Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

While everyone else (it seems) in the Milblog world is at the
2010 Milblog Conference

since I couldn't make it this year, I can at least do some blogging while I'm sitting home:)

so, another 'surf' of the web for news/posts by and about
Soldiers Angels

First off, she's been a Soldiers Angel for 5 months, but Adrie of Adrie's Corner is putting up some great blog posts about Soldiers Angels....such as
Soldiers Angels-What We're About

and

Care packaging 101: Pt 1

(for someone like myself, who's been in Soldiers Angels for 5 years now? it's refreshing and renewing, to see enthusiasm like Adrie's..... reminds me all over again, why I joined, and why I still am 'Angeling'........keep it up, Adrie! and 'Happy Angeling':)


From the Cleveland Daily Banner , comes an update about residents at Morningside of Cleveland, I posted a link to an article about them in a previous web surf
Morningside residents adopt, correspond with two soldiers


A Major's Perspective sends a shout-out to Bake Me A Wish and Soldiers Angels
Bake Me A Wish Birthday Cakes

(and we sent one of these to Our Army MP through Soldiers Angels for his 21rst birthday, celebrated during his deployment to Iraq, and he said it was wonderful,also!)


Willie from A German-American Friendship Bracelet has great pics on her post
Good Friday 2010 at Fisher House Landstuhl

and,lastly, Jeff Bader,posting at Toby Nunn's Briefing Room , has great pics of
Sassy (the new Soldiers Angels Support Center )

That's the surf!

Fifth Annual Milblog Conference and Milbloggies

And so this evening kicks off the Fifth Annual Milblog Conference lots of folks I know will be there, hate that I couldn't make it this time....but hope y'all have a fantastic time!!!

also, the Milbloggie winners are listed Here

Wednesday Hero

Airman Sasha Sales and Sgt. Richard Montes


Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Sasha Sales, from Gulf Shore, Ala., looks away as Sgt. Richard Montes, from San Antonio, Texas, draws blood samples during a blood drive at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Photo Courtesy United States Navy taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio

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.

Free Access to Caregiver Network for Military Families

(Cross posted from over at Hooah Wife and Friends )

April is the Month of the Military Child

which makes it seem a good time to pass on this story on defense.gov
Military Families Get Free Access to Caregiver Network


The main website is Sittercity.com
and, as it says in the above article, military families can sign up at
www.sittercity.com/dod


For those of you who might wish a little more background checking besides a DOD endorsement?Sittercity.com carried an “A-” rating when I checked them out with the Better Business Bureau


We thought this would be worth passing along,and if you’ve had any dealings with Sittercity.com and would like to share that with other military families who might be considering using them? Please feel free to leave a comment!

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Toni


LTC Tim Karcher


Lieutenant Colonel Tim Karcher was shot in the shoulder in Iraq back in 2006. After just 5 months of healing at home that included 7 surgeries, he chose to go back to war.

"My unit was over there, they were taking casualties. It felt terrible to be here, it felt wrong," he said.

Reunited with his troops, Karcher was in Baghdad last summer for the historic transfer of power from the U.S. to the Iraqis.

But 10 days after that historic day, Karcher's vehicle was bombed and he lost both of his legs in the explosion.

"I'm very proud of him, he's fought for his life, he fought the whole summer to stay alive and he's taking it and running with it, he's so positive," said Alesia Karcher, Tim's wife.

Karcher says the tragedy of losing his legs made him realize what he still had including a wife and three children who need him.

"I could sit around and have a pity party everyday, but it's not going to grow my legs back," he said. "Life kicks you in the teeth every now and again, you get to decide how you react to it."

You can read more about LTC Karcher here and here.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From 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.

2010 Milbloggies

The 2010 Milbloggie awards process kicks off March 31, with nominations opening......you can read more about it over at Milblogging.com

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

A short 'surf' of the web for news or blog posts by, or about,
Soldiers Angels


Soldiers Angels of IL has a nice round-up of the recent gala for the opening of the
Soldiers Angels warehouse
A Celebration of Heroes and Angels

and Patsy's Pockets of Peace also has a nice post related to that here
Where Does It Come From....This Thing Called Dedication

which segues nicely into this article over at NewsBlaze
Angels Add Wings to Soldier's Drum Hike for Fellow Troops


View From the 8th Floor has a wonderful post here
"Thank You" from a Marine's little sister

and,lastly, Soldiers Angels Germany has
Soldiers' Angels brings Chefs to Landstuhl


That's the surf!

