Happy New Year

I would like to wish everybody a Happy New Year.

Peace

posted by Greg @ 5:10 PM Comments: 31

Ambushed Soldiers Heroes VFW Chief Says; National Commander Visits Wounded at Landstuhl

LANDSTUHL, Germany, July 17, 2008--The national commander of the nation’s largest organization of combat veterans on Tuesday met with wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, who were recovering from last week’s battle on a remote outpost in Afghanistan’ Kunar Province, near the border with Pakistan, discounting some media speculation that the soldiers allegedly were ill-prepared when insurgents stormed the American and Afghan outpost in the mountainous northeastern province.

“That’s simply not true,” George Lisicki, a Vietnam War veteran from Carteret, N. J., said during an interview with Veterans of Foreign Wars “The National Defense” [listen to interview] talk-radio show,” adding that, although the men had endured a tremendously fierce battle, they were all lucid in providing details of the early morning Sunday battle.

Note: To read the TRUE account of what happened, read Stars and Stripes interview with Col. Charles "Chip" Preysler, commander of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team: Commander: Media reports on Afghanistan outpost battle were exaggerated.

“Although it was emotionally difficult for them to talk, their spirit and morale was amazing. In their words, even though they were outnumbered four-to-one, they ‘took it to the enemy, and kicked butt,” the VFW national commander said.

The soldiers, who are with the Vicenza, Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade, had just been deployed to the outpost when the heavily-armed insurgents attacked. Nine of their comrades died during the battle. According to published sources, the attack was “one of the deadliest engagements for the international forces that arrived in Afghanistan in late 2001 to fight the hard-line Taliban movement now waging an insurgency.”

“They really smoked them,” Lisicki relayed after listening to the soldiers recant the battle in their hospital beds. “They are our heroes, and we are so proud of the individuals who fought in the battle. They gave the insurgents quite a beating.”

When asked about their morale, Lisicki said their spirits are high.

“They’re really gung ho in everything they are doing. The only thing they regret is that they are in the hospital, and their buddies are back there fighting the war,” he said. “Just about all of them want to get back there to fight the battle because they believe in what they are doing and in their mission,” adding that he knows they will win the war.

“We have great Americans fighting the battle,” he said, “and just listening to their spirit and seeing the dedication they have for their county is remarkable. They believe in what they are doing.”

Lisicki, who was on a fact-finding mission in Europe meeting military and government officials, said this unfortunate incident verifies the need for more resources and more allied help in Afghanistan, especially in the eastern area near the Pakistan border.

“We need help,” he said, sharing the governmental agencies concerns that the situation is Afghanistan is worsening. “They are telling me our allies are under resourced and are undermanned. They need more help, especially helicopter support.”

The VFW national commander of the 1.6 million-member combat veterans group will travel next to Kuwait and Bagdad, where he will spend five days with troops.

posted by Greg @ 9:33 AM Comments: 0

Commander: Media reports on Afghanistan outpost battle were exaggerated

173rd’s fight not symbol of more violent Afghanistan, says Preysler

By Mark St.Clair, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, July 20, 2008

"The sky is not falling," Col. Charles "Chip" Preysler, commander of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, said Saturday from Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Preysler spoke via telephone less than a week after his paratroops and their Afghan allies were involved in a fierce attack at a small post near the village of Wanat. In the July 13 battle, nine of his men were killed and 15 others wounded.

But the attack is not a sign of conditions worsening in the country, he said.

The battle occurred just after dawn at a temporary vehicle patrol base near Wanat. A platoon-sized element of Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) soldiers and a smaller Afghan National Army force were occupying a hastily built area as they had done many times over the 15 months they’d been in country, Preysler said. The soldiers were there on a reconnaissance mission to establish a presence and find a good location to connect with the local government, populace and Afghan National Police, he said.

The small outpost had been built just days before the attack and consisted of protective wire and observation posts surrounding strategically placed vehicles. "That’s all it was, a series of vehicles that went out there," Preysler said.

"People are saying that this was a full-up [forward operating base]/combat outpost, and that is absolutely false and not true. There were no walls," Preysler said, latter adding, "FOB denotes that there are walls and perimeters and all that. It’s a vehicle patrol base, temporary in nature."

But that doesn’t mean the soldiers were not prepared to take on the enemy, he said.

"Now, obviously when you halt, you start prepping your defenses, and in this case we had [observation posts] and protective wire, we had the vehicles deployed properly to take advantage of their fields of fire, and we set up like that all over the place, and we do it routinely," he said.

The Army did not "abandon" the base after the attack, as many media reporters have suggested, Preysler said.

He said the decision to move from the location following the attack was to reposition, which his men have done countless times throughout their tour, and to move closer to the local seat of government.

"If there’s no combat outpost to abandon, there’s no position to abandon," he said. "It’s a bunch of vehicles like we do on patrol anywhere and we hold up for a night and pick up any tactical positions that we have with vehicle patrol bases.

"We do that routinely.... We’re always doing that when go out and stay in an area for longer then a few hours, and that’s what it is. So there is nothing to abandon. There was no structures, there was no COP or FOB or anything like that to even abandon. So, from the get-go, that is just [expletive], and it’s not right."

He also didn’t like the media’s characterization that his men were "overrun."

"As far as I know, and I know a lot, it was not overrun in any shape, manner or form," an emotional Preysler said. "It was close combat to be sure — hand grenade range. The enemy never got into the main position. As a matter of fact, it was, I think, the bravery of our soldiers reinforcing the hard-pressed observation post, or OP, that turned the tide to defeat the enemy attack."

Though Preysler and his staff have seen several reports on the fight and numbers of enemy, he said true specifics still remain unclear.

"I do not know the exact numbers. But I know they had much greater strength than one U.S. platoon," he said. "I believe the enemy to number over 100 in that area when he attacked. I don’t know the casualties that he took, but I know that it’s got to be substantial based on the different reports I’m getting. We may not know the true damage we inflicted on the enemy, but we certainly defeated his attack and repulsed his attack and he never got into our position."

Preysler and his staff also object to media reports that because of the size of the attack, it could be a harbinger of change in the way militants fight in eastern Afghanistan.

"I think people are taking license and just misusing statistics, and I refuse to do that," he said. "We’re in the middle of the fighting season. When we first got here last summer and started fighting here in June, we were only seeing the enemy and engaging him first about 5 percent of the time. Now we’re between 25 and 40 percent. We see the enemy, and we’re engaging him first."

When the 173rd arrived last summer, it marked the first time that a brigade-sized element operated in the upper provinces near of the Pakistan border, allowing for a much larger presence.

"By sheer numbers and sheer volume of patrols — I mean this [battalion] has had 9,000 patrols in 15 months — we’re out there taking the fight to the enemy," We’re out there taking the ground that he used to own exclusively, and we have separated him from the people in many locations," Preysler said. "This is one area that is still contested, and we’re going to have to go back in there and fight hard to separate the insurgents from the population, and that is exactly what we’re going to do.

