Posted on Aug 25, 2014
SFC Mark Merino
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My wife lost everything she owned in the Great Japanese Tsunami on 3/11. She lost family and friends and lived in the aftermath of a hell on earth. Later, she developed cancer, as many Japanese have since then. She had even more tragedy on top of that. It's been a rough for her over the years. But bless her stubborn will, she has never seen quitting as an option. She is my hero. She is a testament to perseverance and for hope of a better future. How easy is it to just say "That's enough! I quit!" I know for a fact that if you give up when things are at their worst, you concede that you have accepted your fate. And so, from Uncle Mark to you, I say don't you EVER give up!
Edited 10 y ago
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Responses: 7
SSG V. Michelle Woods
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Kudos to your fiancee and may the good Lord continue to bless her with renewed strength.
In cases like that, I'd say never give up.

I'd also say part of being strong and hoping for a better future would involve knowing WHEN to give up and walk away.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
10 y
Que?
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
SSG V. Michelle Woods
10 y
SFC Mark Merino oh no need to be more cautious at all with your awesome story! I just brought a different perspective is all :) I love your fiancee's story and I think it's wonderful you shared because we could all use a little extra motivation :)
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SSG Trevor S.
SSG Trevor S.
10 y
SFC Mark Merino you might have tagged me in a "you go girl" moment when possibly thinking to point toward SSG V. Michelle Woods
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SSG Human Resources Specialist
SSG (Join to see)
10 y
SSG Trevor S. he did, lol, classic
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PV2 Senior Web Designer, Web Team Lead
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Thank you SFC Mark Merino for the motivation.
Each of us have our own battles we are facing each day, be it PTSD, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, or even something simple as low self esteem and self worth.
It's coming through the struggle stronger than before, learning from the lesson and moving forward which makes us who we are.

Bless you and that lovely lady of yours. Life is short, embrace the hell out of it!
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
10 y
PV2 (Join to see) Tears. Thanks.
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COL Strategic Plans Chief
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We throw a lot of "resiliency" stuff around now days. What we fail to realize is that while you can provide someone with tools in a classroom setting, true resiliency only comes from bearing hardship, pain, anguish and more pain. She is what resilience is all about. To continue to the objective...though I be the lone survivor.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
10 y
Amen COL (Join to see) ! Tango Mike.
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MAJ Deputy Inspector General
MAJ (Join to see)
10 y
It's amazing how resilient one can be when they understand they truly aren't the only one going through the issue. We say our profession has changed, but too often individuals are ostracized.
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COL Strategic Plans Chief
COL (Join to see)
10 y
Reconnaissance is a mission, not a branch. We spend too much time spinning around branch-centric crap. If you were trained to be a scout...then you're a scout. If you were trained to kill tanks, then you're an anti-tank infantryman...until you're not, and you're in a new job. Pretty soon you won't have to worry about it anyhow. All the IN BN Scout PLT's are going to be filled with 19D's.
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