2010 Face of America Bike Ride, April 23-25

something I Can go to, after all.......Yay!!!:)

The 2010 Face of America Bike Ride

(no, not going as a rider, but as a volunteer, through Soldiers Angels , for the Fourth year in a row.......can't wait!!)

5th Annual Milblog Conference,April 9-10

Even though I can't go to this:( there's no reason I can't pass it on.....

via Milblogging.com

Fifth Annual Milblog Conference, April 9/10: There is still time to register

I've been able to make it to two of these conferences over the past few years, if you have a chance to go? it's a blast!:) meeting folks in person you've interacted with online, gazing in awe from afar at the 'rock stars' of the Milblog world,lol.......and just generally having a fantastic, fun-filled day of learning and sharing.

Andi always does a great job putting it together, and I'm sure the Fifth one will totally Rock!

Go, if you can :)

(and I'll be at work that day,lol, thinking of all of you there!)

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested & Written By Debbie In Honor Of Her Great Uncle.


Sgt. William Robert Cain
August 1, 1922 - July 4, 1944


William Robert Cain (August 1, 1922 - July 4, 1944) was a husband to Genevieve (Anderson) and the only son of Cleveland and Margaret Cain. He was the baby brother to three sisters, Lena Mae, Anna Phyllis (who died in 1932) and Lora Genevieve.

He was born in the town named after his ancestors called Cainsville, Missouri. He grew up, went to school and played baseball there until he decided to join the U.S. Army. He made the decision to join the Army after graduating high school earlier in the year of 1940 but he would not be turning eighteen until August so he waited and enlisted right after his 18th birthday.

The letter his parents received was dated August 27, 1940 asking them to fill out before a Notary Public, Postmaster or Justice of Peace an Age Verification and Consent Papers and sign BOTH PAPERS in PEN or INK. They were asked to kindly give this their immediate attention as this young man cannot be enlisted till the papers were returned.

Sgt. Robert Cain, (lovingly called Billy Bob by his family and Doc by the Army men), enlisted in August, 1940 and ranked as Sergeant in the medical corps. in charge of hospital on shipboard. His last duty was at Letterman Hospital, Presidio, California. In all he had been assigned to four different ships and made 34 trips over the ocean, the last one a supply ship called SS Jean Nicolet. Sgt. Cain was serving aboard the SS Jean Nicolet when it was attacked by the Japanese on July 2, 1944. The Jean Nicolet was sunk and Sgt. Cain was one of many men taken hostage. He was also one of many men who were tortured for two days before he was killed or died in the Indian Ocean.

From Debbie: I have heard family stories about him, one of which of course is how he died in WWII and that he received the Purple Heart of which I am very proud of. More stories where about how he loved his family. I personally, as his Great Niece, have the love of medicine and caring for others as he did. I am a nurse. This is why it means so much to me that he is remembered as well as the others who were on the Liberty Ship Jean Nicolet that fatal day!

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

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

Wednesday Hero

Cpl. Charles Aldieri(Ret.) & 1st Lt. Jack Jewell(Ret.)


Lt. Col. David Hurley, commander of Schweinfurt, Germany's 15th Engineer Battalion, presents unit coins to two 9th Infantry Division World War II veterans -- Charles Aldieri, a former corporal with the 746th Tank Battalion (shaking hands) and Jack Jewell, a former first lieutenant with Company B, 39th Infantry -- during a March 8 ceremony honoring the division's efforts in capturing the famed Remagen Bridge in the closing days of World War II. The commemoration took place in the Remagen Bridge and Peace Museum now housed in the remains of the span, which collapsed 10 days after its capture on March 7, 1945.

Photo Courtesy United States Army

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

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

Wednesday Hero

Cpl. Jason L. Dunham
22 years old from Scio, New York
Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced)
April 22, 2004


For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Corporal Jason L. Dunham, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

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.

