Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Mary Ann

Wednesday Hero was started to put a face to the men and women of the American Armed Forces and what they do for us. Vary rarely has there been a member of a foreign military profiled. In fact, in the two years Wednesday Hero’s been going on it’s only been done once before. Here’s the second.

Lance Corporal Matt Croucher
24 years old from Birmingham, England
40 Commando Royal Marines

L/Cpl Matt Croucher is not only one of the bravest men alive, he’s also one of the luckiest men alive. On the morning of February 9, 2008 L/Cpl. and his unit were searching a compound near Sangin in Afghanistan that was suspected of being used to make bombs to be used in attacks on British and Afghan troops. Walking in the darkness among a group of four men, Croucher stepped into a tripwire that pulled the pin from a boobytrap grenade. His patrol commander, Corporal Adam Lesley, remembered Croucher shouting “Grenade!”

As others dived for cover, Croucher did something nobody expected. He lay down on the grenade to smother the blast. Lesley got on the ground, another man got behind a wall, but the last member of the patrol was still standing in the open when the grenade went off.

“My reaction was, ‘My God this can’t be real’,” said Lesley. “Croucher had simply lain back and used his day sack to blunt the force of the explosion. You would expect nine out of 10 people to die in that situation.” L/Cpl. Croucher was that 1/10. Not only did he survive, amazingly he only suffered shock from the blast and a bloody nose. He was saved by the special plating inside his Osprey body armor. The backpack he was wearing was thrown more than 30ft by the blast.

“I felt one of the lads giving me a top to toe check. My head was ringing. Blood was streaming from my nose. It took 30 seconds before I realized I was definitely not dead,” said L/Cpl. Croucher.

For his actions that day, L/Cpl. Croucher was in line for the Victoria Cross, the highest award for a British Serviceman, but it has yet to be awarded.

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

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

Wednesday Hero

Cpl. Markbradley Vincze gives students from al-Raqhaa School backpacks in the Monsouri area of Iraq. Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1-76th FA, 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div., delivered backpacks, soccer balls and notebooks.

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

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

America's Favorite Mom

Soldiers' Angels needs your help! Laughing Wolf over at Blackfive has a post up about the who, what, why, when and how. You can read that here. Or you can do directly here to register and vote. The contest ends April 25th, so please vote before then if you can. Let's get this done. Thank you. Brat

Wednesday Hero

Maj. Mark E. Rosenberg
32 years old from Miami Lakes, Florida
3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
April 8, 2008


Mark Rosenberg grew up in South Florida. "All boy," his aunt, Madelyn Rosenberg, remembers. "Very active, but very lovable." As long as she can recall, Maj. Rosenberg wanted a military career like his father, Burton Rosenberg, had.

He attended New Mexico Military Institute and entered the Army in 1996. Later, he met a woman, Julie, and they
married one day after his sister's wedding. He and Julie had two boys, now 3 and 22 months. They settled in Colorado near Fort Carson, where he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division.

Maj. Rosenberg was on his second tour of duty when the Humvee he was riding in was struck by an IED in Baghdad.

"He would say he's over there to do a job," Madelyn Rosenberg remembered. "He loved what he was doing."

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

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

Canada's "Soldiers' Soldier" Resigns

Lt. General Rick Hillier is resigning. During Canada's deployment in Afghanistan, General Hillier has been the public face of the Canadian armed forces. At the close of 2007, I named General Hillier as one of my Heroes of the Year. (The co-Hero of the Year was General Petraeus.) Then I wrote (in part):

I met a Canadian veteran a few weeks back. Recently returned from Afghanistan, he told me of when he met General Hillier during one of the General's visits there. This veteran spoke from the heart, so highly of the General. As I listened I knew without doubt that there was such respect that this veteran would follow General Hillier anywhere. (here)

Read the rest here.

UPDATE: Just found a very cool column on the General:

Canadian Gen. Rick Hillier plays in a ball hockey game between troops and former pros in Kandahar, March 20, 2008. (James McCarten, Canadian Press)

"...As a tireless military advocate, he raised the profile of Canada's military, which endeared him to his troops and gave Canada an important card to play at the NATO table.