"Now, the problem is we are in the middle of a transition, [but] I would not characterize this as anything more than the standard fighting that happens in this area in good weather that the summer provides. The harvest is in, and it’s the fighting season. I don’t see massive enemy pushes into our area. The sky is not falling, and this is what we’ve been facing all along in the summer."

Preysler ended the interview by lauding his soldiers.

"I get emotional about this, you’ll have to forgive me," he said. "These guys have fought for 15 months, and they have fought harder, and I mean this literally, they have fought harder and (had) more engagements, more direct-fire engagements, than any brigade in the United States Army in probably the toughest terrain. These guys are absolutely veterans and they know what they’re doing and they have that airborne spirit and they fought a very, very tough battle and held the ground and did everything they were supposed to do.

"I would like to also say I wish my guys who were wounded a speedy recovery and obviously condolences to the families, and that’s very close and personal to us. It’s tough to take casualties toward the end of any combat tour for any unit, but it signals that we’re in a fight, and we’re going to continue to fight."

posted by Greg @ 10:39 AM Comments: 0

What's right with America? Plenty

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A few days before the Fourth of July, I read a column in The Philadelphia Inquirer that said America didn't deserve to celebrate its independence this year.

It claimed that all of our so-called atrocities have shamed the memory of our founding fathers and, as a result, we should cancel our parades, put away our fireworks and all sit quietly while we atone for our sins.

I guess that was one way to go.

Another way to go would be to fire up the grills, bring the kids to the beach,and gather the family on a blanket to watch as your tax dollars ignite into colorful bursts.

I'm guessing that most of us chose the second option.

But just because I had fun with friends and family doesn't mean that I believe America is perfect. It just means that, for one day, I chose to celebrate the fact that America is still closer to perfect than any other country in the history of the world.

For 364 days a year we talk about high gas prices, crooked politicians, and how much people from one political party allegedly hate everyone from the other. But for 24 hours we get to put it all aside and marvel at how a few brave men risked their lives to stand up for what they believed in. Of course, I would prefer we celebrate that every day, but for now, or at least until that Inquirer columnist gets elected president and bans it, I'll take the one.

As someone who works in the media in New York City, I'll admit that I am part of the chorus of people who talk about our problems. But there's nothing wrong with that, so long as you also occasionally take the time to talk about the other side. And that's what I want to do now by asking the question that never seems to be of interest to the mainstream media: What's right with America?

Let's start with our much maligned economy. I'm not trying to sugarcoat it, times are definitely tough for an awful lot of families right now. But you know what? We've made it through a depression; we've made it through wars, oil shocks, and major terrorist attacks and we're still standing. In fact, we're not just standing, we're towering over the rest of the world.

Our economy is almost as big as the next four largest economies on Earth (Japan, Germany, China and Great Britain) combined. The state of California alone has an economy as large as the entire country of France. Illinois has the same GDP as all of Mexico. New York matches the entire GDP of Brazil. Florida's economy is as large as South Korea's. Texas has a GDP roughly equal to Canada's. Michigan's economy is as large as the entire country of Argentina.

It takes a lot longer to turn around an aircraft carrier than it does a dinghy, but the problem we have is with our ship's captain -- the pea-brains in Washington -- not her crew.

What's right with America? How about the way we educate our children. Sure, I complain a lot about left-wing professors and how some wealthy private universities hoard their billions while charging obscene amounts for tuition, but the truth is that our universities are always ranked among the best in the world.

Students aren't fleeing America to go to college in Japan, India, or China -- it's the other way around. We open our colleges and universities to more than 80,000 foreign professors, scholars and educators a year and we have more students in college right now than those three countries combined.

What's right with America? Our world-class universities don't require you to have an elite family name or Rockefeller-type wealth to get in. We don't care about your race, gender or nationality. You just have to be smart enough and work hard for it. What a concept, huh?

What's right with America? How about the way we treat the less fortunate? With no help from our government, Americans gave a record $306 billion to charities last year alone. We give twice as much as the next closest country and, relative to the size of our economies, we give 1,000 percent more than the French.

What's right with America? It's not just the wealthy who are generous. Two-thirds of American families making under $100,000 a year give to charity. Compassion is ingrained in our culture like no other.

What's right with America? How about our supposedly third-world health care system? We spend more on health care per person than Switzerland, Germany, Canada, or any other country you can think of. Do we still have problems? Absolutely, but don't fall for "the grass is greener" crowd; every country has health care problems.

What's right with America? We love our country. World Values Survey found that 77 percent of Americans are very proud of their nationality. That puts us in a first place tie with the Irish. Australia was next and no one else was really even close.

I could go on and on, but my point is that we don't need the so often wished for "change" in this country, we just need perspective.

While most of us inherently know that we've won the lottery by living here, we don't often think about the reasons why.

So, for at least that one day, let's just remember that America still leads the world in the principles that matter most: The rule of law, freedom of religion, equal rights, freedom from an oppressive government and, fortunately for the Philadelphia Inquirer, freedom of speech.

Labels: America, USA, VFW News, VFW Post 10592

posted by Greg @ 4:01 PM Comments: 0

Flag Information

July 8, 2008

TO: VFW Department Adjutants for distribution to Citizenship/Education Chairman

RE: Flag Information

In February 2008 Congress approved and the President signed the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill which included (S.1877) an amendment to title 4, USC, to allow veterans to salute the flag during the raising and lowering of the flag and during the passing of the colors.

Congress is aware that they had overlooked the National Anthem and have added an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (S.3002, section 1081) to amend title 36, USC, to allow veterans to salute during the National Anthem. Below is the wording in the bill.

Section 301(b)(1) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:

`(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;

`(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and

`(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and'.

Labels: Flag Information, VFW Post 10592

posted by Greg @ 3:15 PM Comments: 0

New GI Bill Passes Congress

Many post-9/11 veterans and servicemembers will soon be eligible for a new comprehensive education benefits package. The new bill goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition. Many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend, and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies. The new bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill benefits. The new GI Bill will soon be on its way to the president for signature, he is expected to sign it by July 4.

Learn more about the "Post-9/11" GI Bill.

Labels: GI, GI Bill, Post 10592

posted by Greg @ 9:59 AM Comments: 0

Last surviving U.S. World War I vet honored by president

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Frank Woodruff Buckles was just 15 years old when he joined the U.S. Army. Soon, he was deployed to war and headed overseas on the Carpathia -- the same ship used in the rescue mission of the Titanic.

He drove ambulances in Britain and France for soldiers wounded during World War I.

A few decades later, Buckles was in the Philippines as a civilian, on December 7, 1941, the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He was taken as a prisoner of war for 39 months in Manila, eating his meals out of a single tin cup.

More than 60 years later, he still clings to that cup, the one that sustained his life. Weathered with age, the cup has flecks of white paint chipped off. He keeps it as a reminder of his sacrifice for the country he so loves. He also still has his dog tags.

