Another fire - another call for help

Yes, another fire has taken EVERYTHING some of our troops have. This time it is an army unit in Iraq. Excerpts from the calls for help I got:

It is ... Army and they are at FOB ****** which is somewhere in Baghdad and a pit hole to begin with....

40 guys lost EVERYTHING - I MEAN EVERYTHING - so anything is good as they have nothing. More than that lost some things due to water and smoke and all the other things that come with a fire...

It can be as small as snacks or coffee or towels or socks or t-shirts or underwear - I mean they lost everything..

...ARMY unit who had a fire in their building and they lost EVERYTHING!! I mean these kids lost their uniforms, ipods, computer, cd's, DVD's, shoes, towels, Literally everything! ...

...but it was like close to 100 soldiers who are without anything....They are all male soldiers....

I combined a few different emails to put this together - but the main point is that these guys lost EVERYTHING. If you can help with any of this - or donate money to help cover costs of the stuff that has also ready gone out via Soldiers' Angels - please email me at:

tankerbrosbrat@gmail.com

or my personal email addy if you know me well enough to have that.;) If I know you, I can give you a direct POC. If I don't know you, I'll give you the gmail addy of the person within SA who is co-ordinating this one.

Let's get THIS one done. Thank you!

HOO-frickin-AAAH!

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Looking for Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines...

Could this be you, or someone you know? From an email I got:

Currently we are looking for Airmen, Sailors Soldiers and Marines who have been
injured in OIF/OEF to be part of a team.

The mission: to promote a positive and healthy lifestyle for our nation’s heroes through multi sports. There are no sign fee’s, there are no try outs. We have three major events coming up.

The dates are August 30/31st, Sept 14th and Sept 28th.

For those interested please contact me directly for more information:

John.szczepanowski@gmail.com

I have also provided the links for the events.

http://www.24hoursoftriathlon.com/index_1.html

http://www.thenationstriathlon.com/

http://www.mountainmanevents.com/lasvegastriathlon.htm

Sounds like a GREAT idea to me. Please pass this on to anyone else you think might be interested. Thank you.

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Wednesday Hero

1st. Lt. Thomas M. Marti
27 years old from Ward, Arkansas
C Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division
October 14, 2007

An Eagle Scout, Thomas M. Martin took on cleaning up an old red train caboose as a service project. “He remodeled it to make it where people could go inside. If you saw it before and looked in it after he was through - it was daylight and dark”, said his former principal, Robert Martin, who is no relation. “Tom was involved in Key Club, German Club and band, making All-Region Band his sophomore year”, said Robert Martin. “He was a wonderful young man. Those that knew him knew he was funny and outgoing.”

Lt. Martin died in Al Busayifi, Iraq of wounds sustained from small-arms fire when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations. He enlisted in the Army in 1998 after graduating high school and served in Korea before accepting an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 2005.

“He was very polite and respectful. I can’t think of him ever overreacting; he had a wonderful, good-natured personality”, said Pat Hagge, a family friend. “It’s a terrible tragedy; he was a great young man.”

Lt. Thomas Martin is survived by his parents, Edmund and Candis.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Every Day Heroes

Meet Sergeant Ezequiel Mora:

One of the Baghdad neighborhoods covered by Sergeant Ezequiel Mora’s patrol in May of 2007 was Hurriyah, a hotbed of militia activity. While passing through Hurriyah, Mora’s four Humvee convoy was attacked. An explosively formed penetrator, the most lethal type of roadside bomb, went off just as insurgents fired on the convoy with small arms.

The EFP had caused catastrophic damage to the vehicle in the rear of the column, which had the platoon medic and convoy commander in it. He directed his vehicle to be turned around to the disabled and burning Humvee. Ignoring the heavy volume of hostile fire, he leapt out to assist the trapped soldiers. He bravely attempted to rescue the gunner of the Humvee, though temporarily overcome by smoke inhalation he recovered and joined another soldier in continuing the rescue. While doing so, he noticed the platoon’s medic on the ground, badly wounded and Mora immediately began administering first aid. Once another soldier relieved him, Mora moved to the other side of the Humvee to cover his fellow soldiers.

