Tribute to a Marine - Part II

Garrison was being sent to North Carolina for training in his career field; however, the school was full so he had to spend one extra month at Camp Pendleton on Guard Duty. It was tiring work and required a lot of walking.; but there were perks, like working officer parties and getting some of that good food and drink! He could also have a cell phone so he was able to readily stay in touch with family. 

Finally...

Garrison was sent to Camp Johnson in North Carolina. He was in 'receiving' for a month waiting to start school. During that time, he volunteered to work a air show, batter fish for a benefit at a local church, and helped clean buildings. He also got to drive a 7-ton simulator and scored the second highest on the trailer portion of the simulator. Only the Master Gunnery Sergeant, who had been driving trucks in the Marine Corps for 20 years, had a higher score than Garrison.

Finally school began. It took one month. There was going to be a special graduation ceremony and then Garrison would be free to come home on leave for a week. We went down to witness his graduation and bring our Marine home. 

He got off duty late the evening we arrive. We met in the parking lot and talked for a bit before Garrison had to go back to his barracks. Both sets of grandparents joined us for this special time. 

PFC. T. Garrison Sanford's MOS was 0481 Landing Support Specialist.

The Marines of this unit were better known in the Corps as "Red Patcher".

This LS unit was thus dubbed during WWII when they donned a red patch on their uniform to signify they were the only ones to 'stay on the beach' to set-up command posts and transport supplies while everyone else had to 'move forward' in the battle. Before the 'red patch', others would stay behind in fear and not do their duty as a Marine. 

The next morning was graduation.

The family went early to tour the little outdoor museum dedicated to fallen Marines. 

That 'steel beam' is from the World Trade Centers.  

In the base chapel, the Marines marched in and took their places. 

As the only Christian,
Garrison was asked to open the ceremony in prayer.
He was nervous, but unapologetic, as he prayed to his God for these men.  

Remarks were giving by the Staff Sergeant... 

...then the Marines line up to receive their certificates. 

All done, time to go home, but first he had to change and pack.

Soon he comes with friends who want to meet the family. 

Outside, we give him a graduation gift.... 

Semper Fi, Marine!

Beginning...

...and end. Time to go home.

His week was busy...Sunday- Worship and church baseball game, Monday- Neisen's for Ultimate Frisbee, horseback riding and Bandy Pizza; Thursday- visited McDonald's and interviewed by the BBC; Friday- had cookout with lots of church families; Saturday- got up late, goofed off, steak for dinner and s'mores for dessert before heading to the airport. 

It was time for Private Sanford to go 'back to work'....

but this time, it was going to be in Okinawa, Japan. 

Garrison's flight out of  the Bloomington Airport was on time, as was his flight from Atlanta,GA to Raleigh  NC. But the flight from there to Dallas, TX was delayed causing a 'special service' to rush him to his Japan flight. He made it but his luggage did not. The flight over the Pacific was not bad and he had lots of room to spread out due to low travelers. Once there the poor guy had to buy clothes in the commissary for it was two weeks before his luggage arrived. 

Following are some random pictures taken in Okinawa, Japan 2009...

Garrison toured some tunnels used by the Japanese during WWII;

then visited the museum.

SKYPE...God's gift to military personnel and their families.

Marine Corps Anniversary Ball...Garrison with White and TK 

TK and Garr...these two would become great friends the next year.

On the job, doing HST's...

Random pictures from 2010.... 

Promoted to Lance Corporal, February 2, 2010.

Baseball with 'the guys'.

A Marine and his rifle.

While having to wait in a long line to receive this weapon,

Garrison called home. We told him of how the scopes were made by a Christian company and have a Bible reference etched into each one. We encouraged him to look for one.

Sure enough it was true...

John 8:12 was etched on his scope!

 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk

in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

LCpl Sanford was assigned to the Combat Logistics Regiment.

He was heading to Afghanistan.

Deploying to AFGHANISTAN

requires a lot of extra training..

first in Hawaii...

...then in Mojave Viper, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA...

One of Garrison's jobs in pictures...he is kneeling in the 1st one.

Home on leave before Deployment...

The week was busy with...

friends who came for dinner...

paintball at a friend's with friends...

(including off-roading on their land with his jeep)

as well as another evening and dinner at friends' house.

In one short week, it was time to go back to his unit...

for deployment to Afghanistan.

Dad prays for him.

He settles his gear on his back...

and walks away to unknown danger...to expected adventure.

Not knowing if this was the last time I would see Garrison alive or unmaimed, I cried uncontrollably as he disappeared. My husband and parents surrounded me with their love and prayers.  

In route to the Middle East, Garrison was laid over in Malaysia.

He called home to past the time. 

AFGHANISTAN

Landed in Kandahar...

First meal in Afghanistan....TGI Fridays on base. 

