| Profiles |
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| Profile of Cpl James Joshua Dewey |
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| What is your date of birth? |
| March 16th, so naturally it’s the greatest day on earth. And if you read this you know when to send gifts.
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Where were you born?
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Houston, Texas
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| Do you have any brothers and sisters and what are their names? |
| I always wondered what it would be like to have a brother, but instead I got my sister Ashley. The older, smarter, more successful one of us. Thanks mom… |
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What High school did you attend? Where is it located?
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| Crosby High School in Crosby Texas |
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| What is your favorite movie and why? |
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Not enough space for them all but Dumb and Dumber is a classic in my book, the Band of Brothers series, all the Die Hards, The Rocky series(except Rocky 5 that was just crap) Superbad, Kingpin, The Big Lebowski
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| What is the last book you read and would you recommend it to others? Why? |
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Books…. Has anyone ever heard of T.V????? Well in school I had to read Where the Red Fern Grows, that book was good, and I just read Chuck Liddell’s book he’s and interesting guy I guess.
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What are your major interests/activities/hobbies?
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| Sports of course, I like to tell myself I was some kind of pro in my past life to make me feel better about nothing in this one. And muscle cars, love them! Still waiting on someone to give me a 69 Boss Mustang… |
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| How would you describe yourself? How would others describe you? |
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I would describe myself as using every good word or phrase I could find or think of, others would probably use the opposite.
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| What is the best piece of advice your mother or father has ever given you? |
| I think the best advice I got from my mom was just watching and learning from her. She is hands down the toughest person I have ever met. But I guess having me for a son she really didn’t have a choice…. LOVE YOU MOM! (and no I’m not trying to suck up to get that mustang I want) |
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What made you decide to join the military?
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Growing up I just loved guns, and war movies and the thought of fighting in a war in my lifetime was just something I wasn’t going to pass up. Just watching the news coverage when the war first started got me interested then I just said hey that’s where I want to be. You’d be surprised how fast they get you in there.
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What is your most memorable experience in the military?
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My buddy Lance had 10 Exlax and on patrol had to crap in the middle of the streets in Karmah, the look on the people’s faces was priceless. After our first firefight Nate and I smoked a pack of cigarettes in about 10 minutes, that was a fun day. I’m sorry but all the good stories will land me in the brig.
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What is the most unusual item you received in a care package?
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| Butt Paste, my mother sent me Butt Paste. I was confused until I read what it was for. |
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Tell us about your years of service in the USMC and your accomplishments.
(provide dates you served and MOS)
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Well I got to boot camp in Jan. 2004, did that thing then went to School of Infantry for my 0311 MOS. I finally got to my fleet unit Bravo 1/1 in July of 2004 then deployed to South Baghdad (Babil Province) in Dec. 2004 for 6 months. It was a MEU so we were only in country for about 2 months, and we got to stop by Australia for a few days… that was cool. Then I guess the Iraqis liked me so much they invited me and my guys back in Jan. 2006, this time to Karmah. It was hell for the next 6 months so I guess not dying was my major accomplishment there although those bastards certainly tried. Not having enough time to deploy with them again I got offered to go be a POG with 1st Intel Bn. and implant sensors around parts of Ramadi, it wasn’t too bad, lots of gym time. Other than that fill in all those dates I wasn’t in Iraq with well spent hours of drinking and finding out just how much Jack Daniels my body could possible hold. And doing this survey, I was threatened by my loving mother that she had to prove to Kay I would do it. Told you I’d finally get it done.
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What are you doing now? What are some of your career challenges? What career path have you
chosen to follow?
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Well I think Tiger Woods has it pretty good, but since I suck at golf that path is looking pretty grim. I love motorcycles and cars so right now I’m planning on going to the Harley Davidson School at MMI, maybe the Mustang one…. I’ll probably flip a coin when the time comes, I think the most important decisions in life should always be decided this way, that way when it all comes crashing down there’s the coin to blame and not yourself.
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What do you hope is your greatest lifetime achievement that others will remember you for?
