By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - Some race around the track with the intensity of an Olympic sprinter. Others crash and smash in a full contact contest rivaling rugby. Still others push themselves through a grueling obstacle course laced with unexpected hazards. Each shares one common reality: life in a wheelchair. More than 500 disabled veterans took part in a remarkable competition earlier this summer, and a Pentagon Channel crew was there to document their achievements. These athletes' stories will be shared in a brand-new edition of the station's monthly documentary, "Recon."
"Wheels of Courage" takes viewers to the 27th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, held this year June 19-23 in Milwaukee. Athletes from 45 states competed in more than a dozen different disciplines in what has become the world's largest wheelchair sports event.
"The fun is the vets and the camaraderie and hopefully encouraging some vets and some women vets to participate in some activities in life, not be challenged by life but by challenging life," said Angela Madsen, who served in the Marine Corps during the 1980s and was center for the Corp's elite basketball team before an on-court accident left her paralyzed. "Hopefully some employers will see and people in society will see that disabled people can do a lot more."
"I think the fact that veterans, active duty all have this community of being together, the brotherhood, the sisterhood of the military, I think, overwhelms the whole entire games," said Tom Brown, director of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
The games allow disabled vets coming home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan to meet and compete with veterans from as far back as World War II.
"I just give it all I got," said Russell Worth, who served as a petty officer in the Naval Air Corps in the final year of the "Great War" and whose 100-, 200- and 400-meter wheelchair dashes at the age of 83 are documented by the Pentagon Channel. "When you're coming down that track, you know you gotta keep going and finish."
Just because these athletes have lost the use of their legs, that by no means diminishes the ferocity with which they pursue their passion for sport.
Aaron Pollis, a military police veteran from Wisconsin competed in Quad Rugby, a high-speed cross between football and demolition derby that was dubbed "Murder Ball" in a recent documentary on the sport.
"You want to keep your speed up," Pollis said, "because as soon as somebody comes up to hit you, they're usually pushing with all their might to come up and hit you hard."
"Some people get injured and they don't know what to do in their life," said Douglas Beckley, with Paralyzed Veterans of America. "They're kind of sitting at home, (then) somebody talks to them about wheelchair sports and recreation activity; next thing you know, they're here and they're going, 'Wow, life's not over. There is life after injury. I can still do anything I want. I just have to do it in a different way.'"
Some athletes encourage able-bodied spectators to experience life from a disabled vet's perspective.
"They should come and jump in the chair like this and see what it's like," Pollis said. "Anybody who's an athlete, they'd get it right away. But it takes a lot on your upper shoulders and upper body to maneuver these things, and it's fun just to do it."
Athletes are divided into categories based on degrees of disability, age and past experience competing in the games. Some events are familiar, such as track and field. Deborah Dones, an Army veteran from Puerto Rico who served in Iraq, competed in discus and javelin throws at the games.
"Put your heart, your feeling, your soul in here, because there is value," she said. "This is great. They can do this. We can do this. If I can, they can, no problem."
Other events are unorthodox, like the "slalom," during which wheelchair athletes must make their way through a course littered with gravel, sand and rock.
"Most have never done it," said Tim Hays, head slalom official at the games. "Most get into the middle of that obstacle, and they have to teach themselves how they need to sit, how they need to maneuver their chair to negotiate it."
Besides the satisfaction of competition, Hays sees practical applications learned from taking part in events like the one he officiates.
"This is what happens when you go down to the beach or you go into the wilderness or you want to go hunting, this is what the terrain is like." he said. "Do you not go hunting, or do you accomplish it and go hunting?"
Army Spc. Jon Harris, who became an amputee after an improvised-explosive-device attack in Iraq, took on the demanding course. "It was rough," he said. "It just felt like it was never gonna end."
"We want these guys fully involved in life," Hays said. "And one thing the slalom does is offer them some obstacles that they typically don't do every day, but they are attainable, so that when they do encounter them, it's not an obstacle."
"We play hard, we play to the best of our abilities, and we play to win," said Patricia Wilson, an Army and Marine vet from Texas, whose efforts in the slalom and many other sports were caught on camera for the documentary. "All the way to the last second, we play to win."
"Recon: Wheels of Courage" debuts Aug. 6 at noon Eastern Time on the Pentagon Channel and will air throughout the month of August. The program also is available via podcast and video on demand at www.pentagonchannel.mil.
(David Mays works at the Pentagon Channel.)
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Marine Acts on Determination to Share His Story
By Meghan Vittrup
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - A Marine combat engineer who has served in Iraq is determined to help Americans understand the situation there as servicemembers see it. Second Lt. David Bradt said he "became a Marine to serve something greater than myself." "I joined to fight for this country and to lead Marines in combat, which I have done," he said in a recent interview. "I want to know that those whom I love sleep safely at night because of what I and the rest of the Marines do. There is no greater honor than being a U.S. Marine and fighting for your country."
Since October 2005, Bradt has been deployed to Iraq twice. His company worked to discover and destroy weapons caches.
"We completed numerous different kinds of missions, most often being weapons-cache sweeps," the combat engineer said. "The unit I was with discovered and subsequently destroyed thousands and thousands of pounds of explosives, ensuring they could not be used against coalition forces."
Destroying the weapons caches helped prevent insurgents from creating more improvised explosive devices and helped further secure the Iraqi people, as well as fellow Marines and coalition forces.
Bradt is one of eight servicemembers who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa who have been selected to speak to American community groups and businesses across the nation as a part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public-outreach program.
The Why We Serve program was the idea of Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The program began in the fall of 2006. Eight servicemembers, two from each service, are chosen to participate in the program quarterly.
"It is my turn to sort of fight a new fight," Bradt said, "to tell my story and tell the story of my Marines who couldn't be here."
Bradt said he is excited to meet and talk to new people and about sharing his experiences to describe of the realities of war.
He feels that Americans cannot truly understand the situation in Iraq if they only pay attention to the news. He said he wants to use personal experiences to broaden people's views of the war in Iraq.
"This is what is known as (the) fourth dimension (of) warfare, and the enemy attacks popular support for the war at home," Bradt said. "We need to be the ones that are fighting that fight and fighting the negative broadcasting that we are inundated with so much during the day, all day by telling our own story and showing that there are so many positive things that are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The only reason why people don't know about it is because they aren't told," he added. "It seems like nobody will tell them, but I will."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - A Marine combat engineer who has served in Iraq is determined to help Americans understand the situation there as servicemembers see it. Second Lt. David Bradt said he "became a Marine to serve something greater than myself." "I joined to fight for this country and to lead Marines in combat, which I have done," he said in a recent interview. "I want to know that those whom I love sleep safely at night because of what I and the rest of the Marines do. There is no greater honor than being a U.S. Marine and fighting for your country."
