Join the MFN Group: Operation Oklahoma Marines. Click here.

Being in the Marines teaches a person to adapt. To continue to fight through adversity and overcome difficult situations. To be flexible ("Semper Gumby"). As the saying famously goes, "Marines make do." But how do you make do when there's nothing left to make do with? That question is one that two Oklahoma Marines are left trying to find an answer to after both lost everything in the series of violent storms that tore through the Oklahoma City area May 19th and 20th.

On the night of Sunday, May 19, a Gunnery Sergeant stationed in Mustang, Oklahoma, lost his house and belongings in a fire after the house was struck by lightning. Less than 24 hours later and a mere 20 miles to the east, a Sergeant stationed in Moore, Oklahoma lost everything after his house and both cars were destroyed in Monday's deadly tornado. Both are married with two children (the Gunnery Sergeant has two sons, ages 14 and 15, the Sergeant, a five-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.

We'd already wired $1,000 to a Lance Corporal stationed at Twentynine Palms whose parents lost everything in the storm when, upon learning of the unfathomable predicament these two Marines are facing, MarineParents founder and executive director Tracy Della Vecchia immediately decided to launch "Operation Oklahoma Marines" to assist the two men and their families. To help these Marines and their families get back on their feet, we are hoping to raise $10,000 ($5,000 for each Marine).

100% of your donations will be going to these Marine families. Whether we raise $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000, 100% of the money will be going to these two families. Marines help Marines. Now it's time for Marine families to come together and do the same.  To donate, visit http://marineparentsinc.com/oklahoma.asp

Additionally, we are exploring options for donated vehicles for the Sergeant who lost both of his in the tornado. If you have a vehicle you'd like to donate, or know of a program that might be able to assist us in obtaining one, please contact MarineParents Chief Development Officer Danielle Karalis at danielle@marineparents.com or by calling 573-449-2003.  


Visit the Eagle, Globe and Anchor (EGA) Shop for great gear for your entire Marine Corps family! Marine Corps lapel pins, Marine books, Marine Corps scrapbooking supplies, all at the Marine Corps store where every purchase you make helps to support the troops and their families at home through our outreach programs.

MarineParents.com, Inc. is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity.

Looking for something different to read on MFN? We've added a new page to Marine Family Network called the "Best of Poems & Links." It's a collection of some wonderful poems (many of them written by our very own members!) You can find it under the "Connections" tab at the top of this page.  Or you can just Click Here