Austin Decker – United States Marine

This is Austin Decker.

He is a United States Marine.

He is currently stationed in Kaneohe, Hawaii…….

Austin is originally from Kingston, N.Y.

I first met Austin about 7 years ago at a little league field in my neighborhood.

He was at the little league field cheering on his little brother who was teammates with my son.

At the time, Austin was only 14 years old.

Austin was always well mannered and friendly. He carried himself as a fine young man. He always looked strong and confident.

For all of the years that Austin’s brother, Chris, was on the team with my son, Brad…we got to know Austin and spoke to him quite a bit.. Austin was always so nice to my family.

It was for about about 5 or 6 little league seasons that my family and I spent time with Austin.

We learned a lot about him during that time.

He was a boy scout. He enjoyed scouting. He worked hard at being a good scout. He worked so hard, that he earned his “Eagle Scout Award” ~ Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program.~  I remember being so proud of Austin when he earned that great and distinguished achievement.

His Eagle Scout project :::Austin built a walkway in a  grotto (religious shrine) at a local church. It turned out so nice. It was a perfect project.. He worked hard to get that project done and ultimately became an “Eagle” as result …(in addition to all of the merit badges that he earned ).

Eventually, Austin’s brother, Chris, did not play baseball anymore and we stopped seeing Austin and his family at the “field” during the summer.

But, as it turns out, I started seeing Austin at a different place.

He had a job at a very popular Farm to Market grocery store in our area…(Adam’s Fairacre Farms)…. It was so nice to see Austin there. He was always working hard when I saw him. It was obvious he was a responsible employee with a strong work ethic. He was also friendly and well liked. I always saw other customers and employees swarming around Austin. He was a popular guy.

Here is some more info about Austin.

He graduated from high school in 2011.

He went on to study environmental sciences at a local community college… as he also worked at the grocery store.

I will never forget walking through “Adams” grocery store and hearing  “Hi, Mrs. Hack”… I would turn around and see that handsome, young face, a flat top haircut, perfect white teeth, and a warm smile.

This one day in particular, Austin made a point to stop me while I was shopping to tell me his big news.

He said “I have been working hard to get in good shape. I am leaving soon for boot camp. I’m going to be in the Marines.”… He went on to tell me the exact number of days remaining until he leaves for Parris Island…

Parris Island is located in South Carolina.

I saw Austin, at the store, a few more times before he left for boot camp. Each time.. he knew the exact number of days until he departed for boot camp.

The scheduled day was January 7, 2013.

He looked ready. He really did….. I could see that transformation in him already. He was almost 20 years old, he was extremely  fit, and he was serious.. He had that gleam in his eyes..  I felt his excitement .

The young man I once knew, started looking like a grown man.

Since I knew he was leaving, I made sure to find him on Facebook and “friend” him. Austin was a person I knew I wanted to keep in touch with him. So proud and so excited for him at the same time.

Here is his Facebook post from January 6, 2013..

With a new year comes a new adventure. Tomorrow, I will take the first step of my journey. Thank you to everyone who has helped me in any way thus far. I thank my parents for helping raise me into the young man I am today. To my friends and family.. Goodbye and I love you guys. Tomorrow I start my quest to earn that title of UNITED STATES MARINE and a quest to my own life as an adult.

Austin is following in the footsteps of his own father, Mike, who is also a United States Marine.

I also want to add that Austin was “the man of the house” for several months during his late teens.. He took care if his mom and brother as he was the oldest boy in the house …

You see, his Dad was away in Iraq…for a long time….. With the Marines.. When someone you know personally has a loved one… away , overseas , in the military .. It “hits home”. I thought of Austin and his mom and his brother a lot during those times. Here is Austin’s Facebook post on a very special day ..

Austin’s parents, Kim and Mike, are great parents and I know they are so proud of Austin.

Austin has always been active. Besides “Scouting”, he also enjoys going fishing and hunting, snowboarding, and watching ice hockey.

Austin showed up and was ready for boot camp. From January 6th, 2013 to April 7th, 2013… There were no Facebook posts from Austin. Nothing….

He was in boot camp… probably pushing himself to his limits at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot / Parris Island.

Suddenly,… on April 7th, 2013… BAM !!…. Austin was back “online”, again..

Here is his facebook post…

YESSS !! Go Austin !!!

After he was finished at Parris Island, Austin eventually made his way to a Marine Corp base in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

He went through training and is now a Military Police Officer (MP).

Exactly 1 year after he showed up at Parris Island .. Exactly 1 year after his first day for boot camp…..Austin wrote the following post on his Facebook wall.. January 7, 2014..

Well, time has flown by, it seems. A year ago, January 7, 2013, I left my family, friends and the civilian world to begin my journey and become a United States Marine. Today, I am proud to do what I do and serve my nation and it’s people. It’s an honor to be part of this brotherhood. Greater than words can describe. Today ,and later in life, I can say that I will never regret this decision and I am thankful for everything that I have. Finally, a special thank you to my family and especially my father, Michael J. Decker, for serving (as a Marine) and helping me through the process. Being there through it all… I feel honored to wear the same uniform and Eagle Globe and Anchor he does. “I love you Dad, Semper Fidelis !!”

If that post, alone, doesn’t prove what an amazing man Austin has turned into, I don’t know what does…!

Oh, and another thing.. Just the other day, he got “promoted” .. He got a new stripe..

Today, Austin and I were having a conversation via Facebook Inboxing..

I told him that I wanted to write a story about him in “BEING HACK”..

He thought it was a cool idea.

Here are some of the questions I asked him..

What do you miss the most about being home in N.Y.?

Let’s see… I miss my family…. And… believe it or not… I miss the snow (LOL),… and I miss going hunting.

What is it that makes you happy/proud about being a Marine and being in Hawaii?

Being a Marine, I am proud to be able to give back to my country.

Being an MP, (Military Police) I like to make a difference.

I like Hawaii. It’s nice, except, when it rains..

When it rains, it pours… Literally….

I went on to tell Austin that I think of him whenever I go shopping at “Adams”.

I also told him that I run into his parents and brother around town.

He said..

Oh good.. I miss them all.

Another question I asked..

Do you ever have fun… “down time”…with friends?

Yes,..I have down time. My friends and I  go to the beach, hike, and go out every now and then.

Austin has been able to come back home to N.Y. twice since he has been a United States Marine.

Once, in April 2013, right after boot camp.

Once, in August 2013, right before he went to Hawaii.

He is hoping to come back home to NY, again, for a visit this coming July.

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I want to say THANK YOU, AUSTIN, for serving our country.

I speak for many people ..

I look forward to watching you continue to grow and live your life as a Marine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this video. It’s a (Facebook) overview of Austin and all of the things that I just wrote about…..(click on the the center of the video to start it)..

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=502014706583825

I love the “thumbs up” at the end of the video !!.. Even Facebook thinks Austin is awesome !!

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