The One Percenters

Jacksonville veterans share what Memorial Day is - and isn't | jacksonville.com

2011-05-30T07:32:00.000-04:00

Jacksonville veterans share what Memorial Day is - and isn't | jacksonville.com

Memorial Day

2010-05-31T09:36:00.002-04:00

From SGT Mark M. Middlebrook:

Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer and indeed it probably is. Today across this vast and beautiful country of ours backyard barbecues are being put to good use, friends and family are traveling near and far, and bathing suits are being donned. While Memorial Day has become a treasured holiday to finally shrug off winter and welcome summer we must not forget the day’s true meaning. Memorial

Day is not a day for our honorable veterans; Memorial Day is instead a day when we honor those no longer among us. It is a day to honor those who answered a far off call and never returned home. They answered the call knowing they may lose their lives but did so in order to preserve something that they love, something much greater than any one individual.

We take time to remember this nation's fallen sons and daughters but we must also remember their families. They all lost a piece of themselves the day they each received the terrible news brought to them from a foreign land. They are left here in this life forced to bear the pain and continue the memory of a fallen patriot. They must never be forced to bear such a burden alone. The ones they lost did not give their lives solely for their families; they gave their most precious possession so that torch of freedom could continue to illuminate the world. They gave their lives for each and everyone of us who knows what it means to be free. So I ask that all who hear or read these words take a moment and remember those valiant men and women as well as their families. Take a moment so that we may all share the burden that is the cost of the American way of life.

Red Falcon deployment from April 2010

2010-05-29T10:23:00.002-04:00

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Division Ready Force one of the Global Response Force has received orders to deploy to Afghanistan in May in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
This deployment is the ninth deployment for a 2nd BCT unit since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
For the past 19 months, the 2nd BCT has been the forcible entry component of the Nation’s Global Response Force. The Battalion recently participated in Operation Unified Response, providing humanitarian assistance in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that struck there in January.
The battalion will take part in the International Security Assistance Force effort increasing the capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces and improving security for the Afghan people.
The remainder of the BCT will continue to serve as the Army Component of the GRF, prepared to deploy on short notice contingency operations anywhere in the world.

End of an era: Atlantis

2010-05-16T09:14:00.000-04:00

Photos by Mike M.

Space shuttle Atlantis on its last mission. I was hoping to go but was still dealing with the after effects of radiation therapy. Maybe in November.

Our patriotic dogs on Armed Forces Day

2010-05-15T10:10:00.001-04:00

Olustee (left - named after a Civil War battle) and Glider (right- named after 1st battalion, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment)

Prayer request

2010-05-14T09:21:00.000-04:00

This is from one of the class of Leadership Jacksonville 2010:

One of my classmates from JU, Andy Conrad, former Naval Aviator and now a Delta pilot, has a 20 year-old nephew from Jacksonville who was grievously wounded by an IED in Afghanistan late last week. His name is Tyler Southern and he has lost both legs and one arm, and may still lose the other. He arrived at Bethesda two days ago via Germany where he is just starting to come out of consciousness.

A couple of things have happened since I learned this from Andy.

I alerted one of my former Navy bosses, Rear Admiral Kevin Delaney because he is on the board of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) which is based here in Jacksonville, but serves injured combat veterans all over the country.
He in turn alerted the WWP Bethesda team who actively and personally assisted the family upon Tyler's arrival from Germany.
One of Tyler's former high school classmates now apparently works for the new Jacksonville Sharks Arena Football League team, and tomorrow night the Sharks are playing a home game at 7:35 PM and originally intended to donate 100 percent of the proceeds to Tyler to aid in his recovery.
Tyler's family has unselfishly asked that those proceeds instead be donated to WWP so that even more injured veterans will benefit.
Since the immediate family is bedside in Bethesda, my friend Andy will accept the donation at mid-field (mid-arena?) on behalf of the family and WWP.

I am asking you to join me tomorrow night at the game, or at least alert your friends that tomorrow (Friday, May 14) is Military Appreciation Night for the Sharks game and that with their attendance they will be supporting a local hero and a great cause.

Military calendar for Jacksonville

2010-05-13T09:14:00.000-04:00

UP-COMING EVENTS—For your calendar:

May 17—USS Stark Memorial Service—NS Mayport—10 a.m.

May 18—Northeast Florida Veterans Council Meeting—7 p.m. City Hall

May 22—Honor Air Flight to Washington, DC for WWII Vets

May 31—Memorial Day Observance—Memorial Wall—10 a.m.

May 31—Memorial Day Observance—Jacksonville National Cemetery—2 p.m.

June 5—Never Quit Beach Festival—Jax Beach Pier

June 5—Battle of Midway Dinner

August 7—Purple Heart Ceremony

Oct 21-24—Jacksonville Salute to the Sea Services and National Navy League Convention

Oct 23-24—NAS Jacksonville Blue Angels Air Show

Nov 10—Marine and Navy Corpsmen Memorial Service—Evergreen Cemetery

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T12:39:00.000-04:00

I haven't properly thanked the leaders of our Family Readiness Group. Not only did they have their own family to attend to but they had to attend to young wives and horror-filled parents of soldiers on deployment....while their own husbands were deployed. We would have never made it without them.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

And have a Happy Mother's Day. You've earned it.

Military Appreciation Day - PGA Tour

2010-05-08T09:57:00.000-04:00

Top: Branch colors.

Bottom: an Anhinga salute

Wednesday was Military Appreciation Day put on by the PGA Tour for The Players Championship. Northrup-Grumman sponsors a Patriot Outpost, in which active duty or retired military are treated free food and drinks and some relief from the heat.

Gayle and I dropped by to connect with the Wounded Warrior Project to drop off a donation from our Internet brother Abnpoppa. The Project staff was out coordinating events for wounded vets but the PGA Tour volunteers let us in for lunch and place to sit.

The day also included a concert by Tim McGraw and a fly-by from the Blue Angels. It was a wonderful day and those of us who are "accidental" military families were greatly appreciative.

Mark and I finally connected with the Wounded Warrior Project and the donation was made.

(Pops, your card is on the way)

Military Appreciation Day - my neighborhood

2010-05-02T09:33:00.003-04:00

For the last few years, my neighborhood celebrates our veterans with a Military Appreciation Day ceremony. Here are some pictures from this year's event:

Our neighbor Chuck Ellis who is a Pearl Harbor survivor

Wild Ponte Vedra trip has people scurrying to get out of the way | jacksonville.com

2010-04-24T11:32:00.001-04:00

Wild Ponte Vedra trip has people scurrying to get out of the way | jacksonville.com

This is how we started our day yesterday. Thankfully, she missed us.

For sale

2010-04-20T10:41:00.000-04:00

I was googling around this weekend and found a website that was selling Mark's Armed Forces Fan of the Game card by Topps. They wanted 60 cents. Seems to me he is worth more than that.

The greatest generation

2010-04-18T10:45:00.000-04:00

Photos by Mark M.

On a recent trip to Washington, I was doing on National Mall crawl when I happened upon a group of veterans from Ohio. Through Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime Foundation arranged a three-day bus trip to D.C. Most of the vets and their spouses had never been to Washington D.C. so they had never seen the World War II Memorial. On hand to greet them was the former commander of the USS Cole and a Marine two-star. It was touching event and hundreds of Spring Breakers and cherry blossom tourists gathered to honor them.

The volcano

2010-04-17T16:27:00.002-04:00

from the NY Times:

The United States military has already been affected. Supplies for military operations in Afghanistan have been disrupted, and a spokeswoman for the Pentagon said that all medical evacuation flights from Iraq and Afghanistan to Germany, where most injured soldiers are typically treated, were being diverted directly to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

SSG Murphrey: a true hero

2010-04-15T11:20:00.003-04:00

"On 4 APR 09, SSG Murphrey performed above and beyond his duties during the broad spectrum of combat operations his squad endured. Securing a defensive position, SSG Murphrey’s squad came under heavy direct enemy fire that impacted in his immediate vicinity causing his Squad to drop behind cover in shallow ditch.

SSG Murphrey, with no regard to his personal safety, moved through the hail of enemy fire, positioned himself where he could provide an effective support by fire, for his Squad to follow. SSG Murphrey screened the enemy with smoke, and laid down accurate fires, simultaneously emplacing his squad behind cover, and then assigned sectors of fire to be covered by his multiple weapon systems.

SSG Murphrey then provided Support by fire so his Platoon Leader could move through open terrain to conduct link up with the other element of his platoon. SSG Murphrey then courageously led the assault forward to clear the enemy’s strong point that his
platoon was pinned down from, drawing enemy fire himself.

