Marine Corps Sergeant Dakota Meyer was recently awarded the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony. The Marine is the youngest living recipient of the Medal at just 23 years old. I wanted to share some photos – and this great story from his hometown – of his induction into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.
All photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin O’Brien.
With all the embarrassment of the screw-ups at Arlington National Cemetery it is amazing to think that some technology company has achieved in a few months what our Federal Government couldn’t even do right over many, many years.
Arlington-based information technology service provider Segue Technologies Inc. has developed a free smartphone app that helps locate grave sites at the Arlington National Cemetery. The app, available free-of-charge for both iPhone and Android phones, lets the user identify the location of a specific grave using first, last and/or middle name as well as dates of birth or death. A map is provided in addition to the grave’s location .To find the app for the iPhone, please go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arlington-national-cemetery/id455238628?ls=1&mt=8.
Posted in Military History, Why We Serve
This last week on You Served Radio we were lucky enough to have former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the show as a guest. Unlike the MSM TV outlets who usually only get him for a 5-10 minute interview, we had him on for 30 minutes. To go along with his interview we also put up a signed copy of his new book, Known and Unknown on our You Served ebay store.
You can find a link to the auction of the book here, http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2011/09/13/tonight-on-a-special-you-served-radio/ and you can find the link to the interview’s archive and listen to it at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2011/09/14/episode-159–911-memorial-show-1
Copies of this book signed are going for $65-$75 on ebay right now. Ours, which benefits a great charity organization is currently sitting at $15.50. Go make you bid today, because it ends in 2 days.
Posted in Charities/Contests, You Served Radio
One of the things that stuck out to me during the recent attacks in Kabul after watching the videos was how well-trained the Afghan forces have become. No longer are they firing aimlessly from the hip or at extended arms length.
Through years of training by American and foreign troops, the Afghan military is beginning to possess the discipline and competence to successfully repel such attacks. They are firing well-aimed shots towards legitimate targets instead of just spraying bullets everywhere. This is not only ending battles quicker than ever, but saving innocent lives in the process.
But, much like our military, their training is never over as shown in this photo by Pfc. Andrew Vidakovich. Afghan security guards from the Kabul Balteh Safety & Security Company learn and perform the functions check of a PKM machine gun during a class on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. The purpose of the class was to familiarize the ASG with the weapon system. It become invaluable in the future when the Taliban decides they want to attempt another failed attack.
Posted in Photo of the Day
I was recently made aware of a great organization called Defending the Blue Line. This charity was put together in order to help off-set the costs or even provide the chance to play for children of service members.
Their Mission Statement is:
Defending the Blue Line is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization created by soldiers with the spirit of keeping hockey alive for the children of our nations military heroes. Our mission at Defending The Blue Line (DTBL) is ensuring that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the game of hockey. We accomplish this by providing free equipment for military kids, hockey camps, special events, and financial assistance for registration fees and other costs associated with hockey.
So if you know of a military family that has kids who play hockey or want to, point them to http://www.defendingtheblueline.com/. As a Hockey coach and Hockey Dad of three players I can tell you it is an expensive sport. So I am sure anyone serving would greatly appreciate any assistance that could be given to them by this organization.
I plan on writing a few entries about USAG Germany, in particular, but a lot of the information will apply to out of the Country PCS moves. Today I wanted to post some information about passports.
Americans don’t normally get a passport just to have it, but when my husband joined the military and two of my sons were serving I started the application process. I had never traveled out of the Country, but I knew that there was a possibility that I may wind up in Korea, Germany, Japan, etc.
There is a difference between the standard blue citizen passport and the military passport that is issued. For example, in USAG in the state of Bavaria there are a lot of wonderful Countries you can visit in a simple day trip. Poland and the Czech Republic are very close. You can not cross these borders, however, without the standard blue passport for a day trip.
Below is a great article I pulled from a website for USAG Germany. Even if you are brand new to military life, I highly recommend going ahead and getting your passport for the following reasons:
1. To expidite a passport adds about $50 to the cost.
2. If you do get orders to PCS to a foreign country then you have one less hassle and red tape to get through!
3. It leaves you freer to plan fun and spontaneous trips and it provides you with another form of an accepted identification.
Read below:
PASSPORTS AND SOFA IDENTIFICATION
Many military personnel arrive in Germany under the belief that they can travel freely in Europe with only a military ID card. This is not the case. All US Forces and family members must have a passport to travel between foreign countries. A “blue tourist” passport is recommended in addition to an official passport. If military family members are authorized to accompany you overseas on your orders, they must obtain “no-fee” passports. Some military assignments may entitle the sponsor and his or her family members to official diplomatic passports. These are also free of charge.
The NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) requires US citizen civilian employees and family members of US military personnel and civilian employees to be so described in their passports when assigned in the territory of another NATO country. SOFA stamps and SOFA cards identify the passport bearer as a person who is entitled to unrestricted entry into and exit from Germany and to benefits, privileges, and protection under the NATO SOFA. In other words, passport bearers with valid SOFA identification generally may enter, remain in, and exit from Germany without obtaining visas; registering with the local alien registration and control officials; paying local customs and duties taxes on items imported and exported for personal use; paying German income taxes on salaries earned from US Government employment and interest received from military banking facilities; playing local radio, television, dog and road taxes; etc.
