A New Park In Hawaii

Posted By Mr Wolf

A new monument and park has opened near Diamond Head on Oahu, Hawaii.  This new park is in honor of those who died in Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to Blackfive, who was on vacation there and he commented on the new memorial not yet completed or dedicated.  I tweeted the question (twittered? twatted?? tooted??) and got a quick reply that, not 2 days after Blackfive was there, the park was completed- the monument was finished and the park had a dedication ceremony.  So Matt had an answer to his question- what was going on?

Continue reading "A New Park In Hawaii"

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

The Story of a Guitar, A WWII Vet, and A Combat Hospital

Posted By Blackfive

Over at Tankerbabe's is the story we were waiting for her to tell...be sure to read the whole story and pay attention to the song played by wounded soldier, PFC Vandegrift (B/2-87th INF).  It's worth your time to read.

Thanks to Mr. Morse Gist!

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

Fundraiser for SGT Shelton's Wounded Warrior Ranch Retreat

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I had the privilege of attending an event last night in Dallas for the SGT Shelton Wounded Warrior Ranch Retreat. Billy Shelton served in Special Forces in Vietnam and trained Marcus and Morgan Luttrell before they went to SEAL training. This event launched his efforts to build a ranch in South Texas where wounded troops and their families and can re-connect and decompress from battle mode. It is a wonderful idea and Warrior Legacy Foundation is partnering with Billy and his friends to help make it reality.

The event last night had both Marcus and his twin brother Morgan there and Marcus talked about how much Billiy helped them make it through BUDS and survive combat. Gov. Rick Perry even left a special session of the legislature to fly over from Austin and offer his support. This was the first event of many to support this noble cause and we will keep you all informed of the progress. I will say this was a great first step and many commitments were offered.

Here is a video of these folks discussing the ranch.Thanks to Abacus for hosting the event and to Dody Dise and Heather Liebbe for making it happen.

Billy Shelton pointing some things out to Marcus and Gov. Perry

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

Free Sergeant Nelson

Posted By Blackfive

"Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

Sergeant Jermaine Nelson, far right, with his legal team and Sergeant Ryan Weemer

For background, here are the historical links from BlackFive:

RE:  Marine Jailed Over Memorial Day Weekend for Exercising 5th Amendment (May 28, 2008)
RE:  Update - Marine Jailed for Exercising 5th Amendment (June 17, 2008)
RE:  Marine Jailed For Refusing to Testify Against Squad Leader (June 25, 2008)
RE:  UPDATE - The Judicial Waterboarding of our Marines (July 2, 2008)
RE:  Judicial Waterboarding of Our Marines - UPDATE SGT Nazario Acquitted! (August 28, 2008)
RE:  Sergeant Ryan Weemer Acquitted! (April 9, 2009)

Sergeant Jermaine Nelson needs your help.  Sergeant Nelson is still awaiting trial and all signs point to the prosecution using unfair tactics against him.  We want Sergeant Nelson freed.

Capt Nicholas Gannon, a young, inexperienced J.A.G. prosecutor, has attempted to disadvantage Sgt Nelson's defense by retaining experts to testify on behalf of the prosecution against Sgt Nelson, but refusing to allow Sgt Nelson to present similarly experienced and qualified experts.

On two separate occasions Capt Gannon denied Sgt Nelson's defense team a forensic expert, despite the fact that the prosecution was presenting their own experts. In addition, Capt Gannon attempted to retain an international expert on P.T.S.D. to testify for the prosecution, while refusing to provide the defense team's request for a qualified P.T.S.D. expert of their choice. The judge presiding over the case ruled that the prosecutor's actions did in fact prejudice Sgt Nelson's defense and ordered the prosecution to provide qualified experts to the defense. As a direct result of the prosecution's improper actions, Sgt Nelson's trial has been delayed twice, causing him additional undue emotional and psychological stress.

The bottom line is that former Marine Sergeant Jose Nazario, Sergeant Ryan Weemer, and Sergeant Nelson were charged with the murder of prisoners during the Battle of Fallujah in November of 2004.  Jose Nazario and Sergeant Weemer have been acquitted of all charges. 

There is now a petition that is being sponsored by GI Wilson, a veteran of Al Anbar province and retired Marine, William McNulty, the Secretary of the Marine Corps Intelligence Association, and me, as Chairman of the Warrior Legacy Foundation.

Our mission is to build support and help Sgt Jermaine Nelson with the ultimate goal of having the charges against him dropped.

We are asking for everyone to sign the petition to drop the charges (hit that link for the online petition or download this PDF file - NELSON PETITION). There is also a Facebook page to Free Sergeant Nelson.

Please print it and pass it around your unit, neighborhood, friends, etc.  Then fax or email to Attorney Joseph Low.

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

A favor...

Posted By Blackfive

When I was a CO, Captain Nate was one of my platoon leaders.  One of the best...Now, he's leading some efforts on supporting the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in the Chicago Suburbs.

The MSHV is hosting a golf outing (sold out) and have hole sponsorships available (Blackfive is sponsoring a hole or two).  Email me if your org wants to sponsor.

