The nice thing about putting together a fundraiser is that I have the keys to the castle, as it were. I have control over when it ends.
Therefore, since I didn't consider mid-month pay, I will leave the links up for people to donate to VALOUR-IT for a while longer. I'd really like us to make our $100K goal. We are close--so very close. As the last hours of 14 July set on America (way out in American Samoa) we had raised a total of $82,887.
Team Totals:
USN $7881
USAF $8181
USMC $24,177
USA $31,703
Overall winner?
The wounded. Thanks everyone for your support.
--Chuck
P.S. Like I said, the links are all still open, so feel free to donate.
Main Campaign http://tinyurl.com/66lhyh5
Army Team: http://tinyurl.com/6zmob7h
USMC Team: http://tinyurl.com/3tqsahw
Navy Team: http://tinyurl.com/4y6orqp
USAF Team: http://tinyurl.com/6j93wbp
Showing posts with label Walter Reed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Walter Reed. Show all posts
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
From a Different Position... Part IV
Chuck was doing more than blogging on his lap top; he was working, thinking, creating, and best of all healing. Just when the road seems so well paved with answered prayer my faith needed another trial. Long ago, I decided God was never going to be finished with me. He would always have more lessons for me to learn and I had chosen to be his willing student.
One evening Carren and I were visiting with Chuck and the nurses let us stay a bit later than usual. Even though we were tired, we lingered in his room chatting up a story or two, like only women can do. The humor wagon was on a roll and we three were all on board. Chuck had plenty of medication on board after his surgery earlier that day and as they say was feeling no pain. As the evenings comedic narrative waned Chuck said he was feeling tired and had a bad headache. The nurse came in and reminded us of the time. Carren and I got the message and bid him good night and he asked the nurse for something for his headache. We walked back to our room at the Malone House and crawled into bed.
Not twenty minutes later the phone rang and we were instructed to get back over to the hospital, NOW! No information, just return quickly to Chuck’s room. Carren and I ran as fast as we could. Arriving on his ward we found they moved him to another ward where they packed him in ice, Chuck had spiked a fever of 1060.The boiling point of brains cells, which can cause permanent damage, coma, and delusions. Dreadful questions inundated our thoughts. We knew we would have to wait for information on his condition and what had caused the fever. The physicians needed time to find the right pieces to the puzzle of what had gone wrong with Chuck’s body.
Again, I prayed, “Please heal him and God what are you trying to teach me this time?” I did not grasp this turn of events, nevertheless, I knew well enough that I was NOT in charge of my sons healing, God was. The physicians were able to answer our questions within twenty-four hours. Chuck had brought home six different strains of bacteria when he was blasted into the canal in Iraq. I have always told him not to pick up strangers. Of course, he didn’t pick them up, they hitched a ride, and everything wants to go to America, go figure. Healing began as soon as the prescribed antibiotics were begun.
Now you might think God was reminding me, that he was in charge. At first, I thought so too. As I took more time to review the past few days in my mind, the lesson was God’s way of preparing me to be vigilant. God had recognized I had begun to shelter the events of the past few weeks in the thought, all was going great and would continue to progress in a positive nature. In a wink of an eye I was reminded how changes can take place and turn effectively into challenges. Healing was going to begin again for my son. I needed to be vigilant since the building blocks to healing could be new, long, short lived, redundant or exhausting. Nevertheless, healing would be building blocks and the keystone was Faith that God Will. I would have to be ready to support my son's recovery even when I knew it would cause him pain to begin again.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
From a Different Position... Part II.
This is Part II. To see Part I, go here.
Every two to three days he returned to the OR so the bandages could be removed, the wounds cleaned, and the new bandages replaced. Sounds easy, just like when we get a cut, Band-Aid off wash with soap and water, Band-Aid on ta-da all done. Not so much. Surgery days meant blood transfusions, more antibiotics, more pain medication and optimistically more healing. The wounds on his legs were huge; and once they were reduced in size then the surgeries for the skin grafts began. The skin was removed from one part of his body and placed on another. Think of severe sunburn where the skin has blistered and come off and the skin underneath is exposed to the air. Or how about the pain where a shoe or boot blister has broken and the skin peeled away. Now put that pain on a patch of skin the size of a very large frying pan at multiple sites. I silently cried for him those days.
