Monday, September 07, 2009
Labor Day: Real Labor {Responsibility} for Peace
As Battlefields Shift, Old Warrior for Peace Pursues the Same Enemy
The Rev. Carl Kabat inside the fence at a Colorado missile site before his recent arrest.
GREELEY, Colo. — It had been nearly 30 years since the Rev. Carl Kabat and a group of peace activists, including his fellow Catholic priests Daniel and Philip Berrigan, barged into a General Electric weapons plant outside Philadelphia. Known as the Plowshares Eight, they battered missile nose cones with hammers in an effort to disable some of the world’s most fearsome weapons, and sprinkled blood on classified documents to protest the cold war, before they were arrested.
Snip
“I thought, ‘What a beautiful place this is except for this damnable thing in the ground that could kill two or three million people,’ ” Father Kabat said later in an interview at the Weld County Jail, where he is being held on misdemeanor criminal mischief and trespassing charges. “It’s insane.”
Snip
“You can’t just kill babies and children and old people indiscriminately,” he said. “It should be unreasonable for every human person to accept nuclear weapons............
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Death Row Inmate Receives Purple Heart
N.C. death row inmate receives medals earned in Vietnam
To both of our brothers, Thank You Jim for fighting for the well deserved recognition long overdue for Jim Davis, not only as to the Purple Heart but his other ignored medals and ribbons of service.
If the Country would have listened he may have gotten the Help Needed, after his two tours, to cope with the experiences of Wars of Choice and even his Childhood trauma's!
They didn't then nor for these next four decades until we were finally able to push the results of Wars of Choice, especially, into the mainstream conscious, Lessons Not Learned, as we waged two more long running occupations and many returning soldiers are fighting the demons of war and occupations. Once again the country is playing catchup, more Lessons Not Learned!
Army Times
Death row inmate gets Purple Heart from Vietnam
James Floyd Davis would never know freedom again.
Now 62 years old, slightly stooped with thick reading glasses and pasty skin, he looks far removed from the wild-eyed loner who snapped in a violent, bloody spree 14 years ago.
And he looks far removed from the tanned, wiry young man who traded an abusive home life for two tours in the jungles of Vietnam - and a chunk of shrapnel that still throbs in his thigh when the weather turns cold.
All of that past, all of that horror and hurt, stared through thick reading glasses at Jim Johnson as the retired Fayetteville therapist tried to discover who James Davis was.
Johnson, however, wasn't there because Davis was disturbed. He was there because Davis, like Johnson, was a soldier. Both had served in Vietnam during the maelstrom of the Tet Offensive.
Snip
The men also shared post-traumatic stress disorder, the result of battle stress during the war. Johnson, though eventually a lieutenant colonel and a successful therapist, struggled with its effects for decades. His condition gave him a unique perspective as a family and marriage counselor at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church.
The effects of PTSD on the already-fragile psyche of Davis were far more damaging. Although he reached the rank of sergeant, "He said the war just wore him out," Johnson said.
Snip
The Army was happy to send the medals. The prison was less enthusiastic about letting him receive them.
"They said no, like we expected," Rose said. "It was something that was just too unusual. It would take intervention by someone higher up the ladder."
Johnson found that someone in James French, a former warden of Central Prison and now deputy director of the state's correction system.
He also was a Vietnam veteran. He was wounded during the war and received a Purple Heart. Would he be willing to allow a fellow veteran the same honor?
French thought about it and agreed...............Read Rest Here
To both of our brothers, Thank You Jim for fighting for the well deserved recognition long overdue for Jim Davis, not only as to the Purple Heart but his other ignored medals and ribbons of service.
If the Country would have listened he may have gotten the Help Needed, after his two tours, to cope with the experiences of Wars of Choice and even his Childhood trauma's!
They didn't then nor for these next four decades until we were finally able to push the results of Wars of Choice, especially, into the mainstream conscious, Lessons Not Learned, as we waged two more long running occupations and many returning soldiers are fighting the demons of war and occupations. Once again the country is playing catchup, more Lessons Not Learned!
Army Times
Death row inmate gets Purple Heart from Vietnam
Guards took the shackles off death row prisoner James Davis and led him into a small room to get the Army medals he earned more than 40 years ago.
