Joggin' For Frogmen

My new shoes

I'm not a runner. I ran a little when I was in college. I ran when required in a Crossfit WOD just because I wasn't going to give up. But I didn't like it much. Well...

I just bought a pair of running shoes.

Why?

In less than a month, I'm going to San Diego. The last day of my visit happens to coincide with a a 5K called Joggin' For Frogmen that benefits The Navy SEAL Foundation and The 31Heroes Project. So a friend (a fellow Soldiers' Angel) and I registered for the race.

I've never run that far.

But I'm going to give it my best shot!

I have a fundraising page if you care to help me support our fallen heroes and their families. Click here.

I can always run/walk if need be, but I'd really like to jog as much of it as I can. For the past week I've been training using an iPhone app. So far so good. I think the swimming I've been doing since April is helping the training. My swim clinic coach, who is a triathlete, has been very supportive and helpful. Just wish I had decided to do this 8 weeks before the race (that's how long the training app is for). I've got a little over 5 so am going to have to kick things up a notch soon.

My jogging amuses my family to no end. But this is the least I can do for those who did so much for our country. Wish me luck!

Operation Red Wings

Picture from SEAL of Honor Facebook page

Today is the anniversary of Operation Red Wings. For those who may be interested in learning more about what happened eight years ago in Afghanistan, Marcus Luttrell's book The Lone Survivor tells the story. They are currently making a movie of the book, too. I'm looking forward to seeing that.

Never forget the men, the heroes, who lost their lives eight years ago. 

Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y.

Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson, 29, of Cupertino, Calif.

Machinist Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Eric S. Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nev.

Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, N.H.

Quartermaster 2nd Class (SEAL) James Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz, 25, of Littleton, Colo.

Chief Fire Controlman (SEAL) Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, La. 

Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio.

Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minn.

Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Fla.

Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Ind.

Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Conn.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Va.

Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Fla.

Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, Calif. 

Electronics Technician 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Ore. 

Lt. (SEAL) Michael M. McGreevy Jr., 30, of Portville, N.Y.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, W.Va.

Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tenn. 

(List of names from the Summary of Action at NSW/www.navy.mil)

Live

I found a link to this article on SOCNET, one of my daily visits on the Internet. I'm a lurker, not a member. But I enjoy reading posts there, a combo of curiosity about SOF, learning more about what my son dreams of doing someday and research for potential ideas/characters. Nothing like a dose of some sarcastic Alpha male postings to keep me from making a hero too much of a girly man!

I never know what I might find in the forum, but I'm so glad I clicked on the above link and found this video. Watching it, I had a good cry, a mix of happy and sad tears. Grab a tissue and enjoy. We can all learn something from Zach Sobiech!



RIP Zach! And thank you!

MURPH The Protector

Last night I took Finn to see MURPH The Protector, a movie about Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Michael Murphy.  The film is inspiring, a story about honor and bravery and a really great guy.

My son dreams of being a Navy SEAL so I thought this would be a good movie for him to see. Role models are important for kids no matter what they want to be when they grow up. A kid can't go wrong looking up to someone like Michael Murphy.

The film is a documentary with family and friends talking about the man. The narrative follows Murphy from childhood to what happens after he was killed in Operation Red Wings.

We both enjoyed the film and over dinner discussed what we'd watched. My son and I thought the movie picked up when they started talking about Murphy wanting to be a SEAL. I don't know if it was getting out of talking-head mode and the use of BUD/S training via video clips or what, but that was where things got more interesting for us. 

The only person not interviewed who I would have liked to hear from was Murphy's fiancee, Heather. She was mentioned and pictures of her shown, but I think her perspective on the man would have been a great addition to the film since she knew him in a much different way from those who spoke. We heard about Michael the son, the brother, the cousin, the nephew, the friend. The romance writer in me would have loved to hear about Michael the boyfriend and fiance. This didn't enter into my son's mind at all. He thought it was great the way it was!

MURPH is on a limited release so if you plan to see it, go in the next couple of days. Check your local Regal Theater to see if it's playing. I believe it's run ends on Thursday. Definitely bring a tissue to the theater. More than once I was wiping tears away.

Wish Our Devil Dog A Happy Birthday!

 Back in November, we adopted a Marine through Soldiers' Angels. SA is a fantastic organization that helps deployed service members, wounded warriors, veterans and families. There are lots of different ways to get involved. Some don't take much money, just a little time to write a letter and a stamp to mail it!

