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Posted on November 1, 2007 - 07:53 AM |
Lifting for the fallen
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Andrew Farrar Sr. attempts to break his own deadlift world record at the Amateur Athletic Union’s World Powerlifting Championships in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month. Farrar was lifting in memory of his son, Sgt Andrew Farrar Jr., who was killed in Iraq in 2005. Joining Farrar was Col. Richard Anderson, MCB Quantico’s Security Battalion commanding officer, who was the younger Farrar’s CO at the time of his death. |
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Andrew Farrar Sr., left, and Col. Richard Anderson, commanding officer of MCB Quantico’s Security Battalion, stand together after their series of deadlifts at the Amateur Athletic Union’s World Powerlifting Championships in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month. The men met there to lift in honor of Sgt. Andrew Farrar Jr., who was killed in Iraq in 2005 while assigned to 2nd Military Police Battalion, which Anderson commanded. Both men honored the fallen Marine by breaking the world record in their respective age and weight divisions. |
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The back of Andrew Farrar Senior's lifting singlet pays tribute to his fallen son. |
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Andrew Farrar Sr. wears a bracelet bearing his son's name, Sgt. Andrew Farrar Jr. It's one of the ways the father pay tribute to the fallen Marine. |
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Andrew Farrar Sr. chalks his hands in preparation for one of his deadlifts during the Amateur Athletic Union's World Powerlifting Championships at the Disney Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month. Farrar was lifting in memory of his son, Marine Sgt. Andrew Farrar Jr., who was killed in Iraq in January, 2005. |
ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 26, 2007) -- Standing at five-foot, three-inches tall and weighing in at 120 pounds, 58-year-old Andrew Farrar Sr. is a giant in the sport of powerlifting.
While one wouldn’t think it by looking at him, he qualifies as such after breaking the Amateur Athletic Union’s deadlift world record for all raw categories of the 123-pound weight class during the World Powerlifting Championship at the Disney Sports Complex here recently. Farrar put up a staggering 162.5 kilograms (358.2 pounds) – nearly three times his body weight – without any assistance, not even a weight belt.
Setting a record of his own was Marine Corps Base Quantico’s Col. Richard Anderson, the commanding officer of Security Battalion, who deadlifted 242.5 kgs (534.6 pounds) to claim the top mark in the Military/Masters raw categories of the 198-pound weight class.
While both men have taken part in powerlifting competitions before, they met at this meet for one purpose: to honor Farrar’s son, Andrew Farrar Jr., who was killed in Iraq on Jan. 28, 2005. Farrar Jr. served under Anderson with the now deactivated 2nd Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and was killed on his 31st birthday while on patrol in the Anbar province. He was electrocuted after running into a live high-voltage wire.
Since his death, Anderson has stayed in contact with his father, calling him every weekend to make sure the family was doing fine and to see if they needed anything.
‘‘The nightmare for these families is that their loved ones will be forgotten,” Anderson said, ‘‘and that’s not going to happen as long as I’m alive.”
During one of their many conversations, Farrar asked Anderson if he lifted, which he does. Farrar then told Anderson he was going to compete in the competition in memory of his son, and asked if he would like to compete. Anderson promptly replied, ‘‘If you do it, I’ll do it, too.”
Farrar said he has been lifting weights since high school, but gave it up for several years. When his three sons – Andrew Jr., Jason and Nathan - became a little older, he got back into the sport, lifting with his boys. He would even go to the gym at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and lift with Andrew Jr. whenever he would visit him there.
‘‘My sons and I found a tremendous amount of enjoyment lifting together,” said Farrar, whose family hails from Weymouth, Mass.
He said he was training for several years for a contest, and his dream was for Andrew Jr., who was on his second tour, to return from Iraq and serve as his spotter.
‘‘He was to come home about the same time as registration was due ... I never sent the registration in,” Farrar said with a tone of sadness in his New England accent. ‘‘I was really looking forward to him coming home because he had never been to one of my contests.”
This latest powerlifting competition was one of many for Farrar, but only the second since the death of his son. For Anderson, the competition was his eighth, and the first since 1998.