At age 107, there's not much the war veteran, POW and West Virginia farmer hasn't seen. But this week, this quietly accomplished man was humbled.

Buckles, the last known surviving World War I U.S. veteran, met the president of the United States and received a standing ovation at the Pentagon.

"I didn't lie; nobody calls me a liar," he said with a chuckle, referring to how he became a soldier at just 15.

Speaking with a hushed, deep voice, he conceded, "I may have increased my age."

He spoke from a wheelchair, dressed in a dark blazer with his military medals pinned over his heart. Those in attendance clung to his words.

"We cherish the chance to say thank you in person to Cpl. Frank Buckles," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, before unveiling a portrait of him.

At the White House, President Bush thanked him for his "love for America" and called him "the last living 'doughboy' from World War I." Watch Bush honor a national hero »

"Mr. Buckles has a vivid recollection of historic times, and one way for me to honor the service of those who wear the uniform in the past and those who wear it today is to herald you, sir, and to thank you very much for your patriotism and your love for America," the president said, seated with Buckles in the Oval Office.

Buckles' tour of Washington was part of a series of events to honor the veterans of World War I, which included the opening of a photographic display at the Pentagon on Thursday.

There will be nine formal portraits on permanent exhibition at the Pentagon. All were donated by David DeJonge who spent a decade finding and photographing the last of the World War I vets.

DeJonge wants a more elaborate memorial in Washington to honor the veterans.

For now, the only public site is an unpretentious gazebo near the Jefferson Memorial established by the city of Washington D.C.

Buckles visited the site Thursday afternoon.

"I think it was a very nice idea," he said after he and an aide toured the structure.

But Buckles noticed the memorial is not national but built primarily to honor veterans from the District of Columbia.

"I can read here that it was started to include the names of those who were local," Buckles said.

He was greeted at the site by two young Army Medical Corps candidates in training at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

"It's just an honor to see somebody that served so much before us, to be in the same shoes as him, like, a century later," said Reeme Sikka, 22.

One passerby, Vietnam veteran Zeke Musa, was embarrassed by the unkempt condition of the memorial.

"These guys served their country, you know. It's a shame," he said.

According to an autobiography the Pentagon released, Buckles was eager to join the war. He said his recruiter in the summer of 1917 told him that "the ambulance service was the quickest way to get to France," so he trained in trench casualty retrieval.

Buckles eventually served as an officer's escort in France before joining a transport detail for German prisoners of war. He now lives on his family's cattle farm near Charles Town, West Virginia.

By the end of Thursday, the last of America's World War I doughboys was clearly effected by the day's events.

"I feel honored," he said.

posted by Greg @ 3:40 PM Comments: 1

Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons creator, dies

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- Gary Gygax, who co-created the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons and helped start the role-playing phenomenon, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva. He was 69.

He had been suffering from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm, said his wife, Gail Gygax.

Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval characters and mythical creatures. The game known for its oddly shaped dice became a hit, particularly among teenage boys, and eventually was turned into video games, books and movies.

Gygax always enjoyed hearing from the game's legion of devoted fans, many of whom would stop by the family's home in Lake Geneva, about 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee, his wife said. Despite his declining health, he hosted weekly games of Dungeons & Dragons as recently as January, she said.

"It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them," Gygax said. "He really enjoyed that."

Dungeons & Dragons players create fictional characters and carry out their adventures with the help of complicated rules. The quintessential geek pastime, it spawned a wealth of copycat games and later inspired a whole genre of computer games that's still growing in popularity.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Besides his wife, Gygax is survived by six children.

posted by Greg @ 11:06 AM Comments: 0

What is This

It Is A Hill-Billy

posted by Greg @ 12:30 PM Comments: 0

Army has plan for soldiers told to vacate barracks

By Mark St.Clair, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, January 25, 2008

The Army has come up with a plan to house 17 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, who were told they had to vacate their barracks rooms this week, Army leaders in Schweinfurt, Germany, said Thursday afternoon.

Maj. Eric Stetson, public affairs officer for the 2nd BCT, said the brigade’s enlisted leadership has a plan to alleviate the problem by moving some soldiers into hotels paid for by U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt. Others will move off post into private rental houses until they leave. Still others will move into other barracks.

On Thursday, Stars and Stripes reported that 17 soldiers from Schweinfurt were told they had to leave their barracks rooms because of planned renovations to the building but that the Army had not provided them with other housing arrangements.

When asked why the soldiers would think they had no place to stay only two days before they had to leave their barracks, Stetson said, “at that time [the leadership] may have not had a plan firmed up.”

Nonetheless, the soldiers will not be left out in the cold.

“No one is being asked to move out without a plan of where to put them,” Stetson said Thursday.

As of Thursday morning, the housing issue had not been resolved, according to one of the affected soldiers, Sgt. Joseph Walker. Attempts to reach Walker throughout the rest of the day, however, were unsuccessful.

The 17 soldiers, all from 1-18’s Company B, are set to rotate back to the States on Feb. 18. They are part of a unit that is currently at 135 percent strength, and are just a fraction of the 1,600 soldiers in the community set to leave within the coming weeks.

“We understand and appreciate the frustration on the part of our affected soldiers. We remain committed to helping our soldiers in every way possible to minimize the turbulence from overcrowding that will exist through the first half of February,” the battalion commander, Lt. Col. George Glaze, said in a statement released to Stars and Stripes on Thursday afternoon.

Glaze’s comments, released by the brigade’s public affairs office, continued, “There are challenges ahead of us but the chain of command will remain engaged, at all levels, by our soldiers’ sides overcoming challenges as they arise. We continue (our) mission with a primary focus on the constant care for our soldiers in all manners, whether in combat or in garrison Schweinfurt.”

If, for some reason, Dagger Brigade can’t house all the troops from Company B, one family in Stuttgart has offered to take in two or three of them.

“I’m prepared to pick up the slack if that is required,” said Charles R. Dunn, a retired soldier and employee of defense contractor L3 Communications. “And I don’t know where they have to fly out of, but I’d even get them to the airport if that needs to be done.”

Dunn and his wife, Carol, made a similar offer in July to an Army wife and toddler who for seven weeks were stranded at the Kristall Inn in Vilseck after her husband deployed.

“We’re just trying to do the right thing, soldiers to other soldiers,” Dunn said.

posted by Greg @ 10:47 AM Comments: 0

Schweinfurt soldiers back from Iraq are facing eviction

By Mark St.Clair, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, January 24, 2008

SCHWEINFURT, Germany — They just got back from Iraq, and now they’re being evicted from their homes.

Seventeen infantrymen from Company B, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment who returned from Ramadi, Iraq, in November have been living in barracks normally occupied by soldiers who are currently deployed in Afghanistan.

All of the soldiers, who are scheduled to leave Germany next month, said the Army told them they had until Feb. 1 to vacate the barracks.

But they found out Tuesday they had have to move out of the rooms Thursday afternoon, according to Sgt. Joseph Walker, 23.

