In Memorium: Sgt. Maj. Bradly D. Conner

May 17, 2007 By Dipps (VA Mortgage Center)
Posted in Blogroll

Michael Yon of Online Magazine has an obituary for Sgt. Maj. Bradly D. Conner.

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Furor Over Pentagon Blocking Certain Websites

May 16, 2007 By Dipps (VA Mortgage Center)
Posted in Blogroll

A Soldier’s Mind reminds everyone troops’ access to certain websites sites are only blocked at work to prevent stain on the computer networks in Iraq. Soldiers can still access sites like YouTube and MySpace from internet cafes and many supposedly have access in their rooms.

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One Marine’s View: Half Mast

By Dipps (VA Mortgage Center)
Posted in Blogroll

One Marine’s View proposes lowering the flag to half mast for one day for each soldier who dies in war.

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Where I Stand: Military Spouses Day

May 15, 2007 By Dipps (VA Mortgage Center)
Posted in Blogroll

May 11th was Military Spouses Day. Francis Marion of Where I Stand has a story called “When God Created the Military Wife.”

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Recent News from You Served

May 14, 2007 By You Served Editorial Staff
Posted in Charities/Contests, News

Sgt Hook, one of the winners of our best blog contest, has been posting a recap of the Milblogging conference held last weekend (Post 1, 2, 3, and 4).

We have also announced the winners of our scholarship contest in which 3 individuals were awarded $1,000 scholarships. You can read the winning essays. We congratulate the winners and thank all of the entrants (over 120 people applied).

We are continually looking for guest blog submissions, please contact us if you are interested. And the employees at the VA Mortgage Center.com donate money for every loan they close. They have allowed You Served to help decide what charities/organizations will get the money. So if you know of a deserving charity/organization that supports those in the military community, let us know.

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A*W*A*C

By Dipps (VA Mortgage Center)
Posted in Blogroll

A*W*A*C (Afghanistan without a Clue) is back in the States. There is an blog entry about the trip home.

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Milblog Conference 2007- Panel #4

May 11, 2007 By Hook
Posted in Guest Blogger

SUPPORT- MORE THAN JUST A BUMPER STICKER, Moderator- Chuck Z of From My Position… On the Way!

Chuck Z spoke earlier in the day at lunch and I can guarantee there was not a dry eye in the room. He told his story of when he was injured by an IED in Iraq and how he awoke in Landstuhl, Germany first, then later at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Each time surprised to find he was being watched over by Angels, Soldiers’ Angels. His personal story of courage made him the perfect moderator for this powerhouse panel.

Sandra Edens of Sew Much Comfort impressed me with her dedication to sewing special trousers and shirts for our wounded warriors. The duds are often complete with velcro in places you’d never think of because you’d never faced an IED. She and her volunteer seemstresses are Angels indeed.

Roxie Merritt of the OASD (PA) joined the panel helping to shed light on how the Department of Defense has picked up on the power of Milblogs and more specifically, organizations like Soldiers Angels and Sew Much Comfort, and working to support them through official channels. I was pleased to see such involvement by the DOD.

Two phenominal ladies from Soldiers’ Angels rounded out the panel, MaryAnn Phillips of Soldiers’ Angels Germany, and Patti Patton-Bader of Soldiers’ Angels. These two ladies and their volunteers have made sure that each and every of your wounded warriors is greeted, hugged, cared for, clothed, connected, and loved during each stage of their evacuation and treatment. They are my heroes and let us all not forget, SUPPORT for our Troops is so much more than slapping a bumper sticker on our SUVs.

Sgt Hook out.

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Milblog Conference 2007- Panel #3

By Hook
Posted in Guest Blogger

RAPID-FIRE ROUNDTABLE, Moderator- John Donovan of Castle Argghhh!

Noah Shachtman of Wired’s Danger Room provided a perspective from someone who is inside the mainstream media. He took some heat from the audience as the discussion seemed to move into a Milblog v. MSM arena. Personally, I thought he did a good job of explaining just why it is MSM reporters focus on explosions as opposed to schoolhouses.

Lex of Neptunus Lex balanced the discussion with a Milblog perspective not only on the MSM question but on blogging as an active duty member. Of course I couldn’t help but envy his day job as an F-18 driver.

Murdoc of Murdoc Online sat proudly and unapologetically as an American patriot and staunch supporter of the military. He impressed this old soldier.

Rounding out the panel were Eagle1 of Eaglespeak and CPT Anthony Deiss of CENTCOM providing more input into the value of Milblogs and the potential effect of the Army’s recently updated OPSEC regualtion. The discussion became so lively that Jack Holt of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs took the microphone and answered questions regarding the how the DOD planned to embrace Milblogs rather than shut them down. Once again, a fantastic panel with lively discorse.

Next up, Panel #4- Support- More Than Just a Bumper Sticker.

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Milblog Conference 2007- Panel #2

May 10, 2007 By Hook
Posted in Guest Blogger

ALL IN THE FAMILY, Moderator Andi of Andi’s World

My personal favorite panel as it was composed primarily of those I consider to be America’s real heroes. I’ve often commented that though our men and women serving in the armed forces are the foundation of this nation, the families of our servicemen and women are the cornerstone.

Rachelle of ArmyWifeToddlerMom is an amazing woman who married a Soldier several years ago and shared her experiences with the audience. I found most moving is that her Soldier spouse was deployed during both births of their children and yet they stand ready to survive yet another deployment for our sake.

Sarah of Trying to Grok is also married to a Soldier and damn near brought me to tears with her compassionate plea for all deployed servicemen and women to please remember that their families back home live from phone call to phone call or email to email.

Becky of Military Families Voice of Victory provided thoughtful insight into what our military families go through, herself with 3-sons serving and having survived 22 straight months with them deployed.

Another mom, Carla of Some Soldier’s Mom captivated the room with her recount of how she reacted to the news of her son being wounded in Iraq. Amazing women all and a fascinating panel adding just the right flavor to the overall conference.

Next up, Panel #3- Rapid Fire- Roundtable.

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VAMC Military Scholarship Winners Announced

By You Served Editorial Staff
Posted in Charities/Contests

VA Mortgage Center.com and ‘You Served‘ are proud to publicly announce the winners of our Military Education Scholarship Program today. the 3 winners will each receive a $1,000 for educational purposes.

And the Winners are: (Drumroll please..)

Stacey Lang, Ann Marie Little, and John Parker (on behalf of his daughter Emily)

These very deserving winners were chosen from a pool of hundreds of applicants that sent in essays in response to our prompt “Why I Choose to Serve”. Each will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from VA Mortgage Center.com through a fund that is 100% funded by the employees of the company.

We are proud to work with current and former members of the armed forces every day, and the scholarship program was established to say ‘thank you’ to all of you who have given so much for our country.

With the costs of higher education continuing to rise, we hope the Military Education Scholarship Program helps propel these students (and future winners) towards their academic goals.

You can read more about our winners and get a chance to read their essay submissions here on VAMC.

Thank you to all that participated and please check back with us in the fall for future installments of the program. To each winner, ‘You Served’ salutes you! ‘You Served’ would also like to thank the employees of the VA Mortgage Center.com.

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