Not everyone in Washington D.C. got off from work for snow

February 17, 2010 By Troy
Posted in Life in the Military, Patriotism, Wall of Honor, Why We Serve

‘Enuff Said…..

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Red, White, Black & Blue: The Battle for Attu

November 9, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Video, Why We Serve

For Veterans Day week, I’m going to try and find a bunch of GREAT stories that will motivate you and inspire you. Our veterans are heroes and many of their actions aren’t well-known. A perfect example of this is the Battle of Attu. In 1942 the Japanese invaded the Alaskan island of Attu – American soil!

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Veterans Providing Safe Passage for Children in the City of Chicago

October 11, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Wall of Honor, Why We Serve

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.

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National POW/MIA Recognition Day

September 18, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Life in the Military, Military History, Patriotism, Wall of Honor, Why We Serve

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.

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Hero of the Week

September 9, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Patriotism, Wall of Honor, Why We Serve

I know CJ normally posts the Hero of the Week, but I have been in contact with someone close to this young man and I thought it would be nice to recognize him. He is connected to some incidents that I wrote about on my main blog at Bouhammer.com  which is how I came into contact with these people that know PV2 Lansing.

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Preventing Suicide: Advice to Civilians

August 19, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Patriotism, Top Posts, Why We Serve

I recently wrote a piece on A Soldier’s Perspective about suicide called “Suicide Solution is No Solution.” I’ve gotten a lot of very supportive emails about all my recent posts on suicide prevention and mental health issues.

One of the emails I received posed some great questions. With the approval of the author, I wanted to answer these questions publicly in case there were others out there seeking these answers.

[Is] there any advice and direction you can give to those of us who haven’t had those experiences and truly can’t identify with the experiences our men and women in uniform encounter on a daily basis? How can we as civilians assist them in their time of need? Is there anything that we can truly do to help them? To show them how much they are cared for? To show them how important and truly invaluable they are to us? To show them how invaluable their contributions are to each one of us? To help them in deciding against making a fateful decision?

One of the toughest barriers that civilians or non-combat veterans will have to overcome is the combat veteran’s personal bias against those who haven’t “been there.” It’s not that they’re snobbish or “holier than thou” but a feeling that to truly understand what they are dealing with, you have to be there.

My grandfather fought in the skies over Germany during WWII in a B-24 and B-17. I remember reading his journal as a young man and just being awe-struck at what these young men had to deal with in the skies during their bombing runs. Yet, whenever I asked my grandfather to talk about these experiences, he closed up and wouldn’t talk. He talked around it or changed the subject completely. My father told me that my grandfather NEVER discussed his combat.

However, when I returned from Iraq, my grandfather began opening up to me in ways my father could only dream about. He talked about his combat experience and how he was “scared s***less” each time he had to get back that plane for another mission. He had been hit by German flak in the leg and many times wondered if he’d ever make it back home. That fear prompted him to constantly urge me not to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan. “I had done my time,” he said.

The fact is that because my father had never seen combat – though he volunteered to serve in Vietnam, was never sent closer than a carrier took him – he couldn’t talk to him.

Just because a combat veteran won’t open up about his experiences to those non-combat veterans or civilians doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel and give up. Our veterans still need to know that we care about them. Just because you can’t necessarily empathize with us, doesn’t mean you can’t assist us.

So, the question remains: “How can we as civilians – and I’ll add non-combat veterans – assist them in their time of need?”

The quick answer is “be there for them.” Don’t let the fact that these Soldiers (an all-inclusive term encompassing all branches of service, apologies to Marines) won’t talk about specific experiences divert you from your attempts to help. Don’t press for specifics. Be an ear. There’s a saying that God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we’d listen twice as much as we spoke. Imaging you have ten ears when trying to help a veteran and no mouth.

Sometimes, there is just nothing you can verbally say that will help, but just by being there and listening and showing that you care is worthy of a million words of encouragement. Soldiers are entitled to bad days, but when they have them don’t avoid them. These are the times when Soldiers need to know they’re not alone the most. A bad day can be made even worse when we think that no one seems to care.

Don’t be thin-skinned when trying to help a combat veteran suffering with Post Traumatic Stress. He may say things he doesn’t mean or just not be capable of conveying exactly what he’s thinking at that moment. We say some stupid stuff during our lows and words are difficult to take back. However, if you have a thick skin and can make yourself understand that it’s not personal, you’ll be better off for it. Don’t get me wrong, this does NOT give the veteran the right to verbally berate you or be abusive in language. Stand up for yourself and let him know that you don’t appreciate those words and that you are there for them anyway. PTSD is not a free ticket to stupidity and criminal activity.