He coordinated the entry on the movement forward and secured the foothold to the house the insurgents were occupying. SSG Murphrey was the key element that allowed the platoon to clear the first objective without flaw, with very little support by fire do to the open terrain.

After clearing the first objective nearly single-handedly, he continued to lead his element towards a tree line that more suspected insurgents were occupying. After bounding around the base of a hill, SSG Murphrey’s squad came under direct enemy heavy machine gun fire, later identified as a NSV. Once again, without regard to personal safety, SSG Murphrey bounded forward, through the imminent danger ensuing to his front, placing effective small arms fire upon the enemy, enabling his Squad to take cover in the open field.

SSG Murphrey then valiantly maneuvered his element through the enemy’s wall of fire, returning fire leaving him in exposed, and in jeopardy for the safety of his Soldiers. Once behind cover, he marked obscured enemy targets with precise accuracy exposing their position. This enabled A-10 aircraft to fix, and finish the insurgent forces with their heavy volume of multiple weapon systems.

SSG Murphrey’s actions on this day allowed the safe exfiltration of all members of his platoon, simultaneously weakening the insurgency network in this Global War on Terror and strengthened the political future of the Nation of Afghanistan. SSG Murphrey’s actions on this day reflect great credit upon himself, the Army, The Geronimo Battalion, and The Spartan Brigade. "

Another friend

2010-04-13T08:19:00.002-04:00

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Sean M. Durkin, 24, of Aurora, Colo. died April 9 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device near Forward Operating Base Wilson, Afghanistan, on March 27. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.

World War II Memorial

2010-04-12T10:34:00.000-04:00

3.31.10

Photos by Mark M.

Nurses' Memorial

2010-04-10T09:08:00.000-04:00

Washington D.C.

3.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

Vietnam War Memorial

2010-04-09T13:28:00.000-04:00

3.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

Korean War Memorial

2010-04-08T09:20:00.000-04:00

3.31.10

Photo by Mark M.

Jefferson Memorial

2010-04-06T10:03:00.000-04:00

Photos by Mark M.

3.31.10

Space shuttle Discovery: Last night launch

2010-04-05T08:28:00.000-04:00

Photos by Mark M.

4.5.10

Washington Monument

2010-04-04T12:52:00.000-04:00

3.31.10

Photos by Mark M.

Arlington National Cemetery

2010-04-03T11:02:00.000-04:00

April 1, 2010

Photos by Mark M.

Anniversaries

2010-03-18T15:28:00.001-04:00

We've got a big one coming up, but not one that requires much celebration - Mark's departure from our house to his military adventure. We hit five years in May. Five years......

I diligently kept a journal during most of his military career and still do today. So I will probably pull some of the entries out for The One Percenters.

Five years.

Of course, we were lucky:

Mark made it back from two tours alive and in one piece.
He was assigned to a unit that, if not the best, is among the best in the Army. Well-trained and led by officers and NCOs who made the right decisions in the most difficult of circumstances and brought every one home...twice.
We have met some extraordinary people during the journey and we are better for it.
And somehow we ended up with a house full of delightful but gaseous Aussies.

My youngest is now making noise that he might follow in his brother's footsteps. I have mixed and selfish emotions on how to advise him because the last five years took 10 off of our life times.

Airborne dog and his brother

2010-03-14T11:44:00.001-04:00

Glider, the big Aussie, is visiting his little brother Bounder while Mark and his girl friend are out West on spring break. Bounder has been with us now for a week and has settled in nicely with the rest of the critters.

Red Falcons on their way home

2010-03-07T11:31:00.002-05:00

By Joint Task Force-Haiti Public Affairs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – More than 700 soldiers from the 1^st Battalion, 325^th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Brigade Combat Team, will depart Haiti March 5-6 after completing their relief missions in support of communities impacted by a 7.0 earthquake Jan. 12.

The paratroopers arrived in Haiti Jan. 17 and operated principally in the densely populated Port-au-Prince metropolitan areas of Cite Soleil, Tabarre Commune and Croix de Bouquet Commune, where they provided much needed relief aid to local residents and manned two food distribution points.

In preparation for their redeployment to Fort Bragg, N.C., the unit transitioned its distribution points and security responsibilities to Brazilian and Jordanian battalion forces, who will continue to support international relief efforts in the area

During the deployment to Haiti, the paratrooper unit, also known as the Red Falcons, distributed more than 250,000 liters of water, 345,000 meals, 12,000 tarps for shelter, and treated, more than 7,000 patients. The unit also completed approximately 650 humanitarian missions.

“The Red Falcons along with their USAID and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission here in Haiti,” said Lt. Gen Ken Keen, commander, Joint Task Force-Haiti. “They worked in one of the most challenging and difficult areas in the country and should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished and the Haitian lives they touched daily.”

The unit also supported several major humanitarian aid missions during more than 40 days in the country, including assisting the World Food Program with the distribution of more than 3.5 million rations to Haitian citizens. The unit’s medical personnel also treated earthquake survivors and other patients throughout the Port-au-Prince area.

Presently, numerous NGOs are conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities to assist area residents, including the Samaritans Purse, Good Neighbors, Glow Ministries and Baptist World Aid.

Many of the medical facilities in these communities are now managed by local physicians with support from NGOs. These facilities are also largely self-sufficient and not exceeding their capacity.

Airborne dog

2010-03-05T12:55:00.000-05:00

Glider, named for the 1-325th Glider Infantry Regiment (WWII), receives a haircut in celebration of his first birthday.

Telling The Story Of 'The Hardest Hit Unit In Iraq'

2010-03-04T14:05:00.000-05:00

From NPR:

Journalist Kelly Kennedy embedded with Charlie Company's 26th Infantry Regiment for several months in 2007. She spent hours with the soldiers out on patrol, and now relates their worst and best days in her new book, They Fought For Each Other:The Triumph and Tragedy of the Hardest Hit Unit in Iraq.

Charlie Company lost 14 men in Iraq, including nine soldiers who were killed when their Bradley fighting vehicles were hit by IED's. Before Kennedy's arrival, another solider — 19-year-old Ross McGinnis — died after he threw himself on a grenade to save four of his friends. Kennedy talked with many of McGinnis' fellow soldiers about the incident and describes what happened to Terry Gross.

"On December 4, they were out on patrol and the grenade came in right in through Ross's turret — he was the gunner — and he sees it and he tries to catch it — he's chasing it around the turret and he's yelling 'Grenade' trying to get the guys out of the truck and no one really understood what was happening," Kennedy says. "They didn't have time to react but Ross knew what was going on ... and then one of the other guys saw the grenade and watched as Ross threw himself against it and took the brunt of the force of the grenade and died instantly — but saved four of his friends."

McGinnis received the Medal of Honor and one of the soldiers he saved — Staff Sgt. Ian Newland — promised "to never waste the gift" he received that day, as Kennedy wrote in the Army Times. Her series for the paper, called Blood Brothers, followed the 26th Infantry during their time in Iraq — as well as the issues they faced after arriving home.

The first chapter of the book can be found here.

Off topic: Monday headlines

2010-03-01T09:35:00.000-05:00

You think?

Sunday news and notes

2010-02-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

Mark's former 1SG (now SGM) retired Thursday and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service. He had a profound impact on my son and his wife, who was one of our Family Readiness Group's leaders, kept Gayle and I grounded during what was arguably one of the more difficult times in our lives. Congratulations to both and thank you for being there when we needed it. The Legion of Merit, by the way, is a very big deal.

Health update: I cease to be radioactive March 6. That means I can take down the radioactive "danger to small children and pregnant women" signs and have to pay up for the thin mints I ordered from the Girl Scouts pre-surgery. I will also lose my excuse for not doing the grocery shopping :)

My very generous brother and SIL gave me an Amazon.com Kindle (an e-reader) to help recuperate and I have been plowed through three e-books in the last couple of weeks. On my fourth now. It's been very helpful getting through some of the more tedious Winter Olympic events.

Facebook phenomena

2010-02-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

I was late to the Facebook phenomenon. Like many, I am annoyed every time Facebook changes the format. However, I have reconnected with some old friends and that's been fun.

But more amazingly, the U.S. Army is now regularly using Facebook as a way of communicating with their military families. This is a big change from just two years ago, when we were totally dependent on Family Readiness Groups. Right now, I am following the Falcon Brigade (2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne), my son's former unit, which is in Haiti, and the Devil Brigade (1st BCT, 82nd Airborne), which is in Al Anbar in Iraq. If nothing else, this makes Facebook a worthwhile endeavor.