Chuck’s left hand looked like something “Young Frankenstein” (Gene Wilder) put together. The front line medics and doctors did the best they could when you consider the severity of the different wounds they had to deal with on the battlefield. The right hand thumb was shattered and the size of a “Johnsonville Bratwurst” and the rest of that hand swollen to match. 
Fortunately, his hand doctor was the best of the best and those surgeries began a few weeks after the leg surgeries and would last for at least five more years. His face was swollen and covered in a slathering of antibiotic ointment to heal the burns of the blast. His teeth were loose and jaw hurt making it hard for him to open his mouth very wide. I’ll take a side note here and tell a funny story. Chuck did not ask for anything except for pain meds. Then about the third day in Intensive care, he asked for a bendy straw. It would make taking oral meds so much easier. Carren and I were desperate to help in any way we could, so we went in search of a simple bendy straw. Even one of his friends who came to the hospital and works in the DC Area went looking for a simple bendy straw stopping at every hamburger fast food place he came to for several days with no luck. Carren and I asked everyone we saw, nurses, cafeteria people, Post Exchange employees; we even went to the Red Cross. The janitor thought we were crazy when we asked him. In all of DC and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, we searched. After days of looking, we never did find one; however, we had a good time looking. Sending Carren and I on a simple bendy straw search was a gift from Chuck to us. Searching for that straw took us out of his hospital room and gave us something to do and helped for a short time to relieve some stress in those first days. Chuck was taking care of us while we were to be taking care of him.
They say men have selective hearing, well Chuck certainly did. One eardrum was gone and the other severely damaged. Eventually they replaced both of them and his hearing is now selective but not because of the injuries just because he is as guy. I say that with a wink and a smile.
When the many days of surgery slowed to having weeks between them, another form of pain was to come. It is called rehabilitative physical therapy or the torture department. The physical therapy is the test of endurance and emotional strength, which begins to build our wounded soldiers into stronger individuals. In surgery Chuck was oblivious to the reconstruction that was taking place. He dealt with the physical and psychological pain when he woke up. Now the daily routine would add a new dimension to the profound elements of recovery.
To be continued...
Editor's note: I never did get my damned bendy straw. --Chuck
To be continued...
Editor's note: I never did get my damned bendy straw. --Chuck
Monday, October 26, 2009
Project Valour-IT, Carren's perspective
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!
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!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
"He has no personal effects... "
"He has no personal effects. The only things that came with him from downrange[to Germany] were an envelope with a couple of [military challenge] coins and his Soldiers' Angels backpack."
That, in and of itself is a powerful statement.
About 10 last night, a friend of mine from college called to tell my Mrs. her husband (also another friend from college) was wounded in Iraq. His leg was badly injured, and he was in Germany, but would be transported to WRAMC soon.
The Mrs., who has walked many miles in those shoes.
Then I did something that I absolutely hate having to do: I shot a red-star cluster (a flare we use in the army that shoots a rocket up to about 250 feet and then shoots a shower of bright red sparks. In training, it is used to alert everyone on the battlefield that a serious real-world injury has happened, and mark the location for pickup.
In war, it is used to tell the helicopter where to land to pick up the casualties.
My figurative red star was fired out into the community of milbloggers and more importantly, Soldier's Angels. Between the time I found out (actually before) a Soldier's Angel in Germany was present, holding his hand, making sure he was comforted and taken care of, contacting his spouse, who was back in the states trying to wrangle arrangements for their two kids. (Sound familiar so far?) and the time I woke up this morning, SA-stateside had energized their wounded team, making sure that he (and the other critically wounded patients flying in today) would have someone waiting on them.