Before the lifting began, Farrar said his son was there.
‘‘I feel he’s with me all the time,” he said. ‘‘There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think and remember my son.”
As Farrar took off his warm-up clothes, chalking his strong, calloused hands for his first lift, it was evident Andrew Jr. was there.
Farrar was wearing a brown T-shirt with the words ‘‘Marine Dad” emblazoned on a printed expert marksmanship badge on the left chest that his son gave him after he graduated from recruit training, a yellow ribbon pin on the shirt, and on his left wrist a bracelet bearing son’s name. The most notable tribute was the blue singlet Farrar wore, which has his son’s name, date of his birth and death, location of his death, an Eagle, Globe and Anchor, and the phrase ‘‘Sacrifice with honor for freedom.”
Both Farrar and Anderson made their record-breaking lifts on their second attempt, and they both tried to break their own records on their third attempt, but couldn’t get the weights up. Farrar was visibly upset he didn’t hit his goal of 395 pounds, but Anderson and other competitors congratulated him on his accomplishment.
‘‘Mr. Farrar is a true American patriot,” Anderson said. ‘‘He’s supportive of the troops and the war ... he hasn’t lost his patriotic fervor. He’s honoring his son’s memory and the Marine Corps.”
Farrar and Anderson say they stay in contact via e-mail almost every day, but Anderson said he prefers the personal touch of phone calls.
‘‘Colonel Anderson has given me a tremendous amount of encouragement to keep going,” Farrar said. ‘‘It still helps to have him call every week. It’s difficult to stay focused – I was going to stop lifting.”
With possible knee replacement surgery looming, this was the probably the last competition for Farrar.
When asked what his son would say to him if he were at the meet that day, Farrar said, ‘‘His exact words would be, ‘You can do it, Dad.’” |
Posted on January 24, 2007 - 11:11 AM |
Hello, I just want to take this time to thank you for thinking of us that are serving this great country in a far off land. We are part of the Combined Task Force Chamberlain that is named after the great civil war leader and former Governor of the great state of Maine, Joshua Chamberlain. Our task force consists of two active Army Airborne Engineer Battalions out of Fort Bragg, NC, and a contingency of South Korean and Polish Engineers. We also have a de-mining attachment, which consists of an Australian major and representatives of our task force. I am the paralegal for the task force, and my job is to support men in a leadership position with matters pertaining to military justice. You might not be aware this, but Afghanistan is one of the most mined countries in the world, and our country is working hard to rid this country of this danger.
Our task force is also responsible for building roads and helping with the reconstruction of this beautiful country called Afghanistan. Perhaps our most important mission is keeping the roads clear of improvised explosive devices and other such explosive devices, so that coalition forces can travel freely and continue to bring the message of freedom to the people of this country. The improvement of the roads are essential in that it helps with the commerce of goods, enables people to travel much easier, and helps us bring the fight to the enemy. There is so much more work to be done here, like bringing electricity to the people, and most importantly assisting them with providing security. This country has literally been devastated by decades of war. Everything needs rebuilding and improving -- the educational system, the Army, the police forces, the government, etc. We have made great progress, but there is still so much that needs to be done. I guess the big question is why Afghanistan?
In order to appreciate what we are doing here you must understand a little of this county’s history. As you well know, the Afgan people fought the Russians for their liberty for a decade. We supported the Afgan people along with the Saudis during this conflict. When the Russians were finally chased out here, a great void was created. With no viable Government to govern this newly freed nation, the Warlords became the new bosses on the block. Chaos ensued and then came the Taliban. The Taliban is an extremely fundamental Islamic movement that is currently waging a guerrilla war against the Afghanistan Government. When the Taliban initially invaded Afghanistan the Afghan people were happy, because they chased many of the Warlords out and brought peace. However, it wasn’t long before the people of Afghanistan saw their true colors, and came to despise their new masters. The Taliban soon established their brutal ways and tried to eliminate the culture of an ancient people. They didn’t allow woman to leave their homes without completely covering themselves, and essentially denied the women as well as the general population many basic human rights. The tried to eliminate completely the Afgan culture and way of life – no pictures of loved ones hanging in the house, no listening to native music, no flying of kites, no shaving of beards, etc. The Taliban was a brutal regime, and worst of all they provided shelter and aid to Al-Quieda.