Those individuals who received a “no-fee” tourist passport in the US will have a SOFA stamp in it. Military contractors and family members should obtain a SOFA card for their passports soon after arriving in Germany.
As of July 2, 2001, the State Department now requires both parents’ consent to obtain passports for overseas travel of children under the age of 14. Both parents must now sign the passport application forms, unless one parent is unavailable because of geographic separation, divorce, or other circumstances. In this case, the parent applying for a child’s passport needs a signed, nonnotarized letter or statement from the absent parent that provides permission to take the child or children overseas. For more information on this subject, please see the US State Department website at http://www.state.gov.
Posted in Spouse and Family
Well tonight is it folks. We have been talking about this show for a couple of weeks. Tonight on You Served Radio, we will host a special 9/11 memorial show. As part of that show, we will have former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on to talk about a variety of important topics. We will also be having good friend of the show, former Ranger and current businessman, Ranger-Up founder Nick Palmisciano. In addition to these two great guests we at You Served Radio will talk about our memories of 9/11/01, where we were, what it means to us today, etc. We also encourage some of our listeners to call in to our guest line at 866-696-9150 and share their memories when we get to that point in the show.
Last but not least we here at You Served Radio are proud to announce that starting today, our You Served Ebay auction site is back up and running. Our first item in the auction store is a signed copy of Donald Rumsfeld’s new book, Known and Unknown.
I am currently reading this book and I can tell you it is awesome. You want a copy of this book, and of course getting a signed copy makes it even better. So stop by http://www.ebay.com/itm/Known-and-Unknown-A-Memoir-Autographed-Copy/190576720461#ht_500wt_1156 and make your bid now. It is starting out at $5.00 (NO RESERVE) which is a steal.
All sales made on the You Served ebay Store have 100% (VAMC pays for all shipping) of the money goes towards a Military supporting charity that we choose. We try to rotate these charities every couple of months.
The charity we are now supporting is www.pinupsforvets.com. Be sure and check out Gina’s site to learn more about her charity, how she helps and lifts the spirits of many of our country’s wounded in military and VA hospitals today, and how she has donated over $50,000 back to some of those hospitals for their needs.
Looks like Afghan corn is doing better than our Texas corn was when I left a few months ago.
U.S. Army Sgt. Sean Matthews, team leader attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, navigates through a dense corn field while looking for triggermen in Alisheng district, Laghman province, Sept. 12. The PRT, partnered with the security forces assistant team and the Afghan National Police, patrolled through a village to talk to the locals and teach the ANP proper procedures during patrols. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane.
Posted in Photo of the Day
Tagged afghan national police, Afghanistan, Air Force, anp, army, OEF, Patrol, Provincial Reconstruction, PRT Laghman, Security Forces, SFA
Beginning next month most deploying Army units should enjoy two years of dwell time upon returning home. These goals are dependent on conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially as the U.S. remains on track to withdraw from Iraq by 31 December and the number of troops in Afghanistan continues to decrease. Army Secretary John McHugh stated on 5 August that the next priority is to move to nine-month deployments in fiscal 2012 for units at the division level and below. Corps headquarters and Soldiers on individual taskings will remain on 12-month tours. To read further about the extended dwell time, check out: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/09/army-dwell-time-increases-to-2-years-090411w/
You know, I’m a great lover of books. A bibliophile. But I love the paper and cover and binding version. I can’t do e-books for the life of me. And this past year, I got the opportunity to read, review, and interview a couple of my favorite authors, one of them being Michael Z. Williamson. I absolutely ADORE military sci fi!
Michael has been gracious enough to appear on the Youserved podcast at least twice, and I think 3 times. Once, allowing me to interview him after reviewing his book, and the other two times were about his work with the charity Cooking with the Troops. He is a busy man!
All that being said, he has a new book out called Rogue. If you are a fan, you will know this is a sequel to The Weapon and it’s based in the Freehold universe. The book review link above lets you know how I felt about Freehold. GREAT BOOK.
Now I have to admit here, I prebought Rogue and Mad Mike signed it for me. I’m waiting on pins and needles for it to arrive. Mike traveled to Uncle Hugo’s in Minneapolis and signed a few hundred books for his fans and he is <---> this close to getting on the NYT best seller’s list. Can we help push him over the top? Today, Monday, is the last day they will count sales and if you were looking for something to end your summer reading list, go with Rogue! Better yet, get The Weapon AND Rogue and you’re good to go for the rest of the month on reading material!
Mike does a lot of great things. He’s served this nation in uniform, he’s written amazing books, he’s helped with charities that benefit the military. Do a good turn back and buy his book. You won’t regret it for the simple fact that he’s a great writer.
Ok, off with you to clicky on the Amazon link!
Posted in Uncategorized
You Served's Claire talks about the life of a military spouse - the hardships, the joys, and everything in between.
Join the discussion in our new Spouse and Family section!