Since October 2005, Bradt has been deployed to Iraq twice. His company worked to discover and destroy weapons caches.
"We completed numerous different kinds of missions, most often being weapons-cache sweeps," the combat engineer said. "The unit I was with discovered and subsequently destroyed thousands and thousands of pounds of explosives, ensuring they could not be used against coalition forces."
Destroying the weapons caches helped prevent insurgents from creating more improvised explosive devices and helped further secure the Iraqi people, as well as fellow Marines and coalition forces.
Bradt is one of eight servicemembers who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa who have been selected to speak to American community groups and businesses across the nation as a part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public-outreach program.
The Why We Serve program was the idea of Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The program began in the fall of 2006. Eight servicemembers, two from each service, are chosen to participate in the program quarterly.
"It is my turn to sort of fight a new fight," Bradt said, "to tell my story and tell the story of my Marines who couldn't be here."
Bradt said he is excited to meet and talk to new people and about sharing his experiences to describe of the realities of war.
He feels that Americans cannot truly understand the situation in Iraq if they only pay attention to the news. He said he wants to use personal experiences to broaden people's views of the war in Iraq.
"This is what is known as (the) fourth dimension (of) warfare, and the enemy attacks popular support for the war at home," Bradt said. "We need to be the ones that are fighting that fight and fighting the negative broadcasting that we are inundated with so much during the day, all day by telling our own story and showing that there are so many positive things that are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The only reason why people don't know about it is because they aren't told," he added. "It seems like nobody will tell them, but I will."
Dog Tags Help Keep Kids, Parents Connected
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - A troop-support group in California is working to connect military parents and their children one dog tag at a time. In May 2004, "Dog Tags for Kids" embarked on its mission to provide deployed military parents a tangible way to remind children that Mommy or Daddy, sometimes both, are thinking of them, Rose Sliepka, the group's founder, said.
"Back in 2004, I heard a story about a Marine who sent his kids a package from Iraq," she said. "The kids were so excited to get something from Dad."
It didn't seem to matter that the box contained only adhesive bandages and sunscreen, the only things he had access to, she said. "The kids didn't care; it came from Dad," she added.
"I tried to think of something we could send parents that (servicemembers) could easily send their children," Sliepka said. "The tags are the perfect thing. They're easy to send; they lift the morale of the unit when they receive them; and the child has something to hang on to when their parent is gone."
Each tag indicates whether it's from Mom or Dad, the parent's branch of service, and the year and the country in which the parent is serving. They can even be engraved in Spanish, Sliepka said.
Those interested in receiving a tag to send to a child back home can make that request through the Dog Tags for Kids Web site.
"There is no charge to the military or their families. Donations are used to purchase the blank tag, chain, bag and ... postage," Sliepka said. "Engraving, packaging, Web site monitoring ... is all done by about 20 volunteers.
"This project doesn't have any paid staff," she added. "Every 40 cents can provide another smile, so why would we spend it on anything else?"
Since the group's start, more than 250,000 dog tags have been sent to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan for servicemembers to send to their children back home.
Though the dog tags are intended for any servicemember serving in those countries to send to their children, Sliepka said they're especially important for children of Guardsmen and reservists. "We tend to forget that with the amount of Guard and reserve members serving, their children are often the only ones in their school with a parent who is deployed," she said.
Dog Tags for Kids has recently become a supporter of America Supports You, the Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Sliepka said she hopes more servicemembers will learn about Dog Tags for Kids through this affiliation.
"More exposure for this project means we may be able to empower more parents with a way to reach out to their children even though they are halfway across the world," she said.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - A troop-support group in California is working to connect military parents and their children one dog tag at a time. In May 2004, "Dog Tags for Kids" embarked on its mission to provide deployed military parents a tangible way to remind children that Mommy or Daddy, sometimes both, are thinking of them, Rose Sliepka, the group's founder, said.
"Back in 2004, I heard a story about a Marine who sent his kids a package from Iraq," she said. "The kids were so excited to get something from Dad."
It didn't seem to matter that the box contained only adhesive bandages and sunscreen, the only things he had access to, she said. "The kids didn't care; it came from Dad," she added.
"I tried to think of something we could send parents that (servicemembers) could easily send their children," Sliepka said. "The tags are the perfect thing. They're easy to send; they lift the morale of the unit when they receive them; and the child has something to hang on to when their parent is gone."
Each tag indicates whether it's from Mom or Dad, the parent's branch of service, and the year and the country in which the parent is serving. They can even be engraved in Spanish, Sliepka said.
Those interested in receiving a tag to send to a child back home can make that request through the Dog Tags for Kids Web site.
"There is no charge to the military or their families. Donations are used to purchase the blank tag, chain, bag and ... postage," Sliepka said. "Engraving, packaging, Web site monitoring ... is all done by about 20 volunteers.
"This project doesn't have any paid staff," she added. "Every 40 cents can provide another smile, so why would we spend it on anything else?"
Since the group's start, more than 250,000 dog tags have been sent to Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan for servicemembers to send to their children back home.
Though the dog tags are intended for any servicemember serving in those countries to send to their children, Sliepka said they're especially important for children of Guardsmen and reservists. "We tend to forget that with the amount of Guard and reserve members serving, their children are often the only ones in their school with a parent who is deployed," she said.
Dog Tags for Kids has recently become a supporter of America Supports You, the Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Sliepka said she hopes more servicemembers will learn about Dog Tags for Kids through this affiliation.
"More exposure for this project means we may be able to empower more parents with a way to reach out to their children even though they are halfway across the world," she said.
Pentagon Official Describes AFRICOM's Mission, Dispels Misconceptions
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - U.S. Africa Command's foremost mission is to help Africans achieve their own security, not to extend the scope of the war on terrorism or secure African resources, a top Pentagon official said. "The United States spends approximately $9 billion a year in Africa, funding programs in such areas as health, development, trade promotion, and good governance," Theresa Whelan, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, told members of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa and global health here yesterday. "In contrast, security-related programs receive only about $250 million a year."
AFRICOM will play a supportive role as Africans continue to build democratic institutions and establish good governance across the continent, she said. "Our security cooperation with Africa is one aspect of our collaboration with Africa, but it is a small part of our overall relationship," she added.
The Defense Department currently divides responsibility for Africa among three combatant commands: European Command, Pacific Command and Central Command. AFRICOM, slated to stand up in October, is a three-pronged defense, diplomatic and economic effort designed to enable U.S. government elements to work in concert with African partners without the "bureaucratic divisions" created by a shared command structure, Whelan said.
