My boy is home.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

From Afghanistan. Happy and relieved don’t even start to describe it. He also happens to be a bona fide war hero…this paragraph is from the Transfer of Authority speech made when his unit was relieved:

“The essence of the Dreadnaught fight against the Taliban can best be described through SPC V of the Scout Platoon. During Operation Emporia-V on 11 August, 2011, SPC Verble was injured in an IED explosion, but refused to be evacuated. On 12 August at 1200hrs, his Strong Point received enemy fire which was sustained for 9-hrs. SPC V exposed himself to enemy fire in order to suppress the enemy; this action allowed the forward observer to call for close air support killing a Taliban marksman. SPC V is our living example of the Warrior Ethos – I will always place the mission first – I will never except defeat. SPC V chose staying with the patrol over evacuation; he chose victory over defeat.”

I may possibly be the proudest mother on the planet. But more than that…I’m really, really happy he’s home.

2

I’m happy for you. :slight_smile:

3

So happy for you!

4

Hi mom,

Post one of those lovely homecoming videos.:slight_smile:

5

Fantastic news!

BTW, are you that poster that was trying to figure out how to send homemade lasanga to your son over there awhile back?

6

Wonderful news!

7

I am! I never did succeed, but it was great how many good suggestions I got in that thread.

8

Well, you’ll just have to make some fresh for him :slight_smile:

9

Yay! Tell him thanks for serving. I’m sure it’ll mean a lot coming from a total stranger on the internet. :slight_smile:

10

Count on that! Along with home-made spaghetti, fried ravioli, fried chicken, mashed potatos…and any other comfort food I can come up with…

11

If he always places the mission first, tell him his mission for now is to spend time with his proud and happy mother. And eat what she cooks for him.

I’m glad you’ve got him back. :smiley:

12

Give him a big ol’ panda hug for me and tell him thanks :slight_smile:

And thank you for raising someone who was willing to go when his country needed him :slight_smile:

13

I really hope the wounds that you describe were not too bad and have healed.

14

It was my pleasure. :slight_smile:

Thanks for your concern, AK84. He’s fine now. He had a moderate traumatic brain injury, incurred when his patrol found an IED. Basically, his brain got kinda rattled around in his skull. His exact words, when he called to tell me about it the next day, were “Hi, Mom. I got blown up, but just a little.” Hoo boy…I broke out the scotch early, that day!

15

Good news. Be thankful.

My wife’s cousin had terrible injuries from a bomb that exploded in Afghanistan awhile back. He was in the Army, riding along in a truck of some sort, and a roadside bomb blew up and flipped the truck over. All of his friends in the truck died and he suffered massive injuries. He was in the hospital for several months(tons of broken bones and other problems). He’s decent now, bit of a limp and scarring, but it was traumatic.

We’re thankful he made it.

16

Tell your son that there is another parent of a veteran who sends his thanks along.

Regards,
Shodan

17

All I can say is :slight_smile: :slight_smile: :).

18

Very, very happy for Austin, Alice, Keith, you and his entire family. When I ran into him on his last home leave I was really taken with how much he’s grown as a man. From all reports he’s been a fine solider as well.

Now time for you to put pressure on him for some grandkids! :wink:

Seriously, we’ll help watch out for him when they’re back in our area! Hope you’ll come and visit.

19

Yeah, when’s that happening? :slight_smile:

Also, I missed them when they were in town last. When are you guys going to be around?

20

So glad he’s home! Many hugs to him and the rest of the family!