Goodbye Sara… we all loved you so.
My favorite quote from Sara:
“I remember when men were men and women were glad of it.”
I can not begin to express our sense of loss. Our very own Ex-Ph2 has passed away.
Sara was a very private person and never wanted to become a burden upon anyone. She died exactly in that manner, at home quietly. Her health had been in decline for some time now but she never once complained about it to me.
I would send her pictures of birds I encountered during my travels and she would respond in her usual snarky way. When my last one went unanswered… that was answer enough for me. I knew we were all dreading what news there was to come. She passed last month and I had to delay posting this for a myriad of reasons.
Ex-Ph2 posted 1,482 articles and made 52,820 comments. She was never one to shy from making her point and agree with her or not, one had to admire her tenacity. When she was threatened by Valor Vultures she never even flinched.
When Jonn became too sick to carry on she did not hesitate to step up to the plate. She held the line. So many other Mil Blogs have come and gone because they did not have an Ex-Ph2.
Over the years we have posted some of the worst examples of veterans and wannabes that can be imagined. When Daniel Bernath went after all of us, she stayed at her post while seasoned men faltered away. Threatened by lawyers, Stolen Valor Vultures, miscreants and malcontents she just kept loving this community anyway.
She kept her other family mostly in the dark about her activities here. I can say that during my conversations with her family they are “overwhelmed” at finding out about all of us.
“I am just a sailor, a protector of our land. A servant called to battle when my country takes a stand.”
She tried to protect others as best she could. I hope they understand.
We are not afraid to shed a tear, I’ll just have to keep wiping mine away. No more gravy for me. I did not want to delay this any longer so I will end for now with the last picture she had sent to me. To Sara I wish ‘Fair Winds and Following Seas’.
Category: Fair Winds and Following Seas, Veterans in the news, We Remember
Rest well, my lady.
Sorry to hear that Ex-PH2 is gone. She’s going to be missed.
She hadn’t been up on the TAH net for quite some time, so I figured that something must have been going sideways.
Semper Fidelis
RIP Sailor, thank you for all you have done for us here.
A million thank yous ain’t near enough, Ma’am.
Rest Easy, we have your watch. (Lord knows it’ll take a Platoon+ of us!)
Fare well, Sara. RIP. I hope your transition was easy.
I hope you were able to bequeath the cats, the self defense cast iron skillet, and Sister Mary’s Grammar Correcting wooden ruler to someone worthy of the inheritance.
Your experiences, wry wit and sharp tongue will never be replaced.
Save a seat at the table for the rest of us. We’ll be along shortly.
I’ll join the chorus of those tearful over the loss of our Queen Bee, our Iron Lady. Never afraid to jump into a fight, she was a tigress on the hunt for phonies and valor vultures.
Fair winds and following seas, Ex. Enjoy your eternal reward.
It is with a bereaved heart that my bride and I wish her fair winds and following seas in her eternal rest. We dearly loved her articles and comments.
So very sorry to hear this. I’ve missed her posts lately and wondered if something was amiss. Not the answer I wanted.
RIP dear lady.
Very sad to hear. I had a feeling something was amiss with her absence lately.
She was the first or one of the first to engage me in conversation when I first found this group (while board and sitting in a classroom at the Captain’s Career Course in 2013).
Even though we never met in person, I felt that I knew her. I can just picture this- She told of walking to and from the grocery store, through deep snow, for several blocks (Chicago winters are brutal). That’s tough for anyone!
🇺🇸⚓️
Don’t post here often, but I will post a heartfelt goodbye, and thank you for helping make this blog the informative, and humorous, and accepting place it is.
Rest well….see you on the other side
So very sorry to hear of her passing.
Rest well Sailor…
With her recipes, Heaven’s fare just got tastier. Rest in peace.
Where did all the photos of contributors go off to? I cannot find it now.
We stopped adding them when DRG started using them for mischief.
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?page_id=31356
I remember that, especially when Bernath used my pic on a big anti-Semitic rant.
It was a badge of honor.
Whatever happened to Wittgenfeld? Does he have a gutter to spend this Thanksgiving weekend in?
I wondered that as well!
Thank you Dave!
Rest in Peace Ex-PH-2. Fair winds and following seas! I did not know you personally, but I always appreciated you replies and input.
RIP. I think I read 85% of her prolific work here and it will be missed.
I am better man for having read what she wrote. She is missed.