When they asked why, the single soldiers were told the rooms they have been living in — in which many of them had phone and Internet service installed — need renovations.

According to Walker, their rooms are just fine. In fact, he said, they are better than where they were living before they left for Iraq, with newer furniture and cleaner floors and walls.

“Why now? Why can’t it wait?” Walker asked. “We’ll paint our own rooms. We’ll do the hallways. We only need the rooms for another 20 days. Just to work on the hallways alone would take them 20 days.”

All the affected soldiers are scheduled to rotate back to the States on Feb. 18. The Army had no plan to house the soldiers after Feb. 1.

While not specifically addressing the plight of the 17 soldiers, U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt officials acknowledged there is a problem with overcrowding in the community.

“The Schweinfurt community has a serious housing problem primarily due to replacements arriving to the brigade even before they were re-deploying from Iraq,” according to a statement from the base public affairs office.

Base officials planned to house the soldiers in the barracks until they left. But those buildings “have been identified and funded for flagship money to improve them while the (deployed) soldiers are gone so there was a short window of opportunity to house the (brigade) overflow in these barracks temporarily.”

Those barracks now need to be turned over to the contractor to complete the renovations before the troops deployed in Afghanistan return, the statement said.

“Currently we have more than 1,000 extra Soldiers in the community. But, this is a short-term problem,” according to the statement. “The stop-loss/stop-move lift will see more than 1,600 Soldiers and families move from the Schweinfurt community to their next duty station over the next several weeks.”

The base said all soldiers are being tracked by the brigade senior leadership and all will have a bed and space.

“There are rooms available throughout the Schweinfurt community for every Soldier,” according to the statement. “There will be no tents and no one will go without a hot shower or a hot meal.”

The Company B soldiers said pleas to their leadership — from their platoon sergeant to their company commander — fell on deaf ears.

“We told our commander we were homeless, and he just laughed at us,” Walker said.

When they tried to talk to their platoon sergeant, he didn’t seem to care either, he said.

The 17 soldiers took their case to the judge advocate general’s office to see if there was legal recourse. They were told there was nothing JAG could do and were sent to the inspector general.

When they told the JAG office that IG personnel were nowhere to be found, they were told, “Well, if you find IG, you should let us know where they are.” Apparently, Walker said, IG office personnel vacated Leighton Barracks in Würzburg last week and were supposed to set up shop in Schweinfurt this week.

After finding out they had to leave the barracks early, the soldiers contacted members of Congress, family members and lawyers and got one extra day.

But, after Friday, there’s no plan — aside from being forced to turn in their keys on Monday.

The troops have been looking for buddies who are willing to let them cram three-to-a-room, with perhaps a cot or a mattress on the floor.

Walker and his buddies — most of whom are specialists and sergeants in their early 20s — also contacted military support groups. Mary Ann Phillips from Soldiers’ Angels Germany said they offered to pay for a hotel for the soldiers for a week, along with taxi fare to and from post.

“We appreciate the help, but right now everyone wants to fight,” Walker said.

“None of us are saying, ‘[expletive] the Army.’ We’re all staying in. We all re-enlisted in Iraq. Most of the guys are out in 2012, except three who got stop-lossed, and they deserve to get out if they want to.

“We just want the Army to take care of us until we leave. That’s their responsibility … that’s what we enlisted for,” Walker said.

posted by Greg @ 10:45 AM Comments: 0

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

posted by Greg @ 12:12 PM Comments: 0

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing everyone a wonderful and peaceful MERRY CHRISTMAS.

posted by Greg @ 11:39 AM Comments: 1

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Here at post 10592 we want to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving and please remember the troops down range. They are doing a important job and you can bet they would rather be home enjoying the holidays.

Labels: VFW Post 10592

posted by Greg @ 11:55 AM Comments: 0

Bamberg ceremonies honor vets’ sacrifices

By Mark St.Clair, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Mark St.Clair / S&S The 15th Junior ROTC Battalion Color Guard from Bamberg American High School posts the colors at a Veterans Day remembrance at Warner Barracks in Bamberg, Germany. Mark St.Clair / S&S In honor of Veterans Day, Travis Fosmo, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Richard E. Austin Post 10592, and his son Fabian, 2, replace a flag at the grave of an American serviceman at a cemetery in downtown Bamberg, Germany.

BAMBERG, Germany — Hundreds of soldiers, family members and veterans came together Monday to remember the service and sacrifice of American fighting men and women.

As a parade led by Bamberg American High School’s 15th Junior ROTC Battalion and followed by more than 60 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from more than 11 local troops wound through post, the military community gathered at Warner Barracks’ Memorial Park.

In a short ceremony at 11:11 a.m., members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars led the community in the laying of flowers and a wreath.

While Veterans Day observances normally are held on the 11th, the community elected to gather on the 12th due to conflicting religious services.

“And I’m glad we did it today, since yesterday at 11:11 it was pouring down rain,” VFW commander Tom Stenson said.

“It’s been said that without the American soldier there would not be a United States of America,” said Col. Martin B. Pitts, commander of Bamberg’s 16th Sustainment Brigade, the ceremony’s guest speaker.

Honoring the 52 million veterans who have served since colonial times, Pitts said that although the number of Americans is the largest it’s ever been, the 2.2 million men and women in uniform make up less than one percent of the population, a percentage far lower than previous generations.

“Our world would be a very different place if it wasn’t for the American soldier. ... It’s that seven-tenths of one percent that should matter the most to this country,” Pitts said.

Gulf War veteran and VFW member Dave Robinson, who acted as the ceremony’s chaplain, said he tries to honor veterans “to never let the American people who have never served forget that there are those who have and are serving to give them the freedoms and benefits of American life as they know it.”

One of the 50 JROTC members who participated was 17-year-old high school senior Patricia Payton.

“There are a lot of teenagers who don’t care about veterans,” Payton said. “ROTC helps show that there are some teenagers who do.”

