Sound Off!!
Feedback from our Viewers
| Welcome to Sound Off where our viewers can post their opinions, ask questions, submit images, or respond to other posts. Veterans Network does not necessarily concur or agree with any or all posts. |
Email us at info@veteransnetwork.org
or use our contact
form to Sound Off !!
| | Sent: Here is the Truth.
Tom from Sacrament Ca.
| | | | [Viewer Response] so whats the story with DVNF they just said on CNNN that this group as are others in the USA are scammers and frauds who take donations 80 percent and use it on themselves and even though this group says in their adds that they send many shipments of much needed stuff to vetran and disables vet hospitals, the hospitals are saying that all they get are bags of junk that they dont need like 1000 bags of coconut m@ms and 100 chef aprons..... I know if Iam going to donate money to vet organizations, ill go directally to the hospital themselves and not through these fraudulant companies | | [Viewer Response] We need a civil war to stop congress from ripping off veterans who are homeless because of them.they have made employers pay enemployment for each of us for years,and us pay fed. income tax.when congress caused this in the first place. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/11/010
From M and E of Lockwoodvalley Ca.
Pass this on folks
http://www.thewarriorsong.com/video.html | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/14/010 3:30 pm
Canoga Park, Ca. RC.
To those of you that may have good car or a small pick up in good working order we have a veteran that really needs transpo. urgently! ! You may donate it to Veterans Network.org and recieve a tax credit for it.
Thank you. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 11/20/09 2:30 pm
RC Frazier Park Ca.
So this clunker of a house is still working on the Act.
What is taking so long?
Does this Act included
"Blue Water and Air Flights" over Vietnam as presumed exposure.
John, Navy
Yes it does included "flights over" and "blue water"..
but congress spends to much time on trivial legislation like should we spend
two thousand dollars on the out house behind the veterans tennis court in
Sebomook Me
TCH Col. Ret. USF | | comments |
| | | Sent: From JC, Natick Mass.
09/01/09 8:00 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL-0mdEg0U4&feature=related | | comments |
| | | Sent: set by a good friend, take a look.
08/29/09 Milford Conn.
If this does not launch cut and paste up in your "Nav" Bar.
http:///bit.ly/Zy3xz
| | comments |
| | | Sent: name: Noel Reyes
phone: 817-948-3632
email: reyescorp@yahoo.com
branch: Army
mailing list: N
comments: Following is information that I have send The VA in Waco, Texas
and my Congressman. I have been Diagnosed many years ago with jungle rot
and tinnitus, I have seen a private doctor and also have been sent the
Dallas VA, where they also agree on the Jungle rot and tinnitus but they
say I did get this in VietnamI am running out of options please tell me
what I can do.
Thank You Very Much,
Noel Reyes
July 28, 2009
Congressman Joe Barton:
This letter is in reference to an incident at the office of Honorable Joe
Barton, on July 27, 2009. In a recent visit your office, I stopped by to
discuss an open claim with anticipation of obtaining some help - with a
matter relating to veterans benefits.
I arrived with a friend, Mr. Michael Martinez. After the visit with the
congressional staffer, I was embarrassed with the treatment I received.
Mr. Martinez also made a comment – “what treatment of a constituent!” and
disabled veteran. Needless to say I am very disappointed.
The congressional staffer said that they were very busy. As there was
not a soul was seated in the waiting room – I thought it was odd – I was
being brushed off.
She said the congressional office did not provide assistance to
constituents with their claims, but to merely assemble paperwork and
forward it, with out reading or reviewing it – yet she sated they were
busy “working a case” – so to me it didn’t make sense.
I did not have an appointment the day I arrived, and since she indicated
they were so busy, I asked if I could make an appointment to see Miss.
Rollins, and the staffer replied “NO”.
I am shocked and dismayed on how that congressional staff office works.
Documentation cut and pasted (see below), from the honorable congressman’s
website clearly states how his congressional office is available to his
constituency for matters in assisting “in dealings with a federal
agencies.”
I am a Vietnam Veteran that has been trying to get disability for service
related concerns for a few years, and the “red taped” discussed above now
appears to be a practice at this regional office.
I would appreciate the opportunity to have a discussion with a
congressional staffer dedicated to helping me and willing to listen to my
case to ensure my case is treated fairly and expeditiously based on
evidence presented.
Help with Federal Agencies
Information including FAQs and contact information for those who need
further assistance in their dealings with a federal agency or office. One
of the most important services we provide is assisting when you are having
trouble cutting through the red tape of the federal government. Although
we cannot order an agency to decide a matter in your favor, we can ensure
that your case is treated fairly and expeditiously. The staff in my
district offices are dedicated to helping you with matters relating to
federal entitlements, federal pensions, immigration problems, military
benefits, Social Security claims, veterans benefits, and other matters.
Before we can help you, we need your permission to look into your case.
Please print and fill out this release form . Once you have signed the
form, please fax a copy and mail the original to my Arlington office .
Note, no inquiries can be made without your written consent.
Veterans
Problems with veterans benefits, eligibility determinations, VA home
loans, and replacements of medals earned
Sincerely,
Noel Reyes
To whom it may concern:
This letter is in reply to the letter from the VA where my claim for
tinnitus and jungle rot was denied.
The information was put together to show that my tinnitus and jungle rot
happened in Vietnam and not in the states.
I do not content that my tinnitus was cause by military noise, look at the
factual circumstances stated below. In all the letters that I have written
and all the technicians, examiners and or doctors that I have seen, I have
never changed my contention. There is no evidence that shows that I had
jungle rot or tinnitus when I went to VIETNAM.
MILITARY SERVICE:
FACT: My DD214 indicates an honorable discharge from the Military
FACT: According to my DD214 my MOS is 11B = infantry
FACT: According to Military records I was in Vietnam in 1970
FACT: As I mentioned before, I carried the M-60 for 91/2 months with a
decibel of 160, every body else carried the M-16 rifle with a decibel
level of 157. Each one of us carried one M72, a claymore mine for the
perimeter , two hand grenades and a flare for the NDP(night defense
position) I handled the claymore mines and hand grenade a few times.
FACT: According to my medals (Combat infantry badge, Army commendation,
air medals etc.) I was in combat. We also did not get a medal for every
firefight. We used real weapons as mentioned below. It was a real war –
58,196 of us died in Vietnam and there were a lot of casualties.
FACT: I was in the 1/12 Calvary Infantry airmobile division, this means
that we were transported by Huey Helicopter to and out of the jungle.
FACT: The Huey had two M-60 machine guns, one on either side, they would
fire them when we landed on the LZ (landing zone) and when we left the LZ.
FACT: I was in different Fire support bases while in Vietnam.
FACT: At the firebases we had 105 MM Howitzer and mortars to support the
ground troops in the jungle. When we were at the base we slept about 20
feet away from the artillery and mortars. The 105’s were fired all night
into the jungle; they called it, to harass the enemy.
FACT: The Huey Helicopter had two M-60 machine guns, one on either side,
they would fire into the jungle for recon when we landed on the LZ
(landing zone) and when we left the LZ.
NOISE LEVELS – DECIBALS - I cannot attach the information, but it can all
be found in the internet.
M-60 -------------------160
M-16 -------------------157
105MM Howitzer----------183
M72A3 ------------------182
Mortar -----------------185
Huey -------------------102.9
Hand grenade -----------64.3
We were not required to wear or were issued any kind of noise protection
of any kind while serving in Vietnam….
NON-MILITARY: History during and after college.
I started college around 1972 to 1975 associates 1975to 1978 B.S. After
College I have worked in offices.
I am not in agreement with the VA decision regarding my case.
I’m requesting a re-evaluation into my, “currently open” case and at this
point, I am frustrated with their findings.
All available scientific evidence indicates, hearing loss is evident with
“service connected” activity during my tour of duty in Viet Nam.
I am enclosing this documentation for your evaluation and will be happy to
discuss this evidence.
Since the evaluation board has not returned a decision based on credible
evidence – I am disheartened at the prospect of them reaching a favorable
conclusion with the resubmission.
I therefore respectfully request your assistance with this matter.
Respectfully,
Noel Reyes
July 28, 2009
Congressman Joe Barton:
This letter is in reference to an incident at the office of Honorable Joe
Barton, on July 27, 2009. In a recent visit your office, I stopped by to
discuss an open claim with anticipation of obtaining some help - with a
matter relating to veterans benefits.
I arrived with a friend, Mr. Michael Martinez. After the visit with the
congressional staffer, I was embarrassed with the treatment I received.
Mr. Martinez also made a comment – “what treatment of a constituent!” and
disabled veteran. Needless to say I am very disappointed.
The congressional staffer said that they were very busy. As there was
not a soul was seated in the waiting room – I thought it was odd – I was
being brushed off.
She said the congressional office did not provide assistance to
constituents with their claims, but to merely assemble paperwork and
forward it, with out reading or reviewing it – yet she sated they were
busy “working a case” – so to me it didn’t make sense.
I did not have an appointment the day I arrived, and since she indicated
they were so busy, I asked if I could make an appointment to see Miss.
Rollins, and the staffer replied “NO”.
I am shocked and dismayed on how that congressional staff office works.
Documentation cut and pasted (see below), from the honorable congressman’s
website clearly states how his congressional office is available to his
constituency for matters in assisting “in dealings with a federal
agencies.”
I am a Vietnam Veteran that has been trying to get disability for service
related concerns for a few years, and the “red taped” discussed above now
appears to be a practice at this regional office.
I would appreciate the opportunity to have a discussion with a
congressional staffer dedicated to helping me and willing to listen to my
case to ensure my case is treated fairly and expeditiously based on
evidence presented.
Help with Federal Agencies
Information including FAQs and contact information for those who need
further assistance in their dealings with a federal agency or office. One
of the most important services we provide is assisting when you are having
trouble cutting through the red tape of the federal government. Although
we cannot order an agency to decide a matter in your favor, we can ensure
that your case is treated fairly and expeditiously. The staff in my
district offices are dedicated to helping you with matters relating to
federal entitlements, federal pensions, immigration problems, military
benefits, Social Security claims, veterans benefits, and other matters.
Before we can help you, we need your permission to look into your case.
Please print and fill out this release form . Once you have signed the
form, please fax a copy and mail the original to my Arlington office .
Note, no inquiries can be made without your written consent.
Veterans
Problems with veterans benefits, eligibility determinations, VA home
loans, and replacements of medals earned
Sincerely,
Noel Reyes
To whom it may concern:
This letter is in reply to the letter from the VA where my claim for
tinnitus and jungle rot was denied.
The information was put together to show that my tinnitus and jungle rot
happened in Vietnam and not in the states.
I do not content that my tinnitus was cause by military noise, look at the
factual circumstances stated below. In all the letters that I have written
and all the technicians, examiners and or doctors that I have seen, I have
never changed my contention. There is no evidence that shows that I had
jungle rot or tinnitus when I went to VIETNAM.
MILITARY SERVICE:
FACT: My DD214 indicates an honorable discharge from the Military
FACT: According to my DD214 my MOS is 11B = infantry
FACT: According to Military records I was in Vietnam in 1970
FACT: As I mentioned before, I carried the M-60 for 91/2 months with a
decibel of 160, every body else carried the M-16 rifle with a decibel
level of 157. Each one of us carried one M72, a claymore mine for the
perimeter , two hand grenades and a flare for the NDP(night defense
position) I handled the claymore mines and hand grenade a few times.
FACT: According to my medals (Combat infantry badge, Army commendation,
air medals etc.) I was in combat. We also did not get a medal for every
firefight. We used real weapons as mentioned below. It was a real war –
58,196 of us died in Vietnam and there were a lot of casualties.
FACT: I was in the 1/12 Calvary Infantry airmobile division, this means
that we were transported by Huey Helicopter to and out of the jungle.
FACT: The Huey had two M-60 machine guns, one on either side, they would
fire them when we landed on the LZ (landing zone) and when we left the LZ.
FACT: I was in different Fire support bases while in Vietnam.
FACT: At the firebases we had 105 MM Howitzer and mortars to support the
ground troops in the jungle. When we were at the base we slept about 20
feet away from the artillery and mortars. The 105’s were fired all night
into the jungle; they called it, to harass the enemy.
FACT: The Huey Helicopter had two M-60 machine guns, one on either side,
they would fire into the jungle for recon when we landed on the LZ
(landing zone) and when we left the LZ.
NOISE LEVELS – DECIBALS - I cannot attach the information, but it can all
be found in the internet.
M-60 -------------------160
M-16 -------------------157
105MM Howitzer----------183
M72A3 ------------------182
Mortar -----------------185
Huey -------------------102.9
Hand grenade -----------64.3
We were not required to wear or were issued any kind of noise protection
of any kind while serving in Vietnam….
NON-MILITARY: History during and after college.
I started college around 1972 to 1975 associates 1975to 1978 B.S. After
College I have worked in offices.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 06/19/09 9:00 am
email: seansarahfoord@tiscali.co.uk
branch: Air Force
mailing list: N
comments: dear sir i wonder if you can help in a quest i am trying to find my
fathers father he was a pilot in the second world war his name was howard koble (
koeble) and possible flew thunderbolts he met my father mother in kent my dad only
met his birth mother the once and she said he came from pensylvannia usa she always
said he died on d-day but we cannot find truth in this as only six american pilots
died on this day i am only trying to put a face to name to close this long and sad
story my dads mother died with this secret of knowing whom and where she met my
grandfather and i was hoping you might be able to help
yours Sean Foord
| | comments |
| | | Sent: kyle tucker 05/27/09 7:30 am
email: kylewentz69@aol.com
comments: hello i am hoping you can help me with a question, i am trying
yo find out who my grandmother is. she was in the U.S Army Airborne. when
i was younger i was given a ring that she received, but it seems like no
one in the family reallys knows anything about her. her name is Effie May
Tucker please help me, you can contact me by email at kylewentz69@aol.com | | comments |
| | | Sent: /TheseAreMyCredentials.pps
| | comments |
| | | Sent: Stepping to the Plate, 12/23/08 11:01
Legendary stuntman and martial artist "Judo" Gene LeBell, left, and wife Midge, second from right, sign personal greeting cards for American troops in Iraq. Helping, was Grace McClung, second from left, whose brother is stationed in Iraq with the Marine Corps, and Joan Kosche, store owner, at Valley Martial Arts Supply in North Hollywood, Ca. LeBell was including custom Gene LeBell and Stunts Unlimited patches, Gene LeBell grappling books, and items that the troops could use. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer).
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/17/08 9:00 am
10 Green Berets to Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle
Members of the Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group endured a nearly seven-hour battle on a mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6.
Members of the Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group endured a nearly seven-hour battle on a mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6. (Courtesy Of Maj. Emanuel Ortiz Cruz)
Staff Sgt. Seth E. Howard
Staff Sgt. Seth E. Howard (Courtesy Of U.s. Army Public Affairs - Courtesy Of U.s. Army Public Affairs)
Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer
Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer (Courtesy Of U.s. Army Public Affairs - Courtesy Of U.s. Army Public Affairs)
Capt. Kyle M. Walton
Capt. Kyle M. Walton (Courtesy Of U.s. Army Public Affairs - Courtesy Of U.s. Army Public Affairs)
After jumping out of helicopters at daybreak onto jagged, ice-covered rocks and into water at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the 12-man Special Forces team scrambled up the steep mountainside toward its target -- an insurgent stronghold in northeast Afghanistan.
"Our plan," Capt. Kyle M. Walton recalled in an interview, "was to fight downhill."
But as the soldiers maneuvered toward a cluster of thick-walled mud buildings constructed layer upon layer about 1,000 feet farther up the mountain, insurgents quickly manned fighting positions, readying a barrage of fire for the exposed Green Berets.
A harrowing, nearly seven-hour battle unfolded on that mountainside in Afghanistan's Nuristan province on April 6, as Walton, his team and a few dozen Afghan commandos they had trained took fire from all directions. Outnumbered, the Green Berets fought on even after half of them were wounded -- four critically -- and managed to subdue an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents, according to interviews with several team members and official citations.
Today, Walton and nine of his teammates from Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group will receive the Silver Star for their heroism in that battle -- the highest number of such awards given to the elite troops for a single engagement since the Vietnam War.
That chilly morning, Walton's mind was on his team's mission: to capture or kill several members of the Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) militant group in their stronghold, a village perched in Nuristan's Shok Valley that was accessible only by pack mule and so remote that Walton said he believed that no U.S. troops, or Soviet ones before them, had ever been there.
But as the soldiers, each carrying 60 to 80 pounds of gear, scaled the mountain, they could already spot insurgents running to and fro, they said. As the soldiers drew closer, they saw that many of the mud buildings had holes in the foot-thick walls for snipers. The U.S. troops had maintained an element of surprise until their helicopters turned into the valley, but by now the insurgent leaders entrenched above knew they were the targets, and had alerted their fighters to rally.
Staff Sgt. Luis Morales of Fredericksburg was the first to see an armed insurgent and opened fire, killing him. But at that moment, the insurgents began blasting away at the American and Afghan troops with machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades -- shooting down on each of the U.S. positions from virtually all sides.
"All elements were pinned down from extremely heavy fire from the get-go," Walton said. "It was a coordinated attack." The insurgent Afghan fighters knew there was only one route up the valley and "were able to wait until we were in the most vulnerable position to initiate the ambush," said Staff Sgt. Seth E. Howard, the team weapons sergeant.
Almost immediately, exposed U.S. and Afghan troops were hit. An Afghan interpreter was killed, and Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr was shot in the hip.
"We were pretty much in the open, there were no trees to hide behind," said Morales, who with Walton pulled Behr back to their position. Morales cut open Behr's fatigues and applied pressure to his bleeding hip, even though Morales himself had been shot in the right thigh. A minute later, Morales was hit again, in the ankle, leaving him struggling to treat himself and his comrade, he said. Absent any cover, Walton moved the body of the dead Afghan interpreter to shield the wounded.
Farther down the hill in the streambed, Master Sgt. Scott Ford, the team sergeant, was firing an M203 grenade launcher at the fighting positions, he recalled. An Afghan commando fired rocket-propelled grenades at the windows from which they were taking fire, while Howard shot rounds from a rocket launcher and recoilless rifle.
Ford, of Athens, Ohio, then moved up the mountain amid withering fire to aid Walton at his command position. The ferocity of the attack surprised him, as rounds ricocheted nearby every time he stuck his head out from behind a rock. "Typically they run out of ammo or start to manage their ammo, but . . . they held a sustained rate of fire for about six hours," he said.
As Ford and Staff Sgt. John Wayne Walding returned fire, Walding was hit below his right knee. Ford turned and saw that the bullet "basically amputated his right leg right there on the battlefield."
Walding, of Groesbeck, Tex., recalled: "I literally grabbed my boot and put it in my crotch, then got the boot laces and tied it to my thigh, so it would not flop around. There was about two inches of meat holding my leg on." He put on a tourniquet, watching the blood flow out the stump to see when it was tight enough.
Then Walding tried to inject himself with morphine but accidentally used the wrong tip of the syringe and put the needle in this thumb, he later recalled. "My thumb felt great," he said wryly, noting that throughout the incident he never lost consciousness. "My name is John Wayne," he said.
Soon afterward, a round hit Ford in the chest, knocking him back but not penetrating his body armor. A minute later, another bullet went through his left arm and shoulder, hitting the helmet of the medic, Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer, who was behind him treating Behr. An insurgent sniper was zeroing in on them.
Bleeding heavily from the arm, Ford put together a plan to begin removing the wounded, knowing they could hold out only for so long without being overrun. By this time, Air Force jets had begun dropping dozens of munitions on enemy positions precariously close to the Green Berets, including 2,000-pound bombs that fell within 350 yards.
"I was completely covered in a cloud of black smoke from the explosion," said Howard, and Behr was wounded in the intestine by a piece of shrapnel.
The evacuation plan, Ford said, was that "every time they dropped another bomb, we would move down another terrace until we basically leapfrogged down the mountain." Ford was able to move to lower ground after one bomb hit, but insurgent fire rained down again, pinning the soldiers left behind.
"If we went that way, we would have all died," said Howard, who was hiding behind 12-inch-high rocks with bullets bouncing off about every 10 seconds. Insurgents again nearly overran the U.S. position, firing down from 25 yards away -- so near that the Americans said they could hear their voices. Another 2,000-pound bomb dropped "danger close," Howard said, allowing the soldiers to get away.
Finally, after hours of fighting, the troops made their way down to the streambed, with those who could still walk carrying the wounded. A medical evacuation helicopter flew in, but the rotors were immediately hit by bullets, so the pilot hovered just long enough to allow the in-flight medic to jump off, then flew away.
A second helicopter came in but had to land in the middle of the icy, fast-moving stream. "It took two to three guys to carry each casualty through the river," Ford said. "It was a mad dash to the medevac." As they sat on the helicopter, it sustained several rounds of fire, and the pilot was grazed by a bullet.
By the time the battle ended, the Green Berets and the commandos had suffered 15 wounded and two killed, both Afghans, while an estimated 150 to 200 insurgents were dead, according to an official Army account of the battle. The Special Forces soldiers had nearly run out of ammunition, with each having one to two magazines left, Ford said.
"We should not have lived," said Walding, reflecting on the battle in a phone interview from Fort Bragg, N.C., where he and the nine others are to receive the Silver Stars today. Nine more Green Berets from the 3rd Special Forces Group will also receive Silver Stars for other battles. About 200 U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have received the Silver Star, the U.S. military's third-highest combat award.
| | | | [Viewer Response] I really liked this post. Can I copy it to my site? Thank you in advance. | | [Viewer Response] Hi, cool post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for writing. | [Viewer Response] Makes me proud to be an American. God Bless our fighting heros.
Leonard DeBerry US Army 1974-77 | | comments |
| | | Sent: PW 12/08/08 7:30 am
Frazier Park, Ca.
A Christmas Poem:
TWAS THE NIGHT
BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED
ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM
HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND
STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN
THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO
GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST
WHO
IN THIS HOME DID
LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL
ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID
SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO
PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A
TREE.
NO STOCKING BY
MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED
WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG
PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT
LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND
BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL
KINDS,
A SOBER
THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY
MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS
DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND
DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF
A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE
CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY
SLEEPING,
SILENT,
ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE
FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM
HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO
GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH
DISORDER,
NOT HOW I
PICTURED
A UNITED STATES
SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE
HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST
READ?
CURLED UP ON A
PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A
BED?
I REALIZED THE
FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS
NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO
THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE
WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND
THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN
WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS
WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT
CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL
ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH
OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE
SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING
HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP
WONDER
HOW MANY LAY
ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS
EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM
HOME.
THE VERY
THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY
EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY
KNEES
AND STARTED TO
CRY.
THE SOLDIER
AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH
VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T
CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY
CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR
FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR
MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY
GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY
CORPS.'
THE SOLDIER
ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO
SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL
IT,
I CONTINUED TO
WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR
HOURS,
SO SILENT AND
STILL
AND WE BOTH
SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD
NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T
WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD,
DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN
OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO
FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER
ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE
SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED,
'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S
CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS
SECURE.'
ONE LOOK AT MY
WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS
RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY
FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD
NIGHT.'
This poem was
written by a Marine.
The
following is his request. I think it is
reasonable.....
PLEASE.
Would you do me the kind favor of
sending
this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be
coming
soon and some credit
is due to our U.S. service men
and
women for our being able
to celebrate these
festivities..
Let's try in
this small way to pay a tiny bit of what
we
owe. Make people stop and
think of our heroes, living
and
dead, who sacrificed
themselves for u s. Please, do
your
small part to plant
this small seed
| | comments |
| | | Sent: W C: 12/05/08 9:00 am
comments: I think that our service men and women deserved better than to have their
promotions denied while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes I have seen it happened
since the war begun and now is even worst than before. I meet many military wifes
that were very worried because their husbands did not get promoted, and when he came
back home, he had to get out and find a new house and job. This broke my heart every
time I heard that story. well now, I am one of those wife. Yes my husband after
serving almost 25 years for the first time he did not get promoted. He is in Iraq
now serving his second one year tour. Hi has always been and execellent marine, his
records and many awards can attest to that. 2 months into his deployment he got his
first medal for the outstanding job he is doing and now he is waiting for 2 more.
