[Please read the entire post as more options are developing to help Sergeant Bozik]
Sergeant Joseph Bozik, an Airborne Soldier with the 118th MP Company (Airborne) from Ft. Bragg, was recently wounded. He has lost both legs and an arm from a landmine, is not not conscious and has many medical complications. On Monday, Sergeant Bozik will be flown into Walter Reed from Landstuhl (Germany).
Unfortunately, the family doesn't have enough money to maintain themselves in a hotel (let alone buy food) for an extended period. The Army paid for airfare for 2 family members and Soldiers' Angels paid for airfare for 2 two more. The Angels can cover hotel expenses for only three days. Fisher House is full so they have to stay at a hotel.
We need your help. You can donate directly to a fund set up to assist the family with caring for Joe. You can send donations to the address or call the phone number below.
SGT Bozik Fund
c/o Centura Bank
ATTN Aiko Raynor
14615 US HWY 17 PO BOX 74
HAMPSTEAD NC 28443
Update 2 10-31-04: I've had a lot of requests to donate via Paypal. Until I can find out more (whether the bank will take a credit card donation), I am a little hesitant to put up a Donation Button. If on Monday, Centura Bank will take a credit card/debit card donation, I might put up a Paypal link.
In order to provide transparency, I am thinking of copying Soldiers' Angels on the transactions so there would be a third party involved (donor-me-SA then the bank). Ideas?
I just sent a donation via the PayPal link. It took about 45 seconds. Please, continue to spread the word about this chance to help a wounded soldier.
Update 4 10-31-04: Wow, just wow! I want to thank the following people that were the FIRST INTO THE BREACH! The first to use the Soldiers' Angels Paypal link. Thank you so much from me and the Angels.
Paul
Gregory
Julia
Kelli
Gay and Dave
Donna
Mary
You all have made a difference!
Update 11-01-04: Here's an update from Sgt. Bozik's future Brother-In-Law, Brian Peters who includes an address to send cards and letters:
First, thank you all for your concern and getting the word out about Joey. He is a great guy – a soldier and a gentleman. My sister, Jayme, first “met” Joey when a mutual friend suggested that she write Joey while he was serving in Afghanistan. The two of them exchanged many letters, emails, and calls before they ever met. When I first met Joey, I knew they would be great together, and that I would be honored to have him as a brother-in-law should they get married. However, it was not long before duty called again, and Joey was deployed to Iraq.
I last saw Joey a few weeks ago, in September when he was home for a brief period of leave in September. Joe served as an MP and one of his many duties was patrolling the roads to find the home-made explosive devices that insurgents placed in or alongside the roads, and finding the responsible parties, who were frequently waiting nearby to detonate it. He had pictures of some of the devices, buried in or alongside the road. Had he not pointed them out in the picture I never would have seen them. They have a difficult and dangerous job there, and I have nothing but respect for him and the men and women who are still serving there.
I spoke with Jayme this evening. She is in DC with Joe’s family, where they are all currently “living” in a hotel waiting to see Joe. He should be returning to the US on Monday. Soldier’s Angels has been there, helping Jayme and the Bozik family, thanks to the support of your readers. She was unaware of the account at Centura Bank, but understandably there has been a lot going on, so she may not have gotten word yet. She did pass on the following information that I would like to share with your readers.
Bryan Peters
I believe the first fund was set up by the Army/Family Readiness Group in support of Sgt. Bozik's mother.
Seamus sends this great story about The Veterans Museum in Texas, along with corporate and civilian support, are sending a BBQ to the Marines in Iraq for the Marine Corps Birthday on the 10th. Very, very cool!
October 27, 2004
As a show of support for the tremendous job our troops are doing in Iraq, The Veterans Museum in Texas and the locally famous Grill Instructors Barbeque Team will prepare a barbeque feast of beef
brisquet, chicken, and sausage for the 1200 Houston-based Marines of the H&S Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment currently serving in Alasad, Iraq.
The barbeque will be prepared and cooked at the Marine Corps Reserve Center on Old Spanish Trail, Houston, Texas on November 7th, and taken the next day to Hobby Airport, where it will be loaded on a plane supplied by Federal Express for transport to Iraq in time for the MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY on November 10th, 2004.
The generous sponsors for this project are:
(1) Hibernia Bank-Mr. Bob New, 3500 lbs. of brisquet (Bob worked to get the help of Marvin Zindler - Houston's local celebrity from ABC affiliate Channel 13, FedEx, Halliburton and others to contribute)
(2) Buddys Natural Chickens, Gonzales, Texas-Mr. Tom Dowdy, 250 chickens
(3) V&V Smoked Sausage, Cistern, Texas-Mr. Robert Vinklarek, 150 lbs. of sausage
(4) Blue Bell Ice Cream, Brenham, Texas-90 Gallons of Ice Cream
(5) Halliburton Corporation-50/150qrt. Coolers for packing
(6) Federal Express-Transportation from Hobby Airport to Kuwait City
(7) United States Marine Corps Airlift Command for transportation of meat from Kuwait City to Alasad, Iraq.
