Zac and Em: Saying Goodbye....With Great Pride!

April 7, 2002...The day Zac joined the United States Marine Corps. He started down in San Diego and went through boot camp at MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot). After 13 indescribable weeks of boot camp, he went onto to do 4 months of extensive combat and MOS training in Fort Leonerd, Missisouri. In Novemeber of 2002 he joined the "fleet" and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. In February of 2003 he deployed for his first tour to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His first deployment was "a test of manhood and every emotion possible." He returned home in October (2003) to a surprise motorcade, welcome home signs and an outpour of love from family, friends and relatives. His visit home was shortlived and his stay in the United States was brief before returning back to Iraq in February of 2004. This deployment originally only 6 months quickly turned into a year deployment after Zac volunteered to stay longer, in hopes of not going back. (If we only knew....and we all thought his tour was just "extended.")

He finally returned home in March of 2005. He was home for good! For his final year, Zac lived and worked at Camp Pendleton. He finished his active duty obligations as Sergent Broadie. April 7, 2006 he left Camp Pendleton and began his 4 years of inactive service. While in the military, Zac met some great friends. He has some amazing memories to look back on and others he may choose to forget. He learned more about himself, his country and life in general, than one could imagine. Simply put, he endured incredible experiences while in the Marine Corps.