A few weeks ago, my mom called asking, "Have you heard what Bob Cooper's mom is doing?" Bob Cooper was the baseball coach at my high school. His mom Alleen, whom I'd never met, is a 92-year-old great-grandma. She's also a fiercely independent widow who lives on her own in the Lakewood, California, home where she raised two boys.
"She's writing the troops," my mom says, "during the last two years she's written them more than 2,000 letters." I call Alleen myself and quickly learn this isn't her first foray into writing soldiers. "I started during World War II," she tells me. Now, nearly 70 years later, she's decided "it's time to show my support to the troops of this century." My next phone call is to my boss at CNN who agrees to send a camera crew.
Before we arrive, I've checked into where Alleen's letters are heading – one to a solider so badly burned he's receiving prosthetic ears in a Houston Army hospital, another to a Marine first sergeant who is the father of two girls and preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, and many more to 18, 19 and 20-year-old troops. I wonder what this 92-year-old has to say to all these Marines and soldiers who are worlds away and generations removed.
Holiday Homecoming!Please do the clicky click thing here to read just what our wonderful returning guys and gals thought about this show of gratitude for them... Would warm the old Scrooge's heart himself, it would.By Donna Miles
BALTIMORE, Dec. 23, 2009 - Two days before Christmas, the longest line today at the airport here wasn't at a ticket counter, or at security checkpoints. It was at the international terminal, where hundreds of well-wishers lined up to welcome about 150 troops home from combat deployments.
American Forces Press Service
Troops returning from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan get a hearty holiday homecoming as they arrive at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. DoD photo by Donna Miles
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Families, veterans, beauty queens, students enjoying the first day of their holiday vacations and even Santa Claus began descending on the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in the early afternoon to greet the arriving Air Mobility Command charter flight.
As they waited for the troops to clear customs, the group revved itself up, turning toward a flag just beyond a giant Christmas tree full of blue-and-white ornaments to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the national anthem.
Col. Robert Howard, Highly decorated Vietnam Veteran Dies at 70.By Scott Huddleston - Express-NewsRetired Army Col. Robert L. Howard, a Medal of Honor recipient who retired in San Antonio and was one of the most highly decorated soldiers from the Vietnam War, died Wednesday.
Howard, 70, died at about noon at a hospice in Waco, where he'd been for about three weeks, suffering from pancreatic cancer, said Benito Guerrero, a close friend, Vietnam veteran and retired sergeant major.
Howard, a larger-than-life figure on the national military scene, appeared at many patriotic events in San Antonio and helped honor the wounded by attending Purple Heart ceremonies. At his suggestion, the local Blue Star Mothers of America chapter began holding an annual ceremony in late December to remember the troops serving overseas.
“He said, ‘Don't forget the troops at Christmas.' He was very adamant about that,” said Chris Peche, who in 2004 helped organize the annual event, now held each year at the Alamo.
In April, Howard traveled, as he often did, to Iraq and Afghanistan to talk to U.S. troops about service. Just two months ago, he visited troops in Germany, Bosnia and Kosovo.
Howard, born July 11, 1939, grew up in Opelika, Ala., and served in the Army from 1956 to 1992. After retiring at Fort Sam Houston, he decided to stay in San Antonio.
There's much more to the story on this highly decorated Veteran that you don't want to miss. Colonel Howard, Sir, You will be missed.
The Ugly News...
Iraq Veteran robbed of Christmas presents.
PAWTUCKET, R.I., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- An Iraq war veteran says he lost all the Christmas presents he purchased when a thief broke into his house in Rhode Island and took them from under the tree.
"I just feel violated," Christopher Adamovich told the Providence Journal. "Who steals presents from under a tree, four days before Christmas?"
There was an even worse loss in Monday's break-in. The thief took a safe holding pictures of Adamovich's dead father and of Army friends who were killed in Iraq.
"I can't get those back again," he said.
Adamovich spent six years in the military after joining the Army National Guard in 2003. He was wounded more than once and receives a disability pension from the military.
