October 23, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing servicemembers who have authored books. The website added a free, completely downloadable, novella on Sergeant Jim Heitmeyer’s experiences as a Military Police Officer in Desert Storm.
According to Jim Heitmeyer, “Trucks and equipment were loaded quickly for deployment and all soldiers received their necessary overseas vaccines. Large musters were formed to insure all soldiers were present as activated. All soldiers’ 201 files were checked for updated information. New dog tags were issued with name, religion and blood type.
Some troops were transported by buses to their assigned duty bases for the necessary training in NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) warfare and tactics. Everyone was present and accounted for and ready for transport to their newly assigned staging point.
Some members of the 745 Military Police Company were activated in October of 1990. At 0400 hours on 28 November 1990 I was called to report to the capital hill armory off 44th and Pennsylvania Street. The remainder of our unit had been activated. We were told to report to the armory with all our gear. Being activated must have affected Vietnam vets in a similar manner when they were called to war.”
Later, after the war had begun, Jim Heitmeyer writes, “Then it dawned on me. I didn’t have any aerial markings on my vehicle and that was a serious problem right now. The gunship continued to track me for a mile before banking off. I thought, “Ok Jim, you have nearly been killed four times already on this trip and only GOD could have saved you.” I was shaking like a naked man in a snowstorm from fear. Just about the time when getting my senses back two F-16s scraped me, flew in front of me and turned back my way. They lowered their altitude to about tree level headed directly at me. “I am definitely toast and dead now!” I thought.”
Jim Heitmeyer was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Paradise Valley. Jim joined the United States Marine Corps and completed his service to our country. Jim later joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 745 Military Police Company. Jim served during the “Just Cause” war in Panama and Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm. Jim Heitmeyer attained the rank of sergeant (E5).
Jim Hietmeyer is a retired lieutenant from the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office (Oklahoma). After his retirement from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office he worked as a police officer for the Arcadia Police Department from 2001 through 2004. During his career, he worked as a jailer, deputy sheriff, CLEET instructor, American Red Cross Instructor, and biohazards instructor. He is the author of two books under the pen name of Jim Daly: Lockdown Madness and Behind Steel Doors.
Military-Writers.com currently lists 52 current or former military servicemembers and their 132 books.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Army Makes Progress on Warrior Transition Units
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - The Army is working quickly to field and fully staff new warrior transition units, which provide critical support to wounded soldiers and their families, the general in charge of the Army Medical Action Plan said. The Army has created 35 warrior transition units, which consist of 58 companies of about 200 soldiers each, Army Brig. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, deputy commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, said at a media roundtable Oct. 19. These units are designed to fill a gap in support personnel for wounded troops that the Army identified after media reports in February revealed problems with care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
After these problems came to light, representatives from about 40 government agencies did an analysis of the situation and discovered that the Army did not have adequate support personnel for wounded soldiers, which diminished the quality of care soldiers and their families were receiving, Tucker said. "We actually had about 200 cadre (soldiers) in the entire Army to take care of medical hold," he said. "Our mission analysis told us we needed 2,400, and the Army's answering that bill right now."
The cadre, or training staff, being recruited to join these warrior transition units consists of civilians and active-duty, reserve and National Guard soldiers, Tucker said. The units have physicians, nurses, squad leaders, platoon sergeants, and mental health professionals. These leaders are responsible for making sure wounded troops' needs are met, their care is coordinated, and their families are taken care of, he said.
"The soldier's job is to heal, ... so what does that mean? That means that going to their appointments, taking their therapy, doing their treatments as prescribed, taking their medication as prescribed is their job," Tucker said. "The cadre, the squad leader, the platoon sergeant's job is to ensure that they have set the conditions for the soldier to do their job. We hold them accountable to do their job."
In crafting these units, Army leaders have made sure that the ratio of support personnel to soldiers stays low, Tucker said. Each squad leader has 12 soldiers to take care of, whereas in the past he could have as many as 50. The platoon sergeants each have about 36 soldiers under them, and the commanders have 200. The units also include case managers at a ratio of 1 to 18, which is a vast improvement over the past, when they could have as many as 80 soldiers they were responsible for, he said.