"The man's amazing," Alexander, a Canadian soldier, wrote on a video blog with CBC's The National in December 2007.

"He's incredibly popular with our soldiers because he stands up for us." Go here to read the rest of this one.

Brat

"Love never loses its way home"

SSgt Matt Maupin

SSgt Matt Maupin is home, and there is now a way to show his parents that their son's sacrifice will never be forgotten... Beloved son of Carolyn and Keith, Matt was MIA in Iraq. On March 30th 2008, the official US Army site had this:

Mar 31, 2008

The U.S. Army confirmed positive identification of remains found last week in Iraq as belonging to Army Staff Sgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin. The March 31, 2008, announcement culminates a near four-year search for the 724th Transportation Company Army Reserve Soldier. "After a long wait, we want to offer our most sincere condolences to Carolyn and Keith Maupin on the loss of their son," said Army Secretary Pete Geren...

Then Private 1st Class Maupin, had been missing for more than three years and 11 months, after his fuel convoy came under enemy attack in Iraq. The Batavia, Ohio, native was promoted three times while missing in action since April 9, 2004, as his family awaited news on Staff Sgt. Maupin's status. Army casualty assistance officers flew to Ohio March 30 to personally notify his parents, Carolyn and Keith Maupin...."

Condolence book for the Maupin family needs your help.

Time is short. Please follow the link to find out how YOU can show support for Matt's parents. Go here.

Please repost and pass this one on. Let's get 'er done! Thank you.

Brat

Talk is cheap - China will not listen

This past month, the world has been yelling and demonstrating about the human rights violations of Tibetans by Chinese goons. (Ooops, I mean the Chinese military, of course!) As the Olympic torch - that universal symbol of unity and co-operation - has travelled around, demonstrations have been the norm. In Greece, London, Paris, San Francisco, etc, the torch relay has been disrupted by demonstrators voicing their concerns about the murder of innocent Tibetans in the capital city of Tibet. In San Francisco, the torch was actually sent on a route that was not in the original plans, leaving hundreds of spectators waiting in vain for the torch to pass them by. Pass them by it did but not in the way the throngs had hoped...

And yes, there IS more on this, which you can find here.

Brat

Every Day Heroes

Meet Captain Daniel Burkhart:

The Story: More than a quarter century of war and discontent has left Afghanistan’s once well-established villages and cities derelict, dilapidated and in need of brave humanitarians. Army Captain Daniel Burkhart, on his second tour supporting the war on terror, went above and beyond his role in the Combined Security Transition Command and gave his free time to the Voluntary Community Relations Project (VCR) with an open heart and helping hand. Burkhart always believed it was a privilege to serve as a conduit through which the goodwill and generosity of the American people was able to flow to Afghanistan, improving the lives of these war-ravaged citizens. Started by an Army Chaplain, the VCR project distributes clothes and other goods to displaced refugees in and around Kabul – all donated by the American people. Burkhart considered the time away from his loving wife and infant to be daunting. Seeing the face of his young daughter in that of every needy Afghani youngster, he knew he could not ignore them. As a part of VCR, he has helped facilitate the delivery and distribution of thousands of items to this war-torn country. These tokens of support by the American public are one of the many ways Burkhart and his fellow soldiers help the Afghan people resist the pressures of the poppy industry, or worse, acquiesce to the Taliban’s insurgency. When asked about his experience in Afghanistan, he does not tell tales of the fanatical Taliban fighters or the despicable acts of al Qaeda terrorists, but instead the hospitality and work ethic of the local populous. He reflects on the many cups of chai he has shared with refugees and villagers alike, and the many games of soccer he has played with energetic children. While Burkhart will always remember the brown sand and desolate landscapes of Afghanistan, it is the appreciative children and the hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives he has touched with the VCR project that will always have the most prominent place in his memory. For his year-long service in Afghanistan, Burkhart received the Bronze Star, the NATO Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal and the Outstanding Service Medal. (source)

You can also find details on this Captain here. I *could* go all political, and point out that this hero, and the work he and his brothers in arms are doing in Afghanistan, is nowhere to be found in the msm. (I couldn't find it. lol) I could tell you that Captain Burkhart is winning the global war on terror, one child at a time. I could tell you all of that, and more. But I won't because our readers already know this about our troops. Instead I gratefully highlight yet another of our Every Day Heroes.

