120421 Pummelo

We are trying new things over here in Okinawa.  We often go through the grocery store or commissary and pick up new fruits or veggies or drinks or whatever, just to see what we think.

The other day, I grabbed a pummelo.  I like grapefruit, and from the outside, it looks like one.  It is rather large and pretty heavy compared to an orange. 

Even from the inside, it looks like a grapefruit. 

It is certainly citrus!  Where a grapefruit is pretty sweet in my mind, this was pretty bitter, not sour, but bitter.  The skin was thick and it was rather tough to cut into.  There were no seeds in this one, but it just wasn't good to eat.  I don't think I will buy another one on purpose, but maybe I just got the wrong one. 

Colleen and the kids didn't like it much either.

Well I accomplished my mission of trying new things, but this is not one I think I will try again.

Semper Fi,
m

Shoulder Surgery

There is nothing like a little surgery to slow ya down and remind ya just how old ya are. 

On the 21st of March, I had my labrum repaired in my right shoulder... ugh!  The initial settings on my "immobilizer" (fancy schmantzy sling) were all jacked up and they put me on a medication that didn't work too well initially (perkocet (sp)).  We got the settings right now (we think) and got vicotin, so we should be better now. 

What a great time to pick back up my blog (hunt-and-peck; hunt-and-peck...).  So now you are going to get stuck with all my irrelevant thoughts as I recover.  You are going to hear about more than just my shoulder too.  I will probably discuss church stuff, geo-caching, politics, family stuff, Marine Corps issues, etc.  Read at your own risk, or when you really need sleep. 

Semper Fi,
m

Tadaki Falls Sept 5, 2011

There is a neat set of falls that we hiked to on the 5th of September.  We really had a great time, and I think we picked the perfect time of year to go.  Not too hot outside and the water is not too cold. 

To get to the falls, you trek up the creek.  There is pretty much no way to stay dry.  It is a really good time though.  We didn't see any banana spiders or habu snakes. 

Some of us went up to the top of the falls, but it is STEEP!  So much so that the locals put in ropes to make it possible. 

Katie and Seth seem to be enjoying themselves here on this rock.

Semper Fi,

m

High Speed Vessel (HSV)

The HSV is how we got over to Korea this last time and how we got back. 

It is a really neat vessel... basically a HUGE catamaran on jet-ski's. 

The ride over there, the seas were pretty rough and I would say a majority of the Marines got sea-sick. 

It is not really that bad of a ride.

The inside has seating, similar to that of an airline; the seats some-what recline and are set up in rows with aisles in-between.  There are no stewardesses, but there is a mess-deck we man ourselves and can use if we think ahead to bring food. 

As for the ride back, it seemed to be a much better trip as far as the sea states were concerned.  We experienced far less sea-sickness and I must say, morale was MUCH higher! 

Semper Fi,

m

110126 Status Update

Korea is a wintry wonderland still. Snow is all over the trees, roads, tents, and it stopped snowing about 2 days ago. To top that all off, it only snowed a few inches.

Now if I were in Jacksonville or most places I have lived in Virginia, the snow would be nearly gone by now, just due to the warm temperatures and efforts of locals to get it out of the roads. Here though, it was 2 degrees Centigrade IN the tent and easily 15 degrees colder outside. People where I am just toss sand down and salt every now and again, but don't seem to plow.

I can't count the number of Marines who have fallen on the ice, most just get a jostling, but some really fall hard.

We didn't do any cold weather training before we left, and really should have. I am not sure why we didn't, but there didn't seem to be much time. Some of these Marines just don't know how to dress in this weather or use the gear (sleeping system, socks, poly-pro, etc) that they have.

When I was a young Lance Corporal, I was trained that there are 3 layers you are supposed to wear out in the elements: a wicking layer, an insulation layer and a protection layer.

The wicking layer is something that takes sweat and moisture away from the body. It needs to be relatively tight/close to the skin and thin. Silk makes a good sock wicking layer.

Insulation layer(s) go between the wicking layer and the protection layer and is designed to be thick and trap lots of air. This layer is important in both cold and hot weather. In hot weather, cooler air can get trapped in this layer, keeping the body cool. Inhabitants of African and Arabic deserts wear several light layers in their extremely hot environments for this reason.

The protection layer is designed to protect the insulation layer and person wearing it from the outside elements. It also allows the insulation to trap the air.

Wearing 2 wicking layers doesn't help and sometimes causes moisture to stay next to the skin. Two protective layers can also keep moisture in. Multiple insulation layers on the other hand are good, as they simply trap air. You have to wear these layers in order or they just don't work.

So in the cold weather, on you feet, you should wear silk or dress socks, under thick socks, under good boots. The sleeping system is designed to have each of the three layers as well, but if you don't put it together right, you have the wrong layers in the wrong order or wear extra layers you defeat the way it was designed.

OK, so there you have it.  Those of you planning on going out into the elements, get your layers right first.  Those Marines of mine that are out here with me, think about how you are doing what you are doing and do it right!

Semper Fi,
m

South Korea

... is much more developed than what I was expecting. I came over here expecting it to be much more sprawled out. We pulled in to a port area where there were very high apartment high-rises.

It is very urban in several locations and very built up.


Driving through South Korea really reminds me of driving through West Virginia with the mountains, roads carved into the jagged slopes and "Charleston-like" cities in very developled pockets. It is silly cold over here in the winter, much like West Virginia and the people have a long history of strong beliefs (much like the Hatfields and McCoys).

As we drove here, we stopped at a little rest area along the highway. One of the Marines with me asked what I thought the stairs were for in this picture. I just chuckled and said, "well, they are to go up." Well, what else are they for right? Maybe to go down?


