Skippy’s List: The 213 things Skippy is no longer allowed to do in the U.S. Army

Ya gotta see the whole list.  He is so dead on…

8. Not allowed to add pictures of officers I don’t like to War Criminal posters.

9. Not allowed to title any product “Get Over it”.

10. Not allowed to purchase anyone’s soul on government time.

11. Not allowed to join the Communist Party.

12. Not allowed to join any militia.

13. Not allowed to form any militia.

Skippy’s List » Skippy’s List: The 213 things Skippy is no longer allowed to do in the U.S. Army

Never Wanted to See the First

From AABB in February (can you tell I am catching up on old postings?)

via Scientists warn of first ever case of human mad cow disease from blood plasma – Telegraph.

This totally blew away my hope for a quick change in the deferral criteria for European travel.

Researchers report first human form of mad cow disease from plasma

British scientists have identified the first human infected with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease via human plasma. The man, who has died from other causes, was among the 4,000 hemophiliacs and other patients warned in 2004 because they received transfusions from batches of blood plasma possibly containing vCJD.  Telegraph (London) (2/15)

Skirts and Separations

We hear a lot of bad about deployments and sometimes ridiculous cheerleading in the other direction but I thought that this short, human-interest story in the local paper captured a lot about Soldiers and their Family Members while telling a cute story.  The Fourth Infantry Division is beginning to filter in after fifteen months in Iraq.  They are showing up a hundred here and eighty-five there and the division and the post is going all out to welcome these “Steadfast and Loyal” troopers in.  In the same way as the Maine Greeters give a big value-add to the first steps on American soil, having the signs, flag-wavers, and an excited bunch of families on hand when you make that already-wonderful trip from the airfield to “DISMISSED” just makes the day better.  The article is about a spouse who wore something special for her husband, even on a cold and blustery day here

It took her a month to put the outfit together and she was going to wear it regardless of the weather, regardless of the three sons between 6 and 10 who kept her busy and regardless of the black high heels that kept sinking into the ground.

But along the way it highlights the situations that Army Families can put up with, in or out of a big, hot conflict:

It was nothing for a woman who has endured six deployments and 11 years as an Army wife. Staff Sgt. Michael Moore returned to Fort Hood and his waiting family Saturday afternoon with about 85 others from the 4th Infantry Division’s Special Troops Battalion.
…
Michael is a military policeman, and this was his third deployment to Iraq. He has also served tours in Bosnia, Korea and Cuba, Victoria said.

And in this military town, full of stories and heroes, sometimes angst, often joy, and with a lot of “missing,” the article notes the courage and dignity of the family and their bond with the Soldiers’ other family – his unit and his charges still deployed.

This deployment was particularly tough because it was longer than most – 15 months instead of 12. There were a lot of ups and downs, Victoria said.
Michael was injured midway through the deployment and came home to recover. He was at home four months with his family, but it was tough because he felt bad leaving his “brothers,” Victoria said.
They discussed his options and though Victoria was getting used to having him home, they decided it was best he rejoin his unit.

Read the whole article here -Weather doesn’t deter wife’s welcome-home wardrobe – it is by Amanda Stairrett, local military reporter, who often captures the essence of the military community in her great stories.

Ink Blog Plugin for Live Writer

An AKO account upgrade got me to looking at a few other options for mail plugins, leading me to the ink blog plug-in for Live Writer.  Pretty cool:

Iraq Veteran Going to Washington (He got there!)

From KRGV NEWSCHANNEL 5 – The Rio Grande , here’s a short article about Rey Leal, a Marine and accomplished photographer that was part of Storm the Hill 2009:

Leal developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; living with the constant reminder of the war. Leal says he felt alone and didn’t know where to turn, but one night while watching TV, everything changed. Leal saw a commercial about a soldier coming home from war. In the commercial, the soldier is alone in a big city, until a war veteran comes and greets him. Then the city comes to life with people walking around all over.

“When I saw that I was like, that’s exactly how I feel,” he said.  

Leal looked up the organization online – Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America – and he found his calling. Leal was chosen to go to Washington and tell lawmakers about the issues their generation of veterans are facing. Most veterans don’t know about their benefits.

You can read a bit more about him and see some of his photos here or here. 

