You Served is pleased to welcome Katie Dyer, founder of the Heroes at Home blog. Mrs. Dyer is the first guest in our new series – “On Loan at You Served” as we introduce and promote those in the milblogging family.
Mrs. Dyer said she felt “like she had been punched in the stomach” when her husband, Army Capt. Paul Dyer left for Afghanistan in Dec. 2007. As she worked through her emotions, the certified life coach decided she didn’t want anyone else to feel like that when faced with a spouse leaving for combat, so she started the Heroes at Home blog in early 2008.
“I want to reach out and help as many people as I can,” Dyer said.
Don’t miss Mrs. Dyer on the You Served podcast May 21st.
On Saturday, I had the pleasure of going to the weekly protest one of the corners in Huntsville, AL. Unlike the big city protests, these are generally attended by fewer than 20 people on both sides combined. It wasn’t until Israel retaliated for Hamas rockets and mortars that the normal corner exploded with dozens of Hamas and Palestine and anti-Israeli supporters. It has since trickled back to the normal 6-10 war protesters.
This weekend, I decided that instead of just standing there waving, I was going to speak to a gentlemen that stood out to me a few weeks ago during the whole anti-Israeli silliness. An older gentlemen wearing a “Veterans For Peace” silly hat and carrying a sign with the same language on it stuck out to me. I decided that I’d interview him and find out about his history.
With Chris in tow, I approached the man and explained that I was a military blogger, told him my name and website, and asked if I could interview him. His name is Ed Hart and he gave me permission to record the conversation. I’m going to cut out snippets of the conversation for the purposes of this post, but I will make a complete, unedited copy available so no one thinks I’m taking things out of context.
Mr. Hart explained to me that he was in the Marine Corps during WWII. He fought in some of the more widely known campaigns in the Pacific as well as some lesser known ones. They include Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Rabaul, Green Islands and others. He claimed to have been a rear seater in the a dive bomber at the time. While he didn’t specifically mention it, but I would assume that meant he was in the Douglas SBD Dauntless since I think it was the only two seater diver bomber at the time. Most Marine Corps Aviation units in the Pacific theater had Corsairs during the campaigns he was in. The Helldiver didn’t ever really replace the Dauntlesses because they were produced so late in the war. But, I digress.
I wanted to get to the crux of why a WWII veteran was amongst a bunch of feminine hippies with “End The War” signs. I wanted to know which war they wanted to end.
I asked him about going into Iraq and he couldn’t think of any reason for going into Afghanistan. A discussion ensued about whether we waged war against Afghanistan or the Taliban.
Then things got really good. We started talking about authorizations for war and that he fought in the last war that was “legitimate” and “declared”. I tried tripping him up with his history because I was beginning to doubt he was really a veteran. You’ll see that this pissed him off a little.
The fact is that more than 6,000 Marines fought in Africa and Europe. Some of those Marines even took part in the storming of Normandy. They augmented British forces in keeping Iceland from falling to the Germans. Marines planned the Canadian and British raids of Dieppe, a French port city. Marines went ashore in Arzeu, Algeria, and Oran – where they occupied a strategic Spanish fortress at the tip of the harbor. They secured an airport in Morocco. On Jan. 7, 1942, Brigadier General Lewis G. Merritt, a Marine Corps pilot serving as an observer with the Royal Air Force in Egypt, was aboard a Wellington bomber shot down by ground fire behind German lines in the Halfya Pass. Therefore, I look forward to going back to the good “veteran” and pointing out that Marines served a much more vital role than just sitting around in embassies.
The interview ended abruptly there and as I began to walk off he tried to plead his case with me, so I turned the recorder back on. Ed continued explaining to me that he isn’t there to convince me of anything or change my mind. Like most anti-war buffoons, he just wanted “hold his sign” and I was getting in the way (even though I specifically asked permission to interview him, which was granted). Then, a fellow combat veteran said the following:
“I don’t give a damn about what you think…I really don’t!” This “Marine” combat veteran didn’t give a damn about what another veteran’s experiences were. Obviously, his feminine minder hadn’t prepped him that this wasn’t how “real” vets spoke with each other. During the interview, you can barely make her out in the background kind of prompting him to say certain things.
