I am always amazed at the generous nature of people in America. We send billions to people in need across the globe, we have men like Team Rubicon who just up and decide that they’re gonna help and it blows up into this huge deal of charity medical work from a small kernel of kindness and empathy.

Here is a story of a man doing his tiny part to be a great American. To be a shining example of altruism.

If you are in the Houston, TX area, please use Mr. Dan Wallrath as a your home builder. Or even better, stop by his office and give him a HUGE hug from me and thank him for what he’s doing for injured veterans. He is obviously a man of character and distinction. He is someone that I am proud to call a fellow American.

Well, if you were on the fence about attending the Milblog Conf, you might want to seriously consider scraping up the dough. Saving Abel has agreed to do a short acoustic set after the cocktail get together on Friday evening.

They are huge supporters of the troops and I personally love their music.

The wonderful sponsors here at Youserved, VA Mortgage Center, are also sponsoring the conference and you should come out and meet at least one of the guys who works for this great company!

Rock on and see you in April!!

The email went out this weekend to military computers across the force:

Office of the Director of National Intelligence INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

(U//FOUO) DPRK has carried out nuclear missile attack on Japan

06 March 2010

(U//FOUO) Prepared by Defense Intelligence Agency

(U//FOUO) Today, March 06, 2010 at 11.46 AM local time (UTC/GMT -5 hours), US seismographic stations recorded seismic activity in the area of Okinawa Island (Japan). According to National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has carried out an average range missile attack with use of nuclear warhead. The explosion caused severe destructions in the northern part of the Okinawa island. Casualties among the personnel of the US military base are being estimated at the moment.

(U//FOUO) In connection with the occurred events, it is necessary for the personnel of the services listed below to be ready for immediate mobilization:

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:
OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY:
OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS

DEPARTMENT OF STATE:
BUREAU OF INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY:
OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION:
OFFICE OF NATIONAL SECURITY INTELLIGENCE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
NATIONAL SECURITY BRANCH

NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

UNITED STATES ARMY

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

UNITED STATES NAVY

The emails appear to have come from the Director of National Intelligence and the Defense Intelligence Agency. I got four emails, two from each “source.” After the text is a link for more information that is a malicious virus and phishing attempt.

When I first got it, I thought, “I didn’t hear about this in the news.” So, I did a Google search. Surely, Korea launching an attack on Japan would put the military on high alert. Well, now we know.

If you get an email with similar language, do NOT open it. Delete it immediately, especially if you’re on a government computer.

Sgt. Jason Delancey, the assistant convoy commander and a Columbus, Neb., native, Spc. Seth A. Weyeneth, a gunner and a McCook, Neb., native, and Sgt. Clint L. Hay, a truck commander and a Lexington, Neb., native, with the 1195th Transportation company, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), perform preventive-maintenance checks and services on a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle March 2 at Contingency Operating Base Liberty in Baghdad. The Kearney, Neb., unit later went on a convoy security mission to Forward Operating Base Shield to deliver much-needed supplies.

From 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affairs

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Baghdad – Soldiers from the 1195th Transportation Company, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) performed a convoy security mission March 2 to Contingency Operating Location Shield to deliver much-needed supplies to the base.

Due to the upcoming elections, convoys to smaller COLs around Baghdad will be scarce, so supplies needed to be delivered on time so COL Shield could sustain its mission through the Iraqi elections period. The 1195th Trans. Co. out of Kearney, Neb., provides convoy security primarily in the Baghdad area and must travel at night due to the Security Agreement. Staff Sgt. Nathan Reicks, the convoy commander for the re-supply mission and a McCook, Neb., native, said they were hauling basic supplies, fuel and ammunition to COL Shield to last them through the elections. “If the mission doesn’t get there, they can’t sustain and might have to close down,” he said. “A lot of these smaller COLs are helping in the training of the Iraqi’s and they need all the supplies they can get.” Reicks said being a convoy commander takes a lot of responsibility.

