Some Blogs from New Lts IBOLC and Ranger School

[NorwichDad]

Here is some good reading on IBLOC and Ranger School from a couple of Lts.

It don't come easy

http://www.tommym1080.com/journal/Ra...ning_phase.htm

http://bolcjournal.blogspot.com/2010/09/day0.html

Move around the icons on right for specific dates. I have not read them but my son has and said they were great.

[GoSox]

For the first blog, you might have better luck with the following link, which gives you a chance to click on his Ranger diaries:

http://www.tommym1080.com/

And a very sad note -- the author of the above blog, a West Point grad, was KIA in Iraq in 2007. His friends/family have left his blog up as an online memorial. I didn't know him but some friends did and said he was an unbelievable guy. Just a reminder that after all the training, this stuff gets real real, real fast.

[EDelahanty]

More about 1st. Lt. Thomas M. Martin (1980-2007, USMA 2005).

http://www.sarahmcow.com/my_weblog/my-brother-tom.html

[scoutpilot]

Originally Posted by EDelahanty

More about 1st. Lt. Thomas M. Martin (1980-2007, USMA 2005).

http://www.sarahmcow.com/my_weblog/my-brother-tom.html

I had the honor of supporting Tom many times from above. He was a dynamite tactical leader.

As a sad footnote, his fiancée was the PL of the medevac aircraft in which he died. There's a very sad level of detail to his death, if anyone cares.

[NorwichDad]

Originally Posted by scoutpilot

I had the honor of supporting Tom many times from above. He was a dynamite tactical leader.

As a sad footnote, his fiancée was the PL of the medevac aircraft in which he died. There's a very sad level of detail to his death, if anyone cares.

Sorry I did not realize when I posted. Sorry for his fiancée.
I am glad the family left the blog up. It is helpful to my son and many of his friends at Norwich and those he met at LDAC. Tom is still helping a lot of kids coming up.

God Bless Tom

[scoutpilot]

Originally Posted by NorwichDad

Sorry I did not realize when I posted. Sorry for his fiancée.
I am glad the family left the blog up. It is helpful to my son and many of his friends at Norwich and those he met at LDAC. Tom is still helping a lot of kids coming up.

God Bless Tom

No offense taken. It was just terrible the way it happened. It was right before RIP/TOA for his unit. They did a raid, an air assault IIRC, and the guys they were after squirted into the palm grove. One turned and fired off a burst and a round caught Tom right below the plate in the gut. He bled out in the aircraft.

It just took me back to some tough days thinking about that. I can still remember him on the net, and those targets we worked in that inky black patch of no man's land east of Mahmudiyah. It's good they read about him.

[NorwichDad]

Originally Posted by scoutpilot

No offense taken. It was just terrible the way it happened. It was right before RIP/TOA for his unit. They did a raid, an air assault IIRC, and the guys they were after squirted into the palm grove. One turned and fired off a burst and a round caught Tom right below the plate in the gut. He bled out in the aircraft.

It just took me back to some tough days thinking about that. I can still remember him on the net, and those targets we worked in that inky black patch of no man's land east of Mahmudiyah. It's good they read about him.

Thanks, I want you to know my son spent a day and a night reading his blog last month. Many of his friends have read it or are reading it now. My son mentioned that Tom was always talking about his finacee. He had a lot of humor in his blog. It is a really good read from a great man.

[sarahmcow]

I couldn't help but notice this web address in my blog footprints today. I'm Tom's sister, Sarah.

Tom would be thrilled to know his stories and his journals are being read and enjoyed by young leaders and Rangers. I only ask that you keep them moving. Pass them along to anyone who might benefit from an incredible story of leadership and dedication - infused with an unbeatable sense of humor.

Also, please visit here: http://www.tommartinfoundation.org/

Tom's family and close friends formed a memorial foundation in his name last year -- with plans to spread his story and help other young leaders via scholarships and grants.

It sounds like at least one poster here knew Tom. If you have a story or memory to share, I encourage you to contact my parents. They would love to hear a kind word or a funny story about Tom from one of his guys. tom.martin.foundation@gmail.com

[Dixieland]

Thanks for joining us, Sarah. I am so sorry about your brother---he sounds like a wonderful person and courageous soldier. I hope you will stick around and share more.

[NorwichDad]

Originally Posted by sarahmcow

I couldn't help but notice this web address in my blog footprints today. I'm Tom's sister, Sarah.

Tom would be thrilled to know his stories and his journals are being read and enjoyed by young leaders and Rangers. I only ask that you keep them moving. Pass them along to anyone who might benefit from an incredible story of leadership and dedication - infused with an unbeatable sense of humor.

Also, please visit here: http://www.tommartinfoundation.org/

Tom's family and close friends formed a memorial foundation in his name last year -- with plans to spread his story and help other young leaders via scholarships and grants.

It sounds like at least one poster here knew Tom. If you have a story or memory to share, I encourage you to contact my parents. They would love to hear a kind word or a funny story about Tom from one of his guys. tom.martin.foundation@gmail.com

Sarah,
Your brother is a true hero. Many of my son's friends are reading and have read his blogs. He is still inspiring others.

My best wishes and thanks to your family