But, I’m a realist. I put words like “Marine” and “veteran” in quotes, but I don’t doubt that he is a WWII veteran. It’s interesting that all the WWII I’ve personally spoken to are bit more specific than “dive bomber” when speaking about what they did during that time. However, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He was about the right age to have been a veteran and deserves respect. After I shut off the recorder and returned back to my car, I turned back around to shake his hand again. I thanked him for leaving me with a free country to which I am now dedicating my life to defending and thanked him for his service. I told him that though he doesn’t respect my service as a combat veteran, I still respected his. At that point, I walked off before he could try to backtrack.
Back in 1989, when I was a wee tot of about 15 years old, I went to my first concert alone with my sister and friends. I paid for the tickets with my own cash and felt the true rocker. The concert was the Damaged Justice Tour and the headliners were Metallica and Queensrÿche.
I can still hear the pounding drums and sweet guitar licks of the opening chords of “Revolution Calling”. Then, Geoff Tate’s sonic pipes would kick in and you were in another world entirely, hanging on every word of the lyrical stories he would tell. In my mind, Operation Mindcrime is the one of the best albums in history! Even today the lyrics to Revolution Calling speak to me:
Got no love for politicians
Or that crazy scene in D.C.
It’s just a power mad town
But the time is ripe for changes
There’s a growing feeling
That taking a chance on a new kind of vision is due
I used to trust the media
To tell me the truth, tell us the truth
But now I’ve seen the payoffs
Everywhere I look
Who do you trust when everyone’s a crook?
It was my first foray into politics and I was listening closely. When I lived with my father in Texas, I’ll crank up the LP (that’s a vinyl record to you yung’uns) while my father was at work. I just can’t get tired of Mindcrime and Empire!! Who doesn’t love “Silent Lucidity”? They recently released Mindcrime: Live and I was 15 again.
The band is about to release its next full-length album honorably titled “American Soldier” on March 31st. The band is teaming up with Jamsbio.com to celebrate the strength and courage of those who serve our country. Interviews with troops are laced throughout the well-produced album.
Probably the most emotional song on the album for me is the song “Unafraid”, the second track on the new album, that pretty much epitomizes the American Soldier!
I’m unafraid,
I fear nothing.
I’m unafraid,
I hope for nothing.
I’m unafraid,
I fear nothing.
I’m free! I’m free!
I’m unafraid,
I hope for nothing.
I’m free – you can believe in me.
The song will give you goosebumps of pride from start to finish. The problem with it is that you won’t want to continue on and listen to the rest of the songs on the album!! It’s that good. But, if you succumb to that temptation, you miss out on the rest of the gems from “American Soldier”.
“Hundred Mile Stare” encapsulates the essence of the combat Soldier trying make sense of what he’s just survived. “Middle of Hell” starts you on the edge of your seat with the whispered “wake up” and then gets your heart pounding as you experience combat through the eyes of a hero who at first thinks he’s dreaming only to find out he really is in the middle of hell. The reassuring “you’re gonna be alright” almost sounds ironic to the backdrop of a Soldier “just trying to hold on to whatever is left” of himself. “Man Down” is the musical version of the opening scenes of “Saving Private Ryan”, with heart pounding drum beats and combat hardened guitars piercing your soul as chaos reigns. “Home Again” will bring tears to your eyes. That’s all I’m going to say about that one.
JamsBio.com is hosting dozens of touching memories and dedications to soldiers, from servicemen and women and their loved ones about service, sacrifice, life on the frontlines and home front.
The project doesn’t officially kick off until next week. But, you can now enjoy early access to HONORING THE AMERICAN SOLDIER. As an important member of the military community, they’re letting us know first about this exciting opportunity to contribute to this unique project and pay tribute to our servicemen and woman by sharing music memories, song dedications and top-5 lists.
