‘Enuff Said…..

Of course we are not sure which one of these lovely ladies will be crowned Ms. America, but in the end it will be one of these ladies that is wearing a brand new pair of Rocky Combat Boots.

You know as a result of my blogging, co-hosting the You Served Radio show, etc. I have been blessed with many opportunities to travel, meet wonderful Americans (both famous and regular Joes and Janes) and learn a lot about media, etc. I am very grateful of all of that, but I have to say my good buddy Uncle Jimbo over at Blackfive landed a pretty nice gig here. I mean VEGAS!! with all the Ms. America contestants? Jeez man what a nice trip.

He put together a nice video of his trip out to Vegas as a representative of the Warrior Legacy Foundation’s participation in the “When they come back…we give back” awareness campaign. This campaign is a result of past You Served Radio guest Derek Sholl. Derek was a great guest and a guy that has a true passion in making sure our servicemembers coming back from combat and re-integrating into American society get some assistance when they need it.

H/T to www.blackfive.net for the lead on this story. I was checking out some of the latest B5 blogs this morning when I came across this one. I am not an emotional person, but by the time I got to the end of this story I had tears in my eyes. So for those of you with tissues nearby, you may want to grab for them now.

This story is really something that will fill you with three noticeable emotions. At least it did me, as it made me sad, angry and proud all at pretty much the same time. You will feel sadness that human remains were treated this way and that they had no loved ones. It will make you angry that true hero from WWII and his mother in law and wife were thrown out with the trash, but I think it will also make you proud to see how these young people stepped up and did the right thing. It is good to see that the upcoming generation still has scruples and ethics. This is a story that needs to be told, so I hope you will help me spread the word. This story originally appeared in the St. Petersburg Times and online at www.tampabay.com