Deployed to Camp Dwyer on October 4, 2010...

where he lived for 7 months!

 TK, the 'photo bomber'! 

The Office...

The 'bedroom'...

The desert!

One of Garrison's jobs was to load pallets like this one on to C-130 airplanes. He was also responsible for how many  passengers may board flights.  But his hardest job of all was loading fallen Marines and soldiers onto aircraft. 

That 'snow' is really sand that was constantly in the air.

The drinks of Marines... 

LCpl Sanford's Combat Logistics Regiment.

Camp Dwyer was so large the Marines would have to ride in vehicles to transverse the base.

TK and Garr used it as a great time to catch a 'cat nap'!

On the job, on the flight-line.

Garr spent a month on night guard duty. It was freezing.

They would put their feet in their backpacks to try and warm them.

It didn't work, but it was good for the psyche!

Christmas Day!

Calling home was always a highlight. 

Riding in a 7-ton truck on a convoy outside the 'wire'.

The Deployment ended with Garrison having only one 'incident'...

an Afghan had parked his vehicle a short distance from the base gate and was 'walking' toward them. With the constant threat of car bombs and human bombs, this was a serious danger. With adrenaline pumping and his finger near the trigger, Garr and the other guard repeated yelled at the man, in his language and in English, to get back in his vehicle and leave the premises. Long moments passed before the man responded to their demands. Thankfully, after what seemed forever, the man turned, got in his car, and left.

After returning to Okinawa Japan, alive and well,

Garrison was soon promoted to Corporal.

TK did the honor of pinning him along with another Marine! 

Cpl. Sanford enjoyed his time having some 'fun in the sun'...

Finally, Garrison received leave. His dad and brother went to Chicago to bring him the rest of the way home. He greets the rest of the family and then get to... 

...met his niece, Jael Mercy, for the first time!  

What used to be a childhood dream was now a reality.

For the first time ever,

our two military sons were home at the same time!

Our Airman and Marine, we are so proud of them! 

Melinda was at her future in-laws so she did not get to see Garr until we got to church a couple hours later. 

Garr once again spoils his sister. He had given her a laptop before he left for boot camp. And now he gives her his extra Iphone....which she gleefully takes from him!

Garrison had five weeks of leave which we filled with fun things...

Dinner with family and Melinda's soon-to-be family

Attend baptism of his niece, Jael Mercy

Visit the Creation Museum

Bowling 

Visit New Salem with two women who chaperoned

children from the Philippines for a hosting program.

Took these women Ice Skating...their first time ever!

Join his family at Family Camp in Nebraska.

He so looks like his Uncle Richard Taylor Sanford here.  

These two were courting....

...and these two were supposed to be chaperoning.

So much for big brother to Melinda and little sister to Justin doing their job!

And once again it is time to pray for Garrison in the airport as he headed back to work; however, this time he was going to Camp Pendleton, CA....

just a phone call away!!

Camp Pendleton 2011-2012

Worked to 'off load' ships...

And more HST's...

which means riding in one of these...

 to a place where he does this under one for training and practice.

It was extremely dangerous work...really!

Garrison made a quick trip home to be the Best Man for Melinda's best man, Justin.

He was picked to represent the Marine Corps at a movie premium;

the director was Sylvester Stallone's brother, Frank.

But the highlight of Garrison's time in CA was rooming with Mike Tompkins, aka: TK!

They did a lot of fun things together...

Long Boarding...

gaining 'scars' they will carry for a lifetime!

Camping trips...including one to the site of where M*A*S*H was filmed.

Eating and drinking; TK is a fantastic cook...

Visiting breweries in the 'brewery capital' of the USA, San Diego!

Go-Karting... 

The X Games and Rally Cross...

Corporal T. Garrison Sanford's tour of duty was coming to an end

and he was grant permission for an 'early out'!

He could leave 30 days before his actual termination date of December 3, 2012...

However, first he was granted the honor of gaining the rank of Sergeant on November 1st!

And on that same day,

his dad and brother flew out to drive home with him in his car.

Garr had bought a car carrier for his roof so these three guys,

could enjoy some very special father-son-brother time. 

Before Garr was released,

Josh and Dad enjoyed some father-son time touring the beach and trying to eat lunch.

Garrison called to say he was FREE before their meal arrived!

Terminal Leave begins...

Saying, "See ya soon!" to a good friend. 

TK and his dad would be stopping by our house on the way to VA

when TK started his terminal leave in another month. 

That first night, Dad, Josh, and Garr drove through Las Vegas; 

then spent the night near Hoover Dam, which they toured the next morning. 

On the road again... 

Finally, they were home! 

The month of November flow by.

First time in seven years,

the family was together for Thanksgiving!

Then in December everything changed...

Tribute to a Marine - Part III