Another honorable video put to the great voice of Leann Rimes singing Amazing Grace.
This video was put together by someone as a tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11 and our military and leaders back then. Darryl Worley is a big troop supporter and a huge patriot. This video was put to his song, Have You Forgotten, which is very appropriate as we approach the ten year anniversary.
Posted in Patriotism, Video, Why We Serve
This news clip is from ABC on the morning of 9/11/01 as they started to collect up “on the street” footage of the towers falling and the people running from the towers. There is also candid footage of (then) Mayor Guliani trying to assess the footage and make his way to the World Trade Center.
This news clip is from local Washington DC CBS station, Channel 9 as they have extensive coverage to the aftermath of the attack on the Pentagon on the morning of 9/11/01. The second WTC tower also collapses in this footage.
Posted in News, Video, Why We Serve
In the ongoing series of “Remembering 9/11″ here footage from CNN’s broadcast the morning of 9/11/01 when the first tower collapsed”. I watch each one of these before I post them and let me tell you it gives me goosebumps and draws emotion to watch this all over again. I am posting these because I think America needs reminded of the feelings we all shared together that terrible morning.
A little boy from Kansas is having to deal with a lot right now. For one thing he has lost his father in Afghanistan. His dad was one of the crew members on the downed Chinook a couple of weeks ago that took 31 American lives.
But he also is trying to come to grips with why his father’s service seems to be overlooked.
A young boy in Kansas was among millions in America who watched the horrifying news this past weekend about the Chinook that went down in Afghanistan’s Wardak province.
That boy in Kansas soon found out that his father, a U.S. Army pilot, was aboard the doomed helicopter.
In the midst of his world shattering, he could not understand why the Navy SEALs drew so much attention. There were 30 Americans on board that Chinook. Why wasn’t anyone mentioning his father, a chief warrant officer with Bravo Company, 7th Battalion, 155th Aviation Regiment?
To him and his family, units, branches of service, rank or job speciality does not matter. They lost their loved in combat and for a little kid who now has a big hole in his heart and life I can see why he doesn’t understand why some seem to value some lives more than others.
I am glad CNN carried this story so at least little Braydon could see in at least in some media stories that his Dad mattered just as much.
Read the whole story at http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/09/afghanistan.pilot.son/
I was made aware of this story last night while hosting You Served Radio. I brought up the link but did not get a chance to read it until today. Even though I am not a fan of IAVA’s leadership, there are many that are part of the organization whom have a true heart and Mr. Jonathan Raab seems to be one of them.
The argument he bring up in the guest blog written at http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/wanted-a-good-job-and-some-understanding/ is a good one and completely true in my eyes.
Last night on the show, former Marine Drill Instructor and now actor and friend, Joe Harrell called in to talk about this issue and how true this reality is. I have to agree with him that the “patriotism” of 2001-2003 has worn off.
I know of several incidents where employers have shunned their employees or potential employees due to current military service in the National Guard or Reserves.
Mr. Raab says it very clear in the blog at one point near the end…
“Everybody wants to support the troops until they have to share in the hardship and sacrifice,” I said. “Then all of a sudden that bumper sticker or that flag pin doesn’t mean anything anymore.”
I totally get that business is business and it is not personal, but this is not a personal thing. Citizen-soldiers are not asking for special favors or considerations, they are asking for tolerance. Tolerance to the fact that they have volunteered to serve the country, even in a part-time basis. But it is not always part-time and sometimes that means they have to serve for an extended time.
This is not personal, this is a duty by companies who are afforded the rights and freedoms to operate in this country. These men and women have raised their hand and volunteered to defend this country against all enemies foreign or domestic. If they are National Guard, they also have swore to act on orders of the Governor of their state. This could mean helping people shovel out of bad snowstorms, fill sandbags to keep communities from being flooded or even help patrol a street or airport or train station in times of heightened threats.
I have said it a million times as have others, “America is at the mall, while the military is at war”. If a company having to step up and maybe back-fill someone who serves or give a citizen-soldier a couple of days off a month means that is their “sacrifice”, I would say they are still getting off pretty easy.
I have been very, very lucky in my work history to have had worked for great companies that respected and honored my military service when I was still in. From my first civilian job that I got just a week after getting out of the active army until the day I retired from the National Guard I worked for companies that did more than what was required by law to support me and my service. I was then and still am today very grateful for their support.
As a 1SG in the National Guard, I was very aware that not every one of my soldiers had that same level of support from their company or their school. I dealt with many employers (and some professors) on behalf of my soldiers. What makes it worse is that my time as a 1SG was done in the New York National Guard, the same Brigade in fact that Mr. Raab is in and the Brigade that has been called on time and time again since the attacks of 9/11. Which was very personal for many members of the NY National Guard. Why that makes it worse is because you would think that as the state which lost the most people on 9/11, companies whom operate in that state would be the most supportive of its guard members.