WW II Flight Nurse Exhibit at Air Force Museum

A seattlepi blog post led me to this story

World War II flight nurses exhibit now open

from the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton,Ohio.

Very cool, might have to find time to go check this out.

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

Been awhile since I did a Soldiers Angels web 'surf' post,
with news by and about, Soldiers Angels

With the revamping of the main Soldiers Angels website there are a lot more news stories featured there, and rather than repeat something you can find there, I try and look for links to 'Angels' or stories you may not have come across on the website.

However,two stories I'd particularly suggest for you to check out on the SA website are
The SA Warehouse & Unsuspected Grace

and

Life in the Letter Writing Team


A quite interesting blogger I came across is also a letter writer , as you can see on his post here
How To Be a Soldiers Angel

Came across several blog posts regarding Blankets and Wounded Soldiers, such as

We Need a Few Angels over at Citizen Sparta

and a post from Scrap Me with Style about Soldiers Angels Blankets of Hope Needed


Nice pics here from soldiers angels oregon
Rosewood VA Appreciation day

Lastly, as always, lovin' the Bikers and the Biker Fusion Event, nice write up here
2010 Daytona Bike Week Day 3 Report

and besides the awesome support for Soldiers Angels, read the story near the end of what was done by fellow bikers and friends for Romulo Camargo, who was wounded and his life altered forever while serving our country.

That's the 'surf', I'll see ya next time I've got some tidbits to share from around the web by and about Soldiers Angels :)

Hearing Marcus Luttrell speak.......

I'm late in reporting on going to VMI this past Friday evening to hear Marcus Luttrell speak.
There's a nice write-up about his talk from VMI's webpage here
‘Lone Survivor’ Author Describes Harrowing Mission

We're most grateful to VMI for opening this talk up to the public. For me, personally, it meant more than I can express to hear someone I consider a true patriot and a courageous and admirable man.

If you haven't read Lone Survivor about Marcus' story, and the story of the Lost Heroes of Operation Redwing? I highly recommend it.

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Actually Written By Sgt. McGowen A Year Before He Passed Away. He Was Suggested By His Granddaughter, Leigh, To Honor Him.


Sgt. Charlie McGowen
August 22, 1921 - December 5, 2009

1940-1945

In 1942 he was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He was sent to England. His trip there took him through Warrior, Alabama, Ft. McClellan, Ft. McPherson, Gulf Port, Mississippi, Chanute, Salt Lake City, El Paso, Alamorgoro, and New York City. Then he took the Queen Mary to the Fifth of Clyde in Scotland. Upon arriving he was sent to the Wending base in England. In his military service he was part of the World War II: 32 Bomb Group 578 and 579 Bomb Squadron Second Air Division, 8th Air Force, ETON 117 Wending, Norfolk, England. While stationed in Wending, he went to Piccadilly Circus in London. While he was there he visited the American Red Cross Center with friends. The center was Rainbow Corner. While there he was introduced to a lovely English lady named Margaret (Peggy) Johnston. It was love at first sight. They were married on January 13, 1945. They moved back to Alabama after the war and raised six children. They have ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.


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.

Marcus Luttrell to Speak at VMI on March 5,2010

From Virginia Military Institute's webpage
Former Navy Seal to Share Story of Courage

the presentation is free, and open to the public.

I've read Lone Survivor .....we will definitely be going to hear him speak.

Face of America Bike Ride 2010-Banners Needed and Friends Riding:)

Once again, World T.E.A.M. Sports is holding the Face of America Bike Ride April 24th & 25th, this year beginning at the nation's capitol and riding to Gettysburg,PA.



Although it looks like I sadly won't be able to volunteer this year through Soldier's Angels to help out at the bike ride(due to work conflicts), what I Can do is at least pass the word along about needed items for the ride.



Banners Needed



From this page on Soldiers Angels website

Homemade Banners for Wounded Heroes comes the info about whom to contact to send along your banners.



Having been on the 'Banner Hanging Team" the past several years when I've volunteered? I've got several slide shows featuring or showing the banners, if you need ideas:) we've seen some great banners over the years, please consider sending some in this year!



