The first blog post I distinctly remember reading from Chux blog was the barbeque post. (If you've never made the connection, the picture from that post is that same little bitty icon in the address bar of your browser, just zoomed in on the barbeque.)

I remember reading later about Chuck getting blown up.  I remember sitting at my desk with tears running down my face for some guy I had never so much as emailed.  I remember reading the posts from The Mrs. and thinking she is a woman I wanted to be more like.  (I'm still working on that one.)

The story could have ended there.  Chuck could have faded off the internet due to his injuries and I never would have met two people whose friendship I now value so much.

If Soldiers' Angels hadn't given a laptop to Chuck and that most wonderful anonymous donation been made to his Amazon account for him to get Dragon Naturally Speaking, none of us would have been reading blog posts from him a few days later.  How many of us found his blog or made the first comment or sent him a card or dropped him an email after he was able to start blogging again?  Because of Project Valour-IT, Chuck was able to reconnect with the people who were in his life before the IED.  I don't want to take anything away from the value and magic of those ties being made whole again.  But he was also able to meet so many new people through that computer because his voice on the net had not been taken away from those of us who hadn't reached out yet.

If Chuck hadn't gotten a laptop and been able to keep blogging, he never would have broken the blog and gotten unsolicited advice from me.  If he hadn't been able to keep blogging, he would have just been a distant memory for me.  And that would suck.

Chuck, thanks for breaking the blog.  Patti, thanks going on eBay and buying him a laptop.  Thank you to everyone who started the ball rolling for Valour-IT and everyone who kept it rolling.  Thank you to everyone who donates and lets this happen again and again to so many people in so many places.

Every morning when I'm getting ready for work, I see a cashout voucher from the Straosphere slot machines for $0.13.  It reminds me of the friends I have who I don't get to see nearly enough, but whose presence on this planet remind me there's a lot more to life than my daily drama.  I never would have been trying to get to that rollercoaster thing on the top of the Straosphere a few minutes too late with some of the coolest people I've ever met if that first Valour-IT laptop hadn't been given to Chuck.

~~Code Monkey

Click on this link to read a report from Reuters about Project Valour-IT. And don't forget to spread the word to all your friends!

Thanks!
The Mrs.

Go ARMY Team!!!

Labels: Project Valour-IT, Soldier's Angels

Because having your own song is just so cool.


(Link takes you to mediafire to download, or go here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zdimrhemyzw

Project Valour-IT is more than giving a laptop and voice-activated software to our wounded warriors. It's about bringing a sense of normalcy, outreach, and an outlet to our service members who shed their blood, sweat, tears, and body parts on the battlefield.

Chuck started this blog in March 2005, just 2 months into his deployment to Iraq. It quickly gained readership and became his outlet on many fronts. He told me he didn't want to "burden" me with things he was thinking about, so his blog became his outlet. I didn't really "get" the whole concept of a blog at first, then, when he was wounded on 21 June, a mere 6 months into his deployment, I began to understand the power of this blog.

While in the hospital at Walter Reed, Chuck wanted to blog SO BAD that we even tried to have him dictate what he wanted to say while I wrote it down (on paper). After about 5 minutes, we both became frustrated and stopped. I felt helpless. I couldn't help him say what was on his mind and he couldn't type it out. It was tense in the room for a while as we both tried to figure out how to resolve this issue.

Shortly thereafter, Chuck spoke to Patti Patton-Bader (founder of Soldiers' Angels) and he asked for a laptop. Patti sent him a laptop and we were thrilled! We set it up in his hospital room with a sense of relief and resolve to our previous frustration. Then, when Chuck tried to blog... he could only get a few sentences out. Both of his hands were heavily bandaged and he could only use two of his fingers on his right hand. His left hand, at that point, was useless. Fortunately, Chuck's few sentences sent overwhelming responses of Dragon Naturally Speaking software.

Once again, Chuck was able to blog. This is a post he wrote just before Project Valour-IT kicked off in 2005.

Not only was Chuck able to blog with his new laptop and voice-activated software, I was able to relax a little bit more. Instead of trying to figure how to get Chuck some sort of outlet, I knew he had one. Instead of going to the Mologne House every night, wondering how Chuck will manage throughout the night, I knew he had an outlet. Instead of feeling guilty as hell when I went somewhere without him (for ME time), I knew Chuck had his connection to the outside world.

