This is a great interview with someone who is a leading force in the financial blog world and has been a guest speaker at Blog World Expo for three years now. Even after being there three years, this was his first introduction to milblogging and his first time attending the milblog panels. Zac and I talked a lot about how bloggers and milbloggers could help educate each other.
8:20:07 PM: Talking with SFC Greg Stube, http://bit.ly/1Nd8JS
8:22:06 PM: New blog entry: 110509 You Served Show http://bit.ly/1Y6GmC
8:24:04 PM: SFC Stube was hit with an IED, and lost his intestine’s part of his leg and was severly wounded and shot up
8:24:35 PM: The medevac could not get him out for a couple of hours after he was wouded
8:29:43 PM: SFC Stube has had 17 surgeries over 3 years
8:38:37 PM: SFC Stube still hunts and fishes ever after wounded
8:41:45 PM: “Serve something greater than yourself” SFC Stube
8:49:15 PM: Now talking to Tom Neely from Bridge of Sighs, http://www.bosband.com
8:51:24 PM: Steven Crowder is a stand up comedian and is touring with BOS before the show
8:52:01 PM: Tom said he was prepared to drink with the Marines and soldiers this time
9:08:36 PM: Now listening to Bridge of Sighs song, Freedom Stain
9:22:56 PM: Troy and Marcus are chatting
9:31:43 PM: We are talking about the shootings at Ft. Hood
9:45:22 PM: Talking to @TammyMunson who is the current On Loan blogger at YouServed.com
9:45:49 PM: @TammyMunson is a army spouse blogger who’s husband is deployed in Afghanistan
9:59:33 PM: Listening to Mark Wills as the outro musi
The video below is an interview that was conducted on the 2009 Blog World Expo show floor with the guys from the famous Chad Vadar Internet video series (http://www.blamesociety.net/chadvader/index.php). It may be somewhat hard to hear Troy at first, but the audio gets better. As you will hear, Chad’s voice is very clear. These guys are hilarious so be sure to check out their website and watch some of their videos.
Blog World Expo (BWE) this year was something else. I was amazed at how much I got out of it, but kind of wish I would have gotten a chance to get to more of the other panels and keynotes besides the milblog track. I flew in on Wednesday night with my wife and we eventually got to our hotel (the Luxor). Thursday was the day for the milblog track and I knew where I would be for the entire day.
One thing about either BWE or the milblog conference in D.C. is that it gives me a chance to catch up with many of my friends in the milblog world. All year long I exchange phone calls, emails or (private milblog group) postings with my friends and fellow milbloggers, but it is always nice to see them in person and give them a hug or handshake.
We had a fairly good showing of milbloggers at this year’s BWE. There was Matt, Mr. Wolf and Laughing Wolf from www.blackfive.net, Boston Maggie from http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/, Chuck Z from http://tcoverride.blogspot.com/. Barmy Mama from http://deltasierrahotel.net/, Household 6 from http://armyhousehold6.com/, DeltaWhiskey1 from http://www.deltawhiskey.us/, Toby Nunn from http://tobynunn.com/, Mr, Mrs Greyhawk from http://www.mudvillegazette.com, my good friend and co-host CJ from here and http://www.soldiersperspective.us, and many others. There were even some that came in virtually like OldBlue from http://www.afghanquest.com who called in from Afghanistan to participate in a panel.
CJ and I were both at BWE to represent the You Served Blog and Radio show and were both very thankful for VA Mortgage Center’s support for us and this event. Besides making sure that CJ and I got to the conference, VAMC also sponsored the refreshments during the milblog track. I know that does not sound like much, but in fact it is and was a lifesaver. All day we had drinks, coffee, water, pastries, snacks, cookies, etc. catered to the room for anyone attending the track to partake in. Rather than having to go and search and buy food and drinks, the panelists and observers of the milblog track only had to stroll to the back of the room.
The panels went great despite having some last minute cancellations by some members. CJ and I were live blogging the best we could during the panels either by writing tweets on the You Served Twitter account at www.twitter.com/youserved or by blogging here. We conducted some interviews and just did some networking with different milbloggers. CJ and I were on the same panel with Scott Henderson from www.mediasauce.com and thanks to Rick Calvert from BWE, we took a last minute idea and performed a first. We broadcast our panel live on the first hour of the You Served Radio Show. With Marcus running the show and switchboard from his home, CJ and I were able to call into the show and make the first hour the entire panel. This allowed our normal listeners the chance to virtually be there for at least one panel. As the panel ended, Marcus took back over the show and ran it for the 2nd half.
