A missed call turned into a live call

As you may have read earlier, I missed a call from my boy at 0430 hrs this morning. You can only imagine the loss I felt as many of my readers are parents, spouses and perhaps some children and certainly family members of those serving this great Nation. Yes, that loss turned into absolute joy around 12:30 hrs when my cell rang and it was the same number that called at 0430 hrs this am. I was so thrilled I yelled "Alex, how are you son" and he stated "Dad I am good, just tired, dirty and I am sure I may stink" Go head!....lol. It was music to my ears and I ran out of my office and told my team members that I am stepping out to talk to my son. No questions asked I should mention.

Alex said everything is fine and he is doing well. He has received my care packages (not all) and loves it when they call his name when they do Mail call. I asked what Platoon he is with in Destined and he told me 3rd Platoon and when I asked what squad he said they weren't in a squad that they were on their own manning Mortar tubes about 1 hour away from a sight that I mail too. Many of you will understand where that is or close to.

He mentioned that the longest time they have gone without attacks against there position is 4 days and are on a streak of two days of no attacks. They do conduct patrols and make contact often with the enemy. I ask if they were in tents and he laughed and said I will see when I receive pictures from him. Please look forward to my next post that will explain what describes these men and why they do what they do for this country during a time of conflict and war. I am sure you will be impressed with what I post. I just want to get permission to post this speech from a friend and mother of one of our troops who shared it with me. In closing I want to say, I do this for my son but also for god and my country. Go Sky soldiers!

God Bless them all,

Larry Arnone
San Francisco, Ca
AKA Bluestardad

Missed Call

I was sound asleep when I heard my cell phone ringing. When I realized I was not dreaming I picked up the phone. I then realized I missed the call. I was then notified that I had a message. I was very disappointed after hearing the message that it was my boy Alex trying to contact me. I could hear the disappointment in his voice as he left a message. I guess at least I can say he sounded whole and of mind and soul. I sure do miss him and can not wait to great him at the airport one day. I have listened to his message 4 times already and I must say, even though I could hear the disappointment in his voice, it was still music to my ears.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad
San Francisco, Ca

care packages to my son

You know, when Alex first deployed I put together one grand care package that include enough to last a squad for a week. No, I do not mean it contained Ammo, Knives, Weapons of any kind. I sent GOODIES , real goodies like Sun Flower Seeds, Dried Fruits, Spoons, Hygiene products. Oh, the list does go on. I make sure to write a letter to my soldier to make sure he knows and understands that we all love and supports him in his mission for his country, Freedom for the
oppressed.

Larry Arnone
San Francisco, Ca

Destined Co. 2-503rd of the 173rd abn getting the job done.

I was able to pick up the above photos from a support website I belong to. To my surprise one of the pictures (second one down) are of two NCO's (SFC Levy and SFC Horval Reup at the Fortress) that my son looks up too as mentors. The other photo is of my sons mortar crew preparing to fire their gun tube in support of combat operations. Alex is the one leaning forward (Facing out of the pit) in the mortar pit sighting the tube.

The website contained over 45 photos and in looking at them it is hard to believe there is so much death in such a beautiful country. My son Alex is about ten miles from the Pakistani border. I still haven't heard from him yet but I am sure I will real soon.

A Dad's wish for Fathers Day

As a father of an amazingly brave young man, I can't help but to think of my boy running around the mountains of Afghanistan hunting and quit possibly being hunted on a weekend when we normally would be BBQing, drinking a few beers, laughing and wrestling as we have in the past. Don't get me wrong here, I will celebrate Fathers day with my wonderful daughter Michele who is Alex's older sister. She prefers to study to be a pediatrician while her brother is out saving the world and serving his country. Yes I will enjoy Sunday whether with my daughter even if it is only for few minutes on the phone or perhaps even see her if she gets back from Los Angles on time. She is currently in L.A. for work with the University conducting student orientations. I always have my anchor Amy, she supports me and both my children. Perhaps we will catch a movie and dinner. Regardless, The Sky Soldiers will be in my heart, she will understand me.