Yes that sounds like a good marine. well not to the marines. He was happy because he
know he was waiting to get promoted to his last rank E-9, He knew he had everything
to make it. Well it seems that he made a mistake because when got promoted to E-8 he
decided to be a Master Sgt. instead of a First sgt. well the first is a field
marine, hands on. He loves his marine, he loves to train them and he always found
pride in fighting along them. Ans the other is a desk marine, yes this is the person
that works in public affairs. Well it seem that his problems was that being a field
marine his fitness reports were signed by the Warrant officer or a Leutenant. Well
according to them his reports would have made a better impression if a Commanding
Officer sign them. It does not matter what the reports say but who signs them, that
makes you a good marine, because my husbands where all outstanding reports. Well now
we know that is not what you but who you that will get you promoted. The sad thing
about it is that I have know of many that have not been promoted while serving in
harms way , but I have known many that have been promoted that have never served a
tour in Iraq or Afghanistan. Like the people that got promoted instead of my husband
all of them are here at home, while He has been gone for almost a year. What about
the moral of our troops? do you think this does not affect them? Can you imagine how
hurt and betrayed they feel? Is this how we thank them and their families for the
sacrifices they have made? Can you imagine how I would feel if something would
happened to my husband, I would be asking my self for what it was not worth it. I
think that someby needs to bring to the attention of the american people that our
military people are being treated unfairly. Is it unfair to ask our military that
when promotions come, it would be fair to give it to the people at war first, as
long as they meet with requirements and have a good military record. And if they do
not give them their promotion don\'t you think is fair they should at least be
allowed to get another contract when their service limitations come. Don\'t you
think that they deserved to have some sort of plan to accomodate the people that do
not get promoted, so when they come home they do not feel like I wasted my life and
risk my life for a nation that did not care for me. Sincerely yours, a very upset
marine wife.
| | comments |
| | | Sent:
MM 12/05/08 7:00 am
I've got a bright red sticker on the back of my car,
Says: "United States Marines."
An' yesterday a lady in a mini-van,
Held up her middle finger at me.
Does she think she knows what I stand for,
Or the things that I believe?
Just by looking at a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.
See, my brother Chris, he's been in,
For more than 14 years now.
Our Dad was in the Navy during Vietnam,
Did his duty, then he got out.
And my Grandpa earned his Purple Heart,
On the beach of Normandy.
That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.
But that doesn't mean that I want war:
I'm not Republican or Democrat.
But I've gone all around this crazy world,
Just to try to better understand.
An' yes, I do have questions:
I get to ask them because I'm free.
That's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.
'Cause I've been to Hiroshima,
An' I've been to the DMZ.
I've walked on the sand in Baghdad,
Still don't have all of the answers I need.
But I guess I wanna know where she's been,
Before she judges and gestures to me,
'Cause she don't like my sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.
So I hope that lady in her mini-van,
Turns on her radio and hears this from me.
As she picks up her kids,
From their private school,
An' drives home safely on our city streets.
Or to the building where her church group meets:
Yeah, that's why I've got a sticker for the US Marines,
On the bumper of my S.U.V.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: DL Milford Conn. 11/09/08 7:45 am
This is the story of one of our great veteran aircraft.
Link Site | | comments |
| | | Sent: From MZ Palmdale Ca. 11/10/08 9:00 am
Please view this video, it is a very heart warming video of a soldier's return and his amazing
greeting!
Link Text
| | comments |
| | | Sent: from DL Milford Conn. 11/10/2008
7:45 am.
Tools......
Anyone who ever tugged a wrench or
turned a screw driver, skinning their
knuckle, knows these "truths".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.
DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching
flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the
chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-
painted part which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing
could get to it.
WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere
under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes
fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time
it takes you to say,
''What the...??''
ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their
holes until you die of old age.
PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation
of blood-blisters.
BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor
touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board
principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable
motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more
dismal your future becomes.
VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt
heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to
transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
WELDING GLOVES: Heavy duty leather gloves used to prolong the
conduction of intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various
flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the
grease inside the wheel hub you want the bearing race out of.
TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch
wood projectiles with the speed of a ballistic missile for testing
wall integrity.
HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an automobile to the ground
after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack
handle firmly under the bumper.
EIGHT-FOOT LONG YELLOW PINE 2 X 4: Used for levering an automobile
upward off of a trapped hydraulic jack handle.
E-Z OUT BOLT AND STUD EXTRACTOR: A tool ten times harder than any
known drill bit that snaps neatly off in bolt holes thereby ending
any possible future use.
BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops
to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit
into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead
of the outside edge.
TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile
strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.
CRAFTSMAN 1/2 x 24-INCH SCREWDRIVER: A very large pry bar that
inexplicably has an accurately machined screwdriver tip on the end
opposite the handle.
AVIATION METAL SNIPS: See hacksaw.
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under
lids and for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing
oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to
strip out Phillips screw heads.
STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used
to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws.
PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or
bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.
HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to make hoses too short.
HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays
is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts
adjacent to the object we are trying to hit.
MECHANIC'S KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of
cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly
well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic
bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic
parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while
wearing them.
DAMMIT TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the
garage while yelling ''DAMMIT'' at the top of your lungs. It is
also, most often, the next tool that you will need.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 09/22/08
7:45 am
I am a 13 yr. Veteran writing you in regards to employement of Veterans at
Defense Distribution Depot's throughout the United States and mostly in
the Central Pennsylvania area. Veterans are being discriminated against on
a daily basis. They are being denied a chance to move up and broaden their
careers because of the fact that people in higher positions are more
worried about getting their family members in to the Depot or getting that
friend that they promised years ago they would help someday . I was quite
appauled that one of the Supervisors on our shift had a son that he was
able to get a job in our Department. Within a year he was promoted while
Veterans who were not even able or allowed to put in for this job stood by
and shook they're heads! This is a discrace!!! Please help me to do
something about this. This is just one example of hundreds of cases where
Veterans are getting discriminated against. Veterans have the Means and
Knowledge to become Leaders and Supervisors but are over looked by
Supervisors because of Favoritism!! Yes, Favoritism!!!! I'm almost ashamed
to be an American ! Please help me to help other Vets??? What can I do
about this situation. I am tired of seeing these Veterans Just working the
same job day in and day out physically exhausting themselves while other
people who are non-Vets have entire families working there! I personally
have never been more discriminated against in all my life. To see the
people that are in these leadership positions is embarrassing.So please
help me.
Sincerly,
John W. Bailey | | comments |
| | | Sent: 08/27/08 9:24 am
name: Venus Hammack phone: 540-477-2923
email: jagmedic@pgev.org branch: - Select service branch - mailing list:
N comments: I, we gulf war veterans need your help. there are still many problems we have with the VA system. We have no Center of Excellence. We need this type facilities in locations outside of Washington, DC like California, Texas, Oklahoma. Replace electronic dispalys signs in the lobbies of VA Hospitals which would direct vets to the Persian/Gulf War Regisry Exams. We need all VAMC to perform Persian/Gulf War Regisry Exams on spouses and children. We need to know why to number of claim filed for Undiagnosed Multisymthom illness approval is only 1% after 17 years. Please write this new board or attend their next meeting 24-25 Sept 2008. Veterans will be allowed to speak by phone, if requested prior to meeting date. Gulf War Illness exposures are so complicated it takes a team of medical and social service providers to care for the wounded and their families, says, a clinical psychologist with the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Heath Care System. The 14-member, independent panel will advise the Secretary and the department on the full range of health care and benefits needs of those who served in the conflict.
Department of Veterans Affairs (008A1)
ATTN: Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans 810 Vermont Ave Washington, DC 20420 202-461-5758
lelia.jackson@va.gov ,
Lelia P. Jackson, Board memeber
The address is www.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee | | comments |
| | | Sent: 08/19/08 5:33 pm
J. T. N.
branch: Air Force
comments: A Twist of Fate
My father, Thomas R. N., was drafted into WWII at age 18. He was
determined to serve in the Army Air Corps, and wanted to fly fighters.
Being over six feet tall, he couldn’t fit into the cramped fighter
cockpits of the day, so he tried to get a B-17 assignment instead. It
turned out his height was against him again. He couldn’t stand upright in
the Flying Fortress’ cylindrical fuselage without bashing his head on the
ceiling. Only the B-24 Liberator, with its taller rectangular fuselage,
could accommodate him. He was eventually assigned to a B-24J of the 15th
Air Force, 464th Bomb Group, 779th Bomb Squadron, on which he served as
radioman/waist gunner.
At 18 my dad was quite a character, as were many of the young enlisted men
in his group. One night his youthful recklessness got the better of him.
He had been assigned airfield guard duty, and after standing alone for
several hours in the quiet, chilly darkness guarding the parked airplanes,
he finally grew bored and decided to walk off base, up a long grade, and
into town for a few cold ones. He hadn’t been in the tavern ten minutes
when an enormous explosion shook the whole town, blowing out windows in
many buildings, including the tavern. From his promontory above the
airfield, he watched in horror as a huge ball of flame erupted on the
airfield below.
He crept back to base the next morning, expecting the full wrath of his
CO. Instead, he was given only a mild reprimand, told he’d been lucky, and
then filled in on the remarkable details.
A new ordnance crew had been assigned to load the B-24s for their morning
mission. No one had bothered to tell the rookies the bombs were supposed
to be loaded disarmed, and remain so until the planes were safely in the
air. Sure enough, a few 500-pounders fell off the rack and exploded,
taking out four B-24’s, the entire ordnance loading crew, and three other
guards who had not walked off their post that night.
My dad went on to participate in many 15th Air Force campaigns, including
the high altitude Ploesti raids, Po Valley, and several others. He
survived them all without a scratch, returned home to his native Detroit,
and later moved to San Diego, where he served in the school system for 33
years before finally retiring in 1987.
I often wonder what really caused my dad to walk off duty that night. I
may never know for sure, but one thing’s certain. Had it not been for that
strange twist of fate more than sixty years ago, I wouldn’t be here. It
seems like something right out of The Twilight Zone.
| | | | [Viewer Response] What a story!!! My father was in the 464th 779th too.He did his 35 missions and left in 4/45.Great story,Thanks | | comments |
| | | Sent: Anonymous
08/18/08
Something to think about.
'You ain't gonna like losing.'
I know everyone has a different opinion on the war and our current
President. But, this article makes a lot of sense, take 2 minutes, read it
And give it some thought.
When electing the next President, 'the only decision you have to
make is who you want sitting in that seat in the White House when - not
If - WHEN we get hit again and millions of American lives are put at risk!'
This is from: 'You ain't gonna like losing.'
Author unknown.
President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But
the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq. Bush's mistake came
In his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in
WWII. It is not.
Back then, they had just come out of a vicious depression. The country
was steeled by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed
fervently in this country. They knew that the people had elected their
leaders, so it was the people's duty to back those leaders.
Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied
behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not
or whether the war was going badly or not.
And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as
it is today. Often there were more casualties in one day in WWII than we
have had in the entire Iraq war. But that did not matter. The people stuck
with the President because it was their patriotic duty. Americans put aside
their differences in WWII and worked together to win that war.
Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in.
Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war
effort. Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war
bonds to help the effort.
Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition
trying their best to join the military.
Women doubled their work to keep things going at home. Harsh
rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was imposed, yet
there was very little complaining.
You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the
President. Interestingly enough in those days there were no fat cat actors
and entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile
countries and complain to them about our President. Instead, they made
upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale. And a
bunch even enlisted.
And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off
with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our
troops!
Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots
in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage. No
newspaper would have dared complain about what we were doing to catch spies.
A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained
that German or Japanese soldiers were being 'tortured' by being forced to
wear women's underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being
scared by a dog or did not have air conditioning.
There were a lot of things different back then. We were not subjected
to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in
movies or on radio. We did not have legions of crack heads, dope pushers
and armed gangs roaming our streets.
No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism.
He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and
fortitude of our fathers. He believed that this was still the country that
our fathers fought so dearly to preserve.
It is not the same country. It is now a cross between Sodom and
Gomorra and the land of Oz. We did unite for a short while after 9/11,
but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country
would require sacrifices.
We are in great danger. The terrorists are fanatic Muslims. They believe
that it is okay, even their duty, to kill anyone who will not convert to
Islam.
It has been estimated that about one third or over three hundred million
Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause... Hitler and Tojo combined
did not have nearly that many potential recruits. So... We either win it -
or lose it - and you ain't gonna like losing.
America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall, or
watching the movie stars.
.....If you ever forwarded an email, now is the time to do it!
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY.
| | | [Viewer Response] The difference between then and now is huge. WWII we were saving the world from the fascists.
We are now the fascists.
The war on terrorism is in Afghanistan. The war for oil that we were lied to about is in Iraq.
There is an ole saying and it comes in different forms. "Mess me over once shame on you. Mess me over twice shame on me". We were lied to in Korea, Viet Nam and the Gulf War, as well as our current war in Iraq. If these are just causes like WWII the american people would rally, at least some of us. Enough to defeat any enemy.
The fascist(Communist, Corporatist, Extreme Capitalist, Neocons) have taken over our country.
I would suggest that everyone in America read the Constitution and right after you finish, read "War is a Racket" by General Butler. He's the greatest General that ever lived yet we hear nothing about him. Because he told the truth and the fascists in this country hated him for it.
It's time for us to sit down and discuss the issues facing this country. The true issues.
Most of the people in this country haven't got a clue as to what is really happening. They need to know | | comments |
| | | Sent: name: RT 08/15/08 4:48
branch: Navy
mailing list: N
comments: I have been looking for a good identity theft protection
service. I ship out to Iraq soon and I don\'t want to come home to find
that someone has stolen my identity but I don\'t want to be taken either.
I have heard that LifeLock has problems such as the guy who owns it has
had his identity stolen 26 times. I have also heard that there is a
company that offers id theft protection free to Veterans (I can\'t
remember the name off hand but it is something like Defender or DefendID
or IDefender or something like that). I know that there are some basic
things I can do to help protect my identity, but, quite frankly, I just
won\'t have the time while engaging the enemy to make sure my identity is
safe. Do you have plans to conduct a segment regarding this type of
service?
| | comments |
| | | Sent: DL Milford Conn. 5:45 am 08/08/08
9 Funerals for 9 Warriors
I'm sure you heard about 9 soldiers being killed in Afghanistan a couple of weeks ago. As AP reported it, it was a "setback", the "newly established base" there was 'abandoned' by the Americans. That, of course, was the extent of their coverage. Steve Mraz of Stars and Stripes and Jeff Emanuel tell the rest of the story. Emanuel, who went out and dug into the story sets the enemy force at 500 while AP sets it at 200. Frankly I'm much more inclined to believe Emanuel than AP.
July 13, 2008 was the date, and Jeff Emanuel, an independent combat reporter sets the scene: Three days before the attack, 45 U.S. Paratroopers from the 173d Airborne [Brigade Combat Team], accompanied by 25 Afghan soldiers, made their way to Kunar province, a remote area in the northeastern Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, and established the beginnings of a small Combat Outpost (COP). Their movement into the area was noticed, and their tiny numbers and incomplete fortifications were quickly taken advantage of. A combined force of up to 500 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters quickly moved into the nearby village of Wanat and prepared for their assault by evicting unallied residents and according to an anonymous senior Afghan defense ministryofficial, "us[ing] their houses to attack us." Tribesmen in the town stayed behind "and helped the insurgents during the fight," the provincial police chief, told The Associated Press. Dug-in mortar firing positions were created, and with that indirect fire, as well as heavy machine gun and RPG fire from fixed positions, Taliban and al Qaeda fighters rushed the COP from three sides.
As Emanuel notes, the odds were set. 500 vs. 70. Even so, Emanuel entitled his article, "An Alamo With a Different Ending." The 500 terrorists apparently didn't realize they were attacking US Army paratroopers. The unit in question was 2nd Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, led by 1LT Jonathan Brostrom.
The first RPG and machine gun fire came at dawn, strategically striking the forward operating base's mortar pit. The insurgents next sighted their RPGs on the tow truck inside the combat outpost, taking it out. That was around 4:30 a.m. This was not a haphazard attack. The reportedly 500 insurgents fought from several positions. They aimed to overrun the new base. The U.S. Soldiers knew it and fought like hell. They knew their lives were on the line.
The next target was the FOB's observation post, where nine soldiers were positioned on a tiny hill about 50 to 75 meters from the base. Of those nine, five died, and at least three others -- Spc. Tyler Stafford among them -- were wounded. When the attack began, Stafford grabbed his M-240 machine gun off a north-facing sandbag wall and moved it to an east-facing sandbag wall. Moments later, RPGs struck the north-facing wall, knocking Stafford out of the fighting position and wounding another soldier. Stafford thought he was on fire so he rolled around, regaining his senses. Nearby, Cpl. Gunnar Zwilling, who later died in the fight, had a stunned look on his face. Immediately, a grenade exploded by Stafford, blowing him down to a lower terrace at the observation post and knocking his helmet off. Stafford put his helmet back on and noticed how badly he was bleeding. Cpl. Matthew Phillips was close by, so Stafford called to him for help. Phillips was preparing to throw a grenade and shot a look at Stafford that said, "Give me a second. gotta go kill these guys first." This was only about 30 to 60 seconds into the attack. Kneeling behind a sandbag wall, Phillips pulled the grenade pin, but just after he threw it an RPG exploded at his position. The tail of the RPG smacked Stafford's helmet. The dust cleared. Phillips was slumped over, his chest on his knees and his hands by his side. Stafford called out to his buddy three or four times, but Phillips never answered or moved. "When I saw Phillips die, I looked down and was bleeding pretty good, that's probably the most scared I was at any point," Stafford said. "Then I kinda had to calm myself down and be like, 'All right, I gotta go try to do my job.'
The soldier from Parker, Colo., loaded his 9 mm handgun,crawled up to their fighting position, stuck the pistol over the sandbags and fired. Stafford saw Zwilling's M-4 rifle nearby so he loaded it, put it on top of the sandbag and fired. Another couple RPGs struck the sandbag wall Stafford used as cover. Shrapnel pierced his hands. Stafford low-crawled to another fighting position where
Cpl. Jason Bogar, Sgt. Matthew Gobble and Sgt. Ryan Pitts were located. Stafford told Pitts that the insurgents were within grenade-tossing range. That got Pitts' attention. With blood running down his face, Pitts threw a grenade and then crawled to the position from where Stafford had just come. Pitts started chucking more grenades.
The firefight intensified. Bullets cut down tree limbs that fell on the soldiers. RPGs constantly exploded. Back at Stafford's position, so many bullets were coming in that the soldiers could not poke their heads over their sandbag wall. Bogar stuck an M-249 machine gun above the wall and squeezed off rounds to keep fire on the insurgents. In about five minutes, Bogar fired about 600 rounds, causing the M-249 to seize up from heat. At another spot on the observation post, Cpl. Jonathan Ayers laid down continuous fire from an M-240 machine gun, despite drawing small-arms and RPG fire from the enemy. Ayers kept firing until he was shot and killed. Cpl. Pruitt Rainey radioed the FOB with a casualty report, calling for help. Of the nine soldiers at the observation post, Ayers and Phillips were dead, Zwilling was unaccounted for, and three were wounded. Additionally, several of the soldiers' machine guns couldn't fire because of damage. And they needed more ammo. Rainey, Bogar and another soldier jumped out of their fighting position with the third soldier of the group launching a shoulder-fired missile. All this happened within the first 20 minutes of the fight. Platoon leader 1st Lt. Jonathan Brostrom and Cpl. Jason Hovater arrived at the observation post to reinforce the soldiers. By that time, the insurgents had breached the perimeter of the observation post. Gunfire rang out, and Rainey shouted, "He's right behind the sandbag." Brostrom could be heard shouting about the insurgent as well. More gunfire and grenade explosions ensued. Back in the fighting position, Gobble fired a few quick rounds. Gobble then looked to where the soldiers were fighting and told Stafford the soldiers were dead. Of the nine soldiers who died in the battle, at least seven fell in fighting at the observation post.
The insurgents then started chucking rocks at Gobble and Stafford's fighting position, hoping that the soldiers might think the rocks were grenades, causing them to jump from the safety of their fighting hole. One rock hit a tree behind Stafford and landed directly between his legs. He braced himself for an explosion. He then realized it was a rock. Stafford didn't have a weapon, and Gobble was low on ammo. Gobble told Stafford they had to get back to the FOB. They didn't realize that Pitts was still alive in another fighting position at the observation post. Gobble and Stafford crawled out of their fighting hole. Gobble looked again to where the soldiers had been fighting and reconfirmed to Stafford that Brostrom, Rainey, Bogar and others were dead. Gobble and Stafford low-crawled and ran back to the FOB. Coming into the FOB, Stafford was asked by a sergeant what was going on at the observation post. Stafford told him all the soldiers there were dead. Stafford lay against a wall, and his fellow soldiers put a tourniquet on him. From the OP, Pitts got on the radio and told his comrades he was alone. Volunteers were asked for to go to the OP.
SSG Jesse Queck sums up the reaction to the call: "When you ask for volunteers to run across an open field to a reinforced OP that almost everybody is injured at, and everybody volunteers, it feels good. There were a lot of guys that made me proud, putting themselves and their lives on the line so their buddies could have a chance." At least three soldiers went to the OP to rescue Pitts, but they suffered wounds after encountering RPG and small-arms fire, but Pitts survived the battle. At that time, air support arrived in the form of Apache helicopters, A-10s and F-16s, performing bombing and strafing runs. The whole FOB was covered in dust and smoke, looking like something out of an old Western movie. "I've never seen the enemy do anything like that," said Sgt. Jacob Walker, who was medically evacuated off the FOB in one of the first helicopters to arrive. "It's usually three RPGs, some sporadic fire and then they're gone ... I don't where they got all those RPGs. That was crazy." Two hours after the first shots were fired, Stafford made his way -- with help -- to the medevac helicopter that arrived. "It was some of the bravest stuff I've ever seen in my life, and I will never see it again because those guys," Stafford said, then paused. "Normal humans wouldn't do that. You're not supposed to do that -- getting up and firing back when everything around you is popping and whizzing and trees, branches coming down and sandbags exploding and RPGs coming in over your head ... It was a fistfight then, and those guys held ' em off." Stafford offered a guess as to why his fellow soldiers fought so hard. "Just hardcoreness I guess," he said. "Just guys kicking ass, basically. Just making sure that we look scary enough that you don't want to come in and try to get us." Jeff Emanuel summed the fight up very well: "Perhaps the most important takeaway from that encounter, though, is the one that the mainstream media couldn't be bothered to pay attention long enough to learn: that, not for the first time, a contingent of American soldiers that was outnumbered by up to a twenty-to-one ratio soundly and > > completely repulsed a complex, pre-planned assault by those > > dedicated enough to their cause to kill themselves in its pursuit.
That kind of heroism and against-all-odds success is and has been a hallmark of America's fighting men and women, and it is one that is worthy of all attention we can possibly give it." Of the original 45 paratroopers, 15 were wounded and The Sky Soldiers lost 9 killed in action in the attack.
They were:
1LT Jonathan Brostrom of Aiea, Hawaii
SGT Israel Garcia of Long Beach, California
SPC Matthew Phillips of Jasper, Georgia
SPC Pruitt Rainey of Haw River, North Carolina
SPC Jonathan Ayers of Snellville, Georgia
SPC Jason Bogar of Seattle, Washington
SPC Sergio Abad of Morganfield, Kentucky
SPC Jason Hovater of Clinton, Tennessee
SPC Gunnar Zwilling of Florissant, Missouri
Of the 9 that were lost, Sgt Walker says: "I just hope these guys' wives and their children understand how courageous their husbands and dads were. They fought like warriors."
Last week, there were 9 funerals in the United States. 9 warriors were laid to rest. 9 warriors who had given their all for their country. All proud members of a brotherhood that will carry on in their name. They fought and died in what most would consider impossible circumstances, and yet they succeeded. A nameless fight in a distant war which, until you understand the facts, could be spun as a defeat. It wasn't. And it is because of the pride, courage and fighting spirit of this small unit that it was, in fact, a victory against overwhelming odds. And there's little doubt, given that pride and given that fighting spirit, that they'll be back to reestablish the base, this time with quite a few more soldiers just like the ones who "kicked ass" the last time there. | | | | [Viewer Response] Thank you for writing this. I just really appreciate it, I\'m Gunnar Zwilling\'s cousin and we miss him like crazy. | | comments |
| | | Sent: From DL, Easton Conn. 07/03/08 10:00
Subject: Veteran appreciation
John Ondrasik (the singer-songwriter
who is Five for Fighting) is one of
the most pro-GI people in pop music. And in this video, it shows. You
may have heard the song before but this video is new.
In the beginning, he goes into a pawn shop to pawn a flag... the
pawnbroker is in his sixties, and over his shoulder you see a photo
of a young Vietnam era
warrant officer with aviator wings and the MOH.
Yes, that's really a Medal of Honor recipient in the video, not an
actor.
