This is a great site. check it out
Military.com
D.
P.S.
We heard from the kids this week, moral is a bit down with these deployment extensions and budget stuff going on, but they report they are fine and will see us soon. The helmet liners are gone and they are sweating their #%&*s off.
Guy & Dian
Click Here
to
Check out this great new group.
The video is Awesome!!!
Click here for H.R. Bill 514
SERGEANT LEA ROBERT MILLS BROOKSVILLE AVIATION BRANCH POST OFFICE
Click here to check out the "WAR DOGS" site
Greetings From Rancho Mirage
Ben Stein
February 05, 2007
Dear Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, National Guard, Reservists,
in Iraq, in the Middle East theater, in Afghanistan, in the area near
Afghanistan, in any base anywhere in the world, and your families:
Let me tell you about why you guys own about 90 percent of the
backbone in the whole world right now and should be happy with yourselves
and proud of whom you are. It was a dazzlingly hot day here in Rancho
Mirage today. I did small errands like going to the bank to pay my mortgage,
finding a new bed at a price I can afford, practicing driving with my new 5
wood, paying bills for about two hours. I spoke for a long time to a woman
who is going through a nasty child custody fight. I got e-mails from a woman
who was fired today from her job for not paying attention. I read about
multi-billion-dollar mergers in Europe, Asia, and the Mideast. I noticed how
overweight I am, for the millionth time. In other words, I did a lot of
nothing.
Like every other American who is not in the armed forces family, I
basically just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic in my trivial,
self-important, meaningless way. Above all, I talked to a friend of more
than forty-three years who told me he thought his life had no meaning
because all he did was count his money. And, friends in the armed forces,
this is the story of all of America today. We are doing nothing but treading
water while you guys carry on the life or death struggle against worldwide
militant Islamic terrorism. Our lives are about nothing: paying bills, going
to humdrum jobs, waiting until we can go to sleep and then do it all again.
Our most vivid issues are trivia compared with what you do every day, every
minute, every second.
Oprah Winfrey talks a lot about "meaning" in life. For her,
"meaning" is dieting and then having her photo on the cover of her magazine
every single month (surely a new world record for egomania). This is not
"meaning."
* Meaning is doing for others.
* Meaning is risking your life for hers.
* Meaning is putting your bodies and families' peace of mind on the
line to defeat some of
the most evil, sick killers the world has ever known.
* Meaning is leaving the comfort of home to fight to make sure that
there still will be a home for your family and for your nation and for free
men and women everywhere.
Look, Soldiers and Marines and Sailors and Airmen and Coast
Guardsmen, there are six billion people in this world. The whole fate of
this world turns on what you people, 1.4 million, more or less, do every
day. The fate of mankind depends on what about 2/100 of one percent of the
people in this world do every day and you are those people. And joining you
is every policeman, fireman, and Emergency Medical Technician in the
country, also holding back the tide of chaos.
Do you know how important you are? Do you know how indispensable you
are? Do you know how humbly grateful any of us who has a head on his
shoulders is to you? Do you know that if you never do another thing in your
lives, you will always still be heroes? That we could live without Hollywood
or Wall Street or the NFL, but we cannot live for a week without you?
We are on our knees to you and we bless and pray for you every
moment. And Oprah Winfrey, if she were a size two, would not have one
millionth of your importance, and all of the Wall Street billionaires will
never mean what the least of you do, and if Barry Bonds hits hundreds of
home runs it would not mean as much as you going on one patrol or driving
one truck to the Baghdad airport.
You are everything to us, as we go through our little days, and you
are in the prayers of the nation and of every decent man and woman on the
planet. That's who you are and what you mean. I hope you know that.
GIT' RRR DONE!
STAY SAFE,
BOB http://www.ourtroopsonline.com
PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE EMAIL AND YOU SEE WHAT IS MEANT BY RED FRIDAY.
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine
Sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but I didn't put two & two together.
After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in 1st Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
No, he responded.
Heading out, I asked?
No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
Going to pick him up?
No. He is with me right now.
He was killed in Iraq . I'm taking him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few d days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
Upon landing in Chicago , the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.
"Ladies & gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane & receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.
So here's a public "Thank You" to our military Men & Women for what you do so we can live the wa y we do
Red Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country & home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity & support for our troops with dignity & respect starts this Friday -- & continues until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men & women afar, will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers . If everyone who loves our Country will share this, it will no t be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is "We need your support & your prayers." Let's get the word out, by example, & wear something red every Friday.
IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.
IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON.
