Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday Hero
19 years old from Knox, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
December 4, 2006
His mission was to patrol the streets of Adhamiyah in northeast Baghdad and find a place to put a 250-kilowatt generator that would provide electricity for more than 100 homes. But it's a mission he wasn't able to accomplish.
Shortly after Pfc. McGinnis's convoy left the compound, and less than a mile from FOB Apache, an insurgent standing on a nearby rooftop threw a grenade into the sixth, and last, Humvee. "Grenade!" yelled McGinnis, who was manning the vehicle's M2 .50-caliber machine gun. He tried to deflect the grenade but it fell into the Humvee and lodged between the radios.
"McGinnis turned and looked down and realized no one in the truck knew where the grenade was," said Capt. Michael Baka, his company commander. "He knew everyone had their doors combat-locked and they wouldn't be able to get out."
Instead of jumping out of the truck to save his own life, like he had been trained to do, McGinnis threw his back against the radio mount, smothering the explosive with his body. The grenade exploded just as Pfc. McGinnis covered it. The blast filled the vehicle with black smoke and debris and blew the driver's door and right passenger's door wide open and blew the machine gun off its mount. The explosion hit McGinnis on his sides and his lower back, under his vest. He was killed instantly.
The other four soldiers in the Humvee suffered relatively minor injuries.
On the morning of December 4, 2006, before his convoy had left, Cpt. Baka has signed a waver promoting Pfc. McGinnis to Specialist and he was posthumously promoted to E-4.
For his heroic actions on that day, McGinnis was awarded the Silver Star and was nominated for a Medal of Honor which he received on June 2, 2008.
All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com
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.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Random Links to Check out
Been saving these links to pass on when I got the chance, no particular order, just links of interest that I thought folks might be interested in checking out.
From Reader's Digest, I've been following this story on their CaringBridge page for quite awhile, nice to see this featured in the Digest
Volunteers Help Repay a Disabled Veteran's Sacrifice
Greeting Troops returning home in NH....... Pease Greeters
Warriors and Veteran's Assistance out of Hurricane,WV
Awesome site Hall of Heroes
New museum coming National Museum of Americans in Wartime
AnySoldier.com Golf Tournament coming up in April.
Also coming up in April, World T.E.A.M. Sports 2009 Face of America Bike Ride
Hero to Hero HeroToHero.US is emergency first responders giving the shirts off their backs for our desert-deployed troops.
From Reader's Digest, I've been following this story on their CaringBridge page for quite awhile, nice to see this featured in the Digest
Volunteers Help Repay a Disabled Veteran's Sacrifice
Greeting Troops returning home in NH....... Pease Greeters
Warriors and Veteran's Assistance out of Hurricane,WV
Awesome site Hall of Heroes
New museum coming National Museum of Americans in Wartime
AnySoldier.com Golf Tournament coming up in April.
Also coming up in April, World T.E.A.M. Sports 2009 Face of America Bike Ride
Hero to Hero HeroToHero.US is emergency first responders giving the shirts off their backs for our desert-deployed troops.
Angels Needed!
With over 600 soldiers waiting for 'adoption' in Soldiers Angels
I wanted to post a call again asking folks to consider Adopting a Soldier,Sailor,,Marine, or Airman.
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.
And, just for a short glimpse of what kind of folks become 'Angels'.....here's some random links I found about 'adopters'
Domestic Diva's Fancy-Adoption Day
knoxnews.com-Students box up love for soldier
stardem.com-Rehab center day care adopts Air Force Chaplain
The Seaside Rose Cottage:Cookies for our soldier in Iraq
The Cherokee Talking Stick: Heroes of Yesterday and Today
The Beasley and Wright Family Blog: Soldiers Angels
The Adventures of Kate & Carson: Rodolfo-Our Adopted Soldier
Do you have a soldier adoption link or story you want to share?
send me an email to kasee60@gmail.com
and I'll be happy to post a link!
Please consider becoming an 'Angel' :)
I wanted to post a call again asking folks to consider Adopting a Soldier,Sailor,,Marine, or Airman.
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.
And, just for a short glimpse of what kind of folks become 'Angels'.....here's some random links I found about 'adopters'
Domestic Diva's Fancy-Adoption Day
knoxnews.com-Students box up love for soldier
stardem.com-Rehab center day care adopts Air Force Chaplain
The Seaside Rose Cottage:Cookies for our soldier in Iraq
The Cherokee Talking Stick: Heroes of Yesterday and Today
The Beasley and Wright Family Blog: Soldiers Angels
The Adventures of Kate & Carson: Rodolfo-Our Adopted Soldier
Do you have a soldier adoption link or story you want to share?
send me an email to kasee60@gmail.com
and I'll be happy to post a link!