Thank YOU for your service, Captain Burkhart.

Brat

Good News Friday (B*N*S*N1)

This story is GREAT news for our heroes and their families:

Army Message: Leadership Recognizes Personal Sacrifices by Soldiers, their Families Apr 10, 2008 BY Paul Boyce, OCPA - Media Relations To Our Soldiers and Families: Today, President Bush announced his decision to return to twelve-month deployments in the CENTCOM theater for active Army units. The President's decision reflects the improved security situation in Iraq - one made possible by your unwavering commitment and willingness to sacrifice - as well as the recognition of the impact of extended deployments on Army Families and our readiness. Today's policy changes will help reduce that strain as we continue to grow the Army and restore balance. The Army will reduce "Boots on the Ground" time to no more than twelve months for all active component Soldiers deploying to CENTCOM area of operations after 1 August 2008. Soldiers deploying prior to 1 August will complete their scheduled deployments. The return to twelve-month deployments does not change the Army's dwell time policy. This policy is intended to give units time to properly reset and allow Soldiers, Families, and friends to reconnect. You have chosen a most noble profession. With your Families standing with you in support, you have borne the increased stress and burden of this war for our Army and our Nation. A grateful Army and Nation thank you. Pete Geren Secretary of the Army -30- (source)

I know more than a few families who LOVE this B*N*S*N! HOO-frickin-AAAH!

Brat

Good News Friday(B*N*S*N2)

While the politicians are acting like asses in Washington (nothing new there.lol), comes news that is also not news to us:

DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for March 2008 The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of March. Active Duty Recruiting. March Monthly. All services met or exceeded recruiting goals for the month of March (below) and have surpassed goals for fiscal 2008 to date. March 2008 Accessions Goal Percent Army 6,066 6,000 101 Navy 2,909 2,909 100 Marine Corps 2,234 1,632 137 Air Force 2,093 2,093 100 Active Duty Retention. Army and the Marine Corps retention continued with a strong showing this month; both are exceeding year-to-date goals. Reserve Forces Recruiting. March Monthly. All six reserve components met or exceeded their accession goals through March 2008. March 2008 Accessions Goal Percent Army National Guard 6,048 6,040 100 Army Reserve 4,304 3,543 121 Navy Reserve 865 865 100 Marine Corps Reserve 553 553 100 Air National Guard 946 784 121 Air Force Reserve 720 719 100 (source)

Go 'figure'! Not that our msm will report on this, but seems Americans believe enough in the country, and service to America, that they are signing on to join the fight. Don't tell Murtha, Pelosi, Obama et al. But, in MY books that is B*N*S*N!

Brat

Good News Friday (B*N*S*N3)

As the msm has consistently gone with the lurid headers, our troops have been consistently doing their jobs "quietly and well." Today, another example of the ongoing rebuilding of the necessary infrastructure of a democracy:

New Rule of Law Expert Meets Mada’in Judges Col. Doug House, from Little Rock, Ark., a military lawyer with the Baghdad-8 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team, reviews documents with Judge Bassem Mohammed Rushdi, a civil judge in the Mada’in Qada, at the courthouse in Jisr Diyala, Iraq, April 8. Photo by Spc. Ben Hutto.

ORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER — Col. Doug House, a military lawyer assigned to the Baghdad-8 embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team, attached to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, met with three judges at the courthouse in Jisr Diyala to gauge their needs April 8. Judge Razaq Jabbar Alwan, chief investigative judge of the qada, welcomed House. “I am glad that you are here and we have the opportunity to meet you,” Alwan said. “It is because of people like you that we are all sitting here in my office today. Your country has helped my country a great deal.” The current judicial expert for the 3rd HBCT believes House, a native of Little Rock, Ark., will be able to work with the judges to facilitate their permanent return to the courthouse in Salman Pak. “I thought Col. House made a good impression on the judges,” said Spc. Ryan Burkholder, a native of Houston. “After an hour of discussion, he was able to work through some issues.” Before joining the Army to become a cavalry scout, Burkholder was a practicing attorney in Texas. During the current deployment, he was assigned to the 3rd HBCT’s staff and appointed as rule of law chief for the brigade, despite being a lower-enlisted Soldier. Over the past year, Burkholder has worked with judges in the Mada’in Qada and Baghdad to help return rule of law to the area. “He has done his job quietly and well,” said Maj. James Carlisle, from West Palm Beach, Fla., Burkholder’s supervisor. “He represents the stellar caliber of young men and women in the Army that makes it the best army in the world.” Burkholder was proud of the role he played in bringing the judicial branch back to the qada and said House would be the perfect person to replace him. “We have seen a significant decrease in violent crimes since the judges have come back,” Burkholder said. “Before, when someone was arrested, there was no transparency. People were arrested and they would disappear. Some would come back and some wouldn’t, but people couldn’t see rule of law in action. “People now know that when they do things wrong here, they will have to sit before the judge,” he said. “I believe that is deterring a lot of crimes from happening.” The 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, is from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007. (source)

This is a GREAT news story on so many levels, and I have to wonder how our politicians would fare in front of these judges.;) This one surely IS a B*N*S*N!

Brat

Wednesday Hero

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael T. Williams
(Click Image For Full Size)

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael T. Williams, a kennel master with Task Force Military Police, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, and his dog “Kitt”, search for ordnance and firearms during a route reconnaissance operation through the western Anbar province of Iraq April 1. The dog handlers conduct operations in support of 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion to bring peace and stability to Iraq and its people.

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

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

Spare a thought today

If you look in the dictionary under the word "Hero", chances are you will see this man. That he is a hero is beyond dispute, in my opinion.

Today, the Monsoor family, the much beloved family of US Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor, will be at The White House, as they collect the Medal of Honor that their beloved Mike earned. Mike gave his life for his country, and over at BlackFive they have been leading the charge to make sure that this HERO is recognised by a grateful nation:

"I can honestly say that as a Pastor I rarely find myself "speechless". However this is one of those times. After viewing the video tribute to Mike Monsoor I am just that...Speechless. There are no words to express the profound sadness and yet great...pride, honor, appreciation, humility, indebtedness, glory, at the sacrifice of this young man. Know that this story will be retold at least from one pulpit this next Sunday and that the prayers of at least one Church will go out for the family and friends of this great soldier. May God bless you for the work of proclaiming this great sacrifice and promoting what is great about the people of our Armed Services." - Baptist Minister from Memphis, Tennessee, in an email to us at Blackfive about US Navy SEAL Mike Monsoor. How are we best to tell the story of Michael Monsoor - a man who's sacrifice inspired a preacher to tell his story from the pulpit? We'll begin at the end this time because, while many of us believe that it's how you lived that matters, how you leave this world can matter just as much....

There are not enough honours/medals in this world to adequately reflect the contributions of such heroes. Not enough words exist to tell the story of such lives well lived, but over at Blackfive, Matt traces Mike's life path to this day. Go here to read, and meet this awesome man and his family. And spare a prayer for them all.