IT IS YOUR CHOICE.
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!
The Media Missed
this one!!!!
Please read this, then send it to everybody you know.
They'll thank you as they forward this to others as well.
Subject: Denzel Washington, and Brooks Army Medical Center
Don't know whether you heard about this but Denzel Washington and his
family visited the troops at Brook Army Medical Center, in San Antonio,Texas
(BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers who have been evacuated
from Germany come to be hospitalized in the United States, especially
burn victims. There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses. The
Fisher House is a Hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little
or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the Hospital. BAMC has
quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are
almost filled most of the time. While Denzel Washington was visiting
BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how
much one of them would cost to build. He took his check book out and
wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot. The soldiers
overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out
to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it. The
question I have is why does: Brad Pitt Madonna, Tom Cruise and other
Hollywood fluff make front page news with their ridiculous antics and
Denzel Washington's Patriotism doesn't even make page 3 in the Metro
section of any newspaper except the Local newspaper in San Antonio.
A true American and friend to all in uniform! This needs as wide a distribution
as we can create.
GOD BLESS YOU DENZEL FOR YOUR PATRIOTISM.
From: Keller, Charlie
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:36 PM
Subject: LEGISLATION HONORING HERNANDO COUNTY SOLDIER, SERGEANT LEA
MILLS, PASSES U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Charlie Keller
February 6, 2007
(202) 226-3017
LEGISLATION HONORING HERNANDO COUNTY SOLDIER, SERGEANT LEA MILLS, PASSES
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rep. Brown-Waite Introduced Bill to Honor Soldier Killed in Iraq
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-05) today
praised House passage of H.R. 514, the renaming of a post office in
Brooksville in the memory of Marine Sergeant Lea Mills from Masaryktown,
FL.
A member of the U.S. Marines since 2002, Sgt. Mills was killed by enemy
fire April 25, 2006 in Iraq. The U.S. post office, located at 16150
Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida, will be renamed as the
"Sergeant Lea Robert Mills Brooksville Aviation Branch Post Office.”
The legislation passed by a voice vote, and was co-sponsored by the
entire Florida Congressional delegation.
“Sergeant Mills was a true patriot and a brave hero who touched his
entire community with his brave deeds in battle,” said Rep. Brown-Waite.
“Families throughout Florida look for role models and true heroes whose
actions their children can learn from and emulate. Lea Mills was a real
American hero who gave his life to secure our freedoms and liberties.
A good friend and family man, Sgt. Mills embodied the best attributes
of our soldiers in uniform. I am so proud that my fellow Members of
Congress have honored his commitment and sacrifice with this post office
renaming today.”
Following passage by the U.S. House, H.R. 514 will need to be approved
by the Senate and signed by President Bush before it becomes law. In
2004, Rep. Brown-Waite was successful in renaming a U.S. post office
in Mascotte, Florida after Army National Guardsman Specialist Eric Ulysses
Ramirez, who was killed by Iraqi insurgents. In 2006, Rep. Brown-Waite
was successful in renaming a U.S. post office in Spring Hill, Florida
after Staff Sgt. Michael Schafer, who was killed in Afghanistan.
It
is with great pleasure I can report the return of one of our local soldiers.
Guy and Dian Stokey welcomed home their daughter Margo,
from a long tour of duty overseas.
Thank You Margo,
for your courage protecting our freedom and way of life.
You are truly a hero!
New Military Vessel.
This bit of news brought out some pretty strong feelings for a lot of
folks...... 
USS New York
With a year to go before it even touches the water, the Navy's amphibious
assault ship USS New York has already made history. It was built with
24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.. USS New York is
about 45 percent complete and should be ready for launch in mid-2007.
Katrina disrupted construction when it pounded the Gulf Coast last summer,
but the 684-foot vessel escaped serious damage, and workers were back
at the yard near New Orleans two weeks after the storm. It is the fifth
in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special
operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and
700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault
craft. "It would be fitting if the first mission this ship would go
on is to make sure that bin Laden is taken out, his terrorist organization
is taken out," said Glenn Clement, a paint foreman. "He came in through
the back door and knocked our towers down and (the New York) is coming
right through the front door, and we want them to know that." Steel
from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA
to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on
Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,"
recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual
moment for everybody there." Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager,
said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with
his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to
it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us
down. We're going to be back."
The ship's motto? - 'Never Forget'
Thanks Dee
From: Dian &
Guy Stokey
All Time Best Quote In a recent interview,
General Norman Schwartzkopf
Was asked if he thought There was room for forgiveness Toward the people
who have harboured And abetted the terrorists who perpetrated The 9/11
attacks on America.
