Would the real Jake Johnson please stand up?

Yep, it’s me! It looks like my blog has been well taken care of while I have been wandering around the desert looking for wifi. Can’t put a whole lot on here cause I get to use the phone when I get off this so my attention span is short. They just pulled our 4 man Jav team off the hill we have been on for the last month for a little R&R. We are 3 months down and the time is starting to pass a little faster. I’m also losing my mind faster and faster. I don’t get to call home much and when I do they always go to the pretty lady. The mail is starting to come in a little more regularly and that helps alot. Thank you everyone for the packages, letters and prayers. Just so Pilk knows, his postcard was the first one I got. Cooper, your package helped remind me of Wed nights, even put a lil Bringing Down the Horse on and D-Mac, the corn nuts are a lifesaver. They are going to try to get me on the Advance Leave party going in Late August-Early Sep to try to make it home for when the lil ladies pop out. Thank you everyone for the prayers, you have no idea how much they impact me and my team out here. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have realized that you guys praying back home have kept me safe. I hope everyone back home hasn’t forgotton about me and I’ll be back before too long. Hope all is well with everyone. I just saw that I’m a Cpl, nobody has told me yet over here so who knows. It will probably be a while before I post on this again cause they are pushing us back out to the front in a couple days. I miss everybody. I can’t wait to see you Brit and have you introduce me to our new additions to our family!

Corporal Jake Johnson

It’s still Jake’s dad, two days before I set out to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.  Just got word that Jake got promoted to Corporal.  Third promotion in less than one year of being a Marine–not bad!   Congratulations to Jake, and they’ll be  happy for the pay raise. 

Not much news from Afghanistan, so not much I can tell you.  No news is good news I guess.  I think they are getting geared up for some heavy action soon though, so keep all of the Marines in your prayers. The 2nd  Battalion (Typhoon) has lost 5 good Marines so far, including PFC Richard Penny from just down the road in Fayateville, Arkansas. 

Send letters, care packages with food and goodies, anything from home is appreciated. 

On the home front, the twin girls (identical now) are growing well, and Hunter is eagerly anticipating their arrival.  He really doesn’t have a clue on what he’s in for.  Hunter is a hoot to be around, so I’m sure he’ll entertain his little sisters alot to help out mom & dad.

Happy Birthday Hunter!

No, it’s not Jake–still his Dad having to be his “ghost writer” I guess.  Jake is still a little occupied, and unable to come to the phone.  I don’t know much, as he’s only been able to call us twice since the last post, since he mainly gets to make calls to Brittany his wife.  He even called Cooper last week before he called us.  We just hang around and pick up the table scraps of information I guess.

All I know is that after coming down from their mountain outpost and “hanging out” for a few weeks, they are back up on the same Magic Mountain doing their thing.  The Marines were moving into one city a few weeks ago, only to have the Taliban all hightail it out of there, allowing them to take the city without firing a shot.  Now that the Poppy harvesting season   is over (they need to grow something more worthwhile–like blueberries), apparently the Taliban have more time to set roadside bombs, ambush, and all the other cowardly stuff they do. 

Sadly, one of Jake’s buddies in his unit was killed last week by a roadside bomb.  He was a young, 21-year old Marine from just over in Fayetteville, Arkansas.   His name was listed in the small print that is posted daily in the Tulsa World.  When I saw that he was a Lance Corporal, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, I figured that Jake may have known him, which was confirmed from talking with Brittany.

Next week is Hunter’s 1-year birthday party, so Jake will have to be there in spirit only.  I know he’s looking forward to the day this coming fall when he can come and get re-acquainted with his goofy little boy, along with his two new daughters.  After keeping Hunter for just a few days last week, I don’t see how they are going to do it with three young kids all in diapers and all clamoring for attention.  They’ll figure it out though, as we and most other parents did. 

Mail is slow coming and going in Afghanistan, but I know he appreciates letters, and packages of goodies like Gatorade (it’s very hot there), power bars, etc.  His address is: Lcpl Jake Johnson, H & S platoon, Javelin Section, 1/2 B Co Unit 73050, FPO AE, 09510-3050.  

As the owner of a small business over many years, I’ve looked at alot of resume’s and spoken with alot of young men, and even some older men, during my tenure.  It often really strikes me as to how little many of these applicants have really done with their lives.  They may have a college degree, be very talented, and worked at some big-time companies-but what have they really done that is significant–that really makes a difference in the lives of others, their community, their families, or our country?   And truth be told, even Jake would admit that before he became a Marine serving his county, the same could be questioned as to his contribution towards others. 

I can assure you now that even in the brief one year that Jake has served in the Marines, his “resume” reflects more actions and accomplishments that have really made a difference in our world than most of the thousands of resume’s that have crossed my desk.  Defending our freedoms, fighting for good, at a cost of sometimes paying for it with your own life as his buddy did, is about as important and significant as it gets.  And he’s only a year into his service.  We’re very proud of Jake (and Luke and Katie–don’t want to forget them) for deciding at a fairly young age to make a difference with his life, in doing something that makes an impact on our world.  

Hunter chearing the Owasso Rams on at the recent Military Day held at Owasso. Owasso's pitcher wore a shirt honoring Jake, with the other players wearing camo shirts honoring past and present military with Owasso connections.

Pray for Jake, and all of the Marines and all of our troops overseas in Afgahistan.  Pray for his wife and family, as they are away from him.  And pray for poor ol’  Hunter, who will be at the end of the line real soon after his two new little sisters, Emma and Riley, come on board!