They'd contacted his spouse again, making sure that anything she needed was also getting taken care of. Did she need someone to watch the kids? The dog? Did she need someone to run errands so she could take a nap? Was there anything at all she needed? Not to mention getting her information--gleaned from thousands of patients and families Soldiers Angels has cared for--to help her ask and answer the questions she had yet to think of. Other Angels were securing a beach head for her--making sure she was taken care of logistically at Walter Reed. Everything they could possibly do to pave the way, allow her to focus on her soldier, is being taken care of. (How many of you know there is a dunkin' donuts and a subway in the lobby at WRAMC, or would even think that she might want some gift cards for them?) SA already purchased them!
As a leader, one of the scariest places to be is when you don't know what it is that you don't know. You can't be sure if you've planned for the most likely possibilities if the battlefield is too uncertain, or if you are entering an area that you never dreamed you'd be entering. You are planning in a vacuum of information, on unfamiliar terrain, and have no idea what you need to do to make progress. Soldiers Anglels tries to fill that information void--to help those spouses figure out what they need to do, to prioritize what needs to be done, to provide that much-needed information and prioritization to a spouse who is on an emotional precipice. Moreover, they make sure that no soldier goes unloved--whether it's holding hands in the ICU in Germany, or in Walter Reed, or Brooke Amy Medical Center, or Bethesda, or Balboa, or anywhere a wounded soldier finds himself.
It's so much more than holding hands, though. They are there helping soldiers and their families recover and cope. They are making sure that not only are their needs met, but that they are cared for, emotionally, physically, and mentally. They show that those of us who are keeping the homefire burning are also standing ready to help when a soldier returns home, broken and battered, but not out.
And it started with a backpack, a small bag continaing the items a wounded soldier would need most. You don't really "arrive" in Germany, as much as you are born there: naked, bleeding, in pain, unsure of your surroundings, not knowing anyone and wondering what in the hell just happened.
If you've not joined soldiers angels yet, please do so. There are many ways you can help, either through time, monetarily, visiting, writing a letter, or adopting one of over a thousand soldiers who have asked
--Chuck
That, in and of itself is a powerful statement.
About 10 last night, a friend of mine from college called to tell my Mrs. her husband (also another friend from college) was wounded in Iraq. His leg was badly injured, and he was in Germany, but would be transported to WRAMC soon.
The Mrs., who has walked many miles in those shoes.
Then I did something that I absolutely hate having to do: I shot a red-star cluster (a flare we use in the army that shoots a rocket up to about 250 feet and then shoots a shower of bright red sparks. In training, it is used to alert everyone on the battlefield that a serious real-world injury has happened, and mark the location for pickup.
In war, it is used to tell the helicopter where to land to pick up the casualties.
My figurative red star was fired out into the community of milbloggers and more importantly, Soldier's Angels. Between the time I found out (actually before) a Soldier's Angel in Germany was present, holding his hand, making sure he was comforted and taken care of, contacting his spouse, who was back in the states trying to wrangle arrangements for their two kids. (Sound familiar so far?) and the time I woke up this morning, SA-stateside had energized their wounded team, making sure that he (and the other critically wounded patients flying in today) would have someone waiting on them.
They'd contacted his spouse again, making sure that anything she needed was also getting taken care of. Did she need someone to watch the kids? The dog? Did she need someone to run errands so she could take a nap? Was there anything at all she needed? Not to mention getting her information--gleaned from thousands of patients and families Soldiers Angels has cared for--to help her ask and answer the questions she had yet to think of. Other Angels were securing a beach head for her--making sure she was taken care of logistically at Walter Reed. Everything they could possibly do to pave the way, allow her to focus on her soldier, is being taken care of. (How many of you know there is a dunkin' donuts and a subway in the lobby at WRAMC, or would even think that she might want some gift cards for them?) SA already purchased them!
