BlackFive

Because many of the Soldiers from the Louisana Army National Guard will be returning home in the next few weeks, Soldiers' Angels is mobilizing some efforts to help.  It'll take a bit to get ramped up so please stay tuned.

All I can say is that I can't imagine what those troops are going through right now - after a year in a combat zone to come home to this disaster - it will be tough on them.

Update:  Here's the link-

Operation Katrina Relief Fund

Hurricane Katrina has devastated New Orleans and South Louisiana.  The homes and lives of an untold number of our friends and families have been decimated.  Included in the ranks of victims are the family members of our soldier's serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Many of these soldiers will be returning home in the next few weeks to find that their families have been displaced and their homes and businesses destroyed.

Soldier's Angels has established a relief fund to help our soldiers and their families cope with and recover from this devastation.  Your donation will help these families obtain essential personal items, temporary shelter and any other needs that can be met.  Soldier's Angels will also work to provide information to the soldiers concerning their families whereabouts and needs. Now is the time to help protect those who have given up so much to protect us.

     If you can help, please do so.

     * Call us at 626 398 3131
     * Email us at [email protected]

For monetary donations, please mail a check or money order made out to Soldier's Angels to:

     Soldier's Angels Foundation
     Operation Katrina Relief
     1792 East Washington Blvd.
     Pasadena, California 91104

Update 2:  Be sure to also check Instapundit's list/carnival of relief charities and NZ Bear's message to blogs and charities.

The McCormick Tribune Foundation Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign has been established as an effort between McCormick Tribune Foundation and many of its Communities Program Partners to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The McCormick Tribune Foundation will match the first $1,000,000 contributed to the campaign at 50 cents on the dollar. All administrative costs will be paid by the foundation so that all funds can be distributed directly to disaster relief organizations that provide short and long-term aid to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

1-800-508-2848

Today, Hugh Hewitt suggested that bloggers focus on charities that will provide relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

NZ Bear has some tips on how to proceed and charities to support.

I'm supporting the Episcopal Relief and Development:

You can contribute to the  US Hurricane Fund by credit card at http://www.er-d.org/   or by calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129.

Donations can be mailed to:
Episcopal Relief and Development, c/o US Hurricane Fund,
PO Box 12043
Newark, NJ 07101

Watch for a mobilization later this week.  Illinois Guard will be heading to Louisiana to help with the recovery, protect people,  and (more) to prevent widespread looting as the water recedes from residential areas.

Dave from the Glittering Eye sends this message from Keesler Air Force Base that was hit dead on by Katrina:

Keesler Air Force base has survived a direct hit by a Hurricane Katrina a Category 4 hurricane. Initial assessment shows extensive damage to our industrial and housing areas. We are deploying assessment crews and are in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and with commanders of many military bases who have offered assistance. The damage is severe enough that we are unable to leave our shelters until Thursday at the earliest in order to assure our recovery teams have cleared debris and made it safe for us and our families to return home. Brigadier General Lord and your leadership promises to keep you apprised of the progress of our recovery teams and release you to go home and assess your own damage as soon as it is safe for your family to travel. All pets at the Keesler pet shelter are in good health and weathered this extremely dangerous storm safely. We are doing everything within our power to clear the way and provide the best immediate and long term assistance to help each one of us in order to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brigadier General Lord wants you to know we are not alone and will do everything we can to keep you safe and get you home as soon as possible. Please be patient. We all need to pull together and help us all make it through this difficult time safely.

If you are trying to report into Keesler, do not report in.  Call your assigned unit ASAP.

If any of you get relief aid info for Keesler, please email me.

Received this message from Gail Bozik, Joey's mother:

Joey received the Bronze Star Award last Friday, August 26th, 2005, at
Walter Reed.  This award is for duty to his country; whereas the Purple Heart is award for injuries for his country.  Seven soldiers came from Ft. Bragg to do the honors and several staff and doctors attended.  I have attached a video of the ceremony.  I hope you can open it.  Thanks for your continued love and support.

Love,

Gail, Joey and Jayme

You can read more about Joey and Jayme and his recovery here.

[Previous Sergeant Bozik Posts: Original, First Update (pictures), Second Update, Third, Fourth, Fifth (pictures), Sixth (pictures), Seventh (wedding pictures), Eighth, Ninth (Love Story), Tenth (Green Ramp Reunion - pictures), Eleventh (Welcom Home! - pictures), Twelvth (Joey and Phil Mikelson team up), Thirteenth (pictures), Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth (White House Visit) and Seventeenth]

Smash and Operation Thank You get a brief visit from the Secretary of Defense during their pro-military rally countering anti-war protestors during President Bush's visit to San Diego.

Rob B. of File It Under has a great post about a story that his grandfather told recently at his 80th birthday party.  Rob B's grandfather was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division and ran into General Patton after the relief (by Patton) of Bastogne which is better known as "the Battle of the Bulge".  It's a great story.

Be sure to check it out.  I'm sure that if that happened today, the paratrooper would be brought up on charges.

We could use a few General Pattons right now...

[Thanks to LoneTreeOnThePrairie for sending the link]

[edit. note changed Hoodlumman to Rob B. to correct error]

The New Tunnel Rat:

Spc. Nicholas McCray from 3rd Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, emerges from a natural cave while on patrol along the Euphrates River looking for caches of weapons in Rawah, Iraq, Aug. 4, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Davis

Marines secure the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan - a hiding spot for Taliban:

Lance Cpl. Ryan R. Irving, infantryman, from Elburn, Ill. and Lance Cpl. Curtis D. Land, infantryman, from Cedar Falls, Iowa take security posts during a meeting between Marines and villagers. In preparation for elections next month, Marines conducted a preemptive attack on known areas of anti-coalition militia activity. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Robert M. Storm

One sign of progress - one item in demand more than candy is pens:

Ahmadullah Taraki, an interpreter with the 362nd Psychological Operations Battalion, gives out pens to young Afghan boys in the town of Dand, Afghanistan, Aug. 18, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andre' Reynolds

Froggy Ruminations has posted a letter-to-the-editor from a SEAL Chief that, more than likely, will never get printed.

[Thanks to Wrangler22 for sending the link]