Bear with me ... as I write this, my brother's body is being shipped back home from Afghanistan. Specialist Jonnie (Jon) Lee Stiles died from wounds he received from an IED yesterday morning, (or yesterday evening local Afghani time). Jon was a true hero.
Less than a month ago, Jon and another soldier from his unit risked their lives by entering a burning vehicle to pull out two of their fellow soldiers. Both men are alive stateside now. Jon suffered smoke inhalation, damagin his vocal chords. He was given the opportunity to recover in Germany. I've been told that that situation almost always returns the soldier stateside. Instead, Jon declined. He stayed with his unit, preferring to serve with them. He died doing exactly what he wanted to do in life. Jon loved the military and his fellow soldiers - he was incredibly proud to serve. This country lost a warrior.
I'm sorry, that was long - off my soap box now. It has been a difficult day and a half, hard on me, my parents, and my family.
But I'm not looking for sympathy ... I want your help to keep my brother's name alive. Here's my challenge: Write Jon into your story.
Before NaNo began this year, I read of a challenge a guy named Tim made to his friends whenever they hit a road block. His solution, insert him into the story. It could be substantial, or it could be something as simple as "and then Tim walked by."
I'm asking you to do the same thing, only this time with my brother's name. Would you help me to honor a true hero - a man who has literally saved the lives of others and served this country proudly - by just mentioning him in your NaNovel this year?
I'm not asking for you to make him your main character, or even a bit player. If you could just mention him, that would help keep his memory alive.
Thank you,
Charles Stiles
Specialist Jon Stiles, 7/6/1970 - 11/13/2008.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Launa (yes, Launa with an n), married November of 2000; his mother and stepfather (Linda and Larry); his father and step-mother (Charles and Cecilia); a younger sister and brother (Natalie Michele and Kenneth Joseph); an older brother and his family, Charles and Laura, (yes, Laura) with two kids: Nathan and Jessica; a step-brother, Larry; a step-sister, Julie ... and numerous extended family and friends - all blessed to know and love him.
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In memory - Jon Stiles - I'll always love you bro.
60,319 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 22 03
I'm sorry for your loss. He will find a place in my novel.
92,302 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 22 03
Challenge accepted.
50,263 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 22 08
Thank you both.
51,217 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 23 40
Challenge accepted. Jon sounds like a true hero. Thank you for letting him be a part of my writing.
130,302 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 03 34
Oh, Charles, there are no words for this.
Yet, we will make words.
---
With prayers for you and yours and his,
Teri
50,101 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 06 05
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Rarely do we get to know the stories of the soldiers who sacrifice themselves for our freedom, so thank you for sharing.
Challenge accepted.
All of you are in my prayers.
B
66,710 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 06 43
Dadgecko, your ML put a link to this thread in the ML forum.
I shall put Jon in my novel. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
63,211 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 07 28
I am so sorry for you and your family's loss; I recently lost my 32-year-old sister and am still trying to recover. He will definitely find a way into my novel.
Would you mind if I posted a link to this in the Military Forum?
50,263 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 08 32
Thank you all so much.
Your kind words and acceptance of this challenge mean more to me than you will ever know. It touches me deeply. Thank you, thank you.
I would encourage you to share this challenge with everyone you know. The more people who know about Jon and his sacrifice, the more blessed I feel and I am. Please, don't hesitate to post it to any forum.
Thank you,
Charles
50,132 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 09 38
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
I have room for a soldier named Jon Stiles in my novel.
50,017 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 10 05
Your brother is a true hero. I applaud him for his bravery while mourning your loss with you.
I'd be honored to include Specialist Jon Stiles in my novel.
50,821 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 10 20
He will most defintely make it into my novel. He was a true hero, and I am sorry for your loss. I will send this to all of my friends let them know.
--Megan Allen
158,173 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 12 27
Charles, I am deeply saddened by your loss. You have my condolences.
Challenge accepted. I'm also going to be passing this along to the Wrimos in the Springfield area as well.
163,508 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 13 54
As someone whose family members have been in the military and served in many conflicts over the years, I was ver touched to see this post, even if it contained sad news for you and your family. This is a wonderful way to honor a life given in service to ur country, and the memory of your brother as a person as well. He'll definitely pop up in my novel soon.
50,305 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 15 57
I just added Jon to my novel and was honored to do so. My prayers go out to you and your family at this time.
130,270 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 16 44
specialist JLS is flying high and fast in mine too.
