Iraqi Veteran Gets Blown Up - His Story!

To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Mother of Military Veterans (OIF & OEF) Gives Advice, Speaks of Faith and PTSD

Terri Reid lives in the same area of the United States as her Mary O’Reilly character, Northwest Illinois. She lives on five acres of rolling land in a 100 year-old farmhouse, with her husband, children, dogs, cats and several dozen chickens (well, they live in the barn.) She has seven children and eleven grandchildren, and LOVES her big family.



Her background is in marketing and public relations, but she has always enjoyed telling stories. For a while, she worked as a freelance journalist for the local paper and wrote the Halloween feature for many years, collecting as many local ghost stories as she could. She gave her collection of local ghost stories to the local historical society to use as a fundraiser, they are now in their third printing.

She loves to hear from her readers. She can be reached at terri.reid@reidassociate.com

SOS: Can you tell us just a little about your recent writing successes?

At the beginning of 2010, I was successfully employed as a marketing consultant. I had a small business of my own and I had several customers who had small businesses. During that time I was taking a good look at my life – what where my goals? Was I happy with what I was doing? Did what I was doing really “work” with my personal goals. One of my clients (actually my biggest client) was a website developer who developed sites for two very different sectors of business. I was an independent contractor for them and I did all of their small business sales, the owner handled all of the corporate sales. This meant that I was flying out to a number of conventions all across the United States and selling their services. This also meant that I was traveling at least once a month and generally over the week-end. I remember one convention in particular that started my new thought process. We had to arrive on Sunday – which meant flying early in the morning out of O’Hare and getting to Las Vegas midday. We set up the booth and got everything we needed done for the next day. Then, the owner informed me that we would be hosting one of her current corporate clients at a comedy show that evening. I told her that I wasn’t comfortable with going to a Las Vegas comedy show because I knew the person we were to see was very crude and I didn’t think it was a great Sunday activity. (Okay, that was an understatement! J ) But she told me I didn’t have a choice, as she already purchased my ticket and told the client I would be there. Looking back, I should have still insisted that I didn’t want to go. But, I felt pressure and I didn’t want to disappoint my client. So I went. The show was as I expected – truly awful – but even worse, I felt that I had betrayed my values and my Heavenly Father.

That night, I lay in my hotel room contemplating the choices (and compromises) I had been making in order to please this client. I realized I wasn’t being true to myself or my faith. So, I made the decision that as soon as I was able, I would leave this job. I prayed about and felt such a wonderful sense of relief – I knew I had made the right decision.

When I got back to town, I started speaking with my other clients (local clients) about the possibility of doing some more work for them. One of my clients was really excited and had a laundry list of things he wanted to pursue. We talked about a marketing plan and a budget, it would more than cover the out of town client – and I was thrilled. So, I gave the website client a month’s notice and fulfilled all the responsibilities I had for them. A month later, when I was to meet with the local client, I received a call from him. This was the time when the economy was making drastic changes and several large brokerage houses lost everything. Well, a great deal of his business’ money had been invested in one of those brokerage houses and he was going to have to make drastic cuts. Not only would he not be able to fulfill the terms of our agreement, the other work that I had been doing for him for years was going to have to be severely cut back. I couldn’t believe it – my safety net was gone. My income was gone! What was I supposed to do next?

So, I started applying for jobs – but in this economy, nothing was available. And, as a self-employed consultant, I didn’t have the benefit of unemployment. I started looking for freelance writing jobs and took a couple of those on. And, I decided to finish up the novel I had been working on. During that time, a friend sent me a Wall Street Journal article about a woman who published her books through Amazon’s e-books. She had tried to sell her books through traditional publishers and had been turned down, so she decided to sell them on her own. It sounded like a great plan and the payment schedule was so much faster than traditional publishing (you get paid after 60 days) and I needed to generate income quickly, so I decided I would e-publish.

My first book, Loose Ends – A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery, came out in August, 2010. Now, a year later, I have five novels for sale and have sold over 60,000 copies. I have made more income from my writing than I ever made with any of my consulting and I am able to write full time and meet the needs of my family.



I would have never been “forced” down this path of success if all of those doors I had counted on hadn’t closed. There were times when I was so frightened, there were months that were VERY lean...but, I remember praying about my decision and knowing that I received assurance from Heavenly Father that what I was doing was right. So, I knew, sooner or later, He would bless me. And He did.

SOS: That all must feel very personally and professionally rewarding for you. Changing topics a little, with seven children, you have a very large family. How do you keep it all together? What's your secret, especially when difficulty and hard times, heartache and heartbreak comes?

I have faith in my Heavenly Father. I know that He loves me and He loves my family. I understand that He has a better perspective on my life than I do. And I know that He won’t make me deal with anything more than I can handle. When my son, David, was in Afghanistan in the Army there were scary times. I remember on Mother’s Day the whole family was here at the house and I had arranged to call David through Skype, so the whole family could speak with him. When I called, there was a recording that said all the lines were down. I knew they did that when there was a casualty in the unit. I kept trying to call him throughout the day, but continued to get the same message. My heart dropped, I expected a strange vehicle to drive up to the house and two uniformed men to step out. I was pretty much beside myself in worry. There was nothing I could do. No one I could call. Then, I realized, there is always someone I can call. I slid to my knees and poured out my heart to Heavenly Father. I told Him about my worries and concerns. And then, I did the hardest thing I think I’ve ever done. I handed my worries over to Him. I had Faith in Him. I told Him that I knew He loved David and He was watching over David, and I would have Faith that everything would turn out the way Heavenly Father wanted it to be.



David called the next day. Unfortunately, a young man in their unit committed suicide that day and the phone were turned off until his family could be contacted. I felt so much sorrow for that poor young man who didn’t understand that there was always someone who loved him and would listen to him.

I don’t know what I would do without the knowledge that my Heavenly Father is always there for me. And even when I’m not as attentive as I should be to Him, He’s always there for me when I need Him.



SOS: Faith in God has helped a lot of people and so many military warriors included. Did you grow up in a military family?

My father was in the Marines. He was a Korean War vet. Unfortunately, my father was an alcoholic and ended up leaving my family when I was in fourth grade. There were eight of us and I was the fifth child. My mother remarried a year after and was married to a wonderful man who is also a World War II veteran. He actually was on Omaha Beach on D-Day. So, I actually never had the opportunity to “live” with my stepfather, but I love to hear the stories he is willing to share with us.

SOS: I can't imagine what those heroes went through. I truly cannot fathom it. Wars are different today, but each warrior has his/her own personal battles -- some of them real events and some of them on going emotional struggles. What would you recommend as a mother of military veterans -- even with one in Iraq at this very moment?