The North Carolina inmate slouched over as retired therapist Jim Johnson picked up the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct medals Davis earned in Vietnam, but never received.
But Johnson recalled that as he prepared to pin the medals on the triple-murderer from Asheville, Davis snapped to attention, hands cupped to the side. Johnson stepped back, and the two Tet Offensive veterans looked at each other. Davis then gave a textbook-sharp salute, Johnson said......Read Rest Here
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Essay on Health Care Reform
A Bill Moyers essay on health care reform.
Josh Marshall's article
Henry Giroux's article
Bill Moyers Journal
BILL MOYERS: The editors of THE ECONOMIST magazine say America's health care debate has become a touch delirious, with people accusing each other of being evil-mongers, dealers in death, and un-American.
Well, that's charitable.
I would say it's more deranged than delirious, and definitely not un-American.
Those crackpots on the right praying for Obama to die and be sent to hell — they're the warp and woof of home-grown nuttiness. So is the creature from the Second Amendment who showed up at the President's rally armed to the teeth. He's certainly one of us. Red, white, and blue kooks are as American as apple pie and conspiracy theories..............Rest Here
Friday, September 04, 2009
5 Life Sentences - Good!!
I've been wondering why I hadn't caught anything more about this.
Not only did he do what he did to Abeer and her family, but the blowback on his fellow soldiers started shortly after that, those numbers will never be known but as happened in 'Nam it happened in Iraq, and any war, especially when outright atrocities occur!!
RIP Abeer and your family, RIP!!
Ex-Soldier Gets 5 Life
Sentences for Iraqi Girl Rape, Family Murders
A former soldier received five consecutive life sentences Friday for his role in the rape and murder of an Iraqi teenager and the slaying of three of her family members.
"What the defendant did was horrifying and inexcusable," U.S. District Judge Thomas Russell said in sentencing to Steven Dale Green, 24, of Midland, Texas. "The court believes any lesser sentence would be insufficient."
A civilian jury in western Kentucky convicted Green in May of raping Abeer Qassim al-Janabi, conspiracy and multiple counts of murder.
Green shot and killed the teen's mother, father and sister, then became the third soldier to rape her before shooting her in the face. Her body was set on fire March 12, 2006, at their rural home outside Mahmoudiya, Iraq, about 20 miles south of Baghdad.........Rest Here
Not only did he do what he did to Abeer and her family, but the blowback on his fellow soldiers started shortly after that, those numbers will never be known but as happened in 'Nam it happened in Iraq, and any war, especially when outright atrocities occur!!
Pairing dogs and troops with PTSD
McClatchy Washington Bureau continues their extremely stellar reporting on the effects of Wars and Occupations of others on those that serve in these theaters of operations, especially as to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder {PTSD} with the following report printed in their Kansas City Star:
Defense Dept. funding study pairing dogs and troops with PTSD
While PTSD, especially from the trauma of combat of military operations, has always been a result of Wars, and not only for the combat troops, it didn't start getting recognized for what it was until we started returning from Vietnam and it not only recognized but given the name. Studies followed but way to few and not funded properly. Much of that early work was done by us 'Nam Vets and a few in the civilian population, who also recognized that this occurs with many suffering traumatic experiences in their lives. But when you have huge numbers of individuals you send into combat invasions and occupations, huge numbers of them return with varying degree's of the stresses and trauma's of what took place, everyone is changed, no matter how or what the training, some more severely with the reliving and recurring memories of.
Finally, after some four decades of strong advocacy by many of us, there are many programs and studies taking place all over the country to help those suffering from the results of their service in combat occupations of others countries. Some of these will wither away depending on the results of, but others will flourish and give the help and better understanding needed, and more will come from further studies.
It's really great to see the DoD getting more involved and finally recognizing the existence of especially as they are finally recognizing the actions of some who suffer from in their taking of their own lives or the lives of others, which in most cases can be the causes of their trauma and lack of help and counseling for, plus the stigma within the ranks of even reporting one is having problems.
An online Veterans news group, Veterans Today, made up of mostly free lance Veterans doing reporting on the many issues of the Veterans community, do an almost daily Top 10 called Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country, this current one is for 9-03-09. And in this issue page it carries this:
The bolding above I placed in as to highlight the fact that this is also not new as to Wars and Occupations of others, Post Traumatic Stress developing from, and especially coming out of Wars of Choice! Add on these Multiple Tours in not only one but two military operations and Guess What! There is also five related topics and links following the one, from the Indianapolis Star, above, at the link above.