The Army has hired about 65 percent of the cadre for the warrior transition units and should be at full strength by January, Tucker said. These personnel are hand-selected by the unit commanders, who are looking for strong leaders who understand what wounded troops go through and can be sensitive to their needs, he said.
"They need a special leader who understands (and) is compassionate, is firm but caring," Tucker said, noting that those who are selected go through medical and sensitivity training before reporting for duty.
In conjunction with the warrior transition units, the Army also is setting up soldier family assistance centers, which provide administrative and social work services for family members staying with wounded troops, Tucker said. These will especially help families that aren't familiar with the military become oriented with installations and find lodging and other services, he said.
The overall approach by the Army medical system is to promote not only physical healing in wounded warriors, but also encourage their ambitions and goals, whether they be to stay in the military or transition into the civilian world, Tucker said. Army medical providers cannot allow wounded soldiers to become lazy or complacent while undergoing care, he said, but should help them learn and hone skills that they can use if they decide to leave the military.
"We want to allow these soldiers to be everything they want to be in life, and not allow them just to focus on the 'bad leg,' so to speak, but let's focus on them going back out into the civilian world and being a productive citizen in society," he said.
Army leaders are holding a conference this week in Lansdowne, Va., with 300 people from 60 different government agencies to assess the Army Medical Action Plan's progress and goals for the future, Tucker said.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - The Army is working quickly to field and fully staff new warrior transition units, which provide critical support to wounded soldiers and their families, the general in charge of the Army Medical Action Plan said. The Army has created 35 warrior transition units, which consist of 58 companies of about 200 soldiers each, Army Brig. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, deputy commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, said at a media roundtable Oct. 19. These units are designed to fill a gap in support personnel for wounded troops that the Army identified after media reports in February revealed problems with care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
After these problems came to light, representatives from about 40 government agencies did an analysis of the situation and discovered that the Army did not have adequate support personnel for wounded soldiers, which diminished the quality of care soldiers and their families were receiving, Tucker said. "We actually had about 200 cadre (soldiers) in the entire Army to take care of medical hold," he said. "Our mission analysis told us we needed 2,400, and the Army's answering that bill right now."
The cadre, or training staff, being recruited to join these warrior transition units consists of civilians and active-duty, reserve and National Guard soldiers, Tucker said. The units have physicians, nurses, squad leaders, platoon sergeants, and mental health professionals. These leaders are responsible for making sure wounded troops' needs are met, their care is coordinated, and their families are taken care of, he said.
"The soldier's job is to heal, ... so what does that mean? That means that going to their appointments, taking their therapy, doing their treatments as prescribed, taking their medication as prescribed is their job," Tucker said. "The cadre, the squad leader, the platoon sergeant's job is to ensure that they have set the conditions for the soldier to do their job. We hold them accountable to do their job."
In crafting these units, Army leaders have made sure that the ratio of support personnel to soldiers stays low, Tucker said. Each squad leader has 12 soldiers to take care of, whereas in the past he could have as many as 50. The platoon sergeants each have about 36 soldiers under them, and the commanders have 200. The units also include case managers at a ratio of 1 to 18, which is a vast improvement over the past, when they could have as many as 80 soldiers they were responsible for, he said.
The Army has hired about 65 percent of the cadre for the warrior transition units and should be at full strength by January, Tucker said. These personnel are hand-selected by the unit commanders, who are looking for strong leaders who understand what wounded troops go through and can be sensitive to their needs, he said.
"They need a special leader who understands (and) is compassionate, is firm but caring," Tucker said, noting that those who are selected go through medical and sensitivity training before reporting for duty.
In conjunction with the warrior transition units, the Army also is setting up soldier family assistance centers, which provide administrative and social work services for family members staying with wounded troops, Tucker said. These will especially help families that aren't familiar with the military become oriented with installations and find lodging and other services, he said.