Shortly after the activities concluded on Warner, several members of VFW Post 10592 went to a cemetery in downtown Bamberg to place or replace flags at the gravesites of Americans who elected to live and be buried in Germany after their time in service was done.

posted by Greg @ 10:42 AM Comments: 0

Upholding Veterans Day

A Message from VFW National Commander George Lisicki

Remembering America’s warriors is often an afterthought for many Americans. It’s about time Nov. 11 is paid its proper respect. Veterans Day, once a widely celebrated holiday, is increasingly forgotten by many Americans. One need only look at the poor turnouts at ceremonies on Nov. 11. With the percentage of citizens who have worn a uniform rapidly declining, appreciation for the sacrifices made by veterans is correspondingly diminishing. To help counter this trend, VFW has long promoted Veterans Day as an opportunity to educate the public as to the meaning of this significant time each November. This task can best be accomplished by explaining the five “Ws.” Who. As a nation, we remember all Americans who served on active duty in the armed forces. While those who died always remain prominent in our memories, they have a special time of mourning reserved for Memorial Day. Veterans Day is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of living veterans. What. Collective as well as individual contributions to the nation’s defense is what we are remembering. The outcome of any given military campaign is irrelevant here—it’s the sacrifices made at the behest of the country that are important. Where. Across the land, the grounds of virtually every state capitol and county courthouse host monuments, memorials and plaques honoring those who served. They date back as far as the American Revolution and are as recent as Iraq. But paying homage to veterans need not necessarily be in a public place. Every private home also should serve this purpose when appropriate. When. For some Americans, remembering veterans is a daily act. But as a nation, it is essential that we preserve the integrity of November 11 as that one extra-special day for the American people as a whole to pause in silence or demonstrate public recognition. Why. Remembering gives true meaning to sacrifice and service. Millions of Americans’ lives were forever altered because they donned a uniform to protect the freedoms and rights we take for granted. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to them. And acknowledging Veterans Day is the time that debt comes due. It’s our way of keeping faith. All of this is particularly relevant now, with the nation at war in Afghanistan and Iraq. There is no better example of how Veterans Day has moved from the public consciousness than in my home state of New Jersey. The state legislature and the New Jersey School Boards Association attempted to abolish mandatory teaching about the importance of Veterans Day. Thankfully, Gov. Jon S. Corzine vetoed that part of the bill dealing with this day. This should serve as a reminder that vigilance is necessary. The 24 million veterans living in America deserve no less of us as an organization. It is often forgotten that legislative battles were waged over this day and its earlier version called Armistice Day in 1926, 1938, 1954 and throughout the 1970s. Let’s not take its value for granted. God Bless America George Lisicki VFW Commander-in-Chief

posted by Greg @ 12:25 PM Comments: 0

Syndicated Talk-Radio Show Hosting Veterans Day Radiothon

to Raise Money for VFW ’s ‘Unmet Needs’ Military Assistance Program

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 5, 2007--In honor of Veterans Day and those who continue to put their lives on the line for our country, “The Rusty Humphries Show,” in conjunction with VFW's “The National Defense” and hundreds of radio stations across the country, will host a national fundraiser for the VFW Unmet Needs program, which provides emergency assistance to military families who face financial burdens, complicated and amplified by a family member's deployment. “The Rusty Humphries Show”, recently ranked by Talkers Magazine as the 9th most listened to radio show in America, will host the VFW Unmet Needs program, radiothon November 8-11. During the 4-day event, listeners will be able to dial toll-free 1-866-437-9283 to donate to the valuable military support program. Since 2003, the VFW Foundation’s Unmet Needs Program, has assisted more than 1, 250 military families by providing them with emergency aid such as mortgage assistance, rent, home repair, vehicle repair and maintenance, medical expenses, groceries, and transportation expenses. Thanks to corporate sponsor Vermont American Power Tool Accessories, 100 percent of all donations go directly to the military families in need. Some examples of how Unmet Needs funds are used: When a wildfire destroyed the home of a soldier from Washington, the Unmet Needs Program quickly joined with the local VFW post, community volunteers and businesses to help the family find temporary shelter and plan for the rebuilding of their home. In another example, the wife of a Missouri soldier was struggling under the weight of medical bills due to a complicated pregnancy and the expense of caring for a new baby on her own. The Unmet Needs Program approved a grant to cover the medical expenses and one month of rent to help get the family back on its feet. To join Rusty Humphries in raising funds for the VFW Unmet Needs Program, call 1-866-437-9283 to make your donation. To donate online, got to VFW Unmetneeds.com. Click to listen to VFW's “The National Defense.”

posted by Greg @ 12:22 PM Comments: 0

Study: 1 Out of 4 Homeless Are Veterans

WASHINGTON — Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11 percent of the general adult population, according to a report to be released Thursday.

And homelessness is not just a problem among middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.

The Veterans Affairs Department has identified 1,500 homeless veterans from the current wars and says 400 of them have participated in its programs specifically targeting homelessness.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education nonprofit, based the findings of its report on numbers from Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau. 2005 data estimated that 194,254 homeless people out of 744,313 on any given night were veterans.

In comparison, the VA says that 20 years ago, the estimated number of veterans who were homeless on any given night was 250,000.

Some advocates say the early presence of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan at shelters does not bode well for the future. It took roughly a decade for the lives of Vietnam veterans to unravel to the point that they started showing up among the homeless. Advocates worry that intense and repeated deployments leave newer veterans particularly vulnerable.

"We're going to be having a tsunami of them eventually because the mental health toll from this war is enormous," said Daniel Tooth, director of veterans affairs for Lancaster County, Pa.

While services to homeless veterans have improved in the past 20 years, advocates say more financial resources still are needed. With the spotlight on the plight of Iraq veterans, they hope more will be done to prevent homelessness and provide affordable housing to the younger veterans while there's a window of opportunity.

"When the Vietnam War ended, that was part of the problem. The war was over, it was off TV, nobody wanted to hear about it," said John Keaveney, a Vietnam veteran and a founder of New Directions in Los Angeles, which provides substance abuse help, job training and shelter to veterans.

"I think they'll be forgotten," Keaveney said of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. "People get tired of it. It's not glitzy that these are young, honorable, patriotic Americans. They'll just be veterans, and that happens after every war."

Keaveney said it's difficult for his group to persuade some homeless Iraq veterans to stay for treatment and help because they don't relate to the older veterans. Those who stayed have had success _ one is now a stock broker and another is applying to be a police officer, he said.

"They see guys that are their father's age and they don't understand, they don't know, that in a couple of years they'll be looking like them," he said.

After being discharged from the military, Jason Kelley, 23, of Tomahawk, Wis., who served in Iraq with the Wisconsin National Guard, took a bus to Los Angeles looking for better job prospects and a new life.

Kelley said he couldn't find a job because he didn't have an apartment, and he couldn't get an apartment because he didn't have a job. He stayed in a $300-a-week motel until his money ran out, then moved into a shelter run by the group U.S. VETS in Inglewood, Calif. He's since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.

"The only training I have is infantry training and there's not really a need for that in the civilian world," Kelley said in a phone interview. He has enrolled in college and hopes to move out of the shelter soon.

The Iraq vets seeking help with homelessness are more likely to be women, less likely to have substance abuse problems, but more likely to have mental illness _ mostly related to post-traumatic stress, said Pete Dougherty, director of homeless veterans programs at the VA.

Overall, 45 percent of participants in the VA's homeless programs have a diagnosable mental illness and more than three out of four have a substance abuse problem, while 35 percent have both, Dougherty said.

Historically, a number of fighters in U.S. wars have become homeless. In the post-Civil War era, homeless veterans sang old Army songs to dramatize their need for work and became known as "tramps," which had meant to march into war, said Todd DePastino, a historian at Penn State University's Beaver campus who wrote a book on the history of homelessness.

