Historic Sites: Kent State

Kent State protest scene nominated as historic site

Guardsmen, in the background, walk off Blanket Hill at Kent State University as civilians come to the aid of one of the wounded after the shootings on May 4, 1970.

It's not unusual for a battlefield to be declared a historic site, but it's rare when the scene of a protest qualifies for that distinction.

But what happened at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, is indeed history.

Ohio officials want to recognize that by nominating 17 acres on campus to the National Register of Historic Places...>>>>>

"As You Were"

The NPR Diane Rehm Show 7.09.09

A reporter embeds with a Virginia National Guard unit as it heads to Iraq. He offers an inside account of the challenges citizen-soldiers face preparing for war, facing combat and returning to civilian life. Guests Christian Davenport, reporter for the "Washington Post."

You can listen with this link in Windows Media Player

Christian Davenport: "As You Were"

Johnny & Jane Marchin Home to........

Johnny comes marching home — to no job
Out of Iraq’s frying pan, into an economic fire

Why do we still continue to ignore the fact that women serve, Johnny comes marching home and similar, in greater numbers and are a big part of our military operations? They have always been a Big part of the Military Family and an Important part!

The gathering might have been even more boisterous were it not for the realization that these Guardsmen are coming home to face a new enemy — a swooning economy that has landed like a KO’d heavyweight on the canvas of their home towns......

Sgt. Russell See of Elkhart said he found out in April that his job as a welder at Valmont Industries had vanished, a development that was communicated via an e-mail from the human resources department........

Another of the many promises this Nation doesn't keep, though in tough times holding the jobs for those who serve in the Guard can be real tough for a small business. And the big corporations don't have the money left, even if there's work needed to be done to help their bottom lines and give to investors, after the hugely gross compensation packages, gross amount of company perks and those really gross bonuses even for total failure!

And why aren't they spending that money, keeping the reaganomics/free market promise of 'trickle down' to those that produced the products and services? Teabaggers pay attention!

While they serve, their civilian jobs are protected by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), but that is no help when layoffs occur, unless discrimination can be demonstrated......

Oh, and how many of their kids are serving...

he figures he has only eight months or so to either find a job or consider what is now almost unthinkable — signing up for a third tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan......

Probably not many at all, no need to if sending the same fighting soldiers back over and over!

And oh again, speaking of the younger family members of the wealthy, as well as so many more. Just some more of those who are serving you as well:

The Day After Presidential Inauguration Day

Click The Pic For More

Breaking: Fragging Charge Aquitted

U.S. Soldier Acquitted In "Fragging" Trial
National Guardsman Cleared Of Murder Charges In Deaths Of Two Superior Officers At Iraqi Base

(AP) A soldier was acquitted of murder Thursday in the 2005 bombing deaths of two superiors in Iraq, triggering loud outbursts and gasps from the slain officers' families.

A military jury found National Guard Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez not guilty of two counts of premeditated murder in the deaths of Capt. Phillip Esposito and 1st Lt. Louis Allen. Both officers were killed when an anti-personnel mine detonated in a window of their room at a U.S. military base in Iraq in June 2005.

Really don't know how breaking this is, I just caught it at the CBS site and it's a recent post.

Have not seen it elsewhere as yet.

Witnesses had testified that Esposito and Martinez were at odds and clashed regularly because the officer thought Martinez was lax in his operation of the unit's supply room.

The Army reported hundreds of "fragging" incidents between 1969 and 1971, but only four soldiers have been court-martialed or charged with killing a fellow soldier since the Iraq war began in 2003.

I'm going to have to see some more on this, but in following it the recent reports didn't look good for the prosecution.

UpDate:

Experts:
'Fragging' verdict shows system works

Coming Home - 60minutes Sunday 11-02-08

Reservists' Rocky Return To Job Market
60 Minutes Report Also Examines Costs Borne By Employers Of Deployed Citizen Soldiers

Coming Home

Citizen soldiers returning from active military duty are entitled by law to get back their old jobs or at least the same salaries, but many are still having trouble. Leslie Stahl reports.

With the Pentagon relying so heavily on the National Guard and Reserve to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan - 650,000 have been called for active duty since 9/11 - the least you'd expect is that after they serve, they get their old civilian jobs back.

There's a law, called USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), that says their employers have to take them back at the same pay.

But what 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl found is that despite the law, thousands of guards and reservists come home to find themselves demoted or penalized, or out of a job completely.

Digg It Here

Returning Reservists - Jobs - 60min. Sunday

Reservists Face Rocky Return In Job Market

60 Minutes Report Also Examines Costs Borne By Employers Of Deployed Citizen Soldiers

Lesley Stahl could only talk to some of the thousands of reservists and guardsmen who have returned from active duty to find problems with their employers over their jobs.

The rest can call the assistant secretary of defense directly to complain after he broadcasts his phone number during her 60 Minutes report this Sunday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

AND

To ALL Veterans in the DC Area - Veterans Day

Washington Redskins Open FedExField Locker Room to ALL Military Veterans for Free Health Screenings

The event will take place on Saturday, November 8th from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Veteran's organizations that are partnering on this event include:
American Legion - AMVETS - Blinded Veterans of America (BVA) - Disabled American Veterans (DAV) - Iraq & Afghanistan Veteran's Association (IAVA) - Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) - National Association for Black Veterans (NABVets) - Paralyzed Veterans of America (PAV) - The Military Order of the Purple Heart - Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) - Veterans of Modern Warfare (VMW) - VETS Group - Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).