Much has finally been coming out of the DoD and especially the Veterans Administration, much of it coming from a Congress finally doing their jobs with investigations and hearings as well as over-site, these past two plus years, which wasn't done by the previous congresses as they walked in lockstep towards sending, and then doing so, our military into two long running occupations, and rarely mentioned nor hearings held for the first five and six years of, respectively, these still running occupations!
Lets hope the forward actions continue, they're all now taking place in a Catch Up mode, but that will only happen if and when the American Public stop their representatives from Obstructing what already should have long ago been, proper funding and over-site, which would be cheaper now if it had been done before, especially as to keeping these agencies up to date with the advanced technology, placing it in or advanced of the 21st century, not the 20th century!
This is also at The Veterans Today link above:
Defense Dept. funding study pairing dogs and troops with PTSD
Persian Gulf War veteran Chris Kornkven (left) greeted Rainbow, a female Rhodesian ridgeback, as fellow Gulf War veteran Anthony Hardie met Kenji, another ridgeback, and his handler, Joan Esnayra. The dogs demonstrated how they could help troops with post-traumatic stress disorder during a military health research conference this week in Kansas City. Kornkven has PTSD.
Can a canine companion soothe the volatile emotions of a soldier haunted by post-traumatic stress disorder?
It may sound far-fetched, but the Department of Defense wants to find out.
It is spending millions of dollars on medical research projects like this that may yield groundbreaking results but are too speculative for other government agencies to consider.
While PTSD, especially from the trauma of combat of military operations, has always been a result of Wars, and not only for the combat troops, it didn't start getting recognized for what it was until we started returning from Vietnam and it not only recognized but given the name. Studies followed but way to few and not funded properly. Much of that early work was done by us 'Nam Vets and a few in the civilian population, who also recognized that this occurs with many suffering traumatic experiences in their lives. But when you have huge numbers of individuals you send into combat invasions and occupations, huge numbers of them return with varying degree's of the stresses and trauma's of what took place, everyone is changed, no matter how or what the training, some more severely with the reliving and recurring memories of.
Kenji (left) and Rainbow are specially trained by the Psychiatric Service Dog Society to assist people with severe mental disability. Their handlers were Joan Esnayra, the society’s founder, and Craig Love, a psychologist.
These psychiatric service dogs have been assisting people with a variety of mental illnesses since the late 1990s. About 10,000 such dogs are now in use.
New but preliminary research suggests that the dogs may be particularly helpful for people with PTSD.
And that has the military interested.
Snip
“Where there’s a good idea but not much data, we’re willing to take a risk.”
The Defense Department has measures in place to make sure that innovative ideas get a fair hearing, Kaime said.
When the department sends applications for research grants to its review panels, it deliberately leaves out the names of the scientists and their institutions, so decisions are based on the merits of their proposals and not their reputations.
Finally, after some four decades of strong advocacy by many of us, there are many programs and studies taking place all over the country to help those suffering from the results of their service in combat occupations of others countries. Some of these will wither away depending on the results of, but others will flourish and give the help and better understanding needed, and more will come from further studies.
It's really great to see the DoD getting more involved and finally recognizing the existence of especially as they are finally recognizing the actions of some who suffer from in their taking of their own lives or the lives of others, which in most cases can be the causes of their trauma and lack of help and counseling for, plus the stigma within the ranks of even reporting one is having problems.
An online Veterans news group, Veterans Today, made up of mostly free lance Veterans doing reporting on the many issues of the Veterans community, do an almost daily Top 10 called Top 10 Veterans News from Around the Country, this current one is for 9-03-09. And in this issue page it carries this:
5. Tracking Suicides By New Vets Said To Be A Problem. The Indianapolis Star (9/3, Marshall, 241K) asks, "How many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have come back, haunted by memories of war and struggling to cope with life at home, and taken their own lives? Nobody knows," and therein "lies one of the most serious obstacles to preventing suicides by returning veterans. A 2008 Congressional Research Service Report on the issue put it
bluntly" when it said, "There is no nationwide system for surveillance" of veteran suicides. The Star adds, "Recognizing the crucial gap in data, the Army and the National Institute of Mental Health have partnered for a five-year, $50 million study on military suicides." The Department of Veterans Affairs, meanwhile, "has launched" a "10-year health study examining 60,000 'new' veterans, mostly those involved" in Iraq and Afghanistan operations.
