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A Call For Support!
Topics: Bakotopia, Support The Troops, US military, Iraq, Army, navy, Air Force, Marnes, Bakersfield, blog, July 2008
Posted by matt Mon Jul 7, 2008 13:14:44 PDT
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A Call For Support!
Honoring Bakersfield's military and their choice to serve bravely

By Matt Munoz, Bakotopia Editor & Bakotopia.com contributors

The day after September 11, 2001, our nation was a sea of red, white, and blue. Flags waved, benefit shows were organized to raise money for relief efforts, and men and women rushed to their local military recruiter to enlist.

“Patriotism” was no longer a buzz word for grandparents and gun-toting NRA supporters on the Fourth of July - it was on the mind of every angry American.

Our young men and women, many just barely out of high school, decided to become part of the defense movement and join the armed services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. Even older and inactive members rejoined the National Guard. Our country was united, and everyone was “Proud to be an American” once again.

Then off to Afghanistan and Iraq they went, or spread thinly to a corner of the world in need of assistance. Reality sets in, and real bravery was about to be put to the test.

Families across the U.S. felt the sadness of seeing their loved ones ship off to strange lands, as they have for years.

And while our country also has become divided on the war, one thing we should always agree on is that our brave soldiers deserve our support and respect. While we sleep cozily in our beds, head out to pubs, or hug our kids every morning - our troops lie awake for days on end, looking forward to the day they can come home again.

Bombs, death, repeated acts of terrorism, everyday life on the battlefield. Their choice to fight and defend helps to secure the spoils of our present existence - can it be clearer than that, my friend?

Through our website: www.bakotopia.com, we sent out a call for local military serving in Iraq or abroad, former military, or families and friends to give a shout of support.

The response was swift, and we even managed to received some letters from those stationed in the U.S. who keep up with Bakersfield via our Web site and magazine.

Please keep in mind the following is just a very small sampling of the large number of Bakersfield personnel and respondents. We plan on continuing our tribute to the troops in future editions, so please send us your photos and stories for future editions!

Read their stories and check out the pictures ... these are our brave U.S. heroes!

NEVER FORGET - SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

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A Real Call To Arms…


By Chad Garcia - Army

Corporal Chad Garcia joined the National Guard in 2001 in response to the attacks of 9/11.

I re-enlisted to active duty in 2006 and am currently stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C. Until January of 2008, I was with the 5th Squadron, 73rd Calvary, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division as an Infantryman. Since then I’ve been training in psychological operations and set to graduate Dec. 12, 2008. I now live in North Carolina with my wife, Lybia.



Being away from my 8-year-old daughter Skylar is the hardest part of being in the service. I’m not the only Bakersfield native stationed here. We also have Staff Sergeant Robert Lee, Specialist Brian Hitchman, and Sergeant Steve Thuma. All are Bakersfield-born paratroopers at Fort Bragg.

I want to thank Bakersfield for all the love and support we get from home.



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The Price Of Freedom…


William Carmack - Army

By Tracey Stone, Bakotopia.com contributor

The military troops fighting to defend Lady Liberty are in our hearts.

Often we pray for their safety. We pray for their families. We pray for their safe return. We pray God keeps them safe while they are fighting for our freedom.

Their selfless service to this nation should be an inspiration. Without them could we sleep each night so comfortably? Tonight when you lay your head down on your soft pillow. Think of where some of our troops are sleeping. In self-dug a hole? On the ground? Maybe they aren’t even sleeping, keeping guard through the long, lonely, dark nights. Yearning for a touch from family? Dreaming of a hug or familiar smile from a loved one? For some it’s possible this freedom is taken for granted.

I am ever so thankful for the freedom they provide us. I come from a very long family history of military. From great grandpas and grandpas to dad to step-mom to most recently my brother-in-law. Having been born on a Marine base and raised in a military family, I know of the sacrifices made when seeing your family members go off to war, though I appreciate their service and duty protecting this beautiful nation.

With tearful eyes and a heavy heart, my brother-in-law is being deployed tomorrow. My sister will be left behind with a 4-month-old and a 2-year-old far away from any family.


Above: William Carmack & sister-in-law Tracey Stone

When you lay your head down tonight. Remember the peace and freedom we have and should not take for granted.

Thank you to all our service men and women. Also say a pray for my brother-in-law, sister, their children and our family.

Remember there is a price for freedom that veterans, soldiers, and families are paying that price.

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Love During Wartime…


Sgt. James Riley Browning - Army

By Nicole Garvin, Bakotopia.com contributor

In 2005, Sgt. James Riley Browning was in Iraq for his second tour.

His first tour was grueling, with the 3rd Brigade invading Iraq under orders before we knew there were no weapons of mass destruction. Going back to Iraq the second time was easier, but it was difficult for him to fight in a war he didn’t believe in. He missed home and spent most of his free time watching bootleg DVDs.