His answer was "classic" Schwartzkopf.
The General said,
"I believe that forgiving them is God's function.
OUR job is to arrange the meeting."
AMEN
If you can read this, thank a Teacher.
If you can read it in English,thank a Soldier!
Sent in by Dee Mills
If you don't think our military pilots earn their pay ... you need to
take a look at this picture ... and then look again and realize what
you're seeing.
This photo was taken by a soldier in Afghanistan of a helo rescue mission.
The pilot is a PA Guard guy who flies EMS choppers in civilian life.
Now how many people on the planet you reckon could set the ass end of
a chopper down on the roof top of a shack on a steep mountain cliff
and hold it there while soldiers load wounded men in the rear. If this
does not impress you ... nothing ever will. Gives me the chills and
a serious case of the vertigo ... I can't even imagine having the nerve
... much less the talent and ability ...
God Bless our military!!!
Sent in by Dee
Mills
This poem was written by a Marine.
Monsters and the Weak
The sun beat like a hammer, not a cloud was in the sky.
The mid-day air ran thick with dust, my throat was parched and dry.
With microphone clutched tight in hand and cameraman in tow,
I ducked beneath a fallen roof, surprised to hear "stay low."
My eyes blinked several times before in shadow I could see,
the figure stretched across the rubble, steps away from me.
He wore a cloak of burlap strips, all shades of gray and brown,
that hung in tatters till he seemed to melt into the ground.
He never turned his head or took his eye from off the scope,
but pointed through the broken wall and down the rocky slope.
"About eight hundred yards," he said, his whispered words concise,
"beneath the baggy jacket he is wearing a device."
A chill ran up my spine despite the swelter of the heat,
"You think he's gonna set it off along the crowded street?"
The sniper gave a weary sigh and said "I wouldn't doubt it,"
"unless there's something this old gun and I can do about it."
A thunderclap, a tongue of flame, the still abruptly shattered;
while citizens that walked the street were just as quickly scattered.
Till only one remained, a body crumpled on the ground,
The threat to oh so many ended by a single round.
And yet the sniper had no cheer, no hint of any gloat,
instead he pulled a logbook out and quietly he wrote.
"Hey, I could put you on TV, that shot was quite a story!"
But he surprised me once again -- "I got no wish for glory."
"Are you for real?" I asked in awe, "You don't want fame or credit?"
He looked at me with saddened eyes and said "you just don't get it."
"You see that shot-up length of wall, the one without a door?
before a mortar hit, it used to be a grocery store."
"But don't go thinking that to bomb a store is all that cruel,
the rubble just across the street -- it used to be a school.
The little kids played soccer in the field out by the road,"
His head hung low, "They never thought a car would just explode."
"As bad as all this is though, it could be a whole lot worse,"
He swallowed hard, the words came from his mouth just like a curse.
"Today the fight's on foreign land, on streets that aren't my own,"
"I'm here today 'cause if I fail, the next fight's back at home."
"And I won't let my Safeway burn, my neighbors dead inside,
don't wanna get a call from school that says my daughter died;
I pray that not a one of them will know the things I see,
nor have the work of terrorists etched in their memory."
"So you can keep your trophies and your fleeting bit of fame,
I don't care if I make the news, or if they speak my name."
He glanced toward the camera and his brow began to knot,
"If you're looking for a story, why not give this one a shot."
"Just tell the truth of what you see, without the slant or spin;
that most of us are OK and we're coming home again.
And why not tell our folks back home about the good we've done,
how when they see Americans, the kids come at a run."
You tell 'em what it means to folks here just to speak their mind,
without the fear that tyranny is just a step behind;
Describe the desert miles they walk in their first chance to vote,
or ask a soldier if he's proud, I'm sure you'll get a quote."
He turned and slid the rifle in a drag bag thickly padded,
then looked again with eyes of steel as quietly he added;
"And maybe just remind the few, if ill of us they speak,
that we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak."
Michael Marks
January 25, 2006
Christmas at Arlington Cemetery I had no idea this was done.
I thought you might want to see it.
Arlington National Cemetery
Rest easy, sleep well my brothers. Know the line has held, your job
is done. Rest easy, sleep well. Others have taken up where you fell,
the line has held. Peace, peace, and farewell... Readers may be interested
to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester
Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only
provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's
done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine
school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help
out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is
in one the poorest parts of the state. Please share this with everyone
on your address list. You hear too much about the bad things people
do. Everyone should hear about this.