Link Text
| | comments |
| | | Sent:
From RC FP Ca.
07/03/08 6:00 am
As I love horses and give thanks every day to the men and women who have served and sacrificed for us here in this great land I found this! God bless this young lady!
Link Text | | comments |
| | | Sent: ***WHEN THE MUSIC
STOPPED***
******
(For those who are unaware, at a military theater, the National Anthem
is played before every movie.)
FROM A CHAPLAIN IN IRAQ
I recently attended a
showing of 'Superman 3,' here at LSA Anaconda. We
have a large
auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services
and other
large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we
stood and
snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the
main
feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the
way
through The National Anthem the music stopped.
Now, what would happen
if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back
in the States? I
imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few
rude comments;
and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of
course, that is, if
they had stood for the National Anthem in the first
place. Here, the
1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes
fixed forward. The
music started again. The Soldiers continued to
quietly stand at
attention.. And again, at the same point, the music
stopped. What would
you expect to happen?
Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone
finally sat down and
expected the movie to start. But here, you could
have heard a pin drop.
Every Soldier continued to stand at attention..
Suddenly there was a lone
voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was
filled with the voices of
a thousand soldiers, finishing where the
recording left off:' And the
rockets red glare, The bombs bursting in
air, Gave proof through the
night That our flag was still there. Oh, say
does that star-spangled
banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave'
It was the most inspiring moment I have
had here in Iraq
. I wanted you
to know what kind of Soldiers are
serving you here. Remember them as
they fight for you! Pass this
along as a reminder to others to be ever
in prayer for all our soldiers
serving us here at home and abroad. For
many have already paid the
ultimate price.
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda is at
the Balad Airport
in Iraq, north of
Bagdad
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 07/26/08 9:00 am
AMERICAN HEROISM GOES UNREPORTED IN IRAQ
By Kevin Mooney, Staff Writer CNSNews.com
American heroism has been ignored and overlooked by networks at home and overseas for the duration of the Iraq war, while insurgents and terrorists have used willing media outlets to score public relations wins.
That bleak assessment comes from U.S. soldiers who served in Iraq during the pre-surge time frame when the insurgency was its height. The media has pulled back most of tjeir reporters on its coverage now that U.S. casualty figures have declined and Al Qaeda is in retreat.
However, the lack of recognition and attention paid to American soldiers who have helped topple Saddam Hussein's regime and expel al Qaeda is not just the fault of the news media, said Sgt. Everitt Speros, a member of the 69th Army National Guard Infantry Regiment.
"Army public relations did a poor job right from day one," he said in an interview. "You can't name one hero from this war, but there's got to be a thousand or more. Did anyone know who was in charge of the American soldiers in Iraq until [Gen. David] Petraeus took over?" he asked.
"But we all knew who al Zaraqawi was," he continued. "You have soldiers doing acts of bravery all across the country, but they are not recognized unless they fall on a grenade or die in another way. So you can fault the western media, but you also have to fault Army Public Affairs." Speros served in Baghdad in 2004 and 2005.
The media would often misinterpret what were strategically insignificant rocket attacks on U.S. bases, while overlooking heavy days of fighting that ended badly for the insurgents, Speros explained.
"The reality is they [the insurgents] could never stage a massive attack against any of our bases, even the smaller ones," he said. But anytime there was more than one rocket launched, you would read about how Baghdad is under attack, and I would just have to say to myself, 'What are they talking about?'"
The insurgents were adept at using video to distort battlefield realties and to score public relations points, he acknowledged. Capt.
Sean Michael Flynn, who served as company commander with the 69th in Iraq, concurs on this point.
"Along with creating fictional propaganda, they seized on every failure of the Americans and the interim Iraqi government and exploited the missteps at every opportunity," Flynn wrote in his book The Fighting 69th.
"Orators railed against U.S. forces at the mosques. They printed up anti-occupation flyers and posters. They filled the newspapers and radio stations with eyewitness accounts from people who had lost their children during an American raid. The insurgent marketing machine rivaled any used in modern warfare," Flynn added.
Fortunately, the shift in battlefield strategy that occurred in tandem with the troop surge has balanced some of the public relations disadvantages, Flynn observed. U.S. forces have established trust and built alliances as a result of getting into the neighborhoods, bolstering security and encouraging grassroots movements.
This transformation was quite evident in Ameriya, a neighborhood located in western Baghdad that lines the key highway running between the Baghdad Airport and the Green Zone, Flynn said. Early on in the war when terrorists set off bombs in the neighborhood that sometimes claimed the lives of children and civilians, they were adept at pinning the blame on Americans, he explained.
But that is no longer the case.
Iraqis have seen first hand how U.S. forces worked to clear out the insurgents, improve security and reach out to neighborhood residents, he observed. As a result, the Americans are now viewed as a "calming influence" and as vital allies.
That kind of public relations victory involves a lot of heavy lifting and patience, but is more valuable over the long term than anything conveyed through video or television, Flynn argued.
"We are bound as a country and as a military to the stubborn thing called truth and accuracy, and because we are bound to these very stubborn things called truth and accuracy, we are not as agile as somebody who is not bound by truth and accuracy," he said.
"So if an insurgent force uses blatant propaganda that is not necessarily based in fact -- or has only some shred of fact -- then they are much more agile in getting their word out and that's just nature of it."
America's credibility and reputation matter more than scoring cheap public relations points that are not rooted in the truth, Flynn said. We should not lose sight of this important principle, he added.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: From D the Army Guy
Conn. 08/02/08 6:00 am
Retired Green Beret gets court martial for shooting a intruder!
LinkText
| | comments |
| | | Sent: From RS
CP, Ca. 08/02/08 7:30 am
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or
reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank
check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount
of 'up to, and including his life.'
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country today, who no longer understand that fact. | | | | [Viewer Response] we nee more of this type of comments & Patriotism in this country instead of the sit back and watch our armed forces die for us & do nothing about it even if it means we re up!!!!!! | | [Viewer Response] Airbone!!!!!!! | | [Viewer Response] Read that Bill Clinton!! You cost me everything I had worked for you lying bastid! | | comments |
| | | Sent: from: AF
FP Ca. 08/01/08 8:45 am
This is a great
lesson and so well presented
Back in September of 2005, on
the first day of school, Martha Cothren,
asocial studies school teacher at
Robinson High School in Little Rock
,did something not to be forgotten.On
the first day of school, with the
permission of the schoolsuperintendent,
the principal and the building
supervisor, she removedall of the desks out
of her classroom. When the
first period kids enteredthe room they
discovered that there were no
desks.Looking around, confused, they asked,
'Ms. Cothren, where're our
desks?'She replied, 'You can't have a desk until
you tell me what you
have doneto earn the right to sit at a desk.'They
thought, 'Well, maybe
it's our grades.''No,' she said.Maybe it's our
behavior.' She told them,
'No, it's not even yourbehavior.And so, they came
and went, the first
period, second period, thirdperiod. Still no
desks in the classroom.By
early afternoon television news crews had started
gathering in
Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who
had taken
allthe desks out of her room.The final period of the day came and
as the
puzzled students found seatson the floor of the
deskless
classroom.Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been
able
to tell mejust what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at
the
desks that areordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to
tell
you.'At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of
her
classroom andopened it.Twenty-seven (27) U.S.
Veterans, all in
uniforms, walked into thatclassroom, each one carrying
a school desk. The
Vets began placing theschool desks in rows, and then
they would walk over
and stand alongsidethe wall.By the time the last
soldier had set the final
desk in place those kidsstarted to understand,
perhaps for the first time
in their lives, justhow the right to sit at
those desks had been
earned.Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to
sit at these desks.
Theseheroes did it for you. They placed the desks
here for you.
Now,
it's upto you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn,
to be
goodstudents, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that
you
couldhave the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'By
the
way, this is a true story. You can verify this by
clicking on http://www.snopes.com/glurge/nodesks.aspGod Bless America - | | comments |
| | | Sent: DL Easton Conn.
9:30 am 7/15/2008
RETIREMENT BONUS
The Navy found they had too many officers and decided to offer an
early retirement bonus. They promised any officer who volunteered for
retirement a bonus of $1,000 for every inch measured in a straight
line between any two parts in his body. The officer got to choose what
those two parts would be.
The first officer who accepted asked that he be measured from the top
of his head to the tip of his toes. He was measured at six feet and
walked out with a bonus of $72,000.
The second officer who accepted was a little smarter and asked to be
measured from the tip of his outstretched hands to his toes. He walked
out with $96,000.
The third one was a noncommissioned officer, a grizzly old Chief who,
when asked where he would like to be measured replied, 'From the tip
of my weenie to my testicles.'
It was suggested by the pension man that he might want to reconsider,
explaining about the nice big checks the previous two officers had
received. But the old Chief insisted and they decided to go along
with him providing the measurement was taken by a Medical Officer.
The Medical Officer arrived and instructed the Chief to 'drop 'em,'
which he did.. The medical officer placed the tape measure on the tip
of the Chief's weenie and began to work back. 'Omigosh'' he suddenly
exclaimed, 'Where Are your testicles?'
The old Chief calmly replied, ' Vietnam '.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: Tomorrow is Memorial Day, the day we have set aside to honor by remembering all the Americans who have died fighting for the thing we like the most about our America: the freedom we have to live as we please.
No official day to remember is adequate for something like that. It's too formal. It gets to be just another day on the calendar. No one would know from Memorial Day that Richie M., who was shot through the forehead coming onto Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, wore different color socks on each foot because he thought it brought him good luck.
No one would remember on Memorial Day that Eddie G. had promised to marry Julie W. the day after he got home from the war, but didn’t marry Julie because he never came home from the war. Eddie was shot dead on an un-American desert island, Iwo Jima.
For too many Americans, Memorial Day has become just another day off. There's only so much time any of us can spend remembering those we loved who have died, but the men, boys really, who died in our wars deserve at least a few moments of reflection during which we consider what they did for us.
They died.
We use the phrase "gave their lives," but they didn’t give their lives. Their lives were taken from them.
There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people.
Because I was in the Army during World War II, I have more to remember on Memorial Day than most of you. I had good friends who were killed.
Charley Wood wrote poetry in high school. He was killed when his Piper Cub was shot down while he was flying as a spotter for the artillery.
Bob O'Connor went down in flames in his B-17.
Obie Slingerland and I were best friends and co-captains of our high school football team. Obie was killed on the deck of the Saratoga when a bomb that hadn’t dropped exploded as he landed.
I won’t think of them anymore tomorrow, Memorial Day, than I think of them any other day of my life.
Remembering doesn’t do the remembered any good, of course. It's for ourselves, the living. I wish we could dedicate Memorial Day, not to the memory of those who have died at war, but to the idea of saving the lives of the young people who are going to die in the future if we don’t find some new way - some new religion maybe - that takes war out of our lives.
That would be a Memorial Day worth celebrating.
Written By Andy Rooney
© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. | | | [Viewer Response] Thank you, Andy Rooney. We need to make a fundamental change, to create an American culture of nonviolence. This starts with each one of us ceasing to speak of others as having less value than we do. Who are we to say that someone else with a different faith, skin color, nationality, moral code is less human? Creating a culture of nonviolence starts with personal intention to change. Then we need to support effective community violence prevention programs, of which there are so many. Then we need to support the creation of a United States cabinet-level Department of Peace that will provide a focus for peaceful approaches to problem-solving in our nation and our world. Please learn more about HR808 Congressional legislation for a United States Dept. of Peace and about the Youth Promis Act at www.thepeacealliance.org and then lend your support.
Kendra Mon, CA 6th Congressional District
volunteer team leader with the
Campaign for a United States Dept. of Peace | | comments |
| | | Sent: 04/22/08
9:30 am
DL/Conn.
A man walked into a supermarket with his zipper down. A lady cashier walked up
to him and said, 'Your barracks door is open.' Not a phrase that men normally use,
he went on his way looking a bit puzzled. When he was about done shopping, a man
came up and said, 'Your fly is open'. He zipped up and finished his shopping.
At the checkout, he intentionally got in the line where the lady was that told
him about his 'barracks door.' He was planning to have a little fun with her,
so when he reached the counter he said, 'When you saw my barracks door open, did
you see a Marine standing in there at attention?' The lady (naturally smarter
than the man) thought for a moment and said, 'No, no I didn't. All I saw was a
disabled veteran sitting on a couple of old duffel bags.'
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 05/02/08
Sent by Hart 8:00 am
Subject: Just for the few of us ..
When the Good Lord was creating Vietnam Vets"
When the Lord was
creating Vietnam veterans, He was into His 6th day of overtime when an angel
appeared.
"You're certainly doing a lot of fiddling around on this
one."
And God said, "Have you seen the specs on this order? A Nam vet has
to be able to run 5 miles through the bush with a full pack on, endure with
barely any sleep for days, enter tunnels his higher ups wouldn't consider
doing, and keep his weapons clean and operable.
He has to be able to sit in
his hole all night during an attack, hold his buddies as they die, walk point
in unfamiliar territory known to be VC infested, and somehow keep his senses
alert for danger.
He has to be in top physical condition existing on c-rats
and very little rest. And he has to have 6 pairs of hands."
The angel shook
his head slowly and said, "6 pair of hands....no way."
The Lord say's "It's
not the hands that are causing me problems....It's the 3 pair of eyes a Nam
vet has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The
Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through elephant grass, another pair here in
the side of his head for his buddies, another pair here in front that can look
reassuringly at his bleeding, fellow soldier and say, "You'll make
it".......when he knows he won't.
"Lord, rest, and work on this
tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord. "I already have a model that can carry
a wounded soldier 1,000 yards during a firefight, calm the fears of the latest
FNG, and feed a family of 4 on a grunt's paycheck." The angel walked around
the model and said, "Can it think?"
"You bet," said the Lord. "It can quote
much of the UCMJ, recite all his general orders, and engage in a search and
destroy mission in less time than it takes for his fellow Americans back home
to discuss the morality of the War, and still keep his sense of
humor."
"This Nam vet also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal
with ambushes from hell, comfort a fallen soldier's family, and then read in
his hometown paper how Nam vets are baby killers, psychos, addicts, killers of
innocent civilians."
The Lord gazed into the future and said, "He will also
endure being vilified and spit on when he returns home, rejected and crucified
by the very ones he fought for."
Finally, the angel slowly ran his finger
across the vet's cheek, and
said, "There's a leak...I told you that you
were trying to put too much into this model."
"That's not a leak", said the
Lord. "That's a tear."
"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.
"It's for
bottled up emotions, for holding fallen soldiers as they die, for commitment
to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for the terror of
living with PTSD for decades after the war, alone with its demons with no one
to care or help."
"You're a genius," said the angel, casting a gaze at the
tear.
The lord looked very somber, as if seeing down eternity's distant
shores..."I didn't put it there," he said.
(Pause for reflection)........
God bless Nam vets! | | comments |
| | | Sent: Most people have seen
the Steve McQueen movie The Great Escape at least once.
This is about that tunnel.
The story is
awesome; the interactive map is also creative, not nearly as
much as the fortitude it took to engineer the escape
itself.
The animation alone is
worth looking at, but the story of the tunnel is
amazing.
This is a fascinating
look at a tunnel that was built in a German POW camp which
allowed 76 Allied POWs to escape.
Check it out. Run
your cursor over each number, and it will tell you
about it.
Then click on the word
next in the same site and the story will
unfold.
Link Text
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/18/08
2:16 PM
Ms.A
I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow
their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a
long, uneventful flight home.
With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff
luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to
holding up the
growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight
was not starting out very well. I was anxious to get home to see my loved
ones so I was focused on my issues and just felt like standing up and
yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together.
I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the 'Sky Mall'
magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting
rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break
the monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the
cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were
well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is
in trouble I told myself.
Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we
were being delayed.
The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say
'We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their
way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes.
The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that I
was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over 'these' folks?
I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the
hold up.
Just get their butts in a seat and let's hit the gas I thought.
The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited
voice that we were being joined by several U.S. Marines returning home
from Iraq !
Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause.
The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them
as they searched for their seats.
They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was
within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One
elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her.
The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time.
When we were finally airborne, I was not the only civilian checking his
conscience as to the delays in 'me' getting home, finding my easy chair, a
cold beverage and the remote in my hand.
These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about
'me' and 'my' issues I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and
the conveniences of the American way of life.
I took for granted that others had paid the price for my ability to moan
and complain about a few minutes delay to 'me' while those Heroes were
going home to their loved ones.
I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we
landed, I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a
request for everyone to remain in their seats until our heroes were
allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane.
The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we
all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms.
I felt proud of them.
I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them
home and say 'Thank You for a job well done.' I vowed that I will never
forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK
YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this
and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.
GOD BLESS AMERICA ! WELCOME HOME AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/12/08
9:00 am
AF, Army, Frazier Park, Ca.
Bulletin: A rare case of a "celebrity" we can admire.
What a shame she was not recognized until so many
years later! I had never heard of this before.
They don't make them like they used to !
The following is from an Army Aviator:
It was just before Thanksgiving '67 and we were
ferrying dead and wounded from a large GRF west of
Pleiku. We had run out of body bags by noon, so the
Hook (CH-47 CHINOOK) was pretty rough in the back. All
of a sudden, we heard a 'take-charge' woman's voice in
the rear.
There was the singer and actress, Martha Raye,
wearing a SF (Special Forces) beret and jungle
fatigues, with subdued markings, helping the wounded
into the Chinook, and carrying the dead aboard.
'Maggie' had bee n visiting her SF 'heroes' out west.
We took off, short of fuel, and headed to the USAF
hospital pad at Pleiku. As we all started unloading
our pax, an officious Captain said to Martha.... Ms.
Ray, with all these dead and wounded to process, there
will not be time for your show!
To all of our surprise, she pulled on her right
collar and said....Captain, see this silver oak leaf?
I'm a Lt. Col in the US Army Reserve, and on this
collar is a "Caduceus" which means I am a Nurse, with
a surgical speciality.... now, take me to your
wounded. He said, yes ma'am... follow me.
Several times at the Army Field Hospital in
Pleiku, she would 'cover' a surgical shift, giving a
nurse a well-deserved break.
Martha Raye is the only woman buried in the SF (Special Forces) cemetery at Ft. Bragg .
HAND SALUTE!
Link Text | | | | [Viewer Response] Maggie came to ouu team in son hoa about 40 km south of tuy hoa in 1964 | [Viewer Response] The good guys wear white hats.
Maggie was a good guy. | [Viewer Response] Great story. Have heard many of them. My wife Sandie and I had the privilege of knowing Maggie during the 80's. Dinner at her home every Friday night, board games, watching old movies and just letting her open up and talk about "Her boys" in the military. I have picked up her phone numerous times to hear someone calling from somewhere in the world from some distant military base, or maybe Marge Durante, or Rosemary Clooney. During Christmas I decorated the outside of her home and my wife, the inside. It was an honor to be a part of Col. Maggie's life. She was an original!! We miss her so much and love to tell others how committed she was to "her boys" in the military. She thought the world of all of you!!!
George Steven | | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/28/08
9:00 am
RC
You've got to love our older Veterans
This man, 73, wears a protective flap over his ear while Senator Ted Kennedy, Barack O'Bama, and Hilary Clinton address the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
I wish I could shake this man's hand.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/26/08
10:00 am
DL,Conn.
Subject: An old sailor and an old Marine ..
An old sailor and an old Marine were sitting at the VFW arguing about who'd had the tougher career. "I did 30 years in the Corps," the Marine declared proudly, "and fought in three of my country's wars. Fresh out of boot camp I hit the beach at Okinawa, clawed my way up the blood soaked sand, and eventually took out an entire enemy machine gun nest with a single grenade. As a sergeant, I fought in Korea alongside General Mac Arthur. We pushed back the enemy inch by bloody inch all the way up to the Chinese border, always under a barrage of artillery and small arms fire. Finally as a gunny sergeant, I did three consecutive combat tours in Vietnam. We humped through the mud and razor grass for 14 hours a day, plagued by rain and mosquitoes, ducking under sniper fire all day and mortar fire at night, when our guns were empty, we charged the enemy with bayonets!"
"Ahhh," said the sailor with a dismissive wave of his hand ...
"Lucky bastard! All shore duty, huh?" | | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/02/08
Dr.MM 7:00 am
I AM COMING
I don't know who put this together, but I sure would like to shake his hand, pat him on the back, and wish him, 'Good Hunting!'
I Am Coming!
Dear Terrorists,
I am a Navy Aviator. I was born and raised in a small town in New England. I come from a family of five. I was raised in a middle class home and taught my values by my mother and father.
My dad worked a series of jobs in finance and my mom took care of us kids. We were not an overly religious family but attended church most Sundays. It was a nice small Episcopal Church. I have a brother and
sister and I am the youngest in my family. I was the first in many generations to attend college.
I have flown Naval aircraft for 16 years. For me the flying was never a lifelong dream or a 'calling,' it just happened. I needed a job and I liked the challenge. I continue to do it today because I feel it is important to give back to a nation which has given so much to me. I do it because, although I will never be rich, my family will be comfortable.
I do it because many of my friends have left for the airlines and someone has to do it.
My government has spent millions to train me to fly these
multi-million dollar aircraft. I make about 70,000 dollars a year and after 20 years will be offered a pension.
I like baseball but think the players make too much money. I am in awe of firemen and policemen and what they do each day for my community, and like teachers, they just don't get paid enough.
I respect my elders and always use sir or ma'am when addressing a stranger. I'm not sure about kids these days but I think that's normal for every generation.
I tell you all this because when I come for you, I want you to know me. I won't be hiding behind a woman or a child. I won't be disguised or pretending to be something I am not. I will be in a U.S. issue flight suit. I will be wearing standard US issue flight gear, and I will be flying a navy aircraft clearly marked as a US warplane. I wish we could
meet up close in a small room where I could wrap my hands around your throat and slowly squeeze the life out of you, but unfortunately, you're hiding in a hole in the ground, so we will have to do this a different way.
I want you to know also that I am very good at what I do. I can put a 2,000 lb. weapon through a window from 10,000 feet up. I generally only fly at night, so you may want to start sleeping during the day. I am not eager to die for my country but I am willing to sacrifice my life to protect it from animals like you.
I will do everything in my power to ensure no civilians are hurt as I take aim at you.
My countrymen are a forgiving bunch. Many are already forgetting what you did on Sept 11th. But I will not forget!!
I am coming. I hope you know me a little bit better, see you soon...sleep tight.
Signed
A U.S. Navy Pilot
Our Soldiers are one
of our greatest assets!
God Bless
In God We Trust and God Bless The U. S.A.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/23/08
9:00 am
JT
FARM KID (NOW AT San Diego MARINE CORPS RECRUIT TRAINING)
Dear Ma and Pa,
I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled. I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m. But I am getting so I like to sleep late.
Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing. Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food, plus yours, holds you until noon when you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route marches," which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks. The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none. This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. Y ou don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes. Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake . I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds and he's 6'8" and near 300 pounds dry.
Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to h urry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.
Your loving daughter,
Alice | | comments |
| | | Sent: Subject: Fw: The story of Ed > > From an ole military friend: > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Not many know about the person in this story; if you are 65 or older , you may, if you have any recall at all. To me it says we need to be > gratefull for all those serving our country in the Mililtary Service and to pray for their safe return to their families. We need to have empathy > for those families who have lost part of their family.; who have given their life for our safety and well being.Then we Need To Praise God continually for all the Prayers he answers for each of us.I just prayed thanking the Lord for each of you.
"The Story of Old Ed" Every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembles a giant orange and is starting to dip into the blue ocean Old Ed comes strolling along the beach to his favorite pier. Clutched in his bony hand is a bucket of shrimp.
Ed walks out to the end of the pier, where it seems he almost has the world to himself.
The glow of the sun is a golden bronze now. Everybody's gone, except for a few joggers on the beach. Standing out on the end of the pier, Ed is alone with his thoughts....and his bucket of shrimp. Before long, however, he is no longer alone. Up in the sky a thousand white dots come screeching and squawking, winging their way toward that lanky frame standing there on the end of the pier. Before long, dozens of seagull have enveloped him, their wings fluttering and flapping wildly.
Ed stands there tossing shrimp to the hungry birds. As he does, if you > listen closely, you can hear him say with a smile, "Thank you.Thank you!" In a few short minutes the bucket is empty. But Ed doesn't leave. He stands there lost in thought, as though transported to another time and place. Invariably, one of the gulls lands on his sea-bleached, weather-beaten hat an old military hat he's been wearing for years. When he finally turns around and begins to walk back toward the beach, a few of the birds hop along the pier with him until he gets to the stairs, and then they,t oo, fly away. And old Ed quietly makes his way down to the > end of the beach and on home. If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the water, Ed might seem like "a funny old duck," as my dad used to say. Or, "a guy that's a sandwich shy of a picnic," as my kids might say. To onlookers, he's just another old codger, lost in his own weird world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of shrimp.
