Military Mom & The Love Soldiers

(Above)Two very Happy Brothers: Moments After Spc. Daniel Love was released from Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Georgia July 17, 2009

2 LT David Michael; holding the Gun and Spc Daniel Love in front of Dan's M-WRAP inside Iraq; Summer 2010

2 LT David Michael Love being Commissioned as a Officer May 8, 2009

Military Mom & The Love Soldiers

In fifth grade our son David Michael came home and announced he was going to join the Marines when he grew up because he could "tell people about God and be a good example while serving his country."

Now 10 years later, little has changed except David Michael joined the Army instead of the Marines. David graduated from Liberty University, May 9, 2009 with a BA in Criminal Justice. The day before, May 8, 2009 he was comissioned a 2 LT and became the first officer in the Love family.

David Michael graduated from AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) the summer of 2007 and went to officers' training in Seattle, Washington, Ft Lewis) 2008. Next he graduated from advanced officers' training in Ft. Benning, Georgia October 22, 2009. Later that same month they drove to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona where David Michael began his Military Intelligence training on October 25th. February 24, 2010 he graduated the training and Holly & Mikey then drove to Ft. Riley, KS for Mikey's pre-deployment training. When they arrived in Ft. Riley David Michael's unit the Combat Aviation Brigade of the Ist Infantry Divison had already been deployed the month before to Iraq so David Michael was rushed through his training. Friday April 16, 2010 he hugged his dear wife good-bye and then took a bus to Kansas City and flew to Chicago, Washington, DC and then directly to Kuwait since a volcano was detouring flights in Europe. David Michael will be gone a year.

Click here to view photos of David's commissioning to be an officer

As a mother I am proud of the dedication of all my sons, Daniel James who is a high school History teacher working on his Master's and married to our wonderful daughter-in-law Amy who has given us Joshua James; our first grandson. I am also proud of my  my son-in-law Phil Patrick married to our daughter, Deanna who now is working in Celeveland as assistant manager in a very nice Starbucks store.

But that is not where our military history ends. In the fall of 2008 we received another surprise. Our oldest son Daniel Love made an announcement, "Mom & Dad, I want to joined the Army and be a soldier! I have always dreamed of serving our country and I don't want to miss this window of opportunity that I have." We were very surprised but supportive from the beginning as we knew the challenges would be steeper for Dan. First he was older and already had a career as well as a lovely wife and dear son. But Dan was determined and had already begun his preparations. March 30, 2009 Daniel flew to Fort Benning, Georgia to begin his Basic Training. We are so proud of him and thank you for joining us in praying him successfully through both Basic and Advanced Infantry Training.

Daniel graduated July 17, 2009 from AIT. Dave and I along with David Michael, Amy, J.J. and Amy's sister Emily and her 7 month old baby David, drove together to Georgia to celebrate his great accomplishment.

We were greatly suprised to receive the news October 17, 2009 that our son Dan was called up for deployment to Iraq, January 2010. His unit in Christiansville, VA is with the Lynchburg based National Guard 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team. Dan flew Janaury 5 to Ft. Shelby, Mississippi for his pre-deployment training. He then was deployed March 15, 2010 and flew to Kuwait. Below are photos from his farewell ceremony in Lyncburg, VA.

Once again we have recieved news but this time good news. Dan is coming home early from Iraq. With the scale down inside Iraq taking place his unit is being called back home. We are so thankful for all your prayers and God abundant protection over Dan during these past six months. (July 2010)

Today August 19, 2010 is our 32nd Aniversary and our cell phone rang after lunch. when I saw the caller ID my eyes filled with tears. It was Dan! "Hi Mom & Dad! We just landed in Bangor, Maine. I am back in the USA!" Wow! Thank you dear God! thank you!!! Dan is flying to Shelby, Mississippi for his in processing till August 25 when he will fly to Viriginia. Dave and I am going to fly up to Virginia to welcome him home. I can't wait to give him a big hug and see Amy and J.J.

One Home & One more to Go!!!

Click Here to view a photo album of Daniel's graduation from AIT

Click Here to view a photo Album of Daniel's 1-116th Packing Up to Come Home From Iraq

Click Here to view the Photo Album of Daniel Love's Welcoming Home from Iraq Celebration August 25, 2010

 
Military Mom honors our service men and women who serve our country and the praying moms and Dads, husbands and wives who stay behind to keep the home-fires burning while praying and waiting for their safe return.