More importantly, however, up until our invasion this country was used freely as a training ground for thousands of Islamic militants that despised the western world, desiring to establish the Islamic Caliphate of old that once ruled the known world. You know the rest of the story – 9/11 ensued, we asked the Taliban to give up Al Quieda, but the Taliban refused to break ties with those responsible for the attack of America saying Al Quieda was wrongfully implicated. Consequently, we invaded Afghanistan, bombed many of the suspected Al Quieda training facilities and chased the Taliban across the border to Pakistan, where they continue to make their forays into Afghanistan in a vain attempt to gain back what they lost. You see, Afghanistan was just the beginning of the larger plan for a new world that be subjected to the will the extreme Islamofascist. However, they made the same mistake the Japanese did during WWII. They mercilessly attacked us without provocation, and awoke the sleeping giant.
I just had to provide a little background, so you completely understand why we are here. Here we must make our stand, and here we must win. Rest assured we are still fighting the Taliban and their foreign coalition. They have not gone away, nor will they go away for many years to come. Until then we will continue to help build the Army and Police Force of Afghanistan as well as a completely decimated infrastructure. This country is so far behind it is just incomprehensible. We build schools for the kids continuously because they have none. Unfortunately, in a lot of cases as we build the schools so children can learn, but the Taliban come right behind us and burn them down. They don’t want the kids to learn secular subjects like science, math and history. They only want them to learn their extreme form of Islam, one that teaches a hate for the Western World. I could go on and on, but that would take another page or two. However, people need to know what we are up against. This is an extremely important mission here in Afghanistan, and it is important that the American people not only support the troops, but also what the United States of America, NATO and the moderate Islamic nations that are trying to eliminate this threat. Like I said, this war on terrorism, much like the war on fascism and communism before it, is here for the long haul. It seems there is always someone opposed to freedom and the values that we cherish. It has been said that this is the war of this generation. I truly believe that. I also strongly believe that is why the support of the American people is what is needed most in this war.
Therefore, keep up the support. I just want to let you know that your efforts of support do not go unnoticed. Everything you send goes to use in some form or fashion. It’s not what is in the box or letter that matters most. It is the thought that counts. It is what is in the heart of the American people. We are a great nation, and we want to do what is right for the world. Yes, sometimes our leaders mess things up, but it is us, the people, who in the end get the ship headed in the right direction. Rest assured, we are doing the right thing in Afghanistan. We might not be able to answer every letter, respond to every package, but we do appreciate your support. You don’t know how many strangers have come up to me and thanked me for serving this great country while traveling through airports. I have even seen people stand up in the Airports and applaud troops when they walk by. It means a lot and I am grateful. We are all grateful, so keep the faith and hang in there, and continue to support us and don’t forget to continue to support the great U.S.A., in spite of the bad decision our leaders sometimes make.
In retrospect, we will all look back and know that we did the right thing to fight this evil that wants to take away all we live for and believe in. Remember, freedom is not free! Hundreds of thousands of great American heroes have died in foreign lands to make this country what it is today. Therefore, the next time you drive to work in the morning or head to school look around and be grateful that you can do so freely without fear of someone trying to do you harm because you believe in freedom. What other country can you live in where you have a right to pursue happiness? Only in America, baby! Americans always try to the right thing, and doing the right thing cannot be a bad thing, so do your thing man, and we’ll do our thing and together we’ll get this thing worked out.
Sincerely, SSG E.W.
Welcome to life in the Stan
Came in with such grandiose plans
With disregard for Taliban
They said the South and East were fine
Somewhat messing with our minds
Perhaps they all were just so blind
To see what they would really find
In such a land that seems sublime
It feels as though were marking time
So there will always be next spring
When sands will blow and birds will sing
And we’ll continue with that road ring!
