2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon 22 years old from Brockport, Pennsylvania 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division October 17, 2006
2nd Lt. Christopher Loudon graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Baccalaureate Degree in Environmental Health in 2005. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Army on September 9, 2005. He received his commission as an Infantry officer and was assigned to 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in July 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
2nd Lt. Loudon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
He was KIA in Baghdad, Iraq when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Also killed with him were; Corporal David M. Unger, 21, of Leavenworth, Kansas ;Corporal Russell G. Culbertson III, 22, of Amity, Pennsylvania and Specialist Joseph C. Dumas Jr., 25, of New Orleans, Louisiana.
He leaves behind his parents, Randy and Susan Loudon ; his wife, Jacey Loudon ; a daughter, Isabel Loudon ; two brothers, First Lieutenant Nicholas Loudon ,and Jonathan Loudon ; his paternal grandmother, Florence Loudon and his maternal grandfather, Everett William Campbell.
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.
This show was scheduled earlier today after many conversations with several people yesterday, last night and early this morning. Feel free to tune in on BTR (link here). I, for one, know exactly what it is like being far away from home in a distant and hostile land and after the GREAT success of the Chandlers Watch, Buffman and Wrench and Do The Right Thing Christmas Shows for The Troops, what could be more appropriate than to hold a special show specifically for New Years?
I spoke with that crazy guy Loki and he said we should go for it so here it is!
Feel free to pick a graphic and run with it.
THE TROOPS! THE TROOPS!! AND NOTHING BUT THE TROOPS!!!
Billboard.com and the Army have teamed up to provide free music downloads to the troops. To get two free downloads of your choosing, simple visit the "Send A Song" Billboard site and register using a .mil email account. A code will be sent to that email that you can use to download any two songs from their site. I've already tested it and gotten my two songs (All-American Rejects - Gives You Hell & Hinder - Without You). Now go get yours. But hurry, this offer ends December 31st!!
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” - Isaiah 6:8
Why would I start with a Biblical quote? First of all, to annoy hippies. Second, because we need to send all of us into Afghanistan, peform a “hands across the desert”, and purge Afghanistan of every Taliban and AQ terrorist we can find. I’m not talking purging in the detention facility or Gitmo sense. I’m talking shoot on sight. Just kill them all. This has got to stop:
A single-file line of school children walked past a military checkpoint Sunday as a bomb-loaded truck veered toward them and exploded, ending the lives of 14 young Afghans in a heartbreaking flash captured by a U.S. military security camera. The video shows an SUV slowly weaving through sandbag barriers at a military checkpoint just as a line of school children, most wearing white caps, comes into view.
This sickens me to the core. These people are barbarians and yet the extreme left in this country want us to bend over backwards to protect their “rights”. These people don’t deserve rights. These people don’t deserve life. These are the kinds of circumstances for which torture should not be authorized, but actively and publicly encouraged. Perhaps watching their fellow AQ and Taliban prisoners getting their fingernails pulled off one by one or hot pokers stuck through their eyeballs will convince the rest of them to keep their destructive tendencies aimed at people who can defend themselves. But, I know that it wouldn’t be terrorism if they did that.
(The pictures of the visits with the wounded here just happen to be from The Daily Mail)
Yes, President Bush is one of MY Heroes of the Year! No, I am not talking about his politics, or his policies. President Bush is one of MY Heroes of this Year, and any other, for a couple of major reasons.
The big reason I name President Bush a hero of mine is because of his unstinting - tireless - role as "Comforter in Chief." Oh I know his IS the Commander in Chief of the United States military, and goodness knows the msm has taunted him mercilessly about his decisions regarding his deployment of our men and women in the Global War on Terror. For what it's worth, I believe that history will vindicate the President in his decisions. However, whilst the media has continuously badmouthed, been downright insulting, and ignorant, in their treatment of the President, they have missed what I feel is a side of him that more than a few of our military heroes, and their families, have seen. Whilst the media has attacked the President at every turn, like a pack of rabid dogs, he has been quietly visiting our wounded at Walter Reed and BAMC and in many other places. Of course, the media hasn't documented the many hours he has spent at the bedsides of gravely wounded, or hugging the grieving Gold Star Families. I see two reasons for that. One, the media wasn't usually invited; for the President, and those he visited, these were private moments as he paid his respects. Two, even if the media had known about these visits, I doubt they would have reported on them. To do so, the media who spent so much energy tearing him down, would have had to admit that the President has been doing the honourable, morally courageous thing: facing the troops, and their families, who HE sent into harm's way. How do I know this? Because I am blessed to know some Gold Star Families, who have shared their meetings with the President, AND I have bothered to inform myself. There are more than a few internet 'blogs out there, that have pictures of the time that President Bush has spent with our heroes and their families. From all I can tell, for them, and for the President, the time he spends with them is personal, and never about the political. He has done it because it is the right thing to do.
Just last week the President was at Walter Reed visiting some of his troops. No, you didn't see it in the msm, but I found it, and I can bet that the soldiers he visited, will not soon forget that their 'Comforter in Chief' made the time to visit them:
THE PRESIDENT: Every time I come here, I get amazed at the quality of care, the professionalism, and the courage of our troops....
And so this will probably be my last time coming here as the Commander-in-Chief. It gave me a great pleasure to thank all those who serve here, and all those who serve throughout our military, military medical facilities. You know, I oftentimes say being the Commander-in-Chief of the military is the thing I'll miss the most, and coming here to Walter Reed is a reminder of why I'll miss it.
The top picture is one of my favourites of the President. I forget where I found it, but to me it encapsulates the essence of the man. While the msm mad dogs are raining down venom and vitreol upon him, he is laughing at them. Just what it says to me anyways!
I recently came across a quote attributed to President Bush:
As US President George W Bush prepared to leave office he told ABC News: "I hope they feel that this is a guy that came, didn't sell his soul for politics, had to make some tough decisions, and did so in a principled way."
From where I sit, Mr President, that you did. That you did, and you ARE one of my heroes of the year.
President Bush is not my only Hero of the Year, although he is the most high profile, the most well known. My long-time readers - all two of you - will remember that last year I included the Iraqi children as my Heroes of the Year. During this year, those of us involved in the military support community have heard first hand from our troops, how our Iraqi children have made enormous progress as they have grasped the literally once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that their fledgling democracy has brought for them. We KNOW of the huge leaps born from tiny steps that have improved the lives for the brave Iraqi people, men and women, boys and girls. They are ALL heroes in my view.
In another theatre of this Global War on Terror is another group of brave heroes. As everybody must know, this war IS Global (and it is not two wars as some of the msm insist on calling it.) A story came to light recently about a group of Afghan girls who had acid thrown in their faces as they went to school one day. As we all know, up until recently, girls were not allowed to go to school under the Taliban regime, and even though some brave women held clandestine schools in private homes, it is only since the Taliban has been routed, and a government installed, that girls are free to pursue a formal education. As our troops hold back the Taliban so that the Afghan people can reconstruct their society, the thugs have renewed their attacks on their own people, in the hopes of intimidating them back into the old ways. Then comes this story of some incredible girls:
Atifa Bibi, an Afghan school girl, recovers in a hospital after two men on a motorbike threw acid on her in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan)
Do you remember this story?
Afghan girls sprayed with acid in 'desperate' attack
Updated Wed. Nov. 12 2008 9:49 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The head of the Canadian army in Afghanistan accused the Taliban of acting in "desperation" after a grisly acid attack by unidentified men on a group of schoolgirls and a suicide bombing that killed six people.
Two men on a motorcycle hurled acid at a group of eight Afghanistan school girls Wednesday in a shocking attack that is making headlines around the world.
The girls were walking to Mirwais Minna Girl's School in broad daylight in Kandahar when the attack occurred.
"The men on a motorbike were apparently unarmed but nobody stopped them," The Globe and Mail's Graeme Smith reported Wednesday from Kandahar Air Field.
Three of the eight girls were hospitalized with serious burns and others have been treated and released. U.S. military spokesmen said at least two of the girls still in hospital were blinded.
Two girls who were wearing full-length burkas were not harmed.
Video of two of the badly burned girls shows them both in a state of shock, with one barely able to open her eyes.
"This beautiful brown eyed girl will never see again," Smith told CTV Newsnet.
Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, head of the Canadian army, said the Taliban is reverting back to the "pure terror tactics" that was more commons a few years back. "For a while they tried to take us on... now they're going back to terrorizing their own population," said Leslie.
Bibi Athifa, one of the girls who suffered acid burns to her face, said she and her friends were walking to school when two armed gunmen on a motorbike stopped.
"One guy squirted acid from a bottle on us," she said. "Nobody warned us. Nobody threatened us. We don't have any enemies," she said.
During the Taliban's rule, between 1996 to 2001, girls were banned from schools. They were also not allowed to leave their home without a male family escort.
Bibi Meryam, the aunt of a 14-year-old victim, said the family had not received any threats prior to the attack. However, she said she's considering keeping her girls at home until the security situation stabilizes in the country.
"They acknowledged that they might be waiting a very long time because security is not improving and they know that the move is shifting in Kandahar," Smith said.
Afghanistan's government also condemned the attack, calling it un-Islamic and perpetrated by the "country's enemies," a usual reference used to describe the Taliban.
"By such actions, they cannot prevent six million children going to school," the government said in a statement.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi has denied that the insurgents were involved [here]
These girls are absolutely heroes. Despite the Taliban denying that they had anything to do with this cowardly attack, these girls are determined to face all odds and continue their education:
NBC's Jim Maceda recently did a follow up report on these young heroes:
Defiant School Girls To Taliban: "You Can Spray Us [With Acid] A Thousand Times;We Will Not Stop Going To School"
Students Who Were Injured In A Recent Acid Attack In Southern Afghanistan Are Now "The Faces Of Defiance"
JIM MACEDA: Thirteen-year-old Zahara always looked forward to school, to science class and athletics, until one morning last month, walking to the Mirwais Meena Girls' School in Kandahar with her older cousin Chamsey. Here, just outside the school, her life changed.
ZAHARA: (Through translator) It was Wednesday. We were coming home from school when men on motorbikes drove by and threw something on our face.
MACEDA: Zahara thought it was water, just a prank, until it started to sting.
ZAHARA: (Through translator) My skin became green, then white and I knew something was really wrong.
MACEDA: Her cousin Chamsey screamed and passed out. She and five other girls were hospitalized with burns, all victims of a brutal acid attack by militants. In the eyes of the Taliban, girls are unholy if they go to school....
MACEDA: Most of these kids were back in class after four or five days, but their teachers say the mood has changed. There's still a strong desire to learn, of course, but now that's mixed with a deep-seated fear.
MACEDA: 'We're all afraid,' said principal Mahmoud Qaderi, 'but we don't care. We'll continue to teach and learn here, and that will defeat the enemy.' Zahara admits she's lost the joy to study, but not her dreams.
ZAHARA: (Through translator) I want to be a doctor someday and give something to my country and its children.
MACEDA: Her cousin Chamsey was left partially blind by her acid burns, but her sister had this message for the Taliban.
MACEDA: 'You can spray us a thousand times; we will not stop going to school,' she swore, in tears. Two cousins, both victims of terror, and now the faces of defiance. Jim Maceda, NBC News.(NBC's "Nightly News," 12/22/08)
[For the full video report go here] And.....for a bit of perspective about OUR heroes helping the littlest heroes? Found the following request on SA forum:
school supplies for us to give the local [Afghan] kids here, especially for the girls. At the start of this 7 years ago most of the kids here didn't have any schools and the ones they had, very few girls were allowed to go to school. Now over 90% of all girls and boys are in school. (www.soldiersangels.org)
We take so much for granted here in north America. No little girl is threatened or assaulted because they insist on going to school.
However, be that as it may, our western countries' children face different, more insidious threats. Our children are abused and killed by those closest to them; those they look to for nurturing and love. These children - our smallest, almost invisible citizens - are also my Heroes of the Year, of ANY year.
A few years back, I wrote a column about our smallest heroes. It read, in part:
THIS ONE’S FOR THE CHILDREN
A month old baby died this week, in small town USA. Police are treating the death
as a homicide.
A two year old boy, battered and bruised, is apprehended by Children’s services
in middle America on Friday and taken to a foster home, where he will no longer be
exposed to his crack addicted parents.
A baby is in critical condition in a major Pediatric Intensive Care Nursery, the
result of a shaken baby ‘incident”. ...
A 2 year old girl is still awaiting her fourth surgery as the result of an ‘accident’
in her home months ago. She is now safe in a foster home and the adult involved
in the ‘accident’ awaits trial.
A friend phones me in the middle of the night in absolute panic. She has just seen,
from her safe seat on the bus, a little boy being flung against an apartment building
wall in a neighborhood in one of the most affluent cities on this continent. ...
... if you think I exaggerate, look around your own neighborhoods,
communities. I guarantee in the time it takes you to read this column, at least one,
and probably more, child is being abused in ways unimaginable to most of us.
... Sure, we can read the mortality rates of kids in any third world country and smugly drink
our lattes and call them “uncivilized”, but really, we have nothing to be proud of.
We are every bit as uncivilized as any other country in the world where kids
are ‘lucky’ if they live beyond five years old. To me, it is a miracle of epic
proportions that kids here DO live long enough to be adults. Go to any school.
In any neighborhood, and you will see kids who have gone to school hungry or
abused in other more insidious ways. And still the politicians and the other fat
cat government agencies “study” the issues, and do nothing. ..(c) (sorry about the layout.I can't seem to fix it..)
And yes, some of these heroes have names. Take a look at Peanut. Her story will turn your hair white.:
Little Peanut is just 2 years old. We shall come back to this brave little hero's story in a minute.
Meet little Nixzmary Brown - HERO!
Nixzmary Brown (July 18, 1998 – January 11, 2006) was a seven-year-old abused child and murder victim from the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn section of New York City, New York. Her death impacted the city's Administration for Children's Services and prompted reforms in the system.
Nixzmary Brown
Jury cries for Nixzmary Brown
BY SCOTT SHIFREL and TRACY CONNOR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Thursday, January 17th 2008, 4:00 AM
The Nixzmary Brown murder trial dissolved into tears right from the beginning, when jurors openly wept over a heartbreaking picture of the dead girl's battered body.
The color photograph - the most powerful piece of evidence in prosecutors' arsenal - provided a stark counterpoint to the defense's shocking blame-the-victim strategy.