I was just thinking about Ex-PH2 yesterday!!! I had been missing her and hoped that she was fine.
I’m sad for Sara’s family at her loss — she must have been quite some fun in person.
Fair winds and a following seas, Sara!
Rest easy Ex-PH2. Fair winds and following seas. Condolences to her family.
Rest In Peace
Damn! Double Damn!! Rest in Peace, Sara, prayers for your families, blood and print.
I’ve had more time to think on this and I’m reminded of my early days posting on this blog back in the late 2013 timeframe. I had just found out I was getting deployed and the folks here made me feel at home, her in particular. There were a few occasions where we tag-teamed some particularly annoying offender or she would come to my defense when I was otherwise engaged or due to the time difference between Afghanistan and TAH. She was out front of the chorus of those who welcomed me home and that is something I won’t soon forget. I just found out this weekend that I got picked up to go out “one mo’ time.” It won’t be the same not being able to check in after duty hours and read her witty and snarky responses to some shitbag who got out over their skis! Even if she’s not on this plane of existence, I’m hoping her and Jonn, along with the others who have passed on like Frankie Cee can see this blog carry on and be a home away from home for “We few, we happy few” who make up this band of brothers (and sisters). RIP Ex-PH2, here’s hoping you can get some good vantage points and camera shots from Heaven.
“It won’t be the same not being able to check in after duty hours and read her witty and snarky responses to some shitbag who got out over their skis! “
We may not be able to replace the inimitable Ex PH2 (often imitated, never duplicated), but we’ll be here whenever you get the time over there. Keep in contact.
I won’t be heading out for a while, just got my preliminary WARNO. But, I definitely appreciate the sentiment.
Just don’t forget us.
Check in to let us know how you’re doing (within OpSec of course)
God Speed MustangCPT! I have myself on a 4.5 year plan and hope that I don’t have to “travel” again without “Blaster 6” ever again!
I loved it when she got into it with SPAPOS. Miss the recipes.
She “ate his lunch for him” every time!
TAHmanian She-Devil.
The world is now a lesser place. My most sincere condolences to her family and all of the staff of this blog.
Ive been lurking on the site since 2014, and she always contributed with thoughtful responses on important issues, and would shred anyone who ran afoul of the rules. She struck me that I knew her personally as well, though we had never met. My condolences to her family. Sara will be sorely missed.
May her memory be a blessing. I remember her from posts and comments on here when I was more active, and I will light a candle for her life and those she leaves behind.
God Bless and Rest in Peace!
Farewell Sara. Dreadfully sad news. RIP
Rest easy, shipmate. Imma miss ya.
This hits hard.
didn’t know Ex-PH2 that well outside of the back and forth chit chats on here, but I can’t help but feel that we shared a lot of the same likes and dislikes (we are both on here after all).
Rest in peace shipmate. Your family here all has nothing but love for you and everything you’ve done for us.
“Now, bring me that horizon.”—Capt. J. Sparrow
Rest in peace shipmate.
Fair winds and following seas, PH2
DAMMIT!…No.
This is too much.
Haven’t we lost too many good souls already….
Wow, she is going to be missed. Assuredly she knows God’s tender mercy and ultimate reward.
Rest in eternal peace, Sara…
RIP Ex. You are missed already.
I never got to know her, but did enjoy reading her comments and takes on whatever the subject matter was.
She will be missed.
EX, you were a great American. We all have missed your wit and your recipes. You leave a big hole to be filled here at This ain’t Hell.
Farewell and following seas. May angels ride your yardarm shipmate.
I have lowered my flag to half mast
Sorry it took till now to respond. Have had that feeling that I just kicked a puppy for a few days.
RIP Dear Lady.
Never had the chance to meet her, but she did bring an air class to this gang of Adorable Deplorables.
Gone from this Vale of Tears,
thru the Door we call Death.
I hope, I hope, His best for you.
See you in a while, young Lady.
I can only imagine the awesome meals the folks in Heaven are enjoying now.
Her bullshit detector was among the finest and she didn’t call out anyone unless she knew she was right.
Thank you for being you!
How bout reposting some of her articles as a tribute to her memory…??
Very sorry to hear this. I always looked forward to her posts.
“Fair winds and following seas”
Fair winds and following seas.
RIP 🇺🇸✌🏻
Remember that squirrel picture Ex-PH2 used? Well a pair of fat squirrels were just striking that pose on the handrail out front.
Oh man, now the tears are drowning me! Give them another peanut!