Amsden a hot shot
By Christine Myers
News-Mirror
BOURBON � Militarily speaking the month of March has become a historical one because of the war with Iraq. On a smaller scale, though, it also holds significance for one local Marine, Carl Amsden, the son of James and Julie Amsden of Foley, Ala. and formerly of Bourbon.
Corporal Officer Carl Amsden, 25, began the month of March with his newly achieved corporal title. Carl is a soldier in the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Corps Division. His division has teamed up with the 1st Marine Corps Division during the war.
Inspired by his older brother, Major John Amsden, Carl enlisted in December of 1998. He signed a contract for five years of service and would have been nearing the end of his contract until the war broke out. Now Carl, and many other military members, will have to stay in an extra year due to the stop-loss policy that President Bush enacted.
Carl is an electrician to an engineering core. He likes what he is doing and is proud to be serving his country in this time of war and encourages others to be proud also.
According to a letter he wrote: �...awesome military plan. Mom you should be proud of it.�
Before the war broke out, Carl was stationed in Camp Lejeune, N.C. He has also been to South Korea during Operation Enduring Freedom, Japan and California to name a few. Currently he is stationed somewhere near Baghdad.
In a letter dated March 1, written to his sister Patty Amsden, who lives in Bourbon, Carl humorously described his living conditions, referring to the two hot meals a day, the cots and wooden floors: �It�s not quite as nice as the four-star hotels the Army and Air Force live in, but that�s why we�re the Marines.�
Patty was enlightened by the light-heartedness in Carl�s letter. Not only did he find things to joke about where he is at, but he also kidded with her about the �huge city of Bourbon and its one stop light.� The only request he has made is for peanut M&Ms;, which are his favorite.
After a phone call last Friday, Patty discovered that Carl�s good spirits were still present. Carl called his parents to inform him how and what he was doing. He also talked about the makeshift shower he rigged for he and his friends, earning him the praise of being called a genius from his buddies.
With two family members currently in the service, it�s hard for Patty not to be supportive, even though she tries to maintain a neutral position when it comes to war. Patty shows her support by the pin she wears which belonged to John, the U.S. and Marine flags hung on the front porch and the yellow ribbons tied around every tree in her yard.
In her opinion there are times to trust the nation�s leaders and now is one of those times.
�They know things we don�t know,� she commented, �We have to support that they will make the best decisions because of that knowledge.�
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