To the onlooker, rituals can look either very strange or very empty. They can seem altogether unimportant....maybe even a lot of nonsense. Old folks > often do strange things, at least in the eyes of Boomers and Busters. Most > of them would probably write Old Ed off, down there in Florida. That's too bad. They'd do well to know him better. This is his story: His full name: Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero back in World War II. On one of his flying missions across the Pacific, he and his seven-member crew went down. Miraculously, all of the men survived, crawled out of their plane, and climbed into a life raft.
Captain Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most of all, they fought hunger. By the eighth day their rations ran out. No food. No water. They were hundreds of miles from land and no one knew where they were. They needed a miracle.That afternoon they had a simple devotional service and prayed for a miracle. They tried to nap. Eddie leaned back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged. All he could hear was the slap of the waves against the raft. Suddenly, Eddie felt something land on the top of his cap. It was a seagull! Old Ed would later describe how he sat perfectly still, planning his next move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk from the gull, he managed to grab it and wring its neck. He tore the feathers off, and he and his starving crew made a meal a very slight meal for eight men of it.
Then they used the intestines for bait. With it, they caught fish, which gave them food and more bait...... and the cycle continued. With that simple survival technique, they were able to endure the rigors of the sea until > they were found and rescued. Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, but he never forgot the sacrifice of that first lifesaving seagull. And he never stopped saying, "Thank you." That's why almost every Friday night he would walk to the end of the pier with a bucket full of shrimp and a heart full of gratitude.
DL
Easton, Conn. | | | [Viewer Response] PS I thought it was Colonel VON Rickenbacker? Am I wrong? Was he German? Regardless, thank you!
| [Viewer Response] Wow! Col. Rickenbacker is still alive? How can I shake his hand and thank him? Thank you for your report. I am really awestruck.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: Thought some of you might like to read this story. To aviators it might sound like a
love story.
In April 1986, following an attack on American soldiers in a Berlin
disco, President Reagan ordered the bombing of Muammar Qaddafi’s
terrorist camps in Libya.
My duty was to fly over Libya
and take photos recording the damage our F-111’s had inflicted. Qaddafi
had established a ‘line of death,’ a territorial marking across the
Gulf of Sidra, swearing to shoot down any
intruder that crossed the boundary. On the morning of April 15, I rocketed past
the line at 2,125 mph.
I was piloting the SR-71 spy plane, the world’s fastest jet, accompanied by
Maj Walter Watson, the aircraft’s reconnaissance systems officer (RSO).
We had crossed into Libya
and were approaching our final turn over the bleak desert landscape when Walter
informed me that he was receiving missile launch signals. I quickly increased
our speed, calculating the time it would take for the weapons-most likely SA-2
and SA-4 surface-to-air missiles capable of Mach 5 - to reach our altitude. I
estimated that we could beat the rocket-powered missiles to the turn and stayed
our course, betting our lives on the plane’s performance.
After several agonizingly long seconds, we made the turn and blasted toward the
Mediterranean. ‘You might want to pull it
back,’ Walter suggested. It was then that I noticed I still had the
throttles full forward. The plane was flying a mile every 1.6 seconds, well
above our Mach 3.2 limit. It was the fastest we would ever fly. I pulled the
throttles to idle just south of Sicily , but
we still overran the refueling tanker awaiting us over Gibraltar
Scores of significant aircraft have been produced in the 100 years of flight,
following the achievements of the Wright brothers, which we celebrate in
December. Aircraft such as the Boeing 707, the F-86 Sabre Jet, and the P-51
Mustang are among the important machines that have flown our skies. But the
SR-71, also known as the Blackbird, stands alone as a significant contributor
to Cold War victory and as the fastest plane ever-and only 93 Air Force pilots
ever steered the ‘sled,’ as we called our aircraft.
As inconceivable as it may sound, I once discarded the plane. Literally. My first
encounter with the SR-71 came when I was 10 years old in the form of molded
black plastic in a Revell kit. Cementing together the long fuselage parts
proved tricky, and my finished product looked less than menacing. Glue,oozing
from the seams, discolored the black plastic. It seemed ungainly alongside the
fighter planes in my collection, and I threw it away.
Twenty-nine years later, I stood awe-struck in a Beale Air Force Base hangar, staring at
the very real SR-71 before me. I had applied to fly the world’s fastest
jet and was receiving my first walk-around of our nation’s most
prestigious aircraft. In my previous 13 years as an Air Force fighter pilot, I
had never seen an aircraft with such presence. At 107 feet long, it appeared
big, but far from ungainly.
Ironically,the plane was dripping, much like the misshapen model had assembled in my
youth. Fuel was seeping through the joints, raining down on the hangar floor.
At Mach 3, the plane would expand several inches because of the severe
temperature, which could heat the leading edge of the wing to 1,100 degrees. To
prevent cracking, expansion joints had been built into the plane. Sealant
resembling rubber glue covered the seams, but when the plane was subsonic, fuel
would leak through the joints.
The SR-71 was the brainchild of Kelly Johnson, the famed Lockheed designer who
created the P-38, the F-104 Starfighter, and the U-2. After the Soviets shot
down Gary Powers’ U-2 in 1960, Johnson began to develop an aircraft that
would fly three miles higher and five times faster than the spy plane-and still
be capable of photographing your license plate. However, flying at 2,000 mph
would create intense heat on the aircraft’s skin. Lockheed engineers used
a titanium alloy to construct more than 90 percent of the SR-71, creating
special tools and manufacturing procedures to hand-build each of the 40 planes.
Special heat-resistant fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluids that would function at
85,000 feet and higher also had to be developed.
In 1962, the first Blackbird successfully flew, and in 1966, the same year I
graduated from high school, the Air Force began flying operational SR-71
missions. I came to the program in 1983 with a sterling record and a
recommendation from my commander, completing the weeklong interview and meeting
Walter, my partner for the next four years. He would ride four feet behind me,
working all the cameras, radios, and electronic jamming equipment. I joked that
if we were ever captured, he was the spy and I was just the driver. He told me to
keep the pointy end forward.
We trained for a year, flying out of Beale AFB in California,
Kadena Airbase in Okinawa, and RAF Mildenhall in England. On a typical training
mission, we would take off near Sacramento, refuel over Nevada, accelerate into
Montana, obtain high Mach over Colorado, turn right over New Mexico, speed
across the Los Angeles Basin, run up the West Coast, turn right at Seattle,
then return to Beale. Total flight time: two hours and 40 minutes.
One day, high above Arizona,
we were monitoring the radio traffic of all the mortal airplanes below us.
First, a Cessna pilot asked the air traffic controllers to check his ground
speed. ‘Ninety knots,’ ATC replied. A twin Bonanza soon made the
same request. ‘One-twenty on the ground,’ was the reply. To our
surprise, a navy F-18 came over the radio with a ground speed check. I knew
exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had a ground speed indicator in his
cockpit, but he wanted to let all the bug-smashers in the valley know what real
speed was ‘Dusty 52, we show you at 620 on the ground,’ ATC
responded.
The situation was too ripe. I heard the click of Walter’s mike button in the
rear seat. In his most innocent voice, Walter startled the controller by asking
for a ground speed check from 81,000 feet, clearly above controlled airspace.
In a cool, professional voice, the controller replied, ‘ Aspen 20, I show you at
1,982 knots on the
ground.’ We did not hear another transmission on that frequency all the
way to the coast.
The Blackbird always showed us something new, each aircraft possessing its own
unique personality. In time, we realized we were flying a national treasure.
When we taxied out of our revetments for takeoff, people took notice. Traffic
congregated near the airfield fences, because everyone wanted to see and hear
the mighty SR-71. You could not be a part of this program and not come to love
the airplane. Slowly, she revealed her secrets to us as we earned her trust.
One moonless night, while flying a routine training mission over the Pacific, I
wondered what the sky would look like from 84,000 feet if the cockpit lighting
were dark. While heading home on a straight course, I slowly turned down all of
the lighting, reducing the glare and revealing the night sky. Within seconds, I
turned the lights back up, fearful that the jet would know and somehow punish
me. But my desire to see the sky overruled my caution, I dimmed the lighting
again. To my amazement, I saw a bright light outside my window. As my eyes
adjusted to the view, I realized that the brilliance was the broad expanse of
the Milky Way, now a gleaming stripe across the sky.
Where dark spaces in the sky had usually existed, there were now dense clusters of
sparkling stars. Shooting stars flashed across the canvas every few seconds. It
was like a fireworks display with no sound. I knew I had to get my eyes back on
the instruments, and reluctantly I brought my attention back inside. To my
surprise, with the cockpit lighting still off, I could see every gauge, lit by
starlight. In the plane’s mirrors, I could see the eerie shine of my gold
spacesuit incandescently illuminated in a celestial glow. I stole one last
glance out the window.
Despite our speed, we seemed still before the heavens, humbled in the radiance of a much
greater power. For those few moments, I felt a part of something far more
significant than anything we were doing in the plane. The sharp sound of
Walt’s voice on the radio brought me back to the tasks at hand as I
prepared for our descent.
The SR-71 was an expensive aircraft to operate. The most significant cost was
tanker support, and in 1990, confronted with budget cutbacks, the Air Force
retired the SR-71. The Blackbird had outrun nearly 4,000 missiles, not once
taking a scratch from enemy fire. On her final flight, the Blackbird, destined
for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, sped from Los Angeles to
Washington in 64 minutes, averaging 2,145 mph and setting four speed records.
The SR-71 served six presidents, protecting America for a quarter of a century.
Unbeknownst to most of the country, the plane flew over North Vietnam, Red China,
North Korea , the Middle
East, South Africa, Cuba, Nicaragua,
Iran, Libya, and the Falkland
Islands . On a weekly basis, the SR-71 kept watch over every
Soviet nuclear submarine and mobile missile site, and all of their troop
movements. It was a key factor in winning the Cold War.
I am proud to say I flew about 500 hours in this aircraft. I knew her well. She
gave way to no plane, proudly dragging her sonic boom through enemy backyards
with great impunity. She defeated every missile, outran every MiG, and always
brought us home. In the first 100 years of manned flight, no aircraft was more
remarkable.
With the Libyan coast fast approaching now, Walt asks me for the third time, if I
think the jet will get to the speed and altitude we want in time. I tell him
yes. I know he is concerned. He is dealing with the data; that’s what
engineers do, and I am glad he is.
But I have my hands on the stick and throttles and can feel the heart of a
thoroughbred, running now with the power and perfection she was designed to
possess. I also talk to her. Like the combat veteran she is, the jet senses the
target area and seems to prepare herself.
For the first time in two days, the inlet door closes flush and all vibration is
gone. We’ve become so used to the constant buzzing that the jet sounds
quiet now in comparison. The Mach correspondingly increases slightly and the
jet is flying in that confidently smooth and steady style we have so often seen
at these speeds. We reach our target altitude and speed, with five miles to
spare. Entering the target area, in response to the jet’s new-found
vitality, Walt says, ‘That’s amazing’ and with my left hand
pushing two throttles farther forward, I think to myself that there is much
they don’t teach in engineering school.
Out my left window, Libya
looks like one huge sandbox. A featureless brown terrain stretches all the way
to the horizon. There is no sign of any activity. Then Walt tells me that he is
getting lots of electronic signals, and they are not the friendly kind. The
jet is performing perfectly now, flying better than she has in weeks. She seems
to know where she is. She likes the high Mach, as we penetrate deeper into
Libyan airspace. Leaving the footprint of our sonic boom across Benghazi, I sit
motionless, with stilled hands on throttles and the pitch control, my eyes glued
to the gauges.
Only the Mach indicator is moving, steadily increasing in hundredths, in a rhythmic
consistency similar to the long distance runner who has caught his second wind
and picked up the pace. The jet was made for this kind of performance and she
wasn’t about to let an errant inlet door make her miss the show. With the
power of forty locomotives, we puncture the quiet African sky and continue
farther south across a bleak landscape. \
Walt continues to update me with numerous reactions he sees on the DEF panel. He is
receiving missile tracking signals. With each mile we traverse, every two
seconds, I become more uncomfortable driving deeper into this barren and
hostile land. I am glad the DEF panel is not in the front seat. It would be a big
distraction now, seeing the lights flashing. In contrast, my cockpit is
‘quiet’ as the jet purrs and relishes her new-found strength,
continuing to slowly accelerate.
The spikes are full aft now, tucked twenty-six inches deep into the nacelles. With
all inlet doors tightly shut, at 3.24 Mach, the J-58s are more like ramjets
now, gulping 100,000 cubic feet of air per second. We are a roaring express
now, and as we roll through the enemy’s backyard, I hope our speed
continues to defeat the missile radars below. We are approaching a turn, and
this is good. It will only make it more difficult for any launched missile to
solve the solution for hitting our aircraft.
I push the speed up at Walt’s request. The jet does not skip a beat,
nothing fluctuates, and the cameras have a rock steady platform. Walt received
missile launch signals. Before he can say anything else, my left hand
instinctively moves the throttles yet farther forward. My eyes are glued to
temperature gauges now, as I know the jet will willingly go to speeds that can
harm her. The temps are relatively cool and from all the warm temps we’ve
encountered thus far, this surprises me but then, it really doesn’t
surprise me. Mach 3.31 and Walt is quiet for the moment.
I move my gloved finder across the small silver wheel on the autopilot panel
which controls the aircraft’s pitch. With the deft feel known to Swiss
watchmakers, surgeons, and ‘dinosaurs’ (old- time pilots who not
only fly an airplane but ‘feel it’), I rotate the pitch wheel
somewhere between one-sixteenth and one-eighth inch location, a position which
yields the 500-foot-per-minute climb I desire. The jet raises her nose
one-sixth of a degree and knows, I’ll push her higher as she goes faster.
The Mach continues to rise, but during this segment of our route, I am in no
mood to pull throttles back.
Walt’s voice pierces the quiet of my cockpit with the news of more missile launch
signals. The gravity of Walter’s voice tells me that he believes the
signals to be a more valid threat than the others. Within seconds he tells me
to ‘push it up’ and I firmly press both throttles against their
stops. For the next few seconds, I will let the jet go as fast as she wants. A
final turn is coming up and we both know that if we can hit that turn at this
speed, we most likely will defeat any missiles. We are not there yet, though,
and I’m wondering if Walt will call for a defensive turn off our course.
With no words spoken, I sense Walter is thinking in concert with me about
maintaining our programmed course. To keep from worrying, I glance outside,
wondering if I’ll be able to visually pick up a missile aimed at us. Odd
are the thoughts that wander through one’s mind in times like these. I
found myself recalling the words of former SR-71 pilots who were fired upon
while flying missions over North Vietnam . They said the few errant missile
detonations they were able to observe from the cockpit looked like implosions
rather than explosions. This was due to the great speed at which the jet was
hurling away from the exploding missile.
I see nothing outside except the endless expanse of a steel blue sky and the
broad patch of tan earth far below. I have only had my eyes out of the cockpit
for seconds, but it seems like many minutes since I have last checked the
gauges inside. Returning my attention inward, I glance first at the miles
counter telling me how many more to go, until we can start our turn. Then I
note the Mach, and passing beyond 3.45, I realize that Walter and I have
attained new personal records. The Mach continues to increase. The ride is
incredibly smooth.
There seems to be a confirmed trust now, between me and the jet; she will not
hesitate to deliver whatever speed we need, and I can count on no problems with
the inlets. Walt and I are ultimately depending on the jet now - more so than
normal - and she seems to know it. The cooler outside temperatures have
awakened the spirit born into her years ago, when men dedicated to excellence
took the time and care to build her well. With spikes and doors as tight as
they can get, we are racing against the time it could take a missile to reach
our altitude.
It is a race this jet will not let us lose. The Mach eases to 3.5 as we crest
80,000 feet. We are a bullet now – except faster. We hit the turn, and I
feel some relief as our nose swings away from a country we have seen quite
enough of. Screaming past Tripoli,
our phenomenal speed continues to rise, and the screaming Sled pummels the
enemy one more time, laying down a parting sonic boom. In seconds, we can see
nothing but the expansive blue of the Mediterranean.
I realize that I still have my left hand full-forward and we’re
continuing to rocket along in maximum afterburner.
The TDI now shows us Mach numbers, not only new to our experience but flat out
scary. Walt says the DEF panel is now quiet, and I know it is time to reduce
our incredible speed. I pull the throttles to the min ‘burner range and
the jet still doesn’t want to slow down. Normally the Mach would be
affected immediately, when making such a large throttle movement. But for just
a few moments old 960 just sat out there at the high Mach, she seemed to love
and like the proud Sled she was, only began to slow when we were well out of
danger. I loved that jet.
DL
Essex,Conn.
_________________________________________________________________
| | | | [Viewer Response] What a wonderful story! Definitely raised my heart rate a bit over Lybia. I was air crew on a Navy P3-A in the '60's. We flew a bit lower and slower. I'm retired now and work part time in security with a fellow retiree, a former Air Force Sgt. who was stationed at Beale. He loved the Black Bird too! Thanks for the great story and help keeping track of those Russian subs. A fellow cold war warrior, L.Jones | | comments |
| | | Sent: Wanted by VetNet
WANTED: Veterans Network history department is looking for anyone involved with USMAAG - Indochina between 1950 and 1959. We would be interested in your experience and knowledge of this era. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 08/13/07
3:13 pm
Van Sanderson
branch: Navy
comments:
My name is Vancil Sanderson and in 1966 I was a part of the illegal and
immoral experiments performed on military
personnel on Naval Station Guam, Cocos Island, Guam. A radioactive substance was
being put into our food.
Many years later, 1983, I started having severe health problems. In 1993 I was
forced to apply for SSD and for my service
connection. After 2 years of trying to get my military records, Congresswoman
Barbara Vucanovich assisted me in getting my
records. We found out that the military had purged the records of the experiment on
Cocos Island. Other parts of my records
were also purged. With the purging of my records I was forced to research my
military service to prove my case for disability
compensation and that it is service connected. The following is what I have found
about the island of Guam and it\'s serious
contamination problem.
In 1944 the Battle for Guam was fought. Many men died on both sides. Almost 20,000
people were killed in the battle. About
5,000 US and 15,000 Japanese. The war in the Pacific was coming to a climax. Guam
was a key part on the attack of Japan.
With all the dead on Guam and the war still raging a huge problem arose. Filth Flies
and other disease carrying insects were
multiplying by the billions on all the dead. There weren\'t enough people to do away
with all the bodies to stop the problem. The
answer to the problem was DDT. The island wide use started just after the battle.
The entire island was sprayed by air day
after day, month after month. The use of DDT by air may have gone on for years. DDT
was also used in the disposal of many
of the bodies. The bodies were DDT\'d, wrapped or bagged then DDT\'d, then put in
graves and DDT\'d again. DDT wasn\'t the
only pesticide being used. DDT was used on Guam until it\'s ban.
Herbicides were being used in the building and maintenance of the infrastructure of
Guam. I believe 10 military installations,
both Navy and Airforce, were built right after or during the war. Andersen AFB is
the largest attack base in the world. It was
used in the bombing of Vietnam. There were numerous Navy installations as well, NCS,
Barricada Station, Guam Naval
Complex(6 bases) and Naval Station Guam, Cocos Island. Herbs were used to build
these bases and to maintain them. The
first herbicide used according to WWII veterans was Agent White. Veterans have also
testified to the use of Agent Orange as
early as 1955. Guam was a staging area for Vietnam and was used to store the rainbow
herbs. At least as early as the Korean
war the US was storing the rainbow herbicides on Guam. Agent Purple has been
reported by the DOD as having been stored
there during Korea, for use in Korea. I personnally am in contact with 5 vets who
used AO on Guam in the sixties, the earliest
being 1962 and the latest 1969. Veterans who worked in the storage areas of Guam
have taken pictures of the various
herbicides. They have also written letters in support of the pictures and also
stated they used these herbicides on Guam. It was
even used in aerial spraying according to veterans.
Silvex,2,4,5-TP, another of these herbicides can be found throughout the drinking
water system of Guam, as well as 2,4-D,
2,4,5-T, 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The Northern Guam Lens Aquifer was the sole-source drinking
water aquifer for Guam and is
contaminated by every substance the military had to offer and some. Fena Lake is the
water supply for the Navy and the Fleet
that ported on Guam. The lake is surrounded by the Naval Magazine and is
contaminated. The only way for these substances
to get into the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer and Fena Lake is through military use or
disposal. The aquifer, at the north end of
the island, was contaminated by the 3 bases that sit atop it, Andersen AFB, NCS and
NAS. The first year tested for Silvex in
the aquifer was 1983 at the NCS wells. Silvex, which can contain more dioxin than
Agent Orange, tested high at .21ppm. .05
is the MCL for Silvex.
Dioxin, the main substance of concern in these herbicides, can be found all over the
island. The highest amount in the world
I have been able to find is on Andersen AFB. 19,000ppm in the soil. Higher than
anywhere in Vietnam. This amount
represents, not just dioxin from herbicides, but from the disposal of dioxin forming
substances by burning. Burning substances
like oil, organochlorine pesticides like DDT, fuels, PCB\'s and a host of others.
These burning ponds were on Navy bases as
well. Wind patterns I have looked at for the island of Guam, would have been sending
dioxin all over the island. During
Vietnam and after the amounts must have been astronomical. I know PCB\'s are dioxin
forming when burned and the island of
Guam was not allowed to ship PCB\'s off island until 1993 or 94 per the EPA. What
this means is that for years this substance
and many more were disposed of on Guam. It didn\'t change until the EPA came into
being and it wasn\'t until 1978 the military
complex of Guam found they had a very serious problem with contamination. Especially
in the drinking water.
What I have tried to describe is a very small island with a huge military presence.
Pesticides were used in all facets of the
military, especially on these pacific islands. Insecticides like DDT were used
against the disease carrying insects. Herbicides like
Agent Orange, Silvex and 2,4-D were used against the plant life. This is the way the
military did things. Guam is just the worst
case scenario.
Next I found, starting with the Nuclear Weapons testing in the Pacific, Operation
Crossroads, that Guam was used as a
staging area. Guam between 1946 and the end of the testing, 1963, was a part of the
radiation zone for the testing in the
Pacific. It was also being used as a decontamination site for the ships of the
testing. Apra Harbor and Cocos Lagoon were the
areas I found that were being used. (Cocos Island and lagoon tests high for
pcb\'s,265 times allowed and for Sr89 and 90 at
4121ppm on the base).Guam was also a storage area for contaminated munitions from
the testing. Guam would have been
receiving radiation from the bomb testing by way of water, air and contaminants from
the storage and decontamination. I would
like to take a quote from the \"Blue Ribbon Panel Committee Action Report\" on
Guam.\"What was perpetrated against this
region was the largest ecological disaster in human history. This disaster was no
less than the detonation of over 108,000
kilotons of nuclear explosive directly up jet stream of Guam. The amount of
contamination was 42 times the approximately 150
million curiesreleased as a result of testing in the United States of America.\" The
report indicates that significant amounts of
fallout from the testing existed until about 1974. I know the US Government had the
Univ. of Washington testing the food
supply, water and some vegetation from 1954 to about 1979. They have some of the
samples archived. Other ways for
radioactive contamination would have also come from the decontamination of planes.
As I have said Guam was a part of the
radiation zone and planes monitoring the bomb blasts followed and measured the
fallout. The planes got pretty hot and some
times the planes had to sit on the runway area to cool down before decontamination.
This runoff from the planes was ending up
in the aquifer as well. Radiation contamination was a fact on Guam and it had many
sources.
Next is the contamination to the aquifer by way of military procedures or the way
things were done for the time. The
number one contamination problem for the military on Guam may have been TCE. Or it
would be better stated that the
synergistic effect of all the substances may be the big problem. Whatever way you
look at it, it adds up to a lot of
contamination of the most toxic substances the military uses. And it was running off
unabated into the water supply for Guam
and the fleet for at least 34 years. Feb. 1978 Andersen AFB, Guam, the airforce
finds it has a serious problem with TCE
contamination to the water supply. The 11 wells of the Marbo Complex are
contaminated, some severely. TCE continued to
be a serious problem for the aquifer even after the discovery. The military\'s only
way to combat the problem was to dilute the
wells. Take the water from less contaminated wells and mix with the severely
contaminated wells before consumption. Levels
even then were high. Dilution isn\'t a an efficient way to clean drinking water. At
best it\'s a bandaid solution, if that. It wasn\'t until
about 1995 that the technology was developed and installed on Guam. This technology
was developed for the military at
McClelland AFB, Calif in the late 80\'s.