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I guess serving my country and I gave a homeless guy 5 bucks the other day, which was pretty nice, I think. Probably well spent on cigarettes and booze, he had a sweet beard though. |
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When asked to reflect on a memorable event in the life of Josh, his mother Sandy wrote:
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At age four Josh and his sister Ashley went with me to a local theater to see a movie. During a rather quiet scene in the movie Josh let out a very loud fart. He then exclained to everyone in the audience, "Mom, I can't believe you did that in the movie!" Being a newly divorced parent, I was totally humiliated and sank quietly into my seat. Needless to say for several years I didn't attract a lot of single men with Josh in tow. Seriously, Josh continues to make me an extremely proud mom and I wouldn't trade him for anything in this world....well almost anything! I love you Josh.
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| Profile of Chris Gibson |
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| What is your date of birth? |
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September 8th.
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Where were you born?
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Houston, Texas. 3rd Generation Native Houstonian
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| Do you have any brothers and sisters and what are their names? |
| One brother Brian, he goes by Keith. |
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What High school did you attend? Where is it located?
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| Klein High School, Spring, Texas. |
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| What is your favorite movie and why? |
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Don’t have just one. I love movies too much to name one... but a few would be 300, A Few Good
Men and Days of Thunder.
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| What is the last book you read and would you recommend it to others? Why? |
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Lol I hate reading…the only book I have ever enjoyed reading was "The Hatchet" it was an amazing book.
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What are your major interests/activities/hobbies?
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| Cars... anything and everything about cars... well American ones at least. |
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| How would you describe yourself? How would others describe you? |
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I’m an honest, loyal outgoing, speak my mind southern gentleman. The best friend to have,
as well as the worst enemy to have.
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| What is the best piece of advice your mother or father has ever given you? |
| Do what you believe in... never settle for anything else. |
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What made you decide to join the military?
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Hmmmm a lot... I wasn’t a great student…mainly because nothing in school ever interested me. College
was out then, at least for now... I would have just wasted my time and my money. I wanted to see the
world... and maybe blow some of it up too... lol. I wanted to learn a bit more discipline, and become
something. The Marines are the best...the most elite fighting force I had ever known. I knew I had
it in me to be great. The Marines proved it to myself and showed everyone else what my parents and
I already knew.
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What is your most memorable experience in the military?
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WOW just one? In that case I would have to say that it was when I was stationed in North Carolina.
I was at a small base called MCALF (Marine Corp Auxiliary Landing Field) Bogue. It was a small
base and had very few people there. It was a boring day and we were all just sitting around
watching TV, when we got a call of an TAV-8B (Harrier... the plane that takes off straight up)
with an engine problem. So we suited up and went out... I was only a Lance Corporal at the time
and was by no means the most senior Marine there, but because of my prior experience at my base
in Japan... knew the most about the aircraft and was put in charge of the scene…there I was a 21
year old Marine Lance Corporal and I was in command of an emergency scene... responsible for a
multi-million dollar aircraft and the safety of it’s 2 pilots and all of my fellow crash crewmen.
It was an amazing feeling everyone looking to me.
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What is the most unusual item you received in a care package?
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| lol a tampon... looooooooooooong story |
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Tell us about your years of service in the USMC and your accomplishments.
(provide dates you served and MOS)
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I went to bootcamp on October 7th, 2002…I had a bit of an extended stay in boot…I was there for 6 months...
bootcamp is normally only 3..I had broken my foot and had to go to a medical platoon until I healed
and went back to training. I graduated as a squad leader as part of platoon 3067 Mike Co. I went to
MCT (Marine Combat Training) at Camp Pendleton, California. My MOS School was at Goodfellow AFB in
San Angelo, Texas where I became an Aviation Crash Fire Rescue Specialist (aka a aircraft firefighter)
I was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan for a year. I then went to Cherry Point, North Carolina where I got
placed at MCALF Bogue. After a few months my unit deployed to Iraq. I first went to Al Ramadi for a
month before being moved to Al Asad Air base. After 7 months in Iraq I proceeded back to Cherry Point
and Bogue where I finished out my Marine Corp career. I got out of the Marines as an E-4 NCO (Non
Commissioned Officer) or a Corporal of Marines. I had also received a certificate of appreciation
for charity and volunteer work while in Japan, and a Certificate of Accommodation for duties in
Iraq. My ribbons included a National Defense Medal, Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service
Deployment Medal with a Bronze star, Iraqi Campaign Medal and a Global War on Terrorism ribbon. I
was also an expert Rifleman
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What are you doing now? What are some of your career challenges? What career path have you
chosen to follow?