As a leader, one of the scariest places to be is when you don't know what it is that you don't know. You can't be sure if you've planned for the most likely possibilities if the battlefield is too uncertain, or if you are entering an area that you never dreamed you'd be entering. You are planning in a vacuum of information, on unfamiliar terrain, and have no idea what you need to do to make progress. Soldiers Anglels tries to fill that information void--to help those spouses figure out what they need to do, to prioritize what needs to be done, to provide that much-needed information and prioritization to a spouse who is on an emotional precipice. Moreover, they make sure that no soldier goes unloved--whether it's holding hands in the ICU in Germany, or in Walter Reed, or Brooke Amy Medical Center, or Bethesda, or Balboa, or anywhere a wounded soldier finds himself.
It's so much more than holding hands, though. They are there helping soldiers and their families recover and cope. They are making sure that not only are their needs met, but that they are cared for, emotionally, physically, and mentally. They show that those of us who are keeping the homefire burning are also standing ready to help when a soldier returns home, broken and battered, but not out.
And it started with a backpack, a small bag continaing the items a wounded soldier would need most. You don't really "arrive" in Germany, as much as you are born there: naked, bleeding, in pain, unsure of your surroundings, not knowing anyone and wondering what in the hell just happened.
If you've not joined soldiers angels yet, please do so. There are many ways you can help, either through time, monetarily, visiting, writing a letter, or adopting one of over a thousand soldiers who have asked
- Donate a backpack
- Donate items for a backpack
- Make a Blanket of Hope
--Chuck
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Wounded Marine needs help getting a home.
An incredible organization, “Homes for our Troops” is building an ADAPTIVE home for DJ! This is a wonderful organization and an incredible opportunity for DJ and Carlee! Since 2004 this nonprofit organization has built 40 specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans who have returned from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. These homes, and DJ’s home, will be built at NO COST to the veteran, but only with our help!!!! Homes for our Troops is looking for foundation grants, corporate sponsors and volunteers to make this project possible! Fundraisers are also needed! DJ’s dream has been to build a home for himself and Carlee that includes a therapy room and is fully accessible to him, I am so excited that this dream of his is coming true! Below is the link to DJ’s page on the Homes for our Troops website where you can donate or sign up to volunteer. There will also be a registration day for interested trades-people and volunteers to sign up to help build the home for DJ from 1-8 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday 5/7/09) at the Ramada Conference Center at 1450 S. Atherton St. in State College. There will also be a presentation given at 6:30 by project manager Rick Goyette. DJ will be participating in the presentation!
Please, please, PLEASE pass this along to anyone and EVERYONE you know. It is going to take A LOT of wonderful people stepping forward to make this the success that DJ deserves!!!!
Here’s the link:
http://www.homesforourtroops.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
There's this guy I know...
Who had a tremendous impact on me during my recovery at Walter Reed.
Chris was always a welcome guest in our room, either in the Malone House or in the hospital ward. He was a laugh riot. His humor and wit were infectious, and provided me and Carren with MANY much needed chuckles.
The funny thing is, I (or I should say, WE) had as much impact on him as he did on us.
A few months after leaving WRAMC, Chris up and joined the army, went to OCS, and is now a serving officer in Iraq. He claims it was because of his contact with me that he was driven to join the fight. Although humbled, I think it has more to do with him being a stellar human being than anything I said or did (I was stoned 24/7, after all.)
I couldn't be more proud.
For your part, I wan't y'all to send him a note, a card, a care package--anything you can, to tell him that you appreciate his service.
If you want to do this, just send an email to
with "where do I send it?" in the subject, and I'll shoot you his address.
--Chuck
Chris was always a welcome guest in our room, either in the Malone House or in the hospital ward. He was a laugh riot. His humor and wit were infectious, and provided me and Carren with MANY much needed chuckles.
The funny thing is, I (or I should say, WE) had as much impact on him as he did on us.
A few months after leaving WRAMC, Chris up and joined the army, went to OCS, and is now a serving officer in Iraq. He claims it was because of his contact with me that he was driven to join the fight. Although humbled, I think it has more to do with him being a stellar human being than anything I said or did (I was stoned 24/7, after all.)
I couldn't be more proud.