"Although this structure is new, the nature of our military engagement on the continent will not change," she said. "It will remain primarily focused on conducting theater-security cooperation to build partnership capacities in areas such as peacekeeping, maritime security, border security, counterterrorism skills."
Consolidating leadership under a single command could better support Africa's multilateral institutions, like the African Union and the regional economic communities, which are playing an enlarged role in the continent's security affairs, she said.
Whelan addressed the "many misconceptions" about AFRICOM's structure and purpose.
"Some people believe that we are establishing AFRICOM solely to fight terrorism or to secure oil resources or to discourage China. This is not true," she said.
Though violent extremism is "a cause for concern and needs to be addressed," countering this threat is not AFRICOM's singular mission, she said.
"Natural resources represent Africa's current and future wealth, but in an open-market environment, many benefit," she continued. "Ironically, the U.S., China, and other countries share a common interest -- that of a secure environment in Africa, and that's AFRICOM's objective.
"AFRICOM is about helping Africans build greater capacity to assure their own security," she added.
The United States does not seek to compete with or discourage African leadership and initiative, Whelan said. Rather, AFRICOM will benefit it its partners on the continent prevent security issues from escalating without U.S. intervention.
"U.S. security is enhanced when African nations themselves endeavor successfully to address and resolve emerging security issues before they become so serious that they require considerable international resources and intervention to resolve," she said.
U.S. Africa Command also will support other U.S. agencies in implementing other programs that promote regional stability, Whelan noted, calling AFRICOM an "innovative command."
Unlike other commands, AFRICOM will be staffed by a large number of State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development members, including a senior foreign service officer to serve as the military commander's civilian deputy. This deputy will plan and oversee the majority of AFRICOM's security-assistance work, she said.
"These interagency officers will contribute their knowledge and their expertise to the command so that AFRICOM will be more effective as it works to build peacekeeping, humanitarian-relief and disaster-response capacity in Africa," she said.
Interagency partners also will identify ways the Defense Department can support other U.S. agencies' and departments' initiatives in Africa, including State Department-funded programs. This includes the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program, which Whelan called "the mainstay of the U.S. effort to build peace-support-operations capacity in Africa."
Overall, the Defense Department will respond to the needs of its African partners, Whelan said. "(The department) will seek to provide support as appropriate and as necessary to help the broader U.S. government national security goals and objectives to succeed," she said.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - U.S. Africa Command's foremost mission is to help Africans achieve their own security, not to extend the scope of the war on terrorism or secure African resources, a top Pentagon official said. "The United States spends approximately $9 billion a year in Africa, funding programs in such areas as health, development, trade promotion, and good governance," Theresa Whelan, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, told members of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa and global health here yesterday. "In contrast, security-related programs receive only about $250 million a year."
AFRICOM will play a supportive role as Africans continue to build democratic institutions and establish good governance across the continent, she said. "Our security cooperation with Africa is one aspect of our collaboration with Africa, but it is a small part of our overall relationship," she added.
The Defense Department currently divides responsibility for Africa among three combatant commands: European Command, Pacific Command and Central Command. AFRICOM, slated to stand up in October, is a three-pronged defense, diplomatic and economic effort designed to enable U.S. government elements to work in concert with African partners without the "bureaucratic divisions" created by a shared command structure, Whelan said.
"Although this structure is new, the nature of our military engagement on the continent will not change," she said. "It will remain primarily focused on conducting theater-security cooperation to build partnership capacities in areas such as peacekeeping, maritime security, border security, counterterrorism skills."
Consolidating leadership under a single command could better support Africa's multilateral institutions, like the African Union and the regional economic communities, which are playing an enlarged role in the continent's security affairs, she said.
Whelan addressed the "many misconceptions" about AFRICOM's structure and purpose.
"Some people believe that we are establishing AFRICOM solely to fight terrorism or to secure oil resources or to discourage China. This is not true," she said.
Though violent extremism is "a cause for concern and needs to be addressed," countering this threat is not AFRICOM's singular mission, she said.
"Natural resources represent Africa's current and future wealth, but in an open-market environment, many benefit," she continued. "Ironically, the U.S., China, and other countries share a common interest -- that of a secure environment in Africa, and that's AFRICOM's objective.
"AFRICOM is about helping Africans build greater capacity to assure their own security," she added.
The United States does not seek to compete with or discourage African leadership and initiative, Whelan said. Rather, AFRICOM will benefit it its partners on the continent prevent security issues from escalating without U.S. intervention.
"U.S. security is enhanced when African nations themselves endeavor successfully to address and resolve emerging security issues before they become so serious that they require considerable international resources and intervention to resolve," she said.
U.S. Africa Command also will support other U.S. agencies in implementing other programs that promote regional stability, Whelan noted, calling AFRICOM an "innovative command."
Unlike other commands, AFRICOM will be staffed by a large number of State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development members, including a senior foreign service officer to serve as the military commander's civilian deputy. This deputy will plan and oversee the majority of AFRICOM's security-assistance work, she said.
"These interagency officers will contribute their knowledge and their expertise to the command so that AFRICOM will be more effective as it works to build peacekeeping, humanitarian-relief and disaster-response capacity in Africa," she said.
Interagency partners also will identify ways the Defense Department can support other U.S. agencies' and departments' initiatives in Africa, including State Department-funded programs. This includes the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program, which Whelan called "the mainstay of the U.S. effort to build peace-support-operations capacity in Africa."
Overall, the Defense Department will respond to the needs of its African partners, Whelan said. "(The department) will seek to provide support as appropriate and as necessary to help the broader U.S. government national security goals and objectives to succeed," she said.
GAO Report Recognizes DLA's Excess Property Program Improvements
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - The Defense Logistics Agency has significantly improved its handling of excess military property, specifically F-14 Tomcat fighter jet parts, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. The Aug. 1 report monitored the agency's excess property sales from September 2006 to March 2007. During that time, GAO identified only two instances in which sensitive items were inadvertently sold outside the Defense Department.
In the first instance, in September, 295 items were released for sale inappropriately.
The second instance, in February 2007, led to 1,385 general hardware-type parts that could be used on F-14s and other aircraft being sold to the public. However, the Defense Logistics Agency identified this mistake immediately and has since recovered all but two of those items, DLA officials said. DLA voluntarily stopped the sale, transfer and donation of all F-14 parts Jan. 26, limiting those items to reuse by the military services only.
Since July 2006, the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, a DLA field activity, has taken several steps to prevent improper sales of military equipment to the public, officials said. Those include changing the way property is grouped in lots for sale, increasing scrutiny of items before sale, tightening controls on the release of property, creating a post-sale review and retrieval process, and designating some items as controlled with strict processes to prevent their sale to the public.