The 8-by-10-inch picture showed the 7-year-old lying on a wooden floor, a pair of red sweatpants hanging off her malnourished frame.
Bruises covered her torso. Her half-opened eyes were blackened.
Ugly cuts bore witness to the life of pain that ended in a Brooklyn apartment two years ago,...(here)
And the list goes on and on...and on. All these brave little heroes, standing in plain view for all to see. And America is not alone in the untold numbers of these littlest heroes. Recently in Canada:
Parents Guilty in Girl's Death Phoenix Sinclair is shown in an undated photo. The 5-year-old girl was beaten bloody with a metal rod and had her face shoved in her own vomit before one final beating left her dead on the family's dirty basement floor, a Manitoba court heard Thursday, Nov. 13. [ 2008]Phoenix’s mother, Samantha Kematch, and Kematch’s former boyfriend, Karl McKay, have been found guilty of first-degree murder.
Phoenix was a hero. She didn't stand a chance, and we can only imagine the horrors in her short life. In court, the gruesome details of her life with the monsters, was detailed and they go beyond the wildest imagining:
WINNIPEG — A five-year-old girl was beaten bloody with a metal rod and had her face shoved in her own vomit before one final beating left her dead on the family's dirty basement floor, a Manitoba court heard Thursday...
McKay's youngest son ... testified that both Kematch and McKay used to beat Phoenix, sometimes with their fists, other times with a metal rod, at their home in Fisher River, Man.
Phoenix was also shot with a pellet gun "just for the hell of it." The little girl was beaten and physically stomped on so much, her fifteen-year-old stepbrother said she just stopped crying.
After one beating, Phoenix's knuckles were cut open and became infected but she was never taken to the doctor, he said. At night, the boy said he could hear her sobbing in the basement through the vents and he would go down to check on her.
There was no heat in the basement and Phoenix would be "curled up in a little ball" without a blanket, he said.
Sometimes, Kematch would laugh while her daughter was being beaten or choked unconsciousness, he testified.
"I would look at their faces and I wouldn't see no tears or nothing," the boy said. "No remorse."
The day she died, McKay's son said his dad beat Phoenix and stomped on her head, as well as her chest. He pushed her and left her on the basement floor while Kematch watched. When the couple left the house to visit McKay's father, the boy said he went down to check on Phoenix and thought she was playing dead.
"I just touched her back," he said. "It was all cold. I put my hand on her mouth. She wasn't breathing."
When the couple returned to find Phoenix's lifeless body, the boy said they didn't show any emotion. He was told to "watch your baby sister. We're going to the dump and bury her," the boy said. "They were both in it together."
When the boy returned to his father's house several weeks later, he said the basement had been cleaned and the floor painted.
Phoenix's body was found in a shallow grave near the garbage dump in Fisher River, Man. in March 2006....[source]
"A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer." - Novalis
While I was writing this piece, I found all too many of these bravest of heroes, who are in lives of epic desperation and horrors.
Kentucky State Police Investigating Baby's Death
Child Died Three Days After Being Taken To UK Hospital
POSTED: 9:37 pm EST December 22, 2008
UPDATED: 9:54 pm EST December 22, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky State Police are investigating the death of a 3-month-old eastern Kentucky girl last summer.The Fayette County coroner's office said Kaylee Buchanan of Fleming County died from a head injury three days after being brought to University of Kentucky Medical Center on July 20.Trooper Ralph Lockard of the Morehead State Police post told the Lexington Herald-Leader that officials asked police to investigate because the baby's death wasn't "conducive to accidental or natural causes."...
In England, the list of these little heroes is also long - far too long. Baby P has recently figured large in the British media. The litany of the horrors this precious child suffered is almost beyond comprehension:
Baby P's mother was arrested in December 2006, when he was nine months old, after a GP saw bruises on the boy's face. After five weeks in the care of a family friend, he is returned home.
To see the pictures of Baby P during his short life is to look in the face of one of the littlest heroes.
In August 2007, police tell the 27-year-old mother that the Crown Prosecution Service has assessed her case and that she will not be prosecuted. A day later, Baby P is found dead in his cot. Investigating officers found the toddler's clothes stained with blood.( I have spared you the most graphic pictures I found)
As two men went on trial accused of causing Baby P's death, graphics of some of his 50 injuries are shown to the jury. These included a broken back, cracked ribs and numerous cuts and bruises. [source for all the pictures: BBC]
Last Tuesday (November 11 2008) a young mother and two men were found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a 17-month-old boy known only as Baby P.
He suffered horrific abuse, but Haringey Council in North London, which was criticised in the Victoria Climbie case, never took him into care.
Baby P had a broken back, cracked ribs,
numerous cuts and bruises
Look at that last picture. This precious hero, reaching out to someone, despite the documented abuses he suffered. This child, despite having come to the attention of many local child protection services, was killed by people who SHOULD have nurtured him. This young hero, was also killed by the neglect of the authorities who completely failed in their duty. For a timeline of how this baby boy was abused by not only his mother and her 'friends' but failed by the people whose job it is to safeguard all children, go here. It seems that after his death, there was much wringing of hands, pointing of fingers, as all sorts of investigations were started. Yes, heads rolled and a doctor who failed to see Baby P's injuries just 2 days before he died, was suspended:
The doctor who failed to spot Baby P's injuries has been suspended from practising, the General Medical Council (GMC) has said.
Dr Sabah al-Zayyat, a locum paediatrician, examined Baby P at St Ann's Hospital in London on 1 August 2007, two days before he died.
The GMC is currently investigating the doctor's conduct in connection with the 17-month-old boy.
He died in Haringey, north London, after suffering months of abuse. ..
Dr al-Zayyat, who qualified in Pakistan and worked in Saudi Arabia before coming to Britain in 2004, spotted bruises to his body but decided not to carry out a full systemic examination because the boy was "miserable and cranky"....
Last week, the doctor issued a statement through the Medical Protection Society, which gives professional indemnity to healthcare professionals.
She said: "Like everyone involved in this case, I have been deeply affected by the shocking and tragic circumstances of this young child's death.
"My professional career has been devoted to the care of children. I will co-operate with any investigation to identify whether lessons can be learnt from this case."
Baby P died of his injuries despite repeated visits to the boy's home by the authorities.
The boy's mother and her boyfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and their lodger, Jason Owen, have been convicted of causing the toddler's death and will be sentenced on 15 December.[here]
Too bloody late! As is the suspension of the "Three senior staff at north London's Haringey Council"... Suspended they may be, with full pay, and convicted the mother and her accomplices may well be, but the ONLY hero here is Baby P. The sentencing for the convicted murderers was supposed to be handed down on December 15, but now it seems that has been delayed "for legal reasons" until March or April 2009.
And this abuse and murder of our littlest heroes goes waaaaaaaaay back. It is nothing new. I found a site that actually documents many cases of child abuse being ignored by outsiders who should have done something to rescue these kids from a living hell. From 1874, comes the story of "Mary Ellen".:
In 1874, a young girl known only as "Mary Ellen", was found tied to a bed like an animal, neglected and brutally beaten by her foster parents. In 1874, animals were legally protected from inhumane treatment, children weren't...
The Department of Charities made a decision that would have grave consequences for little Mary Ellen; it placed her illegally, without proper documentation of the relationship, and with inadequate oversight in the home of ....
Etta Angell Wheeler, a caring Methodist mission worker who visited the impoverished residents of the tenements regularly, to check on the child.... She saw Mary Ellen's condition for herself. The 10-year-old appeared dirty and thin, was dressed in threadbare clothing, and had bruises and scars along her bare arms and legs.
This story actually proves the incredible spirit of our youngest heroes, and Mary Ellen lived a long and relatively stable life, having children of her own - and then grandchildren. She died in 1956. You can read her full story here.
This site has many stories like Mary Ellen, some of them much, much worse. [here]
More recently another little hero died by her mother's hand:
Mom, airman sentenced in beating death of child
Bill Gang
Fri, Jul 17, 1998 (10:50 a.m.)
Dawn Mathiasen is going to be spending at least six years in prison in the beating death of her 20-month-old baby to death, although it was her boyfriend who killed the child.
Thursday's sentencings of Mathiasen and Nellis AFB Airman Brandon Parish focused on her because the jury that convicted him of first-degree murder already had set his punishment as life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years....
Minutes later, after she had been described as manipulative, selfish and a liar, Mathiasen tearfully told the judge of the guilt and remorse she feels over the events that led to Samantha Storm's death on April 17, 1997.
"I trusted someone I shouldn't have," she said. "I didn't see the monster he was."
But testimony at the defendants' trial showed she had been told by Henderson police that Parish was believed to have abused Samantha on past occasions. Mathiasen specifically was instructed to keep the baby away from Parish.
But she took Samantha to Parish's quarters at Nellis and left her alone with the 21-year-old airman while going to get some fast food. While Mathiasen was away, the baby was slammed against a solid object.
"I could have protected her and I let her down, I know that," Mathiasen, 21, said as she tried to justify a lenient sentence from the judge. ...
"I don't care about remorse," Bonaventure responded. "Youth is no excuse. The baby is dead."
The judge noted that police and even a Henderson day care center took responsibility by dealing with the original abuse allegations, but Mathiasen didn't do her part.
"The message has to be sent that parents must take responsibility for their children," Bonaventure said before sentencing the woman to six to 15 years in prison. She must serve six years before she will be eligible for parole. [here, here and here]
And it seems that we, the guardians of our most vulnerable heroes, fail again. Which brings us back to my Hero of the Year who demanded (albeit unknowingly) that I write this post.
Peanut.
The picture on the right is one of the first pictures my friend Don sent to me. That is Peanut with her Aunt Katrina before she became the hero you see in the other two pictures. Don wrote and asked if I could pray for Peanut. Before the story unfolded, I of course said YES! Prayers I can always do. So as you read this, there are prayers being said around the world for this precious hero. Remember the quote about "hero" I gave you above?
"A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer."
Believe me, Peanut IS a hero. This little girl is hanging on, and fighting for her life with every breath she takes. I'll let Don's words tell you what a hero this little Peanut is:
At the age of two months Peanut, now age two years, was placed temporarily in the custody of her uncle and aunt, Rob and Katrina. She lived in their loving home until, at eighteen months, Children's Protective Services ordered her to be given back to her parents.
Due to her mother's mental condition Peanut's father agreed never to leave her alone with her mother. The first time he violated that agreement (late September, 2008) Peanut's mother filled the bathtub with cold water and placed Peanut in it and pushed her head under the water. She held her there until she quit wiggling then called 911. Peanut was revived by the EMTs, but due to the lack of oxygen suffered brain damage and is to this day in a coma.
Progress toward recovery has been slow and sporadic with setbacks coming in the form of pneumonia and bacterial infections, but she has made progress. Though the road ahead is a long one we believe that she will recover and return to Rob and Katrina.
People have come from everywhere to help Rob, Katrina, and Peanut. Most important are the prayers. They come from all over the world; from friends and strangers alike. There have been miracles of all sorts and sizes as Rob and Katrina fight for custody of their precious niece, and though there are still hurdles that custody fight is looking to favor Rob and Katrina.....at least at this point.
THAT is the short version, but Don is absolutely correct. Prayers have been answered in many ways, and despite quite a few setbacks, Peanut continues on the road to recovery. Many of us, strangers to Peanut, and Rob and Katrina, have taken this hero to our hearts. How can we not?
Rob continues to give updates as he can. Did I mention that Rob is a bagpiper? He is, and the bagpipe community has rallied around this family, staging benefits, and numerous other tangible efforts, as the prayers are lifted up around the world.
From Rob, on a Celtic community board he belongs to:
September 30, 2008
Hi Folks,
I'm Robert, and I'm peanut's uncle here in Carson City. She lives in Sacramento, CA. Thanks for your prayers, please keep 'em coming. Peanut is nip n tuck right now, we're prayin for her to live and not die. My wife & I have no tears left... Being a pastor and our faith helps a lot. ...We had peanut from the age of two months when mom 'hurt her' and CPS gave her to us. We raised her from 2 months old to over 1 1/2 years old, when her father came & took her by force. I can't say much since this IS now a criminal case. .. She turned 2 8 days ago. Mom is in county jail on atempted murder charges. I have great sorrow & pity for her, as she literally didn't know what she was doing.
But as Linz, who is one of my best friends said, please send this to anyone & everyone that you know will pray for her. It's across this country, in the UK, Europe, and still growing. I'm begging folks please pray with us. I want this kid my 'peanut' back here in Nevada with us. We raised her longer than anyone else, WE need our girl back.
Thanks for reading. God Bless and Semper Fi!
Robert
October 1
Actually saw her today for about 30 minutes. ... when we saw Peanut, she is OFF the hypothermia, is running a temp of 101.4 due to the infections & pneumonia. THey took her for another brain MRI and I don't have the results yet. But when she was 'woke up' (she's really gorked out) her eyes have tracked sound a few times, and she gripped my finger a couple of times. What a feeling!!! And on my cell phone, I have a copy of a tune that I did for our band's 2nd CD, and I played it for her. I think or at least I like to think she had a response to it. She loves the pipes and loved thumping on our QM's tenor drum....
October 16
She is off the vent and breathing on her own. Good sign #1. Great O2 sats and her little heart is chugging away nicely. She has an IV in her foot providing her with fluids and some meds, as well as a nasogastric tube for nourishment. She is still on some sedation as the say her brain will on occasion ‘storm’ basically meaning its over working. ....Good sign #2, she reacts to voices that are familiar to her, such as her father, Katrina, and myself. When she ‘comes around’ and hears us, she starts to kind of spastically move her arms, feet & legs a little, and move her head a skosh. She also did this when the nurse gave me permission to play my electronic bagpipe. When she was with us, when I’d play it, she’d jump up & down and ‘dance’ to the tunes- she loved it! So I took this as a good sign, as did the nurse. I believe she knew me & Kat were there. We had 2 of the most wonderful hours with her, and it was such a blessing! We praise God for those 2 hours, just us & Peanut. Now, Good sign #3, she is making some noise. When she would hear our voice, she would what would best be described as a cross between a moan or like she was trying to cry. Maybe it was me, but I think she was frustrated in not being able to communicate. Good sign #4, she is over ALL the infections! Hallelujah!! God is answering those prayers y’all!!