Fort Hood, Army still seeing suicide problem

2010-02-19T12:14:00.000-05:00

By Sig Christenson - Express-News

Fort Hood had more suicides in January than any other installation as the Army searched for solutions to a baffling mystery.
Despite a series of programs designed to tackle the problem at the post and throughout the Army, the service's January suicide mark still came close to matching the one from the same month last year — 29.
Three of the 27 suicides reported Wednesday occurred on Fort Hood, which has sent soldiers to combat since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
The chief of the Army Suicide Prevention Task Force talked of the service's efforts to counter the problem rather than discussing the latest numbers, which picked up where a grim 2009 left off.
“We've made significant changes in our health promotion, risk reduction, and suicide prevention programs, policies and initiatives,” Col. Christopher Philbrick said. “Now in 2010, we're going to move from a floodlight to a laser light — identifying our most effective programs, so we can target and reinforce what's working and fix what isn't.”
Last year was the worst for suicides among active-duty soldiers since the Army began tracking those deaths in 1980, with 160 GIs killing themselves at home and in the war zone. That was up from 140 in 2008.

The rest of the story can be found here.

Off topic: Birthday T-shirt

2010-02-16T15:51:00.001-05:00

Well, if you can't laugh.....

My son has a unique sense of humor.

Off topic: Monday headlines

2010-02-15T13:09:00.000-05:00

But what are the options?

Please click on image to see it larger.

Off topic: Monday headlines

2010-02-08T06:31:00.001-05:00

Click on this to see the image better.

This is from the Jacksonville Journal.

Haiti stats from 2nd Brigade Combat Team

2010-02-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the World Food Program distributed 1,430,220 lbs. of food at distribution points throughout Port-au-Prince, bringing the total for the operation to 5,149,675 lbs. U.S. forces were present at all 14 sites and 8 sites were secured solely by the Paratroopers.

Thoughts and prayers to the Ft. Bragg family

2010-02-06T10:53:00.000-05:00

This week's fallen in Afghanistan and Pakistan:

Capt. Daniel Whitten, 28, of Grimes, Iowa

Pfc. Zachary G. Lovejoy, 20, of Albuquerque, N.M.
. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Feb. 3 in Timagara, Pakistan
Fallen soldiers:

Sgt. 1st Class David J. Hartman, 27, of Okinawa, Japan. He was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew S. Sluss-Tiller, 35, of Callettsburg, Ky. He was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Mark A. Stets, 39, of El Cajon, Calif. He was assigned to the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Off topic: You Light Up My Life Lyrics // LeAnn Rimes

2010-02-05T17:14:00.002-05:00

Sort of has a new meaning today now that the radiologist and surgeon have lit me up.

:)

Red Falcons in Haiti

2010-02-03T09:32:00.000-05:00

Clearly a daunting task

Photos by Julie Dermansky

Courtesy of 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne's Facebook page

Off topic: Monday headlines

2010-02-01T21:18:00.011-05:00

He was very popular but ...

Since Jay Leno won't be back on the air until after the Winter Olympics, I am reviving a bit he used to do on Monday's called Headlines. These ran in newspapers for which I once worked. . .some in papers I used to read. I've had them in a file for a very long time. Enjoy.

Sigh. Another outrage

2010-01-31T09:42:00.004-05:00

If there is a benefit to spending so much time being stuck with needles and registering for procedures, it's some of the interesting people you meet.

On Friday, a young intake clerk was running through all of the permission forms needed for next week's seed implant. She asked if there was another person beyond my wife that should be listed as an emergency contact. SGT Mark, of course (the medical training he received in the Army has been very helpful).

She started talking about her twin brother who has recently completed his tour of duty with the Marine Corps. He is now in Charlotte, NC attending school and waiting on his GI Bill benefits. He went to a restaurant that was hiring servers and applied for a job to make ends meet.

On his application, he listed his recent job experience:

Squad leader.
One tour in Iraq. Just back from Afghanistan.

The restaurant manager looked at the application and said "You haven't really served anyone in quite a while."

He didn't get the job.

He told his twin later: "Served anyone? What did he think I was doing the last five years. I was making life-and-death decisions every day. And I'm not qualified to wait tables?"

His sister was outraged and so are we.

82nd Airborne's Mission in Haiti

2010-01-30T11:17:00.001-05:00

Video from the CBS report

82nd Airborne Makes a Difference in Haiti

2010-01-30T10:41:00.000-05:00

Trained for War, the 3,400 Troop Brigade has a Different Mission in Haiti

By Bill Whitaker

(CBS) At 6:00 a.m. in Port-au-Prince, troops from the 82nd Airborne wade into the heart of desolation - handing out 55-pound bags of rice to the desperately hungry. Afternoons, they're at it again.

CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports they've been doing this every day for two weeks -- and every day it's a contact operation.

After every delivery 28-year-old Captain Edward Kim from Tacoma, Washington and his men assess what went right, and what went wrong.

"How do we get better at this," Capt. Kim asked.

How to Help Victims

Food distribution is just one of the 82nd's missions. The 3,400 troop brigade has a huge footprint in this crumbled capital: treating almost 500 wounded and sick, flying 50 of those worse off to the U.S. medical ship Comfort; supplying and feeding a sprawling tent city of 50,000 displaced citizens. It's a round-the-clock operation.

They're on the front line of the massive clean-up and fixing the destroyed power grid - America's mighty military arm extending a helping hand.

"It's rewarding to see people smile," said Staff Sgt. Adam Farmer. "And actually know that a little bit of something you're doing can change someone's day."

Complete Coverage: Devastation in Haiti

Helping can be hazardous, but rewarding.

"I thank God for the American People is coming in Haiti, try to help Haitians," said Pierre Dubrezil an earthquake victim.

"We're the face of the Army," said Sgt. Brian Robinson. "You see an 82nd patch, and you know the Army's out there making a difference.

Making a difference and saving lives.

NY Times: Foot on Bomb, Marine Defies a Taliban Trap

2010-01-25T11:26:00.000-05:00

Lance Cpl. Ryan T. Mathison, left, after stepping on a mine that did not go off. An ordnance disposal team destroyed the explosive. More Photos >

By C. J. CHIVERS

Published: January 23, 2010

SHOSHARAK, Afghanistan — If luck is the battlefield’s final arbiter — the wild card that can trump fitness, training, teamwork, equipment, character and skill — then Lance Cpl. Ryan T. Mathison experienced its purest and most welcome form.

On a Marine foot patrol here through the predawn chill of Friday morning, he stepped on a pressure-plate rigged to roughly 25 pounds of explosives. The device, enough to destroy a pickup truck or tear apart several men, was buried beneath him in the dusty soil.

It did not explode.

Lance Corporal Mathison’s weight triggered the detonation of one of the booby trap’s two blasting caps. But upon giving an audible pop and tossing small stones into the air, the device failed to ignite its fuller charge — a powerful mix of Eastern Bloc mortar rounds and homemade explosives spiked with motorcycle parts, rusty spark plugs and jagged chunks of steel.

The rest of the story can be found here.

Cool graphic

2010-01-20T12:12:00.000-05:00

Let's go Falcons.

Haiti aid mission uses lessons of war

2010-01-19T15:10:00.002-05:00

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — This is not war, this overwhelming humanitarian effort. But after eight years of dealing with counterinsurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, the lessons learned there — getting into the communities to understand the people’s needs — apply here to the job of distributing food and water and providing medical help.

Haiti+aid+mission+uses+lessons+of+war

Gen. Honore is right

2010-01-19T15:02:00.000-05:00

Right now, a fair number of America's Rapid Response Force, the 82nd Airborne Division, are sitting on their duffs at Ft. Bragg waiting for clearance to land at the Port-au-Prince airport. Clogged with civilian aircraft and foreign aircraft spending four hours on the runway for photo ops, the military can't get in.

Gen. Honore complained from the beginning that the military, not USAID, should be in charge at least until its assests are deployed. The 82nd has the capacity to find a straight road, parachute in and establish another runway that can land C-17s, Honore says. Instead, they hurry up and wait.

