Support

Blackfive just posted a link to the story of the policewoman who took down the Ft. Hood shooter:

Sgt. Kimberly Munley

From what I'm reading, her courage was extraordinary. We need more like her. And whether intentional or not, she didn't make him a martyr. There's not a doubt in my mind that she deserves to sleep peacefully tonight.

Also...

SOLDIERS' ANGELS STANDING BY FOR FT. HOOD-- Collecting cards and NEW stuffed animals for the families and children of the fallen/wounded heroes. Please send cards and stuffed animals/blankets/anything NEW that may brighten the life of a child to:

Soldiers' Angels Warehouse
4408 PanAm Expressway
San Antonio, TX 78218


Just saw some of our F-15s fly by. God keep them safe...too much tragedy already. And may all who see them know fiery pride in their hearts.

After comfort and healing for all involved, my greatest hope in this is that America will remember once again how much support and honor we owe our military, including their families. We'd better see at least the level of support given to Virginia Tech...

Details are still coming to light, but the possibility that this was terrorism-motivated puts ice in my spine.

I'm horrified by the implications for military personnel with PTSD. Those who are in therapy will likely have to struggle through new issues with their doctors now. Those who aren't in therapy will be more hesitant to go. And if this was terrorism, I believe that undermining PTSD care was a significant portion of the plan. Psychological ops indeed.

More later.

WatchCat's Valour-IT Challenge

I know times are tough right now. Seriously. Budgets are pretty darn tight, and the frantic pace of our lives doesn't help. And I'm the first to admit that sometimes we let the budget take a small hit precisely because life gets so stressful. A cup of gourmet coffee. A beer. A couple chocolate bars...

If you've been around the blog for a while, you probably know that in the Orthodox Christian world, we do a lot of fasting. I'm not going into all the intricacies here, but one of the principles is that we become more frugal in our eating in order to have money for charitable acts. So...

I wanted to get myself a Dutch Brothers Double Chocolate Mocha today. I'd planned for it. Not going to do it. That's $2.50. And I'm going to knock one off next week's schedule as well. And I'm going to take that $5 plus whatever else I can scrounge up, and it's going to Project Valour-IT (Go Team Air Force!!)

Can you give up a coffee or two? Send the money over to Valour-IT.

Wednesday Hero

This Week's Post Was Written By Greta

Col. Henry J. Cook


Past National Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart, after serving over fifteen years with MOPH, gaining invaluable experience while in the positions of National Aide-de-Camp, Chapter Commander, Region Commander, National Junior Vice Commander and National Senior Vice Commander.

He was a career Special Forces (Green Beret) officer for thirty-three of the total forty-two years that he was on combined active and reserve duty. His combat tours began in 1967-68 when he operated behind enemy lines in for extended periods of time conducting operations with native guerrilla troops as the Executive Officer of the 4th Mobile Guerrilla. He saw additional combat in 1969-70 when he led a U.S. Special Forces Mobile Strike Force Battalion (MIKE FORCE), consisting of Green Beret officers and sergeants leading Cambodian mercenaries, again working behind enemy lines as well as reacting to attacks on friendly bases, often requiring that his unit be parachuted into hostile drop zones.


Later, he participated in Desert Shield (Saudi Arabia), Desert Storm (Kuwait) and Iraq, and Operation Provide Comfort (Support to Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq.

For his valor and military skills, Colonel Cook was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for Valor and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold and Silver Stars, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Combat Diver Badge, Special Forces Tab, and numerous other U.S. and foreign decorations.

Henry Cook is now twice retired, as a soldier and as a lawyer and resides in Diamondhead, Mississippi. He is a member of the Pro Bono Consortium representing veterans who appeal denial of claims and is a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims. He’s been a member of the Mississippi Bar Association since 1978 and also serves as a Municipal Judge Pro Tem in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Other significant contributions to veterans by Henry Cook include: a major role in the creation of the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Ocean Springs and helping raise over $500,000 to help MOPH members in Louisiana and Mississippi who lost everything during Hurricane Katrina. In addition to MOPH, he also belongs to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Special Forces Association (SFA), Special Operations Association (SOA), Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW).

