I came across something tonight that reminded me of Steven. While I hung out with his sister Kathy most of the time I was able to see a lot of the boy that he was. When he reconnected with me a couple of years ago on facebook I was able to start watching the man he had become. This story was on the wall of my husbands office this evening when i visited him and even though he wasn't marines it still caught my eye.

FA-18 fighter plane costs $32 million dollars
US Marine Corp attitude, priceless

In addition to communicating with the local Air traffic control facility, all aircraft in the Persian Gulf ADR are required to give the Iranian Air Defense Radar (military) a 10 minute "heads up" if they are heading into Iranian airspace. The following conversation was heard on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz.

Iranian Air Defense: "Unknown aircraft, you are in Iranian airspace, identify
yourself."

Aircraft: "This is a United States Aircraft, I am in Iraqi airspace"

Iranian Air Defense: "You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!"

Aircraft: "This is a United States Marine Corp FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait"

Iranian Air Defense: (total silence)

As a pilot, and with 12 deployments under his belt, this is the kind of man I could have seen him growing into. From all of the stories I have had the pleasure of reading here and the pictures I have been able to see, It seems he has kept his personality from his youth and turned into an incredible man and soldier. My son has just graduated from high school and has chosen the Army to start his career path. He leaves for boot camp at Fort Jackson, SC tomorrow morning and I am hoping that he turns into the same kind of man and soldier that I have had the pleasure of knowing in Steven. Thank you all for allowing me to catch up on your memories of someone I hadn't seen in along time.

Aug. 14, 2011