The laptop and software were truly a gift that can not be put into words. Even after Chuck was initially discharged from Walter Reed, we returned MANY times for subsequent surgeries. His Valour-IT laptop and software were always there for him, especially when he couldn't type with his hand(s). I could go on all day about how amazing this program is...

This post is not a request for donations, although that would be wonderful. The intent of this post is to give you my perspective of how Valour-IT can be so healing to our wounded warriors and their families. If anything, I ask that you share this post with everyone in your e-mail/facebook/blog list and let them decide whether they want to donate.

For those who decide to donate, please click here. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Labels: Soldier's Angels, Walter Reed, wounded troops

Today marks the start of the fifth annual VALOur-IT fundraiser.


If you've read this blog for a day or so, you know what VALOur-IT is.  If not, I'll enlighten you shortly.


To be honest, I'd like to see Team Army win, but I really want to see the charity win--meaning we get enough money to provide laptops for all existing requirements, and have plenty left over to meet recurring demands.


This means that for the 238,000,000 American Citizens out there who've never served a day in uniform, today's freedom costs you only $.004.  That's less than half a cent apiece.  That tiny amount would net VALOUR-IT over $1 million, and fund over 1000 laptops.  It would give us the purchasing power to make real deals with computer companies (Dell, HP, etc.)  If however, you'd like to contribute more than your Fair Share (TM), that is always welcome, since as we all know, there's something like 100 million deadbeats and dole-takers out there 


Something like 25,000 Service members have been wounded in combat.  Of those, most were wounds to extremities.  They've given their contribution, how about you?


I don't want any donations based on guilt or pity, you can keep that money.  If you have any money in the kitty designated as "Worthy cause to Help a wounded service member" that money is welcome. 


But honestly, the most important thing you can do is reach out to the 237,999,998 Americans who don't read this blog.  Make them aware of VALOur-IT, Soldiers Angels, and the 2009 service members waiting to be adopted.  Encourage them not only to donate (especially to Team Army, since the Army bears the brunt of the casualties, and does the majority of the fighting) but to also reach out to other people they know, to educate, contribute, and ask them to reach out.  It's how things go viral besides the video of the fat kid going ape in the candy store.


Four tenths of one cent, if given freely by every American who enjoys the freedoms  guaranteed and secured by others, can give those who've lost the ability to use their hands or eyes or ability to otherwise use the basic tools we all use to communicate and participate in society over vast distances.  It can help them realize their world has not collapsed, that they can once again talk to their brothers still fighting, email a loved one, tell their story, or just play a game of solitaire.


Four tenths of one cent--such a small price to pay to honor those who so desperately need to feel whole again.


Contribute, reach out, educate, encourage.  Fundraiser goes through November 11th.



--Chuck

I totally support you.  Except, of course, when I don't.


What we have here is a sign that the administration may not be living up to it's campaign promises.  The question that must be asked is "Why not?"


Throwing up a barrier to an organization trying to strike down a law that was supposedly promised to be changed anyway--what could the administration's reasoning be for something like this?


I am no proponent for LGBT rights.  I am a proponent for all Americans being treated equally under the law.  It's why I think "hate crime laws" are ridiculous.  If someone commits a crime, they've committed a crime.   Their motivation for committing that crime is moot.  If someone physically attacks me for being a soldier, is that a hate crime?  If someone attacks me for being a loud-mouthed cantankerous bastard, is that a hate crime?  Under the law, not so much.  Those are just crimes.  Even though as a member of the Armed Forces, I represent just 1 in 308 Americans--apparently not enough to qualify for "minority status."  If, however, you are LGBT, then your 1 in 10 status DOES qualify you for "hate crime" protections since, you know, you're a minority.

Crap.  I've digressed.  The issue here is that the administration rose to power making promises (as all administrations do.)  Then the administration chose to not only ignore those promises (again, as all administrations do) but has chosen to actively oppose those who are taking action to ensure those promises are met.  Here, citizens are petitioning their government for redress of grievances, and the Administration is using the US Department of Justice to work aginst the citizens who are trying to enact the very promises made.


