I want to thank all of you who serve. I heard of this website on the Pentagon Channel. I just thought I would throw this out there because I am at a loss. I am the grandmother of a Marine who has been in Okinawa since May 2011. I raised him on my own since he was 5 wks old because his mother couldn’t take care of him. When he was 16 yrs old I signed a piece of paper allowing him to make his own decision to become a Marine. I always instilled in him to be of service to others. Growing up he raised money for an animal shelter, did volunteer work as a boy scout, was an alter server, donated blood, grew his hair long to donate it to Locks of Love and was a major asset in his HS marching band, and always helped at home because I have disabilities. I recently had surgery and have been unable to do a lot of things. It seems that people are so wrapped up in themselves that I can’t seem to find anyone to help me. I guess because I am a grandmother, even though I raised him I’m not considered a military family. He is the only family I have now and I am the only family he has. Don’t get me wrong, in spite of my disabilities I am a tough lady. I try to be tough for him and support what he is doing and support his friends who are also in the Marines. I could not be any prouder. How can someone in my situation get any help? I am open to hearing from anyone. Thanks.

I came from a Marine family, 10 of my uncles were Marines, and I am the first female in the family to become a Marine. The most outstanding moment of my service was actually my first few minutes at Parris Island. Being from a military family I thought I heard everything there was to hear. But the drill instructor which by the way is a good 6 inches shorter than me was saying things I had never heard before and I really thought what did I get into. But after boot I loved every minute and to this day 37 years later, I still wish I had stayed in. I love and am very proud to be a Marine and if they would let me back in at my age I would do it all again proudly