My son, Nathan, is in Iraq – in the Air Force. And having him on a base (and not out on patrols sitting behind a gun) eases my mind. But, there is always danger when they are in a war zone, so I am never complacent about the degree of risk and sacrifice he is making for our country. However, now that I have one son who returned from Afghanistan and experienced the horrors of war, I understand more fully the great sacrifice these soldiers give to their country. Young people have always thought there were immortal, that’s what gives them their sense of adventure, their willingness to risk and have fun. When they go to war and they see their friends die in front of them, that wonderful sense of immortality is stolen from them. Not only do they realize they can die, they also often feel guilty for not dying when their comrades have paid the ultimate price. They have nightmares of being back in the war zone. They wake up in the middle of the night, shaken because they think they have to go on patrol again. The room gets too hot, a car backfires outside, the road gets too bumpy and they are back in Afghanistan trying to stay alive.

What can we do – those who love these soldiers? We need to listen. We need to never judge. We need to be there, day or night. We need to understand what they are saying, and not impose our thoughts on them. We need to realize that we will NEVER understand what they went through or what they saw, and the best thing we can do is love them, unconditionally. But, we also need to encourage them to seek help. PTSD is not something to be ashamed of. It’s like being ashamed of having a cold, that would be ridiculous, right? PTSD is the bodies way of dealing with the emotional and physical trauma experienced overseas. Just like we need chicken soup, Vitamin C and cough medicine for a cold. We need counseling and direction to deal with PTSD.

I have been blessed with a son who communicates with me. There were many nights when we would sit together and he would tell me about his experiences. Things he never told me while he was there because he didn’t want to worry me. So, I would listen, mostly, and never shy away from the bad parts because if he was able to deal with it in person, I certainly could listen to it and sympathize with him.

I also learned a wonderful lesson from my son. David was in a convoy patrolling in Afghanistan. He was a gunner – so he sat on top of the Humvee. Because of his sharp eyesight, David was generally in the first vehicle. During one patrol, they partnered with another unit, so David was third vehicle. As they drove next to a nearby village, the first vehicle hit an IED and exploded. David watched four friends and brothers die in front of him. While he was there, he told me he wasn’t on that patrol. He had been back at the base. (Once again, he was protecting me so I wouldn’t worry.) When he got home he shared the real story with me. In my ignorance, I said, “Well, David, all of those prayers we were saying for you must have worked.” David turned to me and said, “Mom, I don’t think Heavenly Father let others guys die so I could live.”



Wow! He was absolutely right. And I told him so, immediately. Those young men who died all had families praying they would come home safely. I don’t think Heavenly Father hears the prayers of one mother and not the other. Heavenly Father had nothing to do with that IED or the evil men who buried it there. But we also have to remember that this life is just a test. The real reward is when we return to our Heavenly Father with our jobs well done. I’m sure those young men were welcomed home with love and compassion – greater love hath no man than he gives his life for another.

The only advice I can think of offering is this – get to know your Heavenly Father. He is the one who knows you and loves you no matter what. And realize that you are his child. You are a child of God. You have infinite worth. He has a plan for you. He sees the bigger picture. If you are still haunted by your time overseas, don’t let the enemy win. Don’t let them claim another casualty. You are stronger than that! Get the help you need to set you back on the path you need to be on!




SOS: I'm inspired by your words, advice and encouragement. Surely all others who read this, with a hope and even a small - if not large - belief in God, will feel of your tender heart and love for them. Thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts, your time and your inspirational words. I hope you continue to be blessed with your profession, and especially, I hope and pray your family and posterity will be safe and blessed now and forever. As a mother of military veterans, you have sacrificed much. Thank you. Thank you so very much.


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Training in Utah

My hearty thanks goes out to all who helped spread the word about the 3-day charity shooting training held recently in Utah, and particularly to those who came to shoot and train. The final day an entire SWAT team came out.



We had a lot of fun and we were able to raise some money to give to a family in need. All the proceeds were donated to the family of a two-time Iraqi war vet who is terminally ill with brain cancer.



Be sure to check out articles on this training, as well as other tactical tips (videos and articles) on Guns.com. Click here to view all my articles.



Pictures are courtesy of Welden Anderson of Self-Defense Solutions.

Thank you Original SWAT boots

Warrior SOS wanted to publicly recognize and thank Original SWAT for their on-going support and efforts to help us accomplish our mission. Not only are Original SWAT footwear products a great choice for the operational warrior, but the people that work there are top notch.

Thank you so very much.


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Welcome home boys!

(U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph E. Rey, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs)

These men from B-Company, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) recently returned from Afghanistan. While deployed, Master Sergeant John Masson (pictured center), lost both legs and an arm. He wanted to wait for the homecoming ceremony, and wait for his team, to receive his Purple Heart.

Welcome home boys...welcome home!


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Thank you

Warrior SOS would like to thank Brownells, ESS eyewear, Original SWAT footwear, Jon McNaughton art, Arntzen Targets, and Insight Technology.

We would also like to thank Action Target, Springfield-Armory, and VertX for their assistance and generosity.

Finally, thank you to the folks at Blackhawk, Law Enforcement Targets, Safariland, Streicher's (PoliceHQ.com), Blackhills ammo.

Any donations to help out the warrior in need are truly appreciated.


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Why Shoot Center Mass?

I just started as an editorial writer for Guns.com. My first article:

Why Shoot Center Mass?

"Why are we trained to shoot center mass. Why not shoot someone in the arm or in the leg?" That was the question posed to me by my friend, Brian, while we were attending the police academy together. When I attended the Dallas Police Academy I had already served as a full-time police Special Reaction Team (SRT) team leader at a U.S. military installation. I had attended multiple civilian police and Department of Defense special operations tactical schools, including an Advanced SWAT course with the famed Los Angeles Police Department. So you can imagine my surprise when asked why we were being training to shoot center mass.

I've often wondered about this conversation when thinking of my friend. A few years following that conversation there in the police academy, he was gunned down in the line of duty—murdered.

Here's how the conversation went, as best as I can recall.


Read the full article here: http://www.guns.com/why-shoot-center-mass.html


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Interview with a US Special Forces operator

Gregory Tarancon is a US Army Special Forces Master Sergeant / Sergeant Major selectee, assigned to the 20th Special Forces Group (US National Guard). He is the recipient of four Bronze Star Medals, two NATO medals and multiple other awards, including SOCOMs Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medals (USMILGP-Honduras). He most recently served as a team sergeant for an 18-man Special Forces Operational Detachment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF XVI - Afghanistan). Since 9/11, he has participated in more than nine contingency operations (including, but not limited to 4 - OEF combat tours, 2 - Operation Iraqi Freedom combat tours, and 2 - OEF-CAA Honduras and South America rotations). He has worked as a contracted training instructor/advisor in Africa and Iraq, with MPRI, in support of State Department initiatives. He holds a bachelors degree in Aeronautical Engineering Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. When he's not involved in military operations, he works as a federal law enforcement officer with the Department of Homeland Security, serving as a Federal Air Marshal in Washington DC. He is married with two children.



Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.

You've experienced a broad range of operations since 9/11, and have been away from home and hearth a lot since then (not to mention the deployments prior to 9/11). How are you able to continue to mission in between homesickness, trial and operational frustrations?

It is always difficult dealing with being separated from the ones you love. I am lucky because I have been blessed with such a supportive and understanding family. I don’t think I would have been able to accomplish most of the things I have done without my families support.



Another positive influence has been my faith in God. During these deployments I have been lucky because I have had many family members and friends praying for me and my team. I tried to say a prayer everyday for the safety of my team. I believe it helped us through the most difficult times.

Abraham Lincoln wrote this about faith –“Without the assistance of the Divine Being ... I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail.”

Finally, the belief that the United States of America stands for freedom, is the greatest country in the world and that as patriots it is our duty to zealously defend America against all threats to freedom. We must continue the struggle until there is victory.

JFK made this statement and I believe his words: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

How did you and your team feel upon hearing about the death of bin Laden?

We have been waiting for this moment for a long time, but in a single word – “Justice”

You have a son at West Point. He hopes to follow in your footsteps in SF. What do you think the future will bring for the next generation of warriors?



Unfortunately, history has taught us that to this day there has not been a “War to end all Wars”. Conflicts to defend freedom were around during my father’s time, his father’s time, my time and I am afraid will continue during my son’s time. The next generation of warriors must adapt to fight a faceless enemy (a wolf among sheep), a criminal that has no honor and uses women and children as shields. The future warriors must be more than just a soldier; they should be skilled diplomats-ambassadors, criminal investigators, builders, community leaders and must understand counterinsurgency and asymmetric threats.

What advice would you want to offer him?



Well, I would tell him to apply what he learned at West Point, with an open mind of course and in the event he can’t remember everything he was taught, just remember one simple rule – Never ask your soldiers to do something you not willing to do yourself, remember to “Always Lead by Example.”

There's so much more you'd want to teach your son, undoubtedly. What would you want him and other warriors to know about life threatening situations?

Trust your instincts, have faith in your abilities and the moral courage to make decisions. Be tenacious about taking the fight to the enemy. Have the will to win because those who live are those who zealously take the fight to the enemy.



How do you prepare to win?

It is a combination of training and mental conditioning. Take every opportunity to train as hard as you can. You can’t train for every contingency, but perform with surgical precision the drills that you consider most important. Develop and cultivate the warrior’s ethos, dominate the situation and instill confidence in subordinates.


You were nearly killed a few years ago, but a foreign SpecOps warrior saved your life. Can you tell us about how that made you feel? Do you think about that ever?

Yes, I do owe my life to a fellow operator a French Naval Commando, who was a member of a Joint Special Operations Task Unit that our team was partnered with conducting joint operations in Eastern Afghanistan. To get straight to the point, he was a professional who took the job seriously; literally he had my back and that’s how he saved my life. He was pulling rear security during an assault on a compound and took decisive action against a group of insurgents coming up from the rear. He was the only one that stood between them and the assault force I was a part of. He not only saved my life but the entire assault element.

When it was over, he just joked about it, as if routine and added that I would have done the same thing for him. He was absolutely right; war has a way of making us all a band of brothers.

Do you think about the multiple engagements you've experienced? In your mind, what's the best way to deal with painful memories?

Every situation is different, no matter how many times you find yourself in contact it is never predictable, so it is very hard to prepare. I feel that no matter how grave the situation you must try to keep your wits and stay calm.

I don’t think there is any way to really deal with painful memories. Everyone is different and has different ways of coping. I myself turn to God and find some relief in prayer. It has also helped me to talk to someone I trust. Overall, the best overall way of coping is staying mission focused and realize that people depend on you to drive on.



You've lost some good friends. You've had many other friends get wounded -- some very seriously. If there's something you could tell them -- or have told them -- what would that be?

These men are the epitome of the word “Warrior”. Their sacrifice was not in vain; they made a great difference and many of their brothers are safe because of their actions. They had the will to defy fear; the sense of duty to throw the gauntlet down to fate and the honor to scorn in compromise with death - that is heroism. These men are the noblest, bravest of souls; I have ever had the honor of knowing and serving. These men are a shining example and a pillar of strength for us to follow. They are my brothers forever; they will always be in my heart. I love them and will never forget them.

Many warriors have unseen wounds. In fact, there have been more mental illness injuries in the GWOT than in all other wars. What advice would you offer to them?

If you are hurting, please seek help. You owe it to yourself and your family to get better. There is no shame in asking for help. In fact, it is a very brave thing.

Many of the warriors today are in the Reserves or National Guard. What is your feeling on the contributions of the citizen soldiers?

National Guard and Reserves have made a tremendous impact on the mission. I have come across many General Officers to include: (Admiral Mullen, Admiral Olsen and General Petreus) who have stated that the difference between Active forces and Reserve forces is seamless across both theaters of operation. I have met many high ranking government officials that were impressed with the broad range of unique civilian skills that National Guardsmen and Reservist brought to the table such as Doctors, Lawyers, Pilots, First Responders, Police Officers, General Contractors to name a few. In addition, the typical National Guard or Reserve soldier tends to be older so the level of maturity and experience is greater when compared to the Active duty soldier. I don’t think people realize that the National Guard and Reserve make up more than 50% of our deployed forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Major Commands such as CENTCOM, AFRICOM, SOUTHCOM, SOCOM are composed of over 40% Reserve and National Guard Soldiers. As, I sit down writing this response to you from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, I look around and see more Reservist than Active duty working on the flight line, MP patrolling, Combat Units getting ready to conduct operations, soldiers conducting logistical operations all wearing National Guard and Reserve Patches. Quite frankly, we could not do these missions without the National Guard and Reserves.



These citizen soldiers are often brought home from war and immediately integrated back into citizen society -- far away from military installations and support. Do you think such a separation from teammates and resources is damaging? What can these warriors do for help?

Adjusting back to civilian life can be difficult, but there programs that have been implemented to help soldiers coming back from deployments. One such program is called “The Yellow Ribbon Program”, which is federally funded and conducted at the state level. It provides a multitude of resources to soldiers and has helped many.

There’s a huge bond between fellow warriors. Will you give us your point of view on this incredible bond?



I can’t say it better than William Shakespeare; “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me; shall be my brother.”

How can family help during reintegration, or return from deployment?



Family is a great source of support, there is nothing like family to get you back into a healthy routine. My advice to family members is to continue to be more understanding and loving. Realize that there is an adjustment period and it takes time to adjust to ones surrounding. Your loved one has been gone for a long time in a hostile environment and things are going to seem confusing for the time being. I myself just wanted to spend time with my immediate family and wanted privacy. It took some time for me to feel ready to interact with friends and society in general.