After World War I, thousands of veterans _ many of them homeless _ camped in the nation's capital seeking bonus money. Their camps were destroyed by the government, creating a public relations disaster for President Herbert Hoover.

The end of the Vietnam War coincided with a time of economic restructuring, and many of the same people who fought in Vietnam were also those most affected by the loss of manufacturing jobs, DePastino said.

Their entrance to the streets was traumatic and, as they aged, their problems became more chronic, recalled Sister Mary Scullion, who has worked with the homeless for 30 years and co-founded of the group Project H.O.M.E. in Philadelphia.

"It takes more to address the needs because they are multiple needs that have been unattended," Scullion said. "Life on the street is brutal and I know many, many homeless veterans who have died from Vietnam."

The VA started targeting homelessness in 1987, 12 years after the fall of Saigon. Today, the VA has, either on its own or through partnerships, more than 15,000 residential rehabilitative, transitional and permanent beds for homeless veterans nationwide. It spends about $265 million annually on homeless-specific programs and about $1.5 billion for all health care costs for homeless veterans.

Because of these types of programs and because two years of free medical care is being offered to all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, Dougherty said they hope many veterans from recent wars who are in need can be identified early.

"Clearly, I don't think that's going to totally solve the problem, but I also don't think we're simply going to wait for 10 years until they show up," Dougherty said. "We're out there now trying to get everybody we can to get those kinds of services today, so we avoid this kind of problem in the future."

In all of 2006, the National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that 495,400 veterans were homeless at some point during the year.

The group recommends that 5,000 housing units be created per year for the next five years dedicated to the chronically homeless that would provide permanent housing linked to veterans' support systems. It also recommends funding an additional 20,000 housing vouchers exclusively for homeless veterans, and creating a program that helps bridge the gap between income and rent.

Following those recommendations would cost billions of dollars, but there is some movement in Congress to increase the amount of money dedicated to homeless veterans programs.

On a recent day in Philadelphia, case managers from Project H.O.M.E. and the VA picked up William Joyce, 60, a homeless Vietnam veteran in a wheelchair who said he'd been sleeping at a bus terminal.

"You're an honorable veteran. You're going to get some services," outreach worker Mark Salvatore told Joyce. "You need to be connected. You don't need to be out here on the streets."

___

Associated Press writer Kathy Matheson contributed to this story from Philadelphia.

___

On the Net: National Alliance to End Homelessness: http://www.naeh.org/

New Directions: http://www.newdirectionsinc.org/

Project Home: http://www.projecthome.org/

County of Lancaster: http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/

Veterans Affairs Department: http://www.va.gov/

U.S. Vets: http://usvetsinc.org/

posted by Army_Tanker @ 11:31 AM Comments: 0

VFW’s Ideas to Celebrate Veteran’s Day 2007

Supporting Troops More Than a Bumper Sticker

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 05, 2007--This Veteran’s Day (November 11), the VFW encourages all Americans to consider what it means to "support our troops." A yellow ribbon is a great start, but what more can we all do to show our support? The VFW offers these tips to celebrate Veteran’s Day and honor our military veterans--past and present--who have put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedoms. Say “thank you” to the veterans and members of the military in your community. Take a moment to stop and say thank you – it’s a simple gesture that speaks volumes. Do something nice for a veteran’s family. Bring over a meal. Take the kids out to give a military spouse a break. Offer to drive the carpool. It’s especially hard for the families of those deployed to cope with everyday life struggles. Encourage veterans and their families to take advantage of programs like those offered by the VFW, including the Military Assistance Program, Operation Uplink and the Unmet Needs program. Click here to find out more about VFW's military support programs. Volunteer at your local veteran’s hospital or retirement facility, even if it’s only for an hour. Ask what items you can donate. Find a VA facility Send a care package to a deployed unit. Contact your local VFW post to participate in an Adopt-A-Unit program. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. To find a VFW post in your area enter zip code . Send thank you cards to a local VA hospital to cheer newly returning troops. Consider working with a local organization to organize a card-making campaign. Fly the United States flag, especially on patriotic holidays. For tips on flag etiquette, Click for VFW flag information Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., the VFW is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the sacrifice and ensuring the rights of America’s veterans through advocacy, support and community service, while promoting patriotism. The VFW offers various services to support veterans and their families throughout their military career, from active duty to honorably discharged.

posted by Greg @ 2:34 PM Comments: 0

Haunted Places on U.S. Bases

It's not your imagination -- maybe that sound in the night really was a moan.

Stories of spirits and unexplained phenomena have persisted on U.S. military bases in the Pacific for years.

Doors slam, shadows creep and voices shout in the night. Could it be spirits of the dead reaching out?

As costumed ghosts and ghouls hit the streets for Halloween, Stars and Stripes has compiled some accounts of allegedly real ghosts and ghouls to keep the holiday creepy.

Creepy Crematorium Tale

Many of the buildings on Yongsan Garrison in South Korea have been there longer than the U.S. military. Some date back to Japan's occupation of Korea before and during World War II.

One of those buildings, near the gas station on the garrison's South Post, has been surrounded by rumors for years.

"I hate being here at night. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up just talking about it," said Sgt. 1st Class Riviere Cools, 52nd Medical Battalion as he eyed the squat, red-brick building in the center of his unit's complex of offices. "I don't believe in that kind of stuff, but in the back of my mind, there are souls here."

The entire compound, surrounded by a thick, crumbling, brick wall, was a prison during the occupation.

For years, said U.S. Army Garrison spokesman David McNally, soldiers working there have passed along stories claiming that the area, especially the small building in the center, was haunted.

McNally said the building was most likely the prison's administrative office, but those working around it have a more sinister theory.

"Everybody that's worked in that building right there has either seen something or heard something," said Staff Sgt. Sae Kim, 52nd Medical Battalion. "Because that's where they burned people."

McNally was quick to point out there was no evidence to suggest that the building was a crematorium, but that doesn't stop the stories from spreading.

"I haven't seen any ghosts," said Sgt. 1st Class Freeman Witherspoon. "But I definitely have heard the rumors. People say they see shadows when they have duty at night."

The Unexplained Voice

Stories of strange happenings abound at the base chapel at Camp Zama in Japan.

Strange presences in rooms and doors that mysteriously open and close are part of chapel lore, employees say.

Some tell stories of strange figures passing by and then disappearing.

"My predecessor said that she used to hear footsteps through the halls late at night," said Staff Sgt. Desmond West, the Unit Ministry Team noncommissioned officer in charge.

Last year, Spc. Jennifer Villagomez, a funds clerk, said she was working late when a voice emanated from her unplugged computer speakers.

It sounded like a Japanese man, "like a drill sergeant yelling at a private," she said.

At first, Villagomez said she thought the sounds were a practical joke and called for a sergeant who was the only other person in the building at the time.

"And as I heard him come closer to my office, the voice on the speaker went lower and lower until it went away, just before he walked in the room," Villagomez said.

She said that since that incident, she tries not to be the last person to in the office at night.