“You have to be willing to put your neck out there for the guys,” he said. “You are in charge and if anything goes wrong, you are the guy that has to have an answer for it.” Sgt. Clint L. Hay, a gunner and truck commander for the mission, said he has not seen many problems with the people in Baghdad. “Most of our problems are due to the weather,” he said. “A lot of vehicles we escort can’t really take the mud like the military vehicles we have, so we are always there to help them out the best way we can.” Hay, a Lexington, Neb., native, said the deployment has gone by fast. “I think most of us would rather be out on the road staying busy,” he said. Hay said he has enjoyed his time in Iraq and working with the Soldiers in the unit. “Through the good times and bad times, my fellow Soldiers and squad leaders have been there for me,” he said. “They are a great bunch of guys.” Spc. Tyler Lauer, a driver with the 1195th Trans. Co. and a McCook, Neb. native, said he was a food service specialist before the deployment and volunteered for any position on the convoy security team, so certain slots could be filled.

Besides driving, Lauer said he is always checking the roads, looking for possible improvised explosive devices, suspicious people and making sure it is a safe ride for the gunner and the tactical commander of the truck. “Tonight was busy, so we had to be on top of our game,” he said. “There was a lot of activity, so I was watching out for people, but mainly watching the other vehicles on the road.” He said the main thing he does while driving in downtown Baghdad is to keep focused on his mission and report anything suspicious to his truck commander. The group has grown together as a team, said Reicks. “That’s very important,” he said. “These guys understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Reicks is proud that everyone’s position is interchangeable. “We have multiple people that can lead a convoy and could jump up in the gunner spot or be a driver” he said. “We trained people to work around anything; we don’t have set people at any one position. Everyone knows how to do the other’s job.”

I’ll be cross posting this on A Soldiers Perspective, but I wanted to give everyone a head’s up that the Youserved Podcast will be verrrrrry interesting tomorrow night (Thursday, March 4th) and maybe you should block out 2 hours, from 6pm-8pm central to listen. The guys will have Adam Kokesh as their guest. If you are familiar with this controversial figure, you will know he is a former (or not so former) IVAW member who is running for office in the state of New Mexico. Milblogs take offense at some of his IVAW shenanigans and the fact that he leaves out some pertinent details of his military service when campaigning or talking to the press, for example, stating he was a sergeant in the Marines when he was actually finally discharged as a corporal. You know, somewhere in there, he got his heinie in a sling and neglects to share that info. But anyway, the interview should be interesting and lively, so go to the BlogTalkRadio site and give it a listen tomorrow evening.

You can find BTR Youserved here.

This site is called You Served and the military serves in many ways. This is a feel good story about Soldiers at Ft. Campbell helping Habitat for Humanity for 2 days.

Nearly 40 soldiers from Fort Campbell spent Sunday in northwest Davidson County building new homes in Habitat for Humanity’s Timberwood neighborhood.

“I’m here with two of the platoons from one of the batteries,” said Fort Campbell soldier Shannon Clark.

Clark spent the day painting the siding that’s going up on the new homes.

The volunteers hope to build five homes from the ground up in just eight days. By day two, the homes are fully framed.

“I’ve been roofing, laying some boards down, nailing them down,” said soldier Clayton Gadson. “I’ve never done this before, this is a great experience.”

Chip Wilson, the construction site manager, told News 2 that the group from Ft. Campbell was highly organized and ready to work.

“They’ve been great,” Wilson said. “I actually come from a military family, my brother’s over in Afghanistan, so it’s nice to work with some of the military folks. They’ve done a great job.”

You can be proud of your Soldiers giving back to their community!!

Don’t think that our borders and systems aren’t vulnerable? Check out these photos.

Looks like any other Soldier you’ve seen right? “LTC Rivera” is wearing his Combat Infantry Badge (2nd award, by the way), Master Parachutist, and Air Assault Badge in the right places.

Rivera was wearing a full U.S. Army ACU uniform displaying the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was selected for exam by the CBP Narcotics Unit who was conducting a 100% passport inspection on Avianca Airlines flight 08 from Pereira, Colombia. He stated he works as a security guard and that he was in Colombia to propose to his girlfriend.

When asked about the Army uniform he stated that he went to Colombia to play paintball. However, during the questioning, he had trembling hands, sweat forming on his forehead, he was unable/unwilling to maintain eye contact, and had a pulsating carotid artery along with a continued display of nervous behavior. These are what we call “kinesic indicators of deception.”