We did learn today, that with this kind of injury, it will take a LONG time for healing & whatever progress that there will be to take place. We learned that when Peanut was put in the ambulance, the paramedics spent 20 minutes doing CPR before they got her heart going & breathing again! Thank GOD they didn’t stop! So she was gone for 20 minutes, and that isn’t counting however long it was she was drowned in the tub. It’s a miracle she even came back....
In Rob and Katrina's name I must thank everyone for all of the prayers and support. It has meant so very much to them on the darkest of days. We ask that the prayers for a FULL recovery and FULL custody by Rob and Katrina continue. We have faith that those prayers are heard. God Bless you all.
October 30
...We had learned that the day before (Thursday) that they did the surgery to place a feeding tube into her stomach and abdomen. They said this went well. When I saw Peanut, she was still comatose, but heard that she was making more sounds and had tracked light and sound with her eyes a few times. This did not happen with me there. She did ‘come around’ some and did make more sounds. It’s kind of a cross between a moan and like wanting to start to cry. It is definitely a heartbreaker to hear this. And it lasts for quite a while. She would go for 10-15 minutes then stop for a few minutes then start up again. She would also open her eyes randomly, but again was seeing through me not at me. And it crushing to see & hear this little angel like this and not be able to do anything to make it better...
The biggest blessing was when after combing her hair the nurses asked me if I’d like to hold her. What a blessing- it was like Christmas Easter, July 4th, and my birthday all rolled into one! I sat in a chair and they handed her to me. She was limp as a rag doll. When I mentioned this to the nurse, she responded rather frankly and said “yep she is. But remember she’s still alive and they didn’t expect her to live.” Once again my excitement at her progress was jerked back into cold reality. But I got to hold my Peanut for 1 whole blessed hour, and like the time I held her before she went back to her parents, I cried my eyes out... what a joy....
November 17
The next morning found us getting on the road to Sacramento to see Peanut. We picked up Katrina’s mom who lives in Sacramento and took her with us to the hospital. Not many people there since it was Saturday. And it was just Peanut and the 3 of us! I got to hold her first, then I placed her into her grandmothers arms. What a blessing to Katrina & I to see her mom hold her granddaughter! And it definitely made Katrina’s mom’s day to hold her. She couldn’t hold her long as she is pretty weak & fragile, so I then placed Peanut into my wife’s arms. Again, what a joy & blessing, as this was the first time Katrina & her mom have been able to hold Peanut. Then after about an hour, I held her again, and finally put her back into her crib. ...
Peanut has really improved since the last time we saw her. First is her eye tracking. Before I touched her or picked her up, when I leaned over the bed, she opened her eyes and looked at me. Then she would try and follow the different voices with her eyes....
November 27
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
As I start my day, I want to share with y’all the latest Peanut update. Every time we see her God amazes us with her progress!...
Speech therapy arrived as I was getting ready to play my electronic bagpipe for her. Therapist asked if I would play to her left side to see if she would turn her head that way (against her turning it to the right) to track the music with her eyes or head, WHICH SHE DID! And that’s not all, as I was playing, she actually cracked a smile for the briefest of moments! I was so stunned that I stopped playing, and we were all saying “did you see that” and started cheering and clapping and she did it again! And then again! What a stunner! It was a moment we’ll never forget. Then the therapist did some oral care and showed us what she would like us to do when we come to visit. So far, so good...
I really HAVE edited what I have shared with you all here. But I am sure you can see WHY little Peanut IS one of my Heroes of the Year! Peanut really IS determined to live, and I am convinced that she WILL live, and always surrounded by the love and nurturing that her Uncle Rob and Aunty Katrina have proved they know how to do!
I have shared with you here a few little heroes with huge hearts who were unable to survive past the abuse and agonies inflicted on them in their short, painful lives. There are many more whose voices were violently silenced. It would take me many books to tell you asbout each of them. For now, these few heroes here are representative of the many you and I will never know.
My hero, Peanut, is also representative of the bravest of heroes that I will ever be priviledged to know. Her tenacity, coupled with the love and prayers, has me believing that Peanut's life is going to be long and full - blessed, - with only the most beautiful that life has to offer. If you want to read more about this special Hero, you can go to the board I took the excerpts from: Here. On page 2, you will also find a link to an "Ode to Peanut" which was written by one of the community members. It IS bagpipes - of course - and yes, it IS beautiful.
Almost as beautiful as the soul that shines so brightly from one of my most precious Heroes of the Year: Peanut.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart....
You can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you have the wind beneath your wings.
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the White House, not a creature was stirring . . . except President-elect Barack Obama’s crack team of internationally-known interior designers. The One has decreed an extreme makeover for the Executive mansion, replete with new paint, shampooed carpets, and an oil painting of Jeremiah Wright – on a velvet canvas, of course – in the Lincoln Bedroom. Naturally, all furniture used by Dick “Darth Vader” Cheney will be dismantled and burned at taxpayer expense.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . . because most Americans couldn’t afford to run their gas-powered dryers anymore. Actually, considering the rising cost of firewood in this battered economy, even the most lucrative businessman has been forced to burn drywall, money (in small denominations), and family photo albums for heat! There are even reports of some of the more “intellectually challenged” attempting to burn Harry Reid, Leif Garret, and Elijah Wood. It’s sad, really.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. Visions of sugarplums are all the kids will have once “Hillary Care” is implemented. Sugars, starches, and fats are going the way of the dinosaur, and they will be replaced by “appropriate” foods, such as Brussels sprouts, lima beans, and a hundred other items that children wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot spoon. They will be unhappy, but hey, the government knows better than they do. Just ask them.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Unfortunately, it was a pack of wild hippies and atheists, hell-bent on protesting the neighborhood’s Christmas trees, Hanukkah menorahs, and Kwanzaa decorations. They picketed the residents with glee, oblivious to the irony of tree-huggers trying to make a point by using wooden signs....
For your Monday morning smile (or grimace at the truth of it) go read the rest of it here.
Sure you might not be here on the front line, covered in filth, smelling like hell, your heart going a mile a minute, not knowing what's coming next: if your next step is on that TRP, or if your going to be the latest recruiting tool for some insurgent's new video while they take pot shots at you. But, what you all do with those cards, care packages, cookies is just as important...
When I get a box (or anyone else gets a box) its hard to describe. You find a nice quiet corner and everyone knows not to bother you. You sit there and look over the box as if you had never seen anything like it before. You read who it's from, and a smile crosses your face--you recognize the name. You might already know what's inside, but it does not matter. Some tear it open as fast as they can, others take their time and enjoy every second of it. Once inside, you go through it, every little item once, twice, sometimes three times. It's a very delicate process. You breathe it in and you think of the person who sent it to you. You think of home, family, cars, summer--everything all at once. And for a very short time, you are there away from this SH*T hole. You are grateful. Then you look around and there's always a buddy who is down or having a bad day. You share your box--sometimes just with the one guy, sometimes with everyone--and it's electric. Everyone catches that feeling, and we start talking about home, about things we miss, things we are going to do when we get back, and the heaviness of the day lifts and it's not so bad.
...It's not the "things" that are sent that matter to us, it's the thought. That's the power ALL of you have who take the time to send things. You can change the worst day into the best day, in a split second. - MP in Iraq
The length of each adoption depends on the branch of service your soldier is in and a number of other factors, but generally averages between six (6) months to twelve (12) months. On occasion, they can be extended, but this is the average. When you adopt you are committing to sending a card or letter each week, and a minimum of 1 or 2 care packages a month. This is one of the most important things that can be done to help bring home a healthy hero; it is so very important for each of them to know they are loved and supported, and your letters and care packages prove just that.
Care packages do not have to be expensive: you can put together your own (we have a detailed list of the most-requested items for you--snacks, hygiene products, and games or magazines).
There are Many Ways to Support our Service Members:
Donate to Soldiers' Angels - If you would like to assist Soldiers' Angels in its troop support activities, please consider a financial donation. Donations of every size help provide aid and comfort to the troops through our many projects and activities. You can also donate stock, old electronics, air miles, care package items and much more. For details go to Soldiers' Angels
Join a Soldiers' Angels Team - If you want to dig deep into the Soldiers' Angels mission, we invite you to join one of our many teams. The 30+ teams of Soldiers' Angels specialize in filling specific servicemember and family needs. You can get involved in sending handmade blankets to the wounded, supporting our military chaplains, helping soldiers distribute toys and clothing to children in Iraq and Afghanistan, and much, much more! To find a team that fits your interests, please see the complete list in the center of our homepage at Soldiers' Angels
Every week on my own site, I have a post called "Music and Me." I choose a song that has meant something in different times of my life. I am a firm believer that music touches the soul as it speaks from - and to - the heart. This week's is slightly different, but it still holds universal truths, so I thought you might like to read it, too..
2nd Battalion 6th Marines after the battle at Belleau Wood [source]
Belleau Wood. Last week, a friend of mine - Sylvia - reminded me of the story of Belleau Wood. I knew the story, but had forgotten the name of the place where it happened. Terrible confession, I know, and I decided, as I usually do, to research Belleau Wood. This is a memorial at Belleau Wood:
"an aerial view of the Monument to the Marines who fought at the Battle of Belleau Wood in France during WW I. "
There is also a great video history of the US Marines in Belleau Wood. It also describes the origins of the name Devil Dogs for our Marines.
The most famous story out of Belleau Wood is what happened that Christmas: a Christmas Truce. At Wikipedia, along with a lot of factual data about the event, I found the following:
Christmas Truce Letter
On November 7, 2006, singer Chris de Burgh paid £14,400 at Bonhams auction house for an original 10 page letter from an unknown British soldier that records events and incidents with the Germans on that night describing "the most memorable Christmas I've ever spent".
The letter begins:
This will be the most memorable Christmas I've ever spent or likely to spend: since about tea time yesterday I don't think theres been a shot fired on either side up to now. Last night turned a very clear frost moonlight night, so soon after dusk we had some decent fires going and had a few carols and songs. The Germans commenced by placing lights all along the edge of their trenches and coming over to us—wishing us a Happy Christmas etc. They also gave us a few songs etc. so we had quite a social party. Several of them can speak English very well so we had a few conversations. Some of our chaps went to over to their lines. I think theyve all come back bar one from 'E' Co. They no doubt kept him as a souvenir. In spite of our fires etc. it was terribly cold and a job to sleep between look out duties, which are two hours in every six.
First thing this morning it was very foggy. So we stood to arms a little longer than usual. A few of us that were lucky could go to Holy Communion early this morning. It was celebrated in a ruined farm about 500 yds behind us. I unfortunately couldn't go. There must be something in the spirit of Christmas as to day we are all on top of our trenches running about. Whereas other days we have to keep our heads well down. We had breakfast about 8.0 which went down alright especially some cocoa we made. We also had some of the post this morning. I had a parcel from B. G's Lace Dept containing a sweater, smokes, under clothes etc. We also had a card from the Queen, which I am sending back to you to look after please. After breakfast we had a game of football at the back of our trenches! We've had a few Germans over to see us this morning. They also sent a party over to bury a sniper we shot in the week. He was about a 100 yds from our trench. A few of our fellows went out and helped to bury him.
About 10.30 we had a short church parade the morning service etc. held in the trench. How we did sing. 'O come all ye faithful. And While shepherds watched their flocks by night' were the hymns we had. At present we are cooking our Christmas Dinner! so will finish this letter later.
Dinner is over! and well we enjoyed it. Our dinner party started off with fried bacon and dip-bread: followed by hot Xmas Pudding. I had a mascot in my piece. Next item on the menu was muscatels and almonds, oranges, bananas, chocolate etc followed by cocoa and smokes. You can guess we thought of the dinners at home. Just before dinner I had the pleasure of shaking hands with several Germans: a party of them came 1/2way over to us so several of us went out to them. I exchanged one of my balaclavas for a hat. I've also got a button off one of their tunics. We also exchanged smokes etc. and had a decent chat. They say they won't fire tomorrow if we don't so I suppose we shall get a bit of a holiday—perhaps. After exchanging autographs and them wishing us a Happy New Year we departed and came back and had our dinner.
We can hardly believe that we've been firing at them for the last week or two—it all seems so strange. At present its freezing hard and everything is covered with ice…
The letter ends:
There are plenty of huge shell holes in front of our trenches, also pieces of shrapnel to be found. I never expected to shake hands with Germans between the firing lines on Christmas Day and I don't suppose you thought of us doing so. So after a fashion we've enjoyed? our Christmas. Hoping you spend a happy time also George Boy as well. How we thought of England during the day. Kind regards to all the neighbours. With much love from Boy.
Just this past Remembrance Day, November 11, 2008, Wikipedia reports:
Christmas Truce Memorial
On 11 November 2008, the first official Truce memorial was unveiled in Frélinghien, France, the site of a Christmas Truce football game in 1914. After the unveiling and a Service of Remembrance, men from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) played a football match with the German Panzergrenadier Battalion 371. The Germans won, 2-1.
1st Battalion The Royal Welsh and Panzergrenadier Battalion 371 were invited to take part because their regimental ancestors from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers and the 134th Saxon Infantry Regiment had held the Truce at Frelinghien on Christmas Day, 1914. The match was played in the presence of retired Major Miles Stockwell, grandson of Captain C. I. Stockwell, who commanded 'A' Company, 2/RWF in 1914 and wrote about the Truce in his diary. Mrs Margaret Holmes, daughter of Welsh Private Frank Richards, DCM, MM, and Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Joachim Freiherr von Sinner, grandson of Hauptmann (Captain) Maximilian Freiherr von Sinner. the commander of the Machine-gun Company of the German 6th Jäger Battalion, were also present at the game.
Before the match, as happened in 1914, a Saxon soldier rolled a barrel of beer towards the Welsh while Major Stockwell offered Lieutenant-Colonel von Sinner a plum pudding and a cigar. The football, signed by all players, is now in the possession of the Arbeitkreis für Sächsische Militärgeschichte. It will be displayed in the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden, Germany..[Wiki here]
And then we have Garth Brooks' song called "Belleau Wood", which is where my research journey began...(Thank you, Sylvia!)