The overall approach by the Army medical system is to promote not only physical healing in wounded warriors, but also encourage their ambitions and goals, whether they be to stay in the military or transition into the civilian world, Tucker said. Army medical providers cannot allow wounded soldiers to become lazy or complacent while undergoing care, he said, but should help them learn and hone skills that they can use if they decide to leave the military.
"We want to allow these soldiers to be everything they want to be in life, and not allow them just to focus on the 'bad leg,' so to speak, but let's focus on them going back out into the civilian world and being a productive citizen in society," he said.
Army leaders are holding a conference this week in Lansdowne, Va., with 300 people from 60 different government agencies to assess the Army Medical Action Plan's progress and goals for the future, Tucker said.
Chairman Starts Two-Day Trip to Visit Army Posts
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff today set off on a two-day trip to visit three Army installations, where he plans to talk to soldiers and gauge the stress levels caused by the service's high operational tempo since the beginning of the war on terror. This is Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's first trip as chairman to Army posts within the United States, and a handful of informal question-and-answer sessions are planned with soldiers of all ranks here and at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, both in Kansas.
Mullen also will stop at an Army recruiting conference in Denver, Colo. His wife, Deborah, is with him on the trip and will meet with soldiers' families concurrently.
Second only to the war, the chairman said, his priority is resetting the force. This trip will allow him to personally hear concerns of the soldiers, he added.
The admiral's first stop was here in southwest Oklahoma's home of the Field Artillery, where he fielded questions from the Army and Marine students in the Captains Career Course and met with the branch chief, Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Vangjel.
The chairman told them that the ground forces are the "center of gravity." He promised no immediate answers, but took names and e-mail addresses and promised more detailed answers later.
Mullen fielded questions ranging from individual concerns, such as problems with local hospitals, to big-picture queries such as the long-term plans for a military presence in Iraq, but most were somehow related to quality of life.
The chairman conceded at the start of the session that ground forces, primarily provided by the Army, are tired.
"It's very fragile ground right now that we're on," he said, made so as soldiers and leaders try to balance the demands of mission and training with those of the soldiers' families.
"We've got to make sure we get it right for our people," the chairman said.
This afternoon, Mullen will travel to Fort Leavenworth to talk with students in the Command and General Staff College, a graduate school for Army leaders, and then it's on to Denver this evening for a reception with recruiters. Fort Leavenworth is home to the Army's Combined Arms Center, a major subordinate headquarters of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, charged with directing leader development, professional military and civilian education and training, as well as preparing the service for transformation.
Tomorrow, Mullen will visit Fort Riley, where he will view military transition team training, have lunch with troops and visit soldier-patients at the post hospital. Fort Riley is home to the 1st Infantry Division, the Army's oldest continuously serving division.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff today set off on a two-day trip to visit three Army installations, where he plans to talk to soldiers and gauge the stress levels caused by the service's high operational tempo since the beginning of the war on terror. This is Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's first trip as chairman to Army posts within the United States, and a handful of informal question-and-answer sessions are planned with soldiers of all ranks here and at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, both in Kansas.
Mullen also will stop at an Army recruiting conference in Denver, Colo. His wife, Deborah, is with him on the trip and will meet with soldiers' families concurrently.
Second only to the war, the chairman said, his priority is resetting the force. This trip will allow him to personally hear concerns of the soldiers, he added.
The admiral's first stop was here in southwest Oklahoma's home of the Field Artillery, where he fielded questions from the Army and Marine students in the Captains Career Course and met with the branch chief, Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Vangjel.
The chairman told them that the ground forces are the "center of gravity." He promised no immediate answers, but took names and e-mail addresses and promised more detailed answers later.
Mullen fielded questions ranging from individual concerns, such as problems with local hospitals, to big-picture queries such as the long-term plans for a military presence in Iraq, but most were somehow related to quality of life.
The chairman conceded at the start of the session that ground forces, primarily provided by the Army, are tired.
"It's very fragile ground right now that we're on," he said, made so as soldiers and leaders try to balance the demands of mission and training with those of the soldiers' families.
"We've got to make sure we get it right for our people," the chairman said.