Here's the links to slideshows 2009 Banners FOA and

Day One~2008 FOA Bike Ride and 2007 Face of America Bike Ride



Friends Riding



Got two friends riding this year on Chuck's Team Soldiers Angels (and Chuck would be Major Ziegunfuss of From My Position...On the Way! )



Greta, Angel Friend Extraordinaire:) and milblogger, has a donation page Here

(she rode with me in the car last year when I volunteered, and I'm not sure....did riding with me cause her to feel like riding in the bike ride would be Safer?LOL:)



and Blake , of Laughing Wolf and Cooking with the Wounded fame, has a donation page Here

Please help them out if you can, and please help spread the word about the Bike Ride!

Lastly, my daughter took a video last year at the end of the FOA 2009 Bike Ride, just wanted to share it again....this bike ride is an amazing event to be a part of!




(and if the embed doesn't work, the link to the video is Here )

A Community Helps to Rebuild

In searching for something else on my previous version of this blog, I came across this post
from July 2006 Deployed Soldier's Family Found Murdered and remembered the horror of reading that Leonid Milkin had lost his family to murder while he was deployed, and praying for him during that time.

Wondering how Leonid Milkin was faring these days, I did a search and found this
Volunteers pour in to help rebuild Milkin house; funds still needed
(from the Kirklandreporter.com)

The article mentions a Facebook page set up for this volunteer project.

It warmed my heart to read that his community was still supporting him. Please spread the word about this, won't you?

Remembering February 26,1993

From the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center website





Remember February 26,1993





February 26,1993 is the date of the First attack on the WTC.



I can never think of this day without thinking of a man I consider one of the true heroes of our time, Rick Rescorla



and without thinking of the first attack as a foreshadowing of what was to come in 2001, which Mr. Rescorla predicted.



Six people lost their lives in the first attack. To their families and friends.....we have not forgotten their loss, and we hold you in our hearts and prayers just as we hold the families and friends of all those who were lost in 2001.



We will not forget.

Wednesday Hero

Lance Cpl. Andrew Koenig


It is hard to know whether Monday was a very bad day or a very good day for Lance Cpl. Andrew Koenig.

On the one hand, he was shot in the head. On the other, the bullet bounced off him.

In one of those rare battlefield miracles, an insurgent sniper hit Lance Cpl. Koenig dead on in the front of his helmet, and he walked away from it with a smile on his face.

"I don't think I could be any luckier than this," Lance Cpl. Koenig said two hours after the shooting.

You can read the rest of Lance Cpl. Koenig's story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

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.

A Poem for a Vietnam Veteran Nurse, written by my daughter

In October of 2006, I posted on my original version of this blog

For My Aunt, A Thank You to an Army Nurse Corps Vietnam Veteran


Several weeks ago, my daughter told us she needed to write a 'commissioned' work of poetry as an assignment for her English class.
The 'commission' I gave her was to write a poem for my aunt Lynn about her service in Vietnam.

Here is the poem April wrote for her great-aunt Lynn:

Vietnam

From August 1967
To August 1968
My nursing skills brought me
To the war of Vietnam

Located on the coast
Near the village of Phu Hiep
I worked to mend
The wounded that came in

It was the 91st Evac
With concrete slabs and tin
Constructing our little houses
For us to live this war in

To be silly, and give some cheer
I acquired some paint
To make my room walls
An ugly shade of pink

Choppers come overhead
Bring with it many injured
Some won't survive
and some reach us already dead

The Napalm wounds hurt more
Than just those hit
Because then those burned
Come to our burn unit

A nurse can't be on that ward
For more than one day
Because our emotional toll
Would be one so great

To our burn tank, they'd be soaped up
Doped up on medication
To help with the pain of their skin
Being peeled off

But there were little things
that were rewarding to us
One of those rewards
Was a child named Bao

He looked six months
But was really two
Someone from a village
Brought him, because he was ill

He was malnourished,he wouldn't eat
An infection in his mouth
Hydrogen peroxide
was the simple cure

He stayed with us for months
And started being able to eat
His infection was gone
And he was growing strong

Then one day we stood him up
And he began to move his feet
He was walking on his own
That moment was rewarding for me

One emotional, tiring year
And then I got to come home
I prayed as the plane took off
To get back safe

It took three extra days
To get back into the States
But my frustration left me
When I saw my husband at the plane gate

I don't speak of it much
Except the stories that get a laugh
Because not many people
Understand the stories that are bad

They ask "How'd you like it?"
A ridiculous question
With all the things I saw
Who could like things like that?