My only question is:  Why?  Wouldn't it be easier to simply do nothing?  If the log cabin republicans win, the Administration can avoid the LGBT/DADT minefield altogether.  Just raise its hands, shrug its shoulders and say "the courts have spoken" and bask in the glow (and reap the PR rewards) of stating how another campaign promise was kept.   If the log cabin republicans lose, it can just raise its hands, shrug its shoulders and say "the courts have spoken", and then call for court reform, law review, whatever, and show that they continue to "fight for the rights of ALL Americans."  Either way, the Administration spends no political capital.



However, the administration chose to actively oppose the log cabin republicans' petition.  If the LCR wins, the Administration loses, and loses the capital of the LGBT support it embraced on the campaign trail.  If the LCR loses, the administration is seen as reneging on its previous promises, and actively opposing LGBT "rights."


Just who is making these decisions?  It seems that a win-win was discounted for a lose-lose choice.


I don't get it.


--Chuck

I've been feeling bad lately--even while in Vegas (although I did hide it pretty well.)

It's a weird pain--mostly stabbing/aching in my back beneath my scapula and around my right side ribs.  Been trying to medicate, sleep, and electrocute the pain away, but to no avail. Which doesn't explain why I forgot about today.

241 Good Men Died On this day, in 1983.  John has a great post about it at the castle.

From his comments section:
  I've never been to Afghanistan, so I can't comment on that.  I was all of eleven years old when it happened, but some things are still true--if you lack the WILL to use overwhelming force and ferocity to retaliate against your enemies and those who support them, you will never stop them from attacking you.  Policies which the soldier perceives as inhibiting his ability to do his mission, do inhibit his ability to do his mission.  Perception being truth applies here, because if the soldier feels hamstrung by ROE, then he begins to doubt if his leaders, and their leaders, care more about him than they care about the perception of the public and his enemy.


I personally feel like there are politicians on both sides of the aisle, who (then and now) would gladly step on my throat if it would get them another term in office (or another five votes, even).


But I digress.


241 Marines died on this day, serving the country they loved.


And I cannot convey in words my personal feelings about this ruling, or the person against whom it was lodged.

MAJ Charles Ziegenfuss, student, Staff Group 21B, Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS.  The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

 Matt Burden (Blackfive) was feeling all kinds of happy in Las Vegas until he received a test from his friend, Mike.  The news was not good.



Why am I posting this?  Because of it, we have this:



SGT Chris Rudzinski, on his fourth tour, was killed by an IED in Afghanistan.

From his father, an USAF Colonel:

"I can barely stand to write the words, but our son Chris died in the line of duty in Afghanistan on October 16, 2009.  I am currently in Dover, DL.  Today we return home while the military and civilian personnel of the mortuary affairs unit take care of our son after his return to U.S. soil yesterday..."

That is a pain I cannot imagine. Colonel Rudzinski is the son of a Vietnam vet, and has another son in the military.

Anne Morse wrote a piece for NRO about Mike and Chris and their family here.

Mike Rudzinski, is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the son of a Vietnam vet, and the father of Chris Rudzinski, who served in the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq. His son's time in the sand "was much more perilous than mine," Rudzinski wrote. When asked why so many sons of Vietnam veterans saw their sons volunteer for service in Iraq, Rudzinski replied:

I believe Chris joined because he loved his country and he loved his family and he wanted to do something for both. I'd like to think that my dad and I were an inspiration to Chris: after all, my dad was the inspiration for me to join . . . My dad supervised the maintenance and repair of Army helicopter radios and avionics in the 101st Airborne division (Air Assault). While my Dad was in Vietnam, he used to regularly visit an orphanage in Da Nang with one of the Catholic chaplains," from which his parents adopted a five-year old girl. "Dad told me it was his promise to God that he would take at least one child out of that miserable existence if he made it through his tour . . .

I was 11 years old when my dad left for Vietnam. He told me he was going to war in the hope that his children, my brothers and I, would never have to do this when we got older. I remember that moment and his words: I used them to tell my young sons (Chris' brothers) why I had to go to Kuwait for OIF. Chris said something similar to me. He said that he wanted to do his part like me and my dad, so his siblings and any kids he might have, might never have to serve in the future.

In August 2004, the sergeant reclassified as a MP and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2006. There, he led a team of MPs that mentored, and trained the Iraqi police.

In March, Rudzinski was assigned to the 293rd MP Co., and deployed with that unit July, conducting a combat advisory mission in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

"Sgt. Rudzinski was a great noncommissioned officer, husband, father and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him," said Capt. Michael Thurman, commander of the 293rd MP Co.

Sondra K has some posts about Chris and his family here.  But, if you just read one post today, make it this one - "Through the Clouds".  It's the feelings of a father bringing home his son.

Once funeral arrangements are made, Mike will let us know so we can help.

Godspeed, Chris.  I'll see you at Fiddler's Green.

--Chuck

Labels: Damn

Sears invites all active military members to register for the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry program. The Heroes at Home Wish Registry allows America to thank our military heroes and their families by donating to the program. All donations will be evenly distributed in the form of Sears gift cards amongst all military families and members accepted into the program. Registration will be open between 8:00AM CT -  6:00PM CT each day, so register and review program details at www.sears.com/wish today.

This morning, while trying desparately to overcome the effects of a Bombay-Sapphire Gimlet overdose, I met Matt Goss at the Soldier's Angels Booth.  My first impressions were that the young Britisher was a very polite and handsome man, (as in I'm glad the Mrs. wasn't here--like you don't want the Mrs. meeting Brad Pitt) but had no idea who he was. 
Per the usual, my first impressions were dead on accurate, but my incredible person radar was disastrously impaired by the gin-fog that soaked my brain and liver.  (Hey, last night I was kissed by a not-so-blushing new bride--just a peck, mind you, in front of her husband--and I was propositioned by a hooker who referred to herself as an "independent contractor.")  It was a really fun night with the milblog mafia.
So Matt Goss and I met, I found out he was a singer, had an act at the Palms, and then curled up into a self-wallowing bout of withdrawal--can't take my pain meds with booze in the system.  But damn, it was a fun night.  Toby Nunn, on the other hand, was on his game.  He talked at length with Matt Goss, told him about Soldier's Angels, VALOUR-IT, and what we were doing here.
Matt then invited Toby to bring his semi-retardedly hungover friend (me) to his show tonight. 
We went to the show. 
It.
Was.
Amazing.
He covered every genre.  He added his own twist to old favorites.  As incredibly talented as he is, he still showcased the other members of his band's individual talents, and they too are phenomenal musicians.  His dancers--six beautiful (and frighteningly flexible) ladies added an even higher level of energy to an already electrifying show.
If you haven't guessed by now, I enjoyed his show more than any other I've ever seen.
After the show, we went up to meet Matt and thank him for the invitation.  I shook his hand and I gave him my Soldier'sAngels Valour-IT coin that I've carried everywhere.  In a side conversation, Toby explained how much that coin meant to me.  Then Matt Goss did someting absolutely touching and deeply appreciated. He showed me a coin he had hand-made in India.  It's 24k rose gold, and hand engraved with a beautifully designed Ganesha, and the inscription "OM GUNG GANAPTA NAMAH" on the reverse.  He explained that the inscription was a mantra that was used to remove obstacles from you life.  Further more, he's carried that coin for every performance he's EVER done.  And he's done thousands of shows all over the world.  He now carries my coin in its stead, and I his.
He is an absolute gentleman, and a HUGE supporter of the troops.  He asked us if we could help him get his show to Iraq or Afghanistan for Christmas--he wants to be there more than anywhere else in the world.  He is awed by the sacrifice we make and wants to bring happiness, or at least a moment of respite from the war to our soldiers.  Toby and I have some homework to do--but we are going to expend all our energy to make it happen for him.

Namaste, Matt.


--Chuck


Here he is singing "Superstitious." A Fantastic performance showing a very intimate gig at HMV in Glasgow. Showcasing the amazing vocal Matt truly has.Soldiers would LOVE his show.

Advocacy Alert: Wounded Warriors and Caregivers need your HELP Today!

YOUR ACTION IS NECESSARY FOR SENATE TO PASS A STRONG BILL TO HELP OUR MOST SEVERELY WOUNDED WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Wounded Warrior Project’s (WWP) top priority is getting desperately needed legislation passed by Congress to provide critical support to family caregivers of severely wounded warriors including those with catastrophic injuries such as severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury, and others.

