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 waiting in the tattooist’s chair at 11am this morning to carry out his painful pledge.

The first name was etched on his body just as the traditional Armistice Day two-minute silence began.

He said: ‘I don’t mind suffering for a few days if I can let the lads know that people really care about what they’re doing out there, and raise some money for the guys coming home wounded as well.

‘The family thought I was mad to begin with, but they’ve come round to the idea now, and my wife is backing me all the way.’

The married father-of-two from Doncaster hopes his challenge will raise £500 for the charity Help for Heroes.

He plans on updating the sombre list every year on Remembrance Day if required.

Before his ordeal began, Mr Clark said: ‘It’s going to be painful business but it’s nothing compared to what the troops are going through every single day on the front line.’

He added: ‘I know it’s a bit extreme covering the top half of your body front and back with 223 names, but it’s my way of honouring all those men and women and it’ll be there as a memorial for as long as I live.’
Mr Clark

Mr Clark hopes to raise £500 for Help4Heroes through his ordeal

Mr Clark said: ‘I wanted to do something to raise money for the heroes who still need help and to honour the memory of the fallen.

‘I’ve still lots of friends from my days in the Army over in Afghanistan and there’s lots of Donny lads out there as well.

‘Lots of people do things to raise money but I wanted to do something different and something permanent.

‘It’s not just about raising money – it’s also about letting these lads know that people care about what they’re doing.’ (DailyMail.co.uk)

Before the Code Talkers, the Japanese had been having an easy time intercepting and translating the American messages. They had excellent English translators.

After the Code Talkers began their operations, not one coded message was broken.

The Code Talkers had been sworn to utter secrecy regarding their actions in the field, and even after the subject was officially declassified in 1968, they kept quiet. But now not many are left, due to age and illness, and the remaining men fear that their incredible story will be lost.

Let us not forget their vital part in World War II.

For more information about the Navajo Code Talkers, click here for an article talking about them joining in for Veteran’s Day, or here for the official website.

This quote was taken from the U.S. Department of Defense website. Click here to visit. I didn’t know that the Dept. of Defense had a website dedicated to their Medal recipients, and I’m glad to see that they do. These people deserve to be remembered for their heroic and selfless acts on the battlefield.

What a brave young man. I’m sure his family is proud of him and his selfless actions, but I’m also sure they wish he could be with them today.

There are two other cases currently under consideration for the War Cross, Spange Brekke said. He said both cases involve Norwegian troops in Afghanistan, but declined to give details because they involve sensitive special forces operations. (source)
If the persons of importance were able to get away without harm, then why wouldn’t any man involved in the operation not be touted as a hero? Especially one who lost his life defending them? Well, at least Austlid is finally getting the respect that he deserves. I suppose sometimes valor can be mistaken for recklessness. But if an action looks like it will benefit the group, these brave people often have to take that opportunity without having the time to discuss it with their peers. It’s a shame that this man’s name wasn’t associated with heroism for all these years. His descendants can be proud of him. He gave his life to save others.

The Price of Freedom from Chuck Holton on Vimeo.
On August 16, I posted a blog called “They Call them Heroes” about a medevac mission to Wardak province. On that mission, two men from the 101st Airborne were killed and three more wounded in an IED blast during a combat resupply mission. I related that the dead are referred to over the radio net as “Heroes”, and rightly so.

I told the story of this mission when I was asked to speak at a church in Columbus, Ga., a few weeks ago. For that service, I put together the above video from that mission. Donnie’s feet are the last thing you see.(source)

Barry Delaney lost his friend Private Kevin Elliott, who last month was killed in Afghanistan while on foot patrol. He was only 24 years old. Barry went all out in his fulfillment of the pact, donning a lime green dress, pink leg warmers and black boots. As the saluting shots were fired to commemorate a military death, Barry knelt by his friend’s grave and wept.

Read the full story here.

These photos provide a parallel to the mass graves discovered near Fromelles. Perhaps even some of the individuals in the photos lie in those graves. Follow this link to read the article and learn more about this fabulous find. Or click here if you just want to see the photos. Truly incredible. It really makes these people’s lives come to light.

Click here to read this story. It can really be amazing how people can band together for a cause – even if is as simple as welcoming a fallen soldier home for the last time.