The bolding above I placed in as to highlight the fact that this is also not new as to Wars and Occupations of others, Post Traumatic Stress developing from, and especially coming out of Wars of Choice! Add on these Multiple Tours in not only one but two military operations and Guess What! There is also five related topics and links following the one, from the Indianapolis Star, above, at the link above.
Much has finally been coming out of the DoD and especially the Veterans Administration, much of it coming from a Congress finally doing their jobs with investigations and hearings as well as over-site, these past two plus years, which wasn't done by the previous congresses as they walked in lockstep towards sending, and then doing so, our military into two long running occupations, and rarely mentioned nor hearings held for the first five and six years of, respectively, these still running occupations!
Lets hope the forward actions continue, they're all now taking place in a Catch Up mode, but that will only happen if and when the American Public stop their representatives from Obstructing what already should have long ago been, proper funding and over-site, which would be cheaper now if it had been done before, especially as to keeping these agencies up to date with the advanced technology, placing it in or advanced of the 21st century, not the 20th century!
This is also at The Veterans Today link above:
HAVE YOU HEARD?
They call it Warriors Walk, a ten-bed unit where a dedicated team of doctors and nurses to care for terminally ill veterans during the last days of their journey. The new hospice care facility is opening at the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia; SC. Warriors Walk will be dedicated to assisting veterans during the final months of their life, with a talented medical staff specially trained in end of life issues. The focus is on relieving pain, managing symptoms, and offering emotional and spiritual support to comfort terminally ill veterans. In addition to the nursing staff, Warriors Walk includes support areas where families and friends of the veterans can come and visit and spend time with their loved ones. They are encouraged to bring memorabilia and mementos to personalize the veterans’ space and make them feel at home. In addition to VA staff, Warriors Walk is supported by many special volunteers who give their time and energy to support the terminally ill. For the grand opening, the Daughters of the American Revolution stitched blankets for every room to make it more like home for the veterans. The VA always strives to give the best care and support to our veterans’ that is possible. This is the last care they will receive and Warriors Walk staff is working hard to ensure it is of the highest quality and comfort.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
'I Have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'
Arthur, Kenny and Adam struggle to adjust to civilian life despite having PTSD.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Kabul: U.S. Embassy "Lord of the Flies" {UpDated}
We're being charged an extremely high price for this, called security, not only in the monetary but in how our country is perceived, which feeds into stamping as correct the propaganda about us given by others, and just adds to the mounting number of reports already from Afghanistan and also Iraq about our private armies, mercenaries,mercs, hired guns!
Security Contractors Under Scrutiny at U.S. Embassy in Kabul
Web Site of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul
Where are, hell where were, all these so called 'teabaggers' when reports like this come out, they're supposedly complaining about their tax dollars and the disintegration of their america, yet they were silent, and always are, these last eight years and two long running occupations where the actions of these mercenaries place our soldiers in greater harm.
Where are they now as this report hits? Going to Health Care Townhalls calling everyone who disagrees with them a whole host of childish and dangerous names, while those they listen to and watch hint at harm to the newly elected President and those others not agreeing with them as they come packing weapons!
Even been recent reports, like this dedication tomorrow, of the, doing their thing at Veterans Clinics newly opened and dedicated or at ground breaking ceremonies for, supposedly voicing their opposition to 'socialist? health care' programs, but us Vets know that ain't the case, they just don't want to pay for the needs of those who serve, been that way for ages!
UpDate:
Our very expensive 'Private Army'
Rachel talks about those now making the news, and getting paid extremely well, 'Lord of the Flies' security and 'Animal House' moral U.S. values in a foreign country, one being occupied! As well as our policies in!
Security Contractors Under Scrutiny at U.S. Embassy in Kabul
A nonpartisan watchdog on Tuesday charged that language barriers, overwork, and lewd behavior by U.S. government contractors are undermining security at the American embassy in Kabul. Margaret Warner reports.