Bragg soldiers heading to Haiti

2010-01-14T09:56:00.000-05:00

from the Fayetteville Observer:

Fort Bragg is sending a battalion to Haiti to help with humanitarian efforts in the wake of Tuesday's devastating earthquake.
More than 100 soldiers from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 73rd Infantry are to travel to Haiti this afternoon, according to a release issued by Fort Bragg this morning. The rest of the battalion is to deploy tomorrow. It will be joined by about 800 soldiers in a 2nd Brigade Combat Team Command & Control Element.
Meanwhile, a six-person liaison team was sent to Miami Wednesday night by the XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters to assist with the planning effort.
In the release, Fort Bragg said its units "are highly trained and ready to respond to crises such as this tragic event in Haiti and fully prepared to support the mission as long as required to do so."
Soldiers from Fort Bragg will continue preparations for additional deployments for continued support if called upon, the release said.

Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-13T18:51:00.000-05:00

2nd BrigadeCombat Team, 82nd Airborne is standing by for deployment to Haiti.

Fort Stewart facing deep budget cuts | Jacksonville.com

2010-01-10T09:52:00.001-05:00

Fort Stewart facing deep budget cuts | Jacksonville.com

excerpt:

"....
Like Fort Stewart, some of the Army's biggest posts - where soldiers have completed four and five combat tours since the wars began - are facing significant spending reductions, according to AP's figures. Fort Stewart currently has 13,541 soldiers deployed.

Figures showed potential cuts of 40 percent at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division; 25 percent at Fort Bragg, N.C.; 22 percent at Fort Drum, N.Y., and 21 percent at Bamberg, Germany...."

Ft. Bragg is home to the 82nd Airborne Division and a host of Special Forces and Ranger battalions; Ft. Drum, 10th Mountain Division; Bamberg, 173rd Airborne BCT and other units.

Officially official

2010-01-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

The Veteran's Administration has classified our young vet as permanently disabled. He has quite a list of injuries, one of which will require surgery later in the year. This is not something any parent would wish on their son but at least there is some certainty about his future.

82nd Airborne poster

2010-01-09T16:19:00.000-05:00

Another chapter is closed

2010-01-01T11:45:00.001-05:00

While it is not official, it looks as if the VA has agreed that SGT Mark has lifetime of service-related injuries with which he will have to deal. We have mixed emotions about all of this. On the upside, he should be able to apply for an honorable discharge ending the threat of an individual ready reserve mobilization and ending the harassing phone calls from Army Reserve recruiters.

On the other hand, I wouldn't wish a lifetime of pain on anyone, much less my son.

He never complains....just goes about his business...because he was ....and is....and will always be....a Red Falcon paratrooper.

1-325 Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne, the All American division. All the way. Let's Go!!!!

On to the next chapter.

In the spirit of the season

2009-12-27T11:09:00.002-05:00

A friend of ours and his wife just returned from Massachusetts on Christmas Day. He had been up to visit his brother but it wasn't for a family reunion.

His brother was very ill and struggling with failed kidneys and constant dialysis. Our friend went to donate one of his healthy kidneys to his brother. The procedure went well. The doctor said the transplanted kidney started working within minutes. Days later, his brother's pallor pinked right up after being a pasty white.

Our friend's son said "I hope my brother will be there for me if I get sick."

In that family, I suspect he will.

Merry Christmas from the Grand pup

2009-12-23T15:39:00.003-05:00

The grand pup's first Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Preparing for Christmas

2009-12-20T16:29:00.002-05:00

One of the vestiges having three grown sons (two have moved on) is the tons of stuff they have left behind: rock collections, baseballs, and the like. For example, today I decided to charge the digital and video cameras in preparation for the weekend and pulled out a box of AC adapters/chargers. There were 26.

I spent about six hours trying to reunite the chargers with their devices, which can be tricky because they all have different power outputs.

Eleven were united to the proper cameras, hurricane lanterns and radios, etc. Nine are still orphans, including one car charger. One device, a remote controlled boat, has no charger. Six, all from deceased cell phones, are heading for hazardous was day.

I also found a Sony Walkman CD player that no one wants, three sets of ear buds and two sets of head phones.

But the cameras are charged and ready to go.

This week in summary

2009-12-15T15:25:00.002-05:00

Saturday: News our first grandchild. Yippee!!
Sunday: Jaguars disastrous loss to Miami, putting playoff bid in jeopardy. Yikes!!!!
Monday: Found out that I have prostate cancer. Double yikes!!!!
But caught it early. Whew!
Tuesday: Army recruiter shows up at the door looking for SGT. Mark. Sigh.

I wonder what Wednesday will bring.

Soon to be's

2009-12-14T09:58:00.003-05:00

From left to right: Soon-to-be grandpa, two soon-to-be uncles, soon-to-be dad.

Girl Gets Wish! Daddy Home From War!!

2009-12-12T10:48:00.001-05:00

Tear alert

11-30-09 Aussie Puppies

2009-12-08T21:19:00.001-05:00

11-30-09 Aussie Puppies

2009-12-08T16:56:00.001-05:00

Where SGT Mark's pup was born. FYI, we have two rescue dogs and three rescue cats.....but these guys are too cute.

Pearl Harbor Day - honoring my neighbor

2009-12-08T09:16:00.000-05:00

Mr. Ellis has been our neighbor for the last 26 years. See the video here

Individual ready reserves and the Afghanistan surge

2009-12-02T11:58:00.000-05:00

Predictably, the mainstream media has been focused on the politics surrounding President Obama's Afghanistan speech at West Point Tuesday night. But there are many questions about which military families want to know:

What impact will sending an additional 30,000 troops to have on the Army National Guard and Reserves?
Will units currently deployed to Afghanistan be extended an additional three months as they were in Iraq?
Will this surge increase the number of individual ready reserves who have already been mobilized after returning to civilian life?
Will the surge have an impact on the dwell time that units receive once it has completed a deployment?

Currently, there are 104,659 National Guard and Reserves that have been activated, of which 4,379 are mobilized individual ready reserves, according to a recent Department of Defense press release. And that's just the Army.

Trying to find current information on IRR mobilizations is next to impossible. From what's out there on the web, there was a mobilization in October and another Nov. 17. About 14,000 former soldiers were called to a one-day muster this year to assess mental health and physical condition. No word on what will happen in 2010.

Remembering

2009-11-27T11:45:00.003-05:00

This excerpt is from SGT Mark's keynote speech at the Veteran's Memorial Wall on Memorial Day 2008. Still seems appropriate today:

"After I returned from Iraq, a part of my unit stayed
behind to complete their 15-month tour.
Weeks from redeploying and on his last mission . . . a friend of mine
walked into a house and was killed instantly by an IED.

He was as good a man as I have ever met. . a devoted family man. . .

Never one to let the Army get the best of him.

Just like every name on that wall. . . he had a story.

Each left behind loved ones and friends.
Each left behind a void that may never be filled.

Despite this. . . let Memorial Day not be a national day of
mourning but a day of celebration. Those of us left
behind must celebrate our cherished memories. . . and what
little time we were fortunate to have with them.

We must celebrate the fact that we are still free thanks
to their sacrifice. We all must celebrate the fact
that through it all . . . despite public opinion or
political climate . . . this country still has sons and
daughters willing to give their most precious
possession in the name of freedom.

As long as this wall stands. . . As long as there are
people still willing to take a day to remember. . .As
long as there are still people willing to put on the
uniform. . .As long as this country remains a beacon of
freedom . . . our fallen shall live on. . . forever."

Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T11:18:00.002-05:00

This photo was taken when SGT Mark returned from his second deployment in Iraq in Dec. 2007. The banner in the back of Green Ramp, the cavernous warehouse on Pope AFB where paratroopers deploy and return home, says it all:

"Sleep well tonight....The 82nd Airborne is on point."

Two brigades are currently deployed, one is returning home and the fourth is standing by on QRF - quick reaction force - meaning it is prepared to deploy to any where in the world in 18 hours.

The service and sacrifice that our military and their families are making in these "long wars" is hard to imagine. So for this holiday season - and every day for that matter - please keep them in your prayers. There are nearly 200,000 now deployed and another 35,000 about ready to join their ranks.

So today, I thank the 82nd, the 10th Mountain and all those others who stand in harm's way. Godspeed.

Former addict gives homeless veterans a second chance

2009-11-25T13:21:00.000-05:00

From CNN:

Roy Foster

PALM BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- Following a faint trail through a dense patch of woods in Florida's Palm Beach County, Roy Foster is a man on a mission.
Roy Foster's facility, Stand Down House, has helped about 900 male veterans since 2000.

Foster, 53, is searching for homeless veterans -- and he knows where to look.