What advice would you give the warrior who returns home?

Feel good about yourself, be proud of your accomplishments, you just came back from serving your county and defending Freedom. You have just done one of the noblest acts any patriot can do for his country, so it’s ok to have a little pride you deserve it!

Be grateful to be coming home. Enjoy every moment with the ones you love. Never forget that the most powerful force on earth is love. Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible -- it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could.

Is there anything else you'd like to share that would be helpful for the readers of the Warrior SOS blog?

Keep faith in God and Country and to remember "God has brought together Jews, Christians and Muslims to this holy land. No human power can change it -- their destiny is to live together."



On this last deployment, especially, how has religion and a belief in God helped you and your team personally?

More than any deployment I turned to God and prayer to give me strength, wisdom and guidance. Prayer and faith helped a great deal to get through some rough times, especially when there were doubts and I was unsure of a decision or outcome, I would say a silent prayer to God. On some of the more difficult operations, I would lead the team in a prayer, some guys though it was corny, but I did it anyway.

My favorite prayer for warriors was written by General Patton –

"God of our fathers, who by land and sea have ever led us to victory, please continue Your inspiring guidance in this the greatest of all conflicts. Strengthen my soul so that the weakening instinct of self-preservation, which besets all of us in battle, shall not blind me to my duty to my own manhood, to the glory of my calling, and to my responsibility to my fellow soldiers. Grant to our armed forces that disciplined valor and mutual confidence which insures success in war. Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting, but rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived. If it be my lot to die, let me do so with courage and honor in a manner which will bring the greatest harm to the enemy, and please, oh Lord, protect and guide those I shall leave behind. Give us the victory, Lord."


What a wonderful interview! Thank you so very much for your example, patriotism and courage.

I am happy you liked the interview. I have to be honest, some of it was hard to write because it did bring back some difficult memories, but if it can help fellow warriors healing, it was worth it. Thank you for asking me to do it. I also did find it uplifting and brought me some peace.

To read more about MSG Gregory Tarancon, see the following links and interviews:

http://www.army.mil/otf/faces_tarancon_gregory.html

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110330/NJNEWS/103300370/Woodbridge-native-inspired-by-9-11-serving-Afghanistan-eighth-Army-deployment-decade



http://www.tke.org/files/file/the_teke/2004-spring.pdf

http://www.southcom.mil/apps/home/frm_NewsReader.aspx?NID=2490

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gregorio-greg-tarancon/9/936/285

If you wish to contact him, you may do so at gregoryivt[at]aol[dot]com (written out to avoid spam)


To read this and other amazing interviews, check out Warrior SOS, the book on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-SOS-Military-Veterans-Emotional/dp/1462117341/

For Warrior SOS book endorsements from Glenn Beck, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and others, check out the author's link: http://www.jeffrey-denning.com/books/warrior-sos/ 

Tactical Patrol Rifle Course - photos by Karly the Photographer

To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

In Memory of Blake McIntosh

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.

- Revelation 21:4


I don't know what happened. All that I know is he's dead.

My Facebook friend, Dale, is someone whom I've actually had email conversations with and someone I've networked with in the past, not just someone in the virtual world I don't even know. Well, Dale's brother died. I found out about his brother's death on Facebook.

Dale posted this when he learned about his brother's untimely death:
"Oh Father in Heaven...please welcome my brother into Heaven today to meet my parents once again. I love you Blakey and will always keep you close to my heart. You've been there for me through all the hard times. You will be missed more than my words can express. R.I.P. Ziggy"

This desperate prayer—a pleading and heartbroken prayer—not only was heard by God, who knows all the thoughts and intents of our hearts, but his written prayer was heard by anyone of the 1080 friends he has on Facebook.

A couple of more postings and an host of loving, caring and kind words expressed in what seemed like never ending comments, told a heart wrenching story.

Dale was out of the country. He didn't have good phone communications.

There was time, and undoubtedly many tears, in between his posts. He would soon post this video from youtube, with a preface:

"Dedicated to my brother and comrade throughout my life. A true warrior within. I love you B."



As an explanation from one of this other FB friends, Dale wrote:

"There is a man in downtown Salt Lake who is in full dress and play the pipes all the time. Some of you may have seen him or will see him in the future. People tip him from time to time. But this song was the favorite of Bla...ke and I on the pipes. One day Blake was able to sit and listen to that gentleman play this song. Blake closed his eye and enjoyed every second. He was so excited that he called me when I came back in the country to tell me about his life preview. I wish I could have went and watched the live version with my brother B." (sic)

Yes, Dale mentioned he was out of the country. He and I have shared a lot in common. Perhaps that's one reason why I feel so inclined to write this blog. We're warriors. We share a warrior connection. We were introduced (and I believe we even had a few phone conversations) after—or perhaps just before—I returned from Iraq and was looking for work.

I used to be a private security contractor. He was too. I knew that. However, after a quick search, I just found an article I didn't know existed. I can share some of his feelings as the newspaper quotes him. ("Utahn gets 'rush' as bodyguard", by Doug Robinson, Deseret Morning News)

Later, after more tacit mourning and tears, my brother-in-arms, asked urgently if anyone had any connections to any police officers in Salt Lake City. One can only assume that he wants more details surrounding the death of his older brother.

Warrior SOS was created to help warriors. I created Warrior SOS, and I recognized this moment, seeing a warrior in need. The compassion I felt for my brother, Dale, led me to do some searching, reach out in love and help. An SOS—the international signal of distress and call for help—was and is badly needed.

I wanted to learn more about Dale's brother, Blake.

Google turns up no immediate results.

I waited. I wondered.

Time passed.

I did another search of Dale's FB page and I noticed something incredibly peculiar—almost too powerful to be ignored.

Less than an hour before Dale posted his prayer, after realizing his brother had been taken from this earth and had passed on to a better world—a world where there is no more pain and no more sorrow or tears—Dale wrote a post via his brother's FB page.

His brother, whose earthly mission was now complete, posted this news report as one of his final postings, if not his very last one.

As family is the most important thing in all time and all eternity, I cannot help but to think that this posting has significant and serious meaning, not only for Dale but for each of us. The article is about families.

And with Dale's mom who passed away, and then his dad, and now his brother—and as I think about and pray for my brother, Dale, whom I don't know that well, but I whom I know well enough—I pray he can find peace and return home. God bless you, my friend.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392235/Minority-American-couples-tied-knot.html

Number of American couples tying the knot drops for the first time

Married couples are in the minority in America for the first time.

In last year’s U.S. census, married couples represented 48 per cent of all households, down from 52 per cent a decade earlier.