Most people don't understand
What it was like being over there
Burn tanks, working on the wounded
And all the emotional parts of war

However, if I had to
I'd do it all again
For that one year of my life
That I was in the War in Vietnam

Remembering those who served on the USS Pamanset in WW II

In June of 2006, I posted (on the first incarnation of this blog)

Some of My Family History, Grandad in WW II

about my grandfather, Donald McNulty's, service aboard the USS Pamanset in WW II.

Today, I received in the mail an article about one of his shipmates

Carbon Hill Veteran Honors Lost Shipmates

Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for remembering all those who served aboard the USS Pamanset.
------------------

Mr. Johnson sent me a picture he had of my Grandad aboard the Pamanset, after I had posted about my Grandad's service, and my mother also sent me the picture of the ship that she had inherited from Grandad, I posted those pictures Here in 2008.

Wednesday Hero

Capt. Ferris W. Butler


Capt. Ferris W. Butler, former platoon leader with D Company, 214th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain, 2nd Brigade Combat Team out of Fort Drum, N.Y., talks to the Soldiers at Morale, Welfare and Recreation east Feb. 5 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Butler, a Port Tobacco, Mass., native, participated in Operation Proper Exit, which brings Veterans who were injured in Iraq back to the country to revisit the area and share their stories.

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.

Exercise Maple Guardian

From the U.S. Army's Stand-To ( a daily compendium of news, information, and context for Army Leaders) on Stand To for Feb 16,2010

Exercise Maple Guardian, which began in January, is in preparation for the Canadian Forces deployment to Afghanistan this spring.

More on the story here from Army.mil
National Training Center hosts Canadian Task Force rotations before deployment

A Facebook Remembrance Project

Via Milblogging.com Live and Remember: Project aims to create separate Facebook pages for 27,594 Allied Soldiers killed in Belgium during WWII

No,I didn't disappear into a snow drift,lol......

It seems that after I posted last week's Wednesday Hero, I just haven't found the time to blog......between snow, and working extra hours, and snow, and a gazillion other things going on around the house here with the family.....and, of course, snow (and snow clean-up,lol, snow removal, Driving in the snow on my crappy road that they still haven't cleaned off yet, more snow.....s-n-o-w the new four-letter word:).....anyway, just a lot going on and I couldn't seem to find the time to sit down and post here on my blog. I'll try and rectify that this evening:)

Wednesday Hero

(Editorial note: Since it's highly possible I'll be staying at work through the Next snowstorm heading our way on Tues., so I can work Weds, I decided to post Wednesday Hero early. and, in case Mother Nature is interested? Enough Winter,already! just sayin'....Kathi )


This Week's Post Was Written By Mark In Honor Of His Wife's Grandfather


Marvin Glenn & His Wife, Christina


Marvin Glenn was born in Oklahoma, joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939, and married his wife of over 60 years. Marvin enlisted in the Navy in 1944, becoming a member of the Greatest Generation. He chose to serve, despite being exempt due to a heart murmur. He went on to serve on the Escort Carrier USS Copahee. After his discharge Marvin became a brick layer, a job he continued to perform until he was 82 despite only having one eye. Along with being a brick layer, Marvin maintained a garden which he and his wife used to provide for themselves, and those in need. The life Marvin lived, in service to others, inspired his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and anyone who came to know him. Marvin was laid to rest in Henryetta, Oklahoma on January 16, 2010, at the age of 92, with full military honors.

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.

Army Civilian Employee Missing

From the DOD website

The Department of Defense today announced the identity of a civilian employee listed as Excused Absence Whereabouts Unknown (EAWUN) while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., has been unaccounted for since Jan. 23. He was last seen in Baghdad, Iraq, where he is assigned to U.S. Forces – Iraq. Search and recovery efforts are ongoing.