Brat

Vets on the Hill

"This just in..." From Vets For Freedom comes this email:

Dear Vets for Freedom members: For the past three weeks, the National Heroes Tour took the message of the success in Iraq straight to the American people. From San Antonio to Saint Paul to South Carolina, we engaged crowds large and small, and spoke with over 200 media outlets, reaching over 20 million people through local television and radio. With just 3% of news coverage in the mainstream media committed to Iraq, we bypassed national media all together, and it worked. Local media outlets were very receptive to "ground truth," and our veterans were able to provide it. Any way you slice it, the National Heroes Tour has been an overwhelming success. But it's not over yet. Tomorrow we bring our message to Congress, when over 400 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans descend on Capitol Hill for "Vets on the Hill." Our guys will enjoy breakfast with the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Richard Myers, before heading to Capitol Hill for a bi-partisan press conference with two-dozen members of Congress, including Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and Lindsay Graham. After the press conference, Vets for Freedom will flood the halls of Congress with a sea of warriors, armed with first-hand experience, facts about the incredible progress in Iraq, and a passion for nothing short of victory, Their stories are "taking points" that no one can refute—and members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, will hear from them. Our message is simple: Let them win! and listen to General David Petraeus. He was right in September, and has the best pulse on events in Iraq. Congress would be wise to heed his advice. Commence Movement to Contact, Pete Hegseth Executive Director Vets for Freedom

Oh to be there tomorrow. BUT, if - like me - you can't be there, you CAN go over to Vets For Freedom site here, and check out all the latest news. Awesome site; GREAT job from all our heroes.I can hope that Congress will listen, can't I?

Brat

Every Day Heroes

Meet Major Kim Campbell:

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

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

Brat

File this under...

..."Warms the heart to see"!

Justice IS being served. Remember Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder and his father Albert? In March 2006, Albert buried his beloved son Matthew, a Marine who gave his all in service to America.

Then dad Albert sued Westboro Baptist Church. I first posted about the Snyder family back on November 1, 2007:

Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder RIP Kansas church liable in Marine funeral protest By Jon Hurdle BALTIMORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A jury on Wednesday ordered an anti-gay Kansas church to pay $2.9 million in compensatory damages to relatives of a U.S. Marine after church members cheered his death at his funeral. The jury in federal court determined that the Westboro Baptist Church based in Topeka, and three of its principals, had invaded the privacy of the dead man's family and inflicted emotional distress when they protested at his funeral last year....

You can go here to remind yourself. Well, it seems the wheels of justice are moving along.

Judge orders lien on Westboro church A federal judge has ordered a lien placed on property owned by Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., as part of a judgment awarded by a jury to Albert Snyder, the father of a U.S. Marine who died in Iraq. Apr 4, 2008 4:00 AM (1 day ago) by Mike Silvestri, The Examiner BALTIMORE- A federal judge in Baltimore ordered Westboro Baptist Church members to post their church building and nearly $500,000 more in cash and property while appealing a judgment for protesting a Marine’s funeral. The Kansas church members had hoped to avoid posting a bond while delaying payments in the $5 million judgment a jury awarded Albert Snyder, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder who died in Iraq. Westboro church members preach that God kills American soldiers as punishment for the country’s tolerance of homosexuality. They protested Matthew Snyder’s Westminster funeral in March 2006 by waving signs with such messages as “Thank God for dead soldiers” and “God hates fags.” U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett rejected their motion Thursday, ruling it would require “extraordinary circumstances” to avoid posting a portion of the judgment. Examiner.com Related Articles: Westboro must post appeal bond while challenging judgment Religion News in Brief McCain’s Annapolis message is loud and clear: Be a good citizen Police settle racial profiling suit Excerpts from editorials in Florida newspapers “The property could not be sold, no further mortgage could be placed on the property, and it essentially would be frozen in time,” Bennett said. He ordered liens on the $443,000 church and a $233,000 office owned by Fred Phelps, the church’s founder. He also ordered two of Phelps’ daughters to post cash bonds within 30 days. Shirley Phelps-Roper was ordered to post $125,000; Rebekah Phelps-Davis, $100,000 because the original judgment against her was less than her sister’s. If the church is successful in its appeal, the money would be returned and the liens would be lifted. The church’s finances have raised questions of how members can afford to travel the country to protest hundreds of funerals each year, but only have a few hundred dollars in their bank accounts....