Photo taken from the UK online article has the following caption...
Drop: Married couples are in the minority in the USA for the first time

Experts attributed the change to a fast-growing older population who are more likely to be divorced or widowed, and young people delaying marriage amid fears of not being able to hang on to a job and a shift away from having children at a young age.

Meanwhile the number of opposite-sex couples living together rather than marrying jumped 13 per cent from 2009 to 7.5million.

The median age for first marriages has climbed steadily in the U.S. since the 1960s, when men got married at about 23, and women at 20. Now men are waiting until they are 28 and women until 26.

Americans are also living longer, with an average life expectancy of 78, nearly a decade longer than in the 1960s.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392235/Minority-American-couples-tied-knot.html#ixzz1P1lqQsx9


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Have you ever killed anyone before? Interview with a Vietnam Vet

Taken from Hawaii Army Museum Society online photo


Our guest today wishes to remain anonymous for personal and professional reasons. He enlisted in the Army Security Agency (ASA) in summer of 1967. The ASA, which was absorbed into Military Intelligence in 1977, reported directly to the National Security Agency (NSA). After Basic and Advanced training, he went to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) just in time for the Tet offensive of '68. He stayed until Tet of '69 was over. During his time in Vietnam, he was awarded FIVE Campaign ribbons. After Vietnam he was transferred to Asmara, Ethiopia, where he stayed until late 1971. He served in Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Fort Carson, CO, and Stuttgart, FRG, from 1972-1980. He also received advanced electronics training in Fort Gordon, GA. Instead of reenlisting, he went to work for Boeing Services International where he was stationed in Sinope, Turkey. His first marriage dissolved, at least in part, from all the third world travel. He traveled much of the world and transferred to Incerlic AFB to finish out his contract. He was also contracted with McDonnell Douglas to work in Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for three years. He's sold vacuum cleaners, worked for a car dealership, and has built houses. In 1990, he moved to Utah and became a "ski bum," working at Dear Valley and Park City Ski Resorts until the spring of 2002. By that time, his Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) had progressed until he was almost completely debilitated. He now resides elsewhere.


Warrior SOS: Although I know some things about your background our readers do not.
Frankly, when interviewing warriors like yourself, it seems like the elephant in the room is the question most people hesitate to ask. The questions might be difficult for you to answer or discuss, but my hope is it will offer peace and help rather than anything contrary to that. Here it goes… Have you ever killed anyone, and what does that feel like?

Yes. At first, during the Tet offensive of 1968, I never had a chance to think about it. It was all them or me and so fast I never had a second to think on it. I was so busy and new things happened on and off for the next two months until I found myself in the Army Security Agency's Radio Research Field Station, Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam (RVN), cover for a spy shop of sorts. After a short time there, I began going with a friend from a unit down the road attached to MAC-V [Military Assistance Command-Vietnam] on Tuesday afternoons and evenings. On the third or fourth ambush we laid he had advanced intel that a certain Colonel of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), who was our target would be there in the late afternoon or early evening. As I lay under a bush 70-80 meters from the small village up the road from Phu Bai, watching through my scope, five armed VC [Vietcong, the Vietnamese word for communist], or NVA came into the village. They lined up the residents, started screaming at them and beating them with their gun buts. I had never actually witnessed this type or level of violence in my life before that minute. TV does not count when compared to real life. My friend and leader told me to "Let it go and wait for the Colonel". I was awestruck or dumbfounded maybe? Then the leader took out his machete and slashed at the breast of a young woman holding a baby! She bled profusely and screamed the scream of one absolutely terrified to the point of death. I knew for the first time in my white bread, upper middle class, suburban life that true evil existed and it was right in front of me. When he raised the machete again, I did not think at all, I just knew that I had to stop him from hurting that young woman. I shot him and the two subordinates next to him as they watched him fall. Then I shot the last two in the back as they ran from the village. I was over come with relief that they could no longer hurt the poor people in the village. The exhilaration and relief that came from that knowledge washed over me like a huge wave. My friend had to grab me by the collar, let's go before they figure out where we are. My rifle had a silencer and I also knew that they would not find us. The nine of us withdrew. That cost me two stripes for disobeying an order and letting the Colonel off the hook, but all I could think of was that the villagers would be safe now. That knowledge, that I could stop evil animals from hurting good people, was like a drug that colored and changed the way I though at the most basic level of my being!

Would you mind elaborating?

Aside from the NVA cutting that woman, I've seen IFTs do terrible things, not just cutting off peoples heads, but real torture of such gross and maniacal nature that you can not avoid the realization that evil does exist in this world. Not just one two or five, but fifty or a hundred times in east Africa! I have night mares of that and the fact that I can't stop it terrifies me in the dreams. My partner was the guy who found the terrorist training manual that paraphrasing said:

"Tape two magazines together top to bottom so that you can reload quickly with out fumbling. Then take a hand grenade in each hand, used the index finger of the other hand to pull both pins. Walk into the market square and throw the grenades as far as you can toward the other exits. Start shooting to make them run toward the grenades. Aim low so that you hit the children and women first to maximize the publicity of your attack."

Our translator was reading the Arabic doc in English and when I heard that, I lost my temper and started to wail on the helpless prisoner. That cost me two stripes. We really do not torture our prisoners. But "Aim low to hit the children and women to get the best publicity!!!" That is evil if ever anything was.

I know several veterans who've been in fights and have lost their tempers. Some of them fight a lot when they come home. You don't come across as a person with a temper to me – not at all. Are you normally aggressive or do you have a history of fighting? What does war and the stresses of war have to do with anger, if anything?

I used to have a shorter fuse than I do now, not that it was a problem more than two or three times in my entire life. I did not start fights, I had to get really angry before I started to hit back. It was just that two of them were while I was in the ASA. Except for our prisoner, I never hit anyone who was not trying to hit me first. It took me some time to grow out of it. ( The short fuse, that is.) After I married, I learned to control my temper. I could not afford to loose the money with a wife and kid. I was/am much happier for it.

My Father, the service and old sergeants in particular, taught me what was important in life. At first, I was the newbie. But the more times we went out and the more responsible I became, the less I worried about those things. I never had much stress in battle. Most of the time it was just waiting or sneaking around. Concentration on the task at hand took up my entire mind? Then when the [stuff] hit the fan, I just wanted to make every shot count and keep my friends alive.

One more thing, war taught me that I now have little or no tolerance for standing buy while others get hurt. You can ask George about how mad I get every time there is some new out rage on the news and we, our Government, Western Civ, choose not to do anything about it. They don't print my letters to the paper any more. It makes it hard for me to have liberal friends. I am working very hard on learning to control my contempt and mouth. I really am, just ask Ron and Jan, old friends who do not share my politics.


Taken from an image online


What did you learn from your father that helped you in later years as a warrior?