You can read more about Col. Henry in this PDF file on pages 31 & 32.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Valour-IT Promo

I thought you'd like to see my contribution to the Valour-IT effort:

PJ Pics

A Pararescueman provides security during an Exercise Patriot Archangel tactical
rescue scenario Oct. 24, 2009, at an undisclosed location in the U.S. The exercise
hones Guardian Angel combat operations in "hostile" urban environments and increases
combat effectiveness for Pararescuemen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason
Robertson)



FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- Members of the 31st Rescue Squadron home based at Kadena
Air Base, fastrope out of an HH-60 Pavehawk from the 210th Rescue Squadron, Eielson
Air Force Base, Alaska, during a CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) mission for
exercise Northern Edge ‘06 here on 6 June. Northern Edge 2006 is a joint training
exercise hosted by Alaskan Command and is one of a series of U.S. Pacific Command
exercises that prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific
region. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)



FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- Members of the 31st Rescue Squadron home based at Kadena
Air Base, rescue victims trapped in a vehicle during a CSAR (Combat Search and
Rescue) mission for exercise Northern Edge ‘06 here on 6 June. Northern Edge 2006 is
a joint training exercise hosted by Alaskan Command and is one of a series of U.S.
Pacific Command exercises that prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the
Asian Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)



FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- Members of the 31st Rescue Squadron home based at Kadena
Air Base, transport victims during a CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) mission for
exercise Northern Edge ‘06 here on 6 June. Northern Edge 2006 is a joint training
exercise hosted by Alaskan Command and is one of a series of U.S. Pacific Command
exercises that prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific
region. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)



FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- Members of the 31st Rescue Squadron home based at Kadena
Air Base, perform a CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) mission for exercise Northern
Edge ‘06 here on 6 June. Northern Edge 2006 is a joint training exercise hosted by
Alaskan Command and is one of a series of U.S. Pacific Command exercises that
prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific region. (U.S. Air
Force Photo by Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)

Friendship

What do you do when you find that a friend doesn't put the same value on the friendship that you do?

I suspect it happens more than we talk about. Either that or I just have very bad luck in this department. Or it could even be a form of hyper-vigilance, overreacting to the slightest hint of danger to a friendship.

It's hitting me hard because this past weekend's incident isn't isolated. I've been trying to really make an effort in my friendships lately, but it feels like I'm running into walls. It's difficult to know whether they just don't understand what I'm doing, or they know and just don't want to go there.

I don't want people to respond out of guilt or obligation. (Well, ok, I wouldn't mind if guilt prompted a few reassurances, but only if sincere.) I've been down the road of guilting someone into staying, and I'll never do it again. But I'm trying to decide if I should say something. I've had two friendships lag recently because I just tried to swallow the hurt. I really don't want to see another one fall that way.

But I'm afraid of appearing clingy or needy. Been down that road too. I want my friends to have their independence and the freedom of their own likes and dislikes. Friendship dynamics vary widely but there always needs to be some element of equality in the mix.

Some of what's knocked me off balance is that the person from this weekend's incident is someone who I've thought of as something of a safety net. Although she doesn't talk about it, I'm pretty sure she struggles in a way that I've been struggling lately, and I've always felt like she'd be one of the few people who could "talk me down" if I ever hit breaking point in that area. Now, I'd hesitate to call.

I've lived for twenty years with some significant secrets, and most people who get to know me understand that at some level. But I hate how that results in people holding back or feeling like I'm somehow dangerous or untrustworthy. Yes, I can be dangerous, but never to my friends. And especially not when I'm making an effort to tell you how much you matter. Yes, it's a natural human reaction, but I'd hoped we could put a little more thought into our actions.

Say something? Or just accept that the friendship isn't what I'd hoped and move on?

PJ PIc

IRAQ -- Staff Sgt. Joshua Kruse and Senior Airman Nate Simonson administer aid to a "patient" during a night training exercise Oct. 20, 2009, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The exercise simulated a nighttime extraction scenario emphasizing the rappelling portion of the Pararescue mission. The Airmen are assigned to the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)

Gym Pranks

I don't recommend doing any of these around me, but...

