I Read This For the First Time in My Life Friday
Saturday night, I could have written it.
“Have you news of my boy Jack?”
Not this tide.
“When d’you think that he’ll come back?”
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.“Has any one else had word of him?”
Not this tide.
For what is sunk will hardly swim,
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.“Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?”
None this tide,
Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind —
Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.Then hold your head up all the more,
This tide,
And every tide;
Because he was the son you bore,
And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!
~ Rudyard Kipling
UPDATE: And we’ve now heard officially about our boy, John…
Illinois, California Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Attack
The Department of Defense on Monday identified two U.S. soldiers killed in an explosion at a U.S. airfield in Afghanistan.
The department said 20-year-old Pfc. Tyler R. Iubelt of Tamaroa, Illinois, and 30-year-old Sgt. John W. Perry of Stockton, California, died of injuries inflicted by an improvised explosive device. Two American contractors also died in the explosion Saturday morning. Another 16 U.S. service members and one Polish soldier were wounded.
Iubelt and Perry were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.
UPDATE Deux: Oh, more info and his sweet face…
There are other families in this agony who need to be remembered in your prayers as well, please.
Military Thingies | tree hugging sister | 
November 14, 2016 10:40 am
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They are.
THS:
So, so sorry for your loss. God’s peace upon you all.
Lee
Appreciate you all so very much.
My most heartfelt condolences
I am so sorry for your loss.
“There are other families in this agony who need to be remembered in your prayers as well, please.”
Always.
Thanks so much, guys.
THS, please tell me this isn’t true: https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/4e7b454c-3961-3fa5-a0af-6e1d243c5012/ss_california-family-booed-on.html
Oh, Aelf. We’re not sure exactly what happened with his dad and their family. From the gist of it, I guess some 1st class types had a hissy fit about waiting an extra 3 minutes so they could deplane first to make their connection. People can be such selfish asses.
On the downside of this going insanely viral, reporters have printed wrong information, misinterpreted other reports and are causing tremendous pain and renewed grief to John’s young widow and his mom, Kcruella through repetition of these erroneous and, in some cases, overwrought stories. Lost in all of it is John himself. The wonderful, brave, funny, incredible soldier who served so selflessly and died so bravely. You don’t find THAT when you Google John Perry now. All you see is that someone “booed his father.”
And that is SO WRONG.
I’m so sorry they’re having to go through this media feeding frenzy. God’s grace on them all.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Rebecca.
Our deepest condolences to you and your family. We are forever grateful for John’s service, as we are for all warriors, in and out of uniform.
May God give you all strength and comfort.