"Belleau Wood"
Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence Over Belleau Wood that night For a Christmas truce had been declared By both sides of the fight As we lay there in our trenches The silence broke in two By a German soldier singing A song that we all knew
Though I did not know the language The song was "Silent Night"
Then I heard my buddy whisper, "All is calm and all is bright" Then the fear and doubt surrounded me 'Cause I'd die if I was wrong But I stood up in my trench And I began to sing along
Then across the frozen battlefield Another's voice joined in Until one by one each man became A singer of the hymn
Then I thought that I was dreaming For right there in my sight Stood the German soldier 'Neath the falling flakes of white And he raised his hand and smiled at me As if he seemed to say Here's hoping we both live To see us find a better way
Then the devil's clock struck midnight And the skies lit up again And the battlefield where heaven stood Was blown to hell again
But for just one fleeting moment The answer seemed so clear Heaven's not beyond the clouds It's just beyond the fear
No, heaven's not beyond the clouds It's for us to find it here
Maj. James �Jim� Gant recalls the events of a fierce fire fight that occurred Dec. 11 between Balad and Baghdad during an interview at Camp Liberty, Iraq April 30. Maj. Gant, the Chief of the Iraqi National Police Quick Reaction Force Battalion Transition Team, earned the Silver Star for his heroism during that fight... (here)
Meet Major Jim Gant:
'I need to be where the most danger is'
Silver Star
earned
12.11.06
while serving with
3rd Special Forces Group
The convoy had been taking fire for a while by the time it came across the first roadside bomb.
Maj. Jim Gant knew he could not wait for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians to show up.
So he decided that his up-armored vehicle would have to eat the roadside bomb. He also made sure that it would explode on his side.
Gant, 41 explained that was his job as a leader.
“I need to be where the most danger is,” said Gant, team leader for the Iraqi National Police Quick Reaction Force Transition Team.
On Dec. 11, 2006, Gant was leading a convoy of Iraqi police commandos from Balad to Taji.
Iraqi police had been making regular trips to Balad, and there had been heavy fighting along the route for the past six weeks, said Gant, of Fort Bragg, N.C.
This day would be worse.
And the two F-16s that were supposed to support the convoy had been diverted, Gant said.
About 15 miles from Balad, the convoy started taking heavy enemy fire.
Two Iraqi police commandos were wounded — one, shot in the face.
Gant said he treated the Iraqi who was hit in the face and got them evacuated.
By the time the convoy got to the first roadside bomb, about 30 minutes later, it was taking fire from both sides of the road, Gant said. He knew they had to push on.
“If we would have stopped, they would have tore us up,” he said.
He also knew that if one of the police commandos’ vehicles ran over the roadside bomb, the results would be catastrophic and would tie down the rest of the convoy.
“If that IED is going to hit one of my vehicles, I want it to be mine,” Gant decided.
Gant said he had his gunner drop into the Humvee and he positioned the rest of the convoy away from the roadside bomb.
Then they drove forward until the bomb went off. The blast “absolutely rocked” the Humvee, Gant said, but everyone was OK, so they kept driving.
About two minutes later, the convoy found a second roadside bomb.
Again, Gant positioned the rest of the convoy away from the bomb as his Humvee drove toward it.
They got closer and closer to the roadside bomb, but nothing happened.
When they got between 15 and 20 feet away, the bomb finally went off.
Once again, the blast rocked everyone in the vehicle, but otherwise, the occupants were unhurt.
As soon as the bomb went off, a machine gun opened up on Gant’s vehicle with bullets hitting the windshield.
The fight was not over....
And there is more. Go here to read the rest of these incredible events on that fateful day.
May 02, 2007 BY Sgt. Nicole Kojetin, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
BAGHDAD - "Men, you have one second in your life where you can decide if you are going to be a coward or if you are going to fight. The time to decide is now."
That sentence is something that Maj. James "Jim" Gant, who serves as thechief of the Iraqi National Police, Quick Reaction Force Battalion Transition Team, tells his policemen all the time, encouraging them to fight for what they believe in.
Though most the time he was talking in generic terms, this time he knew the fight was waiting for them. For six weeks his patrol of three armored high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles and 23 "soft-shelled" national police pick-up trucks had been getting in fire fights with an organized insurgent force in an area between Balad and Baghdad. On Dec. 11, his patrol was finally on their way back home. Maj. Gant knew there would be a grand finale.
"We took frequent trips back and forth in the area and the engagements kept getting bigger," the Las Cruces, N.M., native said. "They knew that we were going to leave. They are a determined enemy force. They wanted to give us a going away present, and we definitely wanted to receive it."
His actions, during that gift, resulted in him earning the Silver Star, which will be awarded on May 3 at a Iraqi National Police station near Forward Operating Base Prosperity. The Silver Star is the third highest award given for valor in the face of the enemy. It is given to American heroes.
Maj. Gant knows four Soldiers who have earned Silver Stars; two died for them. He said heroes are everywhere, it just depends on if they get the chance to show it.
"There are a lot of very good Soldiers, very brave Soldiers that have never had the opportunity to show it," he said. "As good as you are, you don't control the enemy. I have been blessed since 2001, since our nation has been at war to fight with incredible warriors and heroes."
He was given his change to prove himself on that fateful day in December.
The enemy on that stretch of road was well trained and waiting, Maj. Gant said. But he knew his crew was ready. After spending 17 years in the Army, he should know.
"I had a really well trained transition team," he said. That confidence was also extended to his Iraqi brethren as well, with good reason....
"We try to maintain contact with the enemy as long as possible and kill as many as we can," Maj. Gant said. "We were going to do some serious damage that day.
"It is easy to sit in a room in safety and talk about it," he said. "I came here to fight. I came here to kill the enemy. I knew at the time what a huge engagement it was... I also had a huge concern for my team and my Iraqis, because I love these guys. I wanted to ensure that we didn't take unnecessary risks or have unnecessary casualties."...
This is when Maj. Gant received word that a woman in the civilian vehicle had been severely injured in the first blast. Still under heavy small arms fire in a hasty perimeter, he got out and tried to perform first aid on her.
"She didn't want me touch her. She was going to die and she didn't want me to touch her," Maj. Gant said. His Iraqi counterpart, consoled the woman saying, "It's OK. He is my brother."
She then allowed him to apply tourniquets to both of her severely wounded legs. There was also a little girl in the vehicle. Gant, a family man with two kids of his own back in North Carolina, Tristen, 9, and Scout, 7, wanted to keep this child safe.
"I realized that we might all die today, but this little girl will not," he said, talking about how he put the child in his up-armored vehicle. "We had some sporadic small arms fire after that, but we had broken their back. They wanted us to stop there.
"I later found out that the women lived, and the little girl," he said with a smile, "was still afraid of U.S. forces, but she was really small... maybe one. She didn't understand; (she) just knew that someone had grabbed her from her mom and dad. She didn't know that it was for her own protection. I hope that one day, her parents tell her what happened that day."...
When they finally made it back that day, they were met with a celebration. There were more than 200 Commandos singing and bathing the road with goat's blood and planting bloody handprints all over there war-torn, bullet-ridden vehicles. There were celebrating.
"I will never forget them hugging and kissing us, their brothers in arms," he said of their return. "They do this in celebration, when they think we gave our lives for them, or could be dead."
Though nearly six months has passed since that battle occurred, Maj. Gant can tell the story of the battle like it was yesterday.
Only two Soldiers remain on his crew that were with him that day, most of the American Soldiers have rotated back to the United States, but he remembers all of his team.
"On that day, there were no Americans. There were no Iraqis, no whites and no blacks. There were no Sunnis, Shias, Christians. There was just a group of warriors working and fighting together," he said. "All the men I fought with that day showed incredible courage and bravery. That was one of the highlights of my life; working with those men that day." [here]
If you read nothing else today, follow the links here, and learn all about Major Gant
"JP was a magical man, with boundless energy and goodness," said Dr. Pryor's mentor at Penn, Dr. C. William Schwab. "He was a devoted son, husband, father, colleague and friend. . . . At his core were many great values, but his passion for service to others" stood out.
In an undated document that Dr. Pryor wrote and left with family before he deployed, he recounted his early affinity for injured people, his passion to serve - specifically in wartime - and the difficulty of balancing his love of country and family, because he felt his decision to go to Iraq was not always supported by those closest to him. [Philly.com here]
From The Philadelphia Inquirer Archives June 4, 2006
A surgeon at the Iraqi front whose soul is often wounded.
John P. Pryor is a trauma surgeon at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a major in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps. He has just returned from a tour of active duty in which he was the general/trauma surgeon for the 344th Combat Support Hospital in Abu Ghraib, Iraq. Today the warning came over the radio: "Urgent litter coming in by ground." I immediately went to the Emergency Treatment Room (ETR). "IED, Marines," was all the nurse said as I walked in, IED meaning "improvised explosive device." The hospital staff went into full swing. These people are at the end of a yearlong deployment here. They are experienced, hardened, and cool under pressure, their activities programmed and efficient. I took my position at the head of bed number one, put my head down, and waited. Within a few minutes, the litter team burst into the ETR. The patient's arms dangled off the stretcher with bone exposed, and I immediately knew that this was going to be a bad one. When the litter was pulled beside the bed, I saw the full extent of what I was up against. Driver, I thought to myself. Drivers always seem to get the full force. There is a pungent smell of gasoline and burned flesh. My first order of business was to remove his body armor before we move him over; to do this, we have to sit him up to pull the arms through the sleeves. When we did, his arms, each broken in several places, flopped around like a puppet's. As we moved him over, I tried to ignore the massive destruction of his legs and focus on potential life-threatening chest and abdomen wounds. He was moaning, actually a good sign: The brain was still getting blood flow. Anesthesia moved to intubate him, as the emergency medicine physician started the primary survey. Nurses started lines, lab was there to bring blood, medics held pressure on bleeding wounds, all in a dance that has been repeated so many times before. The other patients began to file in, eventually filling the ETR. One soldier in a bed next to ours was calling out to my patient, ignoring his own gaping wounds: "You're going to be OK, man, hang in there." I began to focus on the problem and my plan. Both legs had massive injuries. The left thigh was torn apart and burned with a tourniquet at the groin. The right leg was mangled below the knee with a tourniquet above that. There was a neck wound that wasn't bleeding and shrapnel to the face. Both arms had multiple levels of open fractures. The pulse was weak, and the blood pressure was barely readable. We hung blood immediately. The chest X-ray did not show any thoracic injury. We shot an abdominal film to look for shrapnel that may have gone into the belly - none. As we moved to the operating room, the hospital commander stopped me to ask if this patient was going to make it. I told him I was worried that once we started to resuscitate him, the bleeding would become even worse; I didn't know whether he would make it. His head dropped as he walked back to the chaos of the ETR. In the operating room, we started by getting control of the external bleeding of the legs. Blood was coming from everywhere: bright-red arterial blood, dark-blue venous blood, and swirls of the two together in pools between the flesh. Two orthopedic surgeons and I worked frantically to get control of the bleeding, which, as predicted, became worse as we started to resuscitate him. Anesthesia was struggling to keep a blood pressure, infusing unit after unit of packed red blood cells and plasma. I was going deeper and deeper into the groin to track down the source of the bleeding. Suddenly, my hand broke into a space, and a gush of blood came out. I realized I was in the retroperitoneal space; the bleeding was coming from there. This was the worst-case scenario. Bleeding from this location is the toughest in the body to control. Bleeding from this area is almost always from large veins that cannot be controlled with sutures or arterial control. We opened the abdominal cavity and clamped the arteries that feed the pelvis, but it didn't help. We packed as tight as we could, and then put a sheet around the pelvis to pull the bones together in an attempt to tamponade the bleeding, but it was not enough. His heart went into a lethal arrhythmia. We shocked him and pumped epinephrine into his bloodstream. After a few minutes, his heart stopped for the last time. There was an immediate silence in the operating room as soon as I announced the time of death. Most of the staff had tears running down their faces; this was a long year for them, with so many of these kids dying in this room. I could not move for several minutes. I looked at this kid, a child, and I apologized to him for not being skillful enough to save him. As a trauma surgeon, every death I have is painful; every one takes a little out of me. Losing these kids here in Iraq rips a hole through my soul so large that it's hard for me to continue breathing. After a few minutes, I collected myself and began to direct the care for his final journey home. We closed what we could of the wounds and wrapped the ones we couldn't get together. We washed all of the dirt and oil off his skin, combed his hair and washed his face. He was transferred to a litter and brought to a private, enclosed room where we placed him inside a heavy black body bag. The body was draped with the American flag, and a guard was posted. The chaplain gathered some of the providers, and we said prayers over the body. There was, and always is, a palpable grief that comes over the entire staff when we lose an American solider. Everyone is affected, and everyone deals with it in a different way. For me, this is not an objective, depressing thing to be a part of; it is very, very personal. I was the surgeon who couldn't save him. For me the grief is intolerable. I become the focus of the mourning, for the staff people come and give me a hug. They ask me if I am OK; they pray for me. I appreciate it and hate it at the same time. Often my misery turns into anger. Sometimes I become angry with God for allowing this to happen. I just want the whole thing to be over, and all of these kids to go home to their families and live long lives. I have seen so many soldiers and Marines die here; I just want it all to end. We arrange for his buddies to come in and say goodbye, something I cannot even bear to watch. After a time of reflection, the unit gathers the equipment and prepares to go out again that night. Courage: to lose a friend in battle and go right back into the fight. I love every single one of them. The body was eventually taken to the loading zone and loaded into a helicopter with some of his buddies as escorts. He is taken to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), where mortuary affairs prepared the body for transport home. When the casket is brought onto the airstrip, all personnel stop what they are doing and attend a 45-minute ceremony on the airstrip. They tell me that this happens two to three times a day, but everyone takes time out to attend the ceremonies. An honor guard then brings the flag-draped casket onto the C-130 with full military honors. In Kuwait, the casket is removed first, again with a full honor guard. The Marine will be brought to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and eventually home and to his final resting place. If I could say something to this Marine's parents, it would be this: I am so sorry that you have lost your son. We, more than almost everyone else, know he was a true American hero. I want you to know that the Marines, medics, doctors and nurses of the 344th Combat Support Hospital did everything possible to save him. I want you to know I personally did everything I could, and that I am sorry that it wasn't enough. Although we never knew your son, we loved him. I want you to know that although he lost his life, we preserved his dignity after death. We held his hand when he died and prayed for his soul and for God to give you strength. I want you to know that he had great friends who cared deeply for him, and that they were also here when he died. He was never alone for his journey back to you. I also want you to know that I will never forget your son, and that I will pray for him and all of the children lost in this war.