For your part, I wan't y'all to send him a note, a card, a care package--anything you can, to tell him that you appreciate his service.
If you want to do this, just send an email to
with "where do I send it?" in the subject, and I'll shoot you his address.--Chuck
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
More important news than any election
| Posted: 04 Nov 2008 11:43 AM CST I don't think Dena will mind- I wanted to give you guys an update based on the information I'm getting from a variety of sources. Looks like Rob was stable enough for the flight today. All three ladies (Dena, Rob's Mom, and Dena's Mom) were able to join him on the plane for transport back to the states. This is great news and makes coordinating so much easier on this end! They are due to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base today around 4:30pm EST, and will travel from there to Bethesda Naval Medical Center. I'm sure Dena will be on later to give more specifics, I just wanted to share what I've learned at this point since I know so many people are anxiously awaiting news! Keep the prayers and comments coming- you guys are the best! The support for the Yllescas family has been amazing and I know they are feeling it! |
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The next time I hear "I Can't"
The next time I hear a soldiers, cadet, student, or anyone else say "I Can't" I am going to blow a god-damned gasket.
BNCOC, phase one of NCO training, teaches sergeants skills that apply across the Army, including combat arms, combat support and combat service support. Students are required to conduct physical training classes, conduct a military briefing, complete a risk assessment, conduct an after action review, as well as complete all maneuver and drill commands. Phase two, the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course (ANCOC) teaches job-specific materials for sergeants 1st class and staff sergeants up for promotion.
Staff Sgt. Warren Finch, a new graduate of the Army's first Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course for Warriors in Transition Unit (WTU) Soldiers and their cadre, stood on the Joel Auditorium stage and talked about his classmates. "I'm proud," he said. "We all had certain milestones, and we all overcame them, so I'm pretty proud." Finch, who was twice rushed to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) emergency room during the training, called the course a personal challenge.
Finch is assigned to the WRAMC Warrior Transition Brigade (WTB), and graduated BNCOC March 28, along with fellow Wounded Warriors, Staff Sgt. Renee Deville, Staff Sgt. Dorthea Hooper, Staff Sgt. Eric Sundell, and WTB cadre members Staff Sgt. Billy Brashears and Staff Sgt. Shad Lorenz.
Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, told the capacity audience this BNCOC class was part of the evolution of the Army's noncommissioned officer education system. Preston told the six graduates, "You helped set the tone and the precedent for the future of noncommissioned officer education…. If I had to describe these Warriors and the challenges they overcame throughout this course, they really epitomize our Warrior Ethos," he said.
SMA Preston wants to capture the insights learned in this first WTU BNCOC class and share it throughout the Army. "To bring the cadre in, as well as the students themselves, and then to work through, step-by-step, through the completion of the course - it was a huge learning experience," Preston said. "When you look at the Soldiers that went through training, all of them have different challenges to overcome, different wounds they are recovering from that they received in battle," Preston said.
One student, Deville, completed the course from a wheelchair. Preston explained the challenges involved in conducting drill and ceremony - maintaining pace count, tempo, and calling commands - while seated. Preston said he asked her how she conducted a left face maneuver, during which the formation turns left and moves toward the leader. "I asked her, 'How did you do getting out of the way and moving with the wheelchair?' She said she did O.K., they helped her out."
Another Soldier, Hooper, was recovering from surgery and tore stitches during training. She, Finch and other students who had medical emergencies or appointments made up any missed assignments with after hours study halls.
SMA Preston said cadre and Wounded Warriors helping each other through the course sets a path for other WTU Soldiers who need to continue their professional development. "This, I think, will help them have the confidence that, even though they're going through receiving treatment, receiving physical therapy for wounds received in combat, they can also complete their professional development and move on with the future."Col. Terrence McKenrick, WRAMC WTB commanding officer, said holding the course here is an opportunity to hold professional development courses for WTU Soldiers throughout the Army. He called the class a first step. Setting the Plan of Instruction, the standards of accommodation for Warriors in Transition during their treatment and rehabilitation is critical, according to McKenrick. It ensures the 10,000 Soldiers currently serving in WTUs the opportunity to improve themselves and their careers while receiving medical treatment.