JamsBio.com is already host to dozens of touching memories and dedications to soldiers, from servicemen and women and their loved ones about service, sacrifice, life on the frontlines and home front. Here are just a few:
* My Soldier, a memory from armywife704 of Fort Bragg, NC
* My Brother Comes Home, a memory from kwalz of Kansas City, MO
* Radar Love, a memory from wedge of Redmond, WA
* 3-9-66, a dedication from Dave030966 of Inverness, FL
* Far Away in Korea, a dedication from lovelogan of Olney, IL
* Songs about Soldiers & Service, a JamsBio user-generated top-5 list
* Songs about Freedom, a JamsBio user-generated top-5 list
You too can leave dedications or leave behind your memories of how you tie service to music. As you all know, I’ve done many interviews about how music played a huge role in my combat time and throughout my military career. I can almost make a soundtrack of my life in the military.
Tomorrow, I will be interviewing Geoff Tate for a special edition of the You Served Radio Show and Podcast. The interview will be live at 1200 CST. If you miss the live interview, you’re out of luck for about a week. The show will not be listed as a podcast until next week. We’ll talk about the new album, their connections to the military, and this new Honoring the American Soldiers project.
Also, next week we’ll be talking to Matt Williams, co-founder of Jamsbio.com during our regular Thursday evening You Served Podcast. So, don’t miss it! We’ll also air our interview with Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate during the show for those that miss the live interview.
U.S. Army Spc. Cory Dubell listens to music on an Iraqi police officer’s MP3 player during a visit to a home in Baghdad, Iraq, March 16, 2009. Dubell is from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, and the police officer is from 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th National Police Brigade, 2nd National Police Division. (DoD photo by Sgt. Kani Ronningen, U.S. Army)
You Served and VA Mortgage Center.com are proud to announce the MilBlog Bailout of 2009.
As you know, we love reading what every soldier, veteran, friend, and family member has to say about their lives in the military. In recent years, milblogs have become one of the strongest and most popular forces in driving that communication. That’s one of the reasons we started You Served – we wanted to become an active part of the conversation.
So what is this MilBlog Bailout? It’s an opportunity for any military blogger to blog for free in 2009. We’ll reimburse you for your hosting bill. With hard times falling on many in our country with the economy (etc.), it would be a shame if even a single milblog shut down this year for financial reasons.
If you currently blog on a free service such as Blogger, we’d be happy to help you move to your own domain. The associated costs are eligible to be completely covered through our MilBlog Bailout.
Please note that if you choose to participate, you are in no way obligated to endorse our blog or our company. No advertising agreement or requisite ‘pat on the back’ is necessary. We are offering this program because we love military blogs. We love reading them, we love having bloggers on our podcast, and we love working with some of the best out there in CJ, Troy and Claire.
Sign up today for the MilBlog Bailout Program and spread the word to anyone who may be interested. The program is limited to the first 25 bloggers who sign on so please respond quickly!
“As you know, we experimented with moving our annual conference to Vegas in 2008. We had a great time in Vegas – how could you not have a great time in Vegas – but, Washington is a better venue for our official conference, so the 2009 MilBlog Conference will be held in
Washington, DC. Milbloggers will continue to have a presence in Vegas at the annual Blog World Expo, which recently made some news, but the big conference will move back to Washington.
Going back to the successful model of 2007, all events will take place at The Westin Arlington Gateway on April 24-25.
Read the entire story here and learn about room reservations and more.
A Canadian singer named Terry Kelly wrote a song called “A Pittance of Time” (you can watch the video on my YouTube page at www.youtube.com/chcknhawk). He was inspired to write the song after hearing a store announcement while shopping asking the customers to observe two minutes of silence to honor the Veterans. When the announcement was made almost everyone ceased their actions except for one man and an inspirational and moving song was created.
This November 11th, we, too, have a chance to honor our Veterans. The one day set aside each year in the United States to honor our Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, and Marines is but a “pittance of time” in which each of us can take a moment on the liberties and freedoms that our servicemen and women protect for us. These individuals are willing to guarantee these rights for you with their very lives and we ask for just one day per year to remember and honor them.
In that spirit, the You Served blog and VAMortgageCenter.com has put together this Virtual Veterans Day Parade. In many cities across this country, our military is still disrespected as the city councils have put politics over patriotism. In honor of those patriots frustrated and powerless about this, we offer you this special parade. On behalf of each of these floats and in honor of all Veterans, the VAMC is making a generous donation to Soldier’s Angels’ Operation Valour-IT, which helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.
