Marines, Bobby and Will, Spend Easter in the Valley

Our Easter was a one-of-a kind this year that neither my family nor I will ever forget. We were blessed with the presence of two very brave, intriguing and bright young men, only 20 years old, Marine Corporals Will and Bobby.

Four days before Easter my eldest daughter asked if her friend Bobby from our hometown in Northwest Indiana could join us for the holiday weekend. She explained he had joined the Marines and would be leaving for Iraq in the near future and would not be able to see his family for the holiday. I said, “Absolutely, it would be an honor to have him.” Then, two days later she asked if his good friend Will from Georgia, assigned to the same battalion could come alongside Bobby. I asked her how long in advance she knew that “two” Marines were coming for the weekend, she smiled and said “Mom, Will is going to Iraq too. He and Bobby are good friends, and they won’t be able to go home to their families for Easter.”

As my heart sank at the thought of how their mothers and fathers must feel this Easter without their sons, all the while knowing they will be leaving for war soon, I couldn’t help but smile back and tell my daughter, “Okay, but they’ll have to sleep in the boy’s room.” In my mind I thought of what an honor it was going to be to have them at our home for the holiday weekend.

I suddenly felt more motivated than before to write out my long awaited holiday grocery list and couldn’t wait for the holiday to begin in anticipation of our guests. I wasn’t sure what Bobby or Will liked to eat, so we decided to prepare a variety of main courses of tuna steaks, salmon steaks, and pot roast with an assortment of different vegetables and desserts. I remember thinking “This is going to be an Easter to remember,” and it was.

Becoming Acquainted with Two Brave Young Men
We barely had time to introduce ourselves to the young men when they arrived late Friday night from their travels which started at 29 Palms, Ca. Both men were tired from the five-hour drive and it didn’t take them long to become acquainted with their sleeping arrangements.

Easter Sunday came faster than I’d hoped (for a lack of spending more time with our guests) however, they quickly fit right in with everyone. They proved to be incredibly respectful and polite while visiting with our son and three daughters.

On Saturday our 19 and 18-year-olds showed Bobby and Will around the Valley and introduced them to their friends. Pretty soon there was a full group of 17 to 20 year olds bringing laughter and fun throughout the house. Everyone completely enjoyed both boys as the boys enjoyed them as well, including our younger 15 and 13 year olds.

After Easter breakfast on Sunday morning, both boys repeatedly thanked us throughout the day for the meal, comparing what they have become accustom to eating at the mess hall. “The mess hall isn’t all bad, kind of bland but it’s been a while since we’ve had a home cooked meal,” they said. Being the polite individuals they are, they even made frequent offers to help clean after breakfast or help with house hold chores, which we of course turned down, we simply wanted them to relax, have fun, and enjoy their stay.

My fiancé Steve and I enjoyed watching them interact with our family through playful joking and the sharing stories of times past. By mid-day they were all off to the Marriot for an afternoon at the pool and not long after their return Steve and I had the opportunity to get to know them a little more intimately.

From Young Boys to Young Men
While we were visiting on the back patio, we asked them how they felt about going to Iraq. Without a moments hesitation Bobby said “That’s what I signed up to do, to serve wherever they decide they need me most.”

Will and Bobby shared their stories that lead to their enlistment into the Marines. Will said “I had such a bad attitude before I joined. My attitude is so much better now because of the Marines.” He added that his mind-set was so bad he even lost his job. He had bought a house, had a decent paying job, but would mouth off to supervisors and acted cocky which finally lead to his being fired.

Bobby’s story wasn’t much different. “I was just into partying and having fun. I would hang out with friends and drink; I was constantly getting myself into trouble,” he said.

As he and Will shared incidents that had negatively impacted their lives through what some would consider self-destruction. I was having a hard time imaging them in their pre-military life, given what was now sitting in front of me, two responsible, mature, motivated and respectful young men.

Bobby and Will said joining the Marines was the best thing that ever happened to them. They said “Boot camp is tough. They break you down big time, but, they build you back up, making you a more disciplined responsible person.”

They said they sometimes think about their mortality as they prepare to go to Iraq in September, especially Will. His position requires him to be the first man to enter a house or structure when conducting insurgency raids. “About 80 percent of the people in my position are either badly injured or killed,” He said. Regardless of the risks, they said they have no regrets. Although amazed at their bravery our hearts continued to sinking from worry for them.

Admiration of Two Wonderful Attitudes
Among many of their admirable traits, I noticed that during their Friday through Monday night stay, neither of them complained once about a single thing in life. Amazed at their attitudes, knowing what they are facing, I thought of how others could benefit from their perspectives.

Here they were, thousands of miles from their families on a holiday, only months away from heading to Iraq and not once did they complain about one single thing in life. Instead, they spoke only of positive things. They were happy to be with us for Easter. They were happy they joined the Marines. They were happy they had some home cooked meals. From my perspective, they are a great example of how to appreciate and focus on the good things in life instead of holding on to the negative.

With our family already feeling connected with Bobby and Will Easter dinner prayer was more difficult than most; asking God to watch over them in Iraq and bring them home safely led us to tears.

Bobby and Will never spoke of their political opinions on the war in Iraq and neither will I. Because regardless of how you feel about it, one thing is certain, there are some great men who risk their lives to serve in our military for a variety of reasons. Our family happened to be blessed to have had two of them sitting with us on Easter.

We will be following Bobby and Will throughout their tour in Iraq and will continue to share their progress with you.