Robert in Dallas, TX, father of this young man, calls in to thank Mark, yes, to thank Mark for HIS support of the troops. SPC Vandertulip was killed 2 years ago, October 14, 2004.
Robert, we thank you and Louise for raising such a fine young man and a great American. Our prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time.
Additionally, I followed up with the call from Tim in TX because it just adds to the poignancy of the call. Thanks Tim…
I pulled some information about this young man, but I had such trouble getting through this to post it. I don’t know how Mark can do this with such composure…
Army Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip, 21, of Irving, Texas; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed Oct. 14 when his dismounted patrol came under enemy fire in Baghdad.
Josiah Vandertulip had been home only three months after a year long tour in South Korea when he volunteered to fight in Iraq. “I got really upset with him. I didn’t want him to go,” said his mother, Louise. “I kept feeling he’s just a kid. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.” But the 21-year-old figured that if he volunteered for duty, he might be able to keep some husband and father from having to leave a family behind to go to war. Vandertulip, of Irving, Texas, died Oct. 14 when his patrol came under small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was based at Fort Hood. One of four brothers and a sister, Josiah Vandertulip was active in church and enjoyed playing ice hockey and downhill skiing. He entered the Army shortly after graduating from high school. Family members described him as a cutup who liked to do things differently, even coloring his brown hair blond, then green, before cutting it into a Mohawk and shaving it off. He is survived by his parents, Louise and Robert. After his death, a case of his favorite chicken noodle soup sat on the piano in the family’s living room, part of a package that will never be sent.
 Associated Press
Remembering the servicemembers who died in the service of their country.
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God bless you and your family, Robert, and may He rest your son in loving peace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Robert.
Tomorrow is my 51st birthday. I was planning on celebrating me. But, I think instead I’ll be celebrating Josiah Vandertulip and Michael Monsoor. And thank God for the way they have touched my life. God Bless them. God Bless their families and God Bless My Soldiers.
Robert,
My son and I will spend the day together, tomorrow. You and your son will be in our prayers and on our minds. Some men live long lives and never matter. Josiah lived to serve, his country, his family and his comrads. In his short time, he has Mattered! He resides with the heroes of generations past and present. It is because of their sacrifice that precious freedom flourishes. We shall never forget them and we shall always remember the name Josiah Vandertulip, as synonymous with American Hero.
God bless you Robert, your son will never be forgoten. We all owe you so much, you are in our prayers.
It never ceases to amazes me the altruistic act of these great warriors. This man was thinking of another husband or father that he will never meet for his reason to go to war. SPC Josiah Vandertulip, may the Good Lord welcome you into His home and may He look over your family, give them comfort and strength.
Your son: Army Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip, 21, of Irving, Texas – will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, & for what he has done for ALL of us here, & abroad.
Our Safety, & Freedoms we GIVE THANKS TO Josiah H. Vandertulip.
God Bless you … Louise & Robert our LOVE & PRAYERS to your family, on this day Oct. 14th, 2006.
Su & Hu O
For You Louise & Robert: To ALL the Families of OUR GREATEST GENERATION OF THE MILITARY, please visit a VERY special website, from a VERY SPECIAL friend of this MLF Site (& too many friends here, as well): Thank you to the Garvey Family.
http://www.lesttheybeforgotten.org/
May God give you comfort, Robert and Louise, as well as to Josiah’s sister and brothers, and other family members and friends who have to be missing this brave young man so badly.
And you have to know that God has a special place in heaven for such valiant warriors as SPC Josiah Vandertulip who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.
And what a wonderful name that is! Josiah Vandertulip. I will keep Josiah and all of you in my prayers.
And still we have too many Americans and govt officials walking the streets who cannot and will not acknowledge the bravery, the devotion, and the commitment of our military personnel like Josiah Vandertulip.
AND IT IS THESE VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO WILL DEMAND MILITARY PROTECTION WHEN SOMETHING BAD COMES THEIR WAY.
My respect and gratitude will always be yours- your son and you exemplify the heroism and sacrifice that TRULY are worthy of a special place in heaven. In the Aztec hierarchy of heaven, the highest heaven was reserved for two classes of persons: Mothers who had died in childbirth and Warriors who had died in battle.
And of course there is Valhalla- the “Hall Of The Slain”- the chosen slain who are carried from the battlefield by the Valkyries.
My guess is that HIS personal heaven would much more resemble a Sunday at Texas Stadium than either of those other heavens.
But whatever heaven into which I may be entered, I hope that I will get to meet your son. I have faith that we already have met in important ways .
Robert, God Bless you and your family. Thank you for your precious son’s sacrifice. Josiah will not be forgotten by his grateful nation. Josiah was Great American soldier.
God Bless You & Your Family Robert…I know exactly how you feel & look forwrd talking with you. Great interview…Know both of the ladies that were on w/ you…