Grab your lawn chair and find a good spot as we set off on our virtual “parade”:
GRAND MARSHALL Name: CJ Grisham
Blog: A Soldier’s Perspective
You Served Float: American Flag
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “We owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans that cannot be realized by setting aside a single day. Veterans Day is a day to honor and pay our respects to those who chose a career in service to their fellow Americans. We remember the sacrifices made on our behalf and should seek out ways to show our appreciation. Even Veterans themselves owe a great deal of gratitude to those that came before us. They have secured a country worth fighting for on our behalf and continue to do so selflessly.”
VICE GRAND MARSHALL Name: Claire
Blog: Knee Deep in the Hooah
You Served Float: “I picked my banner image because it represents the blog that has kept me connected to my own veterans during deployment.”
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day of profound thankfulness in our home. We spend the day in grateful thought and prayerful remembrance of all Veterans, alive and fallen, past and present, who have sacrificed for this Country and for our Freedoms. We remember these things throughout the year, but Veteran’s Day is our formal time of joyful and grateful commemoration of the sacrifices they have made and the benefits we have been selflessly given as citizens of a free Country.”
Parade Participant Name: LL
Blog:Chromed Curses
You ServedFloat: Gold Star Mom Float
Comments on Veteran’s Day:”On this Veteran’s Day, I don’t just think of and remember all those in uniform who are serving, I think of their families too. The hardships they go through, the crushing losses they sometimes endure. I’ve been fortunate to be in contact with a few Gold Star Families and they have shared some of their stories and lives and grief and love for their children with me. And along with those who serve, they should be remembered and hugged on this day.
These Gold Star Families don’t have their veterans with them for you to thank. They have memories and smiles and tears and a flag and a headstone. We owe them as profound a thank you as those who currently wear the uniform and those who stand straight and salute the flag and at one time in their lives, wore the red, white, and blue patch on their shoulder. And please, make sure to include the WHOLE family. Fathers and siblings often get overlooked for mothers and wives and children. None love more or less, none feel the loss and pain differently.
To all of you who have served, serve currently, and those who have died under our flag and in uniform, you have my profound thanks and love.”
Parade Participant Name: Troy Steward
Blog: Steward Family Website : Bouhammer.com
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” I think it should be a recognized national holiday for veteran’s. I.E. Employers should be mandated to give any Veteran’s working for them that day off. It should not be optional. I mean if Mass. has its state Patriot’s Day that employers based in Mass. are forced to recognize, why can’t vets be given one more day off then the standard 9 holidays a year.”
Parade Participant Name: SSG Big
Blog: The War on Big Tobacco
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Listen. I want everybody reading this to get off the computer. Go outside and walk around until you find a party. Drink a cold beer and smoke a cigar. Flirt with the girls at the party. Drink every freedom down. Take time to laugh at the good times and bad. I don’t want your prayers right now. I don’t want your ceremonies or your wreaths. I just want you to enjoy the freedoms that I can’t enjoy right now. And by the way, flashing convoys of soldiers when you pass them in your car on the highway is the most sincere patriotic gesture. Just wanted to clear that up.”
Parade Participant Name: Mr. Wolf
Blog: Blackfive
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” A day to recognize that our country is built upon the backs of the workers who innovate and advance us, and helping to protect them and permit them to achieve, a military that is willing to sacrifice everything to give all that chance to work.
A day to remember that there are those who gave all, those that sacrificed family and personal gain to provide for others. A day to honor those who know that ’service’ is a commitment- a calling.
And a day to remember those we have served with- our brothers and sisters who have made service what it is- a chance to share, to grow, and to bond with others we’d never have a chance to otherwise.”
Parade Participant Name: Greyhawk
Blog: Mudville Gazette
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “It is the Veteran
It is the Veteran, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Veteran, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Veteran, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the Veteran, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Veteran, not the politician,
who has given us the right to vote.
It is the veteran, who salutes the Flag,
who serves under the Flag,
whose coffin is draped by the Flag.
Parade Participant Name: Terri
Blog: A Soldier’s Mind
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day set aside for all of America to stop and think about the thousands of men and women over the years that this nation has been in existance, who have willingly made the necessary sacrifices to ensure that we as American citizens can continue to enjoy the freedoms that our nation’s forefathers envisioned for us. Too many of us stop to think about why we have the freedoms and rights that we do. Veteran’s Day is a day that all of us need to really do that, instead of taking what we have for granted. If not for the men and women who have served and who continue to serve, our country might not be known as “The Land Of The Free.”
