Home Troop Connection

Downright Appalling!

2011-04-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

I opened up the blog today and one of the first things I saw in a feed was another Marines suicide. That prompted me to do some 'searches' and it brought up things that seem to really be left out as a whole. When do we REALLY start taking care of our own? War is NOT always a good thing... and as you can read for yourself... it does not end for the men and woman who serve in it when they go home. It truly saddens me to see so much of this.

Because I found so much more than I wanted to... I decided to include a few of the articles that caught my attention ... for the ones without the link, you can just google the titles. Our troops TRULY are in NEED of our support. We must stop leaving them out to dry and telling them everything will be ok.

War Veteran's suicides...

Suicide Epidemic Among Veterans...2007

The Truth About Veteran Suicides...2008

Iraq War Veteran: Rise in Suicides in 2009 'not surprising'...2009

Suicide Rate Surged Among Veterans...2010, Jan.

Veteran Suicide Rate Outpaces War Casualties...2010, Nov.

Suicide Rate Triples for Female Soldiers at War...2011, Mar.

Clay Hunt (today)

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS to RETURN HOME SAFE... and keep them safe.

What if the Government Shuts Down?

2011-04-07T11:05:00.001-07:00

Temporary Spending Bill Needed To Avoid A Government Shutdown: MyFoxDC.com

Troops Holidays

2010-12-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

For all the troops who can not be home, we say Thank You. You are supported and thought of every day. May you be home soon to spend the holidays with those you have fought for! Bless your honor and may you always be BLESSED. Merry Christmas!

A Special Veteran to Me

2010-11-11T12:35:00.001-08:00

God Bless America, God Bless our VETERANS!

I had the pleasure of taking care of one of these veterans... my father in law. He had alzhiemers... I saw him re-live the nightmares of the war. IF you think their job is easy, take care of one! In wartime they see things no average person could even imagine. The pictures of graphic scenes do not show the aftermath that they carry for life. Some can move on, some never will. It is up to those of us who they fought for to care for them when they need it.

SAY A PRAYER, SEND A LETTER, SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

He fought in WW2. In May, 2009, at the age of 93, America lost a valuable patron. He fought for our freedoms, he fought for our rights, and he fought for our country. May he forever R.I.P.

Always Honor the Soldier

Roze Collins, former JrR.O.T.C. Marine, Marine wife.

It is an honor to serve your country.

VFW - Looking back

2010-11-11T10:06:00.001-08:00

Keith Toby Tribute

2010-11-11T10:01:00.001-08:00

Thank God These Men LIVED!

2010-11-11T09:59:00.001-08:00

Veterans, We Say "THANK YOU"

2010-11-11T09:57:00.001-08:00

Honoring the Veterans

2010-11-11T09:55:00.001-08:00

Marine Party Band

2010-11-11T09:48:00.001-08:00

St. Clair Times - VA will hold groundbreaking ceremony for new home Nov 30

2010-11-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

St. Clair Times - VA will hold groundbreaking ceremony for new home Nov 30

VFW planning Veterans Day events

2010-11-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

FBLA chapter, VFW planning Veterans Day events

Written by Wauneta Breeze

Thursday, 04 November 2010 15:09

By Jan Schultz
The Imperial Republican

Veterans of Chase County will be in the spotlight at two different events in Imperial next week in recognition of Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
Next Thursday, Nov. 11, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter at Chase County Schools will host two separate programs in the auditorium.
FBLA sponsor Sandy O’Neil said veterans in the area are invited to join the students and staff for both programs at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., as well as for lunch at the school on Nov. 11.
Grade 7-12 students will attend the program in the morning, at which pastor David Kahle will be the speaker.
Kahle, who is pastor of Imperial’s Zion Lutheran Church, has over 9 years of service with the U.S. Army. He served in Desert Storm from 1990-91 as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunner, and has also served as a Nurse Corps Officer for the Army.
The 1 p.m. program is for students in K-6, and will be more of an educational one to inform the younger student what Veterans Day is all about, O’Neil said.
At both programs, names of the veterans attending will be read.
Veterans and their families planning to have lunch at the school on Nov. 11 are asked to call the school, 308-882-4304, so the cafeteria has an accurate meal count.

VFW dinner Nov. 14
A few days after the official holiday, the Imperial VFW Post and auxiliary are hosting a dinner at the hall at 416 Broadway.
The 6 p.m. dinner is open to all veterans of the area and their families.
The local winners of the VFW and auxiliary-sponsored Voice of Democracy (grades 9-12) and Patriot’s Pen (grades 6-8) essay contests will read their entries during the program. A guest speaker is also expected.
Auxiliary President Sue Moore said meat, potatoes and drinks will be provided. Those attending are asked to bring a salad, vegetable or dessert.

Toys For Tots

2010-10-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Jaycees join Marines in Toys for Tots effort

Athens Banner-Herald

Published Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Buzz up!

