Supporting Our Wounded Warriors [bump]

The very first thing that I did as a member of Soldiers' Angels was join the "Wounded TLC Team". I'd submitted my information to adopt a troop, but there was a delay and I was anxious to participate. So I joined the team that writes to our wounded troops who are recuperating at state-side hospitals or in their homes. That was November, 2004, and I still get those weekly emails with names to write to. Their names are submitted to Soldiers' Angels by family or friends or colleagues who think they need a little extra support. Interested in writing letters? GO HERE. Or maybe you know a wounded warrior who could use some encouragement? CLICK HERE.

Since those first efforts, I occasionally have sent special care packages to our medics in theater or to our Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. Any member of Soldiers' Angels can find out how to support our medics by monitoring postings on the Soldiers' Angels Forum. Scrowling through some blog posts by Roger (Angel of All-Things-CSH-Support) at his blog will give you some idea of the things that get sent. The rocking chairs are still my favorites. Last year, I wrote about some of what I've sent.

If you're not a member of Soldiers' Angels, there is another great opportunity to support our wounded warriors. Angel MaryAnn (who I mention frequently!) ring-leads terrific support for our ill and wounded who get sent to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for treatment. On her blog, you'll find links to more information as to where to write to troops or what items you could send to make things a little nicer for those that often arrive with nothing more than the shirts on their backs - if that. These patients will eventually get a chance to purchase their own supplies, but if it were you, wouldn't you like to get one of these while you were getting settled? Depending on the situation, a troop might be given one of these backpacks in theater, at Landstuhl, or at places like Bethesda National Naval Medical Center or Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the Washington, DC area.

Last Saturday, I met the parents of a Marine who had received one of those backpacks. His mom mentioned it while she stopped by the hospital lounge to get a sandwich courtesy of Soldiers' Angels. Among many things, Soldiers' Angels sponsors a lunch at Bethesda once a month for patients and their family and friends. It's not an elaborate endeavor, usually just the fixings for a deli sandwich, but there's not much open for visitors on the weekend, and many times our fixings entice those who've been reluctant to eat hospital food - or any food for that matter - to have a bite to eat. We had a couple of those last weekend, and the Navy medical staff eagerly collected whatever they thought their patients would eat. Sometimes it's the fresh veggies, or the potato salad. Or a turkey sandwich (we've found a great local deli). Or a cookie (duh). Whatever, it's such a pleasure to provide a "treat" that hits the spot. In other cases, it's a handy, fresh meal for family members who have dropped everything to be with their warrior.

There are Angels that provide even more support at Walter Reed, and they've started blogging about it over here.

So if you've ever wondered what your donation to Soldiers' Angels gets used for, buying cold cuts and cookies is on the list. Each and every person that joins us for lunch passes along a thanks to all who provide the financial support for these efforts.

As someone who gets to see the impact of your gift, thanks.

[Updated] Please Read: Error Fixed!!! Any site with sitemeter...

...is/was crashing for anyone trying to view the site with Internet Explorer, versions 7 and older.

I downloaded a new, free browser, Firefox, from Mozilla which doesn't have a problem (I know lots of people who have been using Mozilla products for a while). I couldn't get to some my favorite blogs (Long War Journal, Mudville, Blackfive, MichaelTotten) without the new browser.

So, I removed sitemeter.com code so that others wouldn't have a problem reading my blog if they use IE. :-)

Update: Sitemeter.com has fixed their problem :-)

THIS is execellent news: Iraqis permitted to compete in Beijing

I've always loved the Olympics, and after living midst all the activity during the Atlanta games, I've enjoyed them even more - especially the more obscure sports like team handball or curling.

However, it's been harder to get excited about them this year. This decision by the International Olympic Committee was particularly depressing. Read the whole article to understand why the Iraqi government's action were quite understandable and not deserving of rebuke. I was just complaining about it to a friend tonight as we talked about getting together to watch the opening ceremonies on the 8th.

Which is why the news that the IOC has reversed that silly decision has made my day. Go, Iraq!

Night, all.

Not for Nothing, Take 8 (or so)

Remember this photo?

I wrote about it last Thanksgiving. I eventually ordered my own 3x5 print.

Michael Yon has other photos that get more visibility, but this one is still one of my favorites because the caption gave me chills. The good kind.

I was reminded of that photo, of Iraqi Muslims sitting in a Chaldean Catholic church in Iraq showing support for the church and urging Iraqi Christians to come home, when I read this story via The Tank. Not only are there Iraqi Muslims willing to sit in a Christian church to show support for fellow Iraqis, at least one Sunni sheik was willing to say...

"...that anyone who killed a Chaldean will be regarded as one who has killed in a member of his tribe (under the medieval Islamic concept of qisas this is a capital offense), and money will be provided from the Sahawa al-Iraq treasury to rebuild the churches and cemeteries that al-Qaeda destroyed. He justified this by quoting from the Qu'ran and stating that there should be no compulsion in matters of religion because truth stands free from error. "

As Steve Schippert at The Tank comments:

"So is there progress in Iraq? You betcha.