It was then that he noticed that the gunner from the Humvee was finally free, but was bleeding heavily from his left leg. Mora swiftly applied a tourniquet to the leg to stop the bleeding. Realizing that they were in an exposed position, Mora and another sergeant took turns carrying the wounded gunner to safety, all while under fire from the insurgents. When reinforcements arrived, Mora helped to successfully evacuate the gunner to the Green Zone for medical care.

Because of his courageous actions and steadfast determination, Sergeant Ezequiel Mora helped save the lives of several of his fellow soldiers and as a result, was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor.

[Go here to find a link to a recent ABC interview with the Sgt.]

Thank you for your service, Sergeant Mora.

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B*N*S*N1

GREAT news this week. History in the making:

Dunwoody confirmed as first female four-star

Jul 24, 2008
BY Army News Service

The appointment of Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody to her
current rank was confirmed July 23 by the U.S. Senate.
Dunwoody is the first female to serve as a four-star general
in the United States military. She has also been confirmed
for assignment as commanding general,
U S Army Materiel Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.
Photo by C. Todd Lopez

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 24, 2008) -- The U.S. Senate confirmed Wednesday the appointment of Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody to the grade of four-star general.

Dunwoody, who will be the first woman to serve as a four-star general in the U.S. military, was also confirmed for assignment as commanding general, U.S. Army Materiel Command, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Prior to her recent appointment as deputy commanding general and chief of staff of AMC, the general served as deputy chief of staff, G-4, United States Army, Washington, D.C.

Dunwoody entered the Army in 1975, and served first as a platoon leader with the 226th Maintenance Company, 100th Supply and Services Battalion, Fort Sill, Okla....

Go check out the rest of this great article here and follow a link for more pictures of an amazing soldier's career.

This surely qualifies as B*N*S*N!

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B*N*S*N2

Army commemorates 60th anniversary of Armed Forces Integration

Jul 24, 2008
BY Col. Jonathan Dahm


Fighting with the 2nd Infantry Division
north of the Chongchon River,
Sgt. 1st Class Major Cleveland, weapons
squad leader, points out a North Korean
position to his integrated machine-gun crew
Nov. 20, 1950. Photo by James Cox

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 24, 2008) -- On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, establishing the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. It was accompanied by Executive Order 9980, which created a Fair Employment Board to eliminate racial discrimination in federal employment.

Segregation in the military services did not officially end until the Secretary of Defense announced on Sept. 30, 1954 that the last all-black unit had been abolished. However, the president's directive put the armed forces at the forefront of the growing movement to win an equal social role and equal treatment for the nation's African-American citizens.

The Army began integrating units during the Korean War. Eighth Army commanders in Korea began filling losses in their white units with individuals from a surplus of black replacements arriving in Japan in late 1950. By early 1951, 9.4 percent of all African-Americans arriving in theater were serving in some 41 newly and unofficially integrated units, according to retired Army historian Morris J. MacGregor Jr. in his book, Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965 . ...

There are some really GREAT articles, and the rest of this one, here.

There is also the text of President Bush's Proclamation related to this important anniversary, (and more great articles) here.

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B*N*S*N3

Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Margaret Swanberg, of Montgomery Village,
Md., checks the pupils of Army Spc. Michael Woywood,
of San Antonio, for dilation during a military acute concussion
evaluation demonstration at Forward Operating Base Hammer,
Iraq, July 18, 2008.
U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Michael Schuch,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Margaret Swanberg is the only Army neurologist deployed to Iraq. Roadside-bomb explosions have been a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries that can vary from compression and bruising of the brain to damage to the nerves that send signals from the brain to the rest of the body.

“The fact that [the 1st Armored Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team] ended up with a neurologist was really just a matter of luck,” Swanberg said, “but it has given me the chance to evaluate soldiers in person and give the other medics and doctors guidance and training.”

Swanberg serves as the officer in charge of the Sgt. Robertson Aid Station here. Her dedication to the job benefits soldiers throughout Iraq, as she trains medics throughout the country on military acute concussion evaluation, or MACE.

For six years before her deployment, Swanberg worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., as a behavioral neurologist with patients who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The decision to deploy her came when Walter Reed leaders received a request for a doctor and reviewed their list of soldiers on deployable status. The professional filler system, which holds the names of all primary care military doctors, chose to send Swanberg because of her experience in a field that would help soldiers in Iraq.
...