Please consider becoming an 'Angel' :)
Soldiers Angels Web Surfing
My weekly 'surf' of the web for news by, and about,
Soldiers Angels
I missed posting last week, but for a good reason:) my husband's son is home for a visit, yay!
but remember, whenever you don't see a 'Soldiers Angels Web Surfing' post?
you can always check up on the latest Soldiers Angels news at
Blognetnews.com/soldiersangels
and they've got a cool new feature where you can sign up to receive the latest Soldiers Angels post by email!
on to a few things I want to highlight for you......
Valentine's Day has come and gone, but thought you'd enjoy these photos from
Soldiers Angels Washington
Valentine's for Veterans
and
Operation Valentine Accomplished
Soldiers Angels in Texas are continuing to Welcome The Troops at DFW
Via Soldiers Angels Germany, kudos to Nurses to Nurses
and that segues nicely into this video link on Soldiers Angels Network
Worth Seeing
This is a special video of the superb care our troops receive during transport from Iraq and or Afghanistan to Germany and to the USA
From Soldiers Angels Louisiana , the Mardi Gras Packages Arrived! Yay!
and lastly,
two Soldiers Angels February newsletter links,
The Sewing Team Newsletter
and
the February Soldiers Angels Newsletter
That's the 'surf'!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wednesday Hero
34 years old from West Liberty, Kentucky
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren congratulates Sgt. Kelly Keck after presenting him the Purple Heart.
On September 13, 2008, Sgt. Kelly Keck, a combat medic serving in Afghanistan, was wounded while trying to aid his fellow soldiers who's truck had just been struck by an IED. "I stepped off the road to try to get to the side of the truck, and the next thing I know I hear a loud boom, and I'm laying on the ground," he said. Sgt. Kelly had stepped on a land mine. He was flown to a field hospital in Jalalabad where he ended up loosing three fingers on his left hand and his right leg below the knee. "It was quite an ordeal," the soft-spoken soldier said.
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.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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Saturday, February 14, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thoughts from my brother, on Fox Business News
My brother,Kirby Daley, appeared on Fox Business news this morning,
and then also at this link on their interactive web broadcast.
I couldn't watch it, had to work......but here's a bit of the video from the webcast
and then also at this link on their interactive web broadcast.
I couldn't watch it, had to work......but here's a bit of the video from the webcast
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wednesday Hero
This Weeks Post Was Suggested And Written By Brat
Sgt. Patrick Tainsh
33 years old from Oceanside, California
Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
February 11, 2004
Five years ago today, Sgt. Patrick Tainsh sacrificed all as the mounted unit he
was part of was hit by an IED in Baghdad. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze and Sliver Stars saving the lives of his commanding officer and other soldiers before succumbing to his own wounds. Also killed in the attack was Pfc. William C. Ramirez from Portland, Oregon.
On Veteran’s Day, 2007, Deborah Tainsh, Sgt. Tainsh's mother, attended a school in Columbia, Georgia, and shared a story she had written called "A Boy Named Patrick."
Here is part of the story :
…a little boy named Patrick who loved football, beaches, surfing, and
skateboarding, and especially reading. Patrick watched his dad be a Marine for
over twenty years. During this time Patrick kept reading not only surfing and
skateboarding magazines, but history books, too. One day when Patrick was a man, he told his dad and best friend, “I want to do something that will make a
difference in the world, I’m going to be a soldier.” And so he did. And in 1999
he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for boot camp and then went to Fort Polk,
Louisiana where he worked and trained hard to become a United States Army
Cavalry Scout. Then in 2003 Patrick had to say good bye to his mom and dad
because he had to go fight a war in Iraq to protect his country, friends, and
family from terrorists and to help fight for the freedoms of the boys and girls
in that country where they and their families were treated very badly by their
country’s leader. Patrick once wrote a letter to his mom and dad telling them
that he cried for the children because they were hungry and he didn’t have food
to give them. He said he couldn’t understand how a country’s leader could treat
the people so badly and make them live in such dirty conditions with trash and
wild dogs everywhere. And so Patrick's mom and dad keep a photo in their living
room of Patrick surrounded by Iraqi children.
