Memorial Day

Since it’s Memorial Day weekend, and I’m a sneaky little person, I’ve decided to post something about Allen and Jen’s service to this great nation.

Allen joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school, and was disowned by his parents when he told them he was going to boot camp instead of college. Most people would see that as a reason to fold and do what their parents wanted. But Allen has always been his own person and didn’t let something like that stop him. He graduated from Parris Island as a PFC because of his outstanding performance as a recruit. He’s been a basic infantryman, an intel specialist, and a Drill Instructor. He made it to the rank of Staff Sergeant before being recommended for OCS. He finished OCS in 2007, TBS and MPOBC in 2008, then got stationed in Hawaii. He’s currently deployed to Iraq on a 22 month deployment and was promoted to 1st Lt. recently. He’s a picture of Allen while he was at TBS at Quantico MCB in early 2008.

Jen grew up in Georgia and also joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school. Unlike Allen’s parents, her parents were thrilled with her decision to put off college for a year and go to Parris Island to become a Reserve Marine. She graduated after 13 long weeks and was sent to San Diego for MOS training. That’s where she met Allen for the first time, and then began to ignore him. After MOS training she went back to the east coast to attend The Citadel for college. After graduated with her degree, she chose not to accept a commission and to stay an enlisted Marine. She went back to San Diego as an active duty Marine, and eventually began dating Allen. Years of dating and marriage later, she’s back to being a Reserve Marine while raising 6 kids in Hawaii while Allen is deployed. Unfortunately she hates to have her picture taken so I don’t have a picture of her in uniform. But here’s one of her with Reed while she was pregnant with Beau. (She’s going to hate me for posting this, but whatever. I’m sneaky for a reason.)

Most people probably don’t know that they have both been wounded while in Iraq and both have purple hearts. They’ve been married for almost 6 years and have been apart for more than 3 years of that time. Allen has only been present for the birth of one of their kids due to being deployed or on assignment when the others were born. Jen is doing a great job raising their kids while Allen is away. She never complains about him not being there for such long periods because she understands the importance of the job he does. Allen goes out of his way to make sure that Jen knows how appreciated she is by him.

So that’s my little tribute to two people whom I love, and have given a lot for their country. Neither of them have ever asked for any thanks or recognition. I hope that people will give them respect though. They both deserve it.

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