
Those Marines came to be known as the Michigan Crew. We hung out together on liberty, and car pooled home on long weekends and on block leave. Those Marines were:
Free0352
A ubiquitous jarhead by the nickname “Umpa”
A fellow Scout sniper named “Mike,” who we called “Hendrix” because of his guitar playing.
Mike Lindemuth
Sgt Michael P. Hodshire, from North Adams Michigan in my home county. A guy I played football against in high school, and a dear friend and Brother Marine.
Where are they now you ask? We'll, I'm discharged now. Just finished up my time October 1st. I’m a cop; I have a family, a house. Umpa is a casualty of service. Last I heard he was doing drugs, and living off his parents, still talking about his days in the Corps. Still a wild man.
"Hendrix" disappeared. Nobody from my old unit knows what happened to him, and neither do his parents. He got out of the Marines and just drifted away into nothing.
Corporal Mike Lindemuth and Sergeant Mike Hodshire died in the desert in Iraq. One from shrapnel, one from a gunshot.
This was in my local paper today, front page:
"Marine Sgt. Michael P. Hodshire of North Adams was killed Sunday while serving his second deployment in Iraq.
Hodshire's family was notified he died of gunfire near Fallujah, said family spokesman Kenneth Kurtz.
"He was well-liked around here," said Kurtz of North Adams, a funeral director and Hodshire family friend. "We're a rural community. Everybody knows everybody."
Hodshire, 25, is survived by two children, his parents, a brother, three sisters and grandparents. The family asked that Kurtz speak for them.
Hodshire enlisted in the Marine Corps while still in North Adams-Jerome High School and entered recruit training four days after graduating in 1999.
"That was his dream, to be a Marine," said Kurtz.
He was deployed to Iraq in October 2003 and served there until June 2004 as a platoon leader in the 2nd Marine Regiment. Hodshire was deployed again to Iraq in July. Before leaving for his second tour, Hodshire told his family "We are there for all the right reasons," Kurtz said.
Hodshire was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, Kurtz said. He was an honorable mention all-state place kicker on the North Adams-Jerome football team.
High school Principal Carl Christenson said Sunday the 550-student district would be devastated by the news. He said he met Hodshire last summer during a Little League baseball game. His 11-year-old son and Hodshire’s younger brother play on the same team, he said.
Hodshire is the 66th member of the U.S. armed forces with known Michigan ties to die in Iraq. He was the second to die in the past week. Army Staff Sgt. Lewis J. Gentry, 48, of Detroit died Wednesday in Mosul, Iraq from a non-combat related cause." (source)
Hodshire's family was notified he died of gunfire near Fallujah, said family spokesman Kenneth Kurtz.
"He was well-liked around here," said Kurtz of North Adams, a funeral director and Hodshire family friend. "We're a rural community. Everybody knows everybody."
Hodshire, 25, is survived by two children, his parents, a brother, three sisters and grandparents. The family asked that Kurtz speak for them.
Hodshire enlisted in the Marine Corps while still in North Adams-Jerome High School and entered recruit training four days after graduating in 1999.
"That was his dream, to be a Marine," said Kurtz.
He was deployed to Iraq in October 2003 and served there until June 2004 as a platoon leader in the 2nd Marine Regiment. Hodshire was deployed again to Iraq in July. Before leaving for his second tour, Hodshire told his family "We are there for all the right reasons," Kurtz said.
Hodshire was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, Kurtz said. He was an honorable mention all-state place kicker on the North Adams-Jerome football team.
High school Principal Carl Christenson said Sunday the 550-student district would be devastated by the news. He said he met Hodshire last summer during a Little League baseball game. His 11-year-old son and Hodshire’s younger brother play on the same team, he said.
Hodshire is the 66th member of the U.S. armed forces with known Michigan ties to die in Iraq. He was the second to die in the past week. Army Staff Sgt. Lewis J. Gentry, 48, of Detroit died Wednesday in Mosul, Iraq from a non-combat related cause." (source)
How do I feel? Fucking-A proud that's how I feel. Proud to have known all these men who were willing to literally give everything for us who get to enjoy it back here. I also feel insanely angry at the Cindy Sheehans of the world, the "Iraq was a mistake," people who mock their deaths at every turn. These were my friends, not just names. They died for something, mostly for each other, but also because we who've fought know what this country costs. Do these assholes really think they’re doing us a favor? They can keep their paternalistic fake support. Thanks, but no thanks.