Another incredible woman. Go read the rest here.

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Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Toni

1st LT. Frank B. Walkup, IV
23 years old from Woodbury, Tennessee
2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
June 16, 2007

Toni already has a great post up on her site, so I’ll just link to it.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Run for the Fallen

If it's Monday, Run for the Fallen must be in Longton, KS.

Since June 14, 2008, Flag Day, a dedicated team of runners has been running across America from Fort Irwin, CA to Arlington National Cemetery, one mile for every Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, and Marine killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. For ten weeks, team members are marking each mile with an American flag and signcard in an apolitical reflection of remembrance of each service member.

The run is a living memorial for every one of our fallen heroes. This is an opportunity for all Americans to get involved in honouring every single hero killed in the War on Terror.


On the "Run for the Fallen" site, you can track the progress of this historical event, and see when they are coming to a community in your area. There are a number of ways you can be involved. Today, the run is scheduled to be over 64 miles. At the end of each long day, the runners are laying their heads wherever locals will open their doors and take them in. If you have spare room,(even if you don't!) why not invite these intrepid runners in for the night? If that's not possible for you, check their site, and show up on the route to show your support. These runners are doing this for all of us, since not all of us can be running anywhere, let alone across the country.

If you can't be on the route to encourage our runners, you might be able to donate $$. Maybe you can plan to be in DC on August 24, when the Run for the Fallen arrives at Arlington.
Our fallen heroes, and their families have given their all. Mike Stokely, Patrick Tainsh, Eddie Jeffers, Dusty Lee, Donald May, Kory and Cooper Weins, Michael Quinn, Aaron Jagger; just a handful of the fallen heroes who are being honoured on this run.

These men and women served their country, are part of America's history. To see how YOU can help in making history, check out the "Run for the Fallen" site. I gaurantee there is some way for you to contribute. Go here to check it out.

Stay tuned for updates.

*Cross-posted from Assoluta Tranquillita
and everywhere else...lol

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Every Day Heroes

Meet Major Kim Campbell:

'I felt and heard a large explosion' Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" earned 4.7.03 while serving with 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 332rd Expeditionary Operations Group, 332rd Air Expeditionary Wing Her handle is “Killer Chick,” but the Distinguished Flying Cross that Air Force Maj. Kim Campbell was awarded involved the act of preservation, not destruction. On April 7, 2003, Campbell, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot with the 75th Fighter Squadron, helped save the lives of American troops who were pinned down by Saddam Hussein’s elite Republican Guard on the Tigris River, near the North Baghdad Bridge. Campbell also saved Iraqi lives because she refused to ditch her aircraft over the crowded capitol and eject, allowing the burning jet to crash into a city of 11 million people. And Campbell saved U.S. taxpayers the cost of replacing one “Warthog” — a 30,000 pound, multimillion-dollar twin-engine jet aircraft specifically designed for close air support, one of the most in-demand missions in Iraq and Afghanistan to this day. Early that gray and windy morning in Iraq, Campbell and her flight lead, squadron commander Lt. Col. Rick Turner, were waiting their turn in the “CAS stack,” the name Air Force fighter pilots give for the circles they fly while waiting to be called to perform close-air-support missions. Campbell and Turner had flown their two-ship formation to Baghdad from Al Jabr Air Base in Kuwait, stopping just long enough on the way for their Warthogs to sip a load of fuel from the refueling tankers playing the role of flying gas stations, she said. When the call came over the radio that U.S. troops at the bridge needed help, Turner, as flight lead, knifed the nose of his A-10 downward and dived through the dense clouds, calling for Campbell — a captain at the time — to follow. The pair immediately spotted the fighting at the bridge. They began to respond in a square dance of mayhem, taking turns letting loose with the Warthog’s 30 mm cannons and explosive rockets. When it was her turn to make her final pass, Campbell dropped in from south to north, left hand pushing the throttle all the way forward to give the aircraft maximum power. As she rolled in on her target, and adjusted her position using the joystick in her right hand, Campbell’s thumb slipped over the “pickle button” at the top of the stick. A split-second before the Warthog hit the target her thumb pushed the button, and the rocket spat from the plane with a bright flash of flight....