Dr. John Pryor was killed Thursday, Christmas Day, by a mortar attack, in Iraq. This was his second deployment. He is most beloved by many in the medical community here in Philadelphia.
If you go to the link below, there is a link to his obituary and a place to sign a memorial guest book.
And, if you go to the Washington Post, you will find something that Dr. Pryor wrote about his work in West Philadelphia:
The War in West Philadelphia
By John P. Pryor
Sunday, August 5, 2007; Page B07
I didn't hear the cars screech to a halt, but one of the trauma nurses did. He ran outside with two emergency department medics to find several people in a car, all of their clothes soaked with blood. The passengers were screaming for someone to help the young man in the front seat, who was unresponsive. The team threw the limp victim onto a gurney, one of several that stand waiting for these types of scenarios, which occur almost nightly at our trauma center....
The nursing staff rolled the dead man's body into a bed and readied the stall for the fourth patient, who had three gunshot wounds to his right arm and two to his left. With the emergency medicine physicians, surgery residents and medics working on the two critical patients, I assigned the fourth patient to a capable medical student who courageously accepted the battlefield promotion to intern.
In the swirl of screams and moving figures, my mind drifted to my recent experience in Iraq as an Army surgeon. There we dealt regularly with "mascals," or mass-casualty situations. In Iraq, ironically, I found myself drawing on my experience as a civilian trauma surgeon each time mascals would overrun the combat hospital. As nine or 10 patients from a firefight rolled in, I sometimes caught myself saying "just like another Friday night in West Philadelphia."
The wounds and nationalities of the patients are different, but the feelings of helplessness, despair and loss are the same. In Iraq, soldiers die for freedom, for honor, for their country and for their buddies. Here in Philadelphia, they die without honor, without purpose, for no country, for no one.
More young men are killed each day on the streets of America than on the worst days of carnage and loss in Iraq. There is a war at home raging every day, filling our trauma centers with so many wounded children that it sometimes makes Baghdad seem like a quiet city in Iowa.
Unlike the Iraq conflict, this war is not on the front pages of The Post or on CNN. You have heard of the Washington area sniper shootings and the massacre at Virginia Tech. I am sure you have not heard about the "Lex Street massacre," in which 10 people ages 15 to 56 were lined up and shot, execution-style, in the winter of 2000. Seven were killed, three critically injured.
You haven't heard about this tragedy because it happened to inner-city poor people in a crack house in Philadelphia. Imagine, for a moment, if this had occurred in a suburban shopping mall or if a Marine unit in Iraq had been involved. There would be shock, outrage, 24-hour news coverage, Senate hearings and a new color of ribbon to wear. That double standard, that triage of compassion and empathy, is why the war on the streets continues unabated.
I am on call Wednesday night. The statistics indicate that then I will once again walk with the chaplain to a small room off the emergency room. I will open a heavy brown door and make eye contact with a room full of people; a mother, perhaps a father or a grandmother. They will look at me with tears welling up, their knees weak, and lean forward while watching my lips, bracing for news about their loved one. I will remain standing and reach out to hold the mother's hand. My announcement will be short and firm, the intonation polished from years of practice. The words will be simple for me to say, but sharp as a sword for them to hear; "I am sorry, your son has died."
The writer directs the trauma program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He served at a combat hospital in Abu Ghraib from February to June 2006. [read the rest here]
(DAVID M WARREN / Staff Photographer)
John P. Pryor at work in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania trauma center last year. He died from enemy fire on Christmas in Iraq.
John P. Pryor, 42, surgeon and soldier John P. Pryor, 42, of Moorestown, the dedicated leader of the University of Pennsylvania's trauma team and a decorated major in the Army Reserve who wrote eloquently about the painful parallels between battlefield deaths and urban homicides, was killed on Christmas by enemy fire in Iraq while serving as a combat surgeon. [Philly.com]
John P. Pryor, 42, surgeon and soldier
By Michael Matza
Inquirer Staff Writer
John P. Pryor, 42, of Moorestown, the dedicated leader of the University of Pennsylvania's trauma team and a decorated major in the Army Reserve who wrote eloquently about the painful parallels between battlefield deaths and urban homicides, was killed on Christmas by enemy fire in Iraq while serving as a combat surgeon.
Dr. Pryor deployed Dec. 6 and was with a risky frontline surgical unit when he was killed by shrapnel from a mortar round. It was his second tour of duty in Iraq.
Dr. Pryor, who was experienced and cool under pressure, was born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and raised near Albany. He completed surgical training at the State University of New York in Buffalo, and came to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 1999. After a fellowship in trauma surgery and critical care, he joined Penn's surgical faculty and served as director of the hospital's nationally recognized trauma program....
...said Dr. Pryor's mentor at Penn, Dr. C. William Schwab. "He was a devoted son, husband, father, colleague and friend. . . . At his core were many great values, but his passion for service to others" stood out...
"He was a brilliant guy, but he didn't intimidate people when he spoke to them about these issues," said Red Cross chief executive officer Tom Foley. "It's a cliche to say, 'Every man's death diminishes me,' but his death diminishes us more than a little, because he was doing things on so many fronts while also raising a family."
A talented writer, Dr. Pryor contributed opinion articles to The Inquirer and the Washington Post, and often was interviewed by NPR and ABC News.
"In Iraq, ironically, I found myself drawing on my experience as a civilian trauma surgeon each time 'mascals,' or 'mass casualty situations,' would overrun the combat hospital," he told NPR last year. "As nine or 10 patients from a firefight rolled in, I sometimes caught myself saying, 'Just like another Friday night in West Philadelphia.'"
A hard worker who drove himself relentlessly, Dr. Pryor took it personally when he was unable to save someone on his operating table.
In a 2006 Inquirer opinion piece describing his service with the 344th Combat Support Hospital in Abu Ghraib, Dr. Pryor wrote of the "palpable grief" that comes over the staff when a U.S. soldier doesn't survive.
"Everyone is affected and everyone deals with it in a different way. For me," he wrote, "it is very, very personal. I was the surgeon who couldn't save him. . . . The staff people come and give me a hug. They ask me if I am OK; they pray for me. I appreciate it, and I hate it at the same time."
Dr. Pryor is survived by his wife, Carmela V. Calvo, a pediatrician at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children; a daughter, Danielle; sons Francis and John Jr.; a brother; and his parents, Richard C. and Victoria.
Friends said a favorite quote from Albert Schweitzer that hung on Dr. Pryor's Penn office wall captured his spirit.
"Seek always to do some good, somewhere," it reads. "Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who need help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here, too." [here]
Let us NEVER forget. Rest in peace, Major. Rest in peace.
BAGHDAD – Army Sgt. Robin Cameron stood guard outside a once opulent Iraqi shopping mall that now serves as a small U.S. military outpost, trying not to think about what he was missing with his family on Christmas.
"It's just another day in Iraq," he said, waving through a convoy of armored vehicles heading out to patrol Baghdad's Mansour neighborhood, once home to Saddam Hussein's favored officers and later an insurgent stronghold known for its deadly attacks on American troops.
Although troop levels are expected to start declining after provincial elections on Jan. 31, the same number are in Iraq today — about 146,000 — as in May 2003, when President George W. Bush declared the end of major hostilities two months after the invasion. Read more here....
Please spare a thought for those who can not be with their families this Xmas.
I've been sitting here, watching the Diggers Xmas messages from around the world. It's funny to watch these nervous and often fidgeting Soldiers in front of the cameras, their weapons slung over their shoulders as they send their best wishes for Xmas home to their families and loved ones. This morning when I woke my first thought was of next Xmas and I guess it was the same for them. We think of the Xmas we are looking forward to, not the one before us now.
In the media we see pictures of Soldiers dressed as Santa bringing Xmas cheer to the children in the villages they protect. Such a warming thought when so many of them can not bring that same cheer to their own children this year. Still, they celebrate in their own ways, the best they can.
Today across the country, Aussies will light barbies, head to the beach and enjoy the glorious sunshine. We will spend time with loved ones, watch children rip presents apart and at some point, I like to believe all of us will spare a thought to be greatful for all we have.
Today more than any other, I am greatful to those who fight, protect and serve so that we may have these things. To those people, God bless you all. Thankyou for your continued service.
Wishing you all a very Merry Xmas and a safe and happy New Year!!
Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace
My heart is with all our military, and their families, no matter where they are on this most Holy Day.
To the Men and Women of the United States military, and all the armed forces around the world, thank you for everything that you do. And to those who are laying their heads down tonight in a foreign land, away from your loved ones, thank you so very much. Stay safe, you're in our thoughts and our hearts. Merry Christmas.
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.
And THIS is why we are in Iraq..H/T to Yankeemom. Enjoy!!!
And then there is this. "Our bad ass military showing their softer side." THAT'S the title of these videos on My Pet Jawa, which is where Yankeemom got them. No commentary from me needed.
In the Arms of Our Angels
God bless all our troops!
*and if you go over to Assoluta Tranquillita, you'll find a bonus video! Just sayin'*
The Huron Carol has become part of the Brat Christmas. It is usually sung by a native Canadian, Tom Jackson - who has an amazing voice - and I tried to find it. . I couldn't but I did find an even better version:
The "Huron Carol" (or "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime") is a Christmas hymn, written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Christian missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Canada. Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people; the song's original Huron title is "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born"). The song's melody is a traditional French folk song, "Une Jeune Pucelle" ("A Young Maid"). The well known English lyrics were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton.
This version performed by Heather Dale, and sung in Wendat (Huron), French and English....
All part of the brat edumacational service. ..lol. And if you go here, you can actually hear Tom Jackson singing another song. Did I mention I LOVE Tom Jackson? Enjoy!
Nineteen 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers received the Silver Star Medal during a Valor Awards Ceremony in the JFK Auditorium at Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 12, 2008. The Silver Star is the 3rd highest military decoration that can be awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces. Photo by Cpl. Sean Harp
Members of Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) recon the remote Shok Valley of Afghanistan where they fought an almost seven-hour battle with terrorists in a remote mountainside village. Photo by Sgt. David N. Gunn
At the John F. Kennedy Auditorium, Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 12, Lt. Gen. John F. Mullholland awards Silver Star Medal to Sgt. 1st Class Luis Morales of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) for actions in combat during his deployment to Afganistan.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Corey T. Dennis December 15, 2008 Lt. Gen. John F. Mullholland awards the Silver Star Medal to Master Sgt. Scott Ford of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group' (Airborne) for his valor in Afghanistan. The award ceremony took place at John F. Kennedy Auditorium, Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 12
Not one hero today, BUT 19 very special heroes:
3rd Special Forces Group honors 19 with Silver Stars
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 12, 2008) - In one of the largest awards ceremonies since the Vietnam era, the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) awarded 19 Silver Star Medals, two Bronze Star Medals for Valor, two Army Commendation Medals for Valor and four Purple Hearts here at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Dec. 12.
Col. Gus Benton II, the commander of the 3rd SFG(A), said the men of the 3rd SFG(A) have distinguished themselves by taking the fight to the enemy and simply "doing what had to be done."
"It is my distinct honor and privilege to celebrate the awarding of these medals to our intrepid warriors," Benton said. "History will record and we will long remember their sacrifices."
Addressing the standing-room-only crowd, Benton said that earlier this week the group had the honor of awarding 43 Bronze Stars for Valor and 39 Army Commendation Medals for Valor....
And there is more. Please go here to read the rest of this article. THEN go read the details of what these amazing men did:
There are no roads leading into the Shok Valley. The village, which stands sentinel over the valley, is home to one of the fiercest of the insurgent forces in Afghanistan - the Hezeb Islami al Gulbadin, or HIG.
On April 6, 2008 a daring raid into the stronghold by Afghan Commandos and their Special Forces counterparts tested the mettle of the Afghan forces and further forged the bond between them and their SF brothers....
When you ask them to use one word to describe April 6, their words pop, much like the gunfire that rained down on them.
"A nightmare."
"Baptism by fire," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Plants, "it was my first firefight."
"Cliffhanger."
More words followed as the team went back in their minds to that day.
The Mission
The team was assigned to take out high-value targets within the HIG. The insurgent group was entrenched in the valley and was guarded by a number of highly-trained foreign fighters. The sheer number of weapons and amount of ammo used by the insurgents led the team to conclude that they had been stockpiling the weaponry within the fortress-like village since the Russian invasion of the country during the late '80s.
Accompanying the team that day was a group of Afghan Commandos. "We have such a big rapport with the commandos we've trained," said Staff Sgt. Luis Morales, the team's intelligence sergeant. "They have such a loyalty to us. They try as hard to protect us as we try to protect ourselves."
"We eat, sleep and train with these commandos," said Capt. Kyle Walton, the detachment commander. "We die with them, too. These guys are close friends to us. At the outset of the attack, I lost my interpreter, and we were as close as anyone."
The interpreters hold a special place within the team. "They are just like a member of the team," said Morales. "One of our interpreters has seen as much combat as any of us. He has six years of combat experience. He's been with six SF teams and been in hundreds of firefights - but he doesn't get the six-month break. ...
You know there is more. Go read the whole story here.
Honored during the ceremony with Silver Star Medals were:
The members assigned to ODA 3336 for valorous actions undertaken in Afghanistan on April 6, 2008:
- Capt. Kyle Walton (Carmel, Ind.) - Master Sgt. Scott Ford (Athens, Ohio) - Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr (Rock Island, Ill.) - Staff Sgt. Seth Howard (Kenne, N.H.) - Staff Sgt. Luis Morales (Fredricksburg, Va.) - Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer (Pullman, Wash.) - Staff Sgt. John Walding (Groesbeck, Texas) - Sgt. David Sanders (Huntsville, Ala.) - Sgt. Matthew Williams (Casper, Wyo.) - Spc. Michael Carter (Smithville, Texas)
The members assigned to ODA 3312 and 3214 for valorous actions undertaken in Afghanistan on Nov. 2, 2007:
- Master Sgt. Frederick Davenport (San Diego, Calif.) - Staff Sgt. Robert Hammons (Hunstville, Ala.) - Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Allison (Livonia, N.Y.) - Sgt. 1st Class Paul Fiesel (La Porte, Texas)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan on Nov. 10, 2007: - Sgt. Gabriel Reynolds (Oswego, Ore.)
For actions undertaken in Iraq on July 27, 2007: - Capt. Kent Solheim (Oregon City, Ore.)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan on Aug. 26-Sept. 13, 2006: - Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Konrad (Winchester, Tenn.)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan Aug. 7-9, 2005: - Capt. Brandon Griffin (Athens, Ga.)