Deep down in my heart, I will be celebrating my very first Sky Soldiers Day. Yes, I dedicate this day (fathers day) for the men serving 173rd and there Fathers as well. As many of you are reading this, you can relate because you either have a son, husband, brother, loved one or a friend serving this fine unit. I will keep the two fathers that have already lost their son's in the first two weeks of being deployed and the fathers that are at the sides of the dozen or so men that have sustained injuries during these two attacks in my heart and prayers.

I only wish that we lose no more men in this battle for freedom in this country called Afghanistan. I wish that no father should ever go through what the families of our fallen soldiers must endure on a day dedicated to Fathers in past traditions. I only pray that these fine young men will once again spend a true fathers day with their dads again real soon. Too our Sky Soldiers!

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone

AKA Bluestardad

Father of PV2 Alexander Forbes Arnone "Airborne"

My boy

Folks, I do not like posting losses of our boys with the 173rd but I feel I need to do so, or at least make a tribute to OUR boy's. They have played an important part in our way of life as well as the Afghan people that want a Democratic State as we wanted in 1776.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone

AKA

Bluestardad

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Break- The above picture is of the father of the brave fallen soldier. CSM, our hearts go out to you Family.

Pfc. Timothy R. Vimoto, 19, of Fort Campbell, Ky., died June 5 in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by insurgents using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy.

For more information related to this release the media may contact the Southern European Task Force public affairs office at 011-39-0444-71-7011 or 011-39-0444-71-8020.

This is great loss to our tight knit family of the 173rd. My sympathies go to the soldiers family. To Command Sergent Major Vimoto, my heart and prayers are with your family. I am so sorry for the loss you have suffered.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone

AKA

Bluestardad

San Francisco, Ca

U.S. Army F.R.G.

The United Sates Army has a great support group that I recommend to everyone that has a son or daughter serving their country today. It is a great place to get information as well as communicate with other parents. There are two ways to get involved, go to Google and choose web search and then type frg. You will then see a few links pop up, choose the one that s say frg Home page. Once there sign up and get connected to other family members. My son is a member of the 173rd Abn Brigade 2-503rd Abn Inf Brigade HHC attached to Destined Co. I am very proud of him because what he is doing and because he believes he is making a difference.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone

San Francisco, Ca

AKA

bluestardad

I am sitting here very numb right now just wondering.

As you all know we are in the beginning of the surge that our President wants to win this battle on terror in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I as a Dad of a warrior only wonders if there is something we all can do for our country that would help these young men and women. I recently had correspondence with a mother of a troop who has a son assigned to the same company (Destined) of the same brigade of my son. We emailed each other about the equipment they need and how the Army is not supplying them with essential equipment to carry out the missions they have been tasked with. I understand shortages, budgets, and etc, as a corp America Business development manager but we are at war. How is it that I am rushing to get a sling for Alex's M4 and another mom trying to get her Son's Binoculars sent out to her son and having the shipment insured because it is a huge item number?

In closing, I want to extend my prayers to not only the 2nd/503rd families of the 173rd but also to the families of the 1st/503rd. May god look over all of them and bring them home when it is right.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone

AKA Bluestardad

Missing Alex

I sit here thinking about Alex a lot lately. I haven't heard from him since he deployed but have heard they are doing well from other parents. This comforts me greatly but at the same time I wish I can hear it from him. He requested I send him an M4 sling called a Mamba from Ranger Joe's as it is a much better sling. I know I have stated this before, but it is truly much easier being in combat yourself than wondering how your only seed is fairing combat. My hat goes off to all the other parents that endure the same feelings as I feel, Vicki ,Tanner's Mom, Sandy who has a brother currently serving the 173rd , Mel, who also has a son with the 1st/503rd as a medic, William who is a proud Dad to Robert of the 2nd/503rd, Anne who's Dad served the 173rd in Vietnam. I have so much respect for you all. May all our son's return safe and for those who have served prior to the current 173rd operations as well as all Armed Forces that is protecting America now and in the past. Thank You for your commitment in keeping us all safe.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad