Family, friends, and sometimes even troops themselves send I-Report salutes nearly every day to U.S. military serving their country away from home. Take a look below as family and friends share stories of the troops they love.
Friday, June 1, 2007
'Very proud of our son'
 I would like to salute my son CW2 (promotable) Micah Johnson of the 1-227th Air Cav, A Company, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Ft. Hood, TX, currently serving his second tour in Iraq at Taji. Micah flies the AH-64D Longbow Apache Attack Helicopter. His mother and I are very proud of our son and love him very much, and all of our boys in A Company. -- Michael Johnson of West Chazy, New York 'Terrific father, amazing soldier'
 My husband, SPC. Robert E. Perry III, is currently serving with Charlie Troop, with 1-325 AIR, 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, NC. He is now stationed in Taji, Iraq. Bobby is our rock. He is a wonderful husband, terrific father and amazing soldier. We have missed him dearly since he left for the first time in July 2006 and are anxiously awaiting his return this November. I want him to know that no one is more proud of him than we are! He is our real life, All American Hero!! -- Leah Perry of Fort Bragg, North Carolina Thursday, May 31, 2007
Welders at sea
 Justin Delgado, 19, is serving on-board the USS Benfold(DDG-65)serving in the Pacific and are Home-ported in San Diego. Justin is in the center of the image along with 2 of his Shipmates. They are Welders in the R-Division(Repair-Division). They take care of the plumbing, the air conditioning, basically all the functions of the ship. Currently they are doing operations between Alaska/San Diego. -- Jesse Delgado of San Antonio, Texas Three kids, one on the way
 This is my husband, Army Chaplain Matthew Cassady, and three kids at my husband's Chaplain Officer Basic Course Graduation April 2005. My husband is serving in the Army as a Chaplain. He is currently deployed to Afghanistan. He has been deployed one other time to Afghanistan from 07/05 to 11/05. We have three children and one on the way. We love the Army and are all proud to be serving our country! -- Rachel Cassady of Fort Bragg, North Carolina Wednesday, May 30, 2007
'Professional soldier, proud mom'
 Attached is a photo of one of my many deployed friends and fellow Quartermaster Warrant Officer. CW3 Cathy Young is an extremely talented dedicated leader who prides herself in providing the warfighter with premium support! She is the typical modern soldier in uniform; a professional soldier and proud mom. -- Peter Dancy of Dallas, Texas First deployment
 My son, Marine Lance Corporal Andrew Ortiz is serving at Camp Ramadi in Iraq. He's been there for 2 months now, his first deployment. We love him, we miss him, we are ready for him to come home. We are just so proud of him.I would like him to be honored by y'all because we watch your show every morning and we'd love to see him there. It's great that you have a spot for our military in your program... it means a lot to the families, I promise it does! Thank you! -- Audra Ebel of Midland, Texas Love from Ft. Stewart
 I wanted to send in a picture of my husband Nathaniel G. Hemric. He is currently serving another tour in Iraq, he has been gone since November 27th 2006, and is due home sometime between February-March 2008. He is apart of the 293rd MP Company 385th Mp Battalion out of Fort Stewart Georgia. He's taken lots of pics in Iraq so I decided to send u this one. Nathaniel is constantly busy, works very hard and I talk to him from time to time when he has any free time to talk to me. But i would like to share this with u cause his unit didn't and hasn't got much media attention. -- Sharon Hemric of Fort Stewart, Georgia 'Keep safe little brother'
 Photo of Spc James E Roberts Jr. on a transport plane outside Tilo AFB in Iraq. We love you and miss you Jim. Even though you are far away We know that you are being watched over. Keep safe little Brother Love always Kim. -- Kim Beaudoin of Arizona Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Proud of dad
 My wonderful husband of almost 18 years, a soldier for almost 15 years, CPT Michael Ramos, is a Physician Assistant for 2/325 AIR, with the 82ABN. He is at a little COP in Sadr City, that they call COP Ford, which is named after a soldier that they lost. Our two children, Matthew and Ashley, as well as his parents, Richard and Joyce, are very proud of him. -- Lugina Ramos of Fayetteville, North Carolina Monday, May 28, 2007
'My hero and my rock'
 I would like to salute my husband SPC Raymond Dunnavant. He is currently 11 months into a 15 month deployment with the 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division in Baghdad, Iraq, as a Stryker driver. He is the very first thing that I think of every morning and the last lingering thought before I fall asleep at night. He is my hero and my rock. In a recent letter he states: "No matter how much this war has taken from us and no matter how much we've changed our love will keep. It will grow and flourish, just like the garden we will plant together. It will radiate through our children and brighten the lives of all our family and friends. There has never been a prouder husband. I am longing for the moment that brings us as one, because just being in your presence completes me..." I could never state my love quite as perfectly as he does. My sweet darling husband I love you. -- Andrea Dunnavant of Lakewood, Washington Ian & Sally