But it is what it is, and I guess it is something that citizen-soldiers will have to do their best to deal with. I just hope that maybe Mr. Raab’s article sheds light on the subject and maybe a little shame on those who are employers whom this would apply to.
Posted in Military Life, National Guard, Why We Serve
We have a full show tonight starting out with a couple of great guys from Get it Done consulting (www.getitdoneconsulting.com), Bob “Benny” Goodman and Wally Ward. Bob has started a new program called Mentor-Train-Mentor, with a mission of providing integral training for service-disabled veterans to establish professional business certification and qualifications making them competitive for jobs. We will talk with them about why they started this program, what they hope to achieve out of it and how it is going so far.
Next up we have several great volunteers from Cooking with the Troops. We have had Blake Powers and others on before from CWtT and are glad to have them back on. They will be talking with us about their recent event where they held a cuban-food cookout at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. .
Rounding out our show is our 3rd guest of the night, Ms. Pamela Wilson from Bodybuilding.com. Bodybuilding.com, the Internet’s most-visited bodybuilding and fitness site and largest online retailer of nutritional supplements, and athlete-trusted supplement company, MusclePharm, have officially kicked off the 2nd annual 2011 Military Challenge. The competition is open for entries to all active and reserve United States military members and their spouses from July 15 – August 15, 2011. She is an AFAA certified personal trainer, MADDOGG certified spin instructor, a sponsored athlete with the first ever Team Bodybuilding.com and a featured athlete with Dymatize supplement company. She is currently a Capt in the USAF, Reserves.
So as you can see this is a jam-packed show tonight. We have vets trying to help vets get into the business world, we have volunteers doing good things for our wounded warriors and we have a awesome website and company helping promote fitness and trying to reward those that do. Please join us tonight at www.youservedradio.com at 8PM EST and listen to another great show.
Connor still holds the record as the youngest guest we have ever had on You Served Radio. Connor was a guest on the show where we called him the Littlest Patriot. You can listen to it here, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2010/03/18/episode-20.
Well Connor has not stopped being a patriot, an awesome kid and an example to many if not all Americans. How can you not love this little guy for how cute he is and how much he does.
I talk with his Grandpa all the time and I can tell you that he is still sending boxes out, all the time. I am getting pics of them before they close them up. Please take time to watch this video, feel uplifted and share it with friends and family.
Posted in Patriotism, Wall of Honor, Why We Serve, You Served Radio
Eight, yes EIGHT combat tours. It just goes to show you that despite all the best training in the world, combat is ugly and dangerous and sometimes the odds catch up with you. God Bless his family and God Speed SSG Katzenberger (to the front of the line in Heaven). I am sure he died doing what he loved doing, leading his Rangers in combat.
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, June 15, 2011) – A U.S. Army Ranger was killed in action on June 14 during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Jeremy Andrew Katzenberger was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
He was killed by direct fire from enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Paktika Province.
A native of Weatherby Lake, Mo., Katzenberger enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 2004. For more than six years, Katzenberger served as a rifleman, automatic rifleman, team leader and Ranger squad leader in 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt.
The 75th Ranger Regt. has been continuously deployed to Afghanistan since October 2001.
“Staff Sgt. Katzenberger was a phenomenal Ranger who died while leading his men in an assault against our enemies. He died while protecting our Nation and we will not forget his sacrifice,” said Col. Michael Foster, commander, 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt. “He was universally respected by every member of this command and was a devoted, loving husband and proud father. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Katzenberger family.”
Katzenberger previously served on four deployments to Iraq and this was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.
“I wish the American people could truly understand the dedication and sacrifice that Staff Sgt. Jeremy Katzenberger made for his country. Since early 2005, Jeremy has either been in combat or training for combat. This was his eighth combat deployment,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander, 75th Ranger Regt. “Jeremy was the epitome of a Ranger squad leader; he is a hero to our Nation, the Army and his family.”
Katzenberger is survived by his wife Colleen A. (Montgomery) Katzenberger, son Everett James both of Richmond Hill, Ga., and his parents Robert and Peggy Katzenberger of Weatherby Lake, Mo.
For further information, media should contact the U.S. Special Forces Command Public Affairs Office during duty hours at 910-432-6005, or after duty hours at 910-432-8650.
Posted in Patriotism, Wall of Honor, Why We Serve
You Served's Claire talks about the life of a military spouse - the hardships, the joys, and everything in between.
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