A special thank you to Mr. Marvin Zindler for coordinating and sponsoring the donations from Hibernia Bank and Halliburton.
This project was coordinated by The Veterans Museum in Texas, Mr. Malcolm Browne, Chairman, Mr. Michael Hamby, chief cook of The Grill Instuctors cooking team and Mr. David Dunn, Corporal Scrounge.
For some reason, it doesn't surprise me that Texans are doing this. I know I've said it before, but I keep thinking that I have to get out of Chicago...
Here's what I remember him saying about Arafat seeking medical attention in France: "Yeah, the French know how to deal with terrorists...they HEAL them."
Yep, LMAO. There's nothing like Dennis Miller sarcasm...
What do you think? Put your predictions in the comments and we'll take a look at them next week.
BTW, I don't think that Obama is going to win the Illinois Senate seat by 40% - which is what pollsters and pundits predict. He'll win, but it'll be 15-20%.
It's getting hotter in the Kerry kitchen. He won't release his military files. He refuses to sign a release. Why?
Tov Brog has a letter from a former Navy Lawyer that discusses the possibility of a Kerry Dishonorable Discharge. The first time I had heard about this possibility was from one of my friends who was a Navy Phantom pilot in Vietnam. In reference to the revisions of the medals that John Kerry requested, he thought that was because, when you get a dishonorable discharge, you forfeit your medals. President Carter got them back for him and then Kerry requested a more heroic version after he became a Senator.
Here is a well researched piece (from Ellen B.) that explores this speculation in detail in the New York Sun:
To mark the second anniversary of the Iraq war, GQ magazine will publish a photo essay in March made up entirely of pictures taken by U.S. service members.
“We want to show America what the war looks like to the men and women who have fought it, the people who live it,” said Greg Pond, a GQ photo editor.
The magazine is looking for “any and every picture” troops may have relating to the war. “We want pictures of you, your buddies, battles, what you do to entertain yourself when you’re bored, even pictures your families have sent you from home,” Pond said.
GQ prefers troops to not edit their photos. “What may not seem interesting to you could be important for the essay,” Pond said. “This project will reflect the war the way it really is, and we are not averse to blood, dirt or anything else, as long as it really happened.”
The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1. Electronic images should be e-mailed. Prints and discs should be mailed to: Bradley Young/Greg Pond, GQ Magazine Photo Department, 4 Times Square 9th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Prints and/or discs will be returned in a timely fashion.
On either email or regular mail, indicate “Iraq Photo Contest” and include your name, rank, age, e-mail, phone number and when you were in Iraq. “We can’t publish your pictures if we can’t reach you,” Pond said.
GQ will contact those whose pictures are chosen and will pay $200 to $1,000 for each one published, depending on the size they are used in the magazine.
“We will also credit you in the magazine, unless you prefer to be anonymous,” Pond said.
So forward this to the vets you know. They may get published and receive some cash, too.
For Phil in Georgetown tonight dressed as Elwood Blues...
Via Cathy B., here are the best rules (out of Eighty-Six) for Drinking. Comments are in italics.
2. Always toast before doing a shot. With military people, it's usually "Absent Companions" or "Airborne!". With College buddies it's something that I can't repeat here.
3. Whoever buys the shot gets the first chance to offer a toast. Never EVER break this rule.
4. Change your toast at least once a month. Nahhh.
5. Buying someone a drink is five times better than a handshake. Maybe ten times...
6. Buying a strange woman a drink is still cool. Buying all her drinks is dumb. This one is for you, Uncle Ben...
9. Get the bartender's attention with eye contact and a smile. Tip well and you don't have to worry about that so much...
11. Unacceptable things to say after doing a shot: Great, now I’m going to get drunk. I hate shots. It’s coming back up. You'd get your chops busted with my crowd...
12. Never, ever tell a bartender he made your drink too strong. See my response to number 11...
13. If he makes it too weak, order a double next time. He'll get the message.
14. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.
15. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you. Probably doesn't...but that's no excuse not to be a Gentleman about it. Move on.
16. If she buys you a drink, she likes you. Maybe...that doesn't mean that you can start licking her neck, Phil.
And there are two ways to help our snipers (Marines, Army, and Navy) have the best equipment and maintain high morale:
1. www.adoptasniper.org was created by local, state, and federal law enforcement snipers to help their brothers on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Take the time to read a few of the letters from snipers.
2. Kim du Toit has a program where his readers are contributing to buy special scopes and other equipment and Kim shares the results in the form of letters and pictures from his two Army sniper friends Walter and Adam.
