Archive for the ‘MilBlogger Interviews’ Category
October 14, 2009 By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews, Milblog Conference, Podcast, You Served Radio
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.
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October 1, 2009 By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews
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
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By CJ
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews, Military History, Top Posts
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.
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September 17, 2009 By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews
7:00:06 PM: Come listen to Episode #56 – AF TSgt Chris Short, Army Chaplain (Maj) … on You Served on air now! http://tobtr.com/s/658942 #BlogTalkRadio
7:02:47 PM: New blog entry: 091709 Live Blog http://bit.ly/1JNrnU
7:21:40 PM: We are talking with AF TSgt Chris Short.
7:22:30 PM: Chris Short’s blog is at http://chrisshort.net/
7:25:36 PM: We are talking about the Air Force fighter program, tanker procurement and other AF issues
7:28:43 PM: Chris stated that the supposed Petreus controversy over his joke about the AF is not an issue at all
7:44:47 PM: Chris’s blog covers a variety of topics and is actually fed from things he is reading on the web
7:53:07 PM: We are talking opinion and politics with Chris
7:55:23 PM: We are now talking with Don Hayes from Maid Brigade, http://www.maidbrigadegiveaway.com/ http://bit.ly/s3kgw
7:59:04 PM: Maid Brigade wants to reward as many as 100 qualified veterans who have what it takes to own a business. The Gold Award is valued at $45,000
8:03:39 PM: There were 100 applicants for the Maid Brigade contest
8:15:12 PM: We just finished listening to American Storyteller
8:15:47 PM: We are now talking to Chaplain (Maj) Charles Popov
8:16:24 PM: Mar Popov was featured on YouServed.com blog, http://bit.ly/ZUnKM
8:18:25 PM: Maj Popov has two tours in Iraq
8:23:08 PM: Maj Popov first came in the Army in the late 70s as an enlisted man, then got out for a while to attend seminary and be a pastor.
8:25:20 PM: He baptized a lot of soldiers in Kuwait in a whole dug into the sand with a bull dozer before pushing into Iraq
8:41:13 PM: Chaplain Popov went through his own issues and was transparent about it with his soldiers
8:41:13 PM: Chaplain Popov went through his own issues and was transparent about it with his soldiers
8:44:45 PM: Now talking to MAJ JG Wideman about Army’s new “emotional resiliency” training
8:48:51 PM: Army resieliency program is supposed to better prepare for stressful condicitons
8:59:57 PM: Army emotional resielency training program is just getting started
9:00:19 PM: NCOs will be trained at Univ of Penn to be counselors throughout the army
9:01:58 PM: Closing out the show with Montgomery Gentry’s song-Didn’t I
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September 11, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, MilBlogger Interviews, Patriotism, Top Posts
Sgt. 1st Class Sean Bennett and Sgt. Daniel Jens are Soldiers and storytellers. Both are gifted musically, and have teamed up to use their talents to share their experiences through music. Both Soldiers recently participated in reality television music competitions, and are now participating in musical tours across the country. Their families, who supported them unconditionally during their deployments, continue to support them as they take to the road and share their stories with audiences who leave with a view on what it means to be a Soldier and what their families go through to support them.
As a member of the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, Army Airborne Regiment, Bennett deployed to Iraq in September 2006. While serving as the Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge, he was responsible for helping provide humanitarian aid and medical support to locals in Karbala, Iraq. He remained focused on the mission at hand, even after his unit was ambushed on Jan. 20, 2007. For continuing to lead his fellow Soldiers even after being wounded, Bennett was awarded the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Jens completed a 15-month deployment in Iraq from 2006-2008 with the 82nd Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division. While deployed, he primarily served as a convoy escort driver and gunner in Baghdad. However, he also served on a four-month special duty with the Criminal Investigation Division guarding family members of a kidnapped Iraqi-American Soldier. Jens was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for volunteering his time to perform for Soldiers while deployed to Iraq.
