A note from Mom to my favorite Patriot

I would love the opportunity to tell the American Profile readers about the most patriotic kid I have ever met. Kelly Youngblood is my son. As a third grader Kelly came home from school one day upset

I would love the opportunity to tell the American Profile readers about the most patriotic kid I have ever met. Kelly Youngblood is my son. As a third grader Kelly came home from school one day upset, I asked him "Whats wrong?" Kelly replied, "the kid standing next to me didnt put his hand over his heart when we said the pledge of allegience." I knew then I had a true patriot on my hands. Kelly, like most young kids enjoyed the occasional sleep-over. During one sleep over I clearly remember receiving a call from kelly's friends mom that the boys stayed up all night digging trenches in their backyard and playing Army- fortunatley she laughed and wasnt upset about the boys rearranging their landscape. I received a beautiful letter from this family shortly after Kelly's death telling me that there is still rements of the trenches to this day. I also received a letter from Kelly's 6th grade teacher with a copy of the 6th grade yearbook page, asking all of the kids what they want to be when they grow up- Kelly's answer: A General in the U.S Army.

Often on Saturday mornings I would enjoy the occasional garage sales with my friend. Kelly would always tag along so he could look for army fatigues and gear. Kelly often told me, "When I grow up I'm going to be a soldier." I believed him but kept it in the back of my mind. There is a difference between a boy playing soldier and a boy who knew he was born to be a soldier. Kelly was not raised in a military family nor did he live by any military bases, as a matter of fact, we did not even know anyone in the service except my best friends son-in-law who lived in California- he was an Army recruiter and he was Kelly's idol. Kelly even had the opportunity to stay at their house one week-end, and Woody the recruiter took little Kelly under his wing and showed him Hummers and jeeps. Kelly's eyes changed from blue to camouflage. Our first home in Mesa AZ had 3 bedrooms anda small office built inside the garage. Kelly begged us to let him turn the office into his barracks. Of course we said yes. So he built his own cot out of wood foam nets and helmets hung from the ceiling, ammo boxes, and plastic green soldiers and legos filled the shelves and of course the American flag hung sharply on the wall of his own barrack-style room. What an imagination, what a patriot.

Kelly reached his teenage years and flew to Washington D.C on a class field trip. He wore a white button down shirt and his red, white, and blue tie. Kelly was asked to lay the wreath of the unknown soldier- he felt so honored and proud. From age 15 to 18 Kelly didnt say much regarding the military which I was relieved, after all we were in the middle of war. In August of 2005, I returned home from a quick trip to Target. Kelly had been gone all afternoon, I just assumed he was out skateboarding. When I drove into the driveway my daughter was waiting for me, Kelly has something to tell you," she said. When I walked into the house there was Kelly at the kitchen table with a pile of papers, and a big smile on his face. "Mom I joined the Army." Instantly tears filled my eyes " Kelly you can't do this we're in war." Kelly replied as he did many times " Don't worry mom I'll be fine." Stunned and scared I said, "When did you start thinking about this?" with pride Kelly replied "my whole life." After my fears settled down and the reality of Kelly not changing his mind sunk in, I looked at Kelly and said " You are the bravest person I know, I couldn't be more proud of you if you were the validvictorian of your class."

On January 17th 2006 Kelly's recruiter rang the doorbell at 0500 to pick up the young soldier and off to bootcamp he went. I cried like a baby, I could'nt believe he left. I was afraid for him, I thought how will he survive basic training, what will he eat, he's a picky eater, he'll starve, I still make his bed and pick up his dirty clothes. Then I received my first letter from Kelly and much to my amazement, he loves basic training, the food and mostly his drill sergants. That solidified my beliefs, this kid was born a soldier.

My soldier graduated from AIT at Fort Knox as a tanker. The whole family traveled to Kentucky to witness this event, what a proud day for all of us. Kelly came home for a short visit and then it weas off to Fort Stewart GA, 3rd Infantry D-Company 3-69 Armor. I received the news in September 2006 that 3rd ID 1st Batallion was preparing to be deployed to Iraq for their 3rd tour. We had been preparing for this mentally as we knew this was inevitable. Of course Kelly continues to reassure his family that he'll be okay, even though he knew he was going to one of the worst places, Ramadi, Iraq.

In January of 2007 I went to Fort Stewart to visit for a week to help Kelly pack, to say goodbye, and to see him off. In the pit of my heart I feared this would be the last time I would see his beautiful smile and hear his sweet laugh. The week I spent at Fort Stewart was the best week of my life. Kelly was not just my son, he wasmy best friend. Kelly was know by his friends as the funniest person they ever met, I would have to agree he was hilarious.

As any parent or spouse of a soldier, your worst fear after your loved one leaves for war is hearing your doorbell ring and seeing officials standing there with hats in their hands. This became a reality for us just 16 days after Kelly arrived in Iraq. With the Army captains at the base of my stairs reciting, "The United States of America regrets to inform you that your son Kelly David Youngblood sustained fatal gunshot wounds on February 18th at 10 A.M. That day I lost my son and best friend, America lost a true American Patriot.

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