Update

I wanted to jump on here to share a photo of my son and the rest of his Mortar crew. I just received this one this morning from the wife of one of Alex's team members. A huge Thank You Jamie!

Larry Arnone

AKA Bluestardad (And I want to keep it that way)

San Francisco

Jobs, People and Soldiers

My son Alex of the left Patrick Scott on right


I haven't been posting for almost one month now and it has not been because I didn't want to. I have been dealing with some things going on. I recently resigned from my job because I just couldn't get my heart into it. I took a short time off and gathered my thoughts on many things going on. I decided that I need a job that was going to give more of a challenge and I have found one. The company I have committed too as their new General Manager in a young company in the Corporate Employee Shuttle Bus Program business. It will present some challenges at first. The young man that hired me is an entrepreneur with a passion and a huge desire and an even bigger heart with a vision matched by none. Dominic, will be my Director of Operations and we both look forward to building a great company. The reason I even mention the company is because of it's name, "American Passenger Service" and how American I am feeling today. So, now I have my time occupied with growing this business and keeping my mind on other things.


I have been finding more and more people who understand about our mission in Afghanistan and being the right cause. They see 9/11/2001 as an event and the people that orchestrated this as demons who trained there. Too the people who support our men deployed there and every where else, Thank You!


My son is now about to return home on R&R like so many of your son's and daughter's. I only wish that you all enjoy the time you get with them and more importantly, Cherish them. Our soldiers keep us all safe and deserve so much more. I know that my son has some great Leadership behind him that will help him return to hang out with his old man to toss some beers, good conversations, and quality time together with family and friends. This Nations Soldiers are very important to me, I am sure they are very important to you as well.


Please enjoy the photo's and video's on the left. Make sure after you choose a video you scoll back to the top to view them.


Larry Arnone

San Francisco

AKA BlueStarDad (Trying to keep it that way)

The Fallen of The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team

I have decided to dedicate an entirely new Blog to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice to their country. It can be viewed at http://thefallenofthe173rdabnbrigade.blogspot.com It is my hope and desire to improve on this Blog so that it reflects the same effort shown by these courageous men. They have stood their last watch. If you should have any comment on how I can improve this Blog, then please share as I am open to all suggestions.

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone

AKA BlueStarDad (and I want to keep it that way)

San Francisco

Delta Force Training

I came accross this on Military.com I enjoyed it and hope you do too.
http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=146742&ESRC=recruiting.nl

The long commute and everything I have been waiting for.

As I was driving to work yesterday morning listening to news radio and thinking to myself that I should find a job closer to home, and then I found myself wondering about our boy's over in Afghanistan and how they get around the land. Me, I'm constantly looking for reckless drivers and avoiding hitting stray animals. The guy's looking for planted I.E.D.'s and ambushes from the Taliban. I begin to think my 55 minute commute isn't so bad after all. I decided to change the station to some light rock. The band that is playing is Phil Collins. Some great music I think to myself, when suddenly a different tune begins to also play and then I realize it's "The green Beret" on my ring tone. I immediately grab my cell and say "Hello" and then I hear "Hi Dad! How you doing" that is what I have been waiting for. It's sure sounds great to hear his voice and I tell him so.

He is still at the VPB outside Fortress and has been there for over a month now without refitting back at the FOB. I asked him why and he said that his section leader needs him there. When I asked how things were going he said "Dad, it has been raining everyday lately and it seems to be keeping the bad guy's away so things have been pretty slow." He did sound in good spirits and rested even though he was getting off guard duty from the perimeter. I told him about his platoon leaders email to me and how I had framed those emails (I got that idea from another soldiers mother) and hung it next to his picture on the wall. I could actually see him rolling his eyes...lol but he knows his old man and understands.

I know many of you that read my blog has soldiers serving the 2nd/503rd Regiment 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and know what it is like not hearing from them. I was able to speak to Alex for a good twenty minutes at the end of my commute. It's funny really because Alex knows that I stay in touch with many of the Parents and Grand Parents of our guy's and his last words to me were "Dad, tell Scott's (Last name) Dad Hi and tell Poole's Grand Parents he is here with me. Also let (name withheld) Vickie know her son is not here and not sure where he is at this point but may be at the FOB but not sure. Tell my Sister Michele and Auntie Jen I said hi and I will see them soon. I love you Dad! Over and Out." That was it and then white noise.

It was good to hear from him and I look forward to hearing from him again when he can call. When I arrived home there was a letter in my mailbox from him, talk about icing on the cake. I read his letter several times over. He wrote it shortly after an attack on his position. It is pretty amazing what these kids (opps Men) go through. I am sure you all are as proud of yours as I am of mine. Well thanks for reading the blog, this is Bluestardad, over and out!

Larry Arnone

AKA Bluestardad (and I want to keep it that way)

San Francisco

Telephone calls, U.S. Postal Service and my Crystal ball

I sit here this evening after spending a few hours at a Chamber of Commerce mixer wondering what our guys are doing? I have mingled with people of the U.S. Postal Service who reminded me our guy's receive to many care packages...Yeah right! The Verizon Representative who has no clue why they (Our guys) have no good plan for there (ouy guy's ) cells.

My Crystal Ball Say's that they do not understand what these guys are going through. I recently watched some video's on Afghanistan people on Google and found some interesting information. The women there are grossly mistreated. It makes me sick to watch these video's but know it is true. I hope time will make changes.

The communication pipeline seems to be dried up as I have not heard from my boy and I am sure many of you are in the same boat. You feel frustrated, I do. I hope we all hear from them soon. I am missing Alex in a huge way as I am sure you are missing your guy just as much.

Larry Arnone
AKA Bluestardad (and I want to keep it that way)
San Francisco

A great come back! From a proud Grandfather of one of our own.

One of my sons serves in the military. He is still stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops, everywhere he goes, telling me how people shake their hands, and thank them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our own freedoms but so that others may have them also.

But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha.He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S. flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock. The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said proudly," Yes, I always wear it and probably always will."

The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi.

A gentleman standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that YOU could stand here, in MY country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen. It is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR own country, we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly,

I'll gladly buy you a ticket and pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess in YOUR country that you are obviously here in MY country to avoid."Everyone within hearing distance cheered!

A Fathers Love,

Larry Arnone

aka abluestardad (and I want to keep it that way)

San Francisco, Ca

IF YOU AGREE____ Pass this on to all your proud American friends.I just did.