Over the next couple of days we hung out on the expo floor, mostly at the US Army Accessions Command sponsored Milblog Lounge. Unlike the other booths on the floor that were normal booths, USAAC had their table of SWAG to give away along with several nice leather couches that anyone could come and relax on, get on the Internet, snack on pastries or enjoy some other refreshment. This was a great place for milbloggers to drop their computer bags, relax and just congregate. Not far from the milblog lounge was a booth by the National Guard Bureau, The Bob Woodruff Foundation, and of course Soldiers’ Angels.
During the next two days CJ and I were very busy, which kept at least me from making many other panels. Besides walking the floor and getting my free SWAG, and enjoying the company of friends and milbloggers, we also conducted several interviews. CJ and I were both armed with Flip-up HD video camera and voice recorders walking around interviewing people. We also were both interviewed several times by different media outlets. I have a great interview with the guys behind Chad Vadar, interviews with non-milbloggers like Zac Johnson, and several others that will go up over the following weeks.
Besides getting free stuff from the booths, I must say I learned a lot about multiple opportunities for milbloggers or bloggers in general by talking with the vendors. There were multiple booths who’s focus was on soliciting bloggers to write for them and paying the bloggers to do so. I think 100% of the ones I talked to expressed deep interest in mibloggers as they don’t have many filling that genre. Some pay by the word, and some pay by the posting. There were also many booths that dealt with doing more podcasting and video in blogs. Personally I think that is where blogs are maturing to. We are an instant gratification society and many people would rather watch a video blog than read a normal blog.
One person who was there pushing podcasting an that I got the opportunity to meet was TV talk show host, Crank Yankers voice person and overall comedian Adam Corolla. Besides meeting the Chad Vadar guys, the chance to meet Adam was great. There were several other famous folks I met, but will save that for my blog at www.bouhammer.com.
VAMC has committed to sponsor the milblog track in the future and I am very glad of that. I think the You Served Blog and Radio show has become a major force in the new media space and the milblog space in general.
Since I did so many interviews with people during the time there, I will wait and post those interviews and let them speak for themselves. Again, look for them over the next week or two now that I am back on a permanent laptop.
We have several on-loan guest bloggers coming up here on You Served as a result of BWE and our next big event will be the milblog conference in Apr/May timeframe. Stay tuned and stay informed.
Tonight on You Served Radio, we are very lucky to have my old Company Commander and current Commander of the National Training Center in Ft. Irwin CA, BG Robert “Abe” Abrams as our first guest. Rather than me trying to explain what a warrior he is, I have included his official BIO below. Be sure to join us on You Served Radio tonight at www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved at 7:00 PM EST to listen in.
Brigadier General Robert B. “Abe” Abrams is the Commanding General of the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. He is an Army Brat who received his commission from the United States Military Academy in 1982. His initial duty assignment was with the 3d Armored Division’s Cavalry Squadron, the 3d Squadron 12th Cavalry Regiment headquartered in Budingen, Germany. He served in successive assignments as an Armored Cavalry Platoon Leader, Troop Executive officer and as the Squadron Adjutant.
Following attendance at the Armor Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He served as the Battalion Maintenance Officer; Commander, Delta Company; and Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, where he deployed the company in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Following redeployment from Operation Desert Storm, he was reassigned to the Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he served in successive assignments as a Platoon tactics instructor for the Armor Officer Basis Course, doctrine writer and Armor School subject matter expert for the M1A2 Tank Program, and Chief of Training Development.
Following attendance at the US Army Command and General Staff College, he was assigned as the Squadron Operations Officer, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas. He was later selected as the Regimental Operations Officer, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and moved the Regiment to Fort Carson, Colorado. He was than selected to serve as a CJCS Strategic Planner in the Conventional War Plans Division, J7, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
Brigadier General Abrams commanded the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, “MUSTANGS,” of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He subsequently served as the G3 of the First Cavalry Division. Following attendance at the US Army War College, he commanded the 1st Brigade Combat Team, “IRONHORSE”, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, and deployed the BCT to East Baghdad, Iraq, from March 2004 to March 2005. Following command of 1st BCT, Brigadier General Abrams served as the Chief of Staff, 1st Cavalry Division.
He was subsequently reassigned as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General US Army Europe and 7th Army. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms Center-Training, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Brigadier General Abrams holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan; and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. His military schooling includes the Armor Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Ranger School, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the US Army War College.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.
Brigadier General Abrams is married to the former Connie Clevenger, and has a son Robert II and a daughter Carolyn.