And pray that it makes freedom sing
So we’ll move and without fear
To bring about a bit of cheer
To those who are, but have not none
Yet toil away beneath the sun
So there you go my good old friends
I’ll say goodbye to this old land
And it will dwell within the sand
Forever more – Afghanistan!
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Posted on July 19, 2006 - 19:20 PM |
Dear Friends,
I normally don’t do “form letters,” but I am so busy these days that this is the only way I can keep in touch with you. I have now been in Afghanistan for two months and I thought I would take a few minutes to let you know what I’ve been up to. For starters, let me tell you why – after four and half years – your military is still fighting in Afghanistan.
The United States and our Coalition allies are fighting two groups of people in Afghanistan today. The first and main group is the Taliban (“the Purists”), militant Muslim fundamentalists. In short, they believe that Muslims should live their lives today just as the Profit, Mohammed, did in the 9th Century. The second, much smaller group we’re fighting, is al-Qaeda ("The Base," in Arabic), which is a worldwide network of terrorists, formerly led by Osama bin Laden, who are bent on attacking the US and its Western allies because of our status in the world today, our continuing support of Israel, and also because they consider the United States and the West in general to be decadent and a threat to Islam. As you know, bin Laden planned and coordinated the attacks of September 11th from his then-base in Afghanistan. In October 2001, the US and our partners in the Coalition attacked al-Qaeda and the Taliban government giving them sanctuary. By late November, the enemy was defeated, but bin Laden and many of his supporters escaped to neighboring Pakistan, and many others went into hiding in the outer tribal regions of Afghanistan. It is these remnants that US Soldiers are fighting today.
The US and our Coalition partners have three primary missions in Afghanistan: 1) Destroy the remnants of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban operating today in Afghanistan; 2) Continue to help the new government of Afghanistan to establish democratic institutions that will lead to long-term stability here (this involves a great deal of humanitarian assistance programs, such as building schools, roads, hospitals, etc); and 3) Train and equip a professional Afghan National Army and Police so that they can defend their country against Muslim extremists and terrorists.
I live on Camp Eggers, a small US camp in Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan. Our camp is named after a Special Forces officer who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2002. I am the Director of Public Affairs for the Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan. Our command is called "Combined" because it has Soldiers from countries other than the US. CFC-Afghanistan has about 23,000 Soldiers from the US, Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany, The Netherlands, and a few other European countries. As the Director of Public Affairs, I am responsible for all of the Coalition’s public communications – press releases, press conferences, etc. I oversee the communications of about 80 public affairs Soldiers at several locations around the country. My job involves a great deal of coordination with the government of Afghanistan, and the US State Department and Department of Defense. Public communications is a sensitive mission in Afghanistan because the Taliban do their best to misconstrue what the Coalition is doing in Afghanistan. To say the least, I stay very busy here.
One of the great things about my job is that I frequently travel around Afghanistan with our 3-star Commanding General I have seen some of the most beautiful places this country has to offer, but I have also seen some places that I never want to see again. The one message that I would like to share with you is that your Soldiers are doing magnificent work here. Despite what you may see on TV or read in the newspaper, Afghanistan is not falling apart. We have big challenges here, but the fact is that we are killing and capturing a great deal of the enemy, and Afghanistan is slowly but surely making progress towards a stabilized country. Some of the Soldiers I meet are absolutely amazing. I recently visited US Soldiers at one of our camps near the border with Pakistan. This is an area of intense enemy activity. The driver of the vehicle I was riding in was a “kid” of about 23, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. He had been in the Army for four years and had just re-enlisted. He was on his third deployment (two previous tours in Iraq, and now he was two months into a year-long deployment to Afghanistan). He had been wounded twice in Iraq and had spent a total of four months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Even though he has come close to death twice, he told me that he loved what he was doing. I was humbled by this young man’s devotion to duty and willingness to endure great physical hardships. Life at the tip of the spear is indeed very tough, but this kid had no second thoughts about the life he has chosen.
Well, I guess I will sign off for now. I hope each of you is doing well. On behalf of all the American troops serving here, I want to thank you for your support. Regardless of your personal views on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I know that we have your support and that you think of us often.
