To the Strong and Wonderful Women!
How does one say “Thank You” for such an incredible debt owed?
This is a post that I’ve struggled to write many times during my deployment and each time it seems that I’ve failed. At the end I’m always left with the feeling that I didn’t quite describe their hardship, give them their true credit or convey our true gratitude. I’ll try; but am afraid I shall fail them.
I’m talking about the women that stand guard at home, support us, encourage us and reinforce that fighting spirit that sustains us. Our wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, volunteers and so many other wonderful and strong women that I can’t even begin to name.
Not just our team but each and every soldier, marine, sailor or airman that deploys to Afghanistan or Iraq, for that matter any conflict. A huge burden is being carried by those that fight but do not go to combat.
Thank you, for being the ones that deal with the mess once we leave. We’re trained well to fight. But there is no Field Manual that describes how to explain to a young child that their father isn’t going to be home for a long time or in the worst case may never come home. You do it with such grace and poise.
Thank you, for being patient and waiting. Enduring the pain of waiting to hear from us wondering if the worst has occurred when we’re late calling or emailing and enduring our complete lack of understanding at your frustration and fear when we are late. “We came back late from patrol”; just doesn’t validate that fear. Your patience is epic.
Thank you, for being the ones that hold us fast to reality and help put us back together when we return. You hold us tight and tell us things will be Ok when the rockets and gunfire have gone but the war has not left us. Your strength is what protects the warrior.
Thank you, for accomplishing all the things that we fail to acknowledge. Fixing broken sprinklers, taking kids to school, paying bills and the myriad of other things that are required to sustain life at home. You do so much and get so little from us many times.
Thank you for being the volunteer that says, “Welcome Home” in the middle of the night ensuring that no one comes home to silence and being their when we leave to say “Come Home Safe”. You inspire us with your selfless service.
Finally, thank you for being you. For serving in a war you did not volunteer for and keeping us strong, sane and secure. We and the rest of the country owe you a huge debt that can never be repaid, the best we can hope for is to understand your journey, listen and learn from you.
From the bottom of our hearts, Team VAMPIRE and every other serving member says “THANK YOU”!
And to my wife and mother; I could not have done all of this without you. You are the truest warriors I know, pure of heart, strong in determination and unwavering in faith. I have a lot to learn from your examples!
Once again I reach the end of this post and I think I’ve come so very short of expressing our gratitude. This is the 12th time I written this post.
In tribute to all of the strong and wonderful women that
support the fighting force we’ve joined together with Ranger Up to stage
OPERATION:VAMPIRE PINK to raise money for breast cancer research. We designed a new shirt which you can see
below and $5 from each sale is donated to the Susan G. Kommen Foundation.
It has the female Vampire on the back. Yes, she's bad ass because you're bad ass! We all know you always cover our back and the front is just politically incorrect enough. We don’t collect a dime for this.
It’s a very small way to say “Thanks” for everything you do. So please buy one in tribute to those that have supported every warrior!
Please pass these links along to whomever you wish, I see enough chain emails going around and this one can do so much good in the name of those that have given so much!
Yep! That's a cool T-shirt! I'd like to have one of those!
You did a fantastic job saying 'Thank you' to all those who have been there for you and all those with you. I know, as I've dealt with many a soldier, that he/she does not have enough words to say how exactly they feel, but I understand what YOU go through is NOT easy. Some of these 'things' you have been through, you probably don't want us to know about, as these 'events' were just so horrible. It is war....and we all know this is the way it is....we just want you to come home safe. This is all any of us want.
As a person who has dealth with soldiers for so long a time, it is a relief to me to hear that those, who mean so much to you, are standing strong for you. When a soldier has to go through the 'lack of support' from those who should definitely be there for him/her, it is devestating for the soldier. It is so sad....and makes my job that much harder. I am always here for those I adopt and I've heard it all.
You will never be able to repay those who have stood for you, but you really do not have to. This is the way they are supposed to be......and to hell with them when they aren't!
JERSEY ANGEL
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I was our pleasure.
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this is awesome!
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My deployed man just emailed me a link to this post. Thank you for writing it all up - for him and for me.
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WE do these things...Because we love you.
"Love bears all things. Believes all things...Hopes all things. Endures all things..."
And thank you for the new shirt design. Will be adding it to my collection of Vampire shirts.
Y'all stay safe!
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It's nice to get some recognition for a job that is never really glorified. Some days I hate waking up, but I know that I have 2 kids that depend wholly on me alone and that I have to. Deployments are long, but I didnt get married for easy and simple, I got married for better and for worse. Anyway, loved the blog. Thanks for sharing!!
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Thank you so much for this post. I'll spread this around for you. Many, many people will be very thankful to read this. God Bless
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for selflessly serving our country...the United States of America. And a huge thanks to the women in your lives who support you, encourage you, pray for you, and take care of things back home. I work at an airport and try to tell every serviceman & woman that I see, and their families, how much I appreciate them. And I pray for them, for you. Once again, thank you. Only with God and you will we remain free.
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Thank you, for being the one who protects us women from being killed for wearing a t shirt and shorts, thank you for leaving your home to fight for other women's rights in the world, Thank you for being the Man you are. Thank you for being a beacon of light and freedom to the world, and for being the worst nightmare to evil doers. Thank you and we will always stand behind you all, and we will wait for your safe return home.
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Thank you for a wonderful "salute" to the fabric of America......our women have been doing as you suggest for generations.....just as much a warrior as if they were in the field.........