2:28:58 PM: New blog entry: BlogWorldExpo 2009 Day Two http://bit.ly/4geTEU
2:29:31 PM: Day two of BWE09 started with a speed dating event! no milbloggers taking part. #beatcancer #bwe09
2:29:58 PM: Chad Vader choked Toby Nunn over at the Soldiers Angels booth. #beatcancer #bwe09
2:30:47 PM: We are doing a live show at http://bit.ly/Gpp3I from the expo floor at 4:30 EST. It’s only a 20 minute show, so tune in. #beatcancer
2:31:36 PM: Check out the Army’s new blog that features Soldiers from many different MOS at http://bit.ly/3WCgAL #beatcancer #bwe09 Unmoderated!
2:33:24 PM: Don’t forget to use #beatcancer hashtag all month. For each one $.01 is donated to cancer research.
2:37:07 PM: New blog entry: BlogWorld Expo – Day 2 http://bit.ly/3uMElV
2:39:29 PM: New blog entry: Army Strong Bloggers Lounge http://bit.ly/qiMB9
2:47:42 PM: @TheDaleJackson Sent link 2 the video & password you can use. It’s only good through Sunday night. If you don’t get a chance let me know.
4:25:01 PM: Listen live in 5 minutes to Special BTR Show from BWE09 on You Served. http://tobtr.com/s/741176. #BlogTalkRadio
4:33:37 PM: Special You Served Radio will start in 10 minutes, live from the floor at Blog World Expo #bwe09 #beatcancer
5:45:01 PM: Listen to Special BTR Show from BWE09 on You Served anytime on BlogTalkRadio. http://tobtr.com/s/741176 #BlogTalkRadio
6:08:27 PM: You Served Is well known here at #bwe09. CJ and Troy have made a name for themselves #beatcancer
8:48:57 PM: #bwe09 was a great experience this year, and I am very glad that You Served was represented here. We made many great contacts #beatcancer
1:00:45 PM: New blog entry: BlogWorldExpo 2009 Day One http://bit.ly/xTJcn
1:00:50 PM: “They Also Serve: Spouse Bloggers” panel just started. Tammy Munson, Delta Whiskey, Barmy Mama speaking. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:01:48 PM: JIhad Gene asks Tammy if there were problems with her blogging due to recent OPSEC concerns by her command. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:02:15 PM: Tammy says she removes info that would jeopardize the mission (locations, dates, times, etc). #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:03:35 PM: Tammy blogs at http://bit.ly/qmptM #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:05:03 PM: People are steadily walking into the milblog track panels
1:11:01 PM: CJ just asked a question of the panel about spouse bloggers getting in trouble by husband’s units
1:23:45 PM: the spouse panel is talking about the new media rules by each service
1:28:28 PM: The panel is discussing the role that spouses should play in blogging and what should be written about. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:29:13 PM: Question from Laughing Wolf: what is your best moment, worst, and greatest challenge as a spouse milblogger #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:29:51 PM: Tammy spoke about helping a young Soldier wounded in Iraq. 1SG reached out to bloggers and she was able to help #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:30:44 PM: Tammy was able to get “Lt. Dan” (Gary Senise) to meet this Soldier. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:31:13 PM: Barmy Mama says how she helped raise money for a juvenile diabetes walk through her blog. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:32:11 PM: Delta Whiskey says being able to coordinate care packages to send to troops is the best part of blogging. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:32:57 PM: DW says she gets to touch so many lives through her blog. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:33:35 PM: Tammy says worst moment was when her husband wrote her about an incident and the disrespectful comments that followed #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:34:28 PM: Barmy Mama says she thankfully hasn’t had a bad experience yet. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:35:43 PM: Delta Whiskey says her worst moment is people saying she isn’t “in the fight” and doesn’t have a leg to stand on #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:44:29 PM: Greyhawk remarks that the spouses have ruined “Army Wives” for him, saying it’s not real. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:45:01 PM: Greyhawk asks what feedback the ladies have gotten from their husbands’ units. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:45:28 PM: Tammy says that it differs by location. Ft. Carson didn’t like it at all, but others were very supportive. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:45:58 PM: Tammy says her husband’s command doesn’t like her blogging at all. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:46:29 PM: Barmy Mama says that her unit was very supportive, sending photos and stories for her to publish for families. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:47:36 PM: Barmy Mama says her page became a memorial for one of the Soldiers killed. #bwe09 #beatcancer
1:54:54 PM: Wow, a “blog” conference without power strips for computers!