PJ News

Special Forces for Special Afghan Rescues

New Old Goals Ahead

Just had my first day at the new gym....

Nice place, but I'm amazed at how much certain muscles have deteriorated in the last month. I've been doing well in Krav Maga so I assumed that I was maintaining my strength despite being off the weights and cardio. Looks like I've got a lot of work ahead to rebuild...

Praying

Search for Survivors of Midair Collision of Coast Guard C-130, Marine Helo of San Diego Coast; Original SAR Resumes

Quote of the Day

From a friend who needs to stay anonymous:

"It’s hard to know exactly what is going to happen whenever we set out on a new adventure, but it is sure that He [God] is often more able to do His work of teaching and sanctifying us when we find ourselves -whether willingly or by “accident”- in times / places / situations of uncertainty and stress, well outside our sphere of normal comforts and any personal ability to control much of anything towards a given outcome."

Keep moving....

While there are some who probably think this post's title is about the reason we have about a hundred flattened boxes and an extra washer and dryer in our garage, it's really not about that kind of moving. (Although admittedly I'm wincing at the cancellation clause in the 1 year contract at our new gym.)

Stress is high right now but for once I'm not functioning under any solid deadlines (this may change within the week) and it's a tough scenario for me. Times like these, I tend to want to just curl up in a ball and pretend that none of it exists. Nice as that sounds, I always know that I'm pretending, so it ends up being depressing instead.

Tonight, I was walking through a parking lot to my car and just had to remind myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other. After all, I had three and a half hours to be home before it would matter, and I had nothing planned. But I realized that heading toward even such an inconsequential goal was better than just curling up into a ball.

Although certain situations do require stillness, most dangerous or difficult situations require movement in order to survive. I found it instinctive overseas. In so many scenarios, we don't have the luxury of stopping in our tracks. To stop means to become a target for whatever problems the region dishes out.

It's the same thing with stress. If we stop, if we let the issues at hand get to us, our usefulness diminishes and our thoughts become oppressive. Silence, stillness, is for communicating with God, not with our worries. We only stop to get our "orders." And then we get moving again. One task at a time, one goal at a time.

I did something else to get moving, too. I adopted another soldier through Soldiers' Angels. Last I saw, they still had over 2000 soldiers awaiting adoption. So now I have the name and address of someone who needs me. I nosed around, got at least a basic idea of his job, and... yeah, his is not exactly the safest job in the world. He needs my prayers, he needs to know he's appreciated back home, he needs someone remembering him at Christmas. So that's my next 7 months. And someone else I know will be deploying around that time, so then I'll have him to look after.

No matter what, there's always some reason to keep moving. And if you haven't found yours yet, Soldiers Angels has about 2000 of them...

Wednesday Hero

Spc. Justin Slagle


Spc. Justin Slagle returns to Forward Operating Base Lane in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter after an air assault mission in the Zabul province of Afghanistan, Oct. 15, 2009. Even as leaders in Washington struggle with the next steps in Afghanistan, troops there are moving to better protect the Afghan people by separating them from Taliban influence and intimidation.

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Valour-IT 2009: Team Air Force

Stress level's high right now with a lot of major issues pending. Thus, I haven't had much to say, at least not publicly. And today I'm severely sore after channeling much of my frustration into yesterday's Krav Maga training. I'm noticing that the instructors are sticking close, but whether that's to prevent serious injury or to have a good view of the show is anyone's guess. They seem to be amused by my tenacity when fighting the guys. And the truly funny thing is this: this is what happens when I fight the nice guys. The instructors have got to be praying that no partner ever truly ticks me off...

So yes, stress is high. But all of this is to introduce the need to do something for those whose problems are a thousand times bigger than mine...

The VALOUR-IT Fundraiser is in full swing from now until Veteran's Day.

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. Technology supplied includes:

# Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

# Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).

# Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.


Please join me and Team Air Force in a little friendly competition with the other service branches. You can donate via credit card or by sending a check to:

Soldiers Angels Project Valour-IT
AIR FORCE TEAM
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91104

I know times are tough right know, but if you can walk, read and type, you are blessed beyond measure. Please join me in helping our wounded veterans reconnect with the rest of the world.