"We've made significant progress in tightening our control of sensitive military equipment, as GAO's recent report confirms," said Army Lt. Gen. Robert T. Dail, director of the Defense Logistics Agency. "We are pleased that GAO's examination reflects the actions we have taken over the past year to ensure national security and proper reutilization and sale of government property. We promise to continue these efforts."
The Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service provides Defense Department units worldwide with critical disposal services for material no longer needed for national defense. DRMS is responsible for property reuse -- including resale, hazardous-property disposal, demilitarization, precious-metals recovery, and recycling-program support.
DLA provides supply support, and technical and logistics services to the U.S. military services and several federal civilian agencies. With headquarters at Fort Belvoir, Va., the agency is the one source for nearly every "consumable" military item, whether for combat readiness, emergency preparedness or day-to-day operations.
(From a Defense Logistics Agency release.)
Aug. 3, 2007 - The Defense Logistics Agency has significantly improved its handling of excess military property, specifically F-14 Tomcat fighter jet parts, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. The Aug. 1 report monitored the agency's excess property sales from September 2006 to March 2007. During that time, GAO identified only two instances in which sensitive items were inadvertently sold outside the Defense Department.
In the first instance, in September, 295 items were released for sale inappropriately.
The second instance, in February 2007, led to 1,385 general hardware-type parts that could be used on F-14s and other aircraft being sold to the public. However, the Defense Logistics Agency identified this mistake immediately and has since recovered all but two of those items, DLA officials said. DLA voluntarily stopped the sale, transfer and donation of all F-14 parts Jan. 26, limiting those items to reuse by the military services only.
Since July 2006, the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, a DLA field activity, has taken several steps to prevent improper sales of military equipment to the public, officials said. Those include changing the way property is grouped in lots for sale, increasing scrutiny of items before sale, tightening controls on the release of property, creating a post-sale review and retrieval process, and designating some items as controlled with strict processes to prevent their sale to the public.
"We've made significant progress in tightening our control of sensitive military equipment, as GAO's recent report confirms," said Army Lt. Gen. Robert T. Dail, director of the Defense Logistics Agency. "We are pleased that GAO's examination reflects the actions we have taken over the past year to ensure national security and proper reutilization and sale of government property. We promise to continue these efforts."
The Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service provides Defense Department units worldwide with critical disposal services for material no longer needed for national defense. DRMS is responsible for property reuse -- including resale, hazardous-property disposal, demilitarization, precious-metals recovery, and recycling-program support.
DLA provides supply support, and technical and logistics services to the U.S. military services and several federal civilian agencies. With headquarters at Fort Belvoir, Va., the agency is the one source for nearly every "consumable" military item, whether for combat readiness, emergency preparedness or day-to-day operations.
(From a Defense Logistics Agency release.)
Airmen Missing in Action from Vietnam War are Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are Lt. Col. James H. Ayres, of Pampa, Texas, and Lt. Col. Charles W. Stratton, of Dallas, Texas, both U.S. Air Force. Ayres will be buried Aug. 10 in Pampa, and Stratton's burial date is being set by his family.
On Jan. 3, 1971, these men crewed an F-4E Phantom II aircraft departing Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base on a nighttime strike mission of enemy targets in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Shortly after Ayres initiated a target run, the crew of other aircraft in the flight observed a large explosion. No one witnessed an ejection or heard beeper signals, and communication was lost with the aircraft. Hostile activity in the area prevented search and rescue attempts.
In 2001, a joint U.S./Lao People's Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), traveled to Savannakhet Province and interviewed Laotian citizens about their knowledge of aircraft crash sites. One of the men led the team to what was believed to be the Ayres and Stratton crash site.
Later that year, another U.S./L.P.D.R team began excavating the site. The team recovered human remains and aircrew-related items. Between 2002 and 2005, joint teams visited the site six more times to complete the excavation, recovering more human remains and crew-related items.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
They are Lt. Col. James H. Ayres, of Pampa, Texas, and Lt. Col. Charles W. Stratton, of Dallas, Texas, both U.S. Air Force. Ayres will be buried Aug. 10 in Pampa, and Stratton's burial date is being set by his family.
On Jan. 3, 1971, these men crewed an F-4E Phantom II aircraft departing Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base on a nighttime strike mission of enemy targets in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Shortly after Ayres initiated a target run, the crew of other aircraft in the flight observed a large explosion. No one witnessed an ejection or heard beeper signals, and communication was lost with the aircraft. Hostile activity in the area prevented search and rescue attempts.
In 2001, a joint U.S./Lao People's Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), traveled to Savannakhet Province and interviewed Laotian citizens about their knowledge of aircraft crash sites. One of the men led the team to what was believed to be the Ayres and Stratton crash site.
Later that year, another U.S./L.P.D.R team began excavating the site. The team recovered human remains and aircrew-related items. Between 2002 and 2005, joint teams visited the site six more times to complete the excavation, recovering more human remains and crew-related items.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Volunteerism Benefits Troops Recovering at Walter Reed
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - Since operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom began, patriotic Americans have stood at the ready, willing to provide servicemembers with comfort and support. "The Defense Department is grateful for what people are doing across the country to support our troops in all kinds of ways: visiting the wounded, sending care packages and offering support in many other ways," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public liaison and internal communications. "Volunteers matter."
Volunteers are helping the nation's wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here in many ways. Becoming a volunteer is as easy as reaching out to groups supporting the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
"Comfort for America's Uniformed Services" is just one of the groups sharing its compassion with Walter Reed patients and their families. Based in Herndon, Va., this all-volunteer organization provides entertainment and recreation programs to Walter Reed patients 365 days a year, its executive director said.
"Our signature program is the digital library that we run out of Mologne House (a hotel for recovering patients and families visiting patients). It's like a mini-Blockbuster (video-rental store), only no fees," Barbara Lau said. "We loan out DVDs, video games, gaming systems to the wounded (servicemembers) and to their family members."
Other programs include spa days, which have licensed professionals come into offer massages, manicures and hair cuts. Once a month the group holds what Lau called "massage marathons," which are, as the name implies, a day of free massages.
"Those things are always over-subscribed by the soldiers and their family members," Lau said. "We never get through our waiting list."
In addition, Comfort for America's Uniformed Services holds regular picnics and Sunday brunches throughout the year. Its gift packs and video game tournaments also are big hits. And the organization recently started an art-therapy program for servicemembers.
None of this, Lau said, would be possible without the group's volunteers. "We could not exist without our volunteers," she said. "I'm always in need of volunteers. There are always slots where I can put people."