Sgt. Joshua Lee, who works at the chapel with Villagomez, said he didn't hear the voice that night but has witnessed other strange occurrences.

Chapel lights switch on and doors open seemingly on their own, Lee said.

West, who has worked in the chapel for four years, said he has never seen or heard anything peculiar.

"But the day I start hearing things, I'm running out of here," he said.

Ghosts Crowd Okinawa

Reportedly haunted sites can be found around almost any corner on and off Okinawa bases.

So many ghost stories abound that Marine Corps Community Services and 18th Services Squadron on Kadena Air Base both run special Halloween spooky sites tours that sell out weeks in advance.

Web sites and a book on the subject -- Jayne A. Hitchcock's "The Ghosts of Okinawa" -- celebrate the local haunts.

A World War II soldier is said to roam Gate 3 on Camp Hansen in blood-splattered fatigues asking sentries to light his cigarette.

Marines refused to stand guard due to the haunting, and the gate was eventually closed, according to Hitchcock.

Camp Foster is said to be the home of a ghostly samurai warrior who eternally travels from Stillwell Drive uphill toward Futenma Housing.

Kadena Air Base also has its ghost stories.

A small house behind the Kadena United Services Organization, numbered 2283, is now used for storage because, it is said, no one willingly lives in it for long.

Some say the house remains haunted after a man murdered his family there. Others say the house rests on an ancient burial site, and the souls of the dead beneath are restless.

Kadena's golf course might be the site where in 1945 a group of high-school girls pressed into service in the Japanese Imperial Army committed suicide, according to another yarn.

The spirits of the dead girls are said to still haunt the land.

Off-base, half-finished buildings are abandoned due to reports of ghostly visitors.

Construction of the Royal Hotel off Route 329, near the Nakagusuku Castle ruins, was begun some three decades ago -- possibly on a sacred site.

Mysterious accidents and deaths drove workers to abandon construction.

Meanwhile, at Maeda Point, there is rumored to be a prophet-of-death ghost.

The elderly Okinawan apparition is said to appear at a tomb that can be seen only from the water, and within days of a sighting, a body is found on a nearby beach.

Stars and Stripes reporters Travis Tritten, Jimmy Norris, Vince Little and Cindy Fisher contributed to this story.

posted by Greg @ 4:59 AM Comments: 1

Bush picks Army doctor as veterans secretary

By Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Tuesday chose a retired military doctor and decorated Vietnam veteran to head the veterans agency criticized over shoddy health care for soldiers wounded in the Iraq and Afghan wars.

Lt. Gen. James Peake was chosen as Bush's nominee as secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace Jim Nicholson, who left government to join the private sector.

Peake, a former Army surgeon general, would be the first physican and first general to hold the job. As someone who was wounded twice in combat, Peake "understands the view from both sides of the hospital bed," Bush said.

The selection of Peake came eight months after a scandal erupted over reports of poor health care for veterans of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush has apologized for the problems, which included dilapidated conditions at the flagship Walter Reed Army Medical Center and bureaucratic delays faced by soldiers seeking care for their injuries.

He also has embraced the findings of a panel formed to recommend how to fix the problems in veterans care.

The veterans agency was also criticized after the revelation in 2006 that a laptop computer containing data on 26.5 million veterans had been stolen. The laptop was later recovered.

At the White House ceremony where his selection was announced, Peake acknowledged continued flaws with some of the services provided to veterans and pledged to overhaul them.

"The disability system is largely a 1945 product, 1945 processes, around a 1945 family unit. About everybody that has studied it recently said it is time to do some revisions," Peake said.

Peake was nominated by President Bill Clinton as Army surgeon general and served in that role from 2000-2004. After leaving that post, he worked for Project Hope, a nonprofit international health organization.

Most recently, Peake was chief medical director for QTC Management Inc., a private firm that provides medical exams and electronic medical records services for veterans.

Congressional Democrats this week criticized Bush for taking too long to name a replacement for Nicholson, a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and a former chairman of the Republican National Committee who said in July he was leaving.

Peake has served in military medicine for more than 40 years and served in the Vietnam War. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat and a Bronze Star for acts for valor.

He graduated from the U.S. military academy at West Point and got his medical training at Cornell University.

Sen. Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat who is running for president, said he hoped Peake would bring a "new era of leadership" to the veterans agency. But Obama said budget shortfalls, inadequate care and other problems had marked the Bush administration's oversight of the agency.

(Additional reporting by Tabassum Zakaria)

Labels: VA News

posted by Greg @ 6:39 AM Comments: 1

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. veterans lack any health insurance, survey finds

WASHINGTON | Nearly 1.8 million U.S. veterans are without health insurance, and more than half of them said they had no place to go when they were sick, researchers reported Tuesday.

The finding contradicts many Americans’ assumption that all veterans qualify for free health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The uninsured veterans are primarily low- to middle-income workers, ages 44 to 64, who are too poor to afford private insurance coverage but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or VA health care, the Harvard Medical School researchers said.

Analyzing data from two federal surveys, the researchers found that more than one-fourth of the uninsured veterans said they did not get needed medical care or delayed it because of its cost. Nearly half said they had not had an office visit or contact with a health professional in more than a year, and two-thirds said they received no preventive care.

The study also found that more than 25 percent of uninsured veterans said they could not afford prescriptions, and more than 20 percent said they could not afford eyeglasses.

The researchers said the main cause for the large number of uninsured veterans was the narrowing of eligibility for health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2003, the Bush administration limited VA health-care eligibility to veterans with combat-related health problems or those making less than $30,000 a year.

“I was not surprised to hear that (1.8 million veterans are uninsured) … given the large number of uninsured in this country,” said John Rowan, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

There are nearly 24 million U.S. veterans, according to the VA.

The study is based on an analysis of government surveys released between 1988 and 2005. It will be published in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Labels: VA News

posted by Greg @ 6:39 AM Comments: 0

One More Post

Did I kick ass or what. I think the site looks great, (clap myself on the back) I got more to come. let me know what you think about the new look.

posted by Army_Tanker @ 10:28 AM Comments: 5

VA PTSD Psychiatrist Given “Genius” Award

WASHINGTON -- A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee in Boston, Dr. Jonathan Shay, has been awarded the so-called “Genius Award” from the MacArthur Foundation. Shay, the author of two popular books about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been a VA staff psychiatrist treating combat veterans with PTSD since November 1987.

“Dr. Shay is living proof that VA is providing our veterans with the best health care this country has to offer, especially for the treatment of PTSD,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. “Our veterans deserve -- and VA is providing -- world-class health care.”

Shay was one of 24 Americans who each recently received a $500,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations, for “exceptional merit and promise of continued creative work.” Shay combines a study of classic literature with 20 years of experience treating veterans in Boston to explain PTSD to both the public and health care professionals.

In addition to publications in professional journals, he is the author of Achilles in Vietnam and Odysseus in America, two widely regarded books that helped spread the understanding that PTSD is an age-old battlefield injury by comparing the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer to the experiences of modern combat veterans.

