Fatal illness won’t slow teen’s spirit

Inspired:

Though his muscles have long since deteriorated, relegating him to a motorized-power chair, his mind is

Nick Torrance

razor-sharp. He knows he’s been fighting an uphill battle all his life, just to live. It’s not easy.

“It’s OK to be in a wheelchair,” he said. “But every once in a while, I have a meltdown.”

How he doesn’t break down every day under the weight of his fate is beyond his father.

Rob Torrance, a stay-at-home dad by virtue of a job layoff last year, said children like Nick are more inspirational than any athlete, politician or celebrity

via Fatal illness won’t slow teen’s spirit | livingstondaily.com | Livingston Daily.

Hella good work and care from a guy that we nicknamed “Spicolli” in Korea.

V thanks Donna

Two great Americans here:

Smith presented flags flown in Iraq

McGregor’s Donna Smith was honored recently when United States Army Captain Veronica Owens Jordan, 28, proudly presented her with two flags flown in Iraq.

Owens, who was a 2000 McGregor High School graduate, has served eight years in the Army in the 36th Sustainment

Brigade. She has served two tours of duty in Iraq, the first time for eight months and the second tour for 10 months. MGregor High School, I enrolled at New Mexico State University and joined the Army during my junior year,” Owens stated. “I was promoted to Captain in December.

I have served as a logistics officer and I plan to continue a career in the military in the National Guard.”

One of the plaques read: Let it be known that this Texas State Flag flew over the headquarters of the 36th Sustainment Brigade on COB Adder,Tallil, Iraq on Nov. 23, 2009 in honor of Donna Smith. In appreciation for your outstanding support to the troops of the 36th Sustainment Brigade, Task Force “Rawhide” during Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. It was signed by SM Elizabeth Shockley and Col. Sean A. Ryan. The second flag was fl own, also at Camp Adder four days later in honor of Donna Smith. Murphy McCardlel, Command Sergeant Major, and Marvin Johnson, LTC, LG Commanding signed this certificate.

Donna Smith and Army Captain Veronica Owens Jordan

Veteran’s Friend

This is just a news release but the word should be spread about this great guy:

State Rep. Chris Turner Named Legislator of the Year by the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars

First Freshman to Receive Prestigious Award

AUSTIN – Today State Representative Chris Turner was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).  With over 90,000 members and 403 posts across the state, the Texas VFW is the largest veterans organization in the state. The award was presented during the opening joint session of the annual VFW state convention.

According to the Texas VFW, Turner is the first freshman legislator to receive this award.

“Representative Chris Turner has been a staunch advocate for our state’s veterans and their families,” said Roy Grona, Texas VFW State Adjutant-Quartermaster. “Because of his work and leadership on veterans issues, more Texas veterans are getting the help they need and deserve.”

“I am incredibly honored and humbled by this recognition,” Turner said. “The Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars are the true heroes to the 1.7 million veterans in our state. I am proud of the work we did to pass the lottery scratch-off bill, which is benefitting countless veterans across the state of Texas.”

During the 81st Legislative Session, Representative Turner authored and passed several pieces of legislation benefitting veterans and their families. Most notably, Turner authored House Bill 1299, creating a scratch-off lottery ticket to benefit the Permanent Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA).  The FVA provides grants to aid veterans and their families in times of financial need and support PTSD counseling and other veterans’ services.  The lottery ticket was released on November 9, 2009 and has raised over $5.5 million for the FVA.

Turner, who was named “Freshman of the Year” by the bipartisan House Veterans Caucus and given the “Leadership Award” from the Texas Veterans Commission and “Legislator of the Year” by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Texas State Council, also passed legislation requiring institutions of higher education to designate a financial aid specialist to be trained on issues related to veterans’ programs, including the GI Bill and the Hazelwood Act.

He was also the House sponsor of legislation to allow state employees, who are members of military reserves or National Guard, to continue to accrue their sick and vacation leave time while they are on active military duty

How was your Fourth of July this year?

How was your Fourth of July this year?

Mine was great.  The Fourth is my favorite holiday.  It is at a better time of year than most for me (I like the hot weather) and contains fewer of the commercial pressures that we’ve put on other holidays. There are no religious overtones one way or another and even FOX news hasn’t started a “War on the Fourth” campaign that I know of.

I like the patriotic music so much that I tape “A Capitol Fourth” on PBS to play back later and have to fit at least one 1812 Overture in there someplace.  I love watching fireworks but am satisfied to let others risk burning down apartment hedges and expensive telephone cables (not that I’d know anything about that).  This year I wasn’t even subjected to some singer trying to imitate a crack addicts’ warbling of the Star Spangled Banner.  Just sing it please, and let me hear those horns and drums.

This year I visited the Fort Hood Freedom Fest, even ran in the little 5K Run/Walk sponsored by the post.  It’s a great little carnival and celebration of the troops and family readiness groups that hawk drinks and ice cream.  They even had Captain America walking around the fairground. The marvelous First Cavalry Division Horse Detachment rode an impressive demo.  There was an impressive skateboarding demonstration including Jon Comer, an inspirational and talented skater who has a prosthetic leg.