So, the agents did a more thorough search of his possessions. During the exam, a set of orders were found which appeared to be authentic. The orders had Rivera’s name, home address, DOB, SSN on them. They appeared to be on authentic U.S. Army letterhead and directed him to report to MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL.

Rivera’s uniform also displayed patches for two different units.
The combat patch was for the 101st Airborne and was supposedly assigned to the 1st Calvary here at Fort Hood.

Thankfully, some highly trained customs agents did their due diligence and acted on their hunches. “LTC Rivera” won’t be coming to the United States and will instead find himself in a pound me in the butt prison somewhere. Unfortunately, I don’t think that the Stolen Valour Act applies to foreigners.

Charlie Wilson of the Charlie Wilson Band performs for service members Feb. 24 at the Sustainer Theater at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Wilson, a Tulsa, Okla., native, who now lives in Los Angeles, performed in Iraq for the second consecutive year, wrapping up this tour Feb. 25.

Charlie Wilson of the Charlie Wilson Band performed for more than 300 service members and civilians at the Sustainer Theater Feb. 24 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Wilson, a Tulsa, Okla., native, who now lives in Los Angeles, said this was his second tour in Iraq, which ran Feb. 17 to Feb. 25 with a final stop in Kuwait.

Wilson recently overcame prostate cancer and put out a new album, and then came to JBB and performed his hit single “There Goes My Baby.” He also performed some of his classic Gap Band songs, including “You Dropped a Bomb on Me.”

“It’s great to see their smiles, even if it is for only a few moments … It’s good knowing they’re having a good time,” he said.

Wilson said he knows Soldiers have tough jobs.

“I know it’s kind of crazy out there and anything can happen,” he said.
Jenna Lankford, an assistant for Wilson and a Los Angeles native, said the group was more prepared than it was last year and knew what to expect.

“We come here for the troops,” said Lankford. “It’s not about getting paid; it’s about the people risking their lives for us and us being able to give one good night of entertainment.”

Spc. Tyler E. Klinger, a food service specialist with the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and a Kent City, Mich., native, said he was relatively unfamiliar with Charlie Wilson but he wanted to see a good concert.

“I think these shows are great for morale,” said Klinger.

Spc. Vashion R. Lee, also a food service specialist with the 13th ESC and Tallahassee, Fla., native, said he had heard of the Gap Band and knew Wilson’s other music.

“I heard his music when I was growing up all the time,” said Lee. “I know he has been working with R. Kelly as well.”

Wilson said he has made some memories in Iraq.

“I love coming here,” he said. “I come here to make (service members) have some fun and that’s the bottom line. I’ve been asked to come back next year and I’m delighted to.”

Wilson said he appreciates service members’ work and will continue to bring his love to them.

“From the bottom of my heart, anything I can do for you just ask and I’m on my way,” he said. “I don’t care what it is or what’s going on; if you can get me here, I’m there.”

Photos and story by Sgt. John Stimac

Most people who read here or listen to the Youserved Podcast know that there is an ebay auction site where you can buy items donated by guests or fans and all the money is donated to a great charity, Soldiers Angels.

You probably also know the guys talk a lot of smack.

So Marcus threw down the gauntlet. The engravable Marine medallion went for slightly under $20 last week in bidding. He said if anyone can bid on any of the other coins and beat that amount, he would shave his head.

Bald.

It hasn’t taken long for the current medallion to get up to $22. Now, I am not beneath public humiliation and peer pressure. That’s just the kind of girl I am. So I will say this, in chat, I suggested that we video record Marcus getting his head shaved in DC. This is for a GREAT cause and really, what’s a pair of clippers between friends, huh?

So I think we should all comment and email bomb Marcus and try to convince him to allow us to do this. It will be fun! And hilarious!

So go here and bid (there will be other coins coming up, so if you prefer your own military branch, hang tight for the following weeks, and if you want one of the other items like books, you can find the Youserved store here) and leave comments and just a poo-poo disclaimer, Marcus says no members of Youserved, their families, myself or our good buddy SK can bid. The rest of ya’ll are welcome to have at it!

This is a great step forward. The Afghan flag was raised over the town of Marjah on February 25 in what U.S. commanders called a new beginning for the former Taliban stronghold.