I'd like to introduce to the Pregame community/family two very important service members that played a key role in my life.
Spc. Dale J. Kridlo
Now this guy was a character to say the least. Always trying to get away with something or another. I met Dale back in the early 2000's through some friends of mine. Such a helpful guy before he entered the military. He helped me paint one of my store fronts i had, and just did anything for me if he had the time..We spent a few summers together going to concerts with our friends and we had a connection. Once he had no money and he said i'm going to sneek into this one concert, well he succeeded with that mission and was a **** mess from chicken wire and a rather high fence. No matter the task or the mission Dale always took it on full steam ahead. On November 7th 2010 he was killed in Afghanistan. He was killed by insurgents when he encountered small arms fire. I remember the time when he dediced to sign up for the Army. His message was simple. It was time to grow up and be a father to his children. It was that simple. He had twin 9 yr old daughters at the time he was killed in action. He raised his hand and did his duty with honor.
1st Sgt Luke J. Mercardante
This Marine was a straight up Marine 110%. I remember the first day i met Drill Instructor Mercardante. He wanted to rip my head off because i was one of his recruits on Parris Island. He was young and hungry, and he was in his 1st or 2nd cycle as a Marine Drill Instructor. He was the wrong guy to mess with. He made sure you had two things everyday. discipline and a muscle workout. I would volunteer for him to wear me out on the quarterdeck almost daily. He understood i wanted to be a Marine and i wasn't going to half ass my job if he wasn't half assing his. He never did, not once did ever fail to be a Marine and to teach me the right way. My most memorable day was him grabbing me by the neck in the locker room one day. I had about enough of wearing a jock strap and he went nuts on me. He knew he could rough me up because i respected him so much. If it was not for him i don't know if i would have ever made it. He pushed all of us to the breaking point, but was the first guy to make sure we stayed strong. He didn't play games, i can tell you that much. He made me a Marine my entire time at Parris Island. He gave me my EGA and i remember crying as we finished the crucible, he just smiled and shook my hand. He did his job.
It was a few years later i decided to look him up on facebook. Often times we try to find old military buddies. I think we all do if you served in the armed forces. Well as im looking and searching on facebook i find this picture and i click on it and the page title was in loving memory of 1st Sgt Luke Mercardante. I was like it can't be. Sure enough as i clicked and looked around as read stuff, my heart just sank. I realized he was killed in action as well. April 15th 2008 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He left behind two children and a wife. It took me two days just to turn off my brain after finding this out. Words can't describe the impact he had on me and my time in the military. He was the best Marine i ever knew.
I know a bunch of you guys and girls have friends and family who served in the military. Take a moment today to really thank them if they are here or not. Remember what the day is all about and what it may mean to you in your life. I talk to some of you off line and a few of you guys have kids in the service. I commend them all and wish them nothing but the best. We are all brothers and sisters in some way or another. You never know what someone may be going through on a day like today. Semper Fi & God Bless America !!