I've mentioned this before, but I joined SA after watching a web show on SOFREP called INSIDE THE TEAM ROOM featuring three former Navy SEALs including Chris Kyle, who inspired me to do more than just say "Thanks for your service" when I saw a uniformed service member or met a veteran.

I sent off our first letter, introducing our family to him, then went about making a care package. A Christmas care package due to the date and mailing time to the Middle East. Delivery times slow way down to the volume being sent.


Many times, you never hear from your adoptee. You're told when you sign up not to expect a response. Who can blame the service members for not being in touch. They are busy over there, working long hours, often seven days a week. But you keep writing your letters and sending your care packages to show your support and gratitude for what they're doing and hope what you're sending is things your "silent soldier" wants or needs.

Sometimes you get an adoptee who has access to a computer or likes to write letters. Those letters are called "free mail" because the service members aren't required to use a stamp. They write "Free" where the stamp would go. When you receive an email or letter, you feel oh-so-blessed to have heard back.


I wasn't expecting to hear back from our adoptee. But we received an email from our adoptee the day his letter arrived. Talk about a wonderful surprise. He sounded so nice and excited to hear from us. Since then, we have been in almost daily contact (depending on his workload and what he's doing). It's been an awesome experience for the entire family.

We love him so much. He calls us his "beautiful family" and he is a big part of it now!

Well it's his birthday!

His cake arrived in time, but his other birthday boxes didn't so this will be a prolonged celebration. (So glad I thought to stick a couple boxes of Little Debbie snack cakes in the party box!)

I thought it would be nice to collect birthday greetings in the comment section and email them to our favorite Devil Dog. I'll also give him a link to the comment section.

If you'd like to leave our Marine a birthday greeting, please post a comment and I'll send it his way.

Thanks! And oorah!

Semper Fi

Respect & Honor

More than a hundred US Navy SEALs pounded their tridents into Chris Kyle's coffin at his burial yesterday. Pretty much all that needs to be said.

Happy Veterans Day!

This morning I called my dad to wish him a Happy Veterans Day! Both he and hubby's late father were both veterans (AF, my dad and Navy/retired Naval Reserves, hubby's dad). One of hubby's brothers served in the Marine Corps during the Gulf War, too. My mom was a little girl with pigtails and still playing with dolls when my dad served so his being in the military never affected our lives except, I suppose, when he got a VA loan to buy their house, which I don't remember, either.

But today is the day to remember the service and sacrifice the men and women of the US military made and continue to make for all Americans. And to thank them!

Like the LOLcat above, our military has saved us and our way of life so many times. And many things they've done we will never know about. Some are most likely doing something right now in a place far, far from home. And like the little kitten above, we should watch over those warriors who've done so much for us. Not only today, Veterans Day, but every day.

A website I've mentioned on this blog is SOFREP. When you have a moment listen to their SOF Heroes Project. Members of the SOFREP community read the names of fallen Special Operators.

And this is a nice video to watch today...



Thank you to all the veterans and those who serve now! Happy Veterans Day!

Battling Back

I got my manuscript turned in on Thursday, in spite of being sick. Huge sigh of relief on my part. Now the waiting game begins for revisions. I'm expecting there to be significant revisions given what I was going through health-wise.

But hey, the book was there by the deadline. Gotta count for something, right?

I've been taking it easy the past 36 hours or so. Trying to get better (still fighting bronchitis.) Catching up on my sleep. Starting my new Hood Hamlet/mountain rescuer story. Reading No Easy Day.

I ordered the book written by Mark Owen, the psuedonym of a former Navy SEAL with DEVGRU/Seal Team 6 operator (I wonder if there isn't a new name for the group now given all the publicity) back in September. I was interested in reading it for a few reasons: research for the Special Forces ideas floating around in my head, wanting to know more about what happened in 2011 from someone who was actually there and curious about the controversy surrounding the book.

With a deadline looming, I kept the book in the kitchen so I wouldn't be tempted to read it until I finished my manuscript. I saved it for my "treat" after I finished my book. As soon as I emailed the manuscript to my editor, I moved the book from the kitchen to my nightstand.

No Easy Day was a treat. Very enjoyable. I already finished the book. I highly recommend it.

The goal was to tell the story of the Osama Bin Laden mission (Operation Neptune Spear), and the author and co-author succeeded. But more than once I thought, at what cost?