 Our only child Robert "Ian" Leatherwood is 21 years old and is serving with the 2-505 PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment), 82nd Airborne Division in Samarrah Iraq. He volunteered to join the Army because he wanted to make a difference. I of course hesitated because I knew he would end up in Iraq, but I support him and his decision to join 110%. He and all the soldiers are very precious and I pray for their safe return every day, as I hope all Americans do. The photo was taken recently 4/21/07 when he came home for his 2-week leave. One of our dogs, Sally, came up to shake his had and give him a smile. I'm not sure people realize how the soldiers' pets miss them too. -- Leslie Leatherwood of Valle De Oro, Texas Tribute to past and present
 My son, SRA Bradley Grissom, 824 SFS/Moody AFB returned from a tour of duty to Baghdad, Iraq in December. His job was dangerous keeping a highly trained, watchful eye out for his team and also providing medic aid to any soldier or Iraqi who needed care. While deployed he sent me the following thought in one of so many e-mails: "I'm happy to go through hell and see unimaginable things to keep ya'll safe." Brad carried the memory of another hero into the battlefield, a copper wristband honoring the memory of a grandfather who also enlisted to protect our country. My son never had the honor of meeting his grandfather; he will never really know how remarkably alike he is to my dad. As a teenager I lost my father and my hero. What I have gained is the privilege of being the Mom of an outstanding brave Airman, my son; my hero! -- Jane Grissom-Galvin of Highland Village, Texas 'Our son, our hero'
 Robin, My son, PFC Adam Leppert, is with the 82nd Airborne, 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion in Ft. Bragg, NC. I watched all of your show this morning. It was wonderful! Adam is 19 years old and will be deployed to Iraq for his 1st tour of duty in June. Adam has talked about going into the military since he was 13 years old after 9/11. I never gave it much thought until he actually enlisted and my husband and I and our three other children are so proud of him. During Adam's Airborne graduation, my husband got to pin his old Airborne wings on Adam as he too had graduated from Airborne school. The day of his graduation, it was 19 years to the day that my husband enlisted in the military himself. It was a proud moment for us! -- Tara Noble of Greenfield, Indiana The crew
 There is a big group of folks that we are overlooking with our salutes. Civil Service, of which my husband, Ron, (4th from right, front row) is one of. He is 63 years old , retired U.S. Army but still involved. He has served in Bosnia, Kuwait (2), IRAQ (2). These men wear the same uniform as our active duty soldiers, just a different hat. They are exposed to the same dangers though most of them do not carry weapons. They are there to support our soldiers. These are great men and women and deserve recognition too. As an Army wife I can identify with these family members that are dealing with this today. This photo was taken in 2003, he returned home in Feb 2004. He went right back, only to Iraq in May 2004, and again in January 2005. He has been home since then, working at Ft. Stewart supporting 3rd ID. He is also the love of my life and my husband of 40 Years. -- Linda Wilson of Lyons, Georgia Serena and Dad
 My husband Sgt. Steve Lischalk is currently serving at Camp Anaconda, Iraq with the 146 Multi-Medical Battalion as the Supply Sergeant/Armor. On June 28, 2006 -- one week before he left -- our daughter, Serena, turned one year old. He was recently home for a visit and now Serena can talk/walk and a lot of other things. It's very sad that he missed such a special time with his daughter, but he truly believes in what he is doing and we are very proud of him. Like I said Steve was recently home for a visit and the two of them had a wonderful time, of course it wasn't so fun when he had to leave again. I wanted to submit this picture -- because it shows how much we sacrifice as a family. We are looking forward to the 146MMB returning home after a 16 month tour. -- Victoria Lischalk of Lansing, Michigan |
On CNN TV
Every weekday morning on Headline News' Morning Express, anchor Robin Meade and her team do a shout-out to U.S. troops by showing off photos and videos sent in by their loved ones. Tune in every hour between 6 and 10 a.m. to see the salutes on air, or click through the archives on this page.
Send your own salute
Do you have a friend or family member serving abroad in the U.S. military? Please share your story on iReport.com!
Related
• Audio slide show: 'If not my son, whose son?' • Watch: Marine's Memorial Day tribute  • Gallery: The troops you love • Send your own salute on iReport.com • Morning Express • Special Report: Coming Home • All CNN.com blogs Archive
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