Hi again everyone,

For anyone that would like to see a picture of Ray that I mentioned in the last blog - you can click on the comment link that is under that blog and a picture of Ray will come up. Thank you Bob for helping me with that :) You rock! I am sure that everyone will enjoy the picture.
posted by Ray at 12:51 AM

Hi everyone,
I am sorry I haven't updated in a while but I have been busy with school and work.
Ray is currently getting on the U.S.S. Ashland and going to a base where he will be working with the other Marines on Civil Affairs. He says that rumors have been indicating that they may be able to come back sooner than later. I know that he was concerned about going to many of our graduations and so I will let all the graduates know if he will be coming back in time. If all is good, he may come back right around June.
Ray was featured in a weekly newsletter his parents have been getting - here is what it had to say:

Team 3: Cpl Cheung

Corporal Raymond K. Cheung was born in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Literature and Culture. He continued his education at George Washington University where he is pursuing a masters degree in Crisis, Emergency, & Risk Management.
Corporal Cheung joined the Marine Corps in June 1998, and became a qualified field radio operator and HMMWV driver. He was promoted to the rank of corporal in October 2001 and joined the 4th CAG in September 2002. Over the past week Corporal Cheung has distinguished himself by maintaining his training, while being tasked with a number of collateral duties. He is an outstanding Marine and a valuable asset to Team 3.

I will try to get the picture of him up on the blog as soon as I figure out how to do it. :)
Unfortunately Ray has informed me that communication with him will be even more limited now that he is getting off the Ashland. Hopefully the newsletters will keep coming and I can let you know the important things that are on it. You will all be happy to know that he has been writing the main article on it :) We should be very proud of our Ray.

Here is the latest article he wrote:

4th CAG's fourth week at sea was a period of transitions. Again, training occupied most of the time for the Marines, but several instances of new experiences were interspersed throughout the week.
The transiting of the Suez Canal was yet another first for many Marines. As the USS Ashland made its way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, one could see the deserts and villas of Egypt just a few yards away. On the top deck of the ship, Marines and Sailors gazed through binoculars at Egyptian soldiers manning shore side bunkers looking back at them through their own binoculars.
When it entered the Red Sea, the USS Ashland fell under the authority of the U.S. Central Command. As that happened the Marines shed their woodland camouflage utilities and donned desert camouflage. Although missing the usual nametapes indicating service and name, Marine emblems were ironed on to distinguish the Marines from other services. The desert utilities are almost identical to the woodlands with the exception of the collars, which are much wider and larger, supposedly to keep out the desert sand.
After so many weeks and days, some mail finally made it to 4th CAG.
Large postal bags were brought in via helicopter and distributed among the CAG. Although some Marines have not yet received the mail they were expecting, it is hoped that the rest will arrive soon. Rest assured, mail has arrived with various destination addresses, so any of the ones given out thus far will all work.
Of course, training occupied much the time aboard ship. This week, CAG concentrated on adjusting their sights on their M16A2, as well as helicopter operations, desert survival, and nuclear, biological, and chemical training. Again, review of previous material reinforced and built up the comprehensive knowledge base needed for the Marines to be successful in accomplishing their mission.
Secretary of State Colin Powell�s speech to the United Nations was watched closely. As the Marine Forces Reserve motto says, 4th CAG is �ready, willing, and able� to conduct civil-military operations and serve their country proudly if so called.


Hope that this was helpful to all of you who are interested in Ray's whereabouts.

- Val



posted by Ray at 4:02 PM

Our prayers are with the astronauts of the Space Shuttle Columbia

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds,--and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless falls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, nor eer eagle flew--
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high, untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.



- John G. Magee


posted by Ray at 5:36 PM