Go read the rest here. Wow! Thank you for your service, Major Campbell.

*Brat note: I first posted this on Tanker Bros back in April, 2008, but I think she is so awesome, wanted to share her story here. :)

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B*N*S*N1

COPY CAT - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johnathan R. Segovia, personnel security detail, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, a ground combat element attached to Multinational Force - West, relaxes with Iraqi children in Sha-ban, Iraq, July 9, 2008. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Taylor J. Schulz (here)

Because sometimes the picture tells the story.

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B*N*S*N2

IRAQI SMILE - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kristy Vanlanen holds an Iraqi child at the
Civil Military Operations Center at Forward Operating Base Hawk, Iraq, July 13,
2008. Vanlanen is assigned to the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, 4th Infantry
Division. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez (defenselink pic)

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B*N*S*N3

July 17, 2008

Civil Military Operations Center Opens in Gamsir

Cpl. Randall A. Clinton, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit

At a forward outpost in Garmsir, a line of Afghans wait to talk with Marines at the newly opened Civil Military Operations Center; they have come to voice their claims and receive cash payments for losses incurred while Marines battled insurgents.

Flown over a sparsely decorated tent, three flags representing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan flap in the wind, showing the people that this is not just a Marine Corps or American program. This is their government responding. The cash payments are in Afghan currency -- the people see the difference and welcome the Marine presence.

"You guys are different" the locals tell Master Gunnery Sgt. John Garth, civil affairs chief, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is operating with NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

"(The Afghans) know we come in with overwhelming force and might, but we also come in with compassion," he said....

Read the rest here.

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Wednesday Hero

Spc. Kisha Makerney
23 years old from Fort Towson, Oklahoma
120th Engineers, Oklahoma Army National Guard

Spc. Kisha Mackerney isn’t being profiled today because of something she did on the battlefield. She’s being profiled because her spirit and determination. In 2002, Makerney joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard out of a sense of patriotism, because, as she put it, “I love our country and our people.” Between 2004 and 2005, she served in Iraq as a gunner and helped provide battalion security. She returned home in early 2005 and was in a terrible motorcycle accident on June 25, 2005. The front wheel of her brand new bike had blown out and sent her flying into a highway sign. She looked up at her now mangled bike and was angry. That’s when she noticed that her left leg below the knee was missing. The first thing she thought of when she saw her leg was that her military career was over.

Makerney pulled herself out of the ditch that she had landed in and was able to flag down a passing motorist. She was taken to a hospital in Hugo, Oklahoma before being flown to Dallas, Texas.

As soon as word spread about her accident, her fellow soldiers, her second family, rallied and rushed to her bedside. “Even before I was out of surgery they were waiting in the halls,” she said.

Continue reading Spc. Kisha Makerney’s story here. There are some despicable comments by a few readers on the story. Just ignore them.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.

Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes,

They Just Don’t Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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Every Day Heroes

Meet Lieutenant Scott H Sparrow:

Scott Sparrow With improvised explosive devices claiming more lives than any other weapon in Operation Iraqi Freedom, few assignments were more mission critical than the road clearance patrols performed in large part by Army engineers. Second Lieutenant Scott Sparrow of the United States Army was a platoon leader with Bravo Company, Task Force 321 Engineers, in Iraq. His engineering battalion served in support of several units in the area, including the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. From September of 2006 through September of 2007, Sparrow led on over 200 missions to clear and secure the treacherous, but essential, roads near al Ramadi. Those central desert roads saw some of the highest volumes of IED attacks in all of Iraq. During the course of these arduous missions, his platoon cleared over 160 improvised explosive devices – weapons that would have killed and maimed indiscriminately. The danger of these patrols was confirmed when vehicles in their platoon were hit over 15 times by IEDs, in addition to coming under numerous small arms and rocket attacks. On one notable mission in the Lake TharThar region his unit cleared over 12 hidden weapons caches that had the components necessary to build a staggering 200 IEDs. Another startling find in the caches, was the presence of anti-air systems that would have posed a grave threat to the countless Coalition aircraft. Sparrow and his platoon’s efforts contributed greatly to the stability of the area around Al Ramadi. Sparrow’s leadership, courage, and attention to detail made this effort possible. His actions have left a tremendous legacy behind him, a legacy that was cemented by follow-up safety operations that established four combat outposts. These outposts allowed for improved security in the region, due in no small part to Sparrow’s clearance patrols. For these reasons he was awarded the fourth highest honor in the United States military, the Bronze Star.

