Hero Stories for October 2008

A TRIBUTE TO A TRUE AMERICAN HERO My Son Lance Cpl. Harry R. Swain 4th was killed in action on 1-31-2005 in Northern Babil, Iraq by a roadside bomb. United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Harry Swain IV, a resident of New Jersey, graduated from Millville Senior High School in 2001. Swain a Millville native enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, with the hope of eventually becoming a member of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. Harry R. Swain IV was a f...

from Harry R Swain III Lance Cpl. Harry R Swain IV, United States Marine Corps, Iraq Freedom A True Marine Lived and Died by his beliefs 1983-2005 I wanted to take time to thank for your support of our Soldiers, and in Honor of our Son, Brother, family member, and friend Lance Cpl. Harry R Swain IV who was killed in action Jan 31 2005. Harry IV would have been 25 years old July 29th, 2008. He was born July 29th, 1983, and just had that Special Magic about him. As anybody that had the Honor to...

I was in the Austin airport a few months back waiting for a flight. I noticed two soldiers in uniform sitting in one of the cafe's. So I casually went up to the counter and gave the cashier a ten dollar bill and told him to give the soldiers what they'd like. I told him not to tell them till I was gone and to not say who did it. I left and sat a distance away. then I saw the waiter go to the soldiers and chat, they both looked surprised and went to the counter and picked out a few things. It ...

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.  It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read.  Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me.  I decided to start a conversation.  'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. ' Great Lakes Air Base.  We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and...

You will be pleased to know that a large donation of DVD’S have just been mailed out to or soldiers in Iraq in Michael’s honor. The high school HISTORY CLUB has ordered a stone to Michael which will be installed for MEMORIAL DAY in the spring.  The stone bare his image as well. More info to come. Frank Yusko, ADVISOR, Spotswood High School History Cl

November 3rd,  Spotswood Shop Rite will be raising a flag on their roof at 4PM, honoring Michael, 3  soldiers from Michael's Unit  are home on leave and will be attending please join us,  they will also be doing a donation for food banks in Spotswood. November 9th,  Sunday at 1:30, the 77th Military Infantry Division,  there will be a Wreath-Laying ceremony and they are planting a tree in Michael's honor in Fort Totten, NY and honoring all of the soldiers who have passed since 9/11/01. Novemb...

July 27, 1981 saw the birth of a beautiful baby boy. His name is Sgt. Matthew Ryan Soper. He was the fifth child born into a family that would have a total of eight children. In a family that has this many children it is important for each to find their own mark that set them apart from the others. He found this a difficult challenge in his early teenage years. Each challenge brought about a new life lesson. These lessons began the maturing process. Though this process seemed "ever so slow" t...

Dan, had a deep love and appreciation of country never wavering in his decision to join the army. It was a dream he had as a small child., feeling that everyone should serve their country. I remember in Basic training  during the last grueling test. He wrote, in a letter, We just finished our last march at the end of this march we have to climb Honor Hill , on Honor Hill is an American Flag , I look up the hill feeling the last of my energy ebbing  away and see the Flag, with much emotion I  ...

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Soldiers finding ways to bring home, save 'small part of Iraq' By Michael Stetz UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER April 11, 2008 EARNIE GRAFTON / Union-Tribune Jay Kopelman, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel, was able to bring his dog Lava back from Iraq. They live in La Jolla. Nubs is not alone in getting his lucky paws on U.S. soil. There's also Lava. And Charlie. And Socks. And Tiny and Princess and Kirby and Powder – all stray, war-battered dogs spirited from Iraq to the United States by Marin...