Other groups working with Walter Reed patients and their families include the Roanoke, Va.-chapter of the Wounded Warrior Project. The organization offers many programs for wounded servicemembers recovering at Walter Reed, including providing patient and family support.
This group offers help with expenses that arise from a servicemember's hospitalization. Patients can take advantage of peer-mentoring programs, seminars on coping with combat stress, and a program to help wounded warriors find employment.
Volunteers for another group, "Angels of Mercy," also lend their time and talents to raising the morale of Walter Reed's patients and their families. Volunteers visit patients weekly to provide clothing, comfort items and messages of caring, according to the group's Web site. The organization is sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 270 in McLean, Va.
"(We began by) ... personally shopping for food and other needed items for the families and delivered them to the Fisher Houses prior to (our) weekly visit to the recently wounded military in the hospital wards," said Jay Edwards, who co-founded the group with his wife, Marian Chirichella. "(Today) the Angels of Mercy program also sponsors special events like holiday gift giving, Super Bowl parties, baby showers, and escorts off-campus trips."
For more ways to volunteer in support of the nation's servicemembers, please visit the U.S. map on the America Supports You Web site and click on your state.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - Since operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom began, patriotic Americans have stood at the ready, willing to provide servicemembers with comfort and support. "The Defense Department is grateful for what people are doing across the country to support our troops in all kinds of ways: visiting the wounded, sending care packages and offering support in many other ways," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public liaison and internal communications. "Volunteers matter."
Volunteers are helping the nation's wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here in many ways. Becoming a volunteer is as easy as reaching out to groups supporting the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
"Comfort for America's Uniformed Services" is just one of the groups sharing its compassion with Walter Reed patients and their families. Based in Herndon, Va., this all-volunteer organization provides entertainment and recreation programs to Walter Reed patients 365 days a year, its executive director said.
"Our signature program is the digital library that we run out of Mologne House (a hotel for recovering patients and families visiting patients). It's like a mini-Blockbuster (video-rental store), only no fees," Barbara Lau said. "We loan out DVDs, video games, gaming systems to the wounded (servicemembers) and to their family members."
Other programs include spa days, which have licensed professionals come into offer massages, manicures and hair cuts. Once a month the group holds what Lau called "massage marathons," which are, as the name implies, a day of free massages.
"Those things are always over-subscribed by the soldiers and their family members," Lau said. "We never get through our waiting list."
In addition, Comfort for America's Uniformed Services holds regular picnics and Sunday brunches throughout the year. Its gift packs and video game tournaments also are big hits. And the organization recently started an art-therapy program for servicemembers.
None of this, Lau said, would be possible without the group's volunteers. "We could not exist without our volunteers," she said. "I'm always in need of volunteers. There are always slots where I can put people."
Other groups working with Walter Reed patients and their families include the Roanoke, Va.-chapter of the Wounded Warrior Project. The organization offers many programs for wounded servicemembers recovering at Walter Reed, including providing patient and family support.
This group offers help with expenses that arise from a servicemember's hospitalization. Patients can take advantage of peer-mentoring programs, seminars on coping with combat stress, and a program to help wounded warriors find employment.
Volunteers for another group, "Angels of Mercy," also lend their time and talents to raising the morale of Walter Reed's patients and their families. Volunteers visit patients weekly to provide clothing, comfort items and messages of caring, according to the group's Web site. The organization is sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 270 in McLean, Va.
"(We began by) ... personally shopping for food and other needed items for the families and delivered them to the Fisher Houses prior to (our) weekly visit to the recently wounded military in the hospital wards," said Jay Edwards, who co-founded the group with his wife, Marian Chirichella. "(Today) the Angels of Mercy program also sponsors special events like holiday gift giving, Super Bowl parties, baby showers, and escorts off-campus trips."
For more ways to volunteer in support of the nation's servicemembers, please visit the U.S. map on the America Supports You Web site and click on your state.
Servicemembers Volunteer to Convoy Supplies to Needy Afghans
By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 4, 2007 - Every other week, servicemembers from all branches of the military conduct convoys from this base to deliver clothing and supplies to needy Afghans in the surrounding areas. But they're not doing it because they have to. They're doing it because they want to help. "These are military and coalition members who volunteer," said Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Weber, Camp Eggers garrison chaplain. "They participate on their own time and at their own risk to do something good for the people of Afghanistan."
The chaplains on Camp Eggers have organized the deliveries as part of a community relations program. Working with local religious leaders, as well as various government and relief agencies, the program organizers plan their missions to deliver aid to areas most in need of the assistance.
Under the program, servicemembers visit a new location every two weeks. Once a location is determined, the organizers and volunteers meet a few days before the trip to sort the items sent over from the United States.
"Donations come in mostly through word of mouth, from people stationed here telling others back in the States," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Fred Hays, religious program specialist and chaplain's assistant. "We get donations from schools and churches, too."
Normally, the group averages about 20 large boxes filled with clothing, personal hygiene items, medical supplies, school supplies, food and blankets. Recently, the group donated about 2,000 pairs of shoes to a local village.
"Putting smiles on these young people's faces, that's the main thing," said Hays. "If we can win the younger generation's hearts in this war [against terrorism], we'll be able to win this war because the younger ones will be taking over for us. Show them kindness and that kindness can be returned."
During a recent trip to a refugee camp, the volunteers interacted with the Afghan families who showed up to watch them unload the boxes. Some military members passed out candy and soccer balls, while others gave high-fives and danced with the children.
A few translators were on hand, including Mohammad Khan, assistant director of Sozo International, a U.S.-based relief agency that supports this particular camp, which contains 585 families. Each of those families average six to 10 members.
Khan said many of the displaced Afghans had been living in Iran and Pakistan, as well as throughout Afghanistan, before ending up at the camp.
"This plot of land was designated to put about 13,000 [displaced] families," Khan said. "As you can see, they are pretty isolated out here from the rest of the population. The wind and the sun make this place very difficult to live. Their greatest need is for water and shelter. They were provided a water pump, but the hand pumps are not working properly out here. They are now getting their water from a tank and distributing water that way."
Khan said that the camp's mullahs appreciate the donations from the Americans. "They understand that the Americans bring what they can offer and they are thankful for that," he said.
Navy Capt. James Fisher, Combined Security Transition Command Afganistan chaplain, said he is proud of the volunteers and the work they do for the Afghan people.
"We do want to help those who are in need," Fisher said. "In a large sense, this represents the heart of America to the people here. When you see this country brutalized by war and the Taliban, who are thugs and thieves who kill people, you don't see much spirituality. You don't see much compassion. These soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors are just good-hearted military people. They want to make a difference."