You can read the story in it's entirety here.
Sgt Tainsh came to the military later than some, but rose through the ranks fast. In his last letter to his parents, Sgt Tainsh shared his thoughts about his mission. And in 2006, Sgt. Tainsh's mother wrote a book called Heart Of A Hawk about her son's life and her and her husband's struggles since their son was killed.
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.
33 years old from Oceanside, California
Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
February 11, 2004
Five years ago today, Sgt. Patrick Tainsh sacrificed all as the mounted unit he
was part of was hit by an IED in Baghdad. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze and Sliver Stars saving the lives of his commanding officer and other soldiers before succumbing to his own wounds. Also killed in the attack was Pfc. William C. Ramirez from Portland, Oregon.
On Veteran’s Day, 2007, Deborah Tainsh, Sgt. Tainsh's mother, attended a school in Columbia, Georgia, and shared a story she had written called "A Boy Named Patrick."
Here is part of the story :
…a little boy named Patrick who loved football, beaches, surfing, and
skateboarding, and especially reading. Patrick watched his dad be a Marine for
over twenty years. During this time Patrick kept reading not only surfing and
skateboarding magazines, but history books, too. One day when Patrick was a man, he told his dad and best friend, “I want to do something that will make a
difference in the world, I’m going to be a soldier.” And so he did. And in 1999
he went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for boot camp and then went to Fort Polk,
Louisiana where he worked and trained hard to become a United States Army
Cavalry Scout. Then in 2003 Patrick had to say good bye to his mom and dad
because he had to go fight a war in Iraq to protect his country, friends, and
family from terrorists and to help fight for the freedoms of the boys and girls
in that country where they and their families were treated very badly by their
country’s leader. Patrick once wrote a letter to his mom and dad telling them
that he cried for the children because they were hungry and he didn’t have food
to give them. He said he couldn’t understand how a country’s leader could treat
the people so badly and make them live in such dirty conditions with trash and
wild dogs everywhere. And so Patrick's mom and dad keep a photo in their living
room of Patrick surrounded by Iraqi children.
You can read the story in it's entirety here.
Sgt Tainsh came to the military later than some, but rose through the ranks fast. In his last letter to his parents, Sgt Tainsh shared his thoughts about his mission. And in 2006, Sgt. Tainsh's mother wrote a book called Heart Of A Hawk about her son's life and her and her husband's struggles since their son was killed.
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.
Blogging Blessings
Way back on Jan.11, my friend at Little Drops...Into the Pool of Life had a post in which she 'tagged' me with two 'awards' as part of a meme.
It's taken me until now to respond to her post. I'm Not going to 'tag' anyone further myself, I found out very early in my blogging that it's about like when I used to have Tupperware parties,LOL......hardly anyone ever 'shows up'!
But her post Did start me thinking about blessings that have come my way because of blogging.....and ,for me, one of the Main blessings is the People you get to meet and know along the way.
I first started blogging (on the now-defunct AOL Journals) back in March of 2006....and I had no idea way back then of how much blogging would add to my life, or how much the wonderful people I would get to know (and, in some cases, meet in person:) would enrich my life.
While I'm not actually going to participate in the 'meme' from my friend's post? I did feel like it would be a good stepping off point to list some blog links to some of the bloggers that I have found to be 'blessings' along the way.
First of all, this is a friend of my mother's who also became an online friend of mine, and actually, is what I should call my 'blog-mother', in that her blogging first inspired me to try my Own hand at blogging. Thank you, Terry!
Terry's Timeout
JP at Milblogging.com
and Sean from Doc in the Box
both encouraged me a great deal early on in my blogging (and I've actually Met both of them in person, who knew That would happen way back when? :) Thanks,guys!
-------------------------------------------------------------
The now-defunct AOL 'Journaling' community introduced me to some really fine folks, some of whom have carried on their blogging here on Blogger, and I'm still blessed with friendship and encouragement from them.
Leslie at Quiet Consecration
Robin at Random Threads (met Her in person,too:)
Laini and Mark at It's a Reel Thing
Guido at Atlantic Lines
and Fury's Fiancee
----------------------------
Chris at Right-Wing & Right-Minded
started the 'Wednesday Hero" posts and graciously allowed me to be a part of that blogroll,
which later led to my being asked to cross-post my 'Soldiers Angels Web Surfing' on
Hooah Wife and Friends
and getting to know Chris, Greta, and Silke has also been another great blessing in my life!