Is there anything you can truly do to help them? Yes. Take the time to ask them how they’re doing, especially when it appears they are in their low point. Encourage them that their life is special. Don’t be afraid to ask if they are considering hurting themselves or others. Sometimes, just the mere question will convince them not to go to extremes.

Don’t baby them. Don’t let them get away with insults or extreme behavior. Don’t patronize them by allowing them to do or say things that are hurtful. Encourage them to find outlets to deal with their feelings by talking to you or others or by writing their feelings down in a journal. You can show them you care for them just by calling them or stopping by to say hi.

For those that are able to, if you see a combat veteran at an eating establishment (indicated in the Army by a right shoulder unit patch below the flag), pay for their meal secretly. Don’t let the server point you out or give any identifying information.

I recently ate at a Cracker Barrel (Wednesday Chicken Pot Pie Day!!) on my way home from a TDY in uniform. As I was finishing up, the waitress informed me that my meal was paid for but wouldn’t say who did it. This simple act reinforced my belief that I’m not invisible and people care about me. If you can’t afford to pay for a meal, walk up to that Soldier and just thank them for their service. If you’re shy, just write it on a napkin and place it on the table or have the server take it to the Soldier.

Finally, you have to understand that sometimes nothing you can say or do will convince some people that living is worth it. When even your best efforts aren’t “good enough” revert back to what I said earlier: be thick-skinned. It’s not your fault. It’s not Bush’s fault. It’s not Obama’s fault. It’s not his family’s fault. It’s not the war’s fault. It’s that Soldier’s fault. There is nothing in this world worth taking your life over. The only one that a suicide victim has to blame is himself. Don’t take it personally. Believe me, I’ve beat myself up over and over again when this happens and it doesn’t do any good. It wasn’t my fault. Could we have done more? Of course. We can always do more! But you can everything in the world for someone and if they aren’t willing to accept that sacrifice, there’s nothing you can do about it.

I hope this helps a little for those asking these questions of themselves.

Note: I am not a doctor nor am I a trained expert in this field. I’ve studied the topic independently and the following information my personal opinion. I am not in any way a subject matter expert and recommend that you seek professional guidance for serious cases. I also do not represent the official military or government position on any of these issues.

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Love Saves A Wounded Marine

August 12, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Video, Why We Serve

As a registered member of Great Americans, I get emails from time to time highlighting some of their best videos. This video was recently waiting for me in my inbox. Great Americans founder, Dr. Matt Daniels, had this to say as an introduction:

Greatness of character is inseparable from adversity. Many of the stories on Great Americans reflect this enduring truth. One of those is the story of Marine Corporal Aaron Mankin and his wife Diana.

Corporal Mankin was badly burned from an IED attack during an operation to stop insurgents flowing into Iraq form Syria. His vehicle was blown over 10 feet into the air. Afterwards, Mankin recalls, “I opened my eyes and I realized I was on fire”.

Mankin was so badly burned that it was six weeks before he could even bear to look at himself in a mirror. But the turning point came when his sweetheart Diana accepted his marriage proposal from his hospital bed. “At that moment, I realized that I was still the same man inside,” he recalls.That realization – and Diana’s consistent love for him — sustained him through 30 reconstructive surgeries.

Aaron and Diana Mankin are now the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. Of his injuries, Mankin says they help him appreciate what he has been given. “I work harder at loving my daughter because of my injuries. I want her to see my scars as an advantage”.

We all have a lot to learn from the story of Aaron and Diana Mankin.

Check out this truly inspirational video HERE.

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Iraq and Afghanistan Medals of Honor

August 2, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military History, Patriotism, Top Posts, Top Posts - My Post, Top Posts - Shared, Why We Serve

I wanted to provide a list of the Medal of Honor recipients from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars so that you have one place in which to read their story. These are just brief descriptions, but give you an idea for future research into these American heroes:

* Lt. Michael P. Murphy, Navy. Led a four-member team against between 30 and 40 Taliban fighters in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan. When the primary communicator fell mortally wounded, Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for assistance for his injured colleagues. Realizing the impossibility of communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. His actions deprived him of cover and exposed him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his headquarters, Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his location and requested immediate support for his team. He continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded.

* Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Marine Corps. While attempting to search vehicles for weapons near the town of Karabilah, Iraq, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Dunham. In the ensuing struggle, he saw the insurgent release a grenade. Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Without hesitation, Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his colleagues from the blast.

* Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, Army. Manned a machine gun as an insurgent dropped a grenade into his vehicle in northeast Baghdad. Reacting quickly, he yelled grenade. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner’s hatch to safety, McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, Navy. While providing protection from a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq, an insurgent threw a grenade that hit Monsoor in the chest. He threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of two teammates.

* Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Army. He was helping to build a holding area for prisoners of war near the Baghdad airport when his unit was attacked by a company-sized enemy force. As the fight developed, Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and he organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers.

* Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti, Army. He was shot as he attempted for a third time to rescue a wounded comrade while conducting combat operations in the mountains near Gowardesh, Afghanistan. The actions took place as he ordered firepower that broke the enemy attacks and killed 22 enemy fighters. President Barack Obama will present the award on Sept. 17 at a White House ceremony.

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Warrior of the Week: Colonel Katherine Miller

August 1, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, Why We Serve, soldier of the week

As the Deputy Provost Marshal General for U.S. Army Corrections Command, Col. Katherine Miller oversees six military prisons throughout the world. A born leader, Miller has always excelled, consistently earning honors for being at the top of her class in every school she attended. When she attended Officer Candidate School (OCS), however, Miller found she had a worthy rival in another student. Despite her best efforts, Miller had to settle for second place in the rankings as the top honor was given to another Soldier, Col. (Ret.) William Long. Miller found Long’s drive, energy and humor irresistible, and the two top students were married shortly after OCS graduation.

Over the past three decades, the Army couple has served together on the battlefield and the home front, teaching their children, Mica and Noah, and the Soldiers in their command to be the best they can be.

When Miller deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, she knew her husband would keep life at home on track and that she had the support of her entire family to go out and complete her mission. Knowing first-hand the importance of keeping her Soldiers’ minds focused on the mission rather than missing home, Miller organized a series of sporting competitions designed to boost morale and increase camaraderie. The event, which was called the PIG Bowl, standing for Pride, Intelligence and Guts, challenged her Soldiers’ skills and raised money for the families of Soldiers killed in action. Miller also applied some of her experiences as a mother to furthering her mission with the Afghan people. Recognizing the universal relevance of family, Miller shared stories about her own family with locals to break down cultural barriers and to foster relationships. As a result of her accomplishments as a Military Police Officer, Miller received the Bronze Star Medal for leadership and meritorious service.

Although, Miller was away for long periods during her daughter’s teen years due to multiple deployments, she knows that she and her husband, together, have raised a strong and independent young woman. Her daughter Mica, a member of the Virginia National Guard and an ROTC cadet at George Mason University, has given Miller a new understanding of her Soldiers. She sees potential for greatness in each of her Soldiers, and pushes each of them to strive to be their best selves.

Armed with her own experiences and lessons learned from raising children in a dual-military family, Miller is committed to other Soldiers raise their own Army Strong families by mentoring junior Soldiers and their spouses. She currently resides with her husband and two children in Fort Belvoir, Va.

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What Makes a Great American?

July 30, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Patriotism, Video, Why We Serve

It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of the online video site, Great Americans. It’s one of the most patriotic places I’ve found that is dedicated to those in this country who seek to do something greater than themselves. It’s about service, sacrifice, patriotism, and love for our fellow citizens. They don’t focus singularly on the military, but include ALL manner of service from the DEA to the local police department and volunteer firefighter.

Site creator and executive director, Matt Daniels, recently answered the question posed in the title of this post that I want to share with you:

Did you know that volunteer fire companies are a uniquely American tradition? In Europe, it would be unthinkable for anyone but the government to engage in the dangerous work of firefighting. But in America, the majority of firefighters are still volunteers. Ordinary Americans save the lives of others in countless communities across America — simply for love of neighbor.

This fact speaks volumes about what has always made America great. As a nation, we have a tradition of ordinary people caring for one another – even to the point of risking their lives. We sometimes forget that in many other societies this would seem absurd. But when we forget that, we forget who we are. That is why I love this video portrait of one volunteer fire company in Maryland. It captures the greatness of the ordinary Americans who volunteer to serve as firefighters in every community in our country:

Kingsville Volunteer Company – watch more videos

Notice how most of the firefighters interviewed say that they serve because they saw someone else in their family do the same. That is the power of positive role models – and the reason that that Great Americans exists.

I can’t say it any better. Are you looking for more great videos that will inspire and motivate? Check out Great Americans.

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