You can read more on the latest developments on these ***** (fill in your own adjective!) here.

NEXT!


Brat(H/T to Don)

There is Great News, Good News, More Good News and Then?

The great news is that yet another US Marine has had charges against them dropped.

I brought you the story of Lt. Col Chessani who is still facing charges, but it seems that even more ground has fallen away from the military's attempt to punish all those at Haditha. Marine Lance Cpl Tatum will no longer face charges of involuntary manslaughter; charges that stemmed from an incident in November 2005 when civilians were killed. A defence lawyer for Lance Cpl Tatum says:

"It became clear to the experienced prosecution team that the right thing to do was to dismiss all charges.

"We believe the evidence shows that Lance Corporal Tatum reacted to an enemy attack the way he was trained to do."
[BBC]

L/Cpl Stephen Tatum is the fifth marine to have all charges dropped

"The way he was trained to... " Repeatedly, I have heard troops say "I was just doing my job." Unless we are in the situation standing alongside our troops, we cannot KNOW what they are facing. In July 2007, Lance Cpl Tatum made a statement to the hearing officer Lt. Col Paul Ware:

To read the rest of this, go here.

Brat

Good News Friday(B*N*S*N1)

U.S. Army Spc. Chelsea Adams, 26, left, her husband, Sgt. Cameron Adams, 29, right, are seen at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, March 27, 2008. The two, who married Sept. 11, 2004, are deployed together with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. The Army is allowing scores of husband-and-wife soldiers to live and sleep together in the war zone -- a move aimed at preserving marriages, boosting morale and perhaps bolstering re-enlistment rates at a time when the military is struggling to fill its ranks five years into the fighting. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This story makes soooooooo much sense to me:

Married Troops Can Live Together in Iraq By BRADLEY BROOKS and RUSS BYNUM – 3 days ago BAGHDAD (AP) — When American soldiers get off duty in Iraq, the men usually return to their quarters, the women to theirs. But Staff Sgt. Marvin Frazier gets to go back to a small trailer with two pushed-together single beds that he shares with his wife. In a historic but little-noticed change in policy, the Army is allowing scores of husband-and-wife soldiers to live and sleep together in the war zone — a move aimed at preserving marriages, boosting morale and perhaps bolstering re-enlistment rates at a time when the military is struggling to fill its ranks five years into the fighting. "It makes a lot of things easier," said Frazier, 33, a helicopter maintenance supervisor in the 3rd Infantry Division. "It really adds a lot of stress, being separated. Now you can sit face-to-face and try to work out things and comfort each other." Long-standing Army rules barred soldiers of the opposite sex from sharing sleeping quarters in war zones. Even married troops lived only in all-male or all-female quarters and had no private living space. But in May 2006, Army commanders in Iraq, with little fanfare, decided that it is in the military's interest to promote wedded bliss. In other words: What God has joined together, let no manual put asunder....

HOO-frickin-AAAH! You can read the rest of this B*N*S*N story here.

Brat

Good News Friday (B*N*S*N2)

All sorts of GREAT news, via press releases, on the MNF site here. Here's just one:

Two terrorists killed, 16 suspects detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda in Iraq Friday, 04 April 2008 MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ PRESS DESK BAGHDAD, Iraq Two terrorists killed, 16 suspects detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda in Iraq BAGHDAD – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 16 suspected terrorists today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and bombing networks around Iraq. West of Samarra, Coalition forces targeted an individual allegedly tied to a senior al-Qaeda in Iraq – or AQI – terrorist in the region. During the operation, the wanted individual attempted to breach the security perimeter and was wounded by small-arms fire from the security element. Despite Coalition forces’ efforts in treating the man, he later died of his wounds. Seven suspected terrorists were detained in the operation. Two coordinated operations focused on the AQI bombing network. During an operation in Sharqat, the ground force called for occupants of the target building to come out. One man who was initially compliant began to ignore Coalition forces’ instructions and attempted to retrieve something from under his clothing. Perceiving hostile intent, Coalition forces engaged, killing the man. Three suspected terrorists were detained at the scene. Farther south, the ground forces detained two more suspects in the second operation. In Habbaniyah, Coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists allegedly tied to the car-bombing network north of Baghdad. One suspect was injured as the ground forces breached a door on the target building, but was treated on scene and transported to a military medical facility. In Mosul, Coalition forces detained a suspect believed to be closely tied to AQI senior leaders there. “Al-Qaeda in Iraq is an extremist organization whose support is dwindling as more and more people turn their backs on the terrorists’ indiscriminate violence and corrupt, Taliban-like ideology,” said Navy Lt. David Russell, MNF-I spokesman. “Iraqi and Coalition forces will continue to dismantle the terrorist networks, increasing security and public safety for all Iraqis.” - 30 -