Speaking Japanese is very frowned upon and can get you into social trouble. Koreans have a good memory and tend to remember what the Japanese people did to their forefathers back in the days of WWII and before. It seems more Koreans speak English better than we speak Korean or than Japanese speak English.

Internet access is not nearly as prevalent as it was in Japan for me and harder to get to, to stay in touch with family, atleast right now.

COLD.... it is extremely cold over here. From what the forcasters are saying, it is not supposed to get above freezing during our entire stay here. In my book that is cold. Even the highs are below freezing. Contrast that to Japan and we are, well, chillin!

Semper Fi,
m

On Oki!

We are on Okinawa, Japan! First time here and first time stationed overseas as a family. The language is VERY different and it seems everything is more complicated.

We are staying in a hotel off base, so we are having to interact quite a bit more with the local populace, to get stuff done.

We purchased the first of two vehicles today and that was quite interesting. Tomorrow, we should purchase our second one.

There are numerous little bases over here and it seems you cannot do much with out going to another base to do it. Most people live on one, but there is no commissary on that one, so they have to go to another base. The chapel they would go to is on a different base all together. Work is on a different base still... even the elementary school and the middle school are on two different bases (and why wouldn't they be...).

Not that any of this stuff is a big deal, it is all just different to what we are used to.

I actually start working next week sometime, well at least until the housing office calls and offers us a house. Once that happens, we will need to start the process of getting moved in and getting our stuff unpacked.

Work has been extremely flexible with me. We have an Awesome sponsor as well. Our sponsors are a family who are assigned to take care of us and make sure we have transportation to get done what we need to do. It is a great concept. We are very blessed and thankful to have them as our sponsors.

Well, more to follow!

Semper Fi,
m

2010 Happy Memorial Day

Veterans, Happy Memorial day.

For those who have served, it is often hard to think back about brothers we have served with who have gone before us. I must say it has been an honor to serve with each of them, and it is to honor them that I give everything I have to do what I do.

To those still serving, I am honored to be your brother in arms.

To those who have retired from active service: Thanks for your awe inspiring service. I hope one day to make it to that 20 year mark.

To those who served but did not retire but served: Thanks for playing a part in keeping our nation free from tyranny.

To those considering service in the armed forces of this great land: Don't. If it is something you can even consider saying no to, you are not called. U.S. Military service takes unwavering commitment and a willingness to spill blood, yours or your enemy's, in a fight you may be opposed to. You won't make it.

Only those who can't stop thinking about it, who just feel drawn to excellence, who absolutely must serve will make it. Every one of the brothers I have lost in combat were not there because they signed some silly contract (and they did voluntarily); not because they had considered it and decided it was a great idea; but because they just had to be there, doing what they felt called to do.


On Friday afternoon, the scouts of troop 597 and I placed flags at the headstones at the North Carolina veterans cemetery. The ground was hard and the flag staffs were breaking as we stuck them into the ground. Some of the fathers were smart and brought screw-drivers with them to poke a hole in the ground in order to put the flags in. All I had was a knife, but I cannot think of a more honorable task for a knife to complete.


After placing the flags, my sons and I went over to the Beirut, 9/11 and Vietnam Memorials, to talk about Memorial Day and what it really means.

I will never forget.

Semper Fi,
m

Back from OIF 9.2

Well, for those of you who don't know, I am back from OIF 09-10 and don't plan to go back to Iraq anytime soon. We will see, though right. We turned Anbar Province over to the 82nd Airborne, the same unit that turned it over to us back in 2004... Oh the irony.

It was not an easy deployment that is for sure. We worked, hard and long hours. The main reason I did not blog on this last deployment is our rules and regulations forbade it, but in reality, my schedule would have prevented it anyway. Our section worked too many hours for it to have been feasible. We had more drama than my last four deployments combined and most of it was unnecessary. We seemed to shoot ourselves in the foot and create more problems than we fixed.

Two of the Marines in my team were not just promoted, but promoted meritoriously. Those two were just two examples of the Marines we had that got recognized for their persistent efforts and hard work. Numerous awards and medals were earned and awarded by the time it was all over and we have now returned able to say we accomplished our mission.

During the trip, I got to go to Baghdad for a week. That was quite a trip, complete with several walk-abouts. The palaces there, although not in the best of shape, were so very interesting to look at. I got to walk into where they held Saddam Hussein before he was hanged.



We got back just in time to see the SuperBowl, in time for Colleen’s birthday, Caleb and Seth’s birthday and Valentine’s Day.

Yup, one more in the books… now on to the more important stuff: my family.

I am planning on getting overly involved in my boys’ scouting and enjoying what time I can squeak in with Katelyn. All three of my kiddo’s are just growing like crazy. All three of them are hitting that age when they need a daddy’s discipline and love.

Thank you so very much for all of your support over these last few months. The care packages were all shared and made a significant impact on the Marines, their morale and the performance of their duties. As hard as this deployment was, your support made it bearable and made our successes possible.

Semper Fi,
m

He's Coming Home!

In case you haven't heard the news... Mark is coming home in early/mid February. Nearly 2 months before his scheduled homecoming. Many people have asked why, and quite simply the reason is the Army showed up several months early. So the Marines are leaving early. Mark's unit was slated to "turn the lights out on Iraq", but the Army will now do that as Marines all over the globe prepare for their next assignment... Afghanistan. We have no reason to believe Mark will head there anytime soon, but we are certainly praying he'll be home for longer than he has been over the past couple of years.

So Mark if you are reading this, come home soon and come home safely.

We all love you and can't wait to hug your neck, give you a high five and simply live life with you!