(U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein is a journalist assigned to U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 4, 2007 - Every other week, servicemembers from all branches of the military conduct convoys from this base to deliver clothing and supplies to needy Afghans in the surrounding areas. But they're not doing it because they have to. They're doing it because they want to help. "These are military and coalition members who volunteer," said Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Weber, Camp Eggers garrison chaplain. "They participate on their own time and at their own risk to do something good for the people of Afghanistan."
The chaplains on Camp Eggers have organized the deliveries as part of a community relations program. Working with local religious leaders, as well as various government and relief agencies, the program organizers plan their missions to deliver aid to areas most in need of the assistance.
Under the program, servicemembers visit a new location every two weeks. Once a location is determined, the organizers and volunteers meet a few days before the trip to sort the items sent over from the United States.
"Donations come in mostly through word of mouth, from people stationed here telling others back in the States," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Fred Hays, religious program specialist and chaplain's assistant. "We get donations from schools and churches, too."
Normally, the group averages about 20 large boxes filled with clothing, personal hygiene items, medical supplies, school supplies, food and blankets. Recently, the group donated about 2,000 pairs of shoes to a local village.
"Putting smiles on these young people's faces, that's the main thing," said Hays. "If we can win the younger generation's hearts in this war [against terrorism], we'll be able to win this war because the younger ones will be taking over for us. Show them kindness and that kindness can be returned."
During a recent trip to a refugee camp, the volunteers interacted with the Afghan families who showed up to watch them unload the boxes. Some military members passed out candy and soccer balls, while others gave high-fives and danced with the children.
A few translators were on hand, including Mohammad Khan, assistant director of Sozo International, a U.S.-based relief agency that supports this particular camp, which contains 585 families. Each of those families average six to 10 members.
Khan said many of the displaced Afghans had been living in Iran and Pakistan, as well as throughout Afghanistan, before ending up at the camp.
"This plot of land was designated to put about 13,000 [displaced] families," Khan said. "As you can see, they are pretty isolated out here from the rest of the population. The wind and the sun make this place very difficult to live. Their greatest need is for water and shelter. They were provided a water pump, but the hand pumps are not working properly out here. They are now getting their water from a tank and distributing water that way."
Khan said that the camp's mullahs appreciate the donations from the Americans. "They understand that the Americans bring what they can offer and they are thankful for that," he said.
Navy Capt. James Fisher, Combined Security Transition Command Afganistan chaplain, said he is proud of the volunteers and the work they do for the Afghan people.
"We do want to help those who are in need," Fisher said. "In a large sense, this represents the heart of America to the people here. When you see this country brutalized by war and the Taliban, who are thugs and thieves who kill people, you don't see much spirituality. You don't see much compassion. These soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors are just good-hearted military people. They want to make a difference."
(U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein is a journalist assigned to U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs.)
Defense Department, VA Work to Integrate Health Records
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - The Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs took the first step this week toward developing a joint electronic health record system that will better serve wounded servicemembers and veterans. The two departments hired an independent contractor to make an assessment of how best to create the joint system, which will bring together inpatient records from more than 200 hospitals. The integration of these systems was a recommendation that came from various commissions after substandard conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here were brought to light earlier this year.
"That's what this contract is, a first step in helping the two agencies design the requirements to move forward with a joint inpatient record, which would mean that (Defense Department) doctors and VA doctors, when they pull up their screen, they're going to have the same information. The patient, when they go from one inpatient facility to another, they'll have the same data there," Dr. Stephen L. Jones, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said in an interview.
Integrating the two departments' health records has been a goal of the Defense Department and VA for a long time, Jones said, but the recent emphasis on military health care has accelerated the process. The new system will still take time to develop, but once it is in place, it will improve the quality, safety and efficiency of military health care, he said.
The integration of the systems comes at a convenient time, because both the VA and the Defense Department need to update their inpatient records systems, said Charles Hume, deputy chief information officer for the Military Health System. He noted that it is a huge undertaking, because electronic medical records are still not commonplace in the U.S., and no existing system can handle the large amount of data the military health system contains.
"We frankly are the pioneers in this effort. Nobody else has tackled it," Hume said.
The Defense Department and VA already share patient information in certain cases, such as sharing prescription, lab and radiology, allergy and discharge information for separated servicemembers. Also, the Defense Department provides all patient records for severely wounded warriors to VA polytrauma centers where they go for treatment.
Before this initiative came up, the two departments already had a strong working relationship, Dr. Paul Tibbits, deputy chief information officer for the VA, said in an interview. That relationship has served as a foundation for the current collaboration, he said.
"We have an extremely strong working relationship between the two departments in information technology, and I think it's gotten better because of this process, and it's just proven to be a very effective partnership," Tibbits said.
As the contractor moves forward with its study, the two departments will continue to collaborate and move forward with information sharing as much as they can, Hume said. The study will take a year, and while that may seem like a long time, it is necessary so all the technicalities and requirements of such a complicated and expensive system can be worked out, he said.
"We're talking about a very expensive and difficult system we're going to implement," he said. "We need to make sure we do it right, so we need to take the time to fully make sure we understand the requirements of that system and precisely what we're going to do. It's a cooperative process from the get-go, and as soon as we identify areas where we can begin to engage, we'll begin to engage."
Bringing in a contractor with industry expertise to do the study is important because the two departments need to ensure the technical aspects are worked out, and information standards are aligned within the system, Hume said. Jones pointed out that once the system is in place, it also will help make health care standards consistent throughout Defense Department and VA facilities.
"The whole effort in electronic health records is improve the quality of care, improve the safety of care, and improve better follow-up and tracking to ensure individuals are coming back and getting needed care," Jones said. "We want to ensure that we're focusing on what the physicians need, on what the administrators need, on what the case workers need, not what we think they need."
A joint inpatient medical record will possibly save the two departments money as well, Tibbits said. The extent of those savings will be determined by the study, he said.
Tibbits also pointed out that veterans will benefit greatly from a joint system, in that the determination of benefits will become much more efficient and effective. "Every veteran would have a much higher likelihood of being aware of and receiving every benefit to which they are actually entitled; it would become a much more organized and expeditious process," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - The Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs took the first step this week toward developing a joint electronic health record system that will better serve wounded servicemembers and veterans. The two departments hired an independent contractor to make an assessment of how best to create the joint system, which will bring together inpatient records from more than 200 hospitals. The integration of these systems was a recommendation that came from various commissions after substandard conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here were brought to light earlier this year.
"That's what this contract is, a first step in helping the two agencies design the requirements to move forward with a joint inpatient record, which would mean that (Defense Department) doctors and VA doctors, when they pull up their screen, they're going to have the same information. The patient, when they go from one inpatient facility to another, they'll have the same data there," Dr. Stephen L. Jones, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said in an interview.