While stationed on NCS, Guam in 1966 and 67 I could taste, see and smell what
appeared to be a solvent in the drinking
water. According to ATSDR the level of TCE would have to have been at least
1,000,000ppb. What this means is that all the
levels of contaminants in the drinking water would have been much higher than
indicated by the DOD. With my personal
knowledge and hearings held before congress in Nov. 1987, this shows the
contamination was extrememly high.(Page 84 of
the Mike Synar hearings before congress explains that all the readings released by
the airforce for Andersen AFB were diluted
figures and didn\'t represent the true contamination levels of the aquifer)GAO
reports for Guam support the dilution and when it
started. In the GAO April and May 1987 reports it is stated that base commanders
immediately started dilution upon the
discovery of the contamination. It was discovered in Feb. 1978 and all readings
after this time, Mar. 1978 on, were diluted.
What this means is that there was a lot of contamination going into the aquifer and
ultimately being consumed by military and
civilian personnel.The TCE levels were a huge problem because of all the types of
uses and how the military did things during
Vietnam and before. TCE was the solvent of choice and used to washdown planes after
each flight. It was a mixture of TCE
and water. Andersen AFB was the largest attack base in the world and all flights for
B-52\'s attacking Vietnam originated and
ended on Guam in 1965, 66 and into 67. This represents 1000\'s of flights just for
the B-52\'s. After each sortie the planes are
washed down with the TCE mixture. The mixture then went into the drainage system and
into the aquifer. Andersen\'s drainage
system and numerous dumby wells (Dumby wells were punched all over Andersen for
better recharge of the aquifer. May be
as many as 200 of these wells) carried all the contamination directly to the
aquifer. Any contamination that didn\'t make it to the
drainage systems would have been runoff by the heavy rainfalls by way of the many
sinkholes and dumby wells on the island.
These sinkholes provided rapid transfer of contaminants from the surface to the
aquifer, per the GAO, and were all over the
island. The military was using some of these sinkholes as dumps. Some drainage
systems were tied directly to the sinkholes and
dumby wells. I would venture to say over 100,000 flights of B-52\'s tookoff from
Andersen. Add in all the other types aircraft
stationed, serviced and overhauled on Andersen and you could have had over a
1,000,000 planes done at Andersen just
during Vietnam. Veterans who worked on the flightline also have told me after the
B-52\'s left on a sortie, the bunkers, where all
the prep work for the B-52\'s was done, were sprayed with the TCE mixture. Every
bunker had a drainage system tied to the
main drain for the flightline. TCE was the most widely used solvent for all airforce
operations.
The way the military handled it\'s toxic waste for years, was by dumping or burning
and that was how it was done until the
80\'s. On Guam you have 3 military installations over the Northern Guam Lens
drinking water aquifer. One is Andersen AFB
which is an NPL site. The amount of contamination generated by Andersen during
Vietnam would have been the highest in the
world. All of this had rapid transfer to the aquifer. This is substantiated by the
PHA and bioenvironmental engineering well
reports for Andersen. The PHA shows how high dioxin and other toxics are on
Andersen, the highest amount being
19,000ppm of TCDD in the soil. The bioenvironmental reports show the array of
chemicals. There are many other sites with
high amounts of dioxin. Site No. 31, Chemical Storage No. 4(CS-4), had dioxin rates
as high as 130ppm. This site is
up-aquifer from NCS wells 1 and 1a(are now NCS A and B) The herbicide silvex is in
high amounts in the NCS wells,
.21ppm per GEPA in 1983. Dioxin(2,3,7,8-TCDD), 2,4,-D, 2,4,5-T and many more
pesticides and chemicals can be found in
the NCS wells, still today. There can be no drift, because the north end of this
island is all military all the time. Just ocean and
military. And the military is the only one using most of these substances.
The naval installations were also contaminating the aquifer, just not to the extent
of Andersen. NCS and the NAS are
superfund sites. Quite possibly NAS should have been an NPL site. They did things
the same way as Andersen, dump and
burn. Same types of toxic waste. Same washdown procedures that contaminated the
environment. Same creation of dioxin by
burning. Used the same types of insectides and herbicides, for the most part.
Applied and stored them the same. The Navy
was handling the toxic waste just as the airforce was, that was for the times. This
is just the north end of the island and the
contamination to the sole-source drinking water aquifer.
The south end consists of the Guam Naval Complex, less the NAS. The Naval Magazine
surrounds the drinking water
supply, Fena Lake, for the navy and the ships that ported on Guam. The magazine is a
superfund site. All of the insecticides
and herbicides(pesticides) were used in the same manner as other military
installations. The base contaminated the environment
around it including the lake. This lake, during and after WWII, would have been
sprayed with DDT for control of disease
carrying insects. Herbicides were used as well for control of weeds in and around
the lake.
In all, the military is responsible for, and I believe this number is growing, there
are 207 contaminated sites, 28 or more
superfund sites and 2 NPL sites on Guam. The island of Guam is about 30 miles long
by an average of 8 and 1/2 miles wide.
Massive amounts of pesticides were used in the military buildup and maintenance of
the military complex on Guam. After the
complex was built it was expanded and the military controlled about 2/3\'s of the
island at the pinnacle.
There are health problems that coincide with the military buildup, neurodegenerative
disease. It has many names but is best
described by ALS/PDC. Neurodegenerative disease got to epidemic proportions between
WWII and the middle 50\'s for
Guam natives, the Chamorro people. I know the DVA is studying this disease in
military personnel, stationed on Guam, at the
VA center in Reno, Nevada. Same time frame. The study has been slowed due to a high
response by veterans stationed on
Guam. The problem with the study is that it doesn\'t cover a broad enough time
period. The Board of Veterans Appeals(BVA)
has found cases of Guam ALS in military personnel, who were stationed on Guam, as
late as the early 70\'s. These aren\'t the
only health problems associated with Guam. According to David B. Cohen in 2004,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior
for Insular Affairs, about Guam, \"We see alarmingly high rates of diabetes,
hypertension, obesity and many types of cancer
and other diseases\". I know in the Mike Synar hearings in 1987 the congress was
initiating studies or already had of cancer, for
a base or bases on Guam. I am or have been in contact with maybe as many as 100
veterans, and or family members, and or
friends of these veterans who have these catastrophic illnesses. I have been
contacted by some of the Chamorro people of
Guam who are having numerous health problems. Whole families can be affected with
diseases.
What we have is a small island that was strategic to the military buildup during and
after WWII. Guam is still strategic to the
US. Government document after government document supports the massive contamination
to this island. The military pesticide
manual explains totally how to use these substances and for what. All military
installations on Guam followed the manual. The
rainbow herbs, silvex and DDT were all used or stored on Guam. Veterans confirm the
use of herbs like Agent White, during
and after WWII. Agent Purple was stored on Guam for use in Korea. Agent Orange was
used maybe as early as 1955, but I
know veterans who used AO during the 60\'s and as early as 1962. I saw these
herbicides being used in 1966 and 67. Many
other veterans witnessed the use or used them. Veterans have pictures of the herbs
and the naval yard where they were stored.
DDT was passed out like condoms. If you need it use it. All our forays into the
jungle, we had to use the DDT. Whenever the
bug problem started to pick up, DDT was used on the perimeters and some distance
into the jungle. Pesticides were used
regularly around the barracks.
We have a wide array of pesticides, VOC\'s, Benzene, Toulene, PAH\'s, SVOC\'s,
radionuclide and many other of the most
toxic substances the military uses and all of this contamination was ending up in
the drinking water. Of course there was contact
through the skin and through inhallation upon the disposal and use of these toxics
as well. Then you take and add in the Nuclear
Weapons Testing from 1946 through 1963 and the use of Guam as a staging area for the
testing and it was used for the
decontamination of ships and storage for radiation contaminated munitions and
equipment. You add all this up and there is a
huge contamination problem. The health problems of the people of Guam and military
personnel prove this. The hearings before
Congress prove it. The EPA and GEPA documents prove it. The many GAO reports prove
it. ATSDR proves it. The DOE
and DOD proves it. And last and most importantly veterans and there sworn testimony
prove it.
To support all the documents and all the statements made by me, A professor Luis
Szyfres from the University of Gaum has
come forward and blown the whistle to all the contamination on gaum. Every document
he presents is peer-reviewed. Many of
the documents are the same as in my case. ATSDR, GAO, DOE, DNA and many others. He
is a highly respected scientist in
his field and his field is contamination, at least one of them. His credentials are
impeccable and he\'s studying the contamination
to Guam. He says that civilian and military personnel would have been exposed by the
air that they breathe, the food and the
drinking water. Much of the work he\'s done is for the US Government.
What Guam has is a huge contamination problem with substances like insecticides,
herbicides, vocs, svocs, pcbs, pahs,
other pesticides, solvents, fuels, various radioactive substances like cesium and
strontium 90. All of this was ending up in the
sole-source drinking water aquifer under Andersen AFB, NAS and NCS. All drew their
water from this aquifer. 75% of the
islands water supply is drawn from the aquifer under these bases. Studies have been
done on the cancer rates to military
personnel on Guam, per GAO and Congress. Page 52 of the Mike Synar hearings points
this fact out. Guam was the major
staging area for WWII, Korea, Nuclear Weapons and Viet Nam.
That means the Viet Nam era herbicides were stored and used there. This is supported
by the veterans that used them,
scientists, well reports, GAO, GEPA and EPA reports. The burnsite on Andersen that
has dioxin in soil at 19,000ppm was
used to dispose of pesticides. Herbicides are a pesticide. This is per the 2002
ATSDR report for the site. Although this report
is a Public Health Assessment, it shows what the military was being exposed to on a
daily basis. Dioxin is everywhere on the
base. It was and still is in the drinking water of Guam. I have contacted ATSDR and
they have told me their information only
goes back to about 1989. Most of the contamination already had happened. And before
1978 there was no effort to stop the
contamination because the military says they didn\'t know about it. All of this
supports the fact that military personnel, stationed
on Guam, were contaminated with a wide array of contaminants and sometimes in
massive amounts such as the DDT, radiation
and rainbow herbicides.
Thankyou for your time.
Vancil I. Sanderson
| | | | [Viewer Response] Hello I am Becky Cunningham, my husband was stationed in Guam 1980 to 1981 he was a healthy young man at the time he joined the Navy took no medication or anything. He started having pancreatitis while he was there and the military said it was due to alcohol but he later ended up with type 2 diabetes hbp and in 2009 was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and passed away at the age of 48 the millitary has denied his disabilty. If you should have anymore informnation on people with pancreatic cancer that was sataioned in Guam please either email me at rcunningham@chester.k12.sc.us or call me at 8034824474. Thank you | | [Viewer Response] did you ever win your claim with the VA? | [Viewer Response] I was stationed on Guam in 66-67-68 and 69 two times I worked in the bomb dumps and one on the flight line. I remember the I dead foliage espically around the flight line. I also remember the taste of the water was terrible. Lived on base and off, Marboro.
Tom Konieczko | | [Viewer Response] I was married to a Marine and was at Camp Pendleton the year it was declared a Superfund site in 1978, the year I gave birth to our daughter at NRMC. I became very ill during the ptrgnancy. Silvex, PCBs, VOCs, metals were found there. High levels of lead in the drinking water also. I now have A neuroendocrine cancer with inoperable right ovarian tumor (Carcinoid cancer), A blood cancer, was CIN 1 cervical cancer, prediabetic, heart problems, migraines, asthma and other medical issues. | | [Viewer Response] My dad was stationed on Guam from about 1958 or 59 until 1961 or 62. The ritual, almost every day, was to get home from school and wait for the misquito truck - every kid on base rode their bike behind it and then went to the chiefs club for a soda - I have always wondered what long term effects this might have on me - Jack | [Viewer Response] I was stationed at Naval Communications Station Finegayan(sp), Guam from 1965-67. This was my last duty station before retiring after 20 years of service. I am now approaching 80 years of age and have had numerous health issues over the years, including Diabetes, Melanoma, 3 bouts of bladder cancer and other maladies which I think are related to my tour of duty on Guam.
Carl | | [Viewer Response] hi my name Walt i was on guam for a month in 1976 for iwas in the navy aboard a navy ship. Because I got diabetes Mellitus, type 2 i,ve known it about it since 1985 I was diagnosed then. | [Viewer Response] My Dad had boils all over his body while serving in Guam in World War II. At least that is what he thought they were and they lasted for 5 days. It was not written much in his records, but he wtrote my mom and told her. We still have those letters. Half of his records are missing and he has an S on his records and The VA wants to know what he did he the War to have them sealed. We know it is against the law, but we have been having a hard time. He is still living and he has cold sweats and is out of it at times. He was in the 3rd Marine Division and the second wave that entered Guam late 1942 or very early 1943. He was one of the few that survived his platoon. All this is very scary and I wonder if that is the reason he has so many problems.
Sandy Balkin
sbalkin@aol.com | | [Viewer Response] i would like to know how much rainbow agents where use on NCS as I was station there from 65 to67 and stood post on the base I know they spray around thee barracks and it smell awful for three or four day and nothing grew | [Viewer Response] I was stationed at Andersen Air Force Base Guam for 18 months in the 1972-73 time frame. I lived in one of the barracks in the Marbo annex and drank the water on a daily basis. In 2004 I was diagnosed with end stage liver disease. Later I lost my kidneys as a result. In 2007 I got a liver and kidney transplant. Do you know if there could be a correlation ?
allen@allenwestbrook.com
| [Viewer Response] My Dad was in Japan from \'46-\'47 as part of the occupying force. and then in Japan for R&R or other duties (prisoner escort etc) while fighting in Korea 51-52. He passed away 9 Mar 2008. We are going through the grueling task of getting DIC for his wife (stepmom). He was declared 100% disabled but VA in their wisdom can\'t see a connection to his disability and his death.
Fred | [Viewer Response] Your article is very interesting!! My husband was stationed in Guam during the Vietnam War. He is now 61 years old and having numerous heath problems; skin irritations(sores), digestive and hypertension problem and his liver profiles usually come back abnormal. He filed a claim for VA compensation after hearing about herbicides and pesticides being stored in Guam. His claimed was denied for the following reason; There was no reason in the available evidence of records to establish service connection for his illnesses and that most of his problems occurred 35 years after discharge. He did have problems earlier on but we just didn\'t know until recently they could be caused by the chemicals used in Guam. We plan to appeal the VA\'s denial of his claim. Do you have any suggestions as to how we can prove to the VA that even though he has been out of the service for 30+ years, that his health problems could indeed be service related? Thanks for your help and your very enlighting article.
Betty | [Viewer Response] Dear Vancil,
My name is Sandra Smudzin, born Oct 15 1946, daughter of EMC Walter Stanley Smudzin USN born september 30, 1918 and Theresa Catherine Smudzin, born Oct 31 1925. My father was on Guam in the mid 1950\'s for about one year before my mom and I joined to live with him in a metal building. I remember being sprayed everynight by \"Smokey Joe\" we called him. My dad spent the entire war in the Pacific then on to retire from the Navy after 21 years.
After returning from Guam my mother had to enter a mental hosipital and I began having anxiety problems. I have fibromyalga and other ailments. Loss of energy has been experienced by both my parents and myself. Our dear friend, who lived by us on Guam died of cancer at age 62.Her daughter now 50 has lupis. My mother developed precancerous condition in her throat and was operated on in the early 1960\'s. They also suffer from hypertension, high cholesterol, and mom and I are pre diabetic among other ailments.
The nervous disorders that I have experienced all my life since leaving Guam makes me wonder if they haven\'t something to do with the atomic bomb fall out and poisons. A man on the destroyer the Fletcher saw the bomb(Bravo) near the bikini Island explode from the ship. I believe I was on Guam at the time.
I am so sorry for all the peoples of Guam. The native Islanders were always very kind to us children. They would climb coconut trees and cut the husk and give the juice and meat to us. They would weave us hats to wear. They do not deserve what is happening to them. I have a friend who was exposed to massive ammounts of DDT and it is now DDE in her body. She has no immune system. I have a poor immune system.
I am glad this problem is being brought to light. I was urged to look into it by my Doctor who was a research scientist studing these things.
I am most devistated by what has happened to the native populations in Guam and the area.
Anyone I can help or wants to text me my e-mail is sss445@live.com.
Thank you,
Sandy Smudzin | | [Viewer Response] Hello, Am VietNam Vet having served @Tahkli thailand 12/66 - 12/67. Trying to service connect DMII due to direct exposure to herbicides since 2001. Denied at RO, BVA, and is now remanded from Court of Appeals for Veterans. Was in 4252 Strat Wg, (SAC) with HQ at Andersen AFB, Guam. Had occasion to visit Guam during an extensive telecommunications outage. Wondering if I should have approached the claim from this standpoint. Immediately went on medication for Thyroid, cholesterol, and HBP, within a few months of retirement (Aug 1987). Would like to hear from you, if you wouldn\'t mind sharing current info, etc. email: autley@austin.rr.com. Thanks. | [Viewer Response] Dear Vancil,
We once had an activist, former Senator Angel Santos fighting for our rights that the military stole our land and alot of contaminants in our soil. This explains WHY alot of folks being diabetic 2 and other illness. Cancer is a growing problem on our island. I\'ve seen people dying slowly because they can\'t afford the medical cost. It\'ll be nice if the military will offer some assistance towards the medical cost for those who are affected.
Thank you for your comments and I will pass this message to my friends.
a_mesa56@hotmail.com
| [Viewer Response] Mr. Sanderson,
This is a very interesting document. I worked for the Navy for over 35 years and served as Safety Specialist/Manager at the Ship Repair Facility, Naval Air Station, Naval Supply Depot, Naval Magazine, Naval Hospital Okinawa Japan, returned and worked at ComNavMar at Naval Station after 1965. I will print it out, highlight some areas that I feel are very important for me and my family.
I came from a family of sixteen (16) children and we have history of diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.
I\'d like to communicate/get back to you soon.
Vicky Taitano, Piti, Guam (671) 888-5064
| | [Viewer Response] I am currently 45 yrs young. I\'m local & very concerned about these contamination issues. I live in the southern side of the island. I\'ve always thought that we were in the cleaner(contaminant wise) side. Now we understand that the whole lagoon is and has been contaminated for many many years. Just to give you and anyone a quick lesson in the eating habits of the chamorro people when it comes to fish; parrotfish is also eaten raw cooked in lemon juice and salt, unicorn fish, internals eaten after fry or barbeque. These are just a couple ways and examples and the local people have been eating these fish from contaminated waters for years. It is my hope that these issues are brought to light as well and that some type of health test program started and compensation provided to people still alive today, of course all paid by the fedgov\'t because it\'s their mess. I would really like to know the contamination area resulting from the Cocos Island. I see below that the whole lagoon is identified but what data is that based on? I wonder if it is much larger and was spread much more inland due to all the typoons throughout all those years. | | [Viewer Response] I was a sailor and civilian on Guam in the mid sixties, late sixties and again in the late seventies. I haven\'t heard of the problem. It doesn\'t surprise me though. With the cost of waste disposal the military would have taken the cheapest route they could. I have experienced health problems in my later years myself. However, these are not associated with the problems described herein. I know Guam is made from coral and is very porus. It will absorb like a dry sponge. | | [Viewer Response] I have heard about all this contaminants in Guam, Guam have the most cancer, and dibectic for the size of the island. I know lots of local people die from cancer, very young. In fact my brother is only 50 years old die from cancer. | [Viewer Response] ...and here\'s the federalis blaming the brown tree snake for decimating our island\'s bird population. - poo poo!! Is that why a lot of our people are dying at a young age - 55 - 65? My co-worker who passed away 2004, remembered running behind, along with her village friends in Sinajana, a military jeep that was spraying DDT!!! She died from pancreatic cancer.
HERE COMES THE \"MILITARY BUILDUP\" with their anti-environment construction and disposal of all sorts of waste! God bless our Island of Guam and its people!
Si Yu\'os Ma\'ase\'. | | [Viewer Response] Hang in there and don\'t give up; my prayers are with you and all others affected. | [Viewer Response] I am from Guam and have lived there since 1943-1962, then was back there again in 1972-73. Many of my sibblings have developed thyroid, hypertension, and other ailments. Would these contaminants have contributed to our problems.
B. Santos | [Viewer Response] Hi Vancil,
Do you know if they had remainder of agent orange in Korea between 1971-1973.
You may email me at a_mesa56hotmail.com | [Viewer Response] Hi Vancil,
I read your column and it\'s very interesting. I\'m from Guam and alot of the native islanders\' are suffering from diabetic and cancer. I don\'t understand why the military cannot provide those affected on those dates with full medical coverage. Right now their\'s a serious problem about medical coverage on our island. Old folks can\'t afford the premium so they die slowly because our island is too expensive.
| [Viewer Response] 4 years ago, my niece and I were walking and touring and enjoying the little shops on Coronado Island, San Diego. My granddaughter caught the attention of a resident and he asked where we were from. I had told him I was visiting from Guam and he just gave me a very peculiar look, he told me he was on Guam during the 50\'s and 60\'s. Moments into our conversation
he told me that he hasn\'t forgotten about his mission out in the Pacific and that he often wondered about the impact of that mission on the nearby islands which included Guam. He said that they were doing tests on the Bikini Islands
which has been proven to be very harmful and that those tests would have affected the air and the surrounding locations. He has carried that on his concience all those years and he asked that I contact the local media on Guam to research this. I mentioned to him that my mother, Grandfather and many of my relatives had died of cancer but didn\'t know what connection it would have to this incident. He sounded so sure that it had some bearing on the tests that were done in the 50\'s and 60\'s. This person retired from the military and lived on Coronado Island. I never got his name although he was so persistent that I bring awareness to this particular military activity. It doesn\'t seem like he would be making this up ..for what? Now that I think abut it, people always comment that we lived on paradise; fresh air, no pollution, no smog, nice sunshine and tropical climate, all the requirements for good health. But where did all this lytico and bodig, and the high rates of cancer and diabetes are coming from? Alot of our food is blamed but chamorro food is so similar to Thai food. I\'m wondering if the Thai and Indonesian people have the same health problems. If not, then this definitely is something to look into. P. June Terlaje | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/06/07
1:15 am
I am a disabled veteran, I have a son stationed in Iraq and has been in Iraq since January 07.
I would like to know why these Jag officers are not allowed to help these soldiers in any legal capacity a when soldier may need an attorney. We have been going through a custody and visitation battle for my son's baby girl since December 06. The Jag officers will tell you that this is a civilian matter but when a young man is fighting for his country and cannot be stateside in court and it concerns his daughter, isn't that a military matter? The laws on what a Jag officer can do to represent our military should change. My son has spent about all of his savings for lawyers to fight for him and he still does not have any justice in this case. I feel the Jag officers should be able to represent a service member or anything legal that he may need and represent him free and be paid by our government. We owe our military more than they get!
Send any comments on this or questions to our email address we need some info on this subject.
gloriamusgrove@yahoo.com
MM | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/07/07
7:24 am
On this day, the day that shall live in infamy, I would like to put out a true and heart felt
THANK- YOU to all veterans who have made this great nation possible. Without the sacrfices made by you and the others you left behind on the beaches, battlefields and in the ocean, this nation could not have prospered and become the most admired nation in the world. What you were called to do is beyond the imagination of most people. You stood up to the challange. Thank you and GOD bless each and everyone!
B Fricks | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/03/07
3:00 pm
I was shopping in norco for a rifle scabord to put on my polaris ranger
for use on my ranch in corona, i went into a small store and was helped by a
fascinating older man. His name was Lynn mattocks, I didnt get out of the store for
over an hour and when i got home I googled his name wondering if he was pulling my
leg, when i saw your web sight and interview with him, I was glad to see what he was
telling me was true. I had told him he should write a book on his career over in
vietnam, I am glad that your forum gives these vets a chance to tell all of us
what a great job they did for us and other countries,
thank you for your time,
Lonnie Scott
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 11/20/07
8:00 am
From Veterans Network to all that are serving and to all that have served,
we thank you and welcome home. You have given us much to be thankful for
this Holiday Season,
Link Text
Link Text | | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/06/07
1:23 pm
I came across you website while looking up as many things as I can to be more
knowledgeable about this war and our Veterans.
