Hats off to guys like your son and to my nephew, David. Our lives are safer and better because of men like those. They are not just willing to be sent into bad situations, they are champing at the bit to go!

David tried at least three times to join the Navy Seabees and was turned down because of mild asthma, not-too-good eyesight, and a few other things. He finally wore the recruiters down and they let him in.

I'll shorten this by saying that he is now a first class petty officer (Equipment Operator) with several rows of ribbons on his chest and has been deployed three times; Iraq, Kuwait, and most recently to Afghanistan.

His job in Iraqi Storm was driving tanker trucks of gasoline and diesel from Kuwait to Baghdad. His parents didn't know about that until they saw a commendation he got.

At this time he is packing his sea bag for assignment to Korea. He acts like he can't wait.

You have to be extremely proud of your young man, Joe. He is in the thoughts and prayers of everybody.

Jim