Whether in a vacant lot behind a supermarket or a small clearing off the highway, homeless vets aren't that hard to find: One in three homeless adults has served in the military, and more than 150,000 veterans nationwide are homeless on any given night, according to the Veterans Administration.

Working with the sheriff's homeless outreach unit, Foster finds vets camped in tents or makeshift lean-tos, where he delivers a message: There's help for you if you want it.

"For our heroes to be living in [these] conditions, it's totally unacceptable," said Foster.

Since 2000, approximately 900 veterans have found life-changing help at Foster's facility, Stand Down House. Named for the military command that gives troops time to rest after arduous duty, the program provides homeless male vets food, shelter and a safe place to recover, as well as the tools to conquer their personal problems. (Foster was a finalist for CNN Hero of the Year.)

The rest of the story can be found here.

Sunday news and notes

2009-11-22T11:28:00.000-05:00

Birthday: Our Iraq war veteran celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow. His brother took him, his girl friend and his parental units out for dinner at a Thai restaurant at the Beach. Good company, great food, great time. We had planned to tailgate today before the Jaguar game but mom and dad wussed out when the rain started. We traded our tickets for an afternoon of puppy sitting with grand dog Glider. BTW, turning 25 is a big deal these days for male drivers - auto insurance rates drop dramatically.

Starbucks: We are back to sending supplies to one of Mark's friends who is in the early stages of another deployment to Iraq. He is living in a pretty spartan combat outpost in Anbar.

We were delighted to find out that customers of the Ponte Vedra Beach Starbucks are still willing to buy a pound of coffee for the troops overseas. We have 10 pounds ready to go this week. Mark's friend was with him through basic, AIT and airborne school and is in the 82nd Airborne. He received a bronze star with a "V" clasp for valor for giving critical medical assistance to a comrade while under fire in Sadr City during the surge in Baghdad in his first deployment.

Media: The mainstream media have migrated to Afghanistan once known as the "forgotten war." Occasionally there will be a story out Iraq but usually about a bombing that highlights sectarian strife. But there are some good stories about there about U.S. efforts to help Iraqis and you can find them here.

Fort Hood casualties: from President Obama's remarks

2009-11-11T11:30:00.002-05:00

Chief Warrant Officer Michael Cahill had served in the National Guard and worked as a physician's assistant for decades. A husband and father of three, he was so committed to his patients that on the day he died, he was back at work just weeks after having a heart attack.

“Major Libardo Eduardo Caraveo spoke little English when he came to America as a teenager. But he put himself through college, earned a Ph.D., and was helping combat units cope with the stress of deployment. He is survived by his wife, sons and step-daughters.

“Staff Sergeant Justin DeCrow joined the Army right after high school, married his high school sweetheart, and had served as a light wheeled mechanic and Satellite Communications Operator. He was known as an optimist, a mentor, and a loving husband and father.

“After retiring from the Army as a Major, John Gaffaney cared for society's most vulnerable during two decades as a psychiatric nurse. He spent three years trying to return to active duty in this time of war, and he was preparing to deploy to Iraq as a Captain. He leaves behind a wife and son.

“Specialist Frederick Greene was a Tennessean who wanted to join the Army for a long time, and did so in 2008 with the support of his family. As a combat engineer he was a natural leader, and he is survived by his wife and two daughters.

“Specialist Jason Hunt was also recently married, with three children to care for. He joined the Army after high school. He did a tour in Iraq , and it was there that he re-enlisted for six more years on his 21st birthday so that he could continue to serve.

“Staff Sergeant Amy Krueger was an athlete in high school, joined the Army shortly after 9-11, and had since returned home to speak to students about her experience. When her mother told her she couldn't take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied: ‘Watch me.'

“Private First Class Aaron Nemelka was an Eagle Scout who just recently signed up to do one of the most dangerous jobs in the service — diffuse bombs — so that he could help save lives. He was proudly carrying on a tradition of military service that runs deep within his family.

“Private First Class Michael Pearson loved his family and loved his music, and his goal was to be a music teacher. He excelled at playing the guitar, and could create songs on the spot and show others how to play. He joined the military a year ago, and was preparing for his first deployment.

“Captain Russell Seager worked as a nurse for the VA, helping veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress. He had great respect for the military, and signed up to serve so that he could help soldiers cope with the stress of combat and return to civilian life. He leaves behind a wife and son.

“Private Francheska Velez, the daughter of a father from Colombia and a Puerto Rican mother, had recently served in Korea and in Iraq , and was pursuing a career in the Army. When she was killed, she was pregnant with her first child, and was excited about becoming a mother.

“Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman was the daughter and granddaughter of Army veterans. She was a single mother who put herself through college and graduate school, and served as a nurse practitioner while raising her two daughters. She also left behind a loving husband.

“Private First Class Kham Xiong came to America from Thailand as a small child. He was a husband and father who followed his brother into the military because his family had a strong history of service. He was preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Guest column: Veterans earn our respect; honor them properly today | Jacksonville.com

2009-11-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

Guest column: Veterans earn our respect; honor them properly today | Jacksonville.com

Fort Hood remembers victims of attack

2009-11-11T09:25:00.001-05:00

By Rick Jervis, USA TODAY
FORT HOOD, Texas — President Obama and his generals told a crowd of 3,000 soldiers Tuesday that the Fort Hood massacre stands as an incomprehensible military tragedy — one that happened "in the comfort of home."

"These Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle. They were killed here, on American soil, in the heart of this great state, in the heart of this great American community," Obama said during an outdoor memorial service for the 12 soldiers and one civilian killed in Thursday's shooting rampage.

"It is this fact that makes the tragedy even more painful and even more incomprehensible," he said.

The president, flanked by other dignitaries, spoke on a stage in the sprawling front lawn of the 3rd Corps Headquarters building. It was at this post that an Army major was alleged to have opened fire inside a soldiers' processing center.

At the foot of the stage, 13 pairs of boots of the slain soldiers were laid next to 13 combat helmets perched on M-16 assault rifles. Portraits of those killed sat next to each rifle.

"Here, at Fort Hood, we pay tribute to 13 men and women who were not able to escape the horror of war, even in the comfort of home," Obama said.

The suspect, Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, continued to recover from multiple gunshot wounds at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the post's commander, told the crowd that victims ranged in age from 19 to 62 and came from 11 different states. Between them, they left 19 children behind. One was pregnant.

Cone said Fort Hood, the largest military base in the U.S., had lost 545 soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but losing them at home was especially painful: "We never get accustomed to losing one of our own. But we can more easily accept it when it happens on foreign soil against a known enemy."

The rest of the story can be found here.

Biden calls 7 Fort Lewis soldiers 'fallen angels' | TOP STORY - The News Tribune | Seattle-Tacoma News, Weather, Sports, Jobs, Homes and Cars | South Puget Sound's Destination

2009-11-11T09:19:00.002-05:00

Biden calls 7 Fort Lewis soldiers 'fallen angels'

Mandarin High graduate dies in helicopter crash in Iraq | Jacksonville.com

2009-11-11T09:12:00.000-05:00

Mandarin High graduate dies in helicopter crash in Iraq | Jacksonville.com

Paying tribute to fallen Vietnam vets | Jacksonville.com

2009-11-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

Paying tribute to fallen Vietnam vets | Jacksonville.com

Jacksonville veteran's story is different from all the others | Jacksonville.com

2009-11-11T09:07:00.000-05:00

Jacksonville veteran's story is different from all the others | Jacksonville.com

Week of Valor: Military Appreciation Day

2009-11-09T09:00:00.005-05:00

Military Appreciation Day at the Jaguars game yesterday included a ceremony where 150 young men and women enlisted in all branches of the armed services, a family was treated to a surprise reunion with their soldier who had been in Iraq, and standing ovations for more than a dozen wounded warriors and vets from past wars, including a Pearl Harbor survivor and an escapee from a Nazi prison of war camp.

And day two of the Sea and Sky Spectacular at the Beach:

Blue Angel photos by SGT Mark.

Week of Valor: Blue Angels from SGT Mark

2009-11-08T10:53:00.005-05:00

Week of Valor: Blue Angels at the beach

2009-11-08T09:09:00.005-05:00

Please click on images for best viewing.

Something's happening here

2009-11-07T10:32:00.004-05:00

I had been on the road most of Thursday visiting board members of the St. Johns River Alliance. No radio. Just quiet and an occasional phone call.

Arrived home and flipped on the news. Something was terribly wrong. A major general at Ft. Hood, Texas was describing a mass casualty event. A gunman - a soldier - had opened fire at the readiness center killing a dozen or so people, mostly soldiers who were preparing for deployment overseas and wounded scores more. Soldiers - all volunteers - killed at a military installation not in a war zone.