Spending his first Christmas at home, Adamovich hoped to make it a good one for his fiancee, Coralie Barden, her 3-year-old son, Gregory, and his mother and siblings. The gifts under the tree at his home in Pawtucket included an engagement ring for Barden, he said.
This just in...
The follow up of the above bit of ugly news. While there is a bit more to the story reported than what you read above, the response to replace and help one of 'Our Guys' have a Merry Christmas restores my faith in mankind.
Robbed veteran flooded with gifts
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 24, 2009
PAWTUCKET –– The Iraq war veteran who reported his Christmas presents stolen Monday from under the tree in his new home said he was overwhelmed by people who were upset to read of his misfortune and planned to donate some of the gifts and all the cash to the McAuley House in Providence, where he volunteered in his teens.
“No words can express what this means to me,” Christopher J. Adamovich said Wednesday. “They’ve shown me that there are good people in this world.
“I’m just happy that I have a good Christmas to give to my kid and nephew.”
For the rest of the story, clicky click here.
And so it goes......
(Mamelodi is a township outside of Johannesburg. Like all townships, the community severely lacks resources and opportunities that are often found in the neighboring urban areas. As we set up in Vusi's backyard and the music began, kids began dancing in the street outside the gate and the community came alive. Once again we witnessed the power of music to raise the spirits of the people who hear it.)
*Photo borrowed from Playing for Change flicker site*
DATE: 15 DECEMBER 2009
MILBLOGS GO SILENT FOR FELLOW BLOGGER
Milblogs Go SilentOn Wednesday 16 December 2009, many milblogs -- including This Ain't Hell, From My Position, Blackfive, Miss Ladybug, Boston Maggie, Grim's Hall, and those participating in the Wednesday Hero program -- are going silent for the day. Some are choosing to go silent for a longer period of time.
The reason for this is two-fold. First, milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hositility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.
The catalyst has been the treatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham of A Soldier's Perspective (http://www.soldiersperspective.us/ ). C.J. has earned accolades and respect, from the White House on down for his honest, and sometimes blunt, discussion of issues -- particularly PTSD. In the last few months, C.J. has seen an issue with a local school taken to his command who failed to back him, and has even seen his effort to deal with PTSD, and lead his men in same by example, used against him as a part of this. Ultimately, C.J. has had to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense in this matter.
An excellent story on the situation with C.J. can be found at Military Times:
http://www.armytimes.com/offduty/technology/offduty_ blogger_120809/
While there have been new developments, the core problem remains, and C.J. is having to raise funds to cover legal expenses to protect both his good name and his career.
One need only look at the number of blogs by active duty military in combat zones and compare it to just a few years ago to see the chilling effect that is taking place.
Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.
On Wednesday 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Those participating are urging their readers to contact their elected representatives in Congress, and to let their opinions be known to them and to other leaders in Washington.
Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December.The issues go beyond C.J., and deserve careful consideration and discussion. We hope that you will cover this event, and explore the issues that lie at the heart of the matter. Contact the milbloggers in your area or that you know, and hear the story that lies within.A Partial List of Participating Blogs:This Ain't Hell http://thisainthell.us/blog/Boston Maggie http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/ Blackfive http://www.blackfive.net/main/Miss Ladybug http://miss-ladybug.blogspot.com Drunken Wisdom http://beerbrains.com/Grim's Hall http://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/Frommyposition http://frommyposition.com/CDR Salamander - http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com
Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write "Grisham Legal Fund" in the memo line if you use this option.
Or You may donate via PayPal here; or you can log into PayPal on your own, go to the send money page, and enter his email address: dj_chcknhawk@yahoo.com
Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to you. Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit.