Over the past 4 years, WWP has listened to the needs and concerns directly from family caregivers of critically injured service members from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Respite care, mental health counseling, technical assistance, health care coverage and a modest stipend, can make the difference between a warrior being able to receive the care and services they need in their own homes and communities rather than in institutional or nursing home settings.

A bi-partisan bill, (S.801) is currently awaiting action in the United States Senate. This bill acknowledges and fully supports the vital role of the family caregiver for the warrior’s well-being and will provide long –term support and services for our severely wounded warriors and their family caregivers.

With your help, progress has been made but more is needed. To date, 24 Senators co-sponsored this legislation – we need all 100. This country owes it to our service members to take care of those who care for them.

You have the opportunity to help and make a life changing impact on our wounded warriors and their families.

ACTION NEEDED:

1) Contact your Senators NOW to let them know how strongly you support the Caregiver and Veterans Health Services Act of 2009 (S. 801) and its supports and stipend for family caregivers.

To do so, please call the US Capitol Switchboard, at 202-224-3121, and ask to speak with the Senator from your state.

2) Contact Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), a key figure in this process, and urge him to support movement on the bill. Senator Coburn’s office can be reached at 202- 224-5754.

Please call NOW and encourage others to do the same. Your grassroots action can make the difference!

Labels: Support the troops and their mission, wounded troops

~~Code Monkey

Sears invites all active military members to register for the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry program. The Heroes at Home Wish Registry allows America to thank our military heroes and their families by donating to the program. All donations will be evenly distributed in the form of Sears gift cards amongst all  military families and members accepted into the program. Registration will be closing soon so register and review program details at www.sears.com/wish today.


--Chuck

The panel Begins with C. Blake Powers, aka Laughing Wolf, this year's executive director of the MilBlog Track, reading welcome letters from GEN Ordierno and  GEN Petraeus.


Panel: Tammy Munson, householdsix
Barmy Mamma
Delta Whiskey

They discussed how things Spouses may blog about  can sometimes have a negative impact on their husband's career.

Jihad Gene asked about a standard of OPSEC (operational security) and how spouses know how far they can go when writing about their spouses' activities.   Tammy scrubs posts for locations, names, etc. but there is certain information that has to remain or the story becomes too impersonal.

Barmy Mama blogs because she wants to let her FRG know what's going on, rather than sending out mass emails.  He husband is the unit's historian, and asked her to set up the blog.  The good thing about the blog vice other means of communication is that people beyond the FRG--extended family, friends, etc. can feel like they are included, and can stay in touch with their soldier and each other.

Tammy's husband was recently reprimanded for a post she wrote.  CJ asks "Do you think, since the Army has publicly embraced blogging, but then come down on soldiers who write contrary opinions, that spousebloggers will increase in telling the soldier's story, if the soldiers become "gun-shy" about blogging?"  Barmy Mamma already tries to be very careful about what she writes, because it will come back on her husband, officially or otherwise, and tries not to share details that will identify him personally.  Keeping her name anonymous helps her to say what she (or her husband) really thinks, without fear of retribution.

Tammy identifies herself on her blog, and has had soldiers contact her and tell her that they can't say what they want because of fear of retribution.  (Again, official or unofficial retribution.)

Mrs. Greyhawk identifies that National Guard/Reserve units FRGs could greatly benefit from a unit blog, especially one run by a spouse.  Delta Whiskey agrees, because there's a book called "What to expect when you're expecting" but no "What to expect when you're husband's deploying."  What does a new-to-the-Army spouse need to know?  What things will she need to have or do if her husband deploys?  These are recurring issues, I (Chuck) thinks the Active Force does a pretty decent job of this, but the geographic separation of individuals in the NG/USAR can definitely cause an exponential level of difficulty for sharing information with the spouses.  NG/USAR Spouses writing a group blog, and getting official sponsorship from the Army and NG Bureau, with input from experienced spouses to write and share what to expect would be tremendously effective for communicating the message.

Back to OPSEC and spousebloggers:  Loose tweets sink ships.  You may be excited because Johnny will be flying home tomorrow, but keep it off Twitter!  Flights, movements, etc.--just use your brain.