POGO Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding U.S. Embassy in Kabul
September 1, 2009
The Honorable Hillary Clinton
Secretary, Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Clinton:............rest of letter here
Web Site of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul
Where are, hell where were, all these so called 'teabaggers' when reports like this come out, they're supposedly complaining about their tax dollars and the disintegration of their america, yet they were silent, and always are, these last eight years and two long running occupations where the actions of these mercenaries place our soldiers in greater harm.
Where are they now as this report hits? Going to Health Care Townhalls calling everyone who disagrees with them a whole host of childish and dangerous names, while those they listen to and watch hint at harm to the newly elected President and those others not agreeing with them as they come packing weapons!
Even been recent reports, like this dedication tomorrow, of the, doing their thing at Veterans Clinics newly opened and dedicated or at ground breaking ceremonies for, supposedly voicing their opposition to 'socialist? health care' programs, but us Vets know that ain't the case, they just don't want to pay for the needs of those who serve, been that way for ages!
UpDate:
Our very expensive 'Private Army'
Rachel talks about those now making the news, and getting paid extremely well, 'Lord of the Flies' security and 'Animal House' moral U.S. values in a foreign country, one being occupied! As well as our policies in!
Military Health Research Forum
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF U.S. WARFIGHTER IS FOCUS OF MILITARY HEALTH RESEARCH FORUM
This is a video, not above, they give the embed code for
Among the highlighted abstracts:
Please visit US Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs for updates on the Military Health Research Forum.
One wonders why conferences and even congressional discussions, not to mention reported by the U.S. media and citizens demanding all be covered and funded, weren't taking place all over this country in the work up to these invasions and occupations and continuing throughout.
One wonders?, Not Really, the GOP {Grand Obstructionist Party} were in total control and to busy beating the drums while coming up with new excises for their Wars of Choice and leaving the one that had anything to do with the 9/11 attacks! Way to much flag waving, magnetic ribbon buying, and slandering of those opposed to the destructive policies by the 'super patriots', and the media joined in across the board, not one mention about the lessons supposedly learned from our conflict way back, 'Nam, or even time to listen to us, of the long term results of War!
And 8years later our soldiers are still in both theaters, now it's once again 'catch-up' time, on the results of, on the veterans administration, on these agencies gaining the modern technology to cope with the huge influx of these new combat veterans......................., and much more, same ole same ole, DeJa-Vu all over again!
'teabaggers' Protesting Opening of VA Clinic
The little 'teabaggers' protesting a VA Clinic in the guise of going after a Congressional Rep. and Health Care Reform, sorry folks we know the game and the propensity to not want to pony up for the care needed for those who serve you! And guess where, it's going to take place in that state that wants to leave the U.S. behind, by them super patriots in Texas!
Fayette County judge urges Doggett protester not to act at dedication of veterans clinic
While Serving, Family Fights Ins. Company
While this is a Government Military Health Insurance program it's another example of the private sector running government programs, unregulated or under regulated and probably lacking a doctors recommendation, this is administered by 'Humana Insurance', under Tricare, as a supposedly separate operation from their other health insurance endeavors.
Soldier's wife battles insurance company
Promising Research on Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Gulf War Illness, Substance Abuse and More is Presented at Key Scientific Meeting
Snip
Research to address these needs is underway, and the work of hundreds of investigators engaged in the effort is being showcased September 1-3 at the Military Health Research Forum in Kansas City....................
Posted by: Science Applications International Corporation, SAIC, Sep 1, 2009 7:03 am
Opening Video: The CDMRP... Improving the Quality of Life for Our Warfighters, Their Families, and Our Veterans. New approaches and innovative plans provide breaking news at the Military Health Research Forum.
All footage used in this video is for the sole purpose of depicting Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). Requests to re-use or re-cut any footage should be directed to the CDMRP: 301-619-7071
Among the highlighted abstracts:
* Innovative treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. Depending on the conflict in which they served, 10 to 30 percent of soldiers who have spent time in war zones experience the debilitating and life altering symptoms of PTSD. Topics examined include employing virtual environments and novel medicines to help military personnel diagnosed with PTSD and or/other co-morbidities, and the use of psychiatric service dogs to help troops manage the symptoms of PTSD. Read more......
* General military health, including potential treatments for spinal cord injury, nutrition's impact on cognitive performance in pilots and the effectiveness of a family based reintegration program. Read more.....