My dad was one of the truly good, kind and decent guys. When my brother and I were out running errands with him, we always stopped to help anyone we could. He taught us that helping others was something that real men did just because we were men. At 14-18 years old, it felt good to be included as a man. My dad also taught us how to shoot, I mean really shoot. We used to hunt pheasants and quail with an old .22 short rifle, shooting the birds on the wing. My dad also got me into the Cub Scouts. I believe that much of what they taught about God and Country helped me more than I knew. The Scouts also taught me about friendship and helping others. But most of all, my Dad taught me about history and how it underlies everything we know and do today. That foundation is the rock that that gave it all perspective and meaning.

What philosophies do you feel would help warriors today?

They have to know, whether they are told or not, that they are personally engaged in a vital struggle between good and evil at the most basic level! Nobody teaches History any more or the 1,400 year struggle between CIVILIZATION and EVIL in the form of Islamo-fascism is certainly NOT covered in the least. I like to ask if they remember the words to the Marine Corps Hymn that they learned in grade school. "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli" and what the words meant. They were written about our early struggle against Satan's minions back in the very early 1,800s when America sent old Iron Sides and five other ships to North Africa to fight the Barbary Pirates who were capturing Americans and holding them for ransom or selling them into slavery in the Arab world. The knowledge that they are part of the greatest struggle in history, going back 1,400 years and certainly the most important thing we, civilized people have ever done.

How did those views help you?

The idea that I am/was part of something larger and more important than myself and that my country is great, is good for your self image/psyche. That I am part of the great struggle between Civilization and Good on one side and Evil and anarchy on the other, even as if it was a mission from God? If it sounds crazy, it's because of my failure to communicate the big idea behind all of the above.

What, if anything, did you do for personal help and treatment?

In the years after I left the service in 1980 and when became a "Civilian Independent Contractor." I was asked if I was depressed or had that post trauma stress syndrome, but all I could say was that I was happy to have had my small part helping in the struggle between good and evil. I think it is the bigness of the idea that gives you comfort against all the little things that wear you down.

How long do the memories last?

Until I came down with CFS, which destroyed some of my memory, I could remember almost everything down to the smallest detail. The secret of that is that every time I did, I could think "We are winning and the bad guys are loosing!" Each time that happened, it re-enforced my self image of a good guy, fighting the good fight against evil!

On the other hand, I think you may be asking about nightmares. If so, I had some of those too, but they were not about being scared, well it was about being scared, but not about the thought of injury of death, but of running out of ammunition or being helpless. I looked forward to the battles because they were the opportunity to help others, oppose evil, save some poor person's life because of my efforts. Sometimes seeing movies like Saving Private Ryan would trigger those bad dreams. But they were only one or two in any week's time and then they would be gone for months or years at a time. When I first came home from East Africa, I might have had one or two in six weeks, but they were never that bad. Just my opinion.

What kinds of nightmares did you experience and how often? Were they nightmares of situations you were in?

No, not really. They were never that big a deal to me. They were generalized by running in place going nowhere and running out of ammo. I suppose this is linked to my first night in Saigon at Davis Station where there were not enough rifles to go around and there were only 17-18 rounds for each. The VC were just down the way and in real force. I thought we were surrounded from the sounds of battle all around us. But we were not alone and Puff was overhead like an angel to keep the bad guys away.

Was there anything that made the nightmares stop?

Just time and the realization that we were winning and the bad guys were not.

You mentioned movies like Saving Private Ryan brought on nightmares. Is there anything else that brings them on?

9-11-2001 caused a bunch of them for a week or two, and the images of people jumping and the flames which caused me to feel helpless to stop the terrorists. That feeling of helplessness was made worse temporarily because they would not let me re-enlist. Again I felt powerless until I started teaching Ladies self defense classes. Having the mission and the power to help others gave me security in the fact that my help could make a difference in the lives of others. The President's speeches and letters from friends still in the sand box gave me confidence also.

You volunteer at your local military veteran nonprofit organizations and help serve people. How has that helped you as a person?

It is most rewarding and makes me feel like a million bucks! It adds value to my life. I do not feel so helpless/useless because of my disabilities. Multiple defects tend to pile up on you and wear you down if you let them, but all I ever have to do is put an add in the "free stuff to give away" part of the newspaper and I have a new mission and a new group of people who need my help.

What advice would you give to the next generation warrior?

Study history so that you will know that you are part of something big like saving the world for real. There is nothing like the sure knowledge that you are doing good deeds in opposition to real evil. Saving Civilization from Islamo-fascism. That sort of thing. Have faith in God. I did not have that as much as I should have when I was young just starting my career. But ten years after I left the service, I took some friends down to see the Temple Square in Salt Lake City. We were given tickets to a concert in the tabernacle by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Rice College Orchestra. We came back that night and sat through the show. During that show, the sound of the choir, music and over all ambiance caused the feeling of PEACE to come over me like a signal from God. I know it sounds hokey, but that is the best, really only way to describe it. PEACE. The overwhelming feeling that God is with you.
We should do everything we can to help new soldiers get that feeling, to know that you are not alone. Not that chaplains over the years did not do all they could to help me get that feeling, but commanders and others could have helped.

Is there anything else you'd be willing to share that would help us learn more about you and help warriors and their family members?

Have faith, believe in God and your mission in defense of Civilization, America, Life and Freedom.

Finally, would you be willing to give a brief summary of your patriotic feelings - for God and Country?

After living all over the world, I know beyond any doubt that America is the greatest force for good in history. America and Western Civilization and all that they imply, represents everything that is good and that we are the good guys fighting evil through out all of American history. World Wars one and two, Korea, Viet Nam, Somalia and dozens of other little skirmishes world wide are proof that were are the good guys and we are winning in the struggle against evil! The very idea that America represents individual freedom is a shinning beacon to people all over the world who want to live a better life than they have now is also important!

I cannot thank you enough for agreeing to do this interview. I thank you for your service. And, though it's a long time since Vietnam, I'm confident America thanks you. May the Lord bless you all the remainder of your days.



To read this and other amazing interviews, check out Warrior SOS, the book on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-SOS-Military-Veterans-Emotional/dp/1462117341/

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Hardships - two time Iraqi War Vet, father of six with brain cancer, faith and prayer

UPDATE: John Cloninger passed away the morning of Feb 20, 2012. He leaves behind six young children and a supportive, loving and devoted wife - the mother of their children. Funeral arrangements with full military honors, at his request, will take place in Morgan, Utah on Saturday, Feb 25th.

John Cloninger served an enlisted solider in the U.S. Army as a helicopter machine gunner at the end of Desert Storm. After an honorable discharge, he left the military, got married, received a college education, and started a family. After graduating from medical school as a podiatrist, Dr. Cloninger received a commission as a Captain in the U.S. Army. His five year stint in the service included a tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he lived and worked in Abu Gharab prison after the scandal there. He survived a severe attack, at one point watching enemy ordnance land near him and into the fuel tank of a humvee without exploding.