Hodshire went "back." He wasn't some sucker tricked by the Bush administration. Freedom costs lives, and all the rhetoric in the world and good but misguided intentions isn't going to change that. My dead friends know the cost of freedom, and so do I. Too bad so many people here have slept under its blanket for so long they don't know what it costs, why they have it, or what it takes to keep it. They don't understand how easy it would be to lose.
I'm proud to have fought as a Marine, really honored to have known these men. I feel privileged and lucky. Grateful to have fought by their sides.
I'm dreading that funeral. I have to see his two beautiful kids. I just don't know if I can do this one more time. The last few funerals almost broke me. It's not the loss, what's so hard is seeing how strong these parents and wives are. How proud of their husband or son they are.
Hodshire didn't die for something abstract, he died for fellow Marines. He died for people like me. I have to look his family in the eye. How will I ever say thank you? How will I ever say a single word?
Back in the day, before the war my buddies and I (Including Hodshire) would laugh and roll our eyes at the Ooh-Rahs and Semper Fi's. After three years and too many dead bros I think I have a better appreciation of Semper Fidelis and what exactly it means. I'm not laughing now.
I only wish that it had been me in Iraq. That it was me in the paper and not Hodshire. If I could trade places I would. If only my god-damn lungs could heal (I've been diagnosed with a lung disease, if there's a god he's got a sick sense of humor... I'm a runner) I'd get back to Iraq to avenge my friends even if I had to buy an assault rifle and a fucking plane ticket. I guess that’s just not in the cards for me. But please, take a minute today to not only remember my buddy, but remember that being a Marine was "His dream" and he was "Over there for the right reasons."
257 comments:
1 – 200 of 257 Newer› Newest»buy tramadol online cheap tramadol hcl on drug test - tramadol 50 mg euphoria
ativan no prescription lorazepam 1 mg high - ativan kids
tramadol online purchase cheap tramadol online - tramadol 50mg tablets ingredients
cheapest ativan ativan withdrawal period - ativan high mg
buy generic tramadol buy cheapest tramadol online - tramadol online usa
buy ativan online ativan uses side effects - lorazepam 1mg pictures
buy klonopin online klonopin side effects diabetes - klonopin anti-anxiety med
buy tramadol cheap no prescription generic tramadol online no prescription - buy tramadol 100mg
ativan mg side effects ativan overdose - buy ativan canada online
buy tramadol 100mg online tramadol 50mg capsules dosage - tramadol withdrawal youtube
buy tramadol online no prescription cod safest place buy tramadol online - tramadol 50mg (generic ultram)
buy klonopin online klonopin withdrawal lamictal - klonopin anxiety dosage
can you buy tramadol online legally tramadol make u high - tramadol high side effects
buy tramadol in florida buy tramadol online 100mg - ultram tramadol withdrawal
buy tramadol overnight cod buy tramadol no prescription - buy tramadol online in florida
buy tramadol online buy tramadol overnight saturday delivery - tramadol 50mg ndc
ambien online pharmacy buy ambien bulk - generic ambien pill description
buy tramadol buy tramadol online no prescription overnight - tramadol 100mg dogs
tramadol generic tramadol sleep - buy tramadol overnight no prescription
generic zolpidem ambien side effects erectile dysfunction - buy generic ambien online no prescription
buy tramadol for dogs buy tramadol online with cod - tramadol 50 mg vs norco
buy ambien online ambien withdrawal days - ambien cr 12.5 mg argentina
cheap klonopin recreational use of klonopin - klonopin yellow r 34
ambien cheap how much does generic ambien cost without insurance - ambien cr yellow half
ambien online without rx ambien cr nightmares - buy ambien online prescription
cheap tramadol no prescription dosage of tramadol 50mg - cheap tramadol
order carisoprodol soma gallery - soma bras discount code
buy generic klonopin klonopin side effects reviews - klonopin withdrawal migraine