25,176 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 17 07
Your brother will hold a special place in my novel along with my good friend Chris, who also passed over seas last year. I am sorry for your loss.
*big nano hug*
159,003 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 17 22
I am sorry for your loss and sending prayers to your entire family.
Jon Stiles will be mentioned in my novel. I am not sure yet where he will appear, but he will be mentioned as a hero.
If you like, I will be happy to email you a finished copy when the time comes. You can email me at knight_a_m@hotmail.com to let me know where I should send it.
God Bless you all,
Alexandra Knight aka KnightStar
50,986 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 17 32
I'm just learning the ropes of being an Army mom, so I've been overwhelmed with pride for our soldiers and the responsibilities they shoulder. Your brother was a hero, and I'm sorry he couldn't be with you longer.
He has a place in my novel, for sure.
63,520 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 21 02
Jon has been added to my novel as well - and in a semi-military capacity actually. He's a tertiary character that helps one of my main characters by flying him via helicopter out of a battle zone.
I'm glad I could honor his memory!
(I've also cross posted this in the Chicago community for you.)
63,432 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 21 19
I'm in. I'm not sure where I'll add him, but I'll put him in there somewhere.
686,415 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 21 46
Challenge taken. I've got the perfect role for your brother in my novel--and I've been waiting to write this character for awhile.
I know how hard it is, and I wish you and your family the best.
0 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 22 39
Charles,
My prayers are with you and your family. I will find a place for your brother in my novel also. I come from a military family and I know that your brother would be proud to know that you remember the pride he had for serving his country when needed. He is a hero and won't be forgotten. Try to always remember that.
My son turned 21 on the 11th of November and informed me that he will be getting sent over next October or sooner. He will be a senior in college. Like your brother he is proud and feels a need to go. He told me that there were a lot of moms not happy that their sons were going but I needed to remember that it is what he wanted to do. I cried, and when I heard of your brothers death I cried more because he sounds so much like my son.
No one can take away the pain you are feeling but try to find comfort in the love that he surrounded your family with. I will pray that god watches over your family and give you the strength you need.
God Bless,
lynn
Your brother was a hero
to his fellow americans and now
he is a hero among the angels
52,114 / 50,000
Nov 17, 2008 - 08 37
EDIT: I'm adding Jonnie Lee Stiles as a soft spoken, big hearted prison warden who moonlights as a local guitar legend and brings his talent to play for those who are incarcerated in his free time. Probably the blues. I hope that he liked this type of music!
A gajillion hugs, because I suspect you need them. Your ML did your brother and your family a great service by posting this thread to our ML section. Because of this, many of us have re-posted to our individual regions. I'm happy to say that you have touched many hearts by your post, and I hope your brother (and secondarily you and your family) is duly honored by your love and respect for him.
I will also include him in my novel, even if it's only by name in a positive light. Thanks so much for your undying love at this difficult time and know that my entire region is pulling for you.
Hugs,
Cheri in Peoria, Illinois
50,233 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 23 03
Due to the nature of my story, I haven't taken any challenges like this... but I will take yours. I always have time and room to honor those who've fallen in battle.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Charles.
67,216 / 50,000
Nov 15, 2008 - 23 22
My brother is over there right now, but even if he weren't, my heart goes out to your and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll definitely make a place for your brother in my novel. I don't know where yet, but he'll be doing something heroic, as seems appropriate. And I'll pass the word around to my NaNo-ing friends.
55,807 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2008 - 02 31
As someone serving in Afghanistan at this moment, let me tell you, Charles, that your brother's sacrifice is truly remembered by those of us still working here. Although I don't know your brother, I know too many people who have been killed over here. And like Jon, they served with honour.
In the tradition of the artillery, we say:
"End of mission, Specialist Jon Stiles.
Good Shooting.
Stand Easy."
Jon is now living on in memory, and many books this November. Mine included.
126,916 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2008 - 07 48
I can do it. I already have an idea of where to put him in. And don't worry. It won't be an unimportant part. Let us honor him.
51,339 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2008 - 08 59
My novel really isn't ideal for this, but I've thought about it and figured out a way to work him in in a fashion that seems like an honor. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours. I sure hope Jon gets a kick out of what I worked out...I'm sure he's smiling down an all this from Heaven...
54,064 / 50,000
Nov 16, 2008 - 10 03
Absolutely. There's room for a true hero in any tale, and I'd be honored to include Specialist Jon Lee Stiles in mine.