Sunday, April 29, 2007

John Mellencamp Rocks Walter Reed

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

April 29, 2007 – Popular rock musician John Mellencamp took to the stage at Walter Reed Army Medical Center April 27 and delivered his trademark Americana singing style as a tribute to the wounded soldiers who inspired him at the hospital. The down-home singer-songwriter known for his bushy black hair and jeans-and-t-shirt performances said he wanted to do something for the soldiers recovering at Walter Reed. About 200 wounded soldiers, staff and family members attended the event, providing a small but energetic crowd.

In the hour-long performance, the Indiana-born-rocker, who became a star in the 1980s, performed many of his older hits such as his opener "Small Town," and "Little Pink Houses," as well as songs from his current Freedom's Road album. "Jack and Diane" was probably the most popular, bringing the crowd to its feet, rivaled only by the finale "Hurts So Good."

The stage was the historical Old Red Cross Building built in 1926 on Walter Reed's campus. Soldiers, families and staff sat on the hard wood floors or on chairs they brought, but they mostly stood and danced as Mellencamp performed. In the front, some waved a flag during parts of the performance. Toward the end, Mellencamp came off the stage to sing to front-row concertgoers.

Mellencamp opened by saying he hoped that everyone could forget about any problems they may have and have a good time. The concert provided a respite for soldiers and their family members recovering at the center.

Army 1st Lt. Josh Mantz arrived at Walter Reed less than a week ago, after being wounded in Iraq. Mantz attended the concert with his fiance, Justina Hollenbach, and best friend, Jesse Scholl. All three are Mellencamp fans.

"It's just awesome what he is doing," said Mantz. "It took a lot of stress off of them [Hollenbach and Scholl]. It kind of let them forget about the stress they've had the past few days worrying about me.

"It takes a lot of stress off the soldiers, a lot of stress off of the families. It's a nice little break. It can be a real sad place without people like John who lighten things up a little bit," he said.

An outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, Mellencamp steered clear of any political statement, choosing instead to emphasize his support to the troops. Mellencamp performed his hit "Our Country" at the opening of the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in January.

His publicist, Bob Merlis, said Mellencamp was impressed then by the attitudes of the soldiers recovering from severe wounds.

"He's very inspired by them. He was awestruck," Merlis said. "He said to me, 'I don't know if this happened to me that I'd have this really positive outlook like some of these guys do."

While at the center, Mellencamp visited with troops and even struck up an impromptu rendition of "Pink Houses" with a soldier who had a guitar.

Mellencamp earned a GRAMMY award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1982 with "Hurts So Good" from his 1982 American Fool album.

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Business Leaders Learn About Air Force Mission in Southwest Asia

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

April 29, 2007 – Participants of the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference yesterday met some of the men and women of U.S. Central Command
Air Forces who serve here as "guardian angels" for troops deployed to this region. Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles Shugg told the group of 45 business and civic leaders, who were on a whirlwind tour of the Central Command area of responsibility, that the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing has planes in air around the clock to support operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa.

The expeditionary wing includes more than 8,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve members, as well as joint and coalition forces, and more than nine different
Air Force airframes. The command has more than 100 different types of aircraft that conduct more than 160 take offs and landings every nine minutes, 24 hours a day, Shugg said.

The unit serves as a hub for humanitarian airlift activities while providing mission-essential combat power, aero-medical evacuation and intelligence support for its three theaters of operations.

Pilots typically conduct eight- to 12-hour-long missions and have conducted 274 raids, 413 shows of force, 1,543 air supply requests and 146 high value target eliminations within the past four months, Shugg said.

More than 319,120 sorties have been flown by the 379th AEW during Operation Iraqi Freedom, while 209,372 have been flown for Operation Enduring Freedom.

The JCOC members had the opportunity to see some of $9 billion worth of equipment and the men and women operating it when they went on a tour of the flight line to see KC-135 air refuelers, C-130 cargo planes, E-BC Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems, RC-135 intelligence system aircraft, and B-1 bombers.

They also met medical teams who man C-130s on emergency missions and the base's mobile forward surgical team. The C-130 the group toured was prepared for medical evacuations and can assist in getting wounded or sick troops out of the combat zone and to stateside hospitals within 24 hours.

Air Force First Lt. John Shafeshaft, who has served on five deployments with the medical team to the region, said the unit has a very tough mission, but he found it extremely rewarding.

The group also had the opportunity to meet with airmen who conduct safety inspections on aircraft, who perform explosive ordinance disposal and those who build and maintain the wing's engines.

"It's nice that people are interested is learning about what we are doing here," said Air Force Tech Sgt. Clint Conrad. "It means a lot that they are willing to come out here and visit us."

The participants also had the chance to visit the bases' Combined Air and Space Operations Center where they watched as joint and coalition troops execute the day-to-day air operations for the region.