BUSHNELL — The two teenagers got to the cemetery first.
He wore his dark green dress uniform from the National Guard. She wore a long black dress.
They stood on the edge of the road, across from rows of matching military headstones, waiting for the funeral of the man they had never met.
Mike Colt, 19, and his girlfriend, Carol Sturgell, 18, had driven more than an hour from their Tampa homes on Wednesday to be at Florida National Cemetery.
They weren’t really sure why they had come. They just knew they had to be here.
“It’s kind of sad, huh?” asked Sturgell, scanning the sea of white gravestones.
Colt nodded. “Yeah, but it feels kind of important.”
At 12:20 p.m., a Tampa police car pulled up, then a white Lincoln Town Car. Another police cruiser followed. Two officers stepped out.
“Thank you for being here,” Colt said, shaking both of their hands.
“No, thank you,” said Officer Dan College. “If it weren’t for you guys, none of us would be here.”
• • •
Three weeks ago, on the last Saturday of November, the young couple was hanging out at Sturgell’s house when her brother rode up on his bike, all excited. He had found two fishing poles in this huge pile of trash. Come check it out, he said. So they did.
At the edge of the trash mound, sticking out from beneath a box, Sturgell spied a worn green folder.
She pulled it out, brushed off the dust. Across the top, bold letters said, “Department of Defense.” Inside, she found retirement papers from the U.S. Army; a citation for a Purple Heartissued in 1945; and a certificate for aBronze Star medal “for heroism in ground combat in the vicinity of Normandy, France … June 1944.” In the center of the certificate there was a name: Delbert E. Hahn.
Why would anyone throw that away? Sturgell asked.
And who is that guy? Colt wanted to know. Must be old, a World War II vet. Looks like he served at D-Day!
That night, they took the paperwork back to Sturgell’s house and searched Delbert E. Hahn on the computer. Nothing. They talked about who he might have been, the life he might have led.
The next morning, they went back to the trash heap and searched for more clues. They rummaged through boxes, overturned furniture, picked through piles of the past. Colt moved a ratty couch — and something fell out. A metal vase, or box, some kind of rectangular container about a foot tall. On the base was the name: Delbert E. Hahn.
“It’s him,” Colt told his girlfriend. “This must be him, in his urn.”
Sturgell screamed. She didn’t want to touch it. It was kind of freaky, she said, discovering the remains of some dead guy.
“He shouldn’t be here,” Colt said. “No one should be thrown away like that, just left in a parking lot.”
The dead man wasn’t alone. Under the couch, the couple found two more sets of remains: a cylinder-style container with Barbara Hahn printed on the bottom and another urn, which had no name.
• • •
Tampa Police Cpl. Edward Croissant had just reported for the night shift that Sunday when his officers showed him the urns. This kid and his girlfriend had found them and brought them to the station.
Then an officer told Croissant about the Purple Heart. The Bronze Star. And the Normandy invasion.
And Croissant became irate. He had served eight years in the Navy. He’s in the Coast Guard Reserve. “I had three uncles in World War II. That was the greatest generation. If it wasn’t for those men, we would have nothing,” he said.
“That man saw combat. And someone just dumped him there? He deserves a better ending.”
Police called the Department of Veterans Affairs and learned Hahn had died in 1983, at the age of 62 — and was a highly decorated war hero. The staff sergeant had served in the infantry and been honored with five Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.
Barbara Hahn, they learned, was the soldier’s wife.
So how did their remains end up in that mound of garbage? Where was the rest of their family, or friends, anyone who would want their ashes? And who was in that third urn?
• • •
Neighbors filled in some of the story: Barbara Hahn had been a widow forever, they told police. For years, her mother had lived with her. Her mother’s name was Barbara, too.
The elder Barbara had lived to be more than 100. They thought she died around 2000. That third urn, neighbors told police, must be her.
The younger Barbara, the soldier’s wife, got sick in 2003. A couple came to care for her, and she wound up willing them her mobile home. When she died, the couple moved in, took out a mortgage, then didn’t make payments.
The bank foreclosed on the trailer late last year.
In November, officials sent a maintenance company to clear it out. The workers must have just dumped everything behind the vacant building on Busch Boulevard, neighbors told police. Including the remains of three people.
• • •
Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, the two teenagers led the car line through Florida National Cemetery. Police followed, then the funeral director who had the urns. Outside a wooden gazebo, two rows of National Guardsmen stood at attention.
The funeral director handed the first soldier a flag, the next one the cylinder with Barbara Hahn’s remains, the third one the brass urn with Delbert Hahn.
(Barbara’s mother’s remains are still in the evidence room of the police station. Since she wasn’t a veteran or married to one, she wasn’t entitled to be buried in the military cemetery.)
“Let us open the gates of the Lord,” said a military chaplain, who led the procession of strangers into the gazebo. “Let us remember,” said the chaplain, “none of us lives only unto himself.”
The teenagers sat on the front bench. Three officials from Veterans Affairs sat behind them. They had spent weeks searching for the Hahns’ relatives, any distant kin or friend, someone who might want their ashes — or at least want to come to their burial.
They couldn’t find anyone. Even the couple whom Barbara Hahn had willed her home to didn’t show.
By the time the chaplain lifted his head from the Lord’s Prayer, a long line of men had wrapped around the gazebo. Wearing blue denim shirts and work boots, they clasped their caps in their hands and bowed their heads. Dozens of groundskeepers from the cemetery had left their Christmas party to come pay respects to the man who, in death, had been so disrespected.
A bugler played taps. The riflemen fired three shots. And 56 people watched the honor guard fold a flag over the urns of the man and woman they never knew.
News researcher John Martin contributed to this story.

At a time when the nation has been focused on health care legislation, winter storms, and the post office hostage issue, our nation has lost a hero and will probably never realize it.

Retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard, a Medal of Honor winner and one of America’s most decorated soldiers, died Wednesday in Waco after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard (then Sfc .), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic of Vietnam. The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated 2-company force. During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire. Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the officer’s equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant’s belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery, 1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded, giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the encircling enemy. For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard’s small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely. 1st Lt. Howard’s gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Howard has the distinction of being the only Soldier in our nation’s history to be nominated for the Medal of Honor for three separate events. The other two nominations were downgraded to a Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second and third highest awards for valor. He served FIVE tours in Vietnam.