For actions undertaken in Afghanistan July 25, 2005: - Sgt. 1st Class Larry Hawks (Bowling Green, Ky.)
The Silver Star Medal is awarded in recognition of a valorous act performed during combat operations while under direct fire from enemy forces. It may also denote an accomplishment of a heroic nature in direct support of operations against an enemy force.
Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, who presented the awards to the Soldiers. "Where do we get such men? There is no finer fighting man on the face of the earth than the American Soldier. And there is no finer American Soldier than our Green Berets."
Mulholland said that he was "incredibly humbled" to stand and address the actions of his men, because their actions "speak volumes beyond what I can say."
"Day-in and day-out, they are the unsung heroes, seeking no recognition," he continued. "If you asked them, I'm sure they would say: `the other guy did it.'"(source) [my emphasis]
Or they would probably say "Just doing my job"! How blessed we are that such men do their "job" so well. My grateful appreciation to ALL of them.
A Pan Am jumbo jet with 258 passengers on board has crashed on to the town of Lockerbie near the Scottish borders.
Initial reports indicate it crashed into a petrol station in the centre of the town, between Carlisle and Dumfries, and burst into a 300-foot fireball.
Hundreds are feared dead as airline officials said flight 103 was about two-thirds full with 255 adults and three children on board.
Rescue teams have confirmed there are many casualties at the scene including townspeople who were on the ground.
The Boeing 747 left London Heathrow at 1800 GMT bound for New York's JFK airport...
In Context
In total 259 people aboard the flight and 11 on the ground died in the crash which took place 38 minutes after take-off.
The debris from the aircraft was scattered across 845 square miles and the impact reached 1.6 on the Richter scale.
The subsequent police investigation was the biggest ever mounted in Scotland and became a murder inquiry when evidence of a bomb was found.
Two men accused of being Libyan intelligence agents were eventually charged with planting the bomb.
Abdelbaset ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was jailed for life in January 2001 following an 84-day trial under Scottish law, at Camp Zeist in Holland.
His alleged accomplice, Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, was found not guilty.
In 2002 Al Megrahi's appeal against conviction was rejected. [both pieces from BBC here]
A number of ceremonies are planned in Lockerbie throughout the day
Special "places to remember" are being opened in Lockerbie, with a wreath-laying ceremony taking place at the Dryfesdale Ceremony.
In the evening there will be services at both the Tundergarth and Dryfesdale Church.
A little after 1900 GMT the exact anniversary of the atrocity will be remembered.
For many who lived through it, the memories remain fresh despite the time which has passed.
We were sitting in our houses at Christmas we didn't have any trees, cards and decorations - we took them down
Maxwell Kerr Eyewitness
George Stobbs, Lockerbie's police inspector at the time, recalls the events of 20 years ago with great clarity.
"Nobody actually knew what had happened, we realised an aircraft had come down but I thought it was a military aircraft," he said.
"Once I got into Sherwood Crescent I could see flames along the roadside, the footpaths were burst and there were gas pipes fractured - there were dancing flames coming up from them.
"Hedges were on fire, drop pipes on the side of houses were on fire and they were in turn climbing up and setting fire to the roofs."
It was only later in the evening that the scale of the death toll at Lockerbie began to emerge.[here]
It is said that those who forget history, are doomed to repeat it. Will YOU forget?
Tooryalai Wesa, 58, fled Afghanistan in 1991 and settled in Coquitlam, B.C, Canada. Today, he takes up a new post as Governor of Kandahar.
"Some of the Afghans are trying to come back because we want to help the country and because of the lack of the professional people" in the country, Wesa told CTV Newsnet Thursday in a telephone interview from Kabul, Afghanistan.
Born and raised in Kandahar, Wesa has extensive work experience in the province and feels that he can be an effective link between the local population and the international force of soldiers, diplomats and aid workers currently posted there.
SANTA TO MAKE PRE-CHRISTMAS EVE INSPECTION OF SANTA TRACKER HEADQUARTERS AT NORAD
Flight by World-Famous Macy's Santa to Help Children of our Fallen Military Heroes
Santa Offers Holiday Tips for Those Coping with Grief During the Holiday Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2008
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Just before his epic flight on Christmas Eve, the world-famous Macy's Santa will make a special trip on December 23rd to NORAD's Santa Tracker headquarters. Santa's special flight next week will provide support for children of our nation's fallen military heroes who are involved with TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
As Santa's Traveling Workshop, Santa's flight on a Halcyon Jet will take him to NORAD's Santa Tracker headquarters, where Santa will ensure that all is in order for Christmas Eve. He'll also visit a household chosen by the winner of an online eBay auction and visit a children's home or military base to talk with boys and girls. Proceeds from the auction will help children of our fallen military heroes.
Located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), has been in the business of tracking Santa on Christmas Eve for the past 50 years. The command will track Santa as he flies from New York City on December 23rd to the community selected by the winning auction bidder, welcome Santa to tour NORAD, and then track Santa back to the North Pole on December 23.
TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, will distribute toys provided by Santa and the workshop to children who have lost a parent. "Santa's flight and toys will bring a lot of holiday cheer to children who have suffered a great loss and while also raising awareness for the ongoing programs that help children cope with their grief," said Bonnie Carroll, founder and chairman of TAPS.
Because the holidays can be a difficult time for families who are grieving, said Carroll, Santa also will offer some tips during his December 23rd flight to help those who are supporting a bereaved child this holiday season. "Among children involved with TAPS, the one gift they most want is one that Santa can't bring – the return of the parent or relative who died," said Carroll. "We know that Santa is working hard to bring joy and holiday cheer to children who've suffered the death of someone they love, and his December 23rd flight shows he cares about them and will provide resources to help the children of our fallen military heroes."
A few of the tips Santa offers are:
Make holiday plans that help your child feel nurtured, emotionally safe, and comfortable. Review your plans for the holidays with your child. Spend the holidays where you and your child feel supported, nurtured, and comfortable.
Allow your child to remember the person who died through a tribute. Light a candle together at dinner time to remember the person who died. Make a wreath with pictures and items that represent the things the lost loved one cared about and place it at the gravesite for the loved one. Hang an ornament on the tree that reminds the child of the loved one. Help your child offer a blessing at a holiday meal that honors the person who died. Create a picture or collage with your child, display a favorite photograph in your home, or let your child help you set a place at the dinner table to represent the loved one who died.
Laughter, play and joy are good for your child. Children do not grieve continuously and they need to take breaks from grieving. Encourage your child to play, run, and do recreational activities he or she would normally do. Clowning around and laughing (which releases endorphins into the brain) are good for children.
More tips on dealing with grief during the holidays for children and adults are available at www.taps.org<http://www.taps.org>.
Santa's Traveling Workshop has brought toys and cheer to hundreds of thousands of children and families in need, beginning in December of 2005 after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It also delivered 100,000 toys to children from all walks of life on the National Mall in Washington, DC in 2006.
TAPS provides ongoing emotional help, hope, and healing to all who are grieving the death of a loved one in military service to America, regardless of relationship to the deceased, geography, or circumstance of the death. TAPS meets its mission by providing peer-based support, crisis care, casualty casework assistance, and grief and trauma resources. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org<http://www.taps.org> or call the toll-free crisis line at 800.959.TAPS.
Media Contacts
Santa's Traveling Workshop Media Contact: Travis Thomas, 858.759.2000
TAPS Media Contact: Ami Neiberger-Miller, 202.588.TAPS, ami@taps.orgami@taps.org>
HMS Kent's ship's company were excited to see eager family and friends waiting on the jetty, pleased to be reunited in time for Christmas [Picture: LA(Phot) Owen King]
The crew of HMS Kent arrived home just in time for Christmas when the ship sailed in to a royal reception at Portsmouth this week, after returning from a six-month deployment to South East Asia and the Far East.
His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, brother of the ship's sponsor, Princess Alexandra, and Honorary Rear Admiral of the Royal Naval Reserve, met the Type 23 frigate when she anchored in the Solent on Monday 15 December 2008. The Prince spent a couple of hours on board and met some the 174 crew before the ship began her short journey into Portsmouth Naval Base.
HMS Kent sailed from the UK on 1 June 2008 and visited China, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and many more countries, demonstrating the UK's ongoing commitment to the region.
Kent conducted several high-level, multi-national exercises with navies from the United States, China, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia....
Freedom of the Press in Sadr City Thursday, 18 December 2008
By Scott Flenner 4th Infantry Division
BAGHDAD — A monumental achievement was accomplished recently in the highly populated Baghdad district of Sadr City, with the publication of al Medina, the first ever local newspaper.
Al Medina is a locally produced and locally owned newspaper that focuses on current news affecting the people of Sadr City.
“It is a source to express their ideas, report their activities, and cover all the projects in the area” said Mr. Muhammad al-Tamimi, general manger of al Medina newspaper.
The paper was conceived more than five months ago when Maj. Mike Humphreys, a public affairs officer with Multi-National Division – Baghdad, had a chance encounter with Muhammad, a journalist, and a Sadr City businessman, Dhahir al-Musa.
During their initial meeting Humphreys, a native of Greeneville, Tenn., expressed his vision to create an independent SadrCity newspaper that could get the people’s message out. In cooperation with the embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team 3, Humphreys offered $25,000 in quick reaction funds to help the two entrepreneurs get their paper started.
“I knew we needed a paper in Sadr City,” Humphreys said. “I believe that one key to success in Iraq is a free and independent press that educates and informs the people while holding government officials accountable.”
Dhahir, who currently owns the newspaper, and Muhammad graciously accepted Humphreys offer and have already begun putting that money to good use. As of today al Medina newspaper has produced six issues at 10,000 copies each that have been distributed throughout the Sadr City District.
“If god willing the paper will continue to grow” said Muhammad. “The people of Sadr City have suffered. This paper can be their voice so the government does not forget them.”..(source: MNF-1 here)
As many as 800 solar-powered street lights have been put up in Fallujah by the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Corps expects to place as many as 600-700 more. Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 16, 2008) -- Mostly desert and a lot of sun, it makes sense there's a place for solar power in Iraq.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Iraqi government are using solar energy to light the dark streets of Baghdad, Basra, Fallujah, Kharma and Sakalaweyah.
"The lights that we installed have an 80-watt panel on them, a lead-acid battery and a 18-watt fluorescent light bulb on them," said John Offen, an engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "To date, we've installed about a little over 800 of them, and they're operating just fine. And we still have about 600-700 more to go. The city of Fallujah didn't have power at night and this was an easy way to light up the streets that didn't depend upon any remote source of power."....(Read more here)
Since war became a geographically distant but very real way of life after Sept. 11, 2001, no Hollywood star has stepped up to support active duty U.S. military personnel and wounded veterans like Gary Sinise. There is no close second. And quietly, as is in his nature, he is becoming something akin to this generation´s Bob Hope.
One step in conferring this worthy title on the award-winning actor, director and producer occurred last week when President Bush bestowed on him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation. Previous recipients include Henry "Hank" Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Colin L. Powell and Bob Dole.
While the White House ceremony flew under the radar of most of the media, most notably the entertainment press, word has trickled out to many of his countless admirers in and out of the military. And on the occasion of him receiving the award, they want America to take in their words of praise for, as Sharon Tyk in the USO of Illinois put it, this "gallant American patriot."
Michael Yon, a Special Forces vet and the pre-eminent war journalist of our time, communicated his admiration in a dispatch from Bahrain: "Gary is a true friend of the American soldier. He does not hesitate to travel into war zones to express his admiration and personal support for those who defend us. He visits wounded soldiers, some of whom I personally know. All love him....
Santa Even Delivers Presents To Royal Marines In Afghanistan
4th Dec 2008
Miss UK and panto star Nieve Jennings with forces personnel
Almost 25,000 'square stockings' are winging their way to war zones and British bases overseas, as presents for troops on Christmas day. Miss UK and panto star Nieve Jennings, plus Marks and Spencer, are backing the campaign to bring festive cheer to forces personnel on operations away from their loved ones at Christmas. This year 700 Royal Marines from Scots-based 45 Commando will all receive a square stocking, at their base in Helmand province.(source)
And "This just in...":
News Release
Canadian NORAD Region Names Santa’s Escort Pilots
NORAD - December 11, 2008
Winnipeg, Manitoba – As Christmas gets closer, the Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Region has put the finishing touches on plans to track and escort Santa Claus when he visits Canada by naming four CF-18 fighter pilots as his official escorts.
Major Kirk Soroka and Captain Dan Walters of 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta., and Captain Benoît Bouchard and Captain Matthew Maurice of 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec, will take on the responsibility of welcoming Santa when he arrives in Canada on his annual Christmas Eve journey, and escorting him safely through Canadian airspace.
Special NORAD SantaCams, positioned around the world, will take photos and video of Santa and his sleigh as he journeys around the world. The SantaCams instantly download the photo and video imagery so that it may be viewed by children worldwide on the NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, on December 24. All of this information will be available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Chinese.
In coordination with the North Pole, NORAD has been informed that Santa intends to begin his journey at 6 a.m. EST, on Dec. 24. The Canadian Air Defence Sector Operations Centre at 22 Wing in North Bay, Ontario, will alert NORAD when their radars detect Santa approaching North America. Two CF-18 Hornet fighter jets from 3 Wing will welcome Santa as he enters Canadian airspace off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. As Santa flies across Canada from east to west, two CF-18 Hornets from 4 Wing will escort him out of Canadian airspace and turn over escort duties to the Continental U.S. NORAD Region so that he may continue his Yuletide trip...
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys 28 years old from Fallon, Nevada 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force 49 November 15, 2008
A funny, nice guy who loved to fly. That's how Christian P. Humphreys is remembered by his friends. He was a great guy, always happy and had a joke," said Sean Whitney, a flight medic. "We used to play with our paintball guns in the cornfields behind his house."
Humphreys flew with the Fallon Naval Air Station Search and Rescue Longhorns from June 6, 2004, to May 5, 2006. He left the Navy and joined the Army as part of the "Blue to Green" program to become a helicopter pilot.
Humphreys, along with Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donald V. Clark, 37 years old from Tennessee, was killed when their OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed while on a mission over Mosul, Iraq. As a rescue crew chief, Humphreys was in charge of the operation behind the pilots. He made the decisions when to deploy rescue crews out of the helicopter to assist injured people, and he also took care of the equipment.