Parade Participant Name: JP
Blog: Milblogging
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “It’s a day for us to celebrate all veterans, past and present, who have sacrificed so much for our great nation.”
Parade Participant Name: Yankeemom
Blog: Yankeemom
You Served Float: “My float is a tank with cigar smokin’ Tankers all over it.”
Comments on Veteran’s Day:”Veterans Day is a very, very special day for me as I think of all those who wear the uniform of the greatest force in America and those who came before and all they have done for me and mine. I can never repay them, so much they have given me. But I will never forget them. They are my family.”
Parade Participant Name: Andi
Blog: Spouse Buzz
You Served Float: “A big, strong Hemi engine that keeps the floats moving forward”
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day for my family to reflect on what it means to serve our country, and to pay tribute, in some way, to those who have served, past and present. This reflection has evolved over time for me. There were pre-9/11 Veteran’s Days, and now there are post-9/11 Veteran’s Days. Pre-9/11, we knew our family could become personally involved in some war, in some region at some time, but post-9/11, our family knows what it means to serve in a time of war. We have begun a tradition in our house. On Veteran’s Day, we set aside time to do something, even if it’s a small something, to recognize the importance of the day. Visit a Veteran’s cemetery, make a small donation to a Veteran’s Charity, wear a flag pin on a lapel, call a friend or family member who is serving. There are tons of possibilities, and while reflection is nice — and important — doing something tangible, for us, makes the day even more special.”
Parade Participant
Name: Indian Chris
Blog: Wednesday Hero
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “We should never forget what these brave Men and Woman do for us. They sacrifice so much and ask so little. Take the time to thank and remember these people this Veteran’s Day. Just one “Thank You” can brighten up their day.”
Parade Participant Name: Toni
Blog: Bear Creek Ledger
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day is a day to appreciate the service and sacrifice of our Veterans toward keeping our country free and safe. I think about those amazing American Revolutionary soldiers, their courage to fight against all odds for something so idealistic as the right to live in a free society. I think about each generation of Americans who have had to fight to keep this liberty. It’s important to promote and recognize this day so Americans and their children don’t forget the blood and sacrifice it has taken to keep our freedom and liberty.”
Parade Participant Name: Kathi
Blog: Mail Call! Supporting the Troops
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” I think it’s important to always honor, and remember, our veterans.”
Parade Participant Name: Flashbangfury
Blog: Fury’s Fiancee
Comments on Veteran’s Day: ” I can’t think of a symbol other than our American Flag that could represent my Veteran’s Day float. Countless Veterans have worn her, saluted her and sacrificed so much for this flag and our country. Our flag is a source of pride for our Veterans and I believe it symbolizes their strength, courage and honor. Our Veterans have stood for us and fought for our freedom. Every day we should honor our Veterans, not just one day of the year. Thank you to all our Veterans!!”
Parade Participant Name: Miss Ladybug
Blog: Miss Ladybug
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Where would we be today without our veterans? On Veterans’ Day, we should honor all our veterans, from the Minutemen of the Revolutionary War who won our independence from England, to those who fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War, the Doughboys of World War I, the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of World War II who defeated the Axis Powers in Europe and the Pacific, and the ones who fought communism on Korean Peninsula and in Vietnam, and in more recent years, those American Warriors who defeated Saddam Hussein after he invaded Kuwait, to today’s Veterans who fight against the Islamic terrorists around the world, giving the people in Afghanistan and Iraq the opportunity to determine their own destinies instead of living under repressive regimes, as well as all the veterans who played a part throughout our history in preserving our freedoms and bringing freedom to people around the world.”
Parade Participant Name: Earl
Blog: Just the Library Keeper
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “I have never felt the need for Veteran’s Day, but I always wanted the country to accept my service and that of all the others that wore the uniform — and I have always felt betrayed by my countrymen and politicians for Vietnam (not the fighting there – for the laughing at us being fools enough to think we had honor and dignity…) well, be a better person than I, and support your service people – don’t throw them away, they will give everything for your protection – everything.”