Texas Governor Rick Perry today made the following statement regarding the passing of Colonel Robert L. Howard, one of America’s most decorated soldiers:

“As one of America’s most decorated veterans, Colonel Howard inspired everyone he met to consider their own commitment to our nation’s essential values, and was the bravest soldier I ever met. His unshakable commitment to freedom, displayed in countless episodes of battlefield gallantry, lives on in the actions of our military men and women who continue to serve in hostile conditions overseas. On behalf of all Texans, Anita and I extend our condolences and prayers to his family in their time of grieving.”

If you’re a reader, check out John Plaster’s book that includes Howard’s story, SOG: The Secret Wars of America’s Commandos in Vietnam.

Update: NBC News actually mentioned his passing and gave a little more information.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

h/t to This Ain’t Hell for the video link.

H/T to my good friend Greta from www.kissmygumbo.com for this terrific story.

Roy Lee Gant, a Lucky Dog vendor in the French Quarter, may look like an easy mark for an armed robber.

He wears a candy-cane-striped button-up shirt. He wheels around sausage and condiments to sell in a 1,200-pound cart shaped like a ballpark wiener, opting to make ends meet in the manner of Ignatius J. Reilly in “A Confederacy of Dunces.”

None of that oozes toughness. But Gant is a former Marine, trained in hand-to-hand combat. And a 42-year-old man accused of attempting to rob Gant at knifepoint the night of Dec. 5 found that out too late, New Orleans police say.

Gant, 33, a St. Louis native, peddled his Lucky Dogs from the corner of Royal and Iberville streets about 9 p.m. that night, a Saturday. A man strolled up to his cart and asked him for a dollar.

Gant declined, thinking, “Hell, no. I’ve hardly sold a hot dog, yet you want money — when you can be out here working the same as I am?”

The 5-foot-8, 155-pound man then shoved his face closely to Gant’s and said, “If you don’t give me a dollar, I’m going to take it.”

Gant declined again. The two shoved each other. The man, miffed, walked away.

According to a police report filed in court, the man returned to the street corner about 11:50 p.m. He drew a knife, stood alongside Gant, reached across his body and with his right hand pressed the blade’s edge against the vendor’s throat, hissing, “Remember me?”

This time, the panhandler demanded all the money, Gant said.

Gant, however, had seen the man walk next to him out of the corner of his eye. The knifeman had barely pressed the blade against the wiener vendor’s throat when Gant lifted his right arm. He grabbed the man’s right wrist and pulled the blade away.

Then, with his left arm, he gripped the knifeman’s forearm to push the blade farther away. He freed his right hand.

“Call the police!” Gant shouted to a crowd of people streaming into a nearby drug store. “Please, call the police!”

The two wrestled. While struggling to keep the blade at bay with his left hand, Gant elbowed and punched his attacker’s body and face with his right arm and hand.

Gant sensed the robber lose his balance. He reached for the man’s crotch and lifted him up, still holding onto one of his arms with his left hand.

Gant then slammed the robber face-first off the curb, gashing his attacker’s forehead wide open.

“He definitely messed with the wrong Lucky Dog guy,” said Joni Mount, Gant’s girlfriend and fellow vendor. “Why did he even come back? How stupid is he?”

Gant kicked the blade away from the robber’s grasp and pinned him face-down with his arms and knees. A bystander waved down a passing police cruiser.

By the time the officer pulled up to investigate, the knifeman had passed out, the report stated. Paramedics later arrived and took the accused robber, identified as Gregory S. Garmany of the 1800 block of Gravier Street, to Interim LSU Public Hospital for stitches.

Gant, meanwhile, tore a ligament in his right pinky and later scheduled a surgery.

When doctors released the swollen-eyed, scraped-up Garmany, officers booked him with one count of attempted armed robbery, according to the report. He remained behind bars Wednesday in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Police officials routinely discourage citizens from resisting armed robbers because of the risk. But Gant said he reacted “instinctively.” He learned the basics of hand-to-hand combat while at Camp Pendleton, Calif., with his Marine battalion.