The $60 billion facility serves as the primary theater command and control facility responsible for orchestrating the air campaign throughout the region. Troops at the center plan, monitor and direct sortie execution, time sensitive targeting, battlefield coordination, theater missile defense and countless other activities.

"What amazed me about the
Air Force is the tremendous amount of logistics work that goes on," said JCOC participant Denis McFarlane, who is the chief executive officer of the Infinitive consulting firm based in McLean, Va. "I am incredibly impressed by the amount of supplies that comes through here."

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A Fed and Two Local Cops

Editor's Note: Two of the authors are "prior military"

Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored
books. The website added a federal law enforcement agent as well as two local police officers.

Anna Mydlarz has been a career law enforcement officer, serving with the city of Buffalo Police Department for over 20 years. She has had experience in patrol work and has been promoted to detective, serving with the burglary task force, vice squad and narcotics squad. She currently serves in the communication crime unit, which specializes in high-tech crimes. stalking, telephone harassment, and Internet crimes. Furthermore, she serves on several task forces that are at the foremost of emerging issues.

Anna Mydlarz co-authored with Donald Hutton Guide to Homeland Security Careers and Guide to Law Enforcement Careers. According to the book description of the Guide to Law Enforcement Careers, “Hundreds of jobs are listed and described in local, state, federal, military, and special law enforcement agencies. Here’s advice on where to look for job openings, how to apply, and how to meet law enforcement agency qualifications. Careers cover a variety of areas including municipal police officer, deputy sheriff, corrections officer, state police officer, federal agents, criminal investigators, and many more. Advice is given and opportunities are cited for current and recently retired law enforcement officers. Helpful web sites are listed in this edition, and more than 100 law enforcement insignia patches are illustrated.”

Donald B. Hutton served as an executive staff member for the New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Canal Corporation. He worked progressively for several
law enforcement agencies; with the New York State Office of Inspector General as executive deputy inspector general, as a Delaware & Hudson Railroad Police Department special agent, as a United States Department of Veteran Affairs police officer, and as a United States Customs Service Inspector.

Donald B. Hutton served in the United States Coast Guard as a reservist from 1976 until 1992 in the following capacities: as a boatswains mate, a pollution investigator, a special agent in intelligence, and in mobilization/augmentation administration. In 1992, Donald Hutton received and honorable discharge. He has a master's degree from the State University of New York College at Buffalo

Donald Hutton is also the author of numerous articles and books. He co-authored with Anna Mydlarz Guide to Homeland Security Careers and Guide to Law Enforcement Careers. He also wrote Guide to Military Careers, and in 2000 published a suspense thriller, A Deep Blue Sounding Dark Voyage with the U.S. Coast Guard. According to the book description of A Deep Blue Sounding Dark Voyage with the U.S. Coast Guard, “The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cape Solace mysteriously sinks while on patrol off the coast of Florida, taking 26 crewmembers to a deep water grave. At the same time, Coast Guard Intelligence Agent Brad Thomas surfaces from a deep cover sting operation in New York City netting two “coasties” involved in smuggling for the mob.” According to John Wallace, author of POW-83, “This riveting book will alter America's view of the Coast Guard. Don Hutton is a writer of genuine purpose and originality.”

Robert "Bob" Taubert is thought of by FBI veterans as the finest firearms and tactics instructor to serve in the FBI. He has a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physical Education and served 12 years as a reconnaissance infantry Marine pulling two combat tours in Vietnam, rising to the rank of Major and serving as company commander.

Robert Taubert joined the FBI serving his country as a Special Agent for over twenty-four years. While in the FBI he was heavily involved in Special Operations and was one of the founders and trainers of the FBI’s Elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT. Bob served as the FBI SOG liaison for the USMC and US Navy special operations entities. Bob is responsible for the birth of the widely known SEAL Team 6 and assisted what was to become today’s US Navy's Development Group, in gaining official recognition as a national counter terrorism asset by the military.

Serving as the senior instructor at the FBI Academy in the FBI’s SOARS, the elite Special Operations units he was chosen by the DEA to train and equip DEA agents in Close Quarters Battle, SWAT tactics and combat survival skills. These agents went on to participate in some of the most highly secretive joint agency covert operations that the US has ever run. During his tours of duty with the Bureau and DEA he attended every major firearms school in the world and qualified as a Master or Expert in long and short firearms.

Following the FBI he was a staff instructor at the Smith & Wesson Academy; he is a subject matter expert in SWAT, Anti-
Terrorism, Hostage Rescue and Police Survival issues; he is a Staff Instructor for the US Department of State's Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program and is also an adjunct Instructor at Alan Brosnan's Tactical Explosive Entry School and Kelly McCain’s Crucible Training Center. He is an accomplished author and is a staff writer for many LE Magazines, publications, and journals. Robert Taubert is the co-author of Soldiering on: The Stories of Two Former Kiwi SAS Men in Their Continuing World-Wide Careers of Adventure.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 506
police officers (representing 213 police departments) and their 1070 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.