He was honorably discharged from military service in 2006. He and his family relocated from Fort Hood, Texas to northern Utah, where he set up a medical practice. With six young children, including an adopted orphan from China, all was going well in the life of Dr. Cloninger and his family. Then, on September 28, 2010, he went to the hospital with a severe headache, the worst of his life. He was immediately transported to a larger trauma center where doctors discovered bleeding in his brain stemming from a brain tumor. Days later he underwent brain surgery, wherein a walnut sized tumor was removed. He was diagnosed with stage four GBM. His recovery was truly miraculous. Unfortunately, that only lasted so long.

In mid-July 2011, his cancer returned aggressively. Chemo, radiation or a second brain operation was not an option anymore. Dr. John Cloninger requested a military burial with a 21-gun salute. He cherishes each moment with his wife and children.

John Cloninger turned 42 years old in Feb 2012. The brain tumor has taken over, severely affecting his balance and speech. He now lies in bed, unable to eat.

He is the very best brother-in-law I could have ever hoped to marry my younger sister. I love him and respect him.

He is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized in September of 1992, during his initial military enlistment. Portions of this article below were taken from a talk he gave in church in December 2010. Minor corrections and deletions were made for general audience.

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

—Genesis 28:15



I was asked to talk about what I have learned from hardships.

I wish I was here to talk about enduring funships. I looked in Webster Dictionary there is no listing for funships. I find that interesting. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a funship. I imagine it would be like opening your front door and there is a big pot of money and fairy dust to fix any physical ailments. That might seem great, but there are good reasons why such an event does not occur. We don’t seem grow as fast spiritually when things are going well. If you look in the scriptures, many times when things are going well, people become corrupt but quickly change to a more righteous attitude when hardships are inflicted upon them.


Prior to this recent ailment, I pretty much thought I was bulletproof. I did not think any medical hardships could come my way, anytime soon. I have great health, had bullets fly right be, mortars not explode near me, ran my helicopter into trees and power lines and walked away unscathed. My family history is strong for longevity. There is no family history of cancer. Well, I was wrong.



CPT John Cloninger in Iraq

Hardships are something we will all endure. The rain falls on the wicked and the just. It is an essential part of our probation time on this earth. Hardships occur to all people. Trials and hardships are not just for the wicked or the righteous. There is a saying, Hardships are a tool used to humble us and make us more teachable…

The first lesson learned was I’m not bulletproof, nor is anyone else. At any given time anyone here could have an ongoing significant trial or about to start one. I’m not talking just about medical trials. Trials come in so many colors. They can be financial (loosing a job), emotional (divorce or marital problems, children going astray…), addictions, etc. We probably could spend the whole hour listing different trials that have occurred in this room alone.


I think the most important thing to understand about hardships and trials in our lives is our responsibility. I personally believe that hardships without prayer and faith are just another form of torture. We must humble ourselves through trials and listen to the inspiration which will follow. It is only through this inspiration that we will be able to negotiate through this difficult moment. There is a quickening of the spirit and thinning of the veil [that separates heaven and earth] which can occur through significant trials. This process will not occur without us doing our part. We must go to our Savior in prayer with a willingness to be meek, submissive, and a willingness to endure all that the Lord desires to inflict upon us. Many times we try to figure things out ourselves and try to dictate the path to resolve our hardship instead of listening to that still soft voice which will guide us…


I have been through moderate trials before. They were difficult and there was no clear plan. There were moments of uncertainty. Probably of most noteworthy was my first trip to Iraq as a doorgunner on a Blackhawk helicopter. All I had to depend upon was myself, my training, strength and fortitude. There was no source of comfort or counsel. Being 19 years old and thinking I was bullet proof was my only consolation. After survival of this trial, I believe it was one of the many things which lead me to seek out the true gospel.


Whatever trials we go through require us to seek to the Lord for guidance. We must be willing to accept whatever his will requires. Whatever results from this supplication will be for our own good. We must look to our Savior when going through trials…


… We are not calling the shots when going through trials.


… [The doctors] expected me to be partially blind as a minimum. So, when I was sitting in preoperative room prior to my brain surgery. I started thinking about that time when I asked the Lord if everything was going to be okay before I went to Iraq, and was willing to accept whatever his will required… I received a witness that everything was going to be okay. When I woke up [from surgery] there were no deficits… However, after surgery I was told I had a malignant brain tumor. Since I had received a witness through prayer and knew everything was going to be okay.

I know that everything will be okay… The Lord is good at his word.

Once I had returned home from the hospital, Bishop Hendershot stopped by to see how I was doing. Bishop Hendershot said something which I knew but I had not internalized until this event. He said, “there are no things too big for the Lord to fix.” That is a profound and completely true statement. Our God is a God who performs miracles in the past, present, and future. During this visit, I was talking to him in a moment of frustration (we were waiting to start chemo and radiation treatment and wanted to already start it) and he said “you do not have any control in this. You are just the passenger and the Lord is the chauffeur.” It was a powerful lesson in realizing I am not in the driver’s seat, I can’t control the events that are about to occur. My part is to have faith and prayer and the knowledge all was going to be well.

When going through this trial, I was humbled at how many people cared. I realized the power of prayers. I could feel the prayers of others. Those prayers strengthened and supported me through my most difficult moments. I had patients come up to me and say “ Dr. Cloninger, I am not a praying man but for you I have been praying.” One of the nuns at Ogden Regional [Hospital] came up to me and said, "Dr. Cloninger, my knees have calluses." She said all of the nuns at Ogden Regional have been constantly praying for your behalf. Many different people told me they had put my name in the temple. One person asked me how to pray.

We should not hide our trials and try to figure them out ourselves. We do not need to be alone through trials. We need to embrace our ward [congregation] and those who surround us. They will strengthen and help us.

I looked in the wilkipedia and found something interesting. One definition of a ward is a part of an inner portion of castle which was a courtyard enclosed by a wall. It is an area of protection. I believe that is one of the functions of a LDS ward. It is a protective system to help us. When we are going through tough times the ward will surround you to uplift and protect you. However our Ward cannot help if we do not let them. It takes a stripping of self pride in allowing them to help. It allows others to serve their God by serving you as seen in Mosiah 2:17, “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are in the service of your God.” It is wrong to rob others of this opportunity and allow them to see the power of God by serving you when you are going through a trial.



Dr. Cloninger and his adopted son, Eli

I firmly believe…all hardships…should be [recorded in our journals] and expressed to those around you. Do not keep trials and miracles to yourself. I am not saying we should brag about miracles, but we should testify of them. Doctrine & Covenants (D&C) 59:21 [reads] “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.” We are not to seek for signs but we need to share our experience to allow us to appreciate the power of our Master. It helps to remind us the God of the past, present and future is the same God. It also helps to remind us, no matter what difficulties we are going through, there is a plan and a loving Heavenly father willing to help us.