* Treatment for and prevention of traumatic brain injury. Often called the "signature injury" of the Iraqi war, TBI can lead to a range of symptoms including headache, confusion, behavior change, memory trouble, convulsions and others. Topics examined include brain tissue regeneration, driving problems after mild TBI and the use of biomarkers to determine the extent of TBI. Read more.....
* New research on treating Gulf War Illness, a condition that affects approximately 25 percent of service men and women who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Read more.....
Please visit US Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs for updates on the Military Health Research Forum.
One wonders why conferences and even congressional discussions, not to mention reported by the U.S. media and citizens demanding all be covered and funded, weren't taking place all over this country in the work up to these invasions and occupations and continuing throughout.
One wonders?, Not Really, the GOP {Grand Obstructionist Party} were in total control and to busy beating the drums while coming up with new excises for their Wars of Choice and leaving the one that had anything to do with the 9/11 attacks! Way to much flag waving, magnetic ribbon buying, and slandering of those opposed to the destructive policies by the 'super patriots', and the media joined in across the board, not one mention about the lessons supposedly learned from our conflict way back, 'Nam, or even time to listen to us, of the long term results of War!
And 8years later our soldiers are still in both theaters, now it's once again 'catch-up' time, on the results of, on the veterans administration, on these agencies gaining the modern technology to cope with the huge influx of these new combat veterans......................., and much more, same ole same ole, DeJa-Vu all over again!
'teabaggers' Protesting Opening of VA Clinic
The little 'teabaggers' protesting a VA Clinic in the guise of going after a Congressional Rep. and Health Care Reform, sorry folks we know the game and the propensity to not want to pony up for the care needed for those who serve you! And guess where, it's going to take place in that state that wants to leave the U.S. behind, by them super patriots in Texas!
Fayette County judge urges Doggett protester not to act at dedication of veterans clinic
That’s when Janecka told Boyle, vice president-secretary of the Fayette County Taxpayers Coalition, that it wasn’t a good idea to have the protest at the dedication Thursday morning of a Veterans Administration clinic in La Grange.
Snip
Doggett said through an aide Tuesday evening: “With meetings in both Washington and Texas, I have been working on getting this clinic to La Grange since 2006. Last year, I invited the VA to a meeting with veterans at the Fayette County Courthouse to involve them in the planning for this clinic. Some may call government provision of doctors and clinics like this ‘socialism,’ I call it fulfilling our responsibility to those who defended our freedom.”
He closed: “These Teabag extremists have every right to protest my unwavering commitment to health insurance reform anywhere that I go, but I hope they will do so in a way that respects the service of our veterans to whom my success in getting this new clinic open is very important.” ...................
While Serving, Family Fights Ins. Company
While this is a Government Military Health Insurance program it's another example of the private sector running government programs, unregulated or under regulated and probably lacking a doctors recommendation, this is administered by 'Humana Insurance', under Tricare, as a supposedly separate operation from their other health insurance endeavors.
Soldier's wife battles insurance company
While a North Texas soldier fights overseas, his family is in a fight with his insurance company to pay for a medical device that could help his daughter lead a normal life.
For months, Kelsi LaRoe, a 22-year-old mother living in Grand Saline, has been fighting with Tricare, a government insurance plan for military families, to pay for a $3,000 medical device for her 13-month-old daughter Chesni.....................
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Rest In Peace {UpDate}
Marine killed in Afghanistan served country in many ways
Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir's Arlington funeral
Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir's first-person account of his training as a Marine
The Question 'Why?'
A Hero's Death in Afghanistan, and the Question 'Why?'
Rest In Peace with the rest of your, and those of us who preceded in our service to, brothers and sisters, the best of the best, who have fallen while in service to your country, right or wrong it's policies may be, the Noble Cause becomes the protection of those serving with you and they to you!
Maybe some day we will find this countries promised direction once more, that which we had pride once of what we said we were and in many ways showed that, maybe!
The above could be about any of the 5,149 who have fallen, and that continues, in these occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and while the Country was burying Sgt. Cahir at Arlington two more U.S. and two British troops were killed in Afghanistan, from the many cities and small towns around this country, but it's just one of the recent Honors given to those who serve with pride and honor, their country and constitution.
