July 1st 2010

Today in Okinawa Thursday July 1st (June 30th here) Miss Devil Dog received her rank advancement to Lance Corporal.

Lance Corporal (LCpl) is the third (E-3) enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above Private First Class and below Corporal. It is not a non-commissioned officer rank. In the Marine Corps, to call a lance corporal "Corporal" is considered disrespectful to both ranks.
The Marines are the only component of the U.S. Armed Forces to have Lance Corporals. A Lance Corporal relies upon a composite score to be promoted to a Corporal.
From the earliest years of the Corps, the ranks of lance corporal and lance sergeant were in common usage. As the rank structure became more firmly defined, the rank of lance sergeant fell out of use. Lance corporals served in the Corps into the 1930s but this unofficial rank became redundant when the rank of private first class was established in 1917. The lance corporal fell out of usage prior to World War II, before it was permanently established in the sweeping rank restructuring of 1958

a little info for you .. mom's so proud :)

few and far between

a view from the castle

Miss Marine finally sent a few pix but she is only in one of them.

I don't really know the particulars.

She went on a 'tour' I guess of a castle in Okinawa.

The Nakagusku Castle

Nakagusuku Castle is one of the castles, which were built across Okinawa during the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The independent kingdom had existed for several centuries prior to becoming a Japanese prefecture in 1879.

Only ruins remain of the Nakagusuku Castle today, but these are well preserved, and the castle's division into multiple citadels can still clearly be recognized. There are also nice views of the surrounding area and Nakagusuku Bay from the castle.

The legendary Ryukyuan commander, Gosamaru, built the fortress in the early 15th century to defend against attacks from the east by Lord Amawari of Katsuren Castle. The six courtyards of this fortress with stacked stone walls make it a prime example of a gusuku.

NAKAGUSUKU CASTLE
The Story of Gosamaru
Gosamaru was born in 1394 at Yamada Castle in Onna. He fought in the battles of Hashi against Hokuzan. In 1426 he built Zakimi Castle on the Yomitan Peninsula to defend against any invasions from the north. Later on, realizing the ambitions of Amawari, Lord of Katsuren, he began to build Nakagusuku Castle to defend Shuri from that direction. King Sho Taikyu chose Gosamaru's daughter as his wife.
Gosamaru also opened Nagahama Port in Yomitan for trade with Southeast Asia and other countries. Nakagusuku, which means "Central Castle" was begun in 1441and took ten years to build. When it was finished, Amawari, who was married to King Sho Tasikyu's daughter, told the king that Gosamaru was really planning to invade Shuri and become king himself. He advised the king to send a spy, who would see soldiers training day and night.
The king did find this and sent Amawari as head of his army to defeat Gosamaru. The good lord, on August 15th, 1558, during a moon-viewing party, saw the king's army coming. Refusing to fight them he opened his castle and then killed himself.
Amawari took the head of Gosamaru to the king. A note had been placed in the dead lord's mouth, swearing his loyalty. Realizing that he had been tricked, the king sent his army to defeat Amawari. The Crown Prince of Okinawa later took the title "Prince of Nakagusuku" and, in respect, no other person with "Naka" as part of their name ever used the same character to write it.
Gosamaru was interred in the first "turtle back" tomb on Okinawa.


posted by her mom

women in uniform

Women in Uniform

In honor of Memorial Day, meet some of the many women who have dedicated themselves to America's defense, from 1778 until today and beyond. (from the today show)

Women have long contributed to the American military service, but their efforts have often been overlooked. In honor of Memorial Day, the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation compiled photos that highlight those who bravely dedicated themselves to America’s defense.

Above is "Molly Pitcher: The Heroine of Monmouth." According to tradition, during the American Revolutionary War's battle of Monmouth, June 28th, 1778, the wife of an artillery sergeant carried water in a pitcher to thirsty soldiers. Over time, she came to be called Molly Pitcher for her kind services. It’s also been reported that she manned a cannon after her husband, John Hays, was hit in battle and that George Washington awarded her the title of sergeant for her dedication.

This photo shows an unidentified women's volunteer unit in Washington, D.C., during the Civil War.

"The Sacred Twenty" were the first women to formally serve as members of the Navy, in 1908.

President Harry S. Truman is joined by representatives of the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Women's Army Corps at a ceremony at the White House celebrating the new stamp "Women in Our Armed Services," on Sept. 11, 1952.


Pfc. Edith Macias, Marine reservist, stands at attention during a review by Maj. Gen. George Barnett in Washington, D.C., during World War I.