OK, this Ticks me off.....

I'm sure milbloggers must've written about this, but I don't seem to have as much time to go 'blog trolling' as I used to.......

via the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune (and my Mom:)comes this story

Red Bulls still awaiting $10M in OT pay by Kevin Diaz

I can't express how completely angry I am, that these National Guardsmen and Women, are still waiting for this money. I remember when the Red Bulls were deployed, we at Soldiers Angels supported a number of Red Bulls during the deployment, and the extension of their deployment, and there were some very good bloggers in the Red Bulls at the time that I also followed..........Get These Folks Paid For Their Service, already!!!!!!

No excuses. Get It Done.

Wednesday Hero

Airmen from the Kentucky National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group help to offload wounded Haitian refugees and medics from Puerto Rico National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at the air hub Jan. 25, 2010, in Barahona, Dominican Republic.

Photo Courtesy U.S Air Force Taken By Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora

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.

Feb. 3: Four Chaplains Day

From the Wikipedia entry:

The Four Chaplains were four U. S. Army chaplains who were killed in action when the USAT Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on February 3, 1943.

They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their life jackets when the supply ran out.

230 of the 904 men aboard the ship were rescued.

On 19 December 1944, all four chaplains were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Cross.[2]

The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism was authorized in 1961 and posthumously presented by the President of the United States to the families of the chaplains.

The chaplains were also honored with a stamp,issued in 1948 and by an act of the United States Congress, designating 3 February as "Four Chaplains Day."

The chaplains were Lieutenants

Rev. George L. Fox (Methodist);

Rabbi Alexander D. Goode (Jewish);

Fr. John P. Washington (Roman Catholic); and

Rev. Clark V. Poling (Dutch Reformed).

The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation website can be found HERE

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Stars & Stripes Online Valentine's Day Messages

Stars & Stripes is accepting online-only Valentine's Day messages until Feb.13th, the link is
HERE

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Pet


Specialist Brandon K. Steffy
23 years old from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps
October 29, 2009


He came into to this world a rather large baby, so big the doctor thought that he’d just walk home with his mother. Brandon was well mannered, polite, and tough with a contagious laugh that lit up those around him. In 2005 he graduated from Brimley High School and in 2006 enlisted in the United States Army, following a tradition of family military service.

He served in Iraq as a gunner from May 2007 until July 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in June 2009 where he was a canine tracker handler for Forward operating Base Fenty Kennel in the Laghman Province. He and his K-9 dog Maci were inseparable, working on tracking terrorists; Maci specialized in tracking the scents of IED making materials.

Spc. Brandon Steffy was killed when the vehicle he was riding in was attacked. His decorations and awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal-Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Spc. Steffy is survived by his wife, daughter, parents and his sister.

Brandon made people laugh and he made them cry. There was not one dry eye at his funeral, from every day townsfolk, to big construction workers to police officers; they all recalled Brandon, this "Gentle Giant." They want everyone to know that if you never knew Brandon, then you really missed out.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com & Freedom Remembered


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.

Help Haiti via International Medical Corps

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization, founded by volunteer doctors and nurses and dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through relief and development programs.

I checked them out and they are
an A+ rated charity by the American Institute of Philanthropy
and a BBB accredited charity

Ninety-two cents of every dollar goes directly to its field programs – one of the highest fundraising efficiencies in the industry.

Their emergency response team is in Haiti in force, as you can see here http://www.imcworldwide.org/haiti


Helping them out with their mission is as simple as texting "HAITI" to 85944
(A one‐time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance.)

or you can go to this page HERE on the IMC website to donate.

Slideshow:U.S. troops provide Medical Aid in Haiti

From the Army.mil website

U.S. Troops Provide Medical Aid in Haiti

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Toni


Stephen Cochran
2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force


Stephen Cochran had it all in front of him. Collage, a fiancée and an offer for a professional recording contract. But life had other plans for him. The day was September 11, 2001. "It was just so horrific," Cochran said. "It's like I'd been called. I'd never been pulled so hard to do something."