After returning home, both Bennett and Jens turned to music to help them express the emotional realities of war and provide an outlet for others to understand their experiences overseas. In 2008, just a year after receiving the Silver Star Medal, Bennett was a top-ten finalist on NBC’s “Nashville Star” show, and had the opportunity to sing with Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus. Jens also found the national spotlight when he made it to the Top 20 on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in the summer of 2008, after winning the Army’s Blackjack Idol contest while he was deployed.
More than just performers, Bennett and Jens teamed up to collaborate on the song, “Life of a Soldier.” Wanting to provide a glimpse into Army live, the lyrics speak to topics such as leaving one’s family and missing holidays or special occasions. The Soldiers will perform a concert at the Grand Strand Freedom Fest on Sept. 11 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in support of Military Family Appreciation Month.
For both Soldiers, who have families of their own, the lyrics about leaving behind loved ones hit close to home. Bennett’s daughter, who has watched her father deploy three times, has provided him with support and encouragement throughout his deployments and injuries. He is currently serving with the 320th Field Artillery at Fort Campbell, Ky. Similarly, Jens, a father of three, knows his deployment was hard on his wife, Caroline. However, after he returned home, she found the strength to help other military wives and is currently working on a book about challenges families and marriages face during deployments. The Jens family currently resides at Fort Hood, Texas.
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September 10, 2009 By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews
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By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews
6:59:39 PM: New blog entry: You Served Radio 9/11 Live Blog http://bit.ly/Uz3Gl
6:59:40 PM: New blog entry: You Served Radio 9/11 Live Blog http://bit.ly/Uz3Gl
7:00:06 PM: Come listen to Episode #55 9/11 Special- Garry Trudeau and 9/11 Remem… on You Served on air now! http://tobtr.com/s/648799 #BlogTalkRadio
7:16:09 PM: A very special night tonight on You Served Radio
7:22:53 PM: We are talking to Garry Trudeau from Doonesbury, http://www.doonesbury.com
7:23:34 PM: His character BD joined the reserved to be part of Desert Storm in the comic strip
7:22:53 PM: We are talking to Garry Trudeau from Doonesbury, http://www.doonesbury.com
7:23:34 PM: His character BD joined the reserved to be part of Desert Storm in the comic strip
7:45:32 PM: Garry is talking about how many newspapers pulled his strip during Desert Storm but Stars and Stripes kept the strip
7:46:15 PM: Garry flew on a medevac flight from Germany to the states to better understand the medical evac process in order to write about Toggle
7:54:20 PM: Garry stated that NYC has moved on since 9/11. They have to, as grief must be dealt with
7:58:30 PM: We are now listening to American Storyteller
8:13:47 PM: We just listened to I Still See, http://bit.ly/IRSXQ
8:27:46 PM: Just finished reading the bio and story of LTC Kip Taylor who was killed at the Pentagon
8:38:37 PM: CJ just read the story of United Airlines flight 93 Captain and Pilot Jason Dahl
8:40:05 PM: Marcus just read the story of LTC Dickerson who was from his hometown and was killed in the Pentagon on September 11th
8:49:56 PM: We are reading the story of Rick Rescorla, Vietnam War hero of the battle of LZ X-ray and victim of the attacks of 9/11
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September 3, 2009 By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews
7:16:42 PM: Marcus played a little tribute song to Troy’s 18th Anniversary today
7:25:14 PM: We are talking with @LaughingWolf from @Blackfive who has spear-headed having a milblog track at @blogworld #bew09
7:25:45 PM: #bwe09 is this Oct 15-17 in Las Vegas, NV
7:31:33 PM: We are talking to Rick Calvert who is the founder of Blog World Expo
7:34:20 PM: Rick is a big fan of milblogs and he attended the 2nd annual milblog conf in DC
7:36:46 PM: Rick said milblogs have subject matter that makes them different than all others
7:39:46 PM: Rick said he knew nothing about technology when he first started his blog