Question:  What are some of the good things that you've found from the Army's official Social Media networks?  Tammy has used the various official twitter feeds to get specific questions answered, but none of the panelists really don't see much value in the current efforts, or don't know what is out there.  DW chides the USAF for not doing much to teach spouses what to expect.

Blake asks:
Best Moment as spouseblogger
    Tammy:  Work with a wounded PFC recovering from wounds--medical needs were met, but had lots of trouble dealing with the stress.  His 1SG asked spousebloggers to "send some love."  The outpouring of love from the various spouses directly helped his recovery.
     Barmy Mama:  The feedback she's gotten from doing things for charity.  She's written about things she's done/doing, and the outpouring of help has been amazing.
     Delta Whiskey:  The number of people who've asked her for ways to show support for the troops, and her ability to help them. 
Worst moment
   Tammy:  When people attacked her personally for something she and her husband wrote about how they felt, the troubles they've had, and things they've been through.  People also attacked her husband personally and professionally.
    Barmy Mama:  No bad moments--yet.
     Delta Whiskey:  Being told that since her husband wasn't currently deployed, her blogging wasn't important.

Greyhawk:  Have any of you gotten feedback from spouses Chain of Command?
Tammy:  Fort Carson has pushed back--hard.  They don't want spouses blogging, thy don't want soldiers blogging, and have asked her to take down posts that didn't violate OPSEC, were personal experiences, and were factual.  She refused, but maintains her husband's unit and Fort Carson have tried to make it difficult for her and her husband.
Barmy Mamma:  Unit really supported her blog.
Delta Whiskey:  Nobody reads my blog.

--Chuck

I am at the expo. Met the rep who came all the way from USAEUR on the way in. USAEUR is getting into the whole social media thing and trying to figure it out. Explained that success = willingness to let people publish dissenting opinions without retribution. He seemed pretty responsive to the idea.

Also ran into Rick Calvert, CEO of blogworld and all around good egg.

My panel starts on 20 minutes. Must find coffee.

--Chuck

1St day in vegas
Lunch @ a korean bbq with Toby Nunn, author (Northern Disclosure), director, brainchild of
Badvoodoo platoon.

A very good friend of mine just got told he has basal cell carcinoma (aka skin cancer).

Another friend, a melanoma survivor, mentioned that Shonda Schilling (Curt Schilling's wife) was the founder of The SHADE Foundation. Their mission statement:

To eradicate melanoma through the education of children and the community in the prevention and detection of skin cancer and the promotion of sun safety.

I'm not asking for anything more than that you protect yourselves and the ones you love. It can be simple (for most people):

• Do Not Sunburn
• Cover Up
• Seek Shade
• Wear A Hat
• Limit Time In The Sun Between 10am & 4pm
• Always Use Sunscreen With SPF 15+
• Conduct Monthly Skin Exam

~~Code Monkey

From the director herself:

Ma'am,

I wanted to write and thank you for your continued support of my team. Also, I wanted to share a quick story with you about the impact your organization makes in our lives.

A couple of weeks ago, I was at Combat Outpost Zerok in the province of Paktika. Those Soldiers have been there for 7 months and live in the most dire conditions. They do not have running water, fresh vegetables are rare, their gym is home-made and triples up as a sleeping area and dining hall. An old roommate of mine had not showered for 2.5 months when I saw him. The only bit of luxury at that COP has the Soldiers' Angels logo on it. The care packages you send are the only deviation from the Meals-Ready-to-Eat and one hot meal a day they get... and everyone there was so appreciative of it.

All the care packages your team sends to Bagram are forwarded to the field for my guys. Even if you may not hear back, please know you are making their day go by that much easier. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything.

Sincerely,

Rock Stevens

In the last 36 hours, bloggers from "left" to "right" have teamed up with the American Legion and other military support organizations to support the survivors of the battle at COP Keating. And Soldiers' Angels has jumped in to help!


Not only did the soldiers of COP Keating fight a ferocious battle that included a breach of the base at one point, they lost eight of their brothers (while they donated blood as the battle raged) and watched their living quarters go up in smoke. A participant in the battle who got out later wrote via email, “Most people back home don't even know, no one gives a s***.”


Well, he's already being proven wrong!