The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be lost.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska Air Guardsman Master Sgt. Tess Walsh hands Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Martin a bicycle, December 5, 2009. Sergeants Walsh and Martin are from the 176th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard. The bicycle and twenty-two other refurbished bikes will be airlifted by the Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron, to Afghanistan to be given to disadvantaged children. (Alaska Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Adam Cosic watches as Henry Crankshaw hands Alaska Air Guardsman Lt. Col. David Glick a bicycle to load onto the truck bed, December 5, 2009. Mr. Cosic and Mr. Crankshaw are volunteers at Off the Chain, a bicycle collective, in Anchorage, Alaska. Colonel Glick is a pilot with the 144th Airlift Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard. (Alaska Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. Shannon Oleso)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - (Left to right) Alaska Air Guardsmen Staff Sgt. Woody Miller, Senior Airman John Darnall, Senior Airman Ryan Pierce and Tech. Sgt. Summer Rehak from the 176th Logistics Readiness Squadron pulls a top net over a pallet of refurbished bicycles on December 6, 2009. (Alaska Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. Shannon Oleso)Bikes to Bagram
by Senior Airman Alicia Goldberger
176th Wing Public Affairs
12/12/2009 - ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- More than 20 disadvantaged children in Afghanistan will get new bikes this month thanks to a group of Anchorage volunteers and an assist from the Alaska Air National Guard.
The bicycles, together with parts and tools, were donated by the Anchorage Community YMCA, The Bicycle Shop, Paramount Cycles, Chain Reactions, and REI, Inc. They were then refurbished by Off the Chain, a non-profit, all-volunteer bicycle collective in Anchorage. Funded purely through donations and grants, Off the Chain offers bicycle education and maintenance to the community of Anchorage. Their services are aimed at providing mobility to those whose only transportation are their bikes and who cannot afford maintenance elsewhere.
A group of Off the Chain volunteers came up with the idea of giving bicycles to underprivileged Afghan children. The big obstacle was getting them there. A couple of months ago, organizers approached Lt. Col. David Glick, a pilot with the Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron. The squadron routinely flies personnel, equipment and supplies into the remote, war-torn country.
Chris Himes, a long-term Off the Chain volunteer, said "I can't imagine any other way it could have happened. It's a perfect confluence of interests and abilities ... the Air Guard being on the way anyway, and being able to distribute the bikes, which we would never be able to."
On Saturday, Dec. 5, a group of Air Guard members arrived at Off the Chain with a flatbed truck to pick up the bikes. On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Guard members at Kulis Air National Guard Base loaded them onto a C-130 Hercules for the flight to Afghanistan. The bikes will be distributed from Bagram Airfield to local Afghan children near the base.
"I think it's great," said Henry Crankshaw, an Off the Chain volunteer. "During this time of year, not many people come in for kids' bikes. This is a great opportunity to get our surplus of kids' bikes out the door to people who will actually enjoy them immensely."
KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Task Force La Fayette civil-military action staff worked to support the Afrane Non-Governmental Organization to donate a total of 70,000 fruit trees to farmers in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, Dec. 8.
This initiative is going to assist a lot of Afghans, explained Abdul Wassey, the agricultural representative for Tagab valley.
The villagers have received 45,000 trees and will be able to distribute 50 trees per farmer.
Our valley will be densely wooded two to three years from now, said Bakhutullah, the Alasai valley representative.
The forestation of the province creates the potential to repel erosion, which has regularly caused damages to the houses and plantations, explains Yves Fevre, the Afghan representative responsible for the project.
This project will also attempt to have an economic impact through the production of fruits which could provide consistent income to the farmers.
Arctic Combat (The FUN Kind!)
As you can see in the picture above, we received our first taste of snow in Afghanistan today. It has been raining all week, turning FOB Morales-Frazier into one giant mud pit. We left the FOB today to head into the mountains of Nijrab, where that rain was already accumulating as snow.
We did our usual thing ... We stopped at a few construction projects, voiced our displeasure with the workers’ rate of progress, and then moved on to the next stop to do the same.