Thanks Dian
How
about it ladies,
Can you knit or Crochet?
If so, check out this site
Our troops can use your help.
http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/
Thanks
Carl
THE ONLY FLAG THAT DOESN'T FLY Between the fields where the flag is
planted, there are 9+ miles of flower fields that go all the way to
the ocean. The flowers are grown by seed companies. It's a beautiful
place, close to Vandenberg AFB. Check out the dimensions of the flag.
The 2002 Floral Flag is 740 feet long and 390 feet wide and maintains
the proper Flag dimensions, as described in Executive Order #10834.
This Flag is 6.65 acres and is the first Floral Flag to be planted with
5 pointed Stars, comprised of White Larkspur. Each Star is 24 feet in
diameter; each Stripe is 30 feet wide. This Flag is estimated to contain
more than 400,000 Larkspur plants, with 4-5 flower stems each, for a
total of more than 2 million flowers. You can drive by this flag on
V Street south of Ocean Ave. in Lompoc, CA!
Aerial photo courtesy of Bill Morson Soldiers' Prayer
I
have a friend named Carl. Carl is a Vietnam Vet. He is mostly confined
to a wheelchair so he has some time to surf the web. Carl sends me all
kinds of interesting things. Check out the Info below. Our military
are Extrodinary people.
Arlington Cemetery,
interesting On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was How
many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the
Unknowns ------ All three missed it --- This is really an awesome sight
to watch if you've never had the chance Very fascinating. Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier 1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk
across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest
honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return
walk and why? 21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1
3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing
his grip on the rifle.
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if
not, why not? He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves
the rifle to the outside shoulder.
5. How often are the guards changed? Guards are changed every thirty
minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? For a person
to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10" and 6'
2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30." Other requirements of
the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live
in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off
duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the
rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the
tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that
is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb.
There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for
the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin. The shoes are specially
made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet.
There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order
to make the loud click as they come to a halt There are no wrinkles,
folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length
mirror. The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone,
nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people
laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who
they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President
Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy,
{the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. Every guard
spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our US
Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the
ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the
hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin,
marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding
the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can
be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930.
God Bless and keep them. I don't usually suggest that many emails be
forwarded, but I'd be very proud if this one reached as many as possible.
We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter
where they serve. IN GOD WE TRUST
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tombofun.htm
Staff
SGT. Michael W. Schafer
2nd Battalion 503rd Infantry Regiment
United States Army
This
is the hardest part of reporting that I have been faced with. Reporting
our soldiers killed in action. On July 25, 2005 in Oruzgan, Afghanistan
Sgt. Michael Schafer became Hernando County's first casualty of the
war on terrorism. The link below will take you to his profile on Legacy.com.
This wonderful site will tell you and show you what a great soldier
and family man we lost. To his family I say, we are extremely proud
to have Sgt. Michael Schafer represent us and our country. I will add
links to pictures and letters as I receive them.
We
are greatly saddened by the loss of Sgt. Lea Mills. In the short time
we have lived here, we become not only neighbors, but, friends. They
are within shouting distance and not a day goes by that we don't see
or sit and talk with them for a few minutes. We met Lea and his wife
just before he was deployed and he is a wonderful man and a great soldier.
We are extremely proud to have him represent us and our country. I am
setting up a separate page for him to collect information and have an
avenue of communication with his family. His father Rob has informed
us that they will be setting up a fund to pay for shipping boxes to
the troops. He has ask to refrain from sending flowers and to please
donate those funds for the troops. They will keep in touch.
We
are all proud of our military. They show what America is about and how
much we cherish our freedom. The battles we fought and are fighting
now each are unique. Our adversaries are smarter and do not respect
life, not even their own. With the invention of the internet we can
monitor them closer than ever before. Unfortunately, they are watching
also. When sending photos or messages for our military section, Be discreat,
any photo with backgrounds that depict areas,unit numbers or any message
that could give info to our adversaries will be deleted. Let's not give
the bad guys anything to work with. Their smart, but we are smarter.
I look forward to running your photos and messages in this section.
Also, as I run into some unique military photos,like the one below,
I will run them for everyone to see our great military might!!
April
20, 2006
As you can see I have the famous Camel Spider picture below. This has
been around since the gulf war. In any case they are over there and
our troops have to put up with them. To my surprise there is a web site
all about them!!
Here it is
Camel
Spiders.net
Later...............Chuckster..........:)