I had a great cookout supper with old friends from my Army days.  I was able to brag about my daughter preparing to graduate from Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood and we laughed and admired motorcycles and tattoos.  We missed those separated by distance, like the great Shane in Iowa.  He used his GI Bill to get an education and is a manager in a factory, involved in his community, about to be married, and is living the story of America’s newest Greatest Generation.  We missed troop commanders, platoon leaders, and the squadron commander, training thousands of others in California and about the finest officer one could imagine.  We told stories of the greatest command sergeant major to ever exaggerate a story or shout “woo-hoo” as he ran to the sounds of the guns.  Any gun. Any where!

In a scene typical of probably too many military reunions we encouraged and listened to the youngest trooper at the table.  Blown up twice in the same day in January 2007, he struggles with Post Traumatic Stress and other injuries.  There was a sense of fatalism about him.  ”I think the VA is just trying to wait me out,” he said, holding his daughter from a marriage struggling with the changes that he’d undergone.  We’d each had our own experiences with the VA and they cover a wide range.  I’ve been extremely well treated by the VA and even the recommendations made that I was highly dubious about have proved to be true.  Tom’s now into his second year of waiting for an appeal to a case where the VA’s ratings disagreed with their own recommendations.  It’s ridiculous and shouldn’t happen in a modern system.  The same for my friend Adam, who has proved the worth of the Vocational Rehab program by attending the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and becoming immediately employable and highly praised.  But when he sought medical care covered under the program, the Corpus Christi VA clinic wouldn’t even in-process him properly.

Between the ribbing and the ribs, each of shared some part of our story with Ryan.  And he seemed to take a little heart.  I don’t know how his story will turn out. He has many struggles ahead, but I thought it was good that men decades older than him would share their stories and tears and medicine troubles to support and encourage him. And he seemed to listen and to lighten up just a bit. He proudly told me about his IAVA shirt and I was happy to tell them about the Padres game and the Miller HighLife promotion and the legislative trips and fixes planned.  In many ways, this small group hit so many of the notes that IAVA tries to play.

It’s been seven years for me since my Fourth was spent sleeping on a HMMWV hood and we were putting together our first hot meal in Iraq.  It’s not been seven since Leif Nott died in a hail of fire down the road from that HMMWV or Chris Cutchall was hit by an IED riding in an unarmored HMMWV.  For the nearly quarter million American troops spread around the world and not eating Adam and Addy’s chicken and banana pudding, it might have been a trying day.  But for me, it was a great Fourth of July and I am very grateful to everyone that made it possible.

A Georgia Peach speaks

From Donna.  Chris – you can never be replaced:

Blood needed for troops overseas

I’m quoted in this Christmas Eve story that is just as valid this week:

Blood needed for troops overseas.

Garwood custom cycles makes an IAVA Bike

and so much wow!

Garwood custom cycles — IAVA Bike .

Irish Times Catches Fire – Roll Call

Holy bad news at school batman!  Checking RollCall to comply with a school assignment I found this article:

Roof of Kelly’s Irish Times Catches Fire – Roll Call

The roof at Kelly’s Irish Times bar caught fire late Friday afternoon, kicking patrons, drinks in hand, to the sidewalk on F Street Northwest and drawing four firetrucks to the scene.

Irish Times is like the a) only place in DC I really remember the name of, b) my favorite, and c) where IAVA went to celebrate the end of the 2009 Legislative sweep, with big success on advanced appropriations.  They’ve got to get it fixed!

A soldier’s soldier

I don’t often agree with Ralph Peters but by airing CSM Johndrow’s voice as is, he has done the readers of the NY Post a great service.  Check out  A soldier’s soldier.  I worked for and lived across the hall from then-1SG Johndrow and he was the real deal (still owes me for the duty roster thing though…) and could give my other friend Mike one hell of a run for his money on any run, anywhere.

Q: It must be challenging for NCOs with multiple combat tours to “train up” new lieutenants.

Johndrow: “My dad, an NCO veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam, told me that the most dangerous person on the battlefield was a lieutenant, and it was our fault as NCOs if we didn’t train them. Today, our NCOs take great pride in training our young officers. If you ask any general today, he’ll tell you about the NCO who helped mentor him. Young officers with whom I served are now commanding corps, divisions, brigades and battalions. I’m extremely proud of each one of them.”

Q: As a sergeant major from squadron level on up, serving at the crucial point where the enlisted and officer ranks meet, you’ve obviously been a success. Your secret?

Johndrow: “First, never forget where you came from. Second, love your soldiers just as you love your family. Third, treat all soldiers with dignity and respect. Fourth, you have to be a servant-leader, not a self-serving leader.”

Paul’s GQ power play

CQ picked my friend Paul as one of the 50 Most Powerful People in D.C.  Now if he could just explain their sense of style.

via The 50 Most Powerful People in D.C.: Politics: GQ.

http://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/200911/50-most-powerful-people-in-dc#slide=37

Photo by Chiu/Zuma Press/Newscom

He helped get the new GI bill passed; pushed to end the military’s practice of stop loss; raised awareness about PTSD, veteran drug abuse, and homelessness; and consistently demands accountability and efficiency from the VA. And everything you know about these issues probably came from him: He made more than 350 media appearances in the past year. “He’s put veterans’ organizations on notice,” says Fick. “Innovate or die.”