The government has pitched a fit of threats with cries of OPSEC and non-disclosure agreement violations. I had a security clearance so I get that, but given the leaks by the administration about this mission already... Pot. Kettle. Black.

What I'm talking about is the cost to the author.

I don't know much about the military beyond knowing a few people, including my father, who served and having spent a summer working at NUWES. But much has been written about the TEAMS. It's the stuff romance authors and readers love: men—real-life heroes—working together and risking themselves for a greater good and the brotherhood among them.

How has No Easy Day affected that bond/relationship?

Because that brotherhood is what I find myself drawn to and wanting to learn more about as I've been researching SOF. The friendship between a group of mountain rescuers is what drew me to continue writing the Mount Hood/Hood Hamlet books even though it was suppose to be one story, not a series. I imagine the bond to be a hundred times stronger for a team of SEALs given the stakes and the sacrifices.

Wanting to learn more, I came across this article, NO EASY DAY: FROM ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE written by NYT bestselling author Dalton Fury. Besides his romance-hero worthy pseudonym, Dalton Fury is a former Delta Force officer turned author. He knows what Mark Owen is going through in a way few others can. The article answered my questions, and is a must read if this stuff even slightly interests you. Of course, now I'm going to have to add one of Fury's books to my TBR pile!

Hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be laying low and trying to get better! Plus doing a little writing on my next mountain rescuer story. How about you?

Special Forces

My new favorite website to visit is called SOFREP. It stands for Special Operations Forces Situation Report.  There, you can get various former SF operators' take on current events. As soon as I finish this current manuscript, I'm joining as a member. (Trying to be disciplined.)

Why do I like SOFREP so much?

Informing articles like this one about an organization that claims to be not for profit to benefit SEALs' families (Be careful who you donate money to!) as well as interesting analysis on what's happening in the world from a different point of view than I'm used to hearing.

I like that the comments are also intelligent. No one is trying to be "First" or telling me how their aunt makes some ridiculous amount of money each month using her computer. I've found very informative links to other articles and websites that add to the discussion at hand through comments. I have no idea who these people/avatars are, but if I were putting together my own Zombie Apocolypse Team, I'd want a few of them covering my back!

I also think the website is cool because it's Special Ops!

I still remember the summer before my senior year at Stanford. I was working at NUWES (Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station) in Keyport, Wa. I was a few weeks away from my 21st birthday and a bunch of engineers were going to play paintball. I thought that sounded fun so went down to the local army surplus store in Seattle and purchased camo gear so I'd be coordinated from head to toe. Some of our opponents that day were Army guys from Fort Lewis.

The very first game was Capture the Flag. My team sent me to get the flag (yeah, sacrifice the only female on the team), and I surprised everyone, including myself, when I stole the flag and made it back without a paint ball coming close to me. I even asked the person running the game if maybe the other team let me win and he said no. Those guys would not have let me win.  I was awarded a star that went on my collar, then placed on the Army guys' team for the next game. It was something like 7 of us vs. everyone else. One guy, who turned out to be a Ranger, told me to come with him and he'd tell me what to do. He did. He must have taken out half the other team on his own. I was in awe of his abilities, a little scared of him and definitely attracted. I had zero doubt I was in skilled hands. In spite of the lopsided numbers, our team won. Hands down.

A big part of my SOFREP infatuation is I would love to write a military hero. Let's face it, Special Forces guys are sexy, even if there isn't any sex in my books. The more I read, the more I learn about this intriguing Special Ops World, the better I can create a 3-D hero and realistic story.

Those who've read this blog for awhile know how I love to research. In spite of my fear of heights, I learned and fell in love with climbing while researching mountain rescuers for my Mount Hood series!

My current Special Ops obsession isn't all that surprising. The background for it was put into motion when I was writing Expecting Royal Twins. That story features a crown prince, also a soldier, whose Balkan country fought a devastating civil war.

To research that and him, I spoke with Roger Carstens, a friend I knew during my high school years who graduated from West Point and starred in NBC's The Wanted (that gig was just coming up for him when he spent hours on the phone answering my never ending list of questions!) Roger introduced me via Facebook to John Fenzel, an Army Colonel who also wrote a novel set in the Balkans called The Lazurus Covenent.

So right now, I'm in sponge mode, soaking up what info I can, and seeing what kind of story idea and hero emerges from the gray matter inside my head after percolating a bit. The first question will be Delta Force or SEAL hero? Which kind of hero would you prefer reading?