Blogger and troop supporter extraordinaire "Tanker Babe" was the first to sound the alarm, pointing out that while the very-most basics would be replaced by the US Army, these heroes needed more. Bloggers across the political spectrum answered the call as Tanker Babe began to coordinate specific item donations of extra clothing and toiletries. Soldiers' Angels pitched in with 54 pairs of socks and a stack of cards and letters written by kids, and within 36 hours Tanker Babe was proud to report, "Mission accomplished."


The American Legion also stepped up to lead in lifting the morale of these brave warriors another way:


In the battle for Combat Outpost Keating, the men of Bravo Troop 361 Cavalry lost every possession they had, save for the clothes on their backs. These men have lost friends, their outpost, and all their belongings. One soldier who made it out wrote that “most people back home don't even know, no one gives a s***.” Well, many of us do. And you can prove it by giving whatever you can. These guys need things like running shoes, and other essentials, as well as some comfort items like iPods and DVD players. The American Legion has kicked in $1000 to start the fund, and your humble blogger will be the first to donate $100. (I'll just sell some painkillers to the guy driving the ice-cream truck or the school bus) I intend to get these items out by the end of next week. ANY amount you can give, no matter how small will help us prove that we care.


Even if you can't give anything, pray for them.  They are out there and unafraid, but as long as you keep them in your hearts and in your prayers, they are never alone.


Except for you Buddists--Ya'll pray at incense and trees and rocks and stuff.  Ya'll just send money. 

--Chuck

A productive career.
A rewarding home life.
A good night’s sleep.
Pick any two.

As for me, I'll take #two and #three.

Number 1 isn't worth squat without 2 and 3, and I've had #1 (until recently), Have #2 (and am blessed, as I always have) and remember once having #3, and it was amazing.  Would like to have #3 like, once a week, even once a month--if I could count on it being the same day each month.

Business people from Southern New Hampshire are getting a jump on the upcoming Valour-IT fundraser by conducting a little fundraiser of their own. From the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce:


Attendees of the Southern New Hampshire Expo will be taking on the blogging world on October 22 at the Hampshire Dome in a competition to raise money for wounded veterans. At stake is the goal of supplying voice-activated laptops through Soldiers’ Angels Project Valour-IT to servicemen and women who were injured while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce is partnering with local Soldiers’ Angel volunteers to raise funds for Valour-IT laptops through direct donations or by admission to the Expo. “Mention the name Soldiers’ Angels at the door, and one dollar of every paid admission to the Expo will go to Soldiers’ Angels,” explains Richard Mori of Mori Books, Co-Chairman of the event. “We are hoping to raise enough money to purchase at least 10 of them.”

This real world effort in Milford is competing with a cyber network of blogging supporters who will be raising funds for Valour-IT through their websites, beginning on October 26. Bloggers and other New Media mavens will compete as teams of Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force supporters to see who can raise the most money for laptops and other technology that supports the recovery of wounded warriors.

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. These laptops are important to a wounded service member's recovery. Not only do they allow communication with family and friends, but they can be a powerful tool for recovery as patients educate themselves on medical treatments and use computer-based treatment/recovery tools.

Matt Bernard of Brinestone Network Security and IT Consulting, a twice-decorated Purple Heart veteran of Iraq, brought Valour-IT to the attention of the Chamber’s Expo committee. “Soldiers’ Angels was the first group to reach out to me when I landed back in NH after being wounded. They provided what I needed to get back on my feet. I know how necessary these laptops are to get people on their feet,” Bernard explains. “Getting this fundraiser underway is just my way of paying it forward.”

The Souhegan Valley Chamber reaches beyond the typical business to business connections in planning its events. “This partnership with Soldiers’ Angels is one more way the Chamber is providing a vehicle for the nonprofits that serve our communities to raise the money needed to do the important work they do,” from Mike Brisebois, Hitchiner Manufacturing and Co-Chairman of the Expo. “All the organizations – business, civic, government form a network that supports the towns and our citizens. The success of one lends strength to the others. We hope everyone will help us by attending the Expo on October 22 at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.” Over 150 booths will be displaying the products, services and food samplings of the exhibitors from all over the region, northern MA and southern NH. Major sponsors for The Southern NH Expo are Walmart, First Colebrook Bank, PSNH and the Cabinet Press.