I have the privilege of working in a nursing & rehab center and have slowly
developed relationships with many WWII Vets whom I admire and have the utmost
respect for. Being I am a female, much younger and can leave when my work is done
many of them put up walls that has taken me some time to chip away. I sit with
those that want me around one on one and just listen. These men cannot recall the
anniversary or some birth-dates but they can tell me in great detail stories that
should be written for the future. I know these men with white hair, shaky writing,
using a wheelchair and needing help they probably never imagined they would. But I
also know them as hero's. I have told some of their stories to people in my family
and seen the tears swell in their eyes as they listened. I wish more of younger
America would open their own eyes and see that not many of these great men are
left.
I was 15 when my brother Paul was born, so I wasn't always around to see him grow.
From a young age every year he dressed as a solider for Halloween. I have pictures
of him hiding in a bush with his camouflage on and pretending to be serving our
country. After failed attempts of trying to talk him out of it, Paul is the baby
of our family, he finally did what he always wanted to do and joined the Army. He
left in January and trained to be a Combat Medic. Yesterday, 10/05/07, Paul left
on the biggest plane he has ever seen to start his 18 hour journey to Kuwait.
November 1st he is going into downtown Baghdad to take over a new sector with his
unit. My heart breaks knowing this but I am so proud of him and the change I hear
in his young voice.
Please tell other to never stop supporting our troops they need us, whether they
are now fighting as a solider, training to become one or just trying to do simple
things in the last fight of their life in a nursing home.
Thank You - Cher Stanley | | comments |
| | | Sent: Veterans Day Special - Rick Monday One of Baseball greatest saves
Link Text | | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/26/2k7
3:30 pm
If I Die Before You Wake
Written by: Dustin Evans, Rick Tiger & Dave Brainard
Performed by: Dustin Evans
You can Google Dustin Evans to find out more info.
June
http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm | | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/27/2k7
3:00pm
name: David J. Luke, O.D.
phone:
email: dociluke44@socket.net
branch: Army
mailing list: N
comments: Gentlemen:
I would like you to join our fellow veterans organizations
and oppose this \'Veterans Disarmament Act\'.
McCarthy-Schumer bill which would ban hundreds of thousands of military
veterans from owning guns. (The bill is numbered H.R. 2640 in the House and
S. 2084 in the Senate.)
American Legion and the Military Order Of The Purple Heart have both gone
on record opposing this bill.
If you think this bill has nothing to do with veterans -- or that this
bill does not change federal law -- then please do me a favor. Read the
ENTIRE BILL, not just a few lines here and there. And after you\'ve
read the bill, please look at the underlying law and regulations which
are referenced in the bill.
Of course, the bill doesn\'t say \"Veterans Disarmament Act.\"
(That\'s a phrase that was coined by Gun Owners of America.) Does
anyone really think that Schumer & Co. are going to tell us that
their true intentions are to disarm veterans! Heck no. They call it
a \"school safety\" bill, when the real goal of their measure
is to disarm gun owners and veterans around the country.
Furthermore, the so-called \"school safety\" bill that Senators
Patrick Leahy and Chuck Schumer are pushing would LEGITIMIZE the very
practice that began with President Clinton, when his administration
began adding military vets onto the NICS roles.
The Veterans Disarmament Act (H.R. 2640 in the House and S. 2084 in the
Senate)
*Does Change* Federal Law
The fact is, this legislation rubber-stamps regulations that have been
issued by the BATFE over the years. The net result is that Section
203(2) of S. 2084 ends up outlawing guns for millions of people
(including veterans) who are not \"currently prohibited\" from
owning guns.
You can go to http://www.gunowners.org/ne0713.htm to see in greater
detail how these regulations will drive the implementation of the
Veterans Disarmament Act.
The bottom line is that this bill will ban a person from owning guns
because he or she was merely diagnosed with post-traumatic stress
disorder, Alzheimer\'s, ADHD or bipolar disorder by a government
psychologist or psychiatrist in the VA, Medicare, or the IDEA
program. This is because the Veterans Disarmament Act will CODIFY
regulations that BATFE has issued. (Again, see the URL above for more
details.)
The Second Amendment states the right to own and bear arms \'Shall Not Be
Infringed\'.
Most of the folks that took up arms to fight the Crown in the revolutionary
war could not do so if this is passed because they would be considered Looney
and could not get their psychiatrists or bureaucrats permission to do so!
I hope your Veterans organization will officially join our fellow veterans
organizations
and oppose this \'Veterans Disarmament Act\' (H.R. 2640 in the House and
S. 2084 in the Senate).
Sincerely;
David J. Luke O.D.
Commander American Legion Post 113, Department MO.
P.O. Box E
Centralia Mo 65240 | | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/03/2k7
8:45 am
SS New York
It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade
Center .
It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that
include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of
360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by
helicopters and assault craft.
Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA
to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on
Sept 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total
reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there.
"It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."
Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade
center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair
on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he
said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be
back."
The ship's motto? "Never Forget"
Please keep this going so everyone can see what we are made of in this
country!
From DL Conn,
| | comments |
| | | Sent: Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 4:12:53 PM
Subject: General Hawley
Pretty good synopsis by the General
From General Hawley....he no longer has to be politically correct..........................
For those who don't know General Hawley, he's a newly retired USAF
4-Star general. He commanded the USAF Air Combat Command [our front- line fighters and bombers]. The Command headquarters is at Langley AFB, VA. General Hawley is now retired and no longer required to be politically correct. His short speech is very much to the point.
The following are excerpts:
"Since the attack [9-11], I have seen, heard, and read thoughts of such surpassing stupidity that they must be addressed. You've heard them too.
Here they are:
1. "We're not good, they're not evil, and everything is relative." "Listen carefully: We're good, they're evil, and nothing is relative. Say it with me now and free yourselves. You see, folks, saying "We're good” doesn’t mean, "We're perfect." Okay? The only perfect being is the bearded guy on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The plain fact is that our country has, with all our mistakes and blunders, always been and always will be the greatest beacon of freedom, charity, opportunity, and affection in history. If you need proof, open all the borders on Earth and see what happens.
2 "Violence only leads to more violence."
"This one is so stupid you usually have to be the president of an Ivy League university to say it. Here's the truth, which you know in your heads and hearts already: Ineffective, unfocused violence leads to more violence. Limp, panicky, half-measures lead to more violence. However, complete, fully thought-through, professional, well-executed violence never leads to more violence because, you see, afterwards, the other guys are all dead. That's right, dead. Not "on trial," not reeducated," not "nurtured back into the bosom of love." Dead-D-E-A-D
Well, you get the idea.
3 "The CIA and the rest of our intelligence community have failed us."
"For 25 years we have chained our spies like dogs to a stake in the ground, and now that the house has been robbed, we yell at them for not protecting us. Starting in the late seventies, under Carter appointee Stansfield Turner, the giant brains who get these giant ideas decided that the best way to gather international intelligence was to use spy satellites. "After all, (they reasoned,) you can see a license plate from 200 miles away." This is very helpful if you've been attacked by a license plate. Unfortunately, we were attacked by humans. Finding humans is not possible with satellites. You have to use other humans.
When we bought all our satellites, we fired all our humans, and here's the really stupid part. It takes years, decades to infiltrate new humans into the worst places of the world. You can't just have a guy who looks like Gary Busey in a Spring Break '93 sweatshirt plop himself down in a coffee shop in Kabul and say "Hiya, boys. Gee, I sure would like to meet that bin Laden fella. "Well, you can, but all you'd be doing is giving the bad guys a story they'll be telling for years.
4 "These people are poor and helpless, and that's why they're angry at us." Uh-huh, and Jeffrey Dahmer's frozen head collection was just a desperate cry for help. The terrorists and their backers are richer than Elton John and, ironically, a good deal less annoying. The poor helpless people, you see, are the villagers they tortured and murdered to stay in power. Mohammed Atta, one of the evil scumbags who steered those planes into the killing grounds is the son of a Cairo surgeon. But you knew this, too. In the sixties and seventies, all the pinheads marching against the war were upper-middle-class college kids who grabbed any cause they could think of to get out of their final papers and spend more time drinking. It's the same today.
5 "Any profiling is racial profiling." Who's killing us here, the Norwegians? Just days after the attack, the New York Times had an article saying dozens of extended members of the gazillionaire bin Laden family living in America were afraid of reprisals and left in a huff, never to return to studying at Harvard and using too much Drakkar. I'm crushed.
Please come back. Let's all stop singing "We Are the World" for a minute and think practically. I don't want to be sitting on the floor in the back of a plane four seconds away from hitting Mt. Rushmore and turn, grinning, to the guy next to me to say, "Well, at least we didn't offend them."
SO HERE'S what I resolve for the New Year: Never to forget our murdered brothers and sisters. Never to let the relativists get away with their immoral thinking. After all, no matter what your daughter's political science professor says, we didn't start this. Have you seen that bumper sticker that says, "No More Hiroshima ’s"? I wish I had one that says, "No More Pearl Harbors."
| | | | [Viewer Response] Viet Nam vet here,right on Sir,keep them coming | | comments |
| | | Sent: Cont'd From Headline News Oct. 20, 2007
Columbus Teen's Video to Support U.S. Troops Makes YouTube's 'Top 20'
Emotionally wrenching photos? Beautiful music? Thought-provoking text? That’s what 15-year-old Lizzie Palmer, of Columbus, OH, posted on YouTube. Little did she know that her video, Remember Me, created in support of U.S troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, would turn her into an instant celebrity—and bring her a surprising amount of hate mail. Her video is now on YouTube’s “top 20” list; she's been interviewed by CNN and Fox News; and she is scheduled to receive an award for patriotism from the political action committee Moms for Ohio. SLJ spoke to the high school junior about what it’s like to unwittingly dive into today’s hottest political issue and how she’s reacted to the criticism.
Click on to the link text and watch the video.
Link Text
| | | [Viewer Response] Ms. Lizzie Palmer, You are a great American and a true patriot. I retired before you were born and when we were being spit on for protecting Americans from the Communists in both Southeast Asia and in Eastern Europe. I am truely grateful young folks like you realize the importance of our military and not stip on them like your prior generation
JAMES H. EBLE
M/SGT., USAF (RETIRED) | | [Viewer Response] YOU DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB ON THIS VIDEO, LIZZIE. I KNOW YOUR PARENTS MUST BE VERY PROUD OF YOU. I KNOW I AM. SINCERELY, SILVERQUEEN | | comments |
| | | Sent: MORE ON SIERRA COLLAGE OF ROCKLAND CA. EDUCATION FORUM.
.Cont'd from Oct 20, 2007 HeadlineNews
The war at home
Returning vets talk of struggles fitting back in to society
By Kel Munger
kelm@newsreview.com
More stories by this author...
Catherine J. Morris, a counselor at Sierra College, and Kyle Williams, president of the Sierra College Veterans Club, hope to make things easier for returning vets who want to use their education benefits.
SN&R PHOTO BY LARRY DALTON
It looked like any impromptu party, but the group gathered in the Rocklin Park Hotel lounge recently wasn’t there to drink. They were getting acquainted between press interviews.
Shad Meshad, a Vietnam veteran and the president of the National Veterans Foundation, and Patrick Campbell, the legislative director for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, had come to town to speak at a Sierra College Veterans-sponsored forum, “The Road Home: From Combat to College and Beyond.”
They were joined by two people from Sierra College who have made that journey. Student Kyle Williams did two tours as a Marine in Iraq before a wound sent him back to civilian life. Catherine J. Morris, a Sierra College veterans counselor, served in three branches of the military.
The conversation varied from rowdy to serious, heart-wrenching to hilarious. What they all agreed on, though, is that the U.S. government needs to pay more attention to its returning veterans.
Williams talked about the mortar attack that sent him back from his second tour with wounds to his face, shoulder and arm. “They replaced these front four teeth and fixed my nose.”
“It looks pretty good,” quipped Meshad.
But now Williams is waiting for an appointment to be tested for traumatic brain injury (TBI).
“And we know, because he was evacuated out and lost consciousness, that he probably has TBI,” said Campbell. “Now, I dropped a tank hatch on my head—it sounds stupid, I know—but we flipped three or four vehicles in a mortar attack right in front of me.”
The story got less slapstick, more tragic. Many men in his unit suffered head injuries and hearing loss. Campbell now has short term memory problems. “I can remember things long-term just fine,” he said, “but don’t ask me to remember a phone number for two minutes.”
Physical wounds and scars are just the outward manifestation of the cost of war. The problems vets encounter once they return to civilian life “range from simple economic problems to serious problems with post-traumatic stress disorder and TBI,” according to Williams.
Campbell recalled how his mother asked him if he had PTSD.
“How do you answer that question?” he asked rhetorically with a laugh before switching to a serious tone to suggest resources should have been made available to his mother in preparation of his return. Educating loved ones on warning signs to look for is especially needed, the vets agreed.
“It took me a year to make it in to the Vet Center,” Campbell said of the government agency that provides readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. “It took two of my friends saying that they’d never talk to me again. But you shouldn’t have to wait until your social network is collapsing to get help.”
Morris says the same thing happens with the student vets. “They’ll say, 'I was having some problems, but it wasn’t until my wife said she’d divorce me if I didn’t go that I went to seek help at the Vet Center.’”
Physical and psychological help isn’t all the returning vets need, however. “If you’re trying to go to school and use your education benefits, there’s another whole set of problems,” said Williams. Campbell’s call for a G.I. Bill that really pays for school was met with hearty agreement.
Morris detailed all the obstacles standing in a veteran’s path to college. “If it’s not an approved major, they won’t pay for it,” she said of the dispensers of military education benefits. “It’s got to be one major, and all the courses have to be required for the major.” As she continued listing difficulties, including the cost of textbooks and the general stress from trying to make a living while going to school, Williams and Campbell nodded.
“That’s why only 9 percent of veterans ever use their education benefits,” said Campbell. “And that’s got to change.”
All discussions seemed to come back to the struggle vets face acclimating to a new environment and everyone around them truly understanding what they are going through.
“You’re used to wearing your respect on your collar,” Williams said, “and you’re coming back to an environment that doesn’t understand you or doesn’t understand what you’ve done.”
That lack of understanding may stem from the fact that only 1 percent of Americans are fighting our current wars. “There’s a generation of people coming home that don’t have other veterans to welcome them that will understand what they’re going through,” said Campbell.
Meshad, who pioneered diagnosing and treating PTSD among his fellow Vietnam vets, wasn’t surprised by his younger colleagues’ stories. “Having been through this already myself and then watching it happen to these guys, my thought is: Here we go again.” But he’s hopeful progress is being made. “These guys are organized. They’re talking to each other already. People right out of deployment are talking to each other and getting recommended to the Vet Center.”
| | | | [Viewer Response] How is the program going at Sierra College? I am an artist and art therapist in San Diego and have an opportunity to write a grant to use the arts to help vets in transition. Any thoughts/recommendations? Tama Dumlao, email address: flyingrabbit@sbcglobal.net | | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/01/07
8:00 am
The Aiel (a warrior culture of his novels) have a proverb saying they will fight the Dark One. Till shade is gone, til water is gone, into the Shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath, to spit in Sightblinderís eye on the Last Day Jordan fought amyloidosis, a degenerative blood disease, to the bitter end. He had stated that he would continue writing, until they nail shut my coffin, I and up until the last days he was dictating passages for his next novel. He never once questioned the Creators decision to take him, or the timing, and the last words from his mouth were to tell his beloved Harriett that he loved her.
Jordan was a graduate of The Citadel of South Carolina, with a degree in physics. He served two tours in Vietnam with the U.S. Army; among his decorations were the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. A history buff, he also wrote dance and theater criticism and enjoyed the outdoor sports of hunting, fishing, and sailing, and the indoor sports of poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.
Jordan had a close relationship with his numerous fans and fan websites. News of Jordan's death quickly spread across the fan sites with fans writing in from around the world to express their grief and best wishes for his family. Jordan had an incredibly close knit group of fans; an article published on Forbes.com summed it up best in describing fans' support of Jordan during his illness: "There are readers, and then there are fans. Readers offer condolences when a favorite author falls ill. Fans offer bone marrow."
We say goodbye to this giant of the writing world and wish him well on his next journey.
“May you shelter in the palm of the Creator’s hand, and may the last embrace of the mother welcome you home.”
PP
Stanta Monica , Ca. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/06/07
9:00 am
I came across you website while looking up as many things as I can to be more knowledgeable about this war and our Veterans. I have the privilege of working in a nursing & rehab center and have slowly developed relationships with many WWII Vets whom I admire and have the utmost respect for. Being I am a female, much younger and can leave when my work is done many of them put up walls that has taken me some time to chip away. I sit with those that want me around one on one and just listen. These men cannot recall the anniversary or some birth-dates but they can tell me in great detail stories that should be written for the future. I know these men with white hair, shaky writing, using a wheelchair and needing help they probably never imagined they would. But I also know them as hero's. I have told some of their stories to people in my family and seen the tears swell in their eyes as they listened. I wish more of younger America would open their own eyes and see that not many of these great men are left. I was 15 when my brother Paul was born, so I wasn't always around to see him grow. From a young age every year he dressed as a solider for Halloween. I have pictures of him hiding in a bush with his camouflage on and pretending to be serving our country. After failed attempts of trying to talk him out of it, Paul is the baby of our family, he finally did what he always wanted to do and joined the Army. He left in January and trained to be a Combat Medic. Yesterday, 10/05/07, Paul left on the biggest plane he has ever seen to start his 18 hour journey to Kuwait. November 1st he is going into downtown Baghdad to take over a new sector with his unit. My heart breaks knowing this but I am so proud of him and the change I hear in his young voice. Please tell other to never stop supporting our troops they need us, whether they are now fighting as a solider, training to become one or just trying to do simple things in the last fight of their life in a nursing home.
Thank You -
C S | | comments |
| | | Sent: 09/21/07
8:30 am
A B-17 War Story
Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at
Kimbolton , England
. His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit
by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over
enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.
After flying over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was
ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he
could not believe his eyes. In his words, he 'had never seen a plane in such a
bad state'. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner
wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was
smashed and there were holes everywhere .
Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at
Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his
damaged and blood-stained plane.
Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to
turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to and slightly
over the North Sea towards England He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned
away, back to Europe.
When Franz landed he told the C/O that the plane had been shot down over the
sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his
crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.
More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who
saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked
about the inci dent, not even at post-war reunions.
They met in th e USA
at a 379th. Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now -
all because Franz never fired his guns that day.
Research shows that Charlie Brown lived in Seattle
and Franz Steigler had moved to Vancouver,
BC after the war. When they
finally met, they discovered they had lived less than 200 miles apart for the
past 50 years!
DL
Private I | | | | [Viewer Response] to the person who thinks this is disney or hollywood please remember that the germans were very proficent with records dates and time. it would be easy to find location after being briefed, units of the luftwaffe,pilots, ect. after the war we had manypeople working on figuring out things like this records were available on both sides . so date, time, flight logs ect. it takes some doing, but facts can be found. | | [Viewer Response] Any way of learning about the crew, my brother was a ball turrent gunner on a b-17 out of England.blissful0429@cox.net | | [Viewer Response] What a special touch of humanity! | | [Viewer Response] it took a lot of balls to get in a b17 and do what these men did.franz knew this being a pilot himself, and decided to let the bomber go.there is no glory kicking a downed man. awesome story. may both men be at peace. | | [Viewer Response] Love this article. Heard that they became such close friends and one of them did the ulegy at the others funeral. Both have died apparently | | [Viewer Response] I tend to belive this account since Franz Steigler reported to his CO that the B-17 was down in the sea while the B-17 crew said nothing to endanger Steigler in any way. | | [Viewer Response] there is good in everyone,warriors respect | | [Viewer Response] If Charlie Brown was scared and had no idea where he was going, how did he find an airfield to land at in England? Would love to see the real briefing at the unknown airfield in England. | | [Viewer Response] I have just come back from an ANZAC Day memorial service in Mylor. And read about this article afterwards in the Mylor Hall where there had been a lot of memorabilia. I thought what a wonderful story and for Franz to do that. After reading visitor comments here, I DO HOPE that this is a true story. An wonderful and amazing thing to happen. | | [Viewer Response] A friend of mine heard this story directly from Herr Steigler and Mr. Brown...If it were from anyone else that I heard this, I would not have believed it! | [Viewer Response] Wonderful story. I am going to use it for my next school assembly.
Pete Archer | | [Viewer Response] Re the gun camera question. Obviously the B-17 is an F model- no chin turret. And, if the painting is accurate, the event occurred in 1943 before the 8th Air Force adopted the tail painting identification of triangle, square and circle to designate the three Air Divisions and Bomb Groups. Lew Warden, 96th BG 1943-44, Santa Maria, CA. | | [Viewer Response] Whether the story is true or not, something to point out to those who are wondering \"Who is the third pilot that took the picture?\"... it is a painting! | | [Viewer Response] I think the story is true, Brown probably made a note of the German numbers on the plane and later found out who the pilot had been. It would have been easy to set up the picture. I can see Franz feelings of shooting down a bunch of wounded soldiers, even if they were enemy soldiers, the man had a heart, that's all. | | [Viewer Response] I've spent hours and hours trying to authenticate this story; trying to find the "original" story or telling of it. My best find was a reference to these two men at a North Carolina computer game promotion; Franz Steigler was quoted as saying that the two were involved in an air battle over Germany. Link is here:http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_June_23/ai_62890597 and you read there is no ref to the fluff of the 2006/07 verbatim repeated articles. I think some fiction writer was indulging herself. | | [Viewer Response] I've seen all of Wooten's work and I never seen a 17 in any of them also, who was the 3rd plane to take this photo and in color at that...This story is hard to beleive.. | | [Viewer Response] This event was commemorated in a painting by Micheal W. Wooten and published by Military Graphics of Birmingham, Al. It's a limited edition of 1000 prints. I do not know if any are still available. I bought mine (#445) about 9 years ago in a fine arts craft shop in Springville, Al.preserve fact | | [Viewer Response] Who took the photo? | | [Viewer Response] We are B-17 LOVERS !! This is an awesome story. Franz was a real MAN, not very many like him now days. It took a really big man to do what he did, thank you Franz !! Charlie, and Franz, you are 2 awesome , big men. | [Viewer Response] Are the 8th AF records of the debriefing declassified? I'd like to be able to repeat the story on museums tours, but don't want to say, "I saw it on the internet."
silverz4@earthlink.net | [Viewer Response] Beautiful Story. Are either or both of them still alive.
Ruby | [Viewer Response] Is this a true story?
Is it copyrighted? | | [Viewer Response] Here's the AFA's story on this. Not an exact match, but still a good read: http://www.afa.org/magazine/valor/0197valor.asp | [Viewer Response] FANTASTIC... That german deserves a lot of credit and recognition from the US !! I would love to salute that man..!!
Sergeant Major ..US ARMY, Retired | | [Viewer Response] If Charlie Brown didn't know where he was or who the pilot of the German plane was ... & Steigler reported to his boss that the B-17 was downed & never said otherwise ... how in the world did Charlie Brown narrow down that the German pilot was Steigler ... out of the entire universe of German pilots stationed somewhere in Europe who flew that day? Absent clarification, Disney wrote this story ... it's just appears Hollywood & contrived. | | [Viewer Response] I like to think that Franz had Christian charity that caused him to do this noble action.I would like to think that if I were in the same situation,I would perform as Franz did that day. | [Viewer Response] Truly inspirational. Reminds one of the Christmas Truce in WW 1 when the commanders of both sides were furious that "enemies" could be friends because the could not shoot at each other at Christmas. And the futility of it all.
Russ Saunders
Martinez, Ca | | [Viewer Response] A fasinating story however, if Franz's fighter had a functioning gun camera that day, how did he avoid detection of his false clarimed kill of the B-17? | | [Viewer Response] one good german | | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/03/07
1:15 pm
I just returned form Iraq and I am now discharged. Are there any tips I need as far as finding a Service Officer to help me file a claim. I think I have TBI and PTSD, to the point for it is hard to read or write. My sister is typing this for me right now. Any help would be great.
John G.
Semper Fi | | | [Network Comment] Dear John G.
Help is on its way, have your sister get on our site and click to our Veterans News channel. Once there, scroll to News segments #11, 12, and 13. These segments are a three part discussion on most everything you need to know about finding a Service Officer.
If you need more assistance beyond that, you can contact our affiliate, The National Veterans Foundation. They have a real live voice specialist trained to answer any and all questions you may have. The toll free hotline is 1-888-777-4443. Good luck and welcome home.
Veterans Network | | comments |
| | | Sent: 09/30/07
4:03 pm
Dear Veterans Network
Thank you for your excellent site and its support of our country's veterans.