For more on this hero, go here.

Thank you for your service, Lieutenant Sparrow!

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Billboards for Troops Across the Country Help Make the Difference!

Billboards for Troops Across the Country Help Make the Difference!

July 12, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Digital billboards and videos are popping up on highways and in airports in most major cities from New York to LA! They are being created by Operation Never Forgotten (ONF), a non-profit/non-partisan mass media campaign service supporting our deployed service members, fallen heroes, wounded warriors, veterans and military families. ONF reminds America of the commitments and sacrifices made for our privileges and freedoms....

To read more on this, go to NewsBlaze here.

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Marine Parents United Celebrate Freedom in Chantilly VA, Open Invitations

Marine Parents United fifth annual Conference July 25-27 2008 in Chantilly VA takes a lesson in the Martial Arts Program, a night vision program and puts that learning experience to the ISMAT. These parents also brave the perils of shopping at the PX, get their adrenaline pumped, and sharpen those shooting skills in preparation for their annual Marine Experience.

For more information on this event, check out NewsBlaze here.

OORAH!

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Good News Friday(B*N*S*N)1

Last year, a bunch of milbloggers agreed that on Fridays we would each post only GOOD NEWS STORIES! Yes, there is good news every day of the week - as we all know - but we figured that at least one day a week, we would highlight the great progress being made in the sandbox.

So the tradition began, and there is only one problem with it. I always have trouble limiting myself - always lots of good news stories that the msm has missed....lol.

Laurie has agreed that this site will also be a part of the Good News Friday tradition. (And no, being a "G" rated site, I cannot tell you what the B*N*S*N stands for ;) Let's just say the first word is "Brat's" and the last word is "News". Read on:

US Army photo

RAMADI — A middle-aged Iraqi woman, widowed and a mother of two young children, walks into a cream-colored concrete classroom filled with women of all ages. The woman, draped in a black abaya, sits down in a wooden desk-chair and gazes at the instructor with a look of determination and conviction. She knows, along with the other women in the classroom, she must learn to read and write if she is going to continue to support and properly care for her two children and has taken the initial steps in bettering her family and herself. Women’s Literacy Program classes are held daily at four locations in the city of Ramadi, and are designed to teach illiterate women how to read and write Arabic, while also teaching more educated women the fundamentals of English. The program is divided into three levels, said Falah Daud Suleiman, an Iraqi instructor at one of the programs. The first level is for people who don’t know how to read or write. The second level is for those who know how to read and write, but require additional teaching so they can become proficient. The third level is for those who are proficient in the Arabic language but desire to learn English....(read more here)

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B*N*S*N2

The Zawra Park public swimming pool in central Baghdad
reopens, July 5, 2008. The park recently went through a
thorough revitalization with the help of
Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from the
101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jason Thompson, Multinational Division Baghdad

Baghdad Pool re-opens after refurbishment ...“This is a great day for the citizens of Baghdad,” Salah Abou El Lail, Zawra Park director, said. “This pool will be a great and enjoyable destination for many Baghdad families. Families already enjoy visiting the park and the zoo here, and the pool will be fun for everyone.” The project to refurbish the swimming pool complex began more than four months ago and cost almost $500,000 to complete. ...(read more here)

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B*N*S*N3

Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, left, commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, and Iraq's defense minister, Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji, sign documents transfering ownership of 11 Cessnas from U.S. forces to the Iraqi air force during a ceremony July 9, 2008, at New al Muthana Air Base in Baghdad. Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael J Carden.

BAGHDAD — U.S. forces transferred ownership of 11 aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force July 9, during a ceremony at New Al Muthana Air Base.

Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, signed over eight Cessna 172s and three Cessna Caravan 208s worth more than $9 million to Iraqi Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Brooks L. Bash said the aircraft would be part of the Iraqi Air Force's training program at Kirkuk Air Base in northern Iraq. Similar to the way the U.S. Air Force conducts its own training, the smaller Cessna 172 is the initial aircraft Iraqi pilots will learn to fly, while the Cessna Caravan 208 is the more advanced, graduated version, the commander of coalition air force training in Iraq added..... (read more here)

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Verbatim: Afghan "'terps"

There are many stories from both Afghanistan and Iraq that the msm will never share. In Afghanistan - as elsewhere - brave locals work with our troops, often as interpreters. As elsewhere, these 'terps risk their lives daily because they are invested in their families' futures. What follows is in the Afghans' own words. It was sent to me via a US Major, who wants these voices to be heard; so do I. This IS the Afghan 'terps: VERBATIM. Read on:

US ETTs, Afghan Interpreters and Afghan Army working as one team in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

It has been long time that we (E.T.Ts Terps) are thinking of writing an article about the things happening in Afghanistan. We were looking for a newspaper in the USA in which we could publish our article, but we didn’t have any contact with the newspapers in the USA and as a result we couldn’t publish our article.

We wanted to tell the people living out side Afghanistan that what is happening in our beloved country. We wanted to tell the people of our joint efforts made by the Embedded Training Team (E.T.Ts), Afghan National Army(ANA) and the Terps (Linguists). When speaking about Afghanistan, we know the first thing the people
think is fighting, killing, suicide attacks and destruction and explosion of our educational institutions like Schools, Colleges or Universities. The fact is that there also good things happening in our country....

Read the rest here.

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Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Kenneth J. Schall
22 years old from Peoria, Arizona
2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division
May 22, 2005

“It was very tough not to be touched by him in some way,” said Terri Schall, Sgt. Kenneth Schall’s mother.

Kenneth Schall was enrolled at Glendale Community College and was studying to become a history teacher when the country was attacked on September 11, 2001. The event spurred him to join the Army. He served a four and a half month tour in Iraq in 2004 and returned in February of 2005.

Terri Schall last spoke to her son on Mother’s Day in 2005. “He sounded great — tired — but he said he was doing OK”, she said. Sgt. Kenneth Schall died when the Humvee he was riding in was involved in an accident in Yusafiyah, Iraq.

Along with his mother, Sgt. Schall is survived by his father and two younger siblings.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

–
Indian Chris
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://hooahwife.com
Wednesday Hero - Google It

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The SA warehouses are empty :(

The Soldiers’ Angels warehouses in NC & CA are empty! :(

Please be aware that both warehouses send out MUCH needed items to the soldiers (male & female), wounded service members and all those in need.

If you can't afford to buy AND ship, there is an alternative:

Walmart or Target cards would be wonderful!! Send the cards, allowing those in charge of the NC/CA warehouses to buy things needed.

OR IF YOU CHOOSE TO SHIP:

Things that are needed are socks, panties, bras, t-shirts, powdered drink mixes (the individual packets are best because they can be added to a bottle of water), cookies, Chips, Pretzels, Tuna in a pouch, Beef or chicken or turkey jerky, Cheese spread (no aerosol cans please), Ramen Noodles, Snack Cakes, Gum, Nuts, Granola Bars, Pop Tarts, Dried Fruit, Trail Mix, Pistachios, Raisins , Red licorice twists, Tootsie Rolls (both the candy and lollipops), Peanut Butter, Triscuits, Wheat Thins, Canned Meats – No Pork Products, Hard Candy – Individually Wrapped Face Cleansing Pads, Moisturizers, Wet wipes, Eye Drops, Lip Balm, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Soap, Body Wash, Shampoo and Conditioners, Deodorant, Sun Block, Foot powder, AA & AAA batteries, Craft kits, Scrap booking crafts, Books (mysteries, action, drama and science fiction are popular), Magazines – new or nearly new - (Sports, News, Entertainment, Travel, Nature), Decks of cards, Small hand held games, Crossword Puzzles, Baseballs, Baseball gloves, Soccer balls, Basket balls, Volley balls, Squirt guns, Frisbees, CD's, DVD's, Blank Cards, Stationary, Paper, Pens, Letters……..