"He was a funny guy, a nice guy, a lot of character," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Schmidt. "The guy was always entertaining, always had something to say, but like everyone here, he displayed the professionalism in saving lives."
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys leaves behind a wife and parents.
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.
Last week, I told you about a family of patriotic musicians. Yankeemom had sent it to me here.
Since then, I have read through Michael Darwin and his daughter Sophie's site, and wanted to share something more with you:
I tried to post the lyrics from a pdf file - I couldnt figure it out. so go here to read lots more on this great band! And stay tuned. Something tells me we will be hearing a lot more about them. :) Did I mention they are strong troop supporters?
RAF Benson Pilot Receives Top Honour - Friday 7 March 2008
It was announced today that Merlin helicopter pilot Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), the first time the honour has been awarded to a female pilot.
The DFC, awarded for “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy" was awarded to Flight Lieutenant Goodman following a particular sortie during her second 2-month tour as part of the Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq) in support of Operation TELIC.
On 1 June 2007 she was the aircraft captain of the Incident Reaction Team (IRT) Merlin helicopter based at Basra Air Station. At 2315 hours on 1 June, Flight Lieutenant Goodman was alerted that there was a serious casualty following a mortar attack on an isolated British location in the centre of Basra City. Landing an aircraft at this location is assessed to be very high risk. On 1 June 2007, intelligence reports indicated a large, ‘spectacular’ attack would occur somewhere in Basra, with a helicopter being a possible target. Flight Lieutenant Goodman was fully aware of the elevated threat level throughout her sortie.
Alert to the high risk, but being fully conscious of the importance of providing unfailing IRT support to ground forces, Flight Lieutenant Goodman elected to fly her approach, whilst under intense enemy direct and indirect fire. Maintaining a firm control of the situation whilst flying tactically on Night Vision Goggles at very low level across a hostile city, she commenced a most expeditious transit and approach to an unfamiliar and dangerous landing site. She continued her approach, undeterred by close friendly covering fire and even closer enemy fire which began to impact to the rear of the aircraft. Despite the most complex approach, with numerous obstructions and ambient conditions on the limit of aviation operations, she executed a landing with few visual references bringing the aircraft in next to the casualty. The medics and Aviation Reaction Force left the aircraft as 4 mortar rounds landed in and around the location; however, she remained in full control of the situation and elected to hold the aircraft on the ground as the option with least risk. The top cover Lynx helicopter was by now reporting several substantial explosions in the area, which were believed to be either enemy mortars or RPG fire. With the casualties loaded, Flight Lieutenant Goodman departed the helicopter landing site just as further explosions occurred in close vicinity to the aircraft. Additionally, her aircraft detected a possible enemy missile engagement and automatically discharged flares as a counter measure. She departed the area, her path covered by very close friendly artillery fire to distract enemy forces. Flight Lieutenant Goodman flew rapidly from the area, making maximum use of the aircraft’s performance, crew and supporting assets to achieve a safe transit clear of the area. The aircraft landed at the British Field Hospital just 14 minutes after launch.
Many IRT sorties are high risk. However, on this occasion Flight Lieutenant Goodman had to instantly weigh up the risks against the importance of recovering a serious casualty, which would impact on morale throughout the coalition. Without the IRT, the casualty would have died within 15 minutes. Despite extreme pressure, whilst in the face of the enemy, she made the right decision. This was a bold and daring sortie which undoubtedly saved life.
Upon hearing the news of this historic award, Flight Lieutenant Goodman commented, “I am truly honoured to be awarded a DFC, but without both my crew and all the engineering support personnel, the rescue of the casualty would not have been possible. The helicopter Incident Reaction Team (IRT), whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, is regularly confronted with dangerous casualty extractions and all are dealt with in a professional and timely manner. This is not an award just for me, but recognizes all the soldiers, sailors and airmen, who, day in and day out put their lives on the line for the British public to remain safe.”
The Station Commander, Group Captain Paul Lyall further commented, “For the last 2 years, Royal Air Force Merlin helicopters have been hard at work moving our troops around southern Iraq. Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman showed great gallantry in flying her helicopter into a restricted area of Basra under enemy fire to rescue a wounded soldier and speed him straight to our field hospital. She would be the first to say that any of her colleagues would have shown the same skill and courage. She is humbled to be the first female recipient of a Distinguished Flying Cross. All of us at Royal Air Force Benson salute her actions, and those of the other 3 crew members that supported her. Flight Lieutenant Goodman’s actions were in the finest traditions of the Royal Air Force and we are very proud of her.”
Flight Lieutenant Goodman was born in Bristol on 22 November 1976 and was brought up there before completing a degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Manchester. Her Royal Air Force career began in 2000 and following Initial Officer Training at RAF Cranwell and initial flying training at RAF Shawbury, she was posted to the Merlin Force at RAF Benson in 2004. A combat Ready pilot, Flight Lieutenant Goodman has completed 3 tours on Operation TELIC in Iraq. (source)
“This could be a bit dodgy” were the final words spoken by Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman to her Merlin helicopter crew before they took off to rescue a wounded comrade under heavy fire in one of the most dangerous parts of Basra last year.
It was dark and dusty, and as they flew in low over the rooftops of the city there were flashes and explosions all around them. It was more than dodgy.
Yesterday the 31-year-old pilot was proud but bashful when she was told officially she was the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for an act of supreme bravery.
Flight Lieutenant Goodman, who comes from Bristol and is based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, knew that it was going to be a dangerous mission because the helicopter would be vulnerable to a hail of machinegun fire, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. ... (source)
If you "google" her name, you will find many, many articles on Flight Lieutenant Goodman.
On the same day as her actions were recognised, a further 183 members of the British armed forces were also given the medals they had earned:
Friday 7 March 2008 13:47 Ministry Of Defence (National)
RAF personnel honoured for service on operations
184 members of the Armed Forces are honoured today for their courage and professionalism on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world.
Five Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, five Distinguished Service Orders, 28 Military Crosses, and three Distinguished Flying Crosses will be awarded in the honours for the period 1st April 2007 to 30th September 2007.
Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman becomes the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for her bravery in Basra.
Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, said today:
"Our servicemen and women risk their lives on operations every day, and it gives me great pleasure to congratulate those honoured today and to thank them for their tireless service to our country.
"These men and women are a credit to the Armed Forces. Many of them have displayed courage beyond the call of duty and all of them have shown unstinting dedication. We owe thanks to them all and to their families for their invaluable support and commitment to the Armed Forces."
Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, today said:
"The Service personnel that we honour today have all distinguished themselves - many in the face of great danger - and some have risked their own lives to save others. They have all earned the nation's thanks and respect, and I pay tribute to their outstanding achievements in the face of most difficult and dangerous circumstances."..(go here)
The list is truly amazing, Go here and read about the bravery of some of Britain's finest.
Thank YOU for your service, Flight Lieutenant Goodman!~
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that four Royal Marines were killed in two separate incidents in the Sangin area of Helmand province this morning, 12 December 2008.
Ministry of Defence
In one incident, one Royal Marine from 45 Commando was killed as a result of an explosion in the Sangin area this morning. He was taking part in a routine patrol. Unfortunately he died of his wounds while being taken to the military hospital at Camp Bastion.
In a separate incident, three Royal Marines, two from 45 Commando and one from Commando Logistics Regiment, were killed as a result of an explosion south of Sangin.
They were taking part in a routine operation against enemy forces in the area. Sadly one Royal Marine died instantly, a second died of his wounds before he could be evacuated and the third died of his wounds in the hospital at Camp Bastion.
Spokesperson for Task Force Helmand, Commander Paula Rowe, said:
"Today is an incredibly sad day for Task Force Helmand. The tragic deaths of these Royal Marines have come as a huge blow to us all. Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things to go through. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to their families, friends and comrades at this terrible time."
Next of kin have been informed and there will be a period of grace before further details are released. (Royal Marines)
"Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those brave men who died in the service of their country. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. This is a tragic loss," [Prime Minister Gordon Brown] said.(BBC)
Known originally as the militia, the National Guard turns 372 years young Dec. 13.
It all started in 1636 when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which functioned as the colony’s legislature, ordered existing militia companies from the towns surrounding Boston to form into three regiments: North, South and East.
While other English colonies like Virginia and Spanish colonies like Florida and Puerto Rico had individual towns with militia companies before 1636, Massachusetts was the first place in the New World where the population was large enough to justify organizing companies into regiments for command and control. These regiments became a kind of military “family” for members. Although their names have been changed and individual companies have come and gone, the three regiments still exist in the Massachusetts National Guard.
In retrospect, a string of 20-year career enlistments divides the Guard’s life span into more than 18 “generations.” The differences between generation one and the current 19th generation are countless. Yet, even as the National Guard has transformed many times, it remains true to the Founder’s intent of a citizens’ Army; and, for the last three generations, a citizens’ Air Force.
The American colonies adopted the English militia system, which obligated all males to possess arms and participate in the defense of the community. This early militia enforced local laws and battled Britain’s enemies in America. Now, a force of more than 450,000 men and women serve voluntarily and can be deployed anywhere in the world.
From its very beginnings, the United States has been a militia –Guard nation. The existence of and need for the colonial militia was ratified by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution. Congress specifically defined those missions the militia would be used for: “to Execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections, and repel Invasions.”
Since then, Congress has enacted several militia and defense acts to strengthen the National Guard. The first of these laws, passed in 1792, governed the militia for 111 years of the country’s existence.
The Militia Act of 1903 created the modern National Guard and affirmed the National Guard as the nation’s primary organized combat reserve force. The National Defense Act of 1947 established the Air National Guard as a separate reserve component at the same time it established a separate Air Force.
In 371 years and more than eighteen 20-year enlistments, the weapons and technology have changed drastically, but the Guard’s contribution to the nation’s defense has remained paramount.
Generation seven rallied to battle the British at Lexington and Concord. Generation 12 faced off, brother against brother, in the Civil War. Generation 14 “Remembered the Maine” during the Spanish-American War. Generation 16 was already on duty when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Generation 19 will never forget and is still responding to 9/11.
In 1636, the militia’s primary firearm was the crude matchlock musket which could take 56 steps to load and fire. Nearly one-third of militia Soldiers carried only a long pole, or pike, into combat. Today, the Guard’s small-arms arsenal includes M-16 and M-4 rifles, and the Squad Automatic Weapon which fires of 750rounds per minute.
Our colonial forefathers could not have imagined much of what their descendants can use in combat today – jet fighters, tanks, satellite radios, laser-guided munitions, global positioning systems, rocket artillery, and countless other high-tech devices.
Now, after 372 years, what does the future hold for this always ready and reliable force?
Future National Guard generations will continue to employ all of the modern technology at its disposal at home and abroad. At the core, however, today’s National Guard members and yesterday’s Minutemen remain the same person: citizens with the conviction that their military service is required to make their nation and communities a safer and better place. (here)
Special forces land crushing blow on Taliban in Afghanistan
As Christmas approaches and thoughts turn to family and friends, I've found myself thinking more and more of those who will not spend the season with family and friends of their own. I recently spoke to a Digger who returned earlier in the year from a deployment to Afghanistan, where he spent Christmas Day working, and he told me of the intense loneliness he felt, especially at that time of year, to be away from those he loved.
But never, at any time, did he doubt the reason he was there or the reason he fought. To me, that was a glimpse of an amazing inner strength so many will simply never possess.
This morning I read the following article which reinforces the reason we are there, the reason these these brave men and women fight....
AUSTRALIAN special forces operating deep inside Taliban heartland in southern Afghanistan have inflicted critical damage to the insurgent's senior leadership severely restricting their ability to launch offensive action, the army's head of special operations said today.
Australian forces operating deep inside Afghanistan have inflicted critical damage to the Taliban's leadership, the army said today.
In a rare briefing to the media summarising 524 days of combat action since the special forces returned to fight in Oruzgan, Major-General Tim McOwan, pledged no let-up in the brutal counter-insurgency despite the onset of a harsh Afghan winter.
And he had this Christmas Message for the Taliban: “We will find you. We will hunt you down. Your time is limited.”
Elite Special Air Service operatives and Commandos operating in some of the most gruelling conditions ever encountered had killed four senior Taliban leaders, captured seven others including one, Ahmad Shah, in his bed.
Another 180 lower ranking insurgents had been captured and handed over to Afghan authorities, Maj-Gen McOwan said.
“These are all key middle- to high-level Taliban leaders or IED (bomb makers) facilitators operating in or around Oruzgan province.
“These are individuals who are or have been involved in killing innocents and actively trying to kill coalition troops.
“These are successes not just for the SOTG (Special Operations Task Group) but for the hard-working poor civilians of Afghanistan and for the fledgling democracy itself,” he said.
For the first time, Maj-Gen McOwan revealed that in early October special forces killed a high-level Taliban commander, Mullah Korullah Shakir, implicated in bomb manufacturing and attacks on Afghan civilian and coalition troops.
“We know that the loss of these individuals has had a dramatic impact on the resilience of these Taliban networks,” he said.
His upbeat appraisal of military success in Oruzgan stands in contrast to the overall security picture in Afghanistan.
Faced with a resurgent Taliban, the Afghan conflict has got bloodier for every year since 2005 with the death toll for coalition troops this year alone standing at 273, compared with 232 last year.
The NATO-backed International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) remains woefully under-strength.
Hunkered down in Kabul, the Karzai Government lacks legitimacy in the eyes of most ordinary Afghans faced with a daily reality of insecurity, corruption and lawlessness.
Tarin Kowt market just five kilometres from the main Dutch-Australian base was bombed by the insurgents on Wednesday - an attack that left two killed and nine wounded.
The cost has also been high among the SOTG, with six of the seven Australian combat fatalities since 2001 being members of the special forces.
Not so well known is the number of Australian special forces soldiers wounded - about 50 - including some with serious, life-threatening wounds.
“The frequency of these wounds speaks of the violence and danger these men face on a daily basis.
“There are no words to describe how devastating these deaths have been.
“While we in the special forces and special forces command feel these losses deeply, I can assure you our sense of grief is nothing compared to the mothers and fathers, brothers, sisters and partners,” said Maj-Gen McOwan.
He said he prayed there would be no more casualties but feared that would not be the case with 2009 expected to be an equally bloody year.