7:46:00 PM: Rick is talking about Soldiers Angels and how amazing they are
7:49:31 PM: Rick is talking about what a great tool that Twitter is
7:51:29 PM: People can follow the twitter feed during the conference to see what is happening and to talk to people at the expo #bwe09
7:56:37 PM: Rick said the beers are on him
8:01:53 PM: We are playing American Storyteller right now
8:24:46 PM: Talking about 82nd ABN being extended
8:25:22 PM: Now talking to investigative reporter PJ Tobia
8:30:30 PM: PJ Tobia is talking about the Rendon Group hired by DOD to profile journalists
8:36:32 PM: PJ is talking about his first hand observations of Election day in Afghanistan
8:37:28 PM: A lot of violence led up to election day on Aug 20th, but the morning of the 20th was relatively quiet in Kabul
8:39:44 PM: PJ is telling us that there was an American PRT team in the police HQ that was attacked in District 8 of Kabul on election day
8:44:02 PM: PJ risked his life on election day to get the pictures out
8:47:07 PM: PJ is talking about internet access from Afghanistan
8:49:12 PM: PJ’s blog is at http://trueslant.com/pjtobia
8:50:46 PM: PJ rents a place in the former ministry of vice and virtue
8:53:06 PM: PJ stated he knows the guards at the embassy but was not with them
9:02:18 PM: Now listening to Trent Stroh Interview
9:04:41 PM: New blog entry: Two-star Generalgrapples with loss of two sons in service, becomes advocate to help Soldiers, families http://bit.ly/Q3H8z
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August 27, 2009 By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews
7:01:57 PM: A Very packed show tonight, with MAJ Eric Egland, Author Gary Winkler, and Country Superstar Mark Wills
7:04:31 PM: New blog entry: Aug 27th Live Blog http://bit.ly/61JaO
7:13:26 PM: We played Mark Wills song 19 Something at the opening of the show
7:19:19 PM: Talking with SFC Mac who is being wronged by the VA
7:41:49 PM: We are now talking with Gary Winkler who wrote the book about Lynndie England and Abu Ghriab
7:44:07 PM: Lynddie tried to act like she wrote the book and was doing book signings
7:48:43 PM: Gary said Lynndie’s view of the whole Abu Ghraib incident was very small
7:54:05 PM: Lynndie was simple minded and had never left small town in Virginia
7:55:40 PM: Lynddie was manipulated by Charles Graner a lot
7:55:53 PM: Graner was a Marine before joining the army
8:00:26 PM: CJ just pointed out that implying that Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld were not to blame because the Army has regulations to govern interrogation
8:08:34 PM: CJ was in Fallujah Iraq as an interrogator when Abu Ghriab happened
8:11:18 PM: Gary pointed out that Graner was the guy in charge of the night shift of the prison watch
8:18:11 PM: Listening to Mark Wills “Don’t laugh at me” recorded in Balad Air Base Iraq
8:21:19 PM: We are talking with Mark Wills now
8:27:54 PM: Mark has pointed out several Sr. NCOs that have stood out in his mind
8:28:12 PM: Mark has been to Iraq every year since 2003 except one
8:36:39 PM: Mark is a spokesman for USA Cares, http://usacares.org
8:41:06 PM: USA Cares gives a hand up not a hand out by paying for services and to mortgage companies, not to the people themselves
8:57:58 PM: Mark just said the pledge of allegiance for us
8:58:05 PM: Mark loves guns
9:01:33 PM: Mark Wills was probably one of the best interviews we ever did.
9:06:40 PM: Goodnight all, this is one of our best show ever and 1 yr anniversary
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August 20, 2009 By Troy
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews
7:09:39 PM: New blog entry: Aug 20th You Served Live Blog http://bit.ly/17uVEe
7:16:54 PM: We are talking about the Lockerbie bomber (terrorists) being released
7:40:51 PM: Talking about the Afghanistan elections
8:02:03 PM: We are talking with Maj. Grant Martin, from Ft. Leavenworth
8:03:08 PM: Major Martin wrote the following article in the Kansas City Press, http://bit.ly/3cFIak
8:06:46 PM: MAJ Martin believes in the NCO
8:19:05 PM: Maj Martin has seen that readership does not really want good new stories
8:23:39 PM: MAJ Martin says that in order to be in the Adv. Military Studies a person must have combat experience.
8:26:28 PM: We are listening to American Story Teller
8:31:30 PM: Now listening to the interview with Wil Willis, from Military Channel’s Special Ops Mission
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