The North Georgia Jaycees is teaming up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves for this year's Toys for Tots program that collects Christmas toys for underprivileged children in a five-county area that covers Clarke, Greene, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties.

The Toys for Tots program (Nov. 1 to Dec. 19) collects new, unwrapped toys, which are delivered as Christmas gifts to needy children throughout the area.

Area businesses, schools and churches support the Toys for Tots program by hosting donation boxes.

For more information about the Northeast Georgia Toys for Tots program, visit www.toysfortots.org. Tax-deductible contributions may be made to Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 527, Athens, GA 30603.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Tuesday, October 12, 2010

2010-10-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

How to make 352 Blankets in 8 Hours

The 5th Annual Blankets of Hope marathon at the Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie, MD was held on September 25th, 2010.

DVIDS - News - Marines, Philippine Marines raid beach as part of Phiblex '11

2010-10-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

DVIDS - News - Marines, Philippine Marines raid beach as part of Phiblex '11

Veterans' Health Care

2010-10-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

CBO -- Potential Costs of Veterans' Health Care

October 12, 2010 13:34

Potential Costs of Veterans' Health Care
Source: Congressional Budget Office

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health care at little or no charge to more than 5 million veterans annually. Medical services are provided through the inpatient and outpatient facilities run by the Veterans Health Administration. Those services include routine health assessments, readjustment counseling, surgery, hospitalization, and nursing home care.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the future costs for VA to treat enrolled veterans will be substantially higher (in inflation-adjusted dollars) than recent appropriations for that purpose, partly because more veterans are likely to seek care in the VA system but mostly because health care costs per enrolled veteran are projected to increase faster than the overall price level. Under two scenarios that CBO examined, the total real resources (in 2010 dollars) necessary to provide health care services to all veterans who seek treatment at VA would range from $69 billion to $85 billion in 2020, representing cumulative increases of roughly 45 percent to 75 percent since 2010.

Although veterans from recent conflicts will represent a fast-growing share of enrollments in VA health care over the next decade, the share of VA’s resources devoted to the care of those veterans is projected to remain small through 2020, in part because they are younger and healthier than other veterans served by VA.

Category:

Source:

Congressional Budget Office

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Search for Marine lieutenant's killer meets Afghan obstacles | San Francisco Examiner

2010-10-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

Search for Marine lieutenant's killer meets Afghan obstacles | San Francisco Examiner

San Bernardino firm contributes to high-tech training for Marines - Redlands Daily Facts

2010-10-12T07:06:00.000-07:00

San Bernardino firm contributes to high-tech training for Marines - Redlands Daily Facts

Impacts of training flights questioned

2010-10-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

Impacts of training flights questioned

2010-08-08T21:57:00.001-07:00

Over Hundred Supporters Rally to 'Free Bradley Manning' inside USMC Quantico, VA

2010-08-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

Body of slain NZ soldier returns home

2010-08-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

Marine finds a future after falling apart

WWII & Shifty

2010-02-13T23:50:00.000-08:00

I got this in my message box today and thought it would be great to share with all, just in case you have not seen it!

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy
Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st
Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the
History Channel , you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10
episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't
know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having
trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was
at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of
the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne
or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the
101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served,
and how many jumps he made.
Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so,
and was in until sometime in 1945 .. . . " at which point my heart
skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training
jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know
where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.
I told him "yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what
D-Day was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into
Holland , into Arnhem ..." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . .
and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of
D-Day..

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said
"Yes. And it's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are
left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart
was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
Coach while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to
get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came
forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have
it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are
still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to
make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it.
And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17, 2009 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center .
No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that's not right.
Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet
way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the
veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Chuck Yeager, MajGen. [ret.]

I think that it is amazing how the "media" chooses our "hero's" these days...Michael Jackson, Ted Kennedy & the like!

Army - HomeTroopConnection

2010-01-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

Army - HomeTroopConnection

Interesting Facts about the US Military

2010-01-24T07:13:00.000-08:00

If you want to join the US Military or you are merely interested to know more about it, you can easily do so with the available reading materials that you can get access to. This will prove to be a lot of help, especially when you are still considering whether you should join the crew or pursue another venture instead. Once you have started your search, you will be faced with so many interesting facts about the topic.

Self Assessment

If you are researching to find out more about this to know if you are ready to be part of it, you must first think things through before you decide on anything. By learning more about it, you will be able to formulate wiser decisions. But aside from what you will learn about it, your decision must be based on how you really feel and what you really want.

Think about this as a calling. Not everyone will last as a priest. The same holds true with all other professions like being a doctor, teacher or a writer. This is the same notion that you must think about as a military personnel. No one has the right to force you to join it, especially for wrong reasons. There are people who join the military thinking that at least, this is a stable job where they can raise their families. But more than the monetary aspect, you must make sure that you can last in this field.