Details emerged. The shooter was an Army psychiatrist, an officer recently promoted to major.

Disbelief.
Stunned silence.
Grief.

Gayle and I sorted through our military family friends - if any had been at Ft. Hood, they were now gone. Some are heading there in December for training before deploying.

The details now are widely known now and some are still emerging. I won't rehash them here but in all tragedies there were heroes: a brave police officer, a PFC taking wounded to the hospital in his pickup truck, a soldier with PTSD unloading stretchers at the hospital.

The next day, I came home for lunch. A friend - an extraordinary reporter for the San Antonio Express News - was supposed to be on CNN to talk about the Ft. Hood tragedy.

Flipped on the news. Again, something was terribly wrong.

A gunman - a disgruntled ex-employee - opened fire on former colleagues in an Orlando, Fl. office building. One dead, five wounded. Gunman on the loose.

Interstate 4, the main artery from Florida's east coast to its west, shut down. Much of the business district shut down.

Unbelievable.
Another mass casualty event.

The firm under attack was Reynold, Smith & Hills, which is headquartered here in Jacksonville. Two of its senior executives, one of whom I've met, were in the Orlando office Friday. The gunman eventually surrendered and the authorities have not released the names of the wounded.

Meanwhile, it's Week of Valor here in Jacksonville. The Blue Angels are screaming up and down the beach this weekend. Parachute demonstrations, a mock amphibious landing, and air show displays and a gaggle of recruiters.

Tomorrow, it's Military Appreciation Day at the Jacksonville Jaguars v. Kansas City Chiefs game. Special half-time activities. A B-1 bomber flyover.

Wednesday, 11:01 a.m., it's the Annual Veterans Day parade downtown.

Given the last two days, there will be much to think about as we attend these events:
The unpredictability and fragility of life. The gratefulness we feel for our military who protect our freedoms and the bravery of the first responders who protect our lives.

Prayers are lifted for all the families.

Something's happening here.

Golfer rarely talks about one experience in Iraq

2009-11-03T14:45:00.002-05:00

From the San Antonio Express News

By Sig Christenson

GA Tour golfer Frank R. Lickliter II told a crowd of about 400 Monday of pulling 9.4 Gs with the Thunderbirds and doing a 15-base tour of Iraq, but the thing he didn't — and wouldn't — talk about was flying out of the war zone.

It's a deeply personal story, one that still haunts. As Lickliter and a band of golfers prepared to board a C-130J Hercules at a U.S. air base in Balad, north of Baghdad, they watched an honor guard escort a flag-draped metal transfer case to the plane's cargo bay.

More than 30 U.S. troops from the Army and Air Force formed two lines as the case containing the remains passed, their arms raised in a stiff salute. The golfers stood at the end of the line, behind the troops, hands over their hearts.

There was no music.

“I've got to tell you,” he said in an interview after the speech, which kicked off San Antonio's Celebrate America's Military week, an event that runs through Veterans Day, “everyone was crying.”

The rest of the story can be found here.

Sunday notes

2009-11-01T11:45:00.002-05:00

Off topic: Florida-Georgia game

Every year, Jacksonville hosts the annual Florida-Georgia football game, a legendary rivalry that takes on a life of its own when the teams face off with each other. And every year, tens of thousands of crazed football fans descend on the city. It's a tradition that goes back 77 years and it's been very good to the city. For Beaches residents, it means sirens, motorcades and the occasional crazy driver.

To that end and to the driver who nearly rear-ended me on A1A yesterday, I was in the left lane because I was making LEFT turn into my neighborhood. That's what turn signals are for. And thank you for the single finger salute, Florida is number one.

Afghanistan coverage

With the increasing violence in Afghanistan, the mainstream media have ramped up its coverage. NBC's Brian Williams was in Kabul last week and while there was a lot of predictable coverage of the intense fighting and election maneuvering, not all was gloom.

Here's a story about the Special Forces helping Afghans obtain essential medical help.

Close to home

Some of the most recent incidents have involved soldiers and Marines with parents here at the Beaches. Too close to home. We worry mightily for all of them.

Iraq War Vet Suffers Constant Seizures

2009-10-31T12:18:00.002-04:00

From WJXT-TV, News4Jax:

Brain Injury Caused By Explosion; Family Seeking Right Health Care

Video link (editor's note: the story is worth watching)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Anthony Rogers suffered a brain injury while serving in Iraq, and his life hasn't been the same since.

Rogers has constant seizures, up to several times an hour.

"It's pretty horrible, and the two that you've seen in the last five minutes are very small compared to what I see on a daily basis," Rogers' mom Liza Catron said.

Catron said her son's seizures have practically ruined his life.

"A good day can be 40 seizures," Catron said. "A bad day can be as many as 130."

Catron said it all started during Rogers' third tour in Iraq almost three years ago.

There he suffered a bad brain injury from an explosion that caused his Humvee to flip.

Video: Brain Injury Caused By Explosion

That injury changed his life.

"Very, very smart kid," Catron said. "And now he sometimes can't tell me what he is trying to say."

Since then, Catron says her son hasn't been fighting the country's enemies, he's been fighting to get the right care.

"His neurologist and his seizure expert are phenomenal doctors," Catron said. "Until we got them, we were accomplishing more by bashing our head against the wall."

Catron said after years of looking for the right doctors, her son is now being forced to fight for something else -- his full disability payment.

Even with a letter from his doctor that says he can't work, Catron said the Veterans Administration will only give her son a 40 percent payment.

But she wants more than the money. She just wants her son's life to get better.

"Three weeks ago Monday he had a seizure so bad that he ended up in a pool of blood," Catron said. "He busted his mouth, busted his nose."

Catron said the family is now close to being broke because her son can't work.

She said she just started working with Sen. Bill Nelson's office, and they told her they will look into what's going on.

SSG Michael Murphrey - heroic action

2009-10-29T16:49:00.004-04:00

SSG Murphrey was SGT Mark's team leader on two tours in Iraq. SSG Murphrey was killed in action in Afghanistan Sept. 6. Earlier in the year, SSG Murphrey was awarded the Unit V clasp and the Bronze Star. His father has sent over a narrative of the award this morning and asked that I post it. I am honored and salute Michael's heroism and service.

On 4 APR 09, SSG Murphrey performed above and beyond his duties during the broad spectrum of combat operations his squad endured. Securing a defensive position, SSG Murphrey’s squad came under heavy direct enemy fire that impacted in his immediate vicinity causing his Squad to drop behind cover in shallow ditch.

SSG Murphrey, with no regard to his personal safety, moved through the hail of enemy fire, positioned himself where he could provide an effective support by fire, for his Squad to follow. SSG Murphrey screened the enemy with smoke, and laid down accurate fires, simultaneously emplacing his squad behind cover, and then assigned sectors of fire to be covered by his multiple weapon systems.

SSG Murphrey then provided Support by fire so his Platoon Leader could move through open terrain to conduct link up with the other element of his platoon. SSG Murphrey then courageously led the assault forward to clear the enemy’s strong point that his
platoon was pinned down from, drawing enemy fire himself.

He coordinated the entry on the movement forward and secured the foothold to the house the insurgents were occupying. SSG Murphrey was the key element that allowed the platoon to clear the first objective without flaw, with very little support by fire do to the open terrain.

After clearing the first objective nearly single-handedly, he continued to lead his element towards a tree line that more suspected insurgents were occupying. After bounding around the base of a hill, SSG Murphrey’s squad came under direct enemy heavy machine gun fire, later identified as a NSV. Once again, without regard to personal safety, SSG Murphrey bounded forward, through the imminent danger ensuing to his front, placing effective small arms fire upon the enemy, enabling his Squad to take cover in the open field.

SSG Murphrey then valiantly maneuvered his element through the enemy’s wall of fire, returning fire leaving him in exposed, and in jeopardy for the safety of his Soldiers. Once behind cover, he marked obscured enemy targets with precise accuracy exposing their position. This enabled A-10 aircraft to fix, and finish the insurgent forces with their heavy volume of multiple weapon systems.

SSG Murphrey’s actions on this day allowed the safe exfiltration of all members of his platoon, simultaneously weakening the insurgency network in this Global War on Terror and strengthened the political future of the Nation of Afghanistan. SSG Murphrey’s actions on this day reflect great credit upon himself, the Army, The Geronimo Battalion, and The Spartan Brigade.