I have a twenty-four year old son who has recently reenlisted having already served three tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army. I know, as I have heard from many others, that we have young soldiers reenlisting today because they don't see a future in the job market or in society in general. I think this is very sad and not right. As for my boy, he could have gone right to work
for my brother's construction company, instead, he "went back to work for his mission", and those are his words.
" My son come home to me and bring everyone else home with you."
Your Mother
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 10/03/07
4:30 pm.
MY NAME IS TED GROVER AND MY BROTHER THOMAS WAS KILLED ON FEBRUARY 2, 1969 AT CU
CHI. HE WAS AWARDED 2 PURPLE HEARTS AND A SILVER STAR. SHORTLY AFTER HIS DEATH, I
WAS STATIONED AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY AFTER RECEIVING A COMPASSIONATE REASSIGNMENT
FROM THE ARMY. TWO OF THE MEN IN TOM'S SQUAD STOPPED BY TO SEE ME AND I NEVER GOT TO
THANK THEM. iF THE TWO MEN THAT STOPPED BY COULD PLEASE EMAIL ME, I WOULD BE VERY
APPRECIATIVE. ALSO, IF ANYONE WHO KNEW TOM COULD PLEASE CONTACT ME, I WOULD BE VERY
THANKFUL. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU GUYS WENT THROUGH.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BUT THE MEMORY IS VIVID.
TED GROVER | | comments |
| | | Sent: 08/06/07
5:28 pm
Please allow me to introduce the fine work that U.S. Vets does for our
returning Troops and the Veterans of all wars past. I came to U.S. Vets 11 years
ago as a Homeless Alcoholic Veteran of the Viet Nam era who could not even get a
job, my family had disowned me, and I had given up all hope.
Thru the intense program that U.S. Vets has designed I was able to remove my
barriers to success, get employed, stay sober, and return to college for a degree in
Psychology. Best of all though, is my family is now back in my life and are
actually proud of me.
We do the same thing for over 2,100 Veterans Nationwide that we house everyday in
our 10 locations and have been since 1993. We are now gearing up to handle the
Troops that are going to be returning soon. In fact we have quite a few already. Can
you believe that Soldiers that young are coming back to homelessness and no jobs?
We need to get word out that U.S. Vets is here for those coming home. This way no
soldier will fall between the cracks and not get an opportunity for the help we are
here to give them. There is no reason for their lives to ever get as bad as mine
did.
Thank you for your patriotism and I know you will continue to support our Troops!
George Smith (Navy)
Case Manger /Fixed Income
U.S. Vets
Please check out our website and see for yourself the job that we do for our Vets.
www.usvetsinc.org
P.S. Keep in mind that 5% of all Military personnel will return to homelessness.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 07/30/07
5:45 pm
Thats pretty good music on this Veterans Radio or I guess its called
Veterans Online Radio. What does Zelda Jones look like, wow what a voice.
She reminds me of the early underground FM radio.
Cover and Concealment is great name for a Veterans Radio Channel and to think this
is internet radio.
Carlos Remirez
Fort Benning Ga. | | | [Viewer Response] Hey Carlos,
I can\'t agree more. This veterans online radio is something us vets have needed for ages.
Gary B./Once upon a time Fort Benning | | comments |
| | | Sent: 07/30/07
4:20 pm
Love what you folks have done, with the Veterans Online Radio.
I especially like The Rick and Ross Show and all the Music.
Mark Frazer
Army Vet. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 07/16/07
9:15 am
I noticed that your site will be adding radio programing. I think it was refered to as veterans
online radio. Very cool. I can listen to it on my laptop while I am at work.
Semper Fi
Tom
| | comments |
| | | Sent: Sent: DL,
May 26, 2007
7:35 am
Cemetery Escort Duty
I just wanted to get the day over with
and go down to Smokey's for a few cold
ones. Sneaking a look at my watch,
I saw the time, 1655. Five minutes to go
before the cemetery gates are closed for
the day. Full dress was hot in the
August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever --
the heat and humidity at
the same level -- both too high.
I saw the car pull into the drive, '69
or '70 model Cadillac Deville, looked
factory-new. It pulled into the
parking lot at a snail's pace.
An old woman got out so slow I thought
she was paralyzed. She had a cane and a
sheaf of flowers, about four or five
bunches as best I could tell. I couldn't help
myself. The thought came unwanted,
and left a slightly bitter taste: "She's going
to spend an hour, and for this old
soldier my hip hurts like hell and I'm ready to
get out of here right now!"
But for this day my duty was to assist
anyone coming in. Kevin would lock the "In"
gate and if I could hurry the old biddy
along , we might make the last half of happy
hour at Smokey's.
I broke Post Attention. My hip made
gritty noises when I took the first step and
the pain went up a notch. I must
have made a real military sight; middle-aged man
with a small pot-gut and half a limp, in
Marine Full Dress Uniform, which had lost
its razor crease about 30 minutes after
I began the watch at the cemetery.
I stopped in front of her, halfway up
the walk. She looked up at me with an old
woman's squint. "Ma'am, may I
assist you in any way?"
She took long enough to answer.
"Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem
to be moving a tad slow these
days."
"My pleasure Ma'am."
Well, it wasn't too much of a lie.
She looked again. "Marine,
where were you stationed?"
"Vietnam, Ma'am.
Ground-pounder. '69 to '71."
She looked at me closer.
"Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I'll be as
quick as I can."
I lied a little bigger "No hurry,
Ma'am."
She smiled, and winked at me. "Son,
I'm 85-years old and I can tell a lie from a
long way off. Let's get this
done. Might be the last time I can do this.
My name's Joanne Wieserman, and I've a
few Marines I'd like to see one more
time."
"Yes, Ma'am. At your
service."
She headed for the World War I section,
stopping at a stone. She picked one of
the bunches out of my arm and laid it on
top of the stone. She murmured something
I couldn't quite make out. The
name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC,
France 1918.
She turned away and made a straight line
for the World War II section, stopping
at one stone. I saw a tear slowly
tracking its way down her cheek.
She put a bunch on a stone; the name was
Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943.
She went up the row a ways and laid
another bunch on a stone, Stanley J.
Wieserman USMC , 1944.
She paused for a second, "Two more,
son, and we'll be done." I almost didn't say
anything, but, "Yes, Ma'am.
Take your time." She looked confused. "Where's the
Vietnam section,
son? I seem to have lost my way." I pointed with my
chin.
"That way, Ma'am."
"Oh!" She chuckled quietly. "Son, me and old age
ain't too friendly."
She headed down the walk I'd pointed
at. She stopped at a couple of stones
before she found the ones she
wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman
USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel
Wieserman USMC, 1970.
She stood there and murmured a few words
I still couldn't make out.
"OK, son, I'm finished. Get
me back to my car and you can go home."
"Yes, Ma'am. If I may ask,
were those your kinfolk ?"
She paused. "Yes, Donald
Davidson was my father; Stephen was my uncle; Stanley
was my husband; Larry and Darrel were
our sons. All killed in action, all Marines."
She stopped, whether she had finished,
or couldn't finish, I don't know. She
made her way to her car, slowly, and
painfully.
I waited for a polite distance to come
between us and then double-timed it over
to Kevin waiting by the car.
"Get to the "Out"-gate quick. I have something I've
got to do."
Kevin started to say something but saw
the look I gave him. He broke the rules to
get us there down the service
road. We beat her. She hadn't made it around the
rotunda yet.
"Kevin, stand to attention next to
the gate post. Follow my lead." I humped it
across the drive to the other post.
When the Cadillac came puttering around
from the hedges and began the short
straight traverse to the gate, I called
in my best gunny's voice: "TehenHut!
Present Haaaarms!"
I have to hand it to Kevin, he never
blinked an eye; full dress attention and a salute
that would make his DI proud. She
drove through that gate with two old worn-out
soldiers giving her a send off she
deserved, for service rendered to her country,
and for knowing Duty, Honor and
Sacrifice
I am not sure, but I think I saw a
salute returned from that Cadillac.
| | | [Viewer Response] Sorry but the story is just not true. There are no Wieserman on the Wall. There are enough true stories without make-believe.
S. Hall
4/39th, 9th Inf. Div.
| [Viewer Response] Likewise, no: Davidson, Stephen nor Wieserman, Stanley in WWII in any branch. See the registry at WWIIMemorial.com which lists all duty deaths from all branches (battle or not).
| | [Viewer Response] Touching story but there is no one Named Wieserman on the Viet Nam Wall | | [Viewer Response] IS THIS CEMETARY IN LAWTON/FT.SILL? | [Viewer Response] Ditto with the previous comments, except his reference web page does not exist (any longer, perhaps?).
I went to http://www.virtualwall.org/dw/0w.htm, which is a better place to check, I think. I confirm that there were no Wieserman nor Weiserman.
I wished the story were true, but such untrue writing erodes the integrity and respect. SAD | | [Viewer Response] There are no Wieserman's listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall | [Viewer Response] Touching story, but not true in spite of \"sucking in\" some papers and even Robt. Schuler. Check
http://whitemail.blogspot.com:80/2007/10/i-get-lot-of-viral-emails-also-known-as.html | [Viewer Response] From the Vietnam Memorial Website SEARCH
KIA
ROBERT JAMES WIESE, Feb 16, 1970
THOMAS ARTHUR WIESE, Mar 29, 1969
LAWRENCE LOU WIESENDANGER, May 2, 1971
LYNN JAY WIESER, May 13, 1969
or
RICHARD RAYMOND WEISE, Dec 5, 1967
...but no
Larry Wieserman USMC, 1968
or
Darrel Wieserman USMC, 1970 | | comments |
| | | Sent: BY: Ben Stein, Open Letter
02/02/2007
Dear Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, National Guard,
Reservists, in Iraq , in the Middle East theater, in Afghanistan , in the
area near Afghanistan , in any base anywhere in the world, and your
families:
Let me tell you about why you guys own about 90 percent of the backbone in
the whole world right now and should be happy with yourselves and proud of
whom you are.
It was a dazzlingly hot day here in Rancho Mirage today. I did small errands
like going to the bank to pay my mortgage, finding a new bed at a price I
can afford, practicing driving with my new 5 wood, paying bills for about
two hours. I spoke for a long time to a woman who is going through a nasty
child custody fight. I got e-mails from a woman who was fired today from her
job for not paying attention. I read about multi-billion-dollar mergers in
Europe, Asia , and the Mideast . I noticed how overweight I am, for the
millionth time. In other words, I did a lot of nothing.
Like every other American who is not in the armed forces family, I basically
just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic in my trivial,
self-important, meaningless way.
Above all, I talked to a friend of more than forty-three years who told me
he thought his life had no meaning because all he did was count his money.
And, friends in the armed forces, this is the story of all of America today.
We are doing nothing but treading water while you guys carry on the life or
death struggle against worldwide militant Islamic terrorism. Our lives are
about nothing: paying bills, going to humdrum jobs, waiting until we can go
to sleep and then do it all again. Our most vivid issues are trivia compared
with what you do every day, every minute, every second.
Oprah Winfrey talks a lot about "meaning" in life For her, "meaning" is
dieting and then having her photo on the cover of her magazine every single
month (surely a new world record for egomania). This is not "meaning."
Meaning is doing for others.
Meaning is risking your life for hers.
Meaning is putting your bodies and families' peace of mind on the line to
defeat some of the most evil, sick killers the world has ever known.
Meaning is leaving the comfort of home to fight to make sure that there
still will be a home for your family and for your nation and for free men
and women everywhere.
Look, Soldiers and Marines and Sailors and Airmen and Coast Guardsmen, there
are six billion people in this world. The whole fate of this world turns on
what you people, 1.4 million, more or less, do every day. The fate of
mankind depends on what about 2/100 of one percent of the people in this
world do every day and you are those people. And joining you is every
Policeman, Fireman, and Emergency Medical Technician in the country, also
holding back the tide of chaos.
Do you know how important you are? Do you know how indispensable you are? Do
you know how humbly grateful any of us who has a head on his shoulders is to
you? Do you know that if you never do another thing in your lives, you will
always still be heroes? That we could live without Hollywood or Wall Street
or the NFL, but we cannot live for a week without you?
We are on our knees to you and we bless and pray for you every moment. And
Oprah Winfrey, if she were a size two, would not have one millionth of your
importance, and all of the Wall Street billionaires will never mean what the
least of you do, and if Barry Bonds hits hundreds of home runs it would not
mean as much as you going on one patrol or driving one truck to the Baghdad
airport.
You are everything to us, as we go through our little days, and you are in
the prayers of the nation and of every decent man and woman on the planet.
That's who you are and what you mean. I hope you know that.
Love,
Ben Stein
| | comments |
| | | Sent: comments: I am trying find any one that was stationed @ ANDERSON AFB Guam with the
43rd transportation squadron from 1973-1975 or any one that was there durring this
time.Would you have any suggestions as where to look?
5/18/07
9:35 am
RJ
Air Force | | | [Viewer Response] I was assigned TDY to the 43rd Trans Sq from Nov. 1972 to May 1973, if that will help you. I was TDY there from Castle AFB, CA (93rd Transportation Squadron). I have also been looking for someone stationed there at the time I was there for Bullet Shot and Linebacker II.
Contact me at topboom@msn.com perhaps we can help each other?
Ed Jackson | | comments |
| | | Sent: comments: Hello. My father was a veteran of World War II. He was discharged in
August of 1944. He is currently residing in a Veterans Home in Glendive, Montana.
At the time of his service, he contracted Maleria and Jungle Rot, of which he
suffered side effects for years after.
We were told that he may qualify for additional benefits due to these circumstances,
but I am not sure who to contact or where to go. Any help would be greatly
appreciated!
05/02/07
9:00 am
CT
We will do our best to help you . First, however, we need to know if your father is currently
receiving any type of VA disablity compensation for a service connected wound or injury.
Once we know that, we can get you the information you need to move forward.
We look forward to helping you resolve the issue with the VA.
Our Best
The Network
Hello. Thanks for your quick reply. He is not currently receiving any compensation at this time for a service connected wound or injury. I do have his discharge information, along with his official service number if that would help.
CT.
We double checked with our inside man at the VA and here is were you stand:
1. Any old malaria cases that have had full recovery are not elligible for VA service connected
disablity. The only exeption would be a case where there has been no recovery. These are
very rare.
2. In the case of jungle rot, trench foot or any other skin condition, it is compensable only if the
condition continues to exists today, or if flare ups have been repititous throughout past and
recent years. The VA, we are told seems to be in love with the words "long history of".
Our VA guy says, if a flare up occurs, go immediately to a dermatologist for diagnosis and take
that to the VA.
The Network | | | | [Viewer Response] My dad was in Vietnam. He has some obvious scaring and deals with the flare ups with peroxide and really struggles with his feet and hands getting cold. Is that something that they would look at? | | comments |
| | | Sent:
10:45 am
05/01/07
So 4,000 troops have gone over...and Congress and Bush are at odds
It is about ....money. What else is new.
Now, what the hell about the veterans that are home now and the funding they deserve!
Vote on that and get it passed!
RC
Army
1963/69 | | comments |
| | | Sent: 04/12/07
9:35 am
"At a time of war we must, as a nation not allow history to repeat itself. We should never again
blame the individual soldiers (like so many did during Vietnam War) for fighting in a war that was decided upon by government leaders."
" Let us be a united country in our efforts to bring peace to the troops and their loved ones when they come home. Likewise, it is not too far-fetched to hope that America will no longer be a nation divided into red and blue States, but one that will be united once again under the banner of the red, white, and blue. It is our hope that what we have written here will play at least a small part in this process. Perhaps in these few pages we can bring people together in a concerted effort to help our young women and men make a healthey transition from war to peace.
If this happens maybe we can all become the conduit that draws the red and blue together and make a difference for our troops this time around."
From the book, Down Range, to Iraq and Back
by Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D. and Chuck Dean
copyright 2005 WordSmith Pub. LLC
I urge every veteran and family member to read this book, it will make a differance.
RC | | comments |
| | | Sent: 11:35 am
04/09/07
Civilian life vs. Military life
Your alarm sounds, and you hit the snooze button … again.
After the last attack, he was on patrol for two days without sleep.
-- --
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days -- or weeks -- without running water.
-- --
You complain of a "headache", and call out sick from work.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
-- --
You put on your anti-war shirt, and go shopping with friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
-- --
You make sure that your fake fingernails look just right.
He clutches the Cross hanging on the chain next to his dog tags.
-- --
You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't at the bar with you.
He knows that he may never see some of his buddies again.
-- --
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He patrols the streets, searching for bombs and snipers.
-- --
You complain about how hot it is in the mall parking lot.
He wears heavy gear, not daring to remove his helmet to wipe his brow.
-- --
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He does not get to eat today, but was thankful for the one meal that he had yesterday.
-- --
Your mom makes your bed and washes your clothes during Spring Break.
He wears the same things for several days, but his weapons are clean.
-- --
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
-- --
You are upset because your class ran five minutes over.
He just learned that his unit’s tour was extended by two months.
----
You call your girlfriend, and set a date for that night.
He waits for the mail, to see if there is a letter from home.
-- --
You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds this week’s letter close and smells his love's perfume.
-- --
You roll your eyes as a baby cries in the restaurant.
He gets a photo of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
-- --
You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees innocent people tortured and killed, and remembers why he’s fighting.
-- --
You hear your classmates criticize the war.
He hears the gunfire, the bombs, and the screams.
-- --
You see only the failures that the news media want you to see.
He sees the successes, even amidst the destruction all around him.
-- --
You are asked to go to the store by your parents, and complain.
He follows orders without hesitation, but longs to hear his father’s voice once more.
-- --
You choose to stay home, watch TV, and snack on the couch.
He is given one hour to eat, write home, pray, … and sleep.
-- --
You crawl into your bed, fluff the pillows, and try to get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5-minute nap, only to be awakened by gun fire.
-- --
You sit there and judge him, saying that he is a fool for doing what he does.
If only there were more men like him, then fewer would need to do what he does.
Support our troops!
DL | | | | [Viewer Response] The reason there are not more like him is because none of them have the balls to do what my boyfriend and all of our men and women past and present do! I thank them every day for the things they have all done. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/12/07
9:00 am
THE MARINE
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward,holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of
the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked. The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered. "No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.
WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
PLEASE PASS THIS ONE ON AND GOD WILL BLESS YOU!
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO DO ANYWAY. RIGHT ?
HAVE A GREAT DAY AND BLESS SOMEONE ELSE IN SOME LITTLE WAY TODAY!
GOD IS SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD.
Thank you,
TE
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/06/07
8:45 am
Subject: Too Graphic for ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC - how sad
Pictures from Iraq that are too shocking & graphic for the
mainstream media. Please pass the pictures on. Sometimes in our everyday lives we
tend to forget what's going on elsewhere in the world and that the brave
men and women of the service are just like you and me. They have the family
and friends back home who love them very much and are praying for their
safe return.
JT | | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/07/07
4:30 pm
This testiment appears in www.militarywoman.org Posted on Nov.10/01
Forward to us by Ms. B
"He's A Veteran!"
He's a man who looks the world in the eye. He's a man who feels an extra heart-tug when the flag goes by. He's a man who steps a little faster when he hears the beat of a military band. He's a Veteran.
He comes in all assorted sizes and shapes. He's a big man, he's a small man...he's a short man, he's a tall man. He is the "Doughboy" of World War I...the "GI" of World War II... He's a man who's seen Korean skies, fought the cold and silent battle of uneasy Berlin....and braved the booby traps and ambushes of Ia Drang Valley in Viet Nam. He's a Veteran.
He's a sailor....soldier...Marine. He's a flyer...seabee...coast guard. He's artillery...infantry..medic...aviation machinist
mate....armored and ordnance.. He's a Veteran.
He has the quiet dignity of a man who knows the pride of freedom ...He has the clear eyes of a man who respects himself. He is courage living on Main Street. He is patriotism mowing the lawn on Saturday afternoon. He is good citizenship with a smile on his face. He's a Veteran.
He is Republican, Democrat, Independent/..He is mechanic, farmer, banker... He is Catholic, Protestant, Jew... He is rich and poor and in-between. He's a Veteran
He's a man who loves peace because he knows the price tag of war. He's a member of history's most exclusive fraternity. He knows that war is ninety percent boredom and ten percent sheer terror. He's been there. He's a Veteran.
He likes the majesty of America's mountains...the tranquility of America's valleys. He likes the bustle of America's cities and the friendliness of America's Main Streets. He likes the sound of America's children playing on the American playgrounds. He likes to watch the flag go by... He feels a bit sad when he hears the sound of an American bugler
playing "Taps". He is a citizen soldier...Peacetime leader... He's the first to volunteer in time of trouble...and the last to come home. He's a Veteran.
He is proud of his American past...alert to his American present...confident of his American future. He likes the legends of America's greats...the Washingtons...the Jeffersons...the Abraham Lincolns...the Roosevelts...the Robert E. Lees....The Stonewall Jacksons...the Pattons...the Eisenhowers...the MacArthurs...the Nimitzs....the Pullers....the Dalys and all the proud patriots who have marched through America's history books. He's a Veteran.
He has bivouacked at Valley Forge...charged the hill at Gettysburg...stormed the sands at Guadalcanal...swarmed ashore at Omaha Beach..advanced on Pork Chop Hill and fought in the bunker complex in War Zone "C" in Southeast Asia. He parachuted into Grenada. He stood watch in Beirut. He fought in the streets of Panama and served in the Middle East in support of "Operation Desert Shield". He's a Veteran.
In the very rear of his secret heart there is always a tinge of sorrow, a souvenir of sadness for lost and departed comrades. No matter how gray his temples grow or how many inches he adds to his middle-aged waist, he always walks with a distinctive pride that isn't given to lesser men. He is America with an honorable discharge... He is Democracy with a Good Conduct Medal lost in the darkness of his keepsake box... He is freedom with a Purple Heart. He is a first class fighting man with a quiet walk and sentimental grin. He's America's most honorable citizen He's a Veteran."
Author Unknown | | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/07/07
3:50 pm
The following article was forwarded as it appears in Devildog/WorldPress.com
The Stars and Stripes
[Condensed from a speech by Leo K. Thorsness,
recipient of The Congressional Medal of Honor.] You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker somewhere along the road. It depicts an American Flag, accompanied by the words, “These colors don’t run.” I’m always glad to see this, because it reminds me of an incident from my confinement in North Vietnam at the Hao Lo POW Camp, or the “Hanoi Hilton,” as it became known.
Then a Major in the U.S. Air Force, I had been captured and imprisoned from 1967-1973. Our treatment had been frequently brutal. After three years, however, the beatings and torture became less frequent. During the last year, we were allowed outside most days for a couple of minutes to bathe. We showered by drawing water from a concrete tank with a homemade bucket.
One day as we all stood by the tank, stripped of our clothes, a young Naval pilot named Mike Christian found the remnants of a handkerchief in a gutter that ran under the prison wall. Mike managed to sneak the grimy rag into our cell and began fashioning it into a flag.
Over time we all loaned him a little soap, and he spent days cleaning the material. We helped by scrounging and stealing bits and pieces of anything he could use. At night, under his mosquito net, Mike worked on the flag. He made red and blue from ground-up roof tiles and tiny amounts of ink and painted the colors onto the cloth with watery rice glue. Using thread from his own blanket and a homemade bamboo needle, he sewed on the stars.
Early in the morning a few days later, when the guards were not alert, he whispered loudly from the back of our cell, “Hey gang, look here.” He proudly held up this tattered piece of cloth, waving it as if in a breeze. If you used your imagination, you could tell it was supposed to be an American flag. When he raised that smudgy fabric, we automatically stood straight and saluted, our chests puffing out, and more than a few eyes had tears.
About once a week the guards would strip us, run us outside and go through our clothing. During one of those shakedowns, they found Mike’s flag. We all knew what would happen. That night they came for him. Night interrogations were always the worst. They opened the cell door and pulled Mike out. We could hear the beginning of the torture before they even had him in the torture cell. They beat him most of the night.
About daylight they pushed what was left of him back through the cell door. He was badly broken; even his voice was gone. Within two weeks, despite the danger, Mike scrounged another piece of cloth and began another flag. The Stars and Stripes, our national symbol, was worth the sacrifice to him.
Now whenever I see the flag, I think of Mike and the morning he first waved that tattered emblem of a nation. It was then, thousands of miles from home in a lonely prison cell, that he showed us what it is to be truly free.
These Colors Don’t Run
By Ric BranchBack there in ‘76 Mama England tried to correct her prodigal son
But we stood our ground and said our peace and our freedom finally won.
As Proudly we raised the Stars and Stripes to the light of the morning sun,
And the world first learned the fact, “These Colors Don’t Run”.
With extended hand, we signed the pact,
As we laid aside the gun.