As we express our trials it allows us to bond as ward. The ward is a family unit and as your trial is recognized; those around you will uplift you through prayer and service. The adversary wants you to believe you are alone. Once you believe you are alone, you become vulnerable. You are never alone through a trial. You have your ward and the Savior to lean on and look for support. Our Savior knows what you are going through, and knows how to uplift you. Remember in D&C 122:8, “The Son of Man hath descended below them all, Art thou greater than he?” Our Savior knows what we are going through. He knows how to uplift, comfort, strengthen and heal. It just requires your prayer and faith…

There were many days through this battle I was so miserable I just wanted to curl up die. But [a still, small] voice came to me saying, “Bro. Cloninger, just get up and I will do the rest.” I would get up as commanded and my strength would return. My body would work, my nausea would subside and my energy would return. I know this is what He will do for all of us. We just have to get up and He will take care of the rest. It just requires us to do our best and He will strengthen our shortcomings.

Sometimes when we are going through trials, He will allow us to trip for our own good… There will be moments in trials when things will not go as planned. There will be set-backs and the adversary will try to use these against you. I know the adversary was trying to break me through… set backs, but the strength of our Master is superior.

Hardships also allow us to learn how strong we really are. I have learned I am much stronger than I ever thought I was through this most recent trial. But I don’t kid myself by thinking that strength was just the arm of flesh. I know it was reinforced by spiritual power. This develops a confidence in not only yourself but of the spiritual power we each possess.


There is a poem I love:

A mighty wind blew day and night,
And stole the oak tree's leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark,
until the oak was tired and stark.

But still the oak tree held its ground,
while other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
"How can you still be standing, Oak?"

The oak tree said,
"I know that you can break each branch of mine in two,
carry every leaf of mine away,
shake my limbs, and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see,
they are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn't sure,
of just how much, I could endure.
But now I've found, with thanks to you,
I’m stronger that I ever knew.”

[Poem titled: Oak Tree, Johnny J Ryder Jr., as qtd by Elder M. Russell Ballard, Nov. 7, 2010 CES fireside at BYU titled: Follow the Doctrine and Gospel of Christ]

It is those roots that are so important. They are our faith and testimony. That is our source of power when enduring hardships. The adversary cannot touch our testimony and faith unless we allow him.

When we go through trials, many times Heavenly Father does not remove the trials from us, but instead he strengthens us as we endure through the trial…

I do have a testimony that as we pray and show faith through our trials, our burdens may not be removed on the timeline we want, but our strength to endure will be magnified. …If we follow into the trap of the adversary and become bitter or uncommitted, our roots will weaken and our faith will dwindle. When we are going through trials we should be running towards our Lord, not running away from him…

We will all undergo trials, to include our youth. We must all prepare for hardships. I had a drill sergeant who used to always drill into our heads: prior planning prevents poor performance. I would like to amend that concept when it comes to trials. Prior preparation prevents poor performance. We need to prepare for the inevitable hardships which will fall upon all of us…

Spiritual strength comes only with doing spiritual activities—like daily couple prayer, reading the scriptures, family time and going to the temple. Those activities galvanize a spiritual strength in a marriage and family which allows a collective testimony to overcome any trial. We can read in the Bible that two are stronger than one, for if one falls, the other will lift him up again. (compare to Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) There will come times in trials where we may have reservations or doubts, that is when we need our spouse and family to pick us up. This requires a collective testimony where we can teach each other and bear our testimony to each other to strengthen us through difficult trials. The adversary knows if he can’t destroy your faith through the trial, he is going to try to destroy your marriage and family. If you have that spiritual collective testimony, you will be successful in overcoming any trial. Trials should be a time where a marriage and family is strengthened not weakened. Just as we build a stronger relationship with God through trials, our marriage and family should also strengthen.

It is important we strengthen our children. They must be prepared to undergo trials. Junior High and High School are difficult times. They must have their own testimony, not a testimony which is built upon their parents. Their testimony is grown the same way as an adult—attendance to meetings, family and individual prayer and scripture reading, family time, and so on. They must develop as many spiritual experiences as possible during their maturing.

…It is those spiritual experiences in their early youth that galvanizes their testimony and helps them to make the right choices. It does not guarantee they will always make the right choice. It allows them to feel the spirit and a desire to return to it if they stray.

I am also reminded of another military saying. When hardships come, we do not rise to the occasion, we fall back on training. Our training includes a strong marriage, scripture knowledge, and an individual testimony resulting from obedience, faith which we have embraced and tried. What I mean by having a faith which has been embraced and tried, means we have done those required things which require faith. Those things include consistent obedience to basic gospel principles. Many of these things require faith for us to continue to do. Sometimes they may even feel unrewarding because nothing special occurs. That is where we practice daily faith, doing those activities because we are commanded to perform on a consistent basis. That is where the Lord tries us on a subtle level. These small forms of obedience are what strengthen our faith and prepare us for harder trials. The scripture in Isaiah 28:10, remind us we are taught “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little.” We cannot become trained to act of great faith in a difficult trial if we have not been performing that daily training which is obedience to basic gospel principles. That is how we prepare for trials.

When we are going through trials people watch and learn from your example. Their testimony can grow just by your conduct through a trial. When they see you trudging through a hardship with chin up, steady pace and not complaining and acting in faith. They don’t just feel your testimony, they see your testimony. The only thing stronger than bearing your testimony, is living your testimony, particularly when it is challenged. That is when people see you walking the walk, that is when they know you believe what you are saying. That is as powerful as it can get for a testimony and it will soften the hardest heart.

In closing, I would like to leave you with two things to ponder. Our neighbor is a survivor of multiple myeloma cancer. The problem with any cancer, it can always come back. Cindy was talking with them about this burden. They said, “Everyday is a gift and we live everyday with no regrets.” And I once had a patient who was in his 90’s and of poor health. “He said, Doc, I am so old I don’t buy green bananas.” I think both of these thoughts are really insightful. None of us are bullet proof, we could be called home at anytime. We need to live everyday like it is a gift and live it with no regrets. Too many times I think we buy spiritually green bananas. What I mean is, we find it too easy to say we will perfect or ripen certain behaviors later on, thinking we have time to correct them later. We don’t know when we are going to be called home. We need to live everyday like it is our last. Do our children know that we love them? When was the last time they heard you bear your testimony? Are we doing the things we are supposed to be doing? How many times do we procrastinate perfecting ourselves?

We need to live everyday like it is our last with no regrets.

As we come upon this sacred day, the birth of Jesus Christ. I hope we remember it true meaning and I hope we also remember the gift of life which is given to all of us. We must be mindful of this probationary time we are given on this earth and that we prepare to meet God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


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