------------------------------------
Lastly, they might be family.......but my sister and brother-in-law over at
A Red Thread to China
have also been supportive and encouraging to me as I found my 'voice' as a blogger....and it's also been a great joy for me, to follow Their story, of their adoption journey and their lives now as Charlotte's parents.
well, that's a short list of some of the fellow bloggers I've found to be blessings,
and Thank You KY Woman
for tagging me in your post (even if I didn't really participate 'correctly:)
and for reminding me of some of the blessings (like You) that have come to me because of blogging.
It's taken me until now to respond to her post. I'm Not going to 'tag' anyone further myself, I found out very early in my blogging that it's about like when I used to have Tupperware parties,LOL......hardly anyone ever 'shows up'!
But her post Did start me thinking about blessings that have come my way because of blogging.....and ,for me, one of the Main blessings is the People you get to meet and know along the way.
I first started blogging (on the now-defunct AOL Journals) back in March of 2006....and I had no idea way back then of how much blogging would add to my life, or how much the wonderful people I would get to know (and, in some cases, meet in person:) would enrich my life.
While I'm not actually going to participate in the 'meme' from my friend's post? I did feel like it would be a good stepping off point to list some blog links to some of the bloggers that I have found to be 'blessings' along the way.
First of all, this is a friend of my mother's who also became an online friend of mine, and actually, is what I should call my 'blog-mother', in that her blogging first inspired me to try my Own hand at blogging. Thank you, Terry!
Terry's Timeout
JP at Milblogging.com
and Sean from Doc in the Box
both encouraged me a great deal early on in my blogging (and I've actually Met both of them in person, who knew That would happen way back when? :) Thanks,guys!
-------------------------------------------------------------
The now-defunct AOL 'Journaling' community introduced me to some really fine folks, some of whom have carried on their blogging here on Blogger, and I'm still blessed with friendship and encouragement from them.
Leslie at Quiet Consecration
Robin at Random Threads (met Her in person,too:)
Laini and Mark at It's a Reel Thing
Guido at Atlantic Lines
and Fury's Fiancee
----------------------------
Chris at Right-Wing & Right-Minded
started the 'Wednesday Hero" posts and graciously allowed me to be a part of that blogroll,
which later led to my being asked to cross-post my 'Soldiers Angels Web Surfing' on
Hooah Wife and Friends
and getting to know Chris, Greta, and Silke has also been another great blessing in my life!
------------------------------------
Lastly, they might be family.......but my sister and brother-in-law over at
A Red Thread to China
have also been supportive and encouraging to me as I found my 'voice' as a blogger....and it's also been a great joy for me, to follow Their story, of their adoption journey and their lives now as Charlotte's parents.
well, that's a short list of some of the fellow bloggers I've found to be blessings,
and Thank You KY Woman
for tagging me in your post (even if I didn't really participate 'correctly:)
and for reminding me of some of the blessings (like You) that have come to me because of blogging.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Soldiers Angels Web Surfing
My 'sorta-weekly' surf of the web for news by, and about,
Soldiers Angels
Came across several posts by Angels I hadn't featured before, check out
Soldiers Angels by Jerry Sweet Sucks
and you can't call this a coincidence from A Corgi in Southern California
and Peeking and Patriotic Postcards from Riley Coyote Creations
Soldiers Angels Wounded Warrior Support had a good post
One of Our Own
Nice article from the PRWeb
Veterans Airlift Command Supports the Wounded Hand-in-hand with Soldiers' Angels
Found a Great post on Soldiers Angels Texas
Phone Calls Can Be Good or Bad (A Texas Mother's Story)
and lastly, our own Greta was featured in a news story again :) way to go, Greta!
Mandeville woman helps send a bit of home to troops
As she says, over 500 soldiers waiting for adoption.....why not stop by www.soldiersangels.org
and see how You can get involved?
That's the 'surf' ,short and sweet this time!
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Blogging the 'Welcome Home'
Sorry it's taken me so long, but I had a gazillion pictures and videos to upload before I could post.
I'm splitting my post up between here and my family blog.......I'll post the random picture and video links there, and post here mostly the 'Welcome Home' links.