President Obama visits Jacksonville Naval Air Station

2009-10-27T11:12:00.001-04:00

An excerpt from his speech to 3,000 military, mostly sailors and Marines:

"We're reminded of this again with today's helicopter crashes in Afghanistan. Fourteen Americans gave their lives. And our prayers are with these service members, their civilian colleagues, and the families who loved them.

And while no words can ease the ache in their hearts today, may they find some comfort in knowing this: Like all those who give their lives in service to America, they were doing their duty and they were doing this nation proud.

They were willing to risk their lives, in this case, to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for al Qaeda and its extremist allies. And today, they gave their lives, that last full measure of devotion, to protect ours.

Now, it is our duty as a nation to keep their memory alive in our hearts and to carry on their work. To take care of their families. To keep our country safe. To stand up for the values we hold dear and the freedom they defended. That's what they dedicated their lives to. And that is what we must do as well.

So I say to you and all who serve: Of all the privileges I have as President, I have no greater honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief. You inspire me. And I'm here today to deliver a simple message -- a message of thanks to you and your families.

Being here, you join a long, unbroken line of service at Jacksonville -- from the naval aviators from World War II to Korea to Vietnam, among them a great patriot named John McCain. You embody that sailor's creed, the "spirit of the Navy and all who have gone before" -- Honor, Courage, Commitment.

In recent years, you've been tested like never before. We're a country of more than 300 million Americans, but less than 1 percent wears the uniform. And that 1 percent -- you and those in uniform -- bear the overwhelming burden of our security."

Individual Ready Reserve muster

2009-10-26T13:31:00.003-04:00

According to a friend of mine who is a military writer, the Army is mustering 13,500 Individual Ready Reserves this year in 18 different locations and will do a similar amount in 2010 in 19 musters. A muster is a one-day screening that includes a physical and health assessment.

I still have not been able to determine how many, if any, are being mobilized back into the Army for two-year tours.

Two inquiries are still pending.

Florida Guard trains at Camp Blanding for overseas mission | Jacksonville.com

2009-10-23T08:20:00.000-04:00

Florida Guard trains at Camp Blanding for overseas mission | Jacksonville.com

I have a friend whose son is in this unit. We wish them well on this upcoming deployment.

A worthy cause

2009-10-22T11:06:00.004-04:00

This is from Lola, one of our friends from the blogosphere. Her husband is with the 10th Mountain Division and is currently deployed to Afghanistan:

I was wondering if you would mind helping me raise money for No Greater Sacrifice. NGS is a DC-based non-profit that raises money to fund the education of the kids of fallen service members. They donate proceeds to organizations like the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, etc.

I ran the Army 10-Miler for them and I'm running the Marine Corps Marathon 10K Sunday morning for them as well. As a whole, the NGS Endurance team is trying to raise $100,000 for SSG Jackson's kids.

Individually, I'm trying to raise $2500 for them and I'm at $1675 now. My donation page is here: http://www.active.com/donate/NGS/LGillette

There is more information about No Greater Sacrifice here: http://www.nogreatersacrifice.org/

I've attached a picture of SSG Jackson and his family from before his youngest child, Hannah, was born. He's with his wife/widow Katie, and their three boys, Zach, Levi and Sam.

He was killed in action by an IED in November 2006 in Ramadi, Iraq. He was a member of the 16th Engineering Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division out of Giessen, Germany.

If you're willing to post about this, I'd appreciate it. Just trying to raise awareness (and $!) for a great cause.

Best,

Lola

USC going camo for game against Florida

2009-10-21T09:45:00.003-04:00

This could be a problem. We've become big Florida fans since Tim Tebow arrived. Gayle and her sister both attended Virginia Tech.

Thanks to Lola for pointing this out.

USC going camo for game against Florida | GoGamecocks

Small world

2009-10-18T12:00:00.004-04:00

The genesis of this blog came from a an October 2007 op-ed piece in the New York Times entitled Party here, sacrifice there by Will Bardenwerper, a former Army infantry officer. He said:

"Serious problems with the war in Iraq are well chronicled, but I am struck by one that does not seem to trouble the country’s leadership, even though it is profoundly corrosive to our common good: the disparity between the lives of the few who are fighting and being killed, and the many who have been asked for nothing more than to continue shopping."

I named the blog The One Percenters for the small percentage of Americans who have been carrying the burdens of these wars for six years. I didn't realize how small that world was until recently.

A few weeks back, SGT Mark's team leader in Iraq, SSG Michael C. Murphrey, was killed in Afghanistan. SSG Murphrey had moved from the 82nd Airborne to the 25th Infantry, 4th Brigade (Airborne)and was deployed overseas. As soldiers SGT Mark and SSG Michael were brothers (a tribute is posted below).

It turns out, based on a cruise around Facebook, that a member of our local Military Support Group here in Florida likely has a son in the same unit as SSG Murphrey's. Our friend's name is Mike Ammiano and his son's name is Chris. Mike has been to a couple of our meetings and we have heard about how terribly difficult this deployment has been. I've never met Chris but have his name on my computer so I can remember him in silent prayer.

So there it is - a small world, one that Gayle and I never expected to be in, but are greatly honored to be part of. We have in the last four years met some of the most extraordinary men and women you could ever know. It is a privilege to know them.

To the family of SSG Murphrey: There isn't a day we don't think about you and Michael. We owe Michael a debt we can never repay: He brought our son home alive....twice. I wish I could have told him thank you.

To the Ammianos: Prayers that this deployment ends soon. Godspeed to the 25th and a safe return home.

A small world indeed.

Mobilizing the IRRs

2009-10-17T11:00:00.002-04:00

I spent a lot of time on the Internet and the phone yesterday trying to determine if the Army is mobilizing the Individual Ready Reserves to active duty. Here's what I have found so far:

*The Marines have stopped mobilizing IRRs because it has exceeded its recruiting goal.
*A number of Congressional staff don't understand the difference between being in the active reserves or being an IRR.
*The Army's Human Resources Command is mustering 14,000 IRRs for one-day evaluations of health, fitness and other criteria. This is a departure from past practices.
*There are numerous websites dedicated to helping service men and women avoid an IRR mobilization.
*The Army is not pursuing soldiers under the Uniform Code of Military Justice if an IRR doesn't show up as ordered. But that could change.
*There is a cottage industry of attorneys who will help, for a fee, soldiers file for a mobilization exemption, mostly for health or hardship reasons.
*At least one Congressional staffer speculated that the Army is mobilizing the IRRs because of the expected ramp up in Afghanistan. But it was just speculation.

What we have not been able to determine is whether or not the Army is in fact mobilizing IRRs and whether or not the reserve career counselor is telling us the truth or trying to make his October recruiting/retention goals.

Army daze

2009-10-16T08:41:00.002-04:00

SGT. Mark has been told by an Army Reserve career counselor to join the Reserves in two weeks or face an Individual Ready Reserve mobilization the first week in November. According to the counselor, his orders are pending for a another two-year stint on active duty that would likely include another deployment.

So maybe our Army saga isn't over yet.

The Good Soldiers by David Finkel

2009-10-12T12:15:00.003-04:00

This may be the first book about the war I will read. I think I can handle it now.

From the NY Times
By DOUG STANTON
Published: October 8, 2009

“The front-line soldier I knew lived for months like an animal, and was a veteran in the cruel, fierce world of death. . . . The front-line soldier has to harden his inside as well as his outside or he would crack under the strain.”

That was the war correspondent Ernie Pyle, writing about the soldiers he lived alongside and chronicled in his World War II dispatches.

Fast-forward 64 years to 2007, the year the Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter David Finkel brings to astonishing life in his chronicle of modern combat, “The Good Soldiers.” Like Pyle, Finkel brilliantly captures the terrors of ordinary men enduring extraordinary circumstances.

Between January 2007 and June 2008, Finkel spent eight months with a battalion of 800 United States Army soldiers from Fort Riley, Kan., known for short as the 2-16 (Second Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Infantry Brigade Combat Team, First Infantry Division).

From a cramped, lousy office — big enough for just three folding chairs and a desk — the young men were led by a gung-ho yet thoroughly likable 40-year-old lieutenant colonel named Ralph Kauzlarich. We learn that Kauzlarich, when he first met his wife-to-be, told her, “You can call me The Kauz” (to her credit, she never granted this wish). A sign on the head-quarters wall read, “Mission: to create a balanced, secure and self-sufficient environment for the Iraqi people.”

The rest of the review can be found here.