2:34:09 PM: http://tweetphoto.com/a4addb VAMC is a sponsor of the milblog track at #bwe09
2:36:09 PM: http://tweetphoto.com/df4094 Cj Grisham getting ready for the lifting of DADT
2:39:27 PM: @youserved
2:42:53 PM: Troy is asking the panel about their ideas of blogging AFTER deployments and how to motivate people to keep going. #bwe09 #beatcancer
2:45:05 PM: Greyhawk says we just need to support and communicate with each other. 9/10 guys just won’t blog after deployment. #bwe09 #beatcancer
2:45:35 PM: Chuck says writing helped him get through his recovery and a good outlet for emotion after his injury. #bwe09 #beatcancer
2:48:07 PM: The current panel – Toby, Chuck, Jihad Gene, and Greyhawk – sure are nicely dressed young men. #bwe09 #beatcancer
3:44:19 PM: Taking a lunch break at #bwe09
4:35:16 PM: Oldblue from http://www.afghanquest.com is called into the panel from afghanistan
4:38:30 PM: Milblogs, not your standard news source is the milblog panel that is going on now #bwe09
4:44:37 PM: Currently talking about how bloggers deal with sources, keeping them anonymous, citing them.
4:46:15 PM: #Afghanistan seems to be the main focus of the discussions of the milblog panels at #bwe09 @blogworld
5:05:22 PM: New blog entry: Heroes At Home Program Is Back http://bit.ly/3ieCS6
5:20:25 PM: Laptop is about to die again. This sucks. Who doesn’t have power strips at a BLOGGING conference?! #bwe09 #beatcancer
5:25:53 PM: Old Blue says Nick Meo should be reporting on dog shows in London, not military matters. #bwe09 #beatcancer
The great crew at VAMC is stepping up again and showing how much they support the troops and more importantly showing how much they support getting the word out via milblogs. They are sponsoring CJ and myself at Blog World Expo in Las Vegas where both of us are speaking on a panel Thursday afternoon. We will be conducting a lot of interviews (both audio and video) with people, talking with many in the milblog community, and rubbing elbows with the who’s who of the blogging world (which I think will all be milbloggers or milblog fans, but I could be biased). I must say however that we will miss our “red-shirt” producer Marcus who won’t be able to attend this year. We will do our best to carry on the tradition of the You Served crew from last year.
In addition to getting CJ and myself to Blog World Expo, VAMC is also sponsoring the milblog track of panels which happen all day on Thursday. Through the contributions of VAMC, there will be refreshments available all day for the milblog track. This great contribution has earned VAMC publicity on at Blog World Expo and on their website. It has also earned VAMC kudos and thanks from the most popular milblog on the internet, Blackfive (http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/10/thank-you-va-mortgage-center.html).
If you are in the Vegas area starting on Thursday, be sure to stop by or drop a line to blake@blakepowers.net and he can set you up with a free membership to the milblog track. This gets you in to the milblog panels and to the exhibit hall for the entire conference. If you want to see a schedule for the conference, go here.
7:03:42 PM: New blog entry: Oct 1 2009 Live Blog http://bit.ly/4zt1H
7:07:11 PM: Taking the intro right now
7:13:11 PM: Interview with Gerhard Wienberg is playing right now
7:15:02 PM: Gerhard received the 2009 Pritzker Military Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement
7:16:16 PM: Weinberg loved his American education so much that he quickly decided he wanted to become a secondary school teacher in the USA
7:20:46 PM: Weinberg taught American History and American Government for the Information and Education Headquarters of the 8th US Army.
7:23:44 PM: Weinberg returned to the University at Albany and used his G.I. Bill benefits to receive a B.A. in social studies
7:23:58 PM: He also got an M.A. at the University of Chicago
7:26:40 PM: Weinberg worked for the Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama at the Human Resources Research Institute on the “War Documentation Project.”
7:30:46 PM: Weinberg’s father was unemployed and decided to open an office to advise Jews leaving Germany
7:34:40 PM: In 1933, the Nazis came to power and passed a law forbidding all Jewish persons from holding civil service positions
7:44:37 PM: Gerhard’s father was a decorated Soldier who had fought in the German Army during World War I and his mother was a loving homemaker
7:56:30 PM: Gerhard spent a lot of time in Japan
7:57:41 PM: For his more than 50 years of military historical research, Gerhard will be honored with a $100K honorarium, citation and medallion
8:13:44 PM: Just listened to This is War from Smile Empty Soul
8:14:11 PM: Now talking with Sean Danielsen who is the lead singer for the band
8:25:17 PM: Sean broke his leg in 4 places and tore his ACL last week
8:51:51 PM: TAlking politics with Marcus and AFghan stratgey
8:58:56 PM: Smile Empty Soul is donating a brand new signed Schecter guitar to the you served ebay store to raise money for @soldiersangels
9:02:17 PM: We closed out the show with one more Smile Empty Soul song
On October 24 at Chicago’s Palmer House Hilton, the Chicago-based Tawani Foundation will present the Pritzker Military Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing to Gerhard L. Weinberg.
