of eMailOurMilitary.com
Providing Encouragement, Motivation & Morale Support to Our Service Members Through eMail, Correspondence and Care Packages!
April 2, 2006 at 6:56 am
Ruth just brought to my attention that I listed the incorrect site in my post. I wrote “unlike AnyServiceMember.com they don’t discourage members from other military support orgs from writing to the troops they support with solicitation disclaimers.” It should have been AnySoldier.com – pardon the error!
April 3, 2006 at 5:06 pm
What are you saying about anysoldier.com? Anysoldier.com is great and they are doing a wonderful job supporting our deployed military! Just ask Taco!
April 4, 2006 at 4:23 am
Great post and yes the crowd at Walter Reed are a great bunch! I love the picture of you and your Mom Taco!
April 5, 2006 at 9:52 pm
So you trained here in Roswell? That must be why we have had no other aliens visit since ’47 because of the the big baaad marines must have scared them off. Just kidding. Even the Joint Chief of Staff has commended the Marines for the excellent job they are doing and have done in Iraq. Welcome home, hero, and thank you for a job well done.
April 6, 2006 at 7:00 pm
This just makes me sick that they are from Kansas (since I’m living here now!)…these folks are slimy enough to gag a maggot!
04/06/2006 6:34 AM Alert
FYI – The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) plans to picket “war-ravaged soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC at 2:45 – 3:30 PM EST, Thursday, April 6, 2006.” “WBC has announced a new policy of picketing soldiers who come home without arms, legs, eyes, minds, faces and other important parts… as victims of God Almighty’s wrath.”
April 16, 2006 at 3:01 am
Starting another new tradition. Those of you who remember Capt B’s Christmas candy bowl he talked about,and some of us decided to put one out “for him” and it would remind us of our warriors that were not with their families,well, I just made Taco’s birthday cake and will serve it with Easter brunch and we will remember the warriors past and present and pray for them and for their families. So, I now have two new traditions; Capt B’s Christmas Candy Bowl and Taco’s Easter Birthday Cake…Oh…thank you Taco’s mom for the recipe! By the way–it is delicious! (Don’t tell the rest of my family that I stole a piece….well, you can tell my husband because he stole one too.)
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!