It may have been the audacity of the attacks, but more likely it was his family's long history of military service that drew him to enlist, he said. Both grandfathers served, as did an uncle and several other relatives.

So he dropped out of college, walked away from the record deal and joined the United States Marine Corps. "I've always been raised very, very patriotic. It's just what I had to do."

After serving in Iraq, he and his entire battalion volunteered to go to Afghanistan with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit where Cochran was injured in an ambush. 20 yards inside Kandahar, the vehicle he was riding in hit an anti-tank mine and he was thrown from the vehicle and broke the five vertebrae in his lower back.

Read The Rest Of The Story

stephencochranmusic.com
@stephen_cochran
facebook.com/stephen.cochran1


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.

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

A 'surf' of the web for news by, and about,
Soldiers Angels

While there are currently 1,676 soldiers waiting for 'adoption' on the Soldiers Angels website,
there Are 'adoptions' occurring..........
here's a great story about one group that adopted a soldier and got to meet him in person, from TheUnion.com in California.
Angels get chance to meet ‘adopted' soldier by Liz Kellar


From the Cleveland,TN Cleveland Daily Banner comes this story about an Assisted Living facility (Morningside) that 'adopted' a soldier
Morningside of Cleveland adopts a soldier at war by Jean Huddleston


Other things being done for the troops.......

up in Bay City,MI for the second year the Bay County library system hosted card making workshops for children to create Valentine's cards for our troops
Bay City children create Valentine's cards for troops at Wirt Library
which will be sent to the troops via Soldiers Angels.

and this story via Soldiers Angels Medical Support
Another Eagle scout steps forward to help the wounded

Cooking With the Wounded is now raising funds for a cooking event at Landstuhl, you can read more about that on the Soldiers Angels website HERE

and, speaking of Landstuhl?(ah, those clever segues,huh?lol)
A German-American Friendship Bracelet has
Looking back at 2009 – Soldiers’ Angels at Fisher House Landstuhl


That's the surf!

Interesting opinion piece..."The Calm Before the Storm in Haiti"

From Information Dissemination
The Calm Before the Storm in Haiti

Wednesday Hero

Culinary Specialist 1st Class Tremayne Brown


Culinary Specialist 1st Class Tremayne Brown, from Tulsa, Okla., receives stores for the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). John S. McCain is one of seven ships assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and is permanently forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

Photo By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mike Mulcare Courtesy of Navy.mil

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.

"Paws for Effect"

Cool....from the Military Health System website comes the profile
Paws for Effect

profiling resident therapy dogs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center who offer comfort, exercise and motivational support to rehabilitation patients.

Check it out.

Tuesday Jan.12 at 1:15 Eastern Time......

Live Video Q & A with Brothers at War director Jake Rademacher.....the link is here for more info.

Brothers at War is being released on DVD on Tuesday.....this is a movie I definitely Want to get!

A Chance to Thank some 'Forgotten Angels' of WW II

Via Florida Elder Law and Estate Planning blog, comes this story
Now, Our Angels in Uniform Need Our Help

As a nurse, I should've been aware of this part of nursing history, and sadly, until today I wasn't.

From this page on Army Nurse Corps History comes a mention of the Cadet Nurse Corps program....
Public health administrators as well as the American public believed that the increasing demands of the U.S. armed forces for nurses were responsible for a shortage of civilian nurses. Responding to these concerns in June 1943, Congress passed the Bolton Act, which set up the Cadet Nurse Corps program. The U.S. government subsidized the education of nursing students who promised that following graduation they would engage in essential military or civilian nursing for the duration of the war. The government also subsidized nursing schools willing to accelerate their program of study and provide student nurses with their primary training within two and a half years. Cadet nurses spent the last six months of their training assigned to civilian or military hospitals, which helped to alleviate the critical nursing shortage. Possible assignments included hospitals run by the Army, Navy, Veterans Administration, Public Health Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Cadet Nurse Corps training program was extremely successful and enjoyed enthusiastic public support. By 1948 when the program was discontinued, more than 150,000 nurse graduates testified to its value.