Also, we ask that you vote for the founder of the MSHV, Bob Adams:

Bob Adams, co-founder and president of the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton, is in the finals for the People Magazine/Major League Baseball “Allstars Among Us” campaign. If Bob wins, it will be great publicity for the Midwest Shelter in its attempt to serve veterans. There will be a story in People Magazine and exposure on Fox TV at the Major League Allstar Game July 14.

The campaign lasts until June 24.

To vote for Bob, go to www.peopleallstars.com and click on the Boston Red Sox (head's up, TSO).
You may vote as many times as you wish.

Thanks!

~ BlackFive, Out.

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

Reservists Home Vandalized

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

It's helping time, and it's clobberin' time.  Read what reservist and ER nurse Arleen Agosto of Florida was called home to find while she was at Ft. Eustis caring for our wounded.  Clean-up and repair alone will probably be more than $15,000.00 and it is unclear if her insurance will cover the clean-up and disinfection, nor how much of the items stolen will be covered.  I hope that her insurer will step up, but one is never sure these days.  No word right now on funds, but if you are nearby, see what you can do to help.  If Soldiers' Angels, Rolling Thunder, or anyone else is on the case, let me know.  We need to do what we can for her and her family. 

Thanks to @kneedeep for the heads-up!

LW

UPDATE:  I just got off the phone with Paul Johnson, a retired Seabee, who is taking care of the clean-up and repairs.  Roughly 20 people showed up today to help with the effort.  Some were his crew, some were friends, some just showed up to help.  "I was quite impressed with the help that came out today" said Johnson.Her insurance company is indeed stepping up, to the point of impressing those there. 
The house is now set for restoration, and that work will begin shortly.  More soon. 

UPDATE II, SUN AM:  You can read more about the volunteers and some good news here here and here.  There has been a huge outpouring of support, and Blackfive has reached out to Capt. Agosto as well.  More as we get it. 

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

Doing For The Troops: Troop-a-thon 2009

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

Armed Liberal over at Winds of Change has a son (Biggest Guy) headed out on deployment soon.  For all that he should get grief for his er, interesting, choice of shooting apparel, he's a good guy and got a good cause.  Go do what you can to help him on a mission to support the troops.  Remember, he may dress funny and drive a Euro-Tard, but he shoots pretty good I'm told.  Let's help him out. 

Check out more on Troop-a-thon 2009, and know that Team Blackfive is glad to be supporting Armed Liberal and the Troop-a-thon. 

LW

check back for updates...

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

Blood Pressure Check of the Day

Posted By Mr Wolf

While doing my usual perusal of the internets while working (loosely defined) I headed over to JALOPNIK to see what the latest auto news was.

And came upon this entry, which at first I thought was awesome.  Seems the USAF has built some wondercars to showcase for recruiting efforts.  Some super-hi-tech stuff, which I doubt someone could pilot out of their garage, let alone drive down the freeway.

A peek:

Now, these are awesome.  But then I started looking at the comments-

Triborough
1:05 PM on Wed Jun 3 2009

If anyone is dumb enough to join the military, they'll love this car!

Then, some troll named 'Elwood' chimed in:

elwood
1:46 PM on Wed Jun 3 2009

@pauljones: Cheesy awesome is only awesome for about 5 minutes. Then you realize that it's just stupid. Like these cars.

@Alfisted: Or they coulda skipped the military, put the maximum contribution to their 401k, and been better off overall. If you really are highly intelligent and college educated, you're probably too smart for the armed forces.

And it goes on.  One of the longer chain of comments I've seen on the blog.  Its hideous.

Mr Wolf

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

Sending Support to the Families of Pvt. Ezeagwula and Pvt. Long

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

The wonderful Yankee Mom has let me know that if you want to send cards of support to Pvt. Ezeagwula and his family, and cards of support and sympathy to the family of Pvt. Long, she will get them there. To do that, read below the fold. 

Continue reading "Sending Support to the Families of Pvt. Ezeagwula and Pvt. Long"

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!

A journey back to Normandy

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

There is a group of WWII veterans who are returning to the scene of one of the most epic battles in our history. They are going back to Normandy for the 65th anniversary of D-Day. They were barely men when they helped liberate Europe and are in their 80s now but they wanted to walk the ground that so many consecrated with their blood so long ago. The trip was arranged by a group called The Greatest Generations Foundation that does many wonderful things like this. I got a call from one of their board members letting me know they would be stopping in DC to visit the WWII Memorial for a remembrance of the fallen prior to heading to London and then Normandy. He asked if I would like to meet them and the answer was absolutely.

 They are accompanied by 20 kids from the College of the Ozarks who do good works like this as part of their college experience. It was touching to see the guys laying flowers at the memorial and also to see the connections the kids made with them almost immediately. They are also going to meet with a group of German soldiers who were on the ground defending against the invasion. This is a chance for all of these men to get some closure on what for many of them was the defining moment of their lives.

 It happened that Bob and Liddy Dole were there and spent some time with them while they were visiting the WWI Memorial here in DC. They have a website here that details the trip and will have updates as it progresses. What a fantastic program and great thing to do for these guys.

---

Mission: To protect and promote the reputation and dignity of America's Warriors.
Join us!