And there IS much more news on the bad guys being rounded up. Check them all out here. And that is more B*N*S*N!

Brat

Good News Friday (B*N*S*N3)

Soldiers surge through a door in a house to clear a room. The soldiers have set drills to ensure all areas of the room are covered and cleared quickly. For protection each soldier wears a helmet, ballistic glasses or goggles and a fragmention vest.


Those in the picture are Canadians in a Shoot House in Ft. Bliss:

FORT BLISS, Texas — Door-kicking, shouting, soldiers moving swiftly and aggressively from room to room. That was the scene at the Shoot House. It was hard work, but all in a day´s training for soldiers as they prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan. The Shoot House at Fort Bliss is a cluster of buildings and compounds designed to expose soldiers to close quarter fighting in an environment similar to what they may find in Iraq or Afghanistan. It is a ´zero templated´ range meaning that once soldiers are inside the buildings they can fire live rounds at targets in any direction they see them. Safety staff supervise the soldiers but the goal is to make the training realistic....

So many things right with this one - it really IS a B*N*S*N! Go here to read the rest.

Brat

England, MY England

In case you missed it: all sorts of things going on in England today. All of them will have long term repercussions on the shape of the future in England.

First up is a trial which begins today. Despite not being front page news on a regular basis, (as it SHOULD be), the British police and security forces have been tracking, capturing terrorists and their accolytes who would do harm to the British and their way of life.

Go here to read the rest!

Brat

Project Yusufiyah - Mike's Legacy UPDATE

SGT Mike Stokely

Back on March 10, 2008, I wrote a post about the latest project by Robert Stokely to honour his son Mike's mission in Iraq. I told you the story of Robert gathering school supplies to send to the Iraqi children who Mike loved so much.

"Mike cared enough about the children in Yusufiyah to go fight there, to die there. If we can do a little bit to help the children..." Robert Stokely early this morning, told me that they started Project Yusufiyah with the idea of sending some school supplies to kids in Iraq.

You can read the rest of that post here. Today, there is an update. That first picture above is of the children being handed the school supplies which Robert packed and sent so that the children in Iraq have a lasting legacy of HIS beloved son.

Blackfive has this:

Mike Stokely Foundation Makes Changes in Yusifiyah By Staff Sgt. Tony M. Lindback erd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division PATROL BASE YUSIFIYAH, Iraq - Students and teachers had looks of joy - and bewilderment - as Soldiers handed out school supplies and toys at the Mullah Fayad school in Yusifiyah, Iraq, March 27. Children grinned ear-to-ear as they looked over the treasure. When teachers asked who had sent the truckload of goods, they were surprised by the answer. Everything had been donated in the name of Sgt. Michael Stokely, who was killed Aug. 16, 2005, in Mullah Fayad. Stokely, from Sharpsburg, Ga., served with the 48th Georgia National Guard. After his death, his father began the Mike Stokely Foundation. The organization put together a shipment of school supplies for citizens of the communities where Stokely lived and died. It took an Army five-ton truck to deliver the supplies to the school...

There is so much more to this update. Go - NOW! - and read the rest at B5 here.

Thank you Mike AND Robert. Bless you both.