"That way," McKenrick continued, "They can stay focused not on their injury, but on their future. For the two-thirds of them who will return to active duty, it helps make sure they're better prepared to lead our Soldiers day-to-day and in combat."
Finch said after the ceremony that the course was run like any typical Army school, without any reduction in standards. "Some people may have thought that being here at Walter Reed, it [the class] was going to be watered-down or wouldn't be up to standards," Finch said. "But we kept to the standard and drove on."
Sgt. 1st Class Barry Nelson of the Judge Advocate General Legal Center and NCO Academy in Charlottesville, Va., senior leader for the BNCOC class, said it was important because it helped people looking for a way to assist Wounded Warriors through their transition. "We challenged this class to prove what abilities they had, versus disabilities," Nelson said. "They not only met that challenge. In many ways, they redefined it."
| Sgt. Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston stands with Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course graduates March 28 following the ceremony in Joel Auditorium. (Photo by Craig Coleman, Stripe) |
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Hell on Wheels 2008
The first weekend in May is going to be a big 'un. Friday night, 2 May, I will host a military ball here at the University to honor my graduating senior class, their last formal function before pinning on their gold bars a week later (another event I am greatly proud of--I grew these soon to be LTs, they are the ones who passed the "Post Injury Angry Chuck" litmus test.)
Immediately following the ball, I will change out of my dress blues, load up my shiny new bike (donated by the independence fund, and built by Scott at Bike-on.com) and drive to Bethesda, MD. The next Morning, I will get up early, and along with 500 new friends, will ride said bike to Gettysburg, PA--a ride that should take two days and will cover 110 miles.
Don't worry, I'll be bringing extra pain meds.
The ride is a welcome home for the wounded. Many of the participants are fellow former and current patients. Everything they need is taken care of--from the helmets and bikes to the food and lodging. All donated by people like you.
I want to ride, but I also want to raise $$$$ to help them help others. Currently, they've raised just over $47,o00. That will only buy 25 hand-bikes (for amputees). Not everyone riding needs a special, purpose-built bike, but many do. Even me. between back injury and scar/muscle adhesion, there was no way I would be able to do this on my bike, or on any normal bike. They are giving me a recumbent bike--you basically sit reclining and pedal--for the event, and then I get to bring it home with me. The bike they gave me wasn't cheap, but price was never discussed--just needs met.
So my goal, in the next month, it to raise $5000. That's a 10% increase of their current funds. Obviously, more is better, but every single dollar counts. I don't think their doing the "so much per mile" kind of pledges, but if anyone wants to know, Just $0.46 per mile (the price of a Krispy Kreme donut, come to think of it.) will achieve my $5K goal. And I will finish every last mile, even if I have to lasso one of the pace vehicles...
Sponsor me Here.
--Chuck
Update: I am bad at math, too. I would cost $46 per mile, not 46 cents, to get me to my $5,000 goal--so it's more like the cost of a starbucks coffee and a Krispy Kreme donut...
Update II: The independence fund is donating the Bike, not World Team Sports, but WTS is doing the donations thing & sponsoring the event.
Immediately following the ball, I will change out of my dress blues, load up my shiny new bike (donated by the independence fund, and built by Scott at Bike-on.com) and drive to Bethesda, MD. The next Morning, I will get up early, and along with 500 new friends, will ride said bike to Gettysburg, PA--a ride that should take two days and will cover 110 miles.
Don't worry, I'll be bringing extra pain meds.
The ride is a welcome home for the wounded. Many of the participants are fellow former and current patients. Everything they need is taken care of--from the helmets and bikes to the food and lodging. All donated by people like you.
I want to ride, but I also want to raise $$$$ to help them help others. Currently, they've raised just over $47,o00. That will only buy 25 hand-bikes (for amputees). Not everyone riding needs a special, purpose-built bike, but many do. Even me. between back injury and scar/muscle adhesion, there was no way I would be able to do this on my bike, or on any normal bike. They are giving me a recumbent bike--you basically sit reclining and pedal--for the event, and then I get to bring it home with me. The bike they gave me wasn't cheap, but price was never discussed--just needs met.
