Goodbye to CPT Marshall (Not Jason, Me!)

Monday was a bittersweet day for me, as I sent in the paperwork needed to officially resign my commission in the United States Army (THE Best Army in the world, HOOAH!) I've had the paperwork for awhile, procrastinating signing the document that would sever my ties from the army forever. It wasn't a hard decision, but I found myself sad all the same. As an Army Nurse, I've had the privilege to care for our nation's finest. I'm proud of that.

I once (In Germany) took care of a Marine who saw a grenade being thrown into the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania. He ran after it, intent on throwing his body on the grenade before it discharged. He didn't make it. Instead, the force of the blast threw him down an elevator shaft. Most of us would have stayed there. Not this man. He climbed out and secured the entrance to the embassy with the rifle of a dead soldier. As my patient, he was still in terrible pain. And he never complained.

So, what's a girl to do when sad? Make Pumpkin Bread! As I was gathering all the ingredients together, I remembered a conversation I had with a retired Navy Captain (that's the same rank as a colonel in the army) on an airplane ride from Texas to Washington State. At the time, I had just finished 2 weeks training "in the field" with medical personnel from the Army, Navy, and Airforce, and I was terribly excited. I had learned that, in a pinch, you can create an airway for a soldier by using the large safety pin from a cravat (bandage) and securing the tongue to the bottom lip. Safety pins, in an EMERGENCY on the battlefield can be make-shift sutures to hold gaping wounds closed until help arrives. (Hey, combat medicine is gruesome- we do whatever we can to keep the soldiers alive...)

I remembered that Texas had undergone a freak cold spell that spring. We were freezing in our tents that night, and some of us considered sleeping side-by-side to stay warm. In mixed company (Jason was later horrified that we had no qualms about dressing in front of each other), I toughed it out. Our squad shunned the offer to sleep in the hanger. "Pansies!", we thought of the officers who decided to accept the warmth over the "learning experience". We were stupid. It was 30 degrees out and no one packed "snivel gear." I don't think I got any sleep that night!

Some of the guys must have thought we ladies were asleep though, because this is the conversation at 0500 hrs that morning:

**** Grossness Alert!*****

"Guys, I think I'm gonna die, it's sooooo cold," one of the Airforce docs complained.

"I know," a Navy doc chimed in. "My 'guy' is broken. He didn't salute me this morning." (YOU WERE WARNED!)

" Oh yeah," Airforce responded, "Mine works!"

To which the whole tent started singing "Nothing can stop the U.S. Airforce!!!....)

"Aim High!" Airforce shouted out.

Now, back to the Navy Captain on the plane.... he listened to my tale (NOT the one above) and told me that "Civilians will never, can never, understand the camaraderie between soldiers. It's amazing, isn't it? How people can bond in such a short time...."



As I stirred the batter together, I looked down at sweet Faith, who was patiently standing on a chair beside me. Whisk in hand, Faith was intently watching Momma stir... And strangely enough, something else the Navy Captain said came to mind:


"But," he continued, "raising a happy child is one of the best things a mother can do in service to her country."

So, Captain Stall, wherever you are, thank you.


"Resign Your Commission Pumpkin Bread"

(yes, it's my recipe)

3 1/4 c self-rising flour

3 c sugar

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

4 eggs

1 c vegetable oil

1/3 c applesauce

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree

Nuts (optional)

Blend the eggs, sugar, and oil in a large bowl. Add the pumpkin and applesauce and blend. Then add the dry ingredients. Do not over mix.

Pour in 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

This pumpkin bread is pretty sweet, so feel free to adjust the sugar!