U.S. Marine Platoon 4033 practices a close-order drill as their staff sergeant (right, pointing down) monitors their effort on the 4th Battalion Parade Deck at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C., 2000.

miss devil dog erica's boot camp platoon.
Found these on line, there were much more interesting stories of women in the service.. so I posted just a few with pix.
Thank you to them all for serving Our Country God Bless America!

Mess Night 2010

buddies from school :) I wont use names k
Mess Night 2010

When members of the 1953 3rd Marine Regiment combat swim team were invited to have dinner with their British rivals in the midst of an annual competition, they did not realize the following events would lead to one of the Marine Corps' most honored traditions.

During the competition, Marines from the swim team were invited to attend what the British Royal Marines call a mess night. It was a tradition that dates back to the days of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

But, as Gunnery Sgt. Johnnie C. Watkins, Sergeants Course staff noncommissioned officer in charge, SNCO Academy, Camp Hansen explains, the event has evolved to how U.S. Marines conduct it today.

"The purpose of today's mess night is to recognize and pay homage to the Marines who came before us," the Brunswick, Ga., native explained. "It also gives us a chance as a band of brothers to socialize with one another in our best dress uniform."

Here it is 1 year in the Marine Corps

roses from Bryan

Can you believe it.. One year today Miss Erica arrived at Parris Island for Boot Camp.

Real sorry there has been no pics but when they are so far away and they don't send any :(

I have even asked for one a week :(

I fully expected though she would forget it was Mothers day this last weekend. But she called :)

I was so bummed because I missed the first time she called I was working.

Finally I got to talk to her, again she said she was sorry that had not been calling lately.

It's warrior week (I don't know if it was or is)

She has been working on the mural for the shop. It was 2am her time and laughing said she has Japan insomnia... poor thing can't sleep and when she does it's not a restful one.

Got the, love you miss you's and "of course I knew it's Mother's Day."

Well that made my day of course getting the phone call and when I got home from work my son Bryan had some lovely pink roses for me and a crystal angel, then my dad made a lovely tri-tip dinner and the four of us went to the Plateau for a nice picnic.. but it got real cold up there and now I'm sick :( but at least it was a nice day.

Hope your day was nice as well and I'll try to keep you somewhat posted.

ps I'm a great aunt .. my nephew Jonathan had their baby..

Robert James Allen Frenette born May 2nd 2010

phone call

Miss Erica's units patch :)

It is funny that such a simple thing like a phone call can totally make your day, and she did.. she called before 0400 (4am) here, of course it was night time there. She actually called to thank me for the box I sent.. first time for everything.. so I talked to miss Erica on the way to work and when I got there I hurried to TDR (team dining room) so Bryan could finally say hello, he had not talk to her since Christmas :( Sometimes your kids amaze you how smart they are. Miss Erica had lost her home state ID and had only her military one but that doesn't help when you need to do your taxes and the government made a mistake with your residency... luckily when your over seas you automatically get an extension for your taxes. I tried to see if I could get her a replacement, with no luck she had to be precent. So she went on line and looked up our state, then our county, then went to the voter registrar and that has a list of voters and of course to vote in your state you have to be a resident.. so they excepted that to change her state to the correct one LOL I would have never thought of that one.

She sounded real good and was hanging out with a friend from 29 Palms, her friend is married to a Marine thats deployed so they are hanging out a lot .. and this friend is PG'er so of course she was thrilled with the box too, which had special cookies in it from work.. I thought they would be hard as rocks but Erica requested them.. but they said they were good.. shocking LOL

I am doing a cancer walk next weekend, last year this time Erica had walked it with me I was a little Mad at her because we thought she was leaving for boot camp the next day and she had walked/run 35 miles in 24 hours... thank goodness there was a delay in her leaving and she didn't go until the next week. May 11th she will have reached her one year mark in the Marine Corps. I am still amazed, and still a Proud mama. I tell her every time I talk to her ... I know things have not been perfect along the way for her but she tries so hard to make it all a positive experience, all during boot she never wrote one negative thing to me.
Even some things that happened to her along the way that I happened to find out about, she was more upset because she didn't want ME to have any stress. What a kid .. not perfect .. but I'd have to say pretty close ;) love ya Erica and miss ya too *hugs love mom

no erica is NOT in this pictures but they are from her unit and I thought you'd like a little idea of what she's up to.


I like this site .. helps me feel a little closer to miss erica, it also tells you the time here and there, which I find helpful when I'm confused LOL for example it is 7:22 am here in CA and in Japan it is 11:22 pm, so you see how many hours ahead they are, its almost tomorrow there. The site also tells you a little history and of the supporting units there... which Erica is a supporting unit..

http://www.1maw.usmc.mil/