“My reaction was just to defend myself,” Gant said.

It was Gant’s second brush with crime since he moved to New Orleans from St. Louis in February, originally in search of work on tugboats. He sold hot dogs in the 400 block of Bourbon Street the night of Nov. 29, when five men were sprayed with bullets after an argument.

Despite his lackluster welcome to the city, Gant said he had no immediate plans to abandon his tugboat work or his spot behind the Lucky Dog cart.

He said, “I try not to think about (the danger). … People just need to keep their eyes open.”

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2009 – Officials at Fort Hood, Texas, released the names of the 12 soldiers and one civilian employee killed in the Nov. 5 shooting incident on the post.

Dead are:

– Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. She was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.

– Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Detachment, Madison, Wis.

– Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, of San Diego. He was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.

– Capt. Russell Seager, 41, of Racine, Wis. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.

– Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, of Plymouth, Ind. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company at Fort Hood.

– Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis. She was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.

– Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, of Tillman, Okla. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade at Fort Hood.

– Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company at Fort Hood.

– Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.

– Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolingbrook, Ill. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.

– Spc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.

– Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago. She was assigned to the 15th Combat Support Battalion at Fort Hood.

– Michael Cahill of Cameron, Texas, a Fort Hood civilian employee.

The Recent beating death of Derrion Albert of Chicago has shown us that we need to engage our youth more than ever. More specifically we must provide a safe atmosphere for our youth as they return from school. No one is more suited to do this than veterans. That is why the organization Leave No Veteran Behind is continuing their partnership with the Chicago Public Schools this year to provide safe passage for our youth. They have coordinated with other veteran organizations to provide a neighborhood adult presence in the afternoon as children are leaving from school. This presence works with normal policing efforts to facilitate safe passage for Chicago’s youth.

At 0300 hours on 2 March 2002, C Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry walked about a mile and a half to the flight line in full gortex, poly-pro and full field uniform. They sat in chalk order until their loading time of 0500 hours. Their flight to LZ 13A gave them a touch down time of 0600 hours. SGT James Rissler was a Senior Medic of an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) team attached to the Infantry Company. According to Rissler, they loaded one of the CH-47s with 34 packs and rucks. The flight was to take them from Bagram Airbase at 4,200 feet to LZ 13A in Shahi-Kot valley to just outside the city of Marzak at 10,500 feet in just an hour’s time. Their mission set up blocking positions outside the city of Marzak while Zia forces pushed the Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in their direction.

The flight left at 0500 hours as planned and touched down at LZ 13A at 0600 hours. When the chopper touched down, the unit hastily split and went off to the left and right sides of the aircraft and soldiers assumed prone positions. Once the aircraft had taken off, the unit immediately started receiving small arms fire. The problem was that no one could locate the direction of fire, so they dropped their rucks and ran up the side of a small ridge. Soon realizing that the direction of fire was coming from the same side they were on, they ran to the top of the ridge to the other side to take cover. Once Sergeant Rissler reached the top of the ridge, an RPG round exploded about 10 feet from him and a piece of shrapnel hit him in the knee.

Once they all got to the other side, the unit consolidated and started constructing fighting positions. Soldiers were placed on a small observation post to the right of the unit, but were quickly targeted by Mortar fire also. The Mortars adjusted fire and the unit took 13 casualties by the time the second round hit. The unit then realized that the enemy forces were running out of the city of Marzak to surround them, which meant that they would now be taking fire from three sides, being targeted by Mortar fire. Sergeant Rissler set up a Command and Control Post at the bottom of the ridge and it was quickly targeted. As the enemy continued to adjust fire on them, Sergeant Rissler and other soldiers would drag as many casualties up and down the ridge as possible, covering their bodies with theirs to protect them as the rounds detonated.