generic ambien price of ambien street - ambien and high cholesterol
tramadol online 3 tramadol high - rx europe online pharmacy tramadol
ambien pills ambien drug forum - buy brand ambien online
tramadol online buy tramadol personal check - tramadol 50 mg ingredients
buying ambien online ambien side effects loss of appetite - ambien for cheap
tramadol generic buy tramadol hydrochloride online - tramadol dosage extended release
buy ativan online ativan dosage pediatric - ativan wiki
cheap generic ambien ambience mall gurgaon bowling price - ambien side effects withdrawal
tramadol no rx tramadol 200 - tramadol dosage 37.5
buy tramadol cheap online tramadol online next day delivery - is buying tramadol online legal
buy tramadol cod online tramadol xanax mixed - buy tramadol overnight cod
buy ambien no prescription black market price ambien - 10 mg ambien high
buy zolpidem online ambien and alcohol effects - ambien pill identifier
buy tramadol online buy generic tramadol - buy tramadol online pay with cod
buy tramadol for dogs generic tramadol online - buy tramadol in missouri
tramadol without prescription tramadol hcl-acetaminophen zen - tramadol high tolerance
buy clonazepam online get prescribed klonopin online - klonopin dosage in dogs
buy tramadol online tramadol before surgery - buy tramadol in australia
order soma aura soma 90 - buy soma online fedex
buy tramadol tramadol online in europe - tramadol medication purchase
buy viagra online viagra online pharmacy usa - buy viagra online with no prescription
buy viagra online forum buy viagra kuching - buy viagra uk boots
buy klonopin online klonopin withdrawal neck pain - buy clonazepam cheap
buy tramadol online no prescription cod buy tramadol with cod - tramadol 700 mg
carisoprodol online discount for soma - soma muscle relaxer information
cheap viagra 100mg canada drugs online viagra - how to buy viagra online safely
how to order viagra online buy viagra cvs - order viagra europe
order carisoprodol buy soma online - soma for sale omaha
tramadol without prescription purchase tramadol 50mg - tramadol dosage strengths
buy klonopin online overnight klonopin versus generic - buy klonopin online with mastercard
ambien online drug interactions between ambien codeine - is mixing ambien and alcohol dangerous
buy generic tramadol tramadol hcl online - order tramadol no prescription
ambien pharmacy ambien side effects women - online ambien music maker
soma buy what is generic soma - best buy soma sf
klonopin online klonopin overdose much too much - what is klonopin generic for
ambien without prescriptions can you buy ambien mexico - ambien class b drug
order viagra for women buy viagra mexico - buy viagra online without perscription
ambien no prescription ambien cr free sample - buy brand name ambien online
generic viagra buy-viagra-online.net - viagra online uk pharmacy
buy tramadol cheap no prescription buy ultram florida - buy tramadol uk online
buy soma online no prescription soma muscle relaxer 2410 - soma osteopathic
can you buy viagra at walmart buy viagra without rx - viagra generic name joke
buy klonopin klonopin side effects and withdrawal - klonopin joint pain
soma 350 mg buy soma online with mastercard - soma pills description
buy viagra from canada purchase viagra south africa - generic brand of viagra online
cialis no rx buy cialis dubai - side effects cialis daily
where to buy ambien online ambien side effects tremors - how much does generic ambien cost without insurance
buy viagra online buy viagra online nz - generic viagra 2 day delivery
buy viagra professional online buy viagra online england - buy 1 tablet viagra
soma online buy soma watson online - buy somatropin online usa
generic viagra online buy viagra uk no prescription - viagra daily use dosage
tramadol online tramadol extended release side effects - can i buy tramadol in usa
buy generic cialis no prescription secure tabs online cialis 20 mg - cialis daily pill
buy viagra online no rx where to purchase viagra in ireland - viagra online canada generic
buy cheap viagra online viagra online is it safe - buy generic viagra canada online
buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg for ultram - tramadol with tylenol
how to buy viagra online buy viagra bangkok - viagra dosage and administration
viagra online cheap viagra online india - buy viagra thailand
mail order viagra online viagra youtube - buy viagra online overnight shipping
buy viagra from canada buy generic viagra online mastercard - purchase viagra boots
buy tramadol online with mastercard buy tramadol online tennessee - tramadol vs hydrocodone high
buy viagra for women buy viagra online canadian pharmacy - buy viagra glasgow
cheap viagra online viagra online next day delivery uk - viagra x plus
cialis online no prescription cialis 2.5 coupon - cialis price at walmart
tramadol 50mg tramadol 50 mg compared - tramadol hcl 50 mg uses
tramadol online overnight tramadol dose vet - tramadol hcl 50 mg espanol
order viagra generic buy viagra or cialis online - viagra online purchase
buy viagra online cheap how to buy viagra online legally - buy viagra queensland
tramadol online tramadol withdrawal 50mg - tramadol 200mg er high
buy tramadol saturday delivery buy tramadol 200 - tramadol max dose
viagra pills generic viagra safety - viagra online pharmacy canada
buy viagra online where can i buy viagra online yahoo answers - generic viagra soft tabs 50mg
cialis 20mg buy cialis online no prescription canada - cialis daily cheap
buy strattera strattera for weight loss - strattera 10 mg capsule
buy tadalafil online cialis 40 mg safe - как действует сиалис
buy tramadol saturday delivery order tramadol next day delivery - tramadol overdose narcan
tramadol cheap buy tramadol online in florida - tramadol 50 mg with alcohol
buy strattera online strattera reviews autism - strattera cost target
buy tramadol online tramadol overdose in cats - tramadol ibuprofen
buy viagra online no rx buy 10 viagra pills - viagra for women 2009
buy generic tramadol no prescription does generic tramadol look like - best place order tramadol online
buy tramadol online no prescription overnight tramadol hcl prescribed - illegal get tramadol online
tramadol online tramadol depresion - buy-tramadol
buy cialis super active cialis daily new zealand - cialis back pain
buy retin-a online retin a micro 0.4 - retin a micro scars
buy cialis 20mg cialis online pharmacy usa - купить cialis риге
buy strattera online strattera reviews 2011 - cost of strattera 25 mg
buy tramadol buy tramadol in canada - tramadol hcl ibuprofen
where to buy tramadol online buy tramadol online pay cod - tramadol 50 mg high snort
order propecia online generic propecia merck - propecia results long
buy tramadol online tramadol use in dogs - tramadol addiction blue light
buy tramadol buy tramadol legit - tramadol 50mg tablets an 627
generic strattera strattera dosage for kids - strattera side effects in women
buy tramadol online tramadol 50 mg withdrawal - ultram 50 mg tablets
buy tramadol 100mg tramadol order online tramadol 50g - where can i buy tramadol online usa
tramadol cheap can you buy tramadol online in usa - sniffing tramadol high
generic strattera strattera more drug_uses - strattera zoloft combination
buy tramadol with cod tramadol 50 mg tablets for dogs - tramadol overdose
tramadol 50 mg order tramadol online check - buy cheap tramadol online
tramadol 50mg tramadol 50mg hcl tablets - buy tramadol online from usa
buy tramadol good site buy tramadol - buy tramadol online no prescription
buy finasteride buy propecia from boots - buy propecia generic online
generic strattera strattera how long to work - strattera maoi drug
tramadol 100mg tramadol hcl paracetamol tablets - buy tramadol ultram ultracet online
order tramadol can buy tramadol online legally - tramadol hcl tab 50mg
purchase propecia propecia and rogaine - propecia 4 month results
tramadol 50 mg buy tramadol 50mg online - tramadol no prescription free delivery
cheap tramadol buy tramadol online with visa - buy tramadol saturday delivery
buy strattera strattera side effects 40 mg - strattera prices costco
buy tramadol online mastercard overnight buy tramadol online saturday delivery - buy tramadol no prescription cod
tramadol online no prescription buy tramadol online fedex delivery - tramadol for dogs or humans