First of all, from http://www.army.mil/ here's a link to a story about the unit's homecoming
Stryker Brigade, Military Police Soldiers return from Iraq
Jan 28 By Sgt.Major Terry Anderson
and here's a story and video from KGMB9.com
Homecoming for 200 Soldiers at Wheeler Army Air Field
over on Facebook, I posted an album with the 'Welcome Home' pics and pictures we took while visiting with our soldier.
Album 2
On MySpace, I posted the video we took of the Welcoming Ceremony
for the rest of the picture and video links from our Most Excellent Trip, you can visit my family blog Here
We felt blessed, to be able to welcome Dustin , and the men and women who served with him, home. And we are very proud of him, and the job that all of them did.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I also posted on Facebook the pictures we took on our visit to Punchbowl cemetery
We had a special reason for wishing to visit there, I have a friend who lost an Uncle during the Korean war........she posted about it Here where she says in part :
My family lost my Uncle Billy, William Douglas, while he was a teenager, POW in the Korean "Conflict" is how he died, enlisted at 17 (shh) and died as a teenager. I hope he had a girlfriend sometime in his life, yanno, and I know he got a chance to drink tho, if he'd wanted to. Well, pre-18, he wasn't "allowed" to sign up to die, or be drafted, but he snuck in, so he could pay the foster care payments for my mother and their younger sister, so they wouldn't be adopted out. Seriously. My mom can barely talk about him sometimes; it hurts so much that he died over there.
She also posted about her uncle Here and Here
so, after learning so much about this young man we'd never met, who lost his life so many years ago, we felt privileged and humbled, to be able to visit the place where he is memorialized.)
I'm splitting my post up between here and my family blog.......I'll post the random picture and video links there, and post here mostly the 'Welcome Home' links.
First of all, from http://www.army.mil/ here's a link to a story about the unit's homecoming
Stryker Brigade, Military Police Soldiers return from Iraq
Jan 28 By Sgt.Major Terry Anderson
and here's a story and video from KGMB9.com
Homecoming for 200 Soldiers at Wheeler Army Air Field
over on Facebook, I posted an album with the 'Welcome Home' pics and pictures we took while visiting with our soldier.
Album 2
On MySpace, I posted the video we took of the Welcoming Ceremony
for the rest of the picture and video links from our Most Excellent Trip, you can visit my family blog Here
We felt blessed, to be able to welcome Dustin , and the men and women who served with him, home. And we are very proud of him, and the job that all of them did.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I also posted on Facebook the pictures we took on our visit to Punchbowl cemetery
We had a special reason for wishing to visit there, I have a friend who lost an Uncle during the Korean war........she posted about it Here where she says in part :
My family lost my Uncle Billy, William Douglas, while he was a teenager, POW in the Korean "Conflict" is how he died, enlisted at 17 (shh) and died as a teenager. I hope he had a girlfriend sometime in his life, yanno, and I know he got a chance to drink tho, if he'd wanted to. Well, pre-18, he wasn't "allowed" to sign up to die, or be drafted, but he snuck in, so he could pay the foster care payments for my mother and their younger sister, so they wouldn't be adopted out. Seriously. My mom can barely talk about him sometimes; it hurts so much that he died over there.
She also posted about her uncle Here and Here
so, after learning so much about this young man we'd never met, who lost his life so many years ago, we felt privileged and humbled, to be able to visit the place where he is memorialized.)
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Wednesday Hero
In 2003, Sgt. Popaditch, along with 1st Tank Battalion, rolled into Baghdad from Kuwait at the start of the Iraq War. They had just taken the city and the tank that Sgt. Popaditch was in had rolled up to a 40-ft statue of Saddam. I think we all remember that statue. Popaditch was given a cigar by a fellow Marine and as he smoked it an AP photographer snapped a picture of him.
Fast forward to April 7, 2004. Sgt. Popaditch's wife was vacationing with their son when she received a phone call informing her that her husband had been injured in an attack. The turret of his tank, that he was situated in, had taken two direct hits from RPG's. He fell through the hatch to the floor of the tank. As he struggled to his feet, he began to shout orders to his men but go no response. He then realized that the attack had caused him to go deaf in both ears. But that was only temporary. He then reached up and felt that his head was wet and knew it wasn't good.
In the aftermath of the attack, Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch had lost his right eye. And because of that he now proudly wears a prosthetic eye with the Marine Corps. logo embossed on it. On November 10, 2005 Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch was awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for heroism in combat. He also has a book out titled Once A Marine.
You can read more about Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch here and here.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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