Walking with my sons during their years of training and preparation for their future assignments has taught me a lot about prayer, courage and faith. The emotional ups and downs and lonely nights of fear and anxiety clearly reveal that apart from God's strength and grace a mother's heart could not survive this journey. Another thing that has impressed me is the amazing courage and maturity that my dear daugther-in-laws, Amy and Holly have shown. We are so proud of them! One last thing... J.J. you are amazing and always steal the show. Amy told me that when Dan called and talked to J.J. and said, "Buddy, I am coming home Wednesday," J.J. gave his mommy the cell phone and ran around the living room yelling over and over, "My Daddy is coming home Wednesday!" Then he quickly ran back and took the phone again from his mommy and continue on with his conversation. We love you J.J. You are the real hero and we all feel that same joy inside our hearts!!

God bless you and God bless our country and service men and women.

Below you will find a list of stories recounting the adventures of David Michael and Daniel Love during their military training and even some papers and blogs they have written. Hope you enjoy their adventures and Thank you for remembering them in prayer.

David Michael returned to the USA as 1 LT Love on February 22, 2011. He arrived at Ft. Riley, Kansas and Dave and I drove up for his arrival.  We praise God for his safe return.  Below is the video story of Dan's homecoming celebration by his school. Liberty Christian Academy.

Memories of Memorial Day May 2010: How We Were Changed! May 30, 2011

Col Robert Love & General Thomas Love Brothers in The Revolutionary War- Genealogy Story of the David Love Family Ancestry

David Michael Homecoming Story from Iraq February 22, 2011

Lynchburg Teacher Welcomed Home from Iraq: Report by:abc 13 wset-TV Lynchburg, Danville & Roanoke, VA September 1, 2010

Time Magazine's Top 30 Photos of 2010: Dan Love's Company and BN Shown Flying Home to the USA! December 15, 2010

A Letter to My Two Soldier Sons! Thank you! August 21, 2010

Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office-Dan coming Home! August 19, 2010

Two Characteristics of a Good Soldier: Humility & Terror July 4, 2010

Prayer Needed as David Michael works 16 Hour Days May 16, 2010

Standing with You Son &; Daughter-in-law During This Time of Testing &; Trials by David Love May 11, 2010

Brothers Meet in Far-Off Land! May 7, 2010

Letters from David Michael to His Big Sister Deanna: May 6, 2010

David Michael Receives His Final Orders April 26, 2010

The Love Soldiers: Update March 15, 2010

Turning Out the Lights by Edward Lee Pitts from World Magazine February 27, 2010

David Michael Being Deployed to Iraq January 24, 2010

Two Sons in the Military November 10, 2009

Prayer: Our Oldest Son Daniel Being Deployed to Iraq October 21, 2009

The Official Song of the US Army and website The Army Goes Rolling Along October 23, 2009

David Michael at Ft. Benning, Georgia: Only 8 Days Remaining! October 13, 2009

Anthem - The Mansions of the Lord by Nick Glennie Smith September 7, 2009

Specialist Daniel J. Love's Testimony July 22, 2009

Our Trip to Dan's Graduation from AIT July 16, 2009

Specialist Daniel J. Love Passes Advanced Infantry Training July 5, 2009

So What Are You Doing on July 4th? July 3, 2009

Happy Memorial Day! from Daniel Love on his 27th Birthday May 24, 2009

News Update on Daniel Love in Basic Training by Amy Love May 15, 2009

David Michael Gets Active Duty National Guard! Amazing Answer to Prayer! April 25, 2009

Letters from Soldier Daniel Love: Basic Training Ft. Benning, GA April 16, 2009

Letters from Soldier Daniel Love: Basic Training-Ft. Benning, GA April 10, 2009

A Terroirst Alliance: For Government Class by David M. Love December 12, 2008

Quiet Miracles, by Denise Love September 2008

Unusual Challenges – Advanced Infantry Trainings July-August 2008

Summer 2008 Officer’s Training – Fort Lewis, Washington Summer 2008

Video: National Guard called in to help fight Green Ridge Mountain Fire February 2008

David Michael & Friends in Uniform October 2007

Graduation from Advanced Infantry Training August 2007

David Michael- National Guard Advanced Infantry August 2007

Waiting...No Word From David Michael August 2007

Advanced Infantry Training August 2007

Prayer August 2007

David Michael at Basic Training August 2005

Urgent Letter from David Michael in Basic Training July 2005

Letters From Home June 2005

High School Graduation May 2005