I heard from a parent yesterday

A parent and now a friend has reported that the 173rd is now fully deployed and doing well. They are enjoying good food and are in the process of deploying sometime soon to their regular area of responsibility. To be exact, the mighty 2nd/503rd Infantry Battalion Destined Co. Hooo Raaah son. I love you and you will always be apart of me. Many people have been responding to this Blog so I have been able to make some people as friends.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad

I spoke to Alex today and they have gone to alert status.

Yes, this will be the last conversation I will have with my son for awhile. Many of you have sent comments to www.bluestardad.wordpress.com which I do not use any longer. I have been trying to respond to each one of you via email. I am now going to respond via the blog because it has been too time consuming. Don't get me wrong here, I want to reach out to each and everyone of you it's just that I am so concerned of not getting back to one of you because of time constraints.

So with that said, Vickie, Alex knows Tanner and will be making contact with him. They are not in the same squad but he will make that contact with him. I will continue to email you as we have made some great connections and were one of the first persons that have contacted me.

Don, I will keep Andy in my prayers and Alex will seek him out to get to know him. I will pass information when I can. My prayers will be for him as well.

Anne, I lost two cousins during that time (November 8th) with the 173rd on a combat jump. My true purpose for this blog is exactly to portray the true life of an American soldier in combat. Not for profit.

To everyone that reads this blog, I am all about the troop and not the commercial value. I want my son to come home as well as your son's and daughter's whole and healthy.

May God Bless Them All,

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad
San Francisco, Ca

Many Thanks for the time I got to spend with Alex

I sit here reflecting on the short period of time that I got to spend with my son while he was home. Those hours were truly wonderful and I will Cherish them forever. I also would like to thank Sandi (whose brother is with the 1st/503rd who are currently deployed in Afghanistan) who sent some kind words to me and for the prayers she Say's for all the men and women currently serving. Oh, I should also point out that he husband is a Marine. Sandi! I will keep the men in your life in my prayers as well. Also to a mother named Vicki whom I feel a close connection to as she had the same experience while her son came home on leave and found herself slipping into her son's room to watch him sleep. I did the same thing and I am sure we both had very similar thoughts. Thank you Vicki for those warm words, you will be getting an email from me soon.

For those of you that are checking this blog out for the first time you can see my first attempt at blogging at www.bluestardad.wordpress.com and see their comments for yourself.

When I spoke to Alex today and he mentioned that he was going to hang out with Destined company at a local nightclub tonight. He mentioned that this would be his last night out before deploying downrange. Destined is a new company that he has been attached to.

God Bless them ALL,

A fathers love,

Larry Arnone

AKA Bluestardad

San Francisco, Ca

My only son heading down range with the 173rd

I started a blog long before this at another blog site at www.bluestardad.wordpress.com that I found it to difficult to navigate. I am dedicating this site to my son PVT2 Alexander Forbes Arnone who is serving the United States Army with the 173rd Airborne Brigade 2nd/503rd Airborne Infantry HHC attached to Destined Company. Alex will be deploying down range to Afghanistan in the next few days. I stay in touch with Alex on a regular basis as he is my only son. It was easy letting him join the Army but it was something that he wanted and as a Father I needed to support him.

I just got off the phone with Alex and he informed me that his squad has been attached to a new company formulated from troops from within the brigade. His new company Destined Company is made up by some of the best shooters of the 2nd/503rd. I was initially concerned with this information as a father wanting to keep my son as far away from hostile activities as possible. When I asked him about his thoughts on this last minute change he stated to me "Dad, I have some of the best SGT's this unit has to offer and I am proud to go to battle along side of them" I almost choked up. I am very proud of him and can not wait for his return home. Again, I will be using this post to express my thoughts on his military career. Alex may jump on here with his thoughts as time allows it.

God Bless Them All,

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad
San Francisco