Secure in the knowledge that we had stated the fact
That, These Colors Don’t Run.
When Freedom for all became a family issue back in eighteen sixty-one.
With Brother against Brother and even Fathers against their Sons
Family blood was spilled to assure freedom was, indeed for everyone.
Proving that even in our family These Colors Don’t Run
Reunited under Old Glory we westward marched along,
Careful to keep our doors open to all, who for freedom longed
And from everywhere they came looking, for their place in the sun
And behind that flag the statement grew that These Colors Don’t Run.
Reds, browns, yellows, blacks, and whites
Americans only We stand united in our fights
And we are always there till the job is done
Because WE know that, These Colors Don’t Run
Over it’s own homeland Old Glory still flies
But when others are threatened, to their aid we’ll rise.
As the Kaiser learned in World War One
When our help is needed These Colors Don’t Run.
If you hurt us, we’re sure to hurt you
Was the lesson we taught in World War Two
The Iron Cross and the Rising Sun
had to learn it the hard way, These Colors Don’t Run.
And with our technology in extended hands
We helped them rebuild their own homelands
When peace prevailed and the fighting was all done
Because even in peace These Colors Don’t Run
Now cowardly and without cause you have hurt us again
And though we are reeling from all of the pain
We’re coming for you and you’ve no place to run
To teach you again that These Colors Don’t Run.
You may hide in your caves and strike in the night
You may pray on the innocent and cause terror and fright,
But be sure that you know that your time has come
Because as always before These Colors Don’t Run.
The Stars and Stripes will stay unfurled
As a blanket of Freedom for all the world
It’s enemies may bloody, curse, burn and shun,
But they WILL always remember that
THESE COLORS DON’T RUN. ©
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 03/03/07
3:30 pm
I am very angry, the day I returned from Iraq and turned on the news, what do I see but
a major shakedown at a the Walter Reed Army Hospital. I was fortunate to return from
Iraq relatively healthy and intact. However, I know a good number of my fellow soldiers from
back there have been patients at that place and this lights my ass on fire big time!
How dare some lard ass over paid, over fed son of a bitch, let something like this happen
to my comrades. One of these days war vets will max out on how much bullshit they can
put up with! I personally will join the herd when it stampedes Washington and stomps some
sense into these idiots!
Michael P.
US Army Infantry
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/23/07
2:45 pm
SO CAL STORMWATCH 2007!!!!!!
With all the news on TV lately about the sub-zero weather and snow that
the east coast other areas are experiencing, we shouldn't forget that
Southern California has its share of devastating weather, also.
I've attached a photo illustrating the damage caused to a home from a
west coast storm that passed through the Los Angeles last week.
It really makes you cherish what you have, and reminds us not to take
life for granted!
Warning: The attached picture is quite graphic and may not be suitable
for sensitive viewers.
Thanks,
SM
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/03/07
9:45 pm
Quote From C-4 on Agent Orange
" Apple pie and Agent Orange don't mix, true patriots do not poison thier
own nation's children however cost effective."
Tad Foster
| | | | [Viewer Response] where are you Tad? Melinda | | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/26/07
2:45 pm
Click here: Little Doobie Sister_ Click Here
I've read this story several times and still cry.
Such a sweet, sweet
story!
L | | comments |
| | | Sent: Feb. 16 02/16/07
4:00pm
Worth passing on:
Thought for the day:
In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the anti-American
sentiment and negativity, we should remember England's Prime Minister
Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his
Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want
in... And how many want out."
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM.
AMEN
From Tim.
| | comments |
| | | Sent: THIS IS A GREAT SHOW OF GRATITUDE TO OUR RETURNING SERVICE
PERSONNEL!
View the Movie
Is there not a way that a “grass roots” movement can be started
by letting the supportive people of our flag, president and "our
country", know that just when these gallant keepers of our liberties are
returning to their respective homes. So this type of showing can
be available to all of them! Maybe we the people, of these
United States can send a message back to the likes of:
John Kerry, Jane Fonda, Hillary Clinton, and those aliens,
who are voicing their opinions here freely. If, there is
another land that they might want to call home, where they
all can feel safe and proud to be living.
Can we not start a fund for those who might think
of leaving, say tomorrow?
This way, our true patriots, (who put their lives on the line 24/7) can take the jobs
back, from these non-supporting ingrates are presently holding.
I for one will definitely, donate to such a wonderful cause!
Why should we sacrifice our people for their misfits?
The returning of our people is an opportunity, to
to bring more attention of our gratitude, and should be made known!
I R.Fischer am proud of all of my relatives and friends who have served
in their different capacities, through out all of our conflicts.
Nice to see this get coverage in the news.
View the Movie
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/12/07
1:02 pm
Hello:
My name is Alicia and I am a junior in high school.
My grandfather is veteran from Vietnam war. I am interested in
US and world history and have found a number of your videos
to be interesting historically. Particularlly the ones about Vietnam.
I hope you will be showing more on that subject in the near
future. Thank you. | | | [Network Comment]
In response to the Alecia email on 02/12/07
We love history too, and because we do, Veterans Network is
currently planning a multiple part program on the history of
troop deployments in the Vietnam War. Our associate history
specialists are working on it as we speak. Stay tuned and look
for it in spring of 2007.
Keep up the good work and thanks for watching us!
VN | | comments |
| | | Sent:
02/12/07
8:14 am
To Veterans Network:
I was watching one of your video shows on the Eleven
Bravo channel. It was the one were the Vietnam navy vet's
father's funeral was attended by the local VFW post.
I was very moved by that because I to had a funeral experience
with the VFW that was very similiar. Thank you for showing that
peice and I will continue to watch your shows.
Paul Moran
US Army vet
Eugene Or.
| | | | [Viewer Response] We are honored. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 02/09/07
2:15 pm
Dear Sirs
I wanted to tell you about this short film, which was produced by the Norfolk, MA District Attorney's office and highlights the challenges faced by returning combat veterans struggling with PTSD.
Sincerely
SH | | comments |
| | | Sent:
01/30/07
3:00 pm
The first pic is of my son and one of his honor guard mates. The photo was
posted to an AF website.
The second is a pic that you won't see on CNN or other network news.
Love
Barby | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/26/07
8:12 pm
Dear Sirs:
I am a business owner and corp. CEO of that business. Is it me, or have I noticed
a drop off in the national corporate support of not only our returning troops, but also of
our veterans as a whole.
I personally would like to make some sizeable donation to any orginization that is active
with homeless vets.
Please contact.
An angel | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/22/07
7:00 pm
I just finished the latest interview with Eric (on Eleven Bravo), and
wanted to say how impressed I am with his post war outlook, and specifically his
advice for others returning from combat. Not watching and buying into so much of the
media CRAP, is probably the best thing he said...and not just for the returning
soldiers, but for the families whose loved ones are still deployed. Unless the media
is walking in their shoes, in the trenches, and doing something to support our
guys...they shouldn't even be allowed to report the news. The correspondence people
out in the field see such a small part of the big picture and it's the soldier that
takes the 'crap' for it.
Welcome Home Eric & to each of you, my heros...my vets.
Peace, Holly | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/19/07
5:02 pm
Dear Sir:
I joined the Air National guard in the years 1956-1961 and I
served on active duty in Celle, Germany for one year. I never signed up for benefits
and I am wondering if I am still eligible or am I to late? Thank you, Tony | | | [Network Comment] Dear Tony,
Hopefully assuming safely that you have no service connected disabilty, you no longer would
be eligible for educational or voc.rehab benefits. You are, however, eligible for VA hospital
treatment at no cost for lifetime, providing your earnings are less than 25k per year.
If over that, the VA will treat you, but will require a co-pay.
Welcome Home | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/11/07
12:15 pm
To Whom It May concern:
I have been on your site. I want to thank you for the information
on your Veterans News Channel and I have a observation. On your Step to the Plate show you
do a special on a VFW post's good work. But how come you have not
done a special on Amvets? I see you have a link on the directory.
The Amvets is a very pro active group, not to say one group is better than
another. I would think a series of shows on all the groups would be good.
This would give our nation a view generally not seen. Also I noticed on
our site there is not a mention of you guys, what is with that. I will
look in to it.
I just want to thank you for this television site it makes things damn
easy for us. Keep up the good work we'll be watching.
J W
Amvet | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/07/07
7:51 pm
We are trying to change the car rental agencies age requirements. Please see the
attached web site we've created to begin this mission. Four Marines were left
stranded at San Francisco Airport without a rental car because they were under the
age of 25. We are asking the agencies to change their policy for military personnel
with ID and Drivers License to be able to rent a car. Due to the kindness of a
stranger, after driving 23 hours straight through, these Marines were able to make
it home in time for Christmas. It is absurd that we ask our young men and women to
serve in a war zone but we can't rent them a car. Please read about this incredible
story. We need to support our troops.
Stacey Kible
Grace Crowley
www.oneforthetroops.com | | | [Viewer Response] Mission ONE accomplished with AVIS rent a car! Moving onto the next mission! Thanks for posting this for us on here! AVIS "Tried Harder", as their logo states, and now rents to our military under the age of 25!
www.oneforthetroops.com | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/08/07
4:14pm
Hello,
I really like this network. I have just joined the Order of the Purple Heart.
I was going through your directory listings of vet organizations. I was wondering why
Purple Heart isn't listed there. Either way, there is a lot to see on this site and I will keep
looking at it. Good job.
John
Semper Fi
| | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/06/07
10:40 am
Over the holidays i saw a lot of young military personel on leave and I
made it my mission to personally thank them for serving and tell them how proud I
was.
I hope and pray that all americans regardless of their feelings on war, support
and respect all active military and veterans of war.
Big Mike
Palmdale Ca. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/05/07
5:24pm
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop
computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."
(forwarded) | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/05/07
5:00pm
Pretty powerful.
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a
Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two
together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been
invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was
heading home.
No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?
No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
Going to pick him up?
No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking
him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me l ike a
punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he
didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the
soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so
few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you.
Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and
made the following announcement over the intercom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the
honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us
on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I
ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to
allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will
then turn off the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant
saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me
realize that I am proud to be an American.
So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for
what you do so we can live the way we do.
signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C.
(fowarded)
| | | [Viewer Response] I know for 100% accuracy that this is a true story.. why? Because Sgt Sweet (Steeley as in the story) is my brother and forwarded this story to me himself. Thank you for Stuart Margel for posting this. Also, I know that this is a VERY late comment, but I wanted to post it anyways. :)
~Amber (Proud Sister of U.S. Marine St. Sweet) | [Viewer Response] to the person that posted "The soldiers passing,would have been told to his family as soon as it happened by people on the state side.Not by someone traveling back with him.A pers in our unit was killed overseas our chaplain got a call at midnight and and was at his parents house by 3 am. this story is false"
I didnt recieve an email from you asking if this was true or not.....send me an email... jamison.sweet@gmail.com. I have all the proof proving that it was me that Notified...AND brought his remains home from DOVER AFB....(StateSide)
Even have a documentary being made now....www.STBRAH.com
Jamison Sweet | | [Viewer Response] The soldiers passing,would have been told to his family as soon as it happened by people on the state side.Not by someone traveling back with him.A pers in our unit was killed overseas our chaplain got a call at midnight and and was at his parents house by 3 am. this story is false | | [Viewer Response] As a CACO myself, I can honestly say that I have never travelled with a folded flag. That is what made me wonder about this sotry. | [Viewer Response] Again...to those that don\'t believe it...email me at jamison.sweet@gmail.com
As ofJuly 2, 2008 Noone has challenged my on this story. IT IS TRUE...and I won\'t back down from people that want to shoot down Stuart for standing up and saying nothing more than \"Thank You\". Don\'t worry about the small \"errors\" that he made....HE IS AN AMERICAN THAT IS PROUD....THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS. | | [Viewer Response] I just received the touching email. I hoped that it is true, and after reading the comments from Sergeant Sweet, I believe that it is. Thank you to all of our service men and women. | | [Viewer Response] This is BS. Several websites dedicated to debunking lies and false stories and \"studies\" have declared this story to be unproven. You are promoting a falsehood and should remove it until you have actually spoken to those \"involved\". | [Viewer Response] A complete distortion of facts. You should be ashamed to be an
American. Ron Gear Indict | [Viewer Response] To the person that made this comment "My comment is that this story is completely fabricated! Do the research. It is an amalgamation of several stories, most importantly that of a fallen Marine whose story was published in a Denver newspaper. Please discontinue false stories of heroism. These make the real heroes seem less important."
Let me tell you something...this story it COMPLETLY TRUE! "How in the hell do you know that" you ask??? Well That Marine he spoke with was ME! Every bit of it is true with the exception of the name. The name that came over the intercom was SSGT Sweet. I guess he couldn't make out what name the pilot had said. The Marine that I was bringing home was LCpl J.K. Price. He was 19 and I was the CACO for the family. I volunteered to go pick his remains up from Dover, AFB so that he could get home a day earlier than what was expected. I didn't have to do it...but I couldn't live with myself knowing that I didn't do EVERYTHING possible getting him home when the family was suffering. Mortuary Affairs in Dover,AFB schedules an escort to bring the remains home. They had one, but he wouldn't have been home until another day....so I flew out. On our way home we had a layover in Chicago. When we were landing in Chicago is when all this took place. Then off to St. Louis. I am very Thankful that Stuart Margel at least put the effort into saying 'Thank You' to all Military members.
So if anyone that reads this doesn't believe that it was me.....email me.
I have ALL the proof in the world!
jamison.sweet@gmail.com
(Former) SSgt Jamison D. Sweet | | [Viewer Response] My comment is that this story is completely fabricated! Do the research. It is an amalgamation of several stories, most importantly that of a fallen Marine whose story was published in a Denver newspaper. Please discontinue false stories of heroism. These make the real heroes seem less important. | | [Viewer Response] This is what makes me proud to be an American, I hope the airlines continue to honor our fallen soldiers as this. | [Viewer Response] Does everyone know that before January of this year, no soldiers were on the plane to be there to support the family members of dead soldiers. It took a John Holley the father of Spc. Matthew Holley, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005 to change how the government brought the dead home. Most were just taken off by groundcrew members and handed over to the family at a warehouse in a cargo area. How sad, millions for Halliburton, little for our guys and gals.
I think there was no Sergeant Steeley. | [Viewer Response] I've heard that there never was a Sgt. Steeley. If so, why would someone bunk up such a touching story? Does anyone know if Steeley is real or not?
Greg - Milwaukee | | [Viewer Response] http://lighthousepatriotjournal.wordpress.com/2006/08/17/myth-blaster-email-story-a-simple-thank-you/ | | [Network Comment] Please view the photograph. | | comments |
| | | Sent: "No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so
formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."
-- Ronald Reagan
(forwarded) | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/05/07
4:33pm
Red Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing
Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support
our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We
are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for
God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We
are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends,
simply want to recognize that the vast majority of
America supports our troops. Our idea of showing
solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and
every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a
deafening message that ... every red-blooded American
who supports our men and women afar, will wear
something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let' s make the United
States on every Friday a sea of red much like a
homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every
one of us who loves this country will share this with
acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will
not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it
will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is
on their side more than ever, certainly more than the
media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can
we do to make things better for you?" is ..."We need
your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out
and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear
something red every Friday
IT IS YOUR CHOICE.
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
BRAVE!!
(forwarded)
| | | [Viewer Response] GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES....
| [Viewer Response] I would love to have a BUMPER STICKER with these words...
"We live in the Land of the Free
only because of the Brave!" How can I get one? | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/03/07
8:42 pm
My Name is Josh:
I recently returned home after rehab for my left foot
amputation. It is good to be home
and I am proud that I servered in combat. I had been home
for two weeks and was driving with some friends at 8:00 pm
New Years Eve. We were stopped at a check point in Los
Angeles were I live. I had not been drinking but two of my
friends had been. The cop smelled it and got me out of the
car. He checked me out with the toe to toe test. Which I
did a bad job of due to my amputation.
When I told him this was a bad test because I lost my foot in combat, this
asshole cop thought that was real funny. This pissed me off which made
things worse. He finally let me go, leaving me with a cold and abused
feeling. Cop or no cop, where's the welcome home, wasn't I fighting for you?
Josh
LA | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/03/07
2:32 pm
Somethings get better somethings get worse and somethings with the
VA will be F___k up forever. When my Dad came back from Vietnam ( a
draftee) he was given education benefits without any time limits.
And for free. So here I am just back from Iraq and I get cut off
at ten years. Plus the army made me pay twelve hundred dollars in
advance from my army pay. Go figure!
FTA/ FVA
Lansing, Michigan | | | [Viewer Response] First. I don't know what your Dad's situation was; but as a "Vietnam Draftee" my educational benefits were also cut off at ten years. "C'est L'guerre" (Excuse my French)
Our eras were different. I think the real F-up in your situation was that they deducted the money in advance. (No such thing happened to your Dad or me) You should at least get a refund. Unfortunately - my opinion and $1.25 will get you a cup of coffee. | [Network Comment]
In regards to the above from "FTA/FVA", here are two additional things to consider.
One, any vet with a high rated service connected disablity is eligible for extended
time limits on educational benefits.
Secondly, any vet with twenty years in service is equally eligible.
In Response to FTA/ FVA and also in response to Two Cents, good job on trying to help each other out!
On your subject of GI Bill, here's some additional information.
1. Any veteran who is 100% disabled has GI Bill for life.
2. If a veteran is retired with 20 years of service, he is entitled to the GI Bill in its current status, as well
as any GI Bill that was in effect the date of his enlistment. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 01/02/07
6:40 pm
Hey Vet Nets Network! I would like to see the Eleven Bravo guy do
an interview with Jane Fonda and if you would like me to join in ,
in the interview I will be there at the drop of the hat. She needs
to tell her side of the story why she did that and the lives she
cost.
LW
5/60 9th Division
'67&68 | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/30/06 8:52 am
Dear Veterans
First I would like to thank this Veterans Network for
helping the American soliders.
I was an officer with the ARVN 25th Division. I will never
forget the brave American soldiers
that I was with. I would just like to salute all of the
American veterans of this country and
thank them all for giving me the chance to live in this country
today.
Thi
Orange Co. California | | | | [Viewer Response] To "Thi" from Orange County. As one who was there_ I appreciate your message. I worked with the ARVN 25th Div. along the Vam Co Dong in '69. Who knows, maybe we shared a grin back there, back then. Good luck and happy new year in o7. Mark from Fresno. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/29/06 10:30pm
Well they hung the bastard, good, now lets get this war
done with and send our folks
home.
Pete K.
Marine (ret.)
Lakeland F | | | | [Viewer Response] Good is right, on to benlabin | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/29/06 3:04 pm
To Veterans Network,
Don't call me Louie, don't call
me Slim, just call Sarge cause
I'm
stayin in. I like your show just as much as I like bein a grunt.
I've been in the infantry
for all eighteen years and I'm goin the distance. I served in the
Gulf War with the 24th
Division, in Iraq with the 3rd and now in Korea with the 2nd
Infantry Division.
What I would like to know is, do all of your guests need to be
veterans as in discharged,
or can they still be on active duty? I am asking this because I
will be home on leave in
March. I live in S. Ca. I know your show is in L.A. I won't mind
letting you interview me.
If you want some good stuff, I can give it to you. Let me know.
Eleven Bravo Brother | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/29/06 8:24 am
Gentleman:
I am forty-three years old and navy veteran, my
son is currently serving with the
1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Iraq. I've seen your site and I
like how you refer to it as
a television network. I think you use the term "inter-television" .
Very good. Since there is no
veterans' channel on actual television, you folks seem to have come
up with next best thing.
I am concerned about my son and ptsd. I served during peacetime
and it overwhelms me when
I think about what my son goes through over there. You have shown
some articles on ptsd.
Thank you for that. I am sure this will be helpful for those who
like my son will hopefully be
returning home soon. Keep it up and thank you.
Micheal Stevens
Boston Ma. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/29/06 6:46 am
I am discharged now, I was a Sergant, my rank had no clout.
A lot of the women I know that are in are subject to sexual
abuse and sometimes rape. I want to tell my story will you
help me.
I know we will get help for ptsd, but will we get help for sexual abuse
or worse.
This is important
M.
Army | | | [Viewer Response] This situation doesnot just happen to just the American armforces I too am going through the same thing I am a Canadian I was in Egpyt in 1979
I was raped the guy who did it was French so at that time Canada was giving the French language personal the option of have court in their language they wish the guy of course was French so the court held over there we had to wait till a French lawyer come from Canada. Then court took place of course it was open court anyone who wanted to here good sit down and watch and listed of course everyone had to come and listen. At then end of the court cession he was sent to military jail for 3 months and continued to sever in the military and has his pension. I on the other hand was told that if I thought this situation was going to change my tour I was sadly mistaken. I stayed and did my tour but had very little contact with the girls or guys after that as everyone thought I was bad news. Then I get home and find out that husband and best girl friend were living in my home after I went to do the tour.Nice! Devorce. I was then ask if I would like to be relocated and I was. I toured Europe My Commanding Officer decided take aliking to me. I would be working late he would show up with pizza wine full course meals looking down my shirt touching my arms or legs many time I would tell him I was not interested. Then I finally because of fear I told my female supervior what was happening and we both went to the Chief the Chief said we were imaging everythings and it didnt happen my boss was sent back to Canada and I was moved out of the bldg. continued my tour and with my new male boss got every shit job going and was told that I would quit and that I was nothing be a lyre and a shit dsturber. Just so everyone knows I am Airforce. To date things have not change much except I am no longer yourg and pretty so the next best if you stay in long enough the men of the same age will and do bully you and put you down now what do you do.Ask him to be charge for harassment or a bully I did do that I went through all the procedures . I had 3 Chief Warrant Officers and 3 Master Warrant Officers. Before I had a chance to proceed the paperwork was given to my new Chief told me that if I didnt pull the harassment charge again my life would be a living hell and be called a shit disturber and I would not get any full time contracts. To date this bully is a MWO gets to read everyone files has a full time contract ever since he retired from the regular forces and the very next month return to our unit as a reservist. Nice! He has been told by many Senior Rank to stay out of their offices and leave their people alone. To date this person still is going it and know one will get him removed I just dont get it. well I must say this site has made me feel better because I thought I was the only person going through this not that I am that special. signing off old junior rank person. You can change my spelling and sentences as you wish Thanksagain | [Viewer Response] I'm in the Navy myself and happy to help. Go to the local Vet Center to get proper guidance through the VA system. From what I've seen the sexaul trauma counselors are very good!
Good luck...find a good support network of women who have gone though similar abuse. | | [Viewer Response] I have been in 13 years. I have been severely abused for reporting sexual offenses committed on women and myself. The sexual preditors are moved, honorably discharged, or early retired. The women...forced out...many with dishonorable discharges...that's what they hope to do...the military wants to ruin the credidation of any possible evidence of these sexual crimes. I have severe PTSD where I haulicinate and start yelling. They were trying to kick me out dishonorably. A friend helped me contact the senator...she saved me. Doctors won't put what happened to me in records. Navy is offering me medical retirement if I sign that I have a personality disorder and only anxiety...I'm not taking the pay off...I'm fighting...this is wrong. | [Network Comment] Dear M.
First off, welcome home. Pleased be advised that the VA considers sexual abuse
a form of PTSD which is treatable through the VA. We suggest you pursue this through
a service officer who can be located through the vet organizations, or through your
local state or county veterans assistance departments.
Also, your local Vet Centers are a resource for PTSD and related counseling.
If you don't get the help you need please contact us directly.
You have rights and you have a voice. | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/28/06 7:14 pm
I just got out. There is all this talk on Agent Orange and stuff.
My hair has fallen out cause radiation poisening when I was in
the field in Iraq.
I need help , will the VA help with the poising I got over there.
Thanks
CJ
Army | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/27/06 10:32 am
One of my friends told me about this site, I checked it out
and think it is pretty good.
One thing I liked alot was the benefit news. I hope you will
have more of that coming.
Because I just got discharged from the Marines Thanks.
Ripper | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/26/06 11:06 am
To whom it may concern
My husband is currently in Iraq. I was looking for information on
his outfit.
I came across this site and found it very different. Lots of videos.
But my question is where are the women? Women Veterans.
Thank-you
Nancy Perrat | | | | [Viewer Response] Are there any women veterans and how come no one talks about them? | | comments |
| | | Sent: 12/27/06 5:03 am
Was that Ray Boom-Boom Mancini I saw on this website ?
I know Ray from back here in New Jersy. Tell him I said hello,
from Gino from Seacaucus
I am a vet . US Army Airborne. Fort Bragg. 1980 to 84.
Gino | | comments |
|
|