There are many challenges that will be posed on you from start to finish. As part of the military, you are unsure about what the future may bring regarding your own safety. You must be ready in all aspects of your life before you even sign anything to start training as personnel. If you think that you have all the right reasons, you have to talk it out with your family. They have to know what you are getting into. They must be prepared like you are. Once you are part of the crew, your family will be affected with all the things that will happen to you once you are starting on your duties. You need their love and support. And they need to know that you are happy where you are at and wherever you will be.

Fast Facts

All the military forces in the US is known as the United States armed forces. It was formed at the time when the nation was fighting with the British Empire during the American Revolutionary War. In 1775, the braches like the Marine Corps, Navy and Army came about as part of the preparation for declaration of independence in 1776. In 1790, the Revenue Cutter Service, which is now known as the Coast Guard was created. It became the latter when in 1915 when it merged with the United States Life-Saving Service. The Air Force was first known as the United States Army Air Corps in 1926. And in 1947, it became an independent service.

The military has a great role in forming and developing the nation’s history. Historical landmarks include the nation’s victory on the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.

The US military commander in chief is the nation’s president. This person gets aid in terms of implementing military policies with the Department of Defense as well as the Department of Homeland Security.

Lisa Simpkins
Home Troop Connection

While The Troops Are Helping Haiti, Let's Help Our Troops!

2010-01-20T09:56:00.001-08:00

As most are aware, the news in Haiti has been devastating, to say the least. This morning we learn of a second large quake, this coming on the heals of MANY of our troops entry to aide the homeless, injured, and families who have lost their own family, friends, and loved ones. Not only do these people need national help, all the help who are entering in Haiti will need all the support they can get from us, the people, of all nations. They will need friends and family from home, just to be able to hear their voices or receive a letter when possible. These troops who are working for all have put themselves in the same danger as what Haiti is facing. Whether you believe in a higher power, God, or not, a prayer would be nice to add to their comfort. A word, if you do not pray, just to let them know you are supporting them, that you know how important their job is and how difficult a task before them has become. More have and are losing life in Haiti right now and the aftershocks are still upon them. Our troops are in that danger! Support them. Comfort them with words. Be their shoulder, their consult, their link to life away from these awful situations... even if just for a moment.

Roze Collins, Home Troop Connection

Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)

2010-01-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

SEAL team six also known as the Naval Special Warfare Development Group or DEVGRU. It is the US military’s main counter terrorist unit and also a test bed for development of equipment and techniques for the utilization of SEAL teams and other Special Forces units. In the Executive Order 12171 of 19 November 1979, the credibility of the creation of the special group was justified: By the authority vested in me as President of the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 7103(b)(1) of title five of the United States Code, and having determined that the Naval Special Warfare Development Group has a primary function intelligence, counter-intelligence, investigative, or national security work and that the provisions of Chapter 71 of title five of the United States Code cannot be applied to this organization in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations. In 1980 it was commissioned and started its operation led by Richard Marcinko.

The military’s (US) SEAL Team six since then operated behind enemy lines. They gathered numbers of vital intelligence on terrorists and dangerous dictators. Through this, they had suffered many fatalities. But their efforts had gained the US and the rest of the world stunning victories against terrorism particularly in Afghanistan. Another recorded operation of the SEAL team six is the preinvasion recom of sites for amphibious and airborne landings at Point Salines. The mission involved an insertion through a parachute of a sixteen-mean team. The operation went wrong as the team was late by six hours and the SEAL`s jumped into pitch black night, making link-up with the boats difficult. The SEAL`s were driven deep below the surface of the water on landing. Three SEAL`s drowned at the very onset of the insertion phase of the operation.

Seeing from all these messes and successes of the military, as a United States citizen and Naval Academy graduate, why would you want to be a SEAL? A current SEAL platoon commander was asked same question and said: “When I got there I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I think I wanted to be a pilot. But I started rowing crew rowing crew when I was freshman. There’s a lot of guys that rowed crew that ended up going special warfare. A lot of the upper class that I saw got into the mindset of working out hard, taking care of yourself, that kind of camaraderie. In crew it was an eight-men team in the boat, totally relying on each other. That kind of thing real well for special warfare.” (Unconventional Warfare by Susan Lynn Marquis, 48). Obviously, the people that decides to join in SEAL`s admires the kind of camaraderie in the team. Aside from that they are seeing themselves saving US citizen and people of the world with dignity because people that makes up of SEAL`s are passionate of serving the country for greater good. And that is the most important thing – love of work and the country.

For the military (US) Special Forces like SEAL team six there are many tricky and uncertain aspects of training. If you want to belong to special forces you must ready yourself to great amount of pressure, less sleep, and a lot of physical activity. For the record only about 45 percent of the students who begin army Special Forces selection and assessment successfully complete it. But once you’ve become part of the military (US) SEAL particularly team six – you will be forever congratulating yourself for your success and perseverance as your role for the country’s security worth every sacrifice and hard work.

Lisa Simpkins
Home Troop Connection

Posted by Support The Troops, From Home Troop Connections at 1:51 AM 0