He also pioneered the use of certain anti-depression medicine, called “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,” for combat trauma, a treatment that now has broad endorsement for veterans with psychological injury.

Besides working for VA, Shay has also worked with the military services and the Defense Department in a variety of capacities to foster an understanding of PTSD, improve military leadership and strengthen ethics training for the military.

Shay received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, and his M.D. and Ph.D. in neuropathology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Labels: VA News

posted by Greg @ 6:29 AM Comments: 0

VFW: Troops Need Funds, Not Further Debate

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2007--Congress' nonchalant attitude towards President Bush's war funding request yesterday is not what the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. expected from a wartime Congress.

"Our nation is at war, yet congressional leaders would rather continue to debate the administration's policies than fulfill their obligation to support the troops with adequate and timely funding," said George Lisicki, a Vietnam combat veteran from Carteret, N.J.

“Our men and women in uniform are doing everything within their power to succeed in Afghanistan and Iraq,” he said. “Their families are keeping the home front functioning so that their loved ones can stay mission focused. The administration has new military leadership with a new plan that is working. The only part of the team that isn’t pulling its weight in this war is Congress.”

The new funding request for $196.4 billion is in addition to the Defense Department’s fiscal year 2008 budget, which is among the 12 major spending bills that the House and Senate have approved separately but have yet to consolidate for the president’s signature. The federal government’s new fiscal year began Oct. 1. It is currently operating on a temporary stopgap measure that expires Nov. 16.

The media is reporting that House and Senate leadership will wait until next year before advancing the president’s new request, the bulk of which would go to DOD. The funds would purchase 7,200 new mine-resistant vehicles, fill equipment shortfalls, repair damaged equipment, enhance roadside bomb countermeasures, and fund military construction projects, as well as improve medical and rehabilitation programs for wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

On Monday, President Bush said, “I know some in Congress are against the war [in Iraq] and are seeking ways to demonstrate that opposition. I recognize their position – and they should make their views heard – but they ought to make sure our troops have what it takes to succeed.”

The VFW’s national commander, who met with the president yesterday on this topic, agrees.

“Every day in Iraq is better than the day before,” said Lisicki. “A stable and secure environment is allowing their economy to bounce back, and that is bringing political reconciliation. Our troops have done everything asked of them under the most difficult of conditions. All they are asking from the U.S. Congress is for a chance to finish the job.”

Labels: VFW News

posted by Greg @ 6:24 AM Comments: 1

My last post here

I'll be working on my own blog from now on. Greg and Tom will be responsible for all the content on this site from now on. I will stay on to take care of the look of the site, and making changes as they request. My effort will be better used in getting this site to look good. Take it easy.

posted by Army_Tanker @ 7:11 AM Comments: 0

Veteran's Grave Vandalized

Liberty County Veteran's Grave Vandalized

By Elizabeth Scarborough

Lance Cpl. Jeremy Burris, 22, of Liberty, died in Iraq and was buried at Cook Memorial Cemetery earlier this week.The cemetery has a locked gate at the front and a fence around the perimeter, but vandals managed to get in sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, less than two days after the Liberty marine was buried, officials said.part and stuff was strewn everywhere."Burris was laid to rest on Tuesday. Huge crowds lined the streets to bid him a final farewell. The community is now in shock.Tom Smathers, a Liberty resident said, "It's terrible. You can't believe someone would do something like that.""They're doing their best to keep us safe. It's horrible," said resident William Dozer.Liberty police said they have no leads and no idea who would do this or why, but even the chief is outraged."This is a despicable act. In 30 years of policing, it's probably the lowest event I have witnessed," said Chief Mike Cummings.He stressed that vandalizing a grave is a crime, and asked for the public's help in figuring out the culprits.Anyone with information is asked to call Liberty Police at 936-366-5666.

I would like to say if the vandals are caught they should be sent to Marine boot camp and made to graduate. It just shows you the caliber of children that are being raised today.
Peace Greg

Labels: VFW News

posted by Greg @ 6:39 AM Comments: 0

Show support for the Troops

Photos of troops overseas are gone from Paso post office, inspiring outrage

From customers to congressmen, the removal of dozens of photos of U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan – many of them with relatives who use the Paso Robles Post Office, where the pictures had been on display for years behind the counter – inspired outrage Friday.

The photos were taken down after a customer complained that the display was pro-war. When the issue came to the attention of the regional postal center, they asked that Paso Robles postmaster Mike Milby and his staff take them down because they violate a regulation against displays of non-postal business material at any U.S. post office.

“It’s an emotional issue and people look at their post office as a hub of the community, but the post office is there to do postal business and it’s not a place to post things or make displays,” said postal spokesman Richard Maher.

Two signs posted at the postal counter Friday said “We are being forced to remove the pictures from out wall of our boys and girls in the military. Please ask for your pictures back.”

Clerks were constantly barraged with questions about why the display had gone down Friday, which most people expressing dismay that the photos had been removed.

Maher said the post office will not be punished for the display.

Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) weighed in on the removal after his office was besieged with dozens of phone calls from constituents upset about the removal.

“Supporting our local heroes’ bravery and sacrifice is common sense. That is why I am troubled with the Paso Robles Post Office’s removal of pictures honoring the sacrifice of our brave men and women serving in the Armed Services. I am in contact with the Postal Service to get a clear answer of why this happened and determine what actions can be taken,” the congressman said in a statement.

McCarthy is going to try to get the pictures put back up, said his spokesman Nick Bouknight, even if it requires changing the postal regulations to do it.

-Leah Etling

Labels: VFW News

posted by Greg @ 9:05 AM Comments: 0

VFW POST 10592
RICHARD E. AUSTIN
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FOR ALL MEMBERS OF POST 10592

HELD AT MUHLENDORF, GASTHAUS ALTE MUHLE

RSVP BY CALLING BY 15 NOVEMBER 07

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MENU: KARPFEN , FORELLE CORDON BLUE,

SAUERBRATEN, SCHWEINE STEAK,

SALAD TELLER WITH TOAST

WE BUY THE FOOD, YOU PAY FOR YOUR OWN DRINKS

IF YOU NEED A RIDE LET US KNOW WHEN YOU RSVP

posted by Greg @ 4:36 PM Comments: 0

U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla..) today
praised the passage by unanimous consent of his bill ( S.1877) clarifying
U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the
flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and
servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart
without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag.

'The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride
in one's military service,' Senator Inhofe said. 'Veterans and service
members continue representing the military services even when not in
uniform. 'Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether
veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the
flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and
servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not.
'I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at
baseball games, parades, and formal events.

I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the
25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military
and remain as role models to others citizens. Those who are currently
serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their
recognition will be an inspiration to others.'

This Bill was passed July 25, 2007. Let your veteran friends
know about the Passage of this Bill

Labels: VFW News

posted by Greg @ 4:32 PM Comments: 0