The pride and honor from many, in this country, seems more towards tearing it and the constitution apart, especially that coming from the extreme groups, and present and previous public servants, given the microphones and press to loudly condemn anything and everything and not backtracking and apologizing when caught in their many lies, just bringing on more!
UpDate: Statement From Rene
Cahir's widow: "Bill was a hero to me"
Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir was a public servant his whole life.
He served as a congressional staffer, as a journalist, as a political candidate and, finally, as a Marine reservist in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Snip
"There it was," Cahir wrote. "My last, best chance to serve."
Cahir served two tours of duty in Iraq, blending his military work with his journalism.
A year ago, Cahir bought a home in Pennsylvania and settled down to run for Congress, filing for the 5th Congressional District seat left open by the retirement of Rep. John Peterson.
Cahir was one of three Democrats in the race, and he faced criticism for living away from State College for so long. However, Cahir was quick to emphasize his roots, talking about the hospital where he was born, recalling his youth and greeting a former English teacher from the dais at a political forum.
On the stump, Cahir advocated a responsible exit from the war in Iraq and pushed for universal health coverage............Rest Here
Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir's first-person account of his training as a Marine
They spoke of his thoughtfulness and humor, of his integrity and sense of fairness.
But when Capt. Jason C. Brezler recalled his friend and colleague Bill Cahir, he honed in on Cahir's dedication to his comrades and country.
"On paper I was his commanding officer and team leader," Brezler said. "But his opinion mattered to me as much as any senior officer." ...........Read Rest Here
The Question 'Why?'
A Hero's Death in Afghanistan, and the Question 'Why?'
Bill Cahir joined the Marines after 9/11 to fight in Afghanistan, and he finally got there after two tours in Iraq. He was buried Monday at Arlington.
On Saturday, millions watched as Ted Kennedy made his final trip to Arlington National Cemetery. With rather less attention, Arlington's soil opened again Monday to accept the remains of one of Kennedy's former aides, 40-year-old Bill Cahir.
The deceased, an Alexandria resident, was unknown to most Americans, but he did no less for his country than his old boss -- and, gauged by the last full measure of devotion, he did even more. He went from his job working for Kennedy in the Senate to become, at various points, a Washington journalist and a failed congressional candidate. But it was the Sept. 11 attacks that inspired Cahir, at age 34, to get an age waiver from military recruiters in 2003 and enlist in the Marines...............
Rest In Peace with the rest of your, and those of us who preceded in our service to, brothers and sisters, the best of the best, who have fallen while in service to your country, right or wrong it's policies may be, the Noble Cause becomes the protection of those serving with you and they to you!
Maybe some day we will find this countries promised direction once more, that which we had pride once of what we said we were and in many ways showed that, maybe!
The above could be about any of the 5,149 who have fallen, and that continues, in these occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and while the Country was burying Sgt. Cahir at Arlington two more U.S. and two British troops were killed in Afghanistan, from the many cities and small towns around this country, but it's just one of the recent Honors given to those who serve with pride and honor, their country and constitution.
The pride and honor from many, in this country, seems more towards tearing it and the constitution apart, especially that coming from the extreme groups, and present and previous public servants, given the microphones and press to loudly condemn anything and everything and not backtracking and apologizing when caught in their many lies, just bringing on more!
UpDate: Statement From Rene
Cahir's widow: "Bill was a hero to me"
The following statement was issued Monday by Bill Cahir's widow, Rene Browne:
"While this is a time of incredible loss and sadness for our family, we are deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of care and support we've received since the news of Bill's death.
"He was a loved and cherished husband, son, brother and excited father-to-be, as well as a friend and colleague who touched the lives of so many. From across the globe, the shared prayers, tributes and stories have meant so much and will keep Bill's memory alive for all of us.
"Bill was a hero to me, and to his family and friends, long before he gave his life for his country. He acted with the courage of his convictions in every facet of his life. Although I will forever miss him, I am blessed for the years that we spent together and for the stories that I will be able to share with our children of Bill's ideals, bravery, love and compassion.
"Bill would also be grateful to see that his story helped to raise awareness of the untold sacrifices of the men and women serving their country around the world today. It is their sense of duty and patriotism that inspired Bill to serve and will be the legacy of honor and commitment that he leaves to our children, and to the rest of us."
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