Using the Web site www.anysoldier.com Browning requested care packages for him and his men who missed the comforts of home.

At the same time, my mother and I decided to send care packages to Iraq. We felt sorry for soldiers sent to a foreign country in a war that no one understands, and a war that Americans were beginning to forget about. We found www.anysoldier.com and promptly began sending out care packages filled with packaged food, magazines and CDs.

Our first package was sent to Sgt. J.R. Browning, followed by over a 100 others. Some soldiers would send us a thank you, and it was always exciting to hear that the packages were well received. Sgt. Browning was one of the soldiers to respond. Thanks to Yahoo! Messenger, we communicated platonically during his off time, often sharing funny stories. Hearing from someone in the U.S. helped him pass time in Iraq and relax for a short time when he spent most of the day intense and stressed.

Luckily, Sgt. Browning returned home after spending more than a year in the Iraqi desert. We decided to meet up at a party I was throwing with my college friends, we finally saw each other face to face and something clicked. We had endless conversations and an immediate understanding of each other. Upon returning from Iraq, J.R. immediately decided to leave the Army after six years of service.  After being in a long distance relationship for a year after J.R. returned from Iraq, he moved to Memphis, Tenn. to be with me while I finished graduate school.

We are both against the Iraq war and hope that all of our soldiers will be able to come home soon. But without the Iraq war, we would have probably never connected. We became engaged on Nov. 9, 2007 and moved to Bakersfield, my hometown, last January.


We will be getting married on June 13, 2009 here in Bakersfield and couldn’t be happier.

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The Pride of a New Army Mom


Anthony R. Sierra - Army

By Laura Pereyra, Bakotopia.com contributor

When my son Anthony called me to say that he had enlisted in the Army as an ammunitions specialist, my heart dropped. 

Any mother’s thoughts would immediately jump to images of body bags flashing from the television screen. But after the initial shock had subsided, a sense of pride took over - I officially became an Army mom.



Having given birth to Anthony at the age of 14, you can imagine the difficulty in having your son enroll in what today does not hold any guarantees. Not to mention the difficulty in simply letting one of your children move. I was fortunate enough to attend Anthony’s graduation from boot camp at Fort Sill, Okla. You meet the most amazing people on base, and can see how the camaraderie they develop is unmatched.



As far as life choices are concerned, I know it was the best choice he could have made - he left for boot camp as a boy, and returned a man. Since graduation, Anthony has since joined special operations forces, leaving him an airborne special operations ammunition specialist.

When I meet people and they find out my son is in the service, they shake my hand and say, “Thank you.” Former military members will also ask where he’s serving and what rank he is. We’ve gone places together and if he is in uniform strangers will shake his hand.

I’m very proud of my son.


Above: A proud mother and son

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For Love Of Country…


By Christopher Martinez - Navy

After 9/11, I decided to do something to help this country, so I enlisted in the Navy and left for boot camp about a month after graduating high school.



Being away from my family and friends for the first time in my life was the most difficult thing that I have ever dealt with. I was stationed In Norfolk, Va. I was able see a lot of cool things all over the east coast. I also travelled to many parts of the world as well -  places like Nepal, Cyprus, Dubai, Jebel Ali, and all over the middle east.



I served four years aboard an aircraft carrier. My job included building bombs and missiles and loading them onto the wings of F/A-18 fighter jets. Those years in the Navy were definitely the most fun I’ve ever had. I met so many amazing people I still stay in contact with.

Are you a soldier or know one? Tell us about it!
Send you pix and stories of support to Bakotopia Editor, Matt Munoz: e-mail: matt@bakotopia.com

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 32, 7-10-08

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Comment From: meestro

Very cool article, Matt! My good friend Stephanie Browning was injured in the Iraq war, and is now living in the east Bay, attending college. Since the war, she's been actively involved in volunteer work at the VA Hospital near her current residence, as well with the "Strikeout for Troops" organization started by baseball pitcher Barry Zito. After coming home from the hospital, Kevin McCarthy awarded her the "Woman of the Year" award. Here's a little blurb of her story from the Kern Vets page: Stephanie Browning joined the US Army in April of 2003. She completed her Military Police training at Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri. She served a year in Korea and was then stationed at Ft Hood, Texas. She deployed to Iraq in January of 2005. While in Korea, she was awarded Soldier of the month. While in Iraq, she was awarded Soldier of the Month and Soldier of the Quarter for her Brigade. Her goal was to make Sargent before she left Iraq but unfortunately the vehicle she was driving was struck by an IED on October 23, 2005. She suffered a fractured leg, burns to her right hand, lacerated tendons and artery to the left arm.