According to this page about Frances Payne Bolton, the sponsor of the 'Bolton Act' :

This act created the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, which graduated a total of 125,000 nurses for the nation's war effort. In 1945, 85 percent of all nursing students in the United States were part of the Cadet Corps. Being a Cadet provided the nurse with military status and compensation equal to that of a full commissioned officer.

In The Advertiser News I found a recent story about one of those nurses who served in the Cadet Nurse Corps
‘Forgotten Angel’ not giving up hope

To do as the Florida Elder Law and Estate Planning blog suggests and"Contact your congressional representatives and urge them to support the proposed United States Cadet Nurse Corps Equity Act ( H.R.1522 )" ......click the links listed in their post to find out the direct emails of your representatives.

Let's say a long overdue Thank You, to some Forgotten Angels.

A friend begins her journey as a Military Aunt

The original form of this blog began on AOL. The community of bloggers on AOL back then were tight-knit and there were many folks blogging there who went out of their way to help other new bloggers. Friendships were forged that have continued long after the blogs on AOL have disappeared, and one of those long time online blogger friends of mine from 'back in the day' is now going through the experience of being a military 'auntie'.

Friend Leslie from Quiet Consecration on Jan.4th attended the swearing-in ceremony for her nephew Ryan A New Year Begins

Just as I had no idea back when I posted my first blog post that I would eventually become a military stepmother, and our family would go through my stepson being deployed for 15 months to a very sandy place? Leslie had no idea as she blogged about her faith, life and sobriety that she would become a military Aunt, and begin the same journey my family and I have gone through these past few years....proud of a family member choosing to serve, and fearful at the same time because our country is at war.

Leslie was wonderfully supportive of me and mine, during my stepson's deployment. Please stop over at her blog , and offer a word of encouragement and welcome, to this new military Auntie.

Keeping Ryan, and you and your family, in our prayers, Leslie!

Wednesday Hero

Cpl. Carlos E. Gil Orozco
23 years old from San Jose, California
2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
September 10, 2007


Carlos Gil Orozco wasn’t a great student, but one goal pushed him to hit the books: becoming a Marine.

"He was kind of a troublemaker, you know, he got bad grades and wouldn't do his homework," said his sister, Myriam Johanna Gil Orozco. "But he wanted to be a Marine. So he studied real hard, especially algebra. He'd stay up all night studying.

Cpl. Orozco's parents moved the family from Colombia to the U.S. when he was 8 years old, hoping to give their children a better education. They became frustrated when their son didn't do well in school and thought the Marines would be good for him.

"My dad was actually happy," Myriam said. "He'd rather have him be a Marine than out on the streets being in gangs or doing drugs."

Cpl. Carlos Orozco was killed while conducting combat operations in Ashraf, Iraq when the tank he was riding in encountered an IED. Also killed in the blast was Lance Cpl. Jon T. Hicks Jr. of Atco, New Jersey.

Cpl. Orozco leaves behind his sister, his parents, his wife and two sons.

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.

Happy Birthday Wednesday to my Husband:)

Happy Birthday January 6th, to my wonderful husband Tony:)

Soldiers Angels Web Surfing

The first 2010 'surf' of the web for news by, and about,
Soldiers Angels

First of all, Happy New Year! and next, Hurray! that the number of troops waiting to be adopted on the Soldiers Angels website has finally fallen under 2,000.

Since many of them were adopted by new 'Angels', I thought I'd feature some links to blogs by new members of Soldiers Angels. (and Welcome! to both of them!)

Apropo of Nothing (cool blog name:) posted Soldiers Angels and NCIS Agents


Finding Family with Empty Arms also writes about Soldiers Angels


and the following are not 'new' Angels, but 'new-to-me' blogs by members of Soldiers Angels that I wished to share with you, because one of the joys I've found as an Angel is not only the soldiers I've gotten to know over the past 5 years? but also the many and varied Angels that you are privileged to meet along the way,too.

Grace Notes

Hidden Forest Stamping


and Flour and Water writes about Goals


Short 'surf', but that's it for this week.....looking forward to sharing many more web surfs with you throughout 2010:)