The Pritzker Military Library Literature Award recognizes a living author for a body of work that has profoundly enriched the public understanding of American military history. The recipient’s contributions may be academic, non-fiction, fiction, or a combination of any of the three, and his or her work should embody the values of the Pritzker Military Library.
Mr. Weinberg was born in Hanover, Germany, on January 1, 1928. He was the son of Jewish parents. His father was a decorated Soldier who had fought in the German Army during World War I and his mother was a loving homemaker. After returning from WWI, Weinberg’s father went back to work in the judiciary, but found the atmosphere so unpleasant that he moved to the new Ministry of Finance.
In 1933, the Nazis came to power and passed a law forbidding all Jewish persons from holding civil service positions. However, German President Paul von Hindenburg insisted that Jewish Germans who fought on the front lines of WWI be granted exception from the law. When Hindenburg died in 1934, everyone exempted under the Nazi law were fired.
Weinberg’s father was unemployed – and unemployable – and decided to open an office to advise Jews leaving Germany on the constantly changing rules about what could be taken from the country. Weinberg’s living room was converted into an office and his hallway became a waiting area full of Jews waiting for quote numbers to emigrate from Germany to the United States.
After the November 1938, Quakers in England followed up on changes in the English government as a result of the pogrom. The government allowed Jews waiting to get into another country to stay in England temporarily. Weinberg’s parents shipped him and his siblings on a boat from Hamburg to England where he attended school.
During the Battle of Britain and at the beginning of the blitz, the family’s quota numbers came up and in September of 1940 they were sent to the United States on one of the last passenger ships making the trip.
Weinberg settled in Albany, NY and it was there that he began his love for education and writing. A few years earlier, he had been abruptly removed from class while non-Jewish classmates looked on. The principal walked into the classroom and read the official decree that Jews could no longer be in the school system. He and another boy were literally required to collect all their belongings on the spot and leave the room, alarmed and concerned.
Weinberg loved his American education so much that he quickly decided he wanted to become a secondary school teacher. He went on to attend New York State College for Teachers in Albany, which is now known as the University of New York at Albany.
When Weinberg turned 18, his education was interrupted as he was drafted into the Army Air Corps. After attending basic training at Camp Polk, he was sent to San Francisco and transferred to the 4th Replacement Depot at Camp Zama, Japan. Shortly after arriving in country, his education was put to good use as he was transferred to Yokohama in August 1946.
At the time, Yokohama was home to an Army Education Program School. The Army needed teachers badly and Weinberg was a perfect fit, having completed three years of college credits prior to being drafted. For the next year, Weinberg taught American History and American Government for the Information and Education Headquarters of the 8th US Army.
In 1947, the Army was discharging all its draftees. Since Weinberg had not yet attained his American citizenship, he was unable to remain in service voluntarily. After hardly more than a year of military service, Weinberg was given an honorable discharge and sent back to the United States.
Weinberg returned to the University at Albany and used his G.I. Bill benefits to receive a B.A. in social studies and an M.A. at the University of Chicago. By the time he graduated in 1951, positions in the academic world were scarcest and enrollments were shrinking as all the WWII veterans had completed or were about to complete their G.I. Bill-funded education.
He began work as a contractor for the Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama at the Human Resources Research Institute on the “War Documentation Project.” His research included sorting through captured WWII German records that were being scanned to microfiche and sent back to Germany.
Through his years of teaching, lecturing, research, and study, Weinberg has published a string of books, and longer string of reviews, article and other publications, on World War II German history. He has become a trusted source of military history that is sought out by authors, scholars, and historians alike.
For his more than 50 years of military historical research, Gerhard Weinberg will be honored with a $100,000 honorarium, citation and medallion, sponsored by the Chicago-based Tawani Foundation, which will be presented at the Library’s annual Liberty Gala on October 24, 2009. Weinberg currently lives in Efland, North Carolina, with his wife Janet.
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!