Sincerely,
T.C. Col., U.S. Army, Afghanistan |
Posted on June 30, 2006 - 00:22 AM |
Dear Operation Gratitude, and everyone who made the care packages and letters possible:
My unit, now serving in Afghanistan, was very pleased to receive the care packages. It was kind of like having Christmas in June as Soldiers opened their packages. We appreciate the items and the kind words of encouragement. None of my Soldiers really consider themselves as heroes, just as regular Americans doing what our country has asked us to do. The culture in Afghanistan is not at all like what we have in America. The Taliban do not think like we do. They do not want any of their children to get an education – especially not the girls. They have burned down lots of schools, shot rockets at one, and thrown a hand grenade in another one while school was in session. A teacher and 5 children were hurt in that one. Religion is closely watched here. It is okay for you to be a non-Muslim in Afghanistan, but you cannot try to convert Muslims from Islam to Buddhism, Hinduism, or Christianity. Six people were arrested a couple of days ago for telling people in the northern town of Mazari Sharif about Jesus. Since they were from other countries, they were deported. On the US and international compounds, we do have church services every Sunday. The Muslim worship day is Friday, but every day they have their calls to prayer broadcast over loudspeakers from a mosque not too far from here. Women here are not allowed to wear shorts, bathing suits, skirts, sun dresses, or sleeveless tops. The only skin a woman is allowed to show in public is her face and her hands. Some of them are not allowed to show even that much and wear burkas. It is like having a sheet draped from the top of your head and goes all the way to the ground. There is a veil that is sewn where the woman’s face is so she can see out, but you can’t see her. Women and girls always have a scarf wrapped over their hair. In addition to fighting the Taliban, US Soldiers send doctors to treat the Afghan people for diseases and veterinarians to treat their cattle. We also help their government write laws. We help them build roads and power stations. We even give them radios. Again, than you for your support. COL A.V. |
Posted on June 15, 2006 - 07:31 AM |
AMOUNTING TO SOMETHING
Death will come to all us living, but those who have truly lived seldom fear its arrival.
I have cheated death most all my life. There were many that bet I would never see 21. At 45, I simply laugh.
Life has been a struggle and nothing has come easy, or without pain. Reflecting on the roads I have traveled, I would not have walked a different path.
I have loved and known love. I have felt the pain and anguish of loss and betrayal. Through it all there has been one constant; me.
I was condemned as a child and made to believe I would never amount to anything. But today, I stand among giants. I walk among those who will fill the pages of history. The defenders of the freedoms we cherish, the freedoms that were paid for with the blood of patriots and hero’s before us. These young men risk everything for the sake of mere principle. They, as will I, gladly give our lives to buy one more day, one more hour, one more minute of freedom for those of our great nation. The irony is; there are many at home with whom we are indignant, even loathe for the things they do, their beliefs, their lack of moral character, the means by which they take their freedom for granted; as if it were owed to them by mere birthright. Yet when called to fight, these young warriors discriminate not. Their lives are thrust in harms way equally for each person of this nation.
Many debate the right and wrong of this war we fight. There are countless justifications for why we should or should not be here based solely on the point the antagonist is trying to make. There may well be political and personal agendas at stake here, but the foundation of our presence is anchored in what is taken for granted most among our people.
Terrorism has existed as long as civilization. We have often sat on the sidelines as it has engulfed nations and societies. But then it happened once too often on our soil and to our citizens. We were forced into action. If we fail to destroy this serpent, or refuse to take a stand, the freedoms we once knew will perish forever. We will forever live in a world of fear. Terrorists must be made to live in fear for merely contemplating encroachment on our freedoms. There is a cost associated with this ideology, but one we must be willing to bear. Those of us here understand it, accept it, embrace it.
If life is cut short due to this quest, I will perish knowing that I amounted to something, I stood for something, I fought for something. History may never know my name, but I will rest in peace knowing I fought for what was right.
The cost of freedom can never be too high.
SgtMaj L.H., USMC (First Page) prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 next (Last Page)
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