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This post really touched me deeply. I am the wife of a soldier, an Army Vet, active in our FRG and a volunteer with Soldiers Angels. I think you did a great job recognizing and articulating what we back home experience. It was wonderful to read the depths of gratitude and appreciation our soldiers feel. Please know that you didn't fall short in expressing your sentiments. They were very moving. Thank for taking the time to make this post. Hope it would be ok for me to keep a copy, of course giving you as the original writer. God bless you and may you alway have an army of supporters on you six.
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Vampire06,
Hooah! I salute you my brother, and thank you and your Team for carrying on the proud Ranger tradition, and being the warriors, and trainers of warriors who have No Equals! You are Rangers in the truest sense of the word, and your expression of gratitiude to the women who are the biggest support company of all, is another testimony to that.
Thank you gentlemen, for your commitment to freedom, and your willingness to train others, so that they may one day protect their freedom independent of any outside help.
God Bless you all, and be safe Team Vampire.
Rangers Lead the Way! De Oppresso Liber!
Warfighter_155
ODA155
Desert Shield/Desert Storm
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Sir,
You have written a post that most of us that have served in combat wish we could have written. Wish my mother were alive so I could frame it and give it to her. It would have meant the world to her. Thank you.
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Great post Vampire 06! Love the shirt too.
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You may think you have not captured the spirit of gratitude and conveyed it to those at home, but believe me (an old fart with a kermudgeon's heart) it was effective enough to bring me to tears. I don't think there will be a dry reader's eye which falls upon this post. Rock on with your dinner. \-;
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I understand where you're coming from, BUT, I think you're overdoing it. Most guys I know were already in the military, and then, they got married (including my dad back in 1942). So, if the man is subject to being deployed, she should expect whatever happens as a result.
So, unless the woman is a complete moron, lush, druggie, whatever, the whole household will not survive, even if the man is not overseas. He'd be a idiot to stay with such a woman.
And, if the woman is even halfway smart, she'll do what it takes to keep house & home together with or without children.
It sounds like you have issues with someone, and in your own way, are trying to apologize for your own shortcomings. So, don't tell us. tell her.
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wow, who pissed in YOUR cheerioes pal? sounds like maybe YOU have issues with women. Haters always want to hate, don't they?
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Wow. you're a real pissah. He spoke of my mom. Dad died in 'Nam 1968. Both of my folks were heroes, but only one ended up with a pretty folded flag for the effort.
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This was beautiful and thank you so much for writing those words. I will forward this around to all on my Email list.
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Well stated young man. All too often we forget the people left behind at home.
I didn't realize what my mother and sister had been through until after my return from Vietnam. Then as now, saying thank you to them somehow seems inadequate. But that one small gesture is something they will always remember.
God bless the women in our lives for keeping the home fires burning.
I pray for the safe return of all of you.
Thank you for your service and the sacrifices you all make. That includes your family and loved ones. There are those of us out here who sincerely appreciate all that you do.
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Bravo!! I do believe you nailed it and even I had a moment or two there when I choked up reading what you wrote. Add my thanks to those women & family members who support you & your fellow soldiers overseas. And please accept my heartfelt thanks for the sacrifices you yourself make while in service to our country. It has to be hard be so far away from family, friends, and home. We here at home owe you too a debt of gratitude for your service that we shall never be able to repay.
On behalf of my family and myself our prayers go with you and our other service men & women who serve our country both in military service and their families.
Once again thanks and may God bless you and keep you safe to return home once more.
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thank you so much for all you do and you are in my prayers all the time
we are waiting anxiously for your safe return
hugs&prayers and stay safe...
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you bring tears to my eyes. Payment can never be made, but words were well spoken.
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Excellently Stated. The forgotten warriors on the home front deserve Hero status just like each warrior on the war front. Speaking of Heros, thanks to you, and all your fellow warriors.
I am a Viet-era Vet and proud father of
a Navy vet with two Iraq tours on his resume. Thank You Guys Again!!
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Vampire,
I think you have done a wonderful job of expressing your gratitude and thanks to the women that back and support our soldiers. Thank you for your service and come home safely!
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The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 05/28/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
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What a wonderful tribute this is to the wives and families left behind. Our nation owes our men in uniform a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid for sacrifices made to keep us free and safe. God Bless You and God Bless the USA
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You are an inspiration to all who serve. Your wife and the wives of those deployed are lucky indeed.
My brother is a Marine and I never took credit for anything, although he thanked me many times. He was the one who put himself in harms way to protect the greatest country, the Unites States of America.
While I appreciate your post more than you could ever know, it is you and every one serving I give thanks to.
Please be safe.
Kate
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I don't think you could have written this any more perfectly and truthfully than you did. THANK YOU.
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Dear Vampire06,
This is a beautiful tribute to your loved ones you have left behind in order to secure their freedom.
I could read your pain in not being able to be home to share the burdens and joys.
You are a good writer and express your feelings well and if I can feel your gratitude, I know your loved ones are able to.
God bless you for serving and making the sacrifice to keep freedom for all of us.
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How do you say Thank you? You just did - very beautifully! You made me cry. The mother of an Air Force soldier.
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Thanks for the post. We are almost done with this deployment, 12 more weeks to go. I support my husband 100% so it is my pleasure and honor to be his wife and take care of things while he is gone. But I still liked the thank you. Now if the shirts came in maternity sizes I would get one.
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I know that you are now all returning home soon and Vampire will be together only in your memories. Your blog has been inspiring and given me a brief glimpse of what your lives have been like for the past year. Thank you for your honesty and thanks to Vampire for keeping us all safe at home.
I love you all and be safe in your next few weeks/months until you return to us.
A Vampire Mom....
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This is Beautiful.
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