Words to Live By

Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid it will never begin.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

A Note From A US Navy Sailor

I received this email today from our friend Jason who is currently serving in the US Navy. I think it has a wonderful message. Jason: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, as well! I can't thank you enough for serving our country! Hope to see you next year! And so this is Christmas……. As I sit here off the coast of Somalia on this Christmas Eve, my thoughts are on home, of course. I miss you all and am thinking about each and every one of you and hoping that you’re all well and having the very best Christmas possible. If anyone had told me 10 years ago that I would be in the Navy someday and spending my Christmas Eve 2008 in The Indian Ocean off of Somalia watching a vessel full of pirates with hostages, I’m sure I would have gotten great amusement out of that thought and wondered how much drugs they had taken to come up with such a thought. But here I am all the same, floating half the world away from all the people that I love. I have to believe that there is a reason I joined the Military. So many people have asked me that question, over the past 9 years that I have served, and I really don’t ever have a straight forward answer. It was really just something that occurred to me one night and so I did it. I know that many bets were placed at the time about how long I would actually last! But I did! And I think it may have been the best decision I have ever made…Even in my first enlistment I didn’t think I would stay in any longer than that first contract but for some reason I keep re-enlisting and all I can say now is God wants me here and someday maybe that answer will be clear to me. After all “Life is what happens when your busy making other plans” I have learned so much about myself and so much about people and the world it would be impossible to even explain these things to someone who has never served….. But the general idea, as once told to me by my mother, as was told to her by her Aunt Leila “Everyone shits on a pot”. Something I try to keep in mind everyday. I thank every one of you for the support and encouragement you give me and want you to know that’s what keeps me going on days like this (Christmas). It’s also what keeps the thousands of other Military men and women who are fighting for this country going whether or not we agree with the decisions the politicians in Washington make or not we are all here to support and defend the USA. I never had a love of country before I joined but I do now know what it means and have great pride in our nation and the young Men and Women who give their lives on foreign soil, far away from their family and friends, every day. Please think of those military personnel who are away from home on Christmas today, for their very first time as well as the families and friends of those who will never get to see their son or daughter, brother or sister, friend or partner ever again. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, (if praying is your thing). And give them the encouragement and strength they need to get through it all and for those who can, to come home safe and healthy and much wiser about the world than they ever new could be possible! Thanks again for your love and support and know that although I am sad about being away from home today I did choose this life for myself and am happy to know that I am in one way or another helping to protect each of you, your children and their children’s freedom! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

15 comments:

Learning to Golf said...

Ann,
Merry Christmas to you, Big D, and the whole family.

Please pass a special thank you to Jason and let him know real Americans support and thank him for what he is doing for us.

Webster World said...

Jason, Thank you for your 9yrs of service. May God bless you and have a Merry Christmas.

Webster World said...

Ann, Thank you for shareing that with us.

Paula said...

Very well composed, Jason! A very merry Christmas wish to you and all those on your ship, and all the military personnel serving all over the world!

Lady R (Di) said...

Sometimes, the best gifts are not found in stores. Thank you Jason.

Thank you to Ann!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Anonymous said...

I salute you and the many others who serve proudly - may God bless you and keep you safe.

Willy D said...

When it comes down to it, there are very few that will put on the uniform and defend our country. But the ones that do are usually like Jason, a heart of gold and the soul of a warrior.
Thanks for posting his letter. There will be an empty setting at our table in remembrance of all of our Military Personnel spending Christmas away from their families.

BTW, they made a makeshift fireplace out of some iron casings and hung stocking on it. Sounds like their spirits are still high.

B.B. said...

That was very touching, thank you Ann for sharing, and thank Jason for serving.

B.B. said...

Oh yeah! Merry Christmas! :) Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Jane said...

Thanks for seving our country! Merry Christmas!

Kim Thomas said...

Thank you for serving!

FLHX_Dave said...

It's hard for me to hear people who have lived in the shell say they hate this country. The letter helped me cop with that just a bit better. I can just chalk it up as ignorance now and resist getting upset. Regardless, this country helps as much as it may appear to harm.

Thanks Jason for service. Thanks Ann for sharing. This is an awesome message and every person serving is making a sacrifice. I think alot of people forget this.

Happy holidays and may the new year bring the best. Thanks for the gift.

Dean "D-Day" said...

Ann-
Thanks for sharing this inspiring letter. Let us never forget those unseen unsung heroes that keep us safe. May God bless every one of them and see them safely home.

Bianka said...

Thank you for sharing this letter!

"Joker" said...

Wow. I really wish I'd have read this sooner. What an inspiration. Many times I think back and wonder if I should have went full-time instead of the Guard. What kind of life would I have had...would I even still be alive? I guess it's too late for that now, what's done is done. I like so many others, depend on guys like Jason to keep us safe.

It must be tougher at Christmas. I was in Basic Training during Christmas time in 1983, but amazingly they let us go home on leave if we wanted to, and I did. I don't know what it's like to have to spend it away from my family, so I appreciate very much the sacrifice your friend is making, and so many others like him.

Thanks for this.