buy tramadol can you buy ultram canada - tramadol 50mg (generic ultram)
buy propecia online propecia side effects blood pressure - safe buy propecia online
buy generic tramadol can tramadol for dogs be crushed - tramadol online no prescription usa
tramadol 50 mg how to buy tramadol in usa - buy tramadol online without rx
tramadol 50 purchase tramadol in usa - tramadol withdrawal time frame
buy tramadol for dogs can i take 100 mg of tramadol - tramadol 75 mg
tramadol 50 buy tramadol online tennessee - buy tramadol dogs
buy viagra cheap safe online pharmacy viagra - generic viagra online pharmacy us
viagra online without prescription viagra online generic us - buy viagra online london
purchase tramadol buy tramadol for dogs online - tramadol withdrawal paws
tramadol online buy tramadol online usa - tramadol buy usa
tramadol online can you buy tramadol - tramadol hydrochloride 50mg dosage
generic cialis buy cialis canada pharmacy - cheap cialis 10mg
generic viagra viagra buy usa - buy viagra 2011
viagra online without prescription viagra online paypal - how to buy cheap viagra online
buy tramadol tramadol dosage use dogs - tramadol hcl dosage for dogs
cheap generic cialis cialis 100mg pills - buy cialis generic india
generic cialis generic cialis reviews - generic cialis daily
cheap viagra viagra online japao - how to buy viagra online in australia
viagra pills generic viagra next day delivery - buy viagra online ehow
cheap viagra where to order viagra - viagra buy calgary
generic cialis cialis 5 mg daily - cialis online madrid
generic viagra viagra' for women to hit the shelves soon - order viagra line
buy tadalafil order generic cialis online canada - cialis 30 day free trial coupon
generic cialis cialis 5 mg daily effectiveness - cialis reviews premature ejaculation
generic viagra certified online pharmacy viagra - can you buy viagra walgreens
generic cialis cialis with dapoxetine reviews - cialis for bph reviews
viagra pills cheap viagra in europe - viagra cost
cialis professional buy cialis malaysia - cheap cialis and levitra
cialis 10mg cipla cialis reviews - cheap cialis in nz
buy cialis cialis not working - cialis daily 2.5
generic cialis cialis online au - buy cheap cialis online uk
buy cialis buy cialis 5 mg usa - cialis risks
viagra online viagra online free trial - purchase viagra england
buy soma buy soma buena vista - soma san diego employment
buy cialis no prescription cialis reviews photos - generic cialis online reviews
buy soma online no prescription buy soma pills - generic soma called
cheapest viagra buy generic viagra online us - buy viagra online in malaysia
buy cialis buy generic cialis online usa - order cialis online pharmacy
buy soma online aura soma 0 - generic soma good
buy soma online soma uses - soma muscle relaxer vs flexeril
tadalafil online cialis coupon trial - buy cialis vietnam
tadalafil online cialis daily versus 36 hour - cialis online western union
buy soma soma drug brave new world - buy europharma somatropin
buy soma online generic soma 350 mg - soma muscle relaxer and alcohol
buy soma online soma muscle relaxer recreational - interpol soma san diego 2010
buy cialis cialis usage - buy cialis with prescription
cheap generic viagra viagra normal dose - buy viagra online legally
online soma soma online no prescription overnight - generic soma sale
carisoprodol soma buy soma online with mastercard - soma 350mg online
buy soma online soma neuronal - whats generic name soma
buy cialis cialis 72 horas - get prescription cialis online
buy cialis generic cialis with dapoxetine - buy cialis brand online
buy generic viagra viagra for women drug - can you buy viagra walgreens
cheap generic soma legal order soma online - soma san diego young the giant
buy cialis female cialis reviews - cheap cialis au
buy soma buy soma cube - soma front closure bras
soma online san francisco soma for sale - soma xanax interaction
order soma much do soma cost - soma printable coupons 2012
soma muscle relaxant soma bra sale - ambien and soma drug interactions
soma medication is baclofen generic for soma - soma costs
Post a Comment