The Way We Got By

What do you do when you combine nearly two dozen Veterans of the Long War covering most of the uniformed services, theaters, and time periods, with a youthful group of committed supporters and a mission – keep them all fed, entertained, and out of trouble, especially without spending a lot of money?  We have Navy aviators, Marine infantrymen, old cav scouts, medics, college interns, and high-tech wizards all working hard on the goal of getting the VA a predictable budgeting process.  IAVA’s Storm the Hill 2009 crew finds events that share their common interests in our country and its defenders, capitalize on the chance to educate on the foundation of our government, and enhance shared experiences.  That may sound like a lofty goal but the IAVA DC staff have had a couple of good scores.

Monday morning, Patrick Campbell, not just the world’s top expert on the GI Bill (probably – really!), but the smoothest DC tour guide, walked us around the Capitol and offered a mix of history and trivia that I thought was great.  The tops of all the pillars supporting the Capitol are stylized tobacco leaves – who knew?  Todd Bowers offered us a night time walking tour of the main war monuments.  It was a powerful moment for me to look at the Korean War Memorial’s patrol and realize just how well it recreated the feeling of a winter patrol in the DMZ.  Genevieve, our own Army Girl, reminded us that without the three year struggle (and continuing presence) there, there would be no Army Girl here (and that goes triple for my own children).

But last night we were privileged to screen an advanced copy of The Way We Get By, a new documentary about the Maine Troop Greeters.  There were some early plans to run (“I’m leaving if it makes me cry”) but it was a well-made, compelling, and not too sad piece of film.  It gently follows a few of the people in Bangor Maine, mostly older, that get up day and night, drive through ice and snow, arthritis, cardiac and other trouble and greet every flight arriving or departing from the new wars.  Wanting to offer our troops a better homecoming than they faced when returning from WW II, Korea, or Viet Nam, they wave, hug, shake hands, and applaud them as they walk down that ramp either on or off of American soil.  The film maker doesn’t judge, but she didn’t blink either and much of the true core of the people involved shine through.  At one point, watching Bill Knight tease and cajole his comrades, Genevieve exclaimed “he’s still the same little boy – only his body has changed around him!”  I don’t want to give away too much but you won’t need most of your tears.

When I returned from Iraq I flew with another NCO from my unit. We stopped briefly in Ireland and then touched down in Maine.  We didn’t know what we’d find and seeing that gauntlet of people with flags waving, hands extended, and hugs offered was nearly overwhelming for me.  It made a good day a lot better and gave me a few minutes of calm while I waited desperately to finish the trip and see my family.  I will never forget how they made me feel and it is more than appropriate that someone document and recognize their efforts to greet over 750,000 troops even while their own families deploy.  The movie is great and held our attention to the end.

You can find out more about the Maine Troop Greeters and the documentary about them at the movie’s website here: The Way We Get By. There will be screenings at South by Southwest in March and the Cleveland Film Festival.  Thanks to Bill, Joan, Jerry, and all the greeters for the welcome home, the cell phone to call my wife, and to Gita Pullapilly and crew for capturing their great story.

The Right Price

I’ve spent the last two days with nearly two dozen committed, skilled, and motivated Veterans and supporters from all walks of life.  We’ve all arrived in Washington D.C. with at least one goal in common – to introduce the 2009 Legislative Agenda from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.  We are also engaging in what is, if not the first, then uncommon exercise of near-real-time communications with the public and the donors that helped us get here.  IAVA set up a great page at www.StormTheHill.org that consolidates emails, pictures, mms, and twitter feeds from the five teams all moving in different directions on Capitol Hill.  It is pretty cool and even integrates stories from other news agencies as they are published. 

It is a privilege to be a part of this extraordinary effort and to discuss our agenda with busy lawmakers and staffers that see us.  Our prime target this year is to secure a concept known as “advanced appropriation” for the VA budget.  Last year we helped push through the 21st Century GI Bill – an 87 billion dollar bill that will positively affect an entire American generation.  Although advanced appropriations is a more difficult concept to grasp – it has a price tag easier for the Congress to swallow – it is FREE.  The problem is that it can be difficult to explain and the idea of a group coming to Capitol Hill from all over America to ask for something that costs nothing is pretty alien here.

Enough got it however, that it looks like we’ll have some good news soon.  Wait for word about a new bill here and know that the crew at IAVA have been able to pull off another success that is a credit well above what could be reasonably expected from them.  And call, write, and support the lawmakers that support the troops by seeing IAVA reps, getting good grades on the annual report card (by the IAVA action fund), and follow up promises with action.

Pentagon Reviewing Coffin Photo Ban

Pentagon Reviewing Coffin Photo Ban