Meeting a Hero

Monday, January 3, 2005

By Lee Sexton, Great American Patriot

 

 

Photo Courtesy of Wendy Mulvaney

SSG Mark Mulvaney, Nadine Gulit, Sheryl (Gulit) Sheaffer, Lee Sexton

 

 

On January 3, 2005 Sheryl, Nadine and I had the great honor of meeting a Real American Hero, SSG Mark Mulvaney.  He was called home from Iraq on a family emergency when he contacted OSOT and wanted to meet the people who support the American soldiers.  SSG Mulvaney's Stryker unit was one of the units that OSOT adopted for Christmas.  I was so honored that he would take precious time from his family to meet with us. 

 

Mark’s unit is one of the units stationed at FOB Marez.  He left Iraq on December 20 to fly home and the dining facility at Marez was blown up on December 21.  Mark lost some very good friends and his commanding officer, Capt. William Jacobsen, Jr., that day.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and all of the others serving with him.

 

We met SSG Mulvaney, his wife, Wendy, and one of their three precious daughters at Galloping Gertie’s.  We spent the next three hours trading stories and pictures.  We all made an instant connection that day – Mark and Wendy are very special people!  We sent Mark off with some pictures of our "Santa's Soldiers" Christmas pack out so he can share them with his fellow soldiers.  Mark has since returned to Iraq.  Please keep Mark, Wendy and their three daughters in your prayers – may God return him safely to his loving family.

 

As we were leaving and hugs were going around, Mark wanted again to thank us for all the support we give them.  I told him the pleasure was all ours.  That was a morning I will never forget – meeting a Hero.