The Australian Defence Force has 1100 troops deployed in Afghanistan with the main combat role undertaken by the 300-strong Special Operations Task Group.
So often we are so focussed on the losses that we are blinded to the successes. Every member of the Taliban Leadership removed from power is a success. While another may rise in his place, it is still one less to combat in the future.
We can be proud of the work the Diggers are doing in all their areas of operation. They have proven themselves time and again to be successful, experienced Soldiers willing to take the fight to the Taliban and do everything in their power to help the civillians desperate to rebuild their country and their lives.
Thursday, 11 December 2008 Multi-National Division – Baghdad
FOB RUSTAMIYAH — One hundred women graduated from an adult literacy course at Al-Sharquia Secondary School for Girls in the Karadah security district of eastern Baghdad, Dec. 4.
The graduates, their family members and other ceremony attendees gathered to celebrate what was the first of potentially many successful adult literacy classes.
“This is the first step of many that the Iraqi government has taken to ensure economic growth in the Karadah district,” said Capt. Sean O’Brien, non-lethal effects coordinator with Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “The next step is to employ them.”
Many of the graduates are widows, explained Hadeel Adel, an Iraqi non-government organization representative and advocate for women’s rights. She said the literacy course graduates will be able to use their new skills to study for a civil service examination to seek government employment.
“This is a monumental day for these women. You can see the future of Iraq in their faces,” exclaimed Adel. “These women will get jobs and relieve the stress on the local economy by providing for their families”
Adel expressed hopes for a continued partnership between the United States and Iraq and said she wishes that women’s rights in Iraq will someday mirror the rights women have in America.
Their graduation marked a successful day for these literate women of Baghdad, and now they possess the power to learn through reading. (source)
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Army News Service, Dec. 9, 2008) -- Under normal circumstances, a Soldier graduating from Advanced Individual Training doesn't attract the attention of many people besides friends and family.
Pfc. Siobhan Healy, though, is a 39-year-old mother of 13 children.
Healy not only graduated at the top of her class Friday, the 63B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics Course at the Ordnance Center and School's Edgewood area on Aberdeen Proving Ground -- she also scored 350 points on her physical fitness test.
"I started working out about six months before I went to basic training," she said. "I was afraid that the younger people would outrun me."...
CF soldier assists in Haiti school collapse rescue
Blocks of broken concrete pass hand to hand as residents of Port-au-Prince dig through the wreckage of the collapsed school looking for survivors.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The Collège La Promesse Évangelique in Port-au-Prince, collapsed at about 10 a.m., 7 November. Many children and staff were killed immediately and many others were buried in the rubble.
Within 30 minutes, UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) HQ dispatched a platoon of soldiers to help with the immediate rescue. Then, we dispatched a platoon of off-duty Filipino soldiers and a helicopter for aerial rescue. The Argentine field hospital went on stand-by, field engineers were alerted and reconnaissance parties were sent to check the structural integrity of the building and learn what else we could provide.
The narrow, winding road to the school was choked with vehicles and people, so we left our jeep and pushed our way toward the site; as we got closer, we could hear cries of anguish....
51 Squadron RAF Regiment have delivered, by lorry, a new police station to a village near Basra.
The arrival of the portakabin from the Contingency Operating Base in Basra which will be used as an outstation for the Iraqi Police Service [Picture: Cpl Adam Fletcher RAF]
The portakabin was reallocated from the Contingency Operating Base (COB) (the main coalition base in Basra) to be used as an outstation for the Iraqi Police Service (IPS).
With new investment coming into the area and the village's close proximity to one of the large oil refineries, village elders were looking for added security from the IPS.
Mr Qais Joudah, the village school headmaster and councillor, said:
"This will help strengthen the Iraqi-led security in the area for when the foreign troops move out in a few years' time. This cabin will provide a base for the IPS to operate from; due to the refinery being nearby, new building will take place and we'll need policemen to be in the area for good relations with them.
"We currently have a really good relationship with the IPS and Iraqi Army."...
Spc. Jonnie L Stiles 38 years old from Highlands Ranch, Colorado 769th Engineer Battalion, Louisiana Army National Guard November 13, 2008
Louisiana National Guard spokesman Maj. Michael Kazmierzak said Spc. Jonnie L. Stiles had been serving as a gunner on a Humvee doing route clearance when and IED detonated near his vehicle in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He said the job typically involves checking roads for bombs and insurgents.
Stiles' wife, Launa, said that he was nearly killed last month when a suicide bomber blew up a military vehicle in front of his. She said he was still able to rescue three other soldiers and returned to duty before his 30-day recovery period was finished.
"He was strong and really cared for his men," she said.
Stiles was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and graduated from Littleton High School in Colorado. He served in the military for 17 years, first joining the Marines and then switching to the Army in 1999. He served three years at Fort Carson, left the Army and then returned as a member of the Colorado Air National Guard in the Summer of 2007.
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.
The surprise was complete. The attacking planes came in two waves; the first hit its target at 7:53 AM, the second at 8:55. By 9:55 it was all over. By 1:00 PM the carriers that launched the planes from 274 miles off the coast of Oahu were heading back to Japan.
Behind them they left chaos, 2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes and a crippled Pacific Fleet that included 8 damaged or destroyed battleships. In one stroke the Japanese action silenced the debate that had divided Americans ever since the German defeat of France left England alone in the fight against the Nazi terror.
Approximately three hours later, Japanese planes began a day-long attack on American facilities in the Philippines. ...
Marine Corporal E.C. Nightingale was aboard the Arizona that fateful Sunday morning:
"At approximately eight o'clock on the morning of December 7, 1941, I was leaving the breakfast table when the ship's siren for air defense sounded. Having no anti-aircraft battle station, I paid little attention to it. Suddenly I heard an explosion. I ran to the port door leading to the quarterdeck and saw a bomb strike a barge of some sort alongside the NEVADA, or in that vicinity. The marine color guard came in at this point saying we were being attacked. I could distinctly hear machine gun fire. I believe at this point our anti-aircraft battery opened up.
"We stood around awaiting orders of some kind. General Quarters sounded and I started for my battle station in secondary aft. As I passed through casement nine I noted the gun was manned and being trained out. The men seemed extremely calm and collected. I reached the boat deck and our anti-aircraft guns were in full action, firing very rapidly. I was about three quarters of the way to the first platform on the mast when it seemed as though a bomb struck our quarterdeck. I could hear shrapnel or fragments whistling past me. As
A captured Japanese photo shows Battleship Row under attack. Hickam Field burns in the distance
soon as I reached the first platform, I saw Second Lieutenant Simonson lying on his back with blood on his shirt front. I bent over him and taking him by the shoulders asked if there was anything I could do. He was dead, or so nearly so that speech was impossible. Seeing there was nothing I could do for the Lieutenant, I continued to my battle station.
"When I arrived in secondary aft I reported to Major Shapley that Mr. Simonson had been hit and there was nothing to be done for him. There was a lot of talking going on and I shouted for silence which came immediately. I had only been there a short time when a terrible explosion caused the ship to shake violently. I looked at the boat deck and everything seemed aflame forward of the mainmast. I reported to the Major that the ship was aflame, which was rather needless, and after looking about, the Major ordered us to leave.
"I was the last man to leave secondary aft because I looked around and there was no one left. I followed the Major down the port side of the tripod mast. The railings, as we ascended, were very hot and as we reached the boat deck I noted that it was torn up and burned. The bodies of the dead were thick, and badly burned men were heading for the quarterdeck, only to fall apparently dead or badly wounded. The Major and I went between No. 3 and No. 4 turret to the starboard side and found Lieutenant Commander Fuqua ordering the men over the side and assisting the wounded. He seemed exceptionally calm and the Major stopped and they talked for a moment. Charred bodies were everywhere.
"I made my way to the quay and started to remove my shoes when I suddenly found myself in the water. I think the concussion of a bomb threw me in. I started swimming for the pipe line which was about one hundred and fifty feet away. I was about half way when my strength gave out entirely. My clothes and shocked
The USS Shaw explodes
condition sapped my strength, and I was about to go under when Major Shapley started to swim by, and seeing my distress, grasped my shirt and told me to hang to his shoulders while he swam in.
"We were perhaps twenty-five feet from the pipe line when the Major's strength gave out and I saw he was floundering, so I loosened my grip on him and told him to make it alone. He stopped and grabbed me by the shirt and refused to let go. I would have drowned but for the Major. We finally reached the beach where a marine directed us to a bomb shelter, where I was given dry clothes and a place to rest." (source)
Did You Know? The bond between USS Arizona shipmates went beyond being comrades; there were 37 sets of brothers assigned to the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941.
37 Sets of Brothers Assigned to USS Arizona December 7, 1941
The names on the memorial wall tell a poignant tale of the price paid by their families....there were 37 sets of brothers assigned to the USS Arizona on the day it went down, including Delbert and John Anderson, one set of twins. The ship's crew included three sets of three brothers: Becker, Doherty and Murdock. One brother survived in each set. Twenty-three sets of brothers were lost that day.
There were a total of 77 brothers serving on the USS Arizona; 62 died as a result of the attack.
Thomas Augusta Free, from Texas, and his son William Thomas Free were the only father and son serving on the USS Arizona; they were killed in action as well. Kenneth and Russell Warriner were the only set of USS Arizona brothers who survived...
The plaque at the memorial is dedicated to the 1,177 men from the USS Arizona who gave their lives that day, most of whom are permanently entombed beneath the ocean waves.
"Dedicated to the eternal memory of our gallant shipmates in the USS Arizona, who gave their lives in action 7 December 1941. 'From today on the USS Arizona will again fly our country's flag just as proudly as she did on the morning of 7 December 1941. I am sure the Arizona's crew will know and appreciate what we are doing.' Admiral A.W. Radford, USN, 7 March 1950. May God make His face to shine upon them and grant them peace."
Salvaged from the floor of Pearl Harbor, the anchor of the battleship USS Arizona is displayed at the entrance of the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center operated by the National Park Service. The anchor was cast in Chester, Pennsylvania, and weighs 19,585 pounds. Photographer: Bill Dasher. Courtesy Impact.
The wake of a tour boat as it pulls away with visitors from the USS Arizona Memorial. Constructed in 1961, it was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1962. In 1980 it became a unit of the National Park Service. Photographer: David Thoresen. Courtesy Impact. (source for both here)
The ship's bell from the USS Arizona hangs in the tower of the University of Arizona Student Union building. The bell is tolled at the memorial services, held each year on the Sunday closest to December 7. This is one of two recovered. The other is at the memorial at Pearl Harbor. (source)
Our pal, CJ, who has a site called "A Soldier's Perspective," mailed this out. It is CJ's latest post on the You Served: Military Blog and Podcast. What follows is a letter written by a medic called "Doc" Shurley. This email was "Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 2:17 AM", but I believe it is still valid, still worth reading:
Bryant “Doc” Shurley deployed to
Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood in November.
*(I found this picture on Go San Angelo, here, when I was researching this email.)*
This article is written by a young specialist in the Army. This young man gets what most politicians and journalists did not. A Soldier’s Perspective
Following the article sent about Bush’s national address and troop increase, I thought it was a good idea to let you all know what the perspective is over here. I’m tired of hearing the media’s skewed version, the politicians squabbling over what they read in a report, and the average ill-informed American ranting about things he knows NOTHING about.
I’ve been over here a couple of months now, and I’ve learned more about this country than a year’s worth of watching CNN. I’ve sat in mission briefs with Colonels, talked with village elders, had tea with Sheiks, played with the kids. And I agree with the President. We need more troops and we need to take greater action.
There are 3 major factions here. The Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. The Shiites are in the majority, but Saddam was a Sunni, so he kept the Shiites in check. Everyone hates the Kurds, who are Christian and in the vast minority. The Kurds received the brunt of Saddam’s murderous tyranny. Now that Saddam is gone, the Shiites have taken control of Baghdad. The largely peaceful Sunnis are now the victims of radical Shiite terrorism. So the young Sunni men, who can no longer go to work and support their families, do what all young men would do. They join the Sunni militia and battle the Shiites. And thus the country sits on the brink of civil war.
But this war is between them. They largely do not concern themselves with the U.S. troops. The insurgents who battle the Coalition Forces are from outside the country. And the biggest problem down here isn’t the insurgents. Its the politicians. The local politicians. Even though the country is controlled by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, downtown Baghdad is controlled by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The Shiites follow al-Sadr and thus the Prime Minister does what al-Sadr says. Think of it as if a warlord controlled New York and blackmailed the President into diplomatic immunity.
When 1st Cav (mainly 2/5 Cav) came here in 2004, they took downtown Baghdad (known as Sadr City) by force. It cost many lives, but after a year, we held an iron grip on the largest insurgent breeding ground in Iraq. The insurgents were afraid of the Horse People, and rightfully so. But when 1st Cav left, al-Sadr influenced the Prime Minister to kick out the Coalition forces from that area of Baghdad. He said the Iraqi military forces could hold the city. But all that happened was al-Sadr regained control of his city, and it is now a heavily guarded fortress. A place where insurgents and terrorists can train and stockpile arms. And we cannot go back in because the Prime Minister won’t let us. Our hands are tied.
So where does al-Sadr get his backing? From Iran and Syria. Iran supplies him with money and Syria supplies the terrorists. The insurgents that battle the Coalition Forces are from Syria, Somalia and dozens of other places outside of Iraq. Iraq is literally a terrorist breeding ground. They have terrorist and sniper schools here. Why not?...
The rest of this IS a must-read (have I ever steered you wrong?) You can find it at You Servedhere. [Not sure that works, for some reason, so here is the link: http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2008/12/04/america-in-uniform-a-soldiers-perspective/ ]
Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson, Pte. Demetrios Diplaros, Cpl. Mark Robert McLaren, all from 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, were killed by an IED on Dec. 5.
U.S. Maj.-Gen. Michael Tucker, the deputy chief of staff of American and NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, commented on the deaths of the soldiers."It was unfortunate that an IED took the lives of these ... great Canadian soldiers today, and our hearts go out to their families and their loved ones,"..."(here)
All three soldiers were from the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment based at CFB Petawawa, located west of Ottawa. Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Petawawa to express his condolences to military families who have deeply felt the effects of the overseas military campaign. (here)
Please keep ALL our troops - and their families - in your thoughts and prayers.
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We were sitting in our houses at Christmas we didn't have any trees, cards and decorations - we took them down 