So my goal, in the next month, it to raise $5000. That's a 10% increase of their current funds. Obviously, more is better, but every single dollar counts. I don't think their doing the "so much per mile" kind of pledges, but if anyone wants to know, Just $0.46 per mile (the price of a Krispy Kreme donut, come to think of it.) will achieve my $5K goal. And I will finish every last mile, even if I have to lasso one of the pace vehicles...
Sponsor me Here.
--Chuck
Update: I am bad at math, too. I would cost $46 per mile, not 46 cents, to get me to my $5,000 goal--so it's more like the cost of a starbucks coffee and a Krispy Kreme donut...
Update II: The independence fund is donating the Bike, not World Team Sports, but WTS is doing the donations thing & sponsoring the event.
Just the FAQs:
On May 3rd & 4th 2008 World Team Sports, working with The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, The National Naval Medical Center, The Brooke Army Medical Center, The Soldiers Angels Fund, The Severely Injured Semper Fi Fund, and others will be hosting our 2008 Face of America Bike Ride, a two-day inclusive bike ride from Bethesda, MD to historic Gettysburg, PA the National Naval Medical Center to honor and assist our disabled veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This ride is an opportunity to welcome these disabled servicemen and women ,and able-bodied servicemen and women, as teammates and show them how much we appreciate their efforts. We will also have the opportunity to show them that they can still be a part of the TEAM.
There is no charge for any active duty servicemen or women, both able-bodied and disabled, to participate. The money raised will pay for all the costs of the active duty participants, including accommodations, food, outreach, providing usage of bikes, cycling clinics,and all other costs associated with the ride.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Surgery # 35
Yep. Chuck is having surgery # 35 (outpatient) this Friday. We are headed to D.C. at the butt-crack of dawn tomorrow for pre-op appointments. Then we are hoping to link up w/ Patti from Soldiers Angels and Ginger from Sew Much Comfort.
So once again my mind and body are going through the build-up of anxiety. It is NOT fun. After all this time, it just doesn't get easier. It's not so much the surgery that is anxiety-provoking... it's all the emotional baggage that goes with it. Particularly when we get home. That's always hard because Chuck has to recover from surgery - physically and mentally - and I have to drive on and pretend I'm not losing my mind. Don't get me wrong, Chuck is supportive and does what he can to help while he is recovering, but it's just hard to deal some days. I'm doing my "positive self talk" that I tell my clients to do. I'm also not thinking in all negative perspectives. But it is not easy to psych myself up for this adventure. I'd tell you how Chuck feels about all this, but I have absolutely NO clue what goes through his head when surgery is on the horizon.
I'll post when I can to keep everyone updated on Chuck's surgery/recovery. The kiddos are staying with good friends of ours, so that is one stressor I don't have to deal with - I know they will be well taken care of. (Thanks Heather and Joe!!!)
So once again my mind and body are going through the build-up of anxiety. It is NOT fun. After all this time, it just doesn't get easier. It's not so much the surgery that is anxiety-provoking... it's all the emotional baggage that goes with it. Particularly when we get home. That's always hard because Chuck has to recover from surgery - physically and mentally - and I have to drive on and pretend I'm not losing my mind. Don't get me wrong, Chuck is supportive and does what he can to help while he is recovering, but it's just hard to deal some days. I'm doing my "positive self talk" that I tell my clients to do. I'm also not thinking in all negative perspectives. But it is not easy to psych myself up for this adventure. I'd tell you how Chuck feels about all this, but I have absolutely NO clue what goes through his head when surgery is on the horizon.
I'll post when I can to keep everyone updated on Chuck's surgery/recovery. The kiddos are staying with good friends of ours, so that is one stressor I don't have to deal with - I know they will be well taken care of. (Thanks Heather and Joe!!!)
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