Archive for November, 2009

While American forces are performing heroic acts, and thankfully, are getting plenty of credit for their heroism, there are yet unsung heroes on the Iraqi front. They are the Iraqi translators. These brave men face hardships unknown to us. They are looked on as traitors to their countrymen, even though their mission is peace. The... »

This would have to be a mom’s worst nightmare. Her son is overseas fighting in Iraq, and she gets word that his troop was involved in a serious bombing attack. I would image she would wait nervously for the news about her son’s fate. Tammy Gollinger knows how this feels. She received word from the... »

Sergeant Gunnar Swanson joined the US Army and began serving in Iraq in 2003. During his time there, he and his fellow soldiers spent many hours playing with the local Iraqi children. They gave the kids toys and snacks, shared each other’s language, and played games with them. But months later, war reared its... »

The “Missing Man” formation is a touching memorial to those lost in the airforce. It is a rare thing for those not in the military to witness. It is performed by the pilots flying in formation, just as if the lost man were still there. It is believed that the tradition started in Britain at... »

I found this account over at the website DamnInteresting.com. And the website does live up to its name. But first, I’d like you to check out the story of Virginia Hall, a woman born in Maryland in 1906. Long story short, when Virginia was only 26, she went on a hunting trip in Turkey and... »

I believe I’ve posted before on the absolute mess our veterans are in when dealing with health care. And so many veterans are in desperate need of good health care. Why is this so hard for our government to provide? These men and women put themselves on the line for their country. The least... »

I found this very interesting. These women are able to walk the lines between two cultures and open communications in places that our male soldiers have only had glimpses of. I’ve been reading a recent internal summary of how Marine “Female Engagement Teams,” or FETs, have worked in Afghanistan. The bottom line is that done... »

Is this isn’t the ultimate in bravery, then I don’t know what is. I’m humbled by these two brave men. I hope that their families can take solace in their loss in knowing that their sons/brothers gave their all to protect others. RAMADI, IRAQ (April 29, 2008) – It was a typical quiet morning on... »

The picture says it all. Former soldier Shaun Clark made a promise to tattoo the name of every soldier lost in Afghanistan, and he’s holding true to that promise. He now has 232 names permanently inked onto his back. Mr Clark, who served with the 8th Battalion Light Infantry Regiment from 1989 to 1996, was... »

People now know about the famous Navajo Code Talkers, thanks in part to the 2002 movie Windtalkers. But during World War II, even the very existence of the elite code talkers was a heavily guarded secret. With the cunning use of their native Navajo tongue, they were able to pass vital information along to... »