Armed Sunnis and Shi'a protecting Iraqi Catholics? Who'da thunkit?

Well . . . Who'da reported it for anyone to know?"

Well, now you know.

Our troops are fighting for a peace that permits some semblance of religious freedom.

And by fighting for Iraqis, our side continues to champion the ideals on which our own freedoms are based:

United States Constitution, Bill of Rights
Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Thank a vet. Their work is not all that is required, but it is - quite often - a minimum requirement.

Not for Nothing, A Follow-up on the Sky Soldiers in Afghanistan (the details you might otherwise miss...)

Angel Mary Ann has point in providing TLC for our wounded in Landstuhl. She also has kept a close eye on the Sky Soldiers of Chosen Company, 2/503 Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team who have been in Afghanistan for the last year.

It was Sky Soldiers that fought that pitched battle in Afghanistan last week and who lost 9 of their own before they prevailed. Some of their wounded have found their way to Landstuhl and MaryAnn.

As expected, there's much more to the story than made the headlines. Mary Ann has a round-up of links at the end of her post.

I saw this story earlier today among the news links at Long War Journal in which the 173rd's commanding officer, Col. Charles "Chip" Preysler, provides a detailed explanation of just what kind of "base" the Taliban attacked

And if you can overlook the incorrect use of "FOB" (as Col Preysler explains in the previous story, this was no fortified Forward Operating Base [FOB] that was attacked), this Stars and Stripes reporter relays first hand accounts from those who fought off the enemy and survived. It also gives you a glimpse of some of the men we lost. Valiant is the word that comes to mind.

Godspeed, gentlemen. My prayers and condolences to their families.

Not for Nothing: Celebrating Success in Iraq

From Greyhawk....



Which seems really appropriate when we have commentary like this (HT: Greyhawk, who has a series of post you should read, too) and news like this (HT: A Major's Perspective), although The New York Times is spinning the story for all it's worth. If I were you, I'd read Major C's post instead of the whole NYT article.

Milbloggers to the rescue once again.

And for a laugh, go watch the video at the very very end of today's Dawn Patrol. I knew our troops were talented and always step up to a challenge, but the ability to dance while wearing all that stuff is truly.... amazing.

Not for Nothing, and Knowing It: A Special Thanks to Milbloggers (again)

I've written on this topic a couple -- oops! -- a FEW times before here and here and here and here.

You'd be correct to guess that this is a topic near and dear to my heart.

Whether it's because I want to have an informed opinion on proposed new strategies in Iraq or Afghanistan or Lebanon, or because I want to know how things are going where my "adopted" troops are deployed, or because I want more than a sound-byte about US casualties in Afghanistan, I turn to - without fail - milblogs.

So why post about this again?

Just a few days ago, I saw the sensationalist headline from the AP (Associated Press) reporting that a US base in Afghanistan had been overrun and nine US troops killed. I went immediately to The Long War Journal website. Why? Because a US base being "overrun" sounded extraordinary. If nine US troops had been killed, something significant had happened. Why would I think that? Because our guys are really good at what they do. We do not lose nine in one day very often any more. So, I knew there was more to this story than a notable death toll.

The first clarification I found was that the Taliban attacked a remote combat outpost - one that was still under construction. And while there was a heartbreaking loss of nine of our own, the US and Afghan forces, numbering just 70, repelled a "complex attack" by 200+ Taliban fighters (some estimates put the attacking Taliban force as large as 500).

That's news. The success of the out-numbered good guys wasn't the AP headline, but it was discussed in detail at the Long War Journal and it was the emphasis of another milblog report here. Hat Tip on that second write-up goes to Mrs G's Dawn Patrol (I now have a link at the top of my blog to the Dawn Patrol so that you'll be reminded to peruse her latest round-up of milblog-type reporting on the web on a regular basis).

The thing I've learned is that you can't rely on the major news outlets (print, web or TV) for good war reporting because their coverage is inconsistent at best. But that's okay, because we're fortunate to have a lot of volunteers and a bunch of new professionals dedicating their time to consistent reporting. That consistency is crucial to providing adequate context for the latest blaring headline or sound byte on the evening news.

If you're as appreciative as I am of these alternate news sources, considering donating to keep these folks up and running:

The Long War Journal and Public Multimedia, Inc (donations are tax-deductible!)

The Mudville Gazette [home of Greyhawk and Mrs. G]

Michael Totten

Michael Yon

The daily and ultimate sacrifices made by our troops and their families are not for nothing. Our troops are accomplishing terrific things around the world, and we wouldn't be nearly as well informed about their endeavors without the efforts of milbloggers and independent journalists covering the wars.

My thanks to them all. Again.