Happy 37th Anniversary To My Wonderful Wife

I am truly blessed to have spent the last thirty-seven years married to my wonderful wife, Debbie. She has stood beside me through good times, bad times, and everything in-between. Four kids and five grandkids later, I am still the luckiest guy in the world.

It isn't easy to be married to a cop or to a soldier deployed to a war zone. She put up with many years of shift work when I wasn't home in the early morning hours or when I had to work on a holiday. During my active duty time during the War on Terror, she held the home front down, dealing with hurricanes and all sorts of things that we should have dealt with together.

Debbie remains my rock and the other half of my soul. I pray that we can share the next thirty-seven years together as well.

Happy anniversary, sweetheart....!

Chuck

Charles M. Grist
http://www.mylastwar.com/

American Ranger in Hollywood

My wife Debbie and I had a great time in Hollywood for the DIY Convention. During this event, my book "My Last War", was awarded the grand prize for the 2009 DIY Book Festival. The prize came with a cash award of $1,500!

The evening included numerous awards for books and films, and I had a chance to meet a lot of very creative people. The picture (above left) shows Bruce Haring, general manager of the DIY Convention, presenting me with the award.

During my acceptance, I said that I was honored to serve with my fellow soldiers in Vietnam, and I was equally honored to serve with their sons and daughters in Iraq. I asked everyone present to pray for the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines whose service around the world was making it possible for us to enjoy our evening in peace and safety. I also asked for prayers for the families of our warriors and for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.


I was fortunate also to have the chance to link up with Doc (left with Debbie and me), my medic in Iraq. Doc (John Actis II AKA actor John Ceallach) lives in Hollywood, and he was able to attend the ceremony.

Thanks again to those who have bought the book, who have supported me in my efforts, and who have contacted me via email, Facebook, or "snail" mail.

Charles M. Grist
www.MyLastWar.com

Mr. and Mrs. American Ranger - Together for 36 Years!

She was a shy young thing - only 18 - when she first caught my eye. I was a young Vietnam veteran who stubbornly asked her out three separate times. Then, at the last moment, she would cancel the date. On what I figured would be my last try, she accepted again, but this time she decided to take a chance. Boy, am I glad she did...

A year later, Debbie became my wife, and she has stood by me every step of the way. Four children and four grandchildren later, she is still my special angel, the love of my life, and the reason for all that I do. She has been the center of our family and the glowing heart of all we have been.

It has not always been easy. Like all couples, we have had our challenges, our successes, and our failures. We have endured pain and shared happiness, and, yes, there were those times when circumstances could have sent us our separate ways. Still, we stuck together, we refused to give up, and we made it because we're a team. I am blessed as few men can be.

Happy Anniversary, sweetheart...What say we do another 36 years?

The Luckiest Man in the World
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

My First Grandson is Born!

I am extraordinarily proud of my three little grand-daughters: Kaitlyn, Jessica and Ashley. They supported me greatly during my tour in Iraq and the oldest, Katie, inspired me regularly with emails from “Peachrose”.

On May 1, Debbie and I were pleased to welcome our first grandson, Aiden. My daughter Jennifer and her husband Ken (who, like me, is a cop) have done a great job and we are proud to welcome this latest addition to their family.

I guess they will have to put up with Grandpa giving them little Army uniforms with Ranger tabs and jump wings sewn in place, but they’ll get used to it.

Rangers Lead the Way!

SFC Chuck Grist
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

Those Who Stay Behind

Back in 1973, a young Vietnam veteran wasn’t doing a whole lot with his life. He had foolishly blown all the money he saved while overseas and he was drifting from job to job. Twice he tried to return to college, but the drive just wasn’t there. He was being irresponsible, drinking too much and he had no real direction in life.

Then he met a young 18-year-old beauty who stole his heart. On January 5, 1974, she became his wife and a new life began for the ex-soldier. With fresh incentives to spur him on, he finished college and the two of them started a family that would grow to four children, three grand-daughters and one grandson on-the-way.

Today, my wife Debbie and I celebrated our thirty-fourth wedding anniversary. We have enjoyed some successes and endured a few failures. As I have said before, the successes were her inspiration; the failures resulted from my bad choices. Still, our love has endured and our lives still hold great adventures in the years ahead. With the grace of God, I will have many more years to share my life with a woman who has truly become the other half of my soul.

During my tour in Iraq, Debbie held down the fort back here in the States, she survived the multiple hurricanes of 2004 and she remained the anchor of my life. (The above photo shows us the day before I left for Iraq.)

Upon my return from the war, I held her close to me and told her that I would be blessed to walk with her through every day of the rest of our lives.

All over America, wives, children, parents, siblings and others wait for their warriors who are risking it all for the sake of America. We are grateful for the service of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, but we can never forget the family members they left behind.

In many ways, they are war veterans, too.

SFC Chuck Grist
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com