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Now I am a civilian contract firefighter working in Iraq. I am at an Army base called Taji. My
career challenges are easy lol, don’t get burned or blown up.
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What do you hope is your greatest lifetime achievement that others will remember you for?
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Serving my country proudly. And being there for a friend... no matter what is at stake.
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When asked to reflect on a memorable event in the life of Chris, his father James wrote:
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When Chris was about 3 years old Kay was working one weekend and I was taking care of him. The
second Aliens movie had just been released and I wanted to see it. Even at that age Chris was
pretty much a "no fear" kid so I decided to go to the movie and took him along—much to his
mother’s dismay. In this movie, Ripley, the heroine, goes back to the Alien planet with a
group of Marines. It was a scary movie and people in the audience were screaming during the
whole movie. Chris never batted an eye. He watched the entire movie. When we got out of the
movie he said "Dad, what kind of soldiers were those?" I said they were Marines. He said "when
I grow up I want to be a Marine... .those guys were cool." Little did I know that sixteen years
later on October 7th, 2002 he would walk out the door of our house and begin his life as a
United States Marine.
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| Profile of Garrett Gilbreath |
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| What is your date of birth? |
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March 21st
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Where were you born?
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Odessa, Texas
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| Do you have any brothers and sisters and what are their names? |
| Yes, Kara my sister |
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What High school did you attend? Where is it located?
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| Spring High School, Spring, Texas |
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| What is your favorite movie and why? |
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"Reign Over Me" It’s just a really good movie about a man who loses his whole family in the 911 attacks and has a really hard time dealing with it.
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| What is the last book you read and would you recommend it to others? Why? |
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I can't remember the last book I read. So no, I don't recommend it.
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What are your major interests/activities/hobbies?
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| Major interests are my wife and soon to be son Corbyn. Activities are swimming and playing “Call of Duty 4”, the best video game ever, on line. I'd say the activities are the hobbies. I also do a lot of swimming.
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| How would you describe yourself? |
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Outgoing and bold. Quiet, but with a big bite.
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| How would others describe you? |
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Retarded
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| What is the best piece of advice your mother or father has ever given you? |
| Try the best you can at everything you do. And be a simple kind of man. ;- ) |
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What made you decide to join the military?
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I've always wanted to be a commando of some kind. So when I was growing up, my friends and I would always play war and what not. Well when I got old enough, I did my research and found the best service and jumped in.
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What is your most memorable experience in the military?
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I have a lot. I can't really point out one over the other. But my favorite is when I was coming home from ship my first deployment. I met my dad and didn't know he had brought my mom, sister and both grandmothers along to Hawaii. Well that was a big surprise when I saw them. So I'd have to say that was probably my favorite most memorable moment.
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What is the most unusual item you received in a care package?
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| A remote control car. Though I asked for it. |
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Tell us about your years of service in the USMC and your accomplishments.
(provide dates you served and MOS)
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I enlisted on 1/2/2003, and left for MCRD on 9/6/2003. My original MOS is 0351, Assaultman. I am currently on my second enlistment. My first four were served in the infantry in 1/1. Did two deployments with them. First was a cruise over to Iraq. Spent about a month there then a nice cruise back where I met my family in Hawaii. The second was a fly over to Kahrma. Spent about seven months there then came back. Then I spent about a year at the pool in Camp Horno. Now I am currently a scout swimmer instructor at EWTGPAC down in Coronado.
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What are you doing now? What are some of your career challenges?