While driving to the northern part of the province, the convoy commander for the mission, an Army Staff Sergeant, called all vehicles to a halt. Unsure why we were stopping, I figured someone was taking an emergency potty break. (Other than when we’re at our objectives, emergency restroom breaks are usually the ONLY reason we leave the safety of our MRAPs (armored vehicles) outside the wire.
I waited for us to secure the area, then I hopped out of the vehicle along with our team medic.
I didn’t see a construction site nearby. And, since the road was covered in snow, I knew we weren’t inspecting a road project. Curious as to why we stopped, I started walking toward the Staff Sergeant.
Before I could take a few steps, I received my answer.
SPLAT!
(Photo borrowed from National History Archives)~~~~~
Three Reporters and a Marine.
Katie Couric, Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams and a tough old U.S. Marine Sergeant were captured by terrorist in Iraq. The leader of the terrorist told them he'd grant each of them one last request before they were beheaded and dragged naked through the streets.
Katie Couric said, "Well, I'm a Southerner, so I'd like one last plate of fried chicken."
The leader nodded to an underling who left and returned with the chicken. Couric ate it all and said, "Now I can die content."
Charlie Gibson said, "I'm living in New York, so I'd like to hear the song, The Moon and Me, one last time."
The terrorist leader nodded to another terrorist who had studied the Western world and knew the music. He returned with some rag-tag musicians and played the song.
Gibson was satisfied.
Brian Williams said, "I'm a reporter to the end. I want to take out my tape recorder and describe the scene here and what's about to happen. Maybe, someday, someone will hear it and know I was on the job till the end."
The leader directed an aide to hand over the tape recorder and Williams dictated his comments.
He then said, "Now I can die happy."
The leader turned and asked, "And now, Mr. U.S. Marine, what is your final wish?"
"Kick me in the ass." said the Marine...
"What?" asked the leader, "Will you mock us in your last hour?"
"No, I'm NOT kidding. I want you to kick me in the ass." insisted the Marine.
So the leader shoved him into the yard and kicked him in the ass. The Marine went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled out a 9mm pistol from inside his cammies and shot the leader dead.
In the resulting confusion, he emptied his sidearm on six terrorist, then with his knife he slashed the throat of one, and with an AK-47 which he took, sprayed the rest of the terrorist killing another 11.
In a flash, all of them were either dead or fleeing for their lives.
As the Marine was untying Couric, Gibson, and Williams, they asked him "Why didn't you just shoot them all in the first place? Why did you ask him to kick you in the ass?"
"What?" replied the Marine, "And have you three assholes report that I was the aggressor...?"
Semper Fi!!
~~~~~
President extends Thanksgiving wishes to Airman serving in Afghanistan
by Capt. Darrick B. Lee
Provincial Reconstruction Team Kapisa Public Affairs
11/30/2009 - FORWARD OPERATING BASE MORALES-FRAZIER, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- An Air Force medic here received a personal telephone call from President Barack Obama on Thanksgiving Day.
Senior Airman Ashley Jackson, a member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Kapisa, was chosen as one of 10 military members who spoke to the president while deployed abroad.
Airman Jackson, originally from Lakeville, Minn., provides combat medical support to members of the PRT that venture into local communities to help with development projects in Afghanistan.
In September, Airman Jackson was riding in a vehicle that was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan's Kapisa Province. Airman Jackson helped stabilize injured Soldiers and earned a Purple Heart for her actions after the blast. President Obama expressed his gratitude during the phone call.
Airman Jackson asked the commander-in-chief if she could put him on speakerphone, allowing her team members and the camera crews in the room to share the moment with her.
"I am so proud of all of you for the extraordinary service you are rendering the country," the president was heard saying over the speakerphone. "So, on Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for you."
Airman Jackson was all smiles after the call. She talked with French military reporters about her experience in an on-camera interview.
"I was glad that the president got to say 'Happy Thanksgiving' to everybody in the room," Airman Jackson said. "Thanksgiving in Afghanistan would be hard if it weren't for the camaraderie we share within the PRT. It really is a family affair here. I'm here until the whole team goes home, and there's no place I'd rather be."