While moving the soldiers up and down the hill, Sergeant Rissler was wounded a second time, taking fragments in the hand. Both times he was wounded he treated himself. Moving the injured soldiers up and down the ridge was only aggravating the injuries; consequently, each time a soldier was moved, controlling of bleeding and treatment of wound started all over again. The Mortar fire would slow down when fire missions were called in from the F-16s and AC 130s, allowing Sergeant Rissler and other soldiers to dig pits in the center of the valley to put the patients in and using dirt or whatever materials found to cover the wounded. All patients were stabilized and the unit lay in their positions returning fire until nightfall.

As night started to set in, Sergeant Rissler knew that it would be getting very cold soon. With the amount of blood lost through the day and the rapid decrease in temperature the patients would probably go into shock. So Sergeant Rissler used tape to repair the wounded soldiers’ clothing and covered the soldiers with whatever he had to prevent shock. Then he and other soldiers lay on the wounded patients to maintain their body temperature. Finally, when night fell MEDEVAC could get to the site. The first helicopter received two Mortar rounds and heavy small arms fire. Another AC-130 was called in to cover the evacuation. In all, 25 wounded were evacuated with no fatalities. Around 0200 hours the next morning, Sergeant Rissler and the rest of the unit were extracted.

A while back we had artist Phil Taylor on You Served Radio. Phil uses his awesome talents to create highly-valued sketches of fallen soldiers to give to their families. On Sept. 11th, he did the presentation of SSG Christian Engeldrum’s print to the family of SSG Engeldrum about the USS Intrepid in NYC. Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band was there also.

Don Mamone photography has put together a nice video of still pictures taken that night. Please take a few moments to check it out at http://donmamonephotography.com/slideshows/afsp-nyc/

Friday, Sept.18, 2009 is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The United States’ National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. Many Americans take the time to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA), as well as their families.

The President is expected to issue a proclamation commemorating the observances and reminding the nation of those Americans who have sacrificed so much for their country.

Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans’ facilities. This observance is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the flying of the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag. The others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. The flag is to be flown at major military installations, national cemeteries, all post offices, VA medical facilities, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense and veterans affairs, the director of the selective service system and the White House.

What do people do?

Many Americans across the United States pause to remember the sacrifices and service of those who were prisoners of war (POW), as well as those who are missing in action (MIA), and their families. All military installations fly the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag, which symbolizes the nation’s remembrance of those who were imprisoned while serving in conflicts and those who remain missing.

Veteran rallies take place in many states, such as Wisconsin, in the United States on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. United States flags and POW/MIA flags are flown on this day and joint prayers are made for POWs and those missing in action. National POW/MIA Recognition Day posters are also displayed at college or university campuses and public buildings to promote the day. Remembrance ceremonies and other events to observe the day are also held in places such as the Pentagon, war memorials and museums.

Background

There are 1,741 American personnel listed by the Defense Department’s POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, as of April 2009. The number of United States personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 841. About 90 percent of the 1,741 people still missing were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control, according to the National League of Families website (cited in the United States Army website).

The United States Congress passed a resolution authorizing National POW/MIA Recognition Day to be observed on July 18, 1979. It was observed on the same date in 1980 and was held on July 17 in 1981 and 1982. It was then observed on April 9 in 1983 and July 20 in 1984. The event was observed on July 19 in 1985, and then from 1986 onwards the date moved to the third Friday of September.  The United States president each year proclaims National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Many states in the USA also proclaim POW/MIA Recognition Day together with the national effort.

Symbols

The National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag symbolizes the United States’ resolve to never forget POWs or those who served their country in conflicts and are still missing. Newt Heisley designed the flag. The flag’s design features a silhouette of a young man, which is based on Mr Heisley’s son, who was medically discharged from the military. As Mr Heisley looked at his returning son’s gaunt features, he imagined what life was for those behind barbed wire fences on foreign shores. He then sketched the profile of his son as the new flag’s design was created in his mind.

Mr. Heisley with the flag

The flag features a white disk bearing in black silhouette a man’s bust, a watch tower with a guard on patrol, and a strand of barbed wire. White letters “POW” and “MIA”, with a white five-pointed star in between, are typed above the disk. Below the disk is a black and white wreath above the motto “You Are Not Forgotten” written in white, capital letters.