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Scout Swimmer Instructor in Coronado. I take life day by day. But ultimately I'd like to be worry free, monetarily and emotionally.
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What career path have you chosen to follow?
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Day to day basis. If I feel the need to serve further my country in whatever turmoil it may be in when my current four is up, then I'll re-enlist again. If not, I'll move on.
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What do you hope is your greatest lifetime achievement that others will remember you for?
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My service to my country. And of course the family name through Corbyn.
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When asked to reflect on a memorable event in the life of Garrett, his father Gaylord wrote:
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Garrett invited me to meet him in Hawaii, and participate in the Tiger Cruise home aboard the USS Duluth. When I got to go to Hawaii and meet Garrett, that was a thrill for me. Little did he know the rest of the family was there as well. I got to meet him as he came through the gate and that was a huge thrill for me. But the BEST part was as he and I were standing there talking to Josh, Sandy, and Craig, off in the distance his Mom and Kara were walking up behind us. His Mom whistled. Now you have to understand that she has a very distinct, and very loud whistle, and Garrett knows it very well. He perked his head up, and kinda sorta looked around, then forgot about it. I could see in his eyes that he thought it was her, but then thought "no way". Well, she did it again only this time they were a lot closer. He turned around and saw them walking up and his face lit up like a Christmas tree and he went running towards them. After this meeting and tears were shed, we walked back towards the car we had rented. Much to his surprise we had brought BOTH Grandmothers with us. This made his day, I think, and the time we got to spend with him in Hawaii was priceless. This trip to Hawaii was I guess one of the best trips we have ever made.
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| Comfort Quilts |
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Debra Wilson who resides in The Woodlands, Texas is one of those unique individuals who go the extra mile. She and her husband Wayne, who is a former Marine, have four children and three grandchildren. Their son Dan served two tours in Iraq. Shared to us in her own words is Debra’s story below.
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When my son went into Iraq during the beginning of the war in 2003, I listened and watched the news pretty much 24/7. I couldn't eat or sleep, and was very worried. The quilting helped get me thru that time. When my son returned to Camp Pendleton,CA, I sent a quilt to him and asked if he could deliver it to the chaplain. He attended the memorial service of a fellow Marine and gave the quilt to the young widow. She was very touched that someone she did not know took the time to make a quilt for her.
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During his second tour, one of his friends that he served alongside was killed by a roadside bomb. Dan called home and asked if I would make a quilt and send to him at the base. When he received the quilt, he and all his Marine brothers signed messages for the family onto the quilt. He wrote a letter and sent the quilt to his family.
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I try to make each quilt different and personalize as best I can. I try to include fabrics depicting the branch of service, patriotic fabrics, or their interests. I added wolf fabric to a Marines quilt for his platoon motto, “The strength of the wolf is the pack, the strength of the pack is the wolf”. Another Marine met his wife while he was stationed in Okinawa, so I surrounded the EGA emblem with Japanese fabric. Another mom asked me to make a quilt for a fellow Marine mom, she told me that four Marines served together and the four moms supported each other thru the deployment. When I made the quilt, I used fabric with four Marines in their dress blues to represent the sons that served together. I received another request from a Ssgt asking me to make a quilt so his men could sign the quilt for a fallen Major’s family, he wanted a very simple design with lots of white fabric so messages from his men could be written to the family.
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I purchase all my own supplies of fabric, thread, batting, thimbles, scissors, sewing machine, etc. Any gifts are always welcome. I like to purchase patriotic fabrics and solid fabrics in red, white, blue and gold. I also use traditional, low loft and high loft battings. Each quilt requires five yards of fabric for the front, five yards for the back and a batting for full size sheet. I machine piece the quilt top, then sandwich the layers of front, batting, and backing and place into a large wooden oval hoop and the hand quilting begins. I work on the quilting each day, anywhere from three to six hours a day. It takes me two weeks to a month to complete a quilt.
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I also sew flannel backed blankets for the wounded. I send to the Navy Corpsmen and Medical Units in the war zone. I have received many letters of thanks from our men/women in harms way.
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