Those who want to donate directly to SA and credit it to this fundraising event can use the donation buttons on the SA site, then add "from Souhegan" in the comments section. For more information, contact May Balsama: may@souhegan.net, 603-673-4360.

Not quite tanks in pudding...

I had to disable the pop-up warning.  Mostly because it was irritating the crap out of my readers (and those two people are important) and it was also being indexed by pornography sites.  I really don't want a bunch of pre-pubescent children (or pubescent children) snogging around on this site looking for naked pictures of the kardashians, home porn movies of Lara Logan, stealing MP3 files for free from Lil Fizz, Lill Kim, Biggie and Tupac.  I don't need visitors from people interested in Bill Bellamy (the guy on "Who's got Jokes" if you're interested).  I don't want teen age girls who should be rollerskating home in their school girl uniforms coming here and running into a young boy who is looking for bikini pictures of Abigail Breslin.  They should be outside, meeting people and learning how to act that way, not hanging out in free video chat rooms, looking to find a girlfriend or partner online.  Honestly, I think that those young boys should be spanked by their mothers for trying to find love online.  They will never learn live, one-on-one interaction this way, they need to learn how to really talk with girls.
My Site tracker tells me I sometimes even get search hits from people looking for straight up porn--like one I got that was "playboy fresh faces daniella mugnolo" whoever that is.  I also had searches for the mountain goatse very two hours today.  Weird.


So as you can see, the 'adult content" warning just drew more boobs and perverts than usual.  I know my loyal readership isn't coming here for hot girl-girl action, boy-boy action, father-daughter action, mom and son action, or any other kind of action.  You won't find Blond, Brunette or Redhead porn here, Just the occasional Tank Porn.  If I could get a tank in lingerie, then maybe that's a new kind of kinky I would welcome.  But only in lingerie.  Tanks in latex, or in leather, or in pudding, just not the same.


So there is no more click-through warning.  But you won't find any of the aforementioned weirdness on these pages.  If that's what you are looking for, you really need to improve your Yahoo! AIM, or Google Skills.


--Chuck

F-15 flyover of Beaver game spawns heated debate (Specifically Mr. Smith's comment)

vs.

Community Builds Home For Soldier

If you can read this, you've no doubt noticed that you now have to click through an "Adult Content" warning.

This is no mistake.  I did this.

My website, my rules.  And the first rule, the inviolate rule, is that people coming here MUST acknowledge that this site may contain mature "adult" language and concepts.

As a rule, I will no longer use profane or otherwise inflammatory  or incendiary remarks
to make my point or arguments.  If you want that, the daily kos has more than its fair share.  I can, and will do a better job in the future of representing (unofficially, naturally) the uniform that I wear and all those who wear it.  I can do better.  I have done better.  More importantly, my brothers deserve better.

Furthermore, if this is the place where you come to read about my take on politics or politicians, you're in the wrong place.  It is not a topic I can write about and still represent a professional officer.  It is simply not my place to comment on the actions of my superiors, their policies, and their decisions.  I don't think I would look favorably on a subordinate doing that to me in a public forum, I know it doesn't cast my service in a favorable light.  There may be polite and professional ways to do so, but I can't think of any that wouldn't put myy reputation, or the reputations of all who serve, at risk, so I'm not going to do it.

Occasionally, I will publish something written by someone else.  If I do, I will not edit what they have written.  I think it would do a disservice to them, as it may appear that I am plagiarizing their works, or worse, that others may confuse their errors as mine.  Any text quoted will appear as a block-quote (Turabian citation style be damned) and look like this:

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec metus nisi. Proin non placerat turpis. Cras orci nulla, mollis in convallis at, molestie id nisl. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Cras iaculis, dolor sit amet lobortis vulputate, ante turpis feugiat lectus, sed tempus ligula velit id tellus. Vestibulum et est et diam iaculis tincidunt. Sed mollis placerat sem eget rutrum. Fusce dapibus, sem tempor rutrum blandit, metus eros tempus leo, a consectetur augue ipsum sed sapien. Fusce eget nisi quam, id hendrerit purus."

So enjoy.  Next up will be a T-shirt that says "I visit adult web sites every day and so should you!"

Speaking of being taken out of context...

--Chuck

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