Glider, the Airborne dog

2009-10-11T11:19:00.001-04:00

Glider, with our youngest son Jon.

With our rescue cat Isabeau.

No kidding

2009-10-10T07:58:00.000-04:00

courtesy of the Denver Post

Friday news and notes

2009-10-09T12:54:00.003-04:00

Support group:Our military support group meets Saturday evening and I'm afraid the news isn't great. Two of our families have sons deployed to Afghanistan in two different Army units. Each of the units have lost eight men so far...and these are small units(maybe company level). Thankfully, our families soldier's are OK, under the circumstances. We have another Marine leave in December. This will be his first deployment to Afghanistan after two in Iraq.

Other notes:

*I will be posting pictures of Mark's seven month old pup soon. I had hoped to catch him running around the yard with a flower pot on his head, but he destroyed the pot before I could grab a photo. The pup knows he just seven months old so he believes he is still a lap dog, despite his 65 lbs.

*What a difference a year makes. For a long time, Afghanistan was considered the forgotten war. Now it's Iraq. Pardon me for being a bit cynical but my take on this is twofold:

There is better video (from a TV producers perspective) coming out of Afghanistan;
and the media now has a chance to hype a potential conflict between the President and his generals.

Nothing like that going on in Iraq right now.

Eight U.S. Soldiers Dead in Bold Attack in Afghanistan

2009-10-04T11:18:00.001-04:00

From The New York Times:

By SABRINA TAVERNISE and SANGAR RAHIMI
Published: October 4, 2009

KABUL, Afghanistan — Insurgents besieged two American outposts in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, American and Afghan officials said, killing eight Americans and two Afghan policemen in a bold daylight strike that was the deadliest for American soldiers in more than a year.
Skip to next paragraph
Related
Week in Review: The Distance Between ‘We Must’ and ‘We Can’ (October 4, 2009)
Report Cites Firefight as Lesson on Afghan War (October 3, 2009)
Times Topics: Afghanistan

The attack took place in the Nuristan province, a remote area on the border with Pakistan. It began Saturday morning, when insurgents stormed the area, pounding the two American base camps with guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

Americans fought back, striking their attackers with helicopters, heavy guns and airstrikes, but the insurgents were persistent and the battled lasted into the afternoon, said Col. Wayne Shanks, a spokesman for NATO forces in Afghanistan.

It was unclear whether insurgents made it inside either of the two compounds, but Colonel Shanks said that by the end of the battle, American forces still controlled the outposts. The Americans shared the compounds with Afghan security forces.

“The militants put on a very aggressive attack,” Col. Shanks said. “Our forces had to use a considerable amount of firepower to counter it.”

The governor of Nuristan province, Jamaluddin Badar, reached by telephone on Sunday, said that 11 Afghan police officers, including the district police chief, had been kidnapped in the strike. He said the attackers did breach the compounds briefly. The American military did not confirm the report.

Much about the attack was still unclear on Sunday, but its broad outlines were eerily familiar. Nine American soldiers were killed in July 2008 in the same province, when 200 insurgents stormed their small outpost in the village of Wanat.

That attack, which has been described as the “Black Hawk Down” of Afghanistan, with the 48 American soldiers and 24 Afghan soldiers outnumbered three to one in a four-hour firefight, is now seen as a cautionary tale for the war here, which commanders say should focus more on protecting civilians.

Locals in the area were furious with Americans for the killing of local medical staff in an airstrike the week before, and commanders believe that for that reason, they were more hospitable to insurgents.

Outrage was so intense that President Hamid Karzai called for an investigation into the airstrike, which local officials at the time said had killed 22 innocent Afghans.

Mr. Badar said Saturday’s attack took place in the Kamdysh district, about 10 miles from the border with Pakistan, and less than 20 miles southwest of the attack last year.

Attackers gathered in a mosque and a nearby village, before staging the attack. Mr. Badar said the attackers were Taliban fighters who had come from Pakistan, after military operations in that country pushed them out of their bases there. He said the strike was led by a Taliban commander named Dost Muhammed, whom he described as the shadow commander for the Taliban in Nuristan.

The Americans identified the attackers as “tribal militia,” a departure from their typical usage of the word Taliban. Col. Shanks said the description was more specific. Some military planners argue applying the word Taliban to all insurgents oversimplifies the fight Americans face here and gives the appearance, sometimes falsely, of a coordinated, hierarchical fighting force.

More can be found here.

Local news makes the national news

2009-10-03T10:43:00.003-04:00

And it was good news too. The 146th Signal Battalion of the Florida National Guard returned Thursday night to Jacksonville to a wonderful homecoming after a year in Iraq. No fatalities or serious injuries. The video is 32 seconds long and can be found here.

Having been to two homecomings at Green Ramp at Fort Bragg, it brought back wonderful memories and a few tears as well. Nice to see NBC was paying attention.

Friday news and notes

2009-10-02T09:44:00.004-04:00

As I write:

*SGT Mark's Australian shepherd is running around the yard with a flower pot on his head. He does this quite often. Pictures to follow this weekend.

*I am having very minor surgery this morning that should produce a major change in our lives. By sticking a permanent tube in my right ear, I should be able to hear everything that Gayle says to me...for the first time in 25 years. Not sure that's a good thing :)

*Weather has broken here. Windows are open and dogs are coming and going as they please into the back yard. Hope it holds for a while.

*From today's Washington Post:

Soldiers' Data Still Being Downloaded Overseas, Firm Says
Sensitive Information Found by Using 'Peer to Peer' File-Sharing Software

Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 2, 2009

The personal data of tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers -- including those in the Special Forces -- continue to be downloaded by unauthorized computer users in countries such as China and Pakistan, despite Army assurances that it would try to fix the problem, according to a private firm that monitors cybersecurity.

Tiversa, which scours the Internet for sensitive data, discovered the data breaches while conducting research for private clients. The company found, as recently as this week, documents containing Social Security numbers, blood types, cellphone numbers, e-mail addresses, and the names of soldiers' spouses and children.

The availability of such data, security experts say, exacerbates the threat of identity theft and retaliation against troops on sensitive missions. In addition to using the information to drain financial accounts, hackers could pose as soldiers in an effort to ferret out sensitive data, including passwords to government systems.

Such disclosures represent a "major security risk" to the service members and the military, said Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which was informed of the data breach by Tiversa.

The rest of the story can be found here.

Tuesday news and notes

2009-09-29T15:26:00.002-04:00

I took a two week break from blogging. Didn't feel like I had much to say but with more friends and acquaintances heading to Afghanistan. I had better get back on the stick.

I had been complaining about the lack of inaction by the VA in processing Mark's GI Bill benefits. I shouldn't have. He's been one of the lucky ones. See story and link below:

Veterans Get Some Relief With Tuition
$3,000 Advances to Bridge GI Bill Backlog

By Emma Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 26, 2009

Thousands of veterans who returned to school this semester under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and have yet to receive tuition, housing and textbook payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs will each be eligible for $3,000 in emergency aid, agency officials announced Friday.

"Students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said in a statement.

The agency has been overwhelmed by a flood of applications. Of the 251,000 students who have submitted claims this year, 24,186 -- less than 10 percent -- have received checks, according to Veterans Affairs officials. They point out, however, that not all of those students intend to use the benefits this year. Although many universities are deferring tuition payments, the delays have forced students to take out loans, rack up credit card debt and consider dropping out of school in order to meet living expenses, according to veterans and groups that advocate on their behalf.

The rest of the story can be found here.

SSG Michael C. Murphrey: A tribute

2009-09-16T20:43:00.009-04:00

A letter to my brother.

By SGT Mark M. Middlebrook, formerly of the 82nd Airborne.

- I met you when you transferred to my platoon from another unit.

- I became your SAW gunner and you became my team leader.

- You taught me what I needed to know because I had a lot to learn.

- You straightened me out when I needed to be.

- We served together through two tours and you kept me alive.

- I followed you like a shadow because you were fearless.

- I promised you that I would always watch your back.

- You had a family so I prayed to catch your bullet.

- You kept me in front with you because I had better vision.

- We went our separate ways after Iraq, you to a new unit and I out of the army.

- I told myself the war was over but you kept fighting.

- I was on the 2nd floor of the UNF library when I learned you had been killed.

- Somewhere in Texas they played taps for you, I heard it in a bar in Florida.

- I took a shot in your honor but it didn’t wash away the guilt.

- Your passing reminded me of -and added to- the weight my body and heart still carries.

- I knew you as only one can once they have been in combat together.

- You were my brother and I loved you as such.