"Grab it before the Pentagon orders it burned..." - Vanity Fair
"...nonpartisan patriotism is the common thread tying together these reflections, love letters and stories of combat. They make for riveting reading." - The Washington Post
Winner of the 2006 Gold Medal for Anthologies - Military Writer's Society of America
"This collection is an excellent introduction to an emerging form of war reporting." - Booklist
"...there is much to tell, and celebrate, in the tough, day-to-day work that our soldiers are doing in one of the most challenging environments any army has ever faced..." - The Philadelphia Inquirer
"...the collection is riveting...a worthy tribute." - The American Prospect
Click here
for more information and list of blogger/authors
Former Paratrooper and Army Officer, "Blackfive" started this blog upon learning of the valorous sacrifice of a friend that was not reported by the journalist whose life he saved. Email: blackfive AT gmail DOT com
Retired Special Operations Master Sergeant, Jim Hanson ("Uncle Jimbo") is now focused on writing about the military, politics, intelligence operations and foreign policy. Email: jimbo AT unclejimbo DOT com
Writer, photographer, and raconteur C. Blake Powers is the Laughing Wolf. He is independent in politics and covers topics including journalism, military, weapons, preparedness, space, science, cooking, food and wine, product and book reviews, and even spirituality. Email: wolf1 AT laughingwolf DOT net Laughing Wolf's Amazon Wish List
Grim -- an Old Norse name that means 'one who wears a mask' -- blogs on issues of intelligence, information operations, and foreign relations. Email: grimbeornr AT yahoo DOT com
Instapinch
Bill Paisley, otherwise known as Pinch, is a 22 year (ongoing) active and
reserve naval aviator. He blogs over at www.instapinch.com on a veritable
cornucopia of various and sundry items and will bring a tactical naval
aviator's perspective to Blackfive. Readers be warned: any comments of or
about the F-14 Tomcat will be reverential and spoken in low, hushed tones.
Email: wpaisley AT comcast DOT net
Mr. Wolf has over 26 years in the Army, Army NG, and USAR. He’s Airborne with 5 years as an NCO, before becoming an officer. Mr. Wolf has had 4 company commands. Signal Corp is his basic branch, and Public Affairs is his functional area. He recently served 22 straight months in Kuwait and Iraq, in Intel, PA, and senior staff of MNF-I. Mr. Wolf is now an IT executive. He is currently working on a book on media and the Iraq war. Functional gearhead.
In Iraq, he received the moniker of Mr. Wolf after the Harvey Kietel character in Pulp Fiction, when "challenges" arose, they called on Mr. Wolf...
Email: TheDOTMrDOTWolfAT gmail DOT com
Deebow is a Staff Sergeant and a Military Police Squad Leader in the Army National Guard. In a previous life, he served in the US Navy. He has over 19 years of experience in both the Maritime and Land Warfare; including deployments to Southwest Asia, Thailand, the South Pacific, South America and Egypt. He has served as a Military Police Team Leader and Protective Services Team Leader and he has served on assignments with the US State Department, US Air Force Security Police, US Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. He recently spent time in Afghanistan working with, training and fighting alongside Afghan Soldiers and is now focused on putting his 4 year Political Science degree to work by writing about foreign policy, military security policy and politics.
McQ has 28 years active and reserve service. Retired. Infantry officer. Airborne and Ranger. Consider my 3 years with the 82nd as the most fun I ever had with my clothes on. Interests include military issues and policy and veteran's affairs.
Email: mcq51 -at - bellsouth -dot- net
Chris Carter is a former USAF firefighter and now civilian firefighter who covers military history, national security, and baseball. Find out more at his website.
Twitter: @CrushingChris EMAIL: crushnik AT yahoo DOT com
Tantor is a former USAF navigator/weapon system officer (WSO) in F-4E Phantoms who served in the US, Asia, and Europe. He is now a curmudgeonly computer geek in Washington, DC, picking the taxpayers pocket. His avocations are current events, aviation, history, and conservative politics.
Twenty-three years of Active and Reserve service in the US Army in SF (18B), Infantry and SOF Signal jobs with operational deployments to Bosnia and Africa. Since retiring he's worked as Senior Defense Analyst on SOF and Irregular Warfare projects and currently ensconced in the emerging world of Cyberspace.
Major Pain --
A Marine who began his blog in Iraq and reflects back on what he learned there and in Afghanistan. To the point opinions, ideas and thoughts on military, political and the media from One Marine’s View. Email: onemarinesview AT yahoo DOT com
Uber Pig was an Infantryman from late 1991 until early 1996, serving with Second Ranger Battalion, I Corps, and then 25th Infantry Division. At the time, the Army discriminated against enlisted soldiers who wanted use the "Green to Gold" program to become officers, so he left to attend Stanford University. There, he became expert in detecting, avoiding, and surviving L-shaped ambushes, before dropping out to be as entrepreneurial as he could be. He is now the founder of a software startup serving the insurance and construction industries, and splits time between Lake Tahoe, Boonville, and San Francisco, CA.
Uber Pig writes for Blackfive a) because he's the proud brother of an enlisted Civil Affairs Reservist who currently serves in Iraq, b) because he looks unkindly on people who make it harder for the military in general, and for his brother in particular, to succeed at their missions and come home in victory, and c) because the Blackfive readers and commenters help keep him sane.
COB6 spent 24 years in the active duty Army that included 5 combat tours with service in the 1st Ranger Battalion and 1st Special Forces Group . COB6 was enlisted (E-7) and took the OCS route to a commission. COB6 retired a few years back as a field grade Infantry officer.
Currently COB6 has a son in the 82nd Airborne that just returned from his third tour and has a newly commissioned daughter in the 4th Infantry Division.