Please keep in mind that all food items must be in the manufacturer’s original packaging. NO chocolate ~ 110 degree heat and chocolate do not mix well. M&M’s are fine.

We also need Ziploc bags for packing items; these are great not only to make sure that potentially leaky items don’t make a mess but also for the soldiers to keep sand out of their things while in the desert.

IF you can help in any way, these are the following addresses:

Soldiers' Angels
112 Greenhill Road
Ramseur, NC 27316

or

Soldiers' Angels
914 Tourmaline Dr
Newbury Park, CA 91104

THANK YOU!

Brat

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Every Day Heroes

Meet Gladys Power, 109 years strong!:

Gladys Power, at 109 years old, is the last known woman who served in the First World War. She salutes all the troops overseas. At 109 years old Gladys Power is the last known woman who served during the First World War Abbotsford, British Columbia – At age109 Gladys Power is a remarkable lady. With the First World war raging in Europe, everyone wanted to lend a hand and Gladys Power was no different. Fifteen years old and living in England in the summer of 1915, she lied about her age and signed up with the Women´s Auxiliary Army. At the time both men and women had to be at least 17 before they could join the Army. She later transferred to the Women´s Auxiliary Air Force. She remembers getting issued her uniform, a khaki dress, shoes and a hat. Her training consisted of learning the basic Army rules along with lots of drill. They would march with the men for two hours a day. During the war women were employed to look after soldiers needs, from cooking to cleaning to doing laundry. For five years Gladys worked as a barrack waitress. She survived bombs dropped by German Zeppelin airships and remembers the food shortage at the end of the war. Cyril Stokes, her only brother, was living in Australia when the war broke out, and he too joined up to fight. After being injured and suffering from shell shock, he was sent back to England to recover from his wounds. Gladys visited her brother in hospital, and that is where she met her first husband, Edward Luxford, a young Canadian soldier. In 1920 they were married and Gladys came to Canada as a war bride. A proud and sometimes stubborn lady, Gladys has seen many things during her 109 years. When asked during our interview if she would like to take a rest or a break she said, "Hell no." Gladys hopes "that all the boys and girls serving in Afghanistan stay safe." Article by Sergeant Dan Milburn, Army News, Edmonton Photos By MasterCorporal Dan Noiseux. (source)

Now, that's inspiring! Thank YOU for your service.

Brat

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"I pray people stop and think..."

Those words are part of an interview a Gold Star Mother gave to her local paper and that is published today. THIS picture is of her son, Josh Rodgers. CWO2 Rodgers was killed in Afghanistan May 30, 2007.

I have been aware of this family for quite some time as my friend Don goes every Friday to do a 2 mile Red Shirt Friday Walk to honour Josh's memory. Yes, the brat is on the walk by virtue of a picture of me that Don has attached to one of his flags that he flies proudly. We agreed that Don would do this, so that all of Josh's family knows they have prayers and support from outside America. It is important to me.

Today, especially, I ask you to go read about, and meet, this amazing family. You can find this family on the Nevada Appeal site here. Then, as you go about your July 4th celebrations, take a minute - or more - and reflect on ALL the amazing American families, both throughout history and in our times, who are paying the price of service. They deserve that, at the very least.

Standing are Andrew Candia, David Paul Candia, Michael Scott McElfish, Debbie and Ben Walker, Matthew McElfish, Dawn Michel, Mike McElfish and Ryan McElfish. Sitting are Susie McElfish, Lindsey McElfish, Linda Moshier and 2-and-a-half-year-old Emily Candia at Eastside Memorial Park on June 26. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Robert Rodgers is buried at the Minden cemetery. He died in Afghanistan on May 30, 2007.

Shannon Litz/Nevada Appeal News Service

Brat

Cross-posted at NewsBlaze, Assoluta Tranquillita, Tanker Bros and MBVD! (Because I think it is THAT important that we honour our troops and their families)!

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Wednesday Hero

Cpl. Julie MartinezClick Image For Full size

Lance Cpl. Julie Martinez, a radio operator with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks the communication capabilities during a backload of Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 3 to the USS Essex June 9.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams. Those Who Say That We’re In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don’t Know Where To Look

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–
Indian Chris
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://hooahwife.com
Wednesday Hero - Google It

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