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.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Saw son's birth via Webcam
 I just wanted to salute my hero, my husband, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Jacobson. He is currently serving his second tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq. He is an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Pilot with the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry out of Fort Drum, New York. He is the proud new father of a one week old son, Barron, whom he witnessed being born via webcam. Barron and I are very proud of him and anxiously await his safe return home next year. -- Jennifer Jacobson of Watertown, New York 'Knight in shining camo'
 My husband, CW2 Jonathan Hulse, is not only the love of my life but my hero and knight in shining Camo! His job takes him all over, he flies Apaches and helps keep our men and women on the ground safe. I want him to know how amazing he is to me here back at Fort Bragg. We met at Disney by accident, and have just recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. He is stationed north of Baghdad and I am counting the days til he will be home in October!! I love him more than words can say and I am so proud to tell everyone that my husband is a soldier! Be safe honey! know that I love you and I can not wait to have you home with me! -- Holly Hulse of Lillington, North Carolina Counting the days until his return
 My husband, Cpl. Christian Walz, (holding the sign) when he was in Afghanistan for my birthday about two years ago. This year for my birthday, he is in Iraq. -- Tara Walz of Havelock, North Carolina Following in dad's footsteps
 My brother, Lcpl Tom Ruggles, is on a Marine PTT Team. They Train the Iraqi police and post security. This is a picture of him on down time. -- Monica Ruggles of St. James, Missouri 'I miss how he inspires us!'
 Here is a picture of my husband, SGT Ray Hare (left), and his fellow medics SGT Diester and SSGT Cooper being Iraqi Angels. MY husband is my hero for many reasons. He joined the Army so that I could finish my degree so we could provide a better life for our children. He is on his second tour in Iraq, and we miss him dearly! He was a CTO in the Navy when I met him, when I was serving as well. He has since become a Combat Medic in the Army, and is amazing as how he stands up to the challenges that he has been faced with from having our second son born while he was deployed last time, to being gone over half of our children's lives, ages 2 and 4, and being the most amazing father and role model for them when he is able to be here. I miss how he inspires us! I love him! -- Laura Hare of Hinesville, Georgia 'He decided to make the Army his career'
 My husband Specialist William Craig is serving his 2nd tour in Iraq. His first tour was in 2005 as a Reservist, but after serving overseas he decided to make the Army his career and reenlisted in 2006 as an active duty soldier. He's with the 3rd ID out of Hunter Army Airfield and is now at Fort Striker near Baghdad. He deployed on May 7 of this year, just 3 months after our daughter Addison was born. We miss him very much. -- Jacqueline Craig of Savannah, Georgia 'Sumayya misses her father'
 My husband SGT. Michael Seevers is enlisted in the U.S. Army serving in Northern Iraq under Task Force Odin. Mike is a generator mechanic and he has been deployed for seven months. We have a soon to be 1-year old daughter name Sumayya who misses her father dearly. He talks to her regularly on the phone while I display pictures of him. I am proud of my husband's character and diligence. I can't wait for him to come home. -- Dionne Seevers of Fort Gordon, Georgia Tuesday, July 3, 2007
'His birthday is July 4th'
 My hero IS my husband SSG Frederick Spears. My husband was wounded by and RPG in June of 2007 to his left shoulder I received the phone call my heart stopped then I found out it was just a minor injury. He called me and told me how his troops needed him and how he would not let a wound keep him down. My husband has always cared for his troops and wants to protect them. We are so proud of him. He has served 17 years in the Army and will continue to serve fulltime as long as they will keep him. I have noticed that he talks about how proud he is of his troop, but nobody really tells him how proud they are of him. I would like to be the first to have the whole world know how proud we are of him and his accomplishments he has achieved since serving in the Army. His birthday is July the 4th. We love him so much and miss him. Please keep praying for our soldiers to have them ALL come home safe and soon. THANK YOU ALL OF AMERICA AND BEYOND FOR YOUR SUPPORT!! THE SPEARS FAMILY COPPERAS COVE, TEXAS. -- Christy and Ashley Spears of Copperas Cove, Texas Monday, July 2, 2007
'He is my hero'
 This is my best friend Mike Towner. We have toured over to Iraq and Afghanistan together and I am so proud of him. He is over in Baghdad right now protecting me and this country. As I was a hero for my family when I was there last year, now that I am out the Army, he is my hero now. -- Tekia Crawford of Atlanta, Georgia Proud of my Hoosier husband
 This is my husband Justin in Ghazni, Afghanistan. He was deployed with 2-30 Infantry (4th Brigade/ 10th Mountain division) out of Fort Polk, Louisiana. This picture was taken in January of 2007. This was his second deployment. I'm glad to say that he's home now and is attending law school through the JAG Corps. He was 1 of 14 people selected this year out of the hundreds that apply. -- Michelle Forkner of Indianapolis, Indiana 'The love of my life'
 I met the love of my life in middle school and married him almost a decade later, after he graduated from West Point and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. My husband, Matt Miller, has been deployed with the 82nd Airborne to Iraq since August 2006. Earlier today, he was promoted to Captain. I am so proud of him and all his accomplishments, and can't wait to celebrate with him when he finally comes home this November. -- Dana Miller of Sanford, North Carolina 'Their goal is to save lives'
 Our daughter, Samantha Wilder 21yoa joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Forest High School in Ocala, Florida in 2004. She was a member of the JROTC for four years and felt the Air Force offered her a way to serve our country as well as continue her education. She is an EMT assigned to the 96th Medical Group at Eglin Air Force Base in Ft. Walton Beach Florida. Sam was deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, as part of the 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron the day after Mother's Day as part of an Air Force EMEDS or Expeditionary Medial Support. EMEDS is a concept by which the Air Force Medical Service provides emergency health care to US forces in a deployed environment. They provide our solders level 2 emergency medical care, while level 1 comes from the medics in the field. Their goal is to save lives. Reminiscent of the M*A*S*H* units of the past, these EMEDS are helping save our solders wounded in the war on terrorism. We are proud of our daughter and those serving with her as well as all our solders that are fighting to keep us a free society. Thanks for the opportunity to share what our daughter is doing. -- Tom & Kathy Wilder of Ocala, Florida A big hug from Texas
 Joey Herrera is currently serving in Iraq as an Aviation Technician SPC. My best friend, Claudia Pereyra, and Joey will be getting married in October . Just wanted to salute Joey and from all his friends back in Texas send him a big great HUG!!! BE SAFE JOEY, WE LOVE YOU!!! =] -- Damiana Villa of Brownsville, Texas |
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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