About Daddy  

My daddy, Joe, was born 44 minutes after my Uncle Jeff in Lansing, Michigan. He attended Catholic school and then graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1990. He attended Lansing Community College to study Electronics, Photography, and Broadcasting. In June 1994, he moved to Belleville, Michigan as he accepted a job with Perot Systems Corporation. He was the computer guy for Hayes-Wheel Corporate staff and the H-W Romulus Plant. He then moved to support the Kelsey-Hayes Corporate Staff headquartered in Livonia, Michigan in the old Hummer Corporate building. Daddy then took on responsibility for the Kelsey-Hayes Tech Center facility and the Research & Development Center. In November 1996, he started working for First Chicago/National Bank of Detroit FCNBD (aka Bank One) in their Tech Center facility in Belleville. Daddy accepted a position in July 1997 with Michigan National Bank Headquarters located in Farmington Hills. In September, daddy got transferred to the Lansing Bank Operations Center. This was the chance we were looking for to move back to the Lansing area. In 2001, MNB was violently taken over by Standard Federal Bank. They doubled the number of branches but didn't think they needed the infrastructure to support their computer systems. The result was 200+ extremely talented and loyal computer people were laid off. After being laid off or as they say "streamlined", daddy worked as a private computer consultant to companies like Wal-Mart, Federal Mogul, and Northwest Airlines. He worked on behalf of IBM and Dell. My daddy joined the Michigan Army National Guard in November 2002.

When daddy got the call in December 2003 to represent the Michigan Army National Guard in Iraq -- he, of course, said yes. He answered the call. My daddy and I love this Country and believe that every American should stand up for what they believe in. They also need to help make this Country safe and take responsibility to empower those around us that are less than responsible. That may be donating to a charity, holding a public office, or volunteering to Serve OUR Country in one of the components of the Armed Services. Daddy and I support the military 100%.

I'm extremely proud of my daddy and what he's done for me. Daddy sacrificed for our Country and I sacrificed not being able to see my daddy while he was serving. I understand what daddy was doing and what a great role model he is for myself, my cousins, and my friends. I know that "some kids aren't lucky enough to have a dad like" my daddy. Some people, like the FOC, think that the bond between my daddy and I have been broken since he was in Iraq. They think it's more important for me to be with the mom that walked out on me and her current husband. They think the bond between my current step-dad is more important that the bonds that daddy and I have built over the past 10 years. I don't think my daddy abandoned me by choosing to go to Iraq. I'm proud that my daddy went to serve our Country and to keep us safe from terrorists. Daddy is securing my future. My daddy loves me so much, that he was willing to lay down his life for me, our family, our friends, and other fellow Americans that we'll never meet. My daddy has passed the ultimate test of showing how much love he has for me. How my mom and her slick lawyer can take advantage of daddy while he was off protecting is beyond me.