Parade Participant Name: Lela
Blog: Harmless Beyond a reasonable doubt
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Veteran’s Day should be about something more than a day off from work, or a day to get your Christmas shopping started, or a day to rake your fallen leaves. Veteran’s Day is a day of Rememberance. It should be about remembering those who put their hopes and dreams on hold when duty called. It should be about remembering your grandfather, uncle, or cousin who served in the military. It should be about remembering the boy or girl who lived down the street who is overseas right now, serving our Country in the armed forces. Most of all, Veteran’s Day should be about remembering just why it is that you’re proud to be an American.”
Parade Participant Name: Mr. Hooah!
Blog: Delta Bravo Sierra
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “Every day is or should be Veteran’s Day. Our country would not exist were it not for the martial spirit of our fighting men throughout the ages. These men made great thoughts concerning freedom and liberty a reality. The price paid in blood, sweat, and tears must never be forgotten.”
Parade Participant Name: Susan
Blog: Susan Katz Keating
You Served Float: “A float covered with pansies in the colors of the Korean War Service Medal, with a banner reading, “Never Forgotten.”"
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “This is in honor of my Dad, who served in combat in Korea. He is no longer with us, but I have his CIB on my desk where I can see it every day. I will never forget that his service to America meant the world to him. I am grateful to all verterans, and hold them in my heart always. On this day, though, I specifically want to honor my dad and the soldiers who served with him in the not forgotten war.”
Parade Participant Name: KY Woman
Blog: Little Drops…..Into the pool of life.
Comments on Veteran’s Day: “This Veteran’s Day, I stand proudly to honor the men in my life who have served The United States so well. 4 generations of my family’s men. The past, the present, and the future… May no one forget the sacrifices and hardships they and scores of their brothers have made over the years to protect our freedoms from the tyrants of the world. What would our country be without them?”
For most American, the 4th of July means BBQ, fireworks, vacation, and long weekends. It’s a time for catching up on “honey-do” lists, relaxing, and shooting bottle rockets at your neighbors. But, for some patriotic Americans, the 4th of July is a time to honor and welcome home troops returning from combat. Paulette is one of those patriots.
I know for myself this 4th of July was different from years past. I usually have my family over for a cookout and we have fireworks. This year though it didn’t happen. I’m not sure why, but it didn’t. I remember grumbling because it just “didn’t seem like the 4th.” It was a little disappointing. Even though I had 3 of my soldiers, my friend John, my kids and my husband with me..it just didn’t seem like the 4th.I’m not sure how I managed to do it, but I overlooked what I had been doing July 1st, 2nd and 3rd. It had slipped my mind that over those three days I had brought home several HUNDRED soldiers from Iraq. I had helped reunite all these families, yet it hadn’t occurred to me. It wasn’t until the night of the 6th that it all hit me. I, along with my other volunteers are standing on the tarmac waiting for a plane to come in. It’s about 10 PM and as clear a night as you could ask for. I can see the lights of the plane..here it comes. As if on cue, just as the planes wheels touch the ground off in the distance, miles away, someone is setting off fireworks. But they hadn’t been until the plane came. What an awesome coincidence!! A plane with 250 plus soldiers coming home from war and fireworks going off in the background. I was in awe.
The latest book about blogs put together by David Stanford and G.B. Trudeau of Doonesbury fame comes out on September 1st. This book features a collection of blog entries from over 90 different forward deployed troops, You can pre-order it NOW or even just order it after the 1st of September at Amazon.com. Just search for “The Sandbox” and you will find it. Since several of my stories are in it and I know many of the authors that are also listed in it, I can tell you that it is a great book. I follow most of their blogs and can re-read some of these stories many times over.
You Served and 
Name: CJ Grisham
Name: Claire
Name: LL
Name: Troy Steward
Name: SSG Big
Name: Mr. Wolf
Name: Greyhawk
Name: Terri
Name: JP
Name: Yankeemom
Name: Andi
Name: Toni
Name: Kathi
Name: Flashbangfury
Name: Miss Ladybug
Name: Earl
Name: Lela
Name: Mr. Hooah!
Name: Susan
Name: KY Woman