Integrating the two departments' health records has been a goal of the Defense Department and VA for a long time, Jones said, but the recent emphasis on military health care has accelerated the process. The new system will still take time to develop, but once it is in place, it will improve the quality, safety and efficiency of military health care, he said.
The integration of the systems comes at a convenient time, because both the VA and the Defense Department need to update their inpatient records systems, said Charles Hume, deputy chief information officer for the Military Health System. He noted that it is a huge undertaking, because electronic medical records are still not commonplace in the U.S., and no existing system can handle the large amount of data the military health system contains.
"We frankly are the pioneers in this effort. Nobody else has tackled it," Hume said.
The Defense Department and VA already share patient information in certain cases, such as sharing prescription, lab and radiology, allergy and discharge information for separated servicemembers. Also, the Defense Department provides all patient records for severely wounded warriors to VA polytrauma centers where they go for treatment.
Before this initiative came up, the two departments already had a strong working relationship, Dr. Paul Tibbits, deputy chief information officer for the VA, said in an interview. That relationship has served as a foundation for the current collaboration, he said.
"We have an extremely strong working relationship between the two departments in information technology, and I think it's gotten better because of this process, and it's just proven to be a very effective partnership," Tibbits said.
As the contractor moves forward with its study, the two departments will continue to collaborate and move forward with information sharing as much as they can, Hume said. The study will take a year, and while that may seem like a long time, it is necessary so all the technicalities and requirements of such a complicated and expensive system can be worked out, he said.
"We're talking about a very expensive and difficult system we're going to implement," he said. "We need to make sure we do it right, so we need to take the time to fully make sure we understand the requirements of that system and precisely what we're going to do. It's a cooperative process from the get-go, and as soon as we identify areas where we can begin to engage, we'll begin to engage."
Bringing in a contractor with industry expertise to do the study is important because the two departments need to ensure the technical aspects are worked out, and information standards are aligned within the system, Hume said. Jones pointed out that once the system is in place, it also will help make health care standards consistent throughout Defense Department and VA facilities.
"The whole effort in electronic health records is improve the quality of care, improve the safety of care, and improve better follow-up and tracking to ensure individuals are coming back and getting needed care," Jones said. "We want to ensure that we're focusing on what the physicians need, on what the administrators need, on what the case workers need, not what we think they need."
A joint inpatient medical record will possibly save the two departments money as well, Tibbits said. The extent of those savings will be determined by the study, he said.
Tibbits also pointed out that veterans will benefit greatly from a joint system, in that the determination of benefits will become much more efficient and effective. "Every veteran would have a much higher likelihood of being aware of and receiving every benefit to which they are actually entitled; it would become a much more organized and expeditious process," he said.
'Check It' Campaign Celebrates Year of Success
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - Defense officials today recognized the end of the first phase of the "Check It" campaign, which raises awareness about internal management controls within the Defense Department. Check It was launched a year ago by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England as a way to remind members of the defense community to do their jobs to the best of their ability and double-check for mistakes. The first phase focused on raising awareness about internal management controls and employees' responsibility to check their work.
At today's ceremony, England thanked all those who participated in the campaign and encouraged them to continue their support through the next phase of the program, which focuses on improving processes to prevent mistakes.
"At the end of the day, this is the ultimate service organization. Part of that service is absolutely making sure we do things the best we can every day," England said. "You're going to come to work every day, you might as well do the best you can."
Seven groups of people from communities within and outside the Defense Department were recognized today for their participation in Check It. These groups all developed campaign slogans within their communities and promoted awareness of internal management controls.
Tina Jonas, the Defense Department's comptroller and chief financial officer, applauded the groups for their innovative ideas in the Check It campaign. "It's about people and our mission," she said. "If we don't do our particular job right, it can compound things and ultimately affect the mission our men and women are doing."
The second phase of the program, which will continue for at least another year, will start to measure the quality of the work coming out of the defense community and how it can be improved, Jonas said.
"Our bottom line of continual improvement and process improvement is making sure that lives are protected, that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, whether they're handling weapons, whether they're doing security, whether they're in the hospital rooms, that they have the support that they need and that mistakes aren't made," she said.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - Defense officials today recognized the end of the first phase of the "Check It" campaign, which raises awareness about internal management controls within the Defense Department. Check It was launched a year ago by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England as a way to remind members of the defense community to do their jobs to the best of their ability and double-check for mistakes. The first phase focused on raising awareness about internal management controls and employees' responsibility to check their work.
At today's ceremony, England thanked all those who participated in the campaign and encouraged them to continue their support through the next phase of the program, which focuses on improving processes to prevent mistakes.
"At the end of the day, this is the ultimate service organization. Part of that service is absolutely making sure we do things the best we can every day," England said. "You're going to come to work every day, you might as well do the best you can."
Seven groups of people from communities within and outside the Defense Department were recognized today for their participation in Check It. These groups all developed campaign slogans within their communities and promoted awareness of internal management controls.
Tina Jonas, the Defense Department's comptroller and chief financial officer, applauded the groups for their innovative ideas in the Check It campaign. "It's about people and our mission," she said. "If we don't do our particular job right, it can compound things and ultimately affect the mission our men and women are doing."
The second phase of the program, which will continue for at least another year, will start to measure the quality of the work coming out of the defense community and how it can be improved, Jonas said.
"Our bottom line of continual improvement and process improvement is making sure that lives are protected, that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, whether they're handling weapons, whether they're doing security, whether they're in the hospital rooms, that they have the support that they need and that mistakes aren't made," she said.
Walter Reed Building Named in Fallen Combat Medic's Honor
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - About 50 family members, friends and fellow soldiers of Army Cpl. Angelo J. Vaccaro, an Army medic killed in Afghanistan, gathered for a dedication ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here yesterday as "Building 38" was renamed "Vaccaro Hall." The hall will serve as the headquarters for the new Warrior Transition Brigade, a center aimed at improving the Army outpatient-care system, which was criticized for various shortcomings earlier this year. Vaccaro, who struggled to overcome his own flaws, and the building named in his honor, are both stories of redemption, a general said.
"I'm very grateful that the leaders of the Warrior Transition Brigade named their headquarters after this great Army combat medic," Army Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, commander of North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, told audience members.
"The fact that we've taken a building that was part of this historic campus now 100 years old ... and rejuvenated it and reapplied it toward this new mission of the warrior-transition unit really is the embodiment of Angelo Vaccaro, a man who put his life back together and became a combat medic and found meaning," he said.