Brat

2008 Face of America Bike Ride

Mark your calendars! May 3 and 4, 2008 is this year's Face of America Bike Ride. The picture above is of the woman who is the driving force behind the "Team CJ McGee."

...a heads up on an event that myself and my brothers Jack and Brian are going to participate in, this May 3rd and 4th. It is called the 2008 Face of America Bike Ride, and it is a 110 mile bicycle ride starting at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda MD, and finishing in Gettysburgh, PA. The purpose, is to honor and assist our disabled veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is an all inclusive ride and anyone can join us. Last year's ride, Con and I attended the finish as spectators and supporters, and provided hand made banners, hung along the course, designed and decorated on twin bed sheets by students from Drexel Hill Middle Schools eighth grade homerooms. It was our Julies' idea to ask her classmates to take on this project. They did a great job and 16 banners proudly hung along the route. This year we plan to join in the ride and complete it as support riders, and also raise funds in support these brave heroes. I can't tell you what an amazing and inspiring experience to see the drive and determination of these guys. Many ride hand crank adaptive bicycles and some ride their standard performance bikes while wearing their prosthetics. Not one of them complains or feels that they were dealt a bad hand. Even though they returned home with some very serious physical injuries, their spirit is far from broken. We named our team, "Team CJ McGee" in honor of our mom, Carolyn Julia McGee, who recently passed from Cancer. Mom enjoyed being involved with Soldiers Angels, and helping with support for my active military "adoptees" while they were on deployment . We think this is a great way to pay tribute to her and her sense of "family". With our mom, once you walked in the door, or became a part of her life, you were "family". I can't do this without the help of sponsors, so I am asking for your help. Please sponsor my team. Any amount, no matter how little will be greatly appreciated, It all adds up. Our goal is to raise $6,000.00. I am providing a direct link to our team page, where donations can be directly made, and credited to "Team C J McGee". You will also be provided a reciept for income tax purposes. It is very user friendly, so check us out. If you are not able to support us at this time, would you be kind enough to spread the word and share this e mail with other family members and friends? Thanks again for your support and we will see you at the finish! If any of you would be interested in joining us as riders, we would love to have you along for the ride!

The writer of that is a friend of mine, who also 'happens' to be a Soldiers' Angel. Mum CJ was also a SA, a lifetime supporter of our troops. And that IS CJ and her daughter. This is an awesome event and our wounded will also be there. Go here to find out general information about this event. To find out more about Team CJ McGee, go here. Check it out, and see how you can help! May 3 I just may see you all in Washington DC!!!

Thank you for your support. I believe that CJ will be cheering her team on.
Gooooooooooo team! :)

Brat

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Mary Ann

Spc. Jeffrey Jamaleldine
Company C, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor


"How can I say to my sons, stand up for something, fight for what you think is right, if I don't do anything myself?"

The Jeffrey Jamaleldine that you speak to today is a complete 180 from the Jeffrey Jamaleldine that you would have spoke to in the past. In 1991, Jamaleldin was living in Germany when joined in anti-American protests on Berlin's Kurfürstendamm boulevard during Operation Desert Storm. "That was the way it was back then," he says. He was 15 and "America was simply the enemy." And today, Jeffery Jamaleldine is a wounded veteran of the U.S. Army. On June 6, 2005, after the terror bombing in Madrid, Spain, in the middle of the Iraq war, he showed up at the U.S. Army recruiting office in Little Rock, Arkansas, to enlist. His father, Bashir, told him at the time: "Son, this won't be a picnic."

On June 30, Jamaleldine was on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. The patrol ahead of him had been ambushed by at least 70 combatants and were now under fire. During the fight, Spc. Jeffrey Jamaleldine was hit in the face by a bullet. In the end, the battle lasted into the next morning and the soldiers were able to stop the enemy from returning to Ramadi.

The article on Spc. Jeffrey Jamaleldine is five pages long, and I simply can not condense it down to only a few paragraphs. You can read the entire story here.

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

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