"Like (Vaccaro), this institution is on a journey of redemption to reaffirm its service to the nation and to the Army, to warriors that have been wounded or ill or have been injured in service to their nation," Schoomaker said. "I really felt Angelo's pride, his spirit here in this place."
Vaccaro, who died Oct. 3 while attempting to evacuate casualties during combat in Afghanistan, is the first servicemember to earn two Silver Star Medals in the global terror war. A plaque adjacent to Vaccaro Hall's front door was unveiled yesterday. It bears an embossed picture of the soldier's face and describes his final courageous moments.
"On October 3rd, 2006, (Vaccaro) learned that his platoon was involved in direct fire engagement with enemy forces and he volunteered to conduct an extremely dangerous ground extraction," the plaque states. "Cpl. Vaccaro was struck by enemy fire and instantly killed while attempting to evacuate casualties."
Several years ago, a poignant ceremony like yesterday's, with general officers praising a soldier who died honorably doing what he loved, would have been impossible for the Vaccaro family to imagine.
Angelo Vaccaro's older brother Ray described how the military transformed Angelo from a lost youth into a passionate combat medic. His back against a wall in the Vaccaro Hall reception room, Ray balanced his squirming 9-month old daughter, Ava, on his leg while he described his and Angelo's upbringing.
"My brother got into some bad stuff," Ray remembered. "Drugs, crime, hanging out with the wrong people."
As a young man in Bronx, N.Y., Angelo had led a misdirected life, with bad influences, drug use and brushes with the law. The two brothers were best friends, Ray said, but their lives took divergent paths once the family moved from the bustling New York City borough to small-town Deltona, Fla.
To earn tuition for the college degree Ray dreamed of, he enlisted in the Army, serving from 1995 to 1998. Meanwhile, Angelo continued a self-destructive lifestyle.
"When Angelo was in his bad times, I asked him, 'Is this how you want to be forever?'" Ray recalled. "And he said, 'No.'"
Ray introduced his younger brother to an Army recruiter, and Angelo enlisted as a combat medic in 2004 after being granted a waiver. Potential recruits may be barred from joining the military due to stringent moral requirements, but on a case-by-case basis the services offer waivers to a small percentage of those who would otherwise be disqualified.
Vaccaro was humble when discussing his Army achievements, Ray said. But as a former member of the Boys and Girls Club, Vaccaro took pride in treating local children's ailments while serving as a combat medic in Afghanistan.
"Angelo was proud of helping children, sewing cuts on theirs hands and feet, or giving them bandages," he said. "He always had a love for kids, and he was so proud of that."
Ray said he wants his daughter, who was born one month after Angelo died, to know everything about her uncle, who matured from a community outcast to a community pillar.
"He did not get to meet her, but she hears all about him all the time. She gets to hold his medals and look at pictures of him," he said. "I want her to know everything, from the bad to the good to the even better.
"I want her to know who her uncle was to keep his spirit alive."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 3, 2007 - About 50 family members, friends and fellow soldiers of Army Cpl. Angelo J. Vaccaro, an Army medic killed in Afghanistan, gathered for a dedication ceremony at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here yesterday as "Building 38" was renamed "Vaccaro Hall." The hall will serve as the headquarters for the new Warrior Transition Brigade, a center aimed at improving the Army outpatient-care system, which was criticized for various shortcomings earlier this year. Vaccaro, who struggled to overcome his own flaws, and the building named in his honor, are both stories of redemption, a general said.
"I'm very grateful that the leaders of the Warrior Transition Brigade named their headquarters after this great Army combat medic," Army Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, commander of North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, told audience members.
"The fact that we've taken a building that was part of this historic campus now 100 years old ... and rejuvenated it and reapplied it toward this new mission of the warrior-transition unit really is the embodiment of Angelo Vaccaro, a man who put his life back together and became a combat medic and found meaning," he said.
"Like (Vaccaro), this institution is on a journey of redemption to reaffirm its service to the nation and to the Army, to warriors that have been wounded or ill or have been injured in service to their nation," Schoomaker said. "I really felt Angelo's pride, his spirit here in this place."
Vaccaro, who died Oct. 3 while attempting to evacuate casualties during combat in Afghanistan, is the first servicemember to earn two Silver Star Medals in the global terror war. A plaque adjacent to Vaccaro Hall's front door was unveiled yesterday. It bears an embossed picture of the soldier's face and describes his final courageous moments.
"On October 3rd, 2006, (Vaccaro) learned that his platoon was involved in direct fire engagement with enemy forces and he volunteered to conduct an extremely dangerous ground extraction," the plaque states. "Cpl. Vaccaro was struck by enemy fire and instantly killed while attempting to evacuate casualties."
Several years ago, a poignant ceremony like yesterday's, with general officers praising a soldier who died honorably doing what he loved, would have been impossible for the Vaccaro family to imagine.
Angelo Vaccaro's older brother Ray described how the military transformed Angelo from a lost youth into a passionate combat medic. His back against a wall in the Vaccaro Hall reception room, Ray balanced his squirming 9-month old daughter, Ava, on his leg while he described his and Angelo's upbringing.
"My brother got into some bad stuff," Ray remembered. "Drugs, crime, hanging out with the wrong people."
As a young man in Bronx, N.Y., Angelo had led a misdirected life, with bad influences, drug use and brushes with the law. The two brothers were best friends, Ray said, but their lives took divergent paths once the family moved from the bustling New York City borough to small-town Deltona, Fla.
To earn tuition for the college degree Ray dreamed of, he enlisted in the Army, serving from 1995 to 1998. Meanwhile, Angelo continued a self-destructive lifestyle.
"When Angelo was in his bad times, I asked him, 'Is this how you want to be forever?'" Ray recalled. "And he said, 'No.'"
Ray introduced his younger brother to an Army recruiter, and Angelo enlisted as a combat medic in 2004 after being granted a waiver. Potential recruits may be barred from joining the military due to stringent moral requirements, but on a case-by-case basis the services offer waivers to a small percentage of those who would otherwise be disqualified.
Vaccaro was humble when discussing his Army achievements, Ray said. But as a former member of the Boys and Girls Club, Vaccaro took pride in treating local children's ailments while serving as a combat medic in Afghanistan.
"Angelo was proud of helping children, sewing cuts on theirs hands and feet, or giving them bandages," he said. "He always had a love for kids, and he was so proud of that."
Ray said he wants his daughter, who was born one month after Angelo died, to know everything about her uncle, who matured from a community outcast to a community pillar.
"He did not get to meet her, but she hears all about him all the time. She gets to hold his medals and look at pictures of him," he said. "I want her to know everything, from the bad to the good to the even better.
"I want her to know who her uncle was to keep his spirit alive."
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