This afternoon, Mullen will travel to Fort Leavenworth to talk with students in the Command and General Staff College, a graduate school for Army leaders, and then it's on to Denver this evening for a reception with recruiters. Fort Leavenworth is home to the Army's Combined Arms Center, a major subordinate headquarters of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, charged with directing leader development, professional military and civilian education and training, as well as preparing the service for transformation.
Tomorrow, Mullen will visit Fort Riley, where he will view military transition team training, have lunch with troops and visit soldier-patients at the post hospital. Fort Riley is home to the 1st Infantry Division, the Army's oldest continuously serving division.
Vice Chairman Talks Intelligence at Geospatial Conference
By Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Intelligence sharing betwen nations needs to be re-examined and improved, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright gave the keynote address to more than 2,600 in attendance at the Geospatial Intelligence 2007 Conference. The audience included people from the Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service, along with people from 17 foreign countries.
After his speech, the general took questions from the audience. One question concerned classification being a barrier to international intelligence collaboration.
"If you're a parent, explain this one to your kids: It's OK to share a foxhole with an Aussie, have him die for you, but we can't tell him which way the threat's coming from," Cartwright said. "It's just ludicrous." He said collaborating with other nations while protecting classified information is imperative.
"We have to be able to start to differentiate between what it is we really want to keep secret," the general said.
The challenge of intelligence sharing was recently displayed during a national-level exercise, Cartwright told the audience. American and Australian officials tried to get into each other's computer systems to share intelligence, which proved difficult.
"Not sharing is unacceptable," he bluntly said.
During the question-and-answer session, Cartwright also said developing and expanding a common program to gather intelligence information is important to the future of intelligence capabilities. A current system operates like commercial search engines, he explained. "The customer decides what it is they want to know," he said. "It's more akin to My Yahoo! or Google."
That system has limitations, he said. The way ahead, he told the group, is to let the user tell the search engines what to search for as well as what not to search for. However, Cartwright said, fielding intelligence capabilities shouldn't always involve throwing money at the problem to solve it, likening that challenge to the one posed by improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It's akin to IEDs," the general said. "We can't afford the solution, but we're going to keep trying to spend the money to do it in some technical way instead of stepping out of the architectures and stovepipes," he added, referring to developing an "outside the box" way of solving the problem.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump is assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff public affairs office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Intelligence sharing betwen nations needs to be re-examined and improved, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright gave the keynote address to more than 2,600 in attendance at the Geospatial Intelligence 2007 Conference. The audience included people from the Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service, along with people from 17 foreign countries.
After his speech, the general took questions from the audience. One question concerned classification being a barrier to international intelligence collaboration.
"If you're a parent, explain this one to your kids: It's OK to share a foxhole with an Aussie, have him die for you, but we can't tell him which way the threat's coming from," Cartwright said. "It's just ludicrous." He said collaborating with other nations while protecting classified information is imperative.
"We have to be able to start to differentiate between what it is we really want to keep secret," the general said.
The challenge of intelligence sharing was recently displayed during a national-level exercise, Cartwright told the audience. American and Australian officials tried to get into each other's computer systems to share intelligence, which proved difficult.
"Not sharing is unacceptable," he bluntly said.
During the question-and-answer session, Cartwright also said developing and expanding a common program to gather intelligence information is important to the future of intelligence capabilities. A current system operates like commercial search engines, he explained. "The customer decides what it is they want to know," he said. "It's more akin to My Yahoo! or Google."
That system has limitations, he said. The way ahead, he told the group, is to let the user tell the search engines what to search for as well as what not to search for. However, Cartwright said, fielding intelligence capabilities shouldn't always involve throwing money at the problem to solve it, likening that challenge to the one posed by improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It's akin to IEDs," the general said. "We can't afford the solution, but we're going to keep trying to spend the money to do it in some technical way instead of stepping out of the architectures and stovepipes," he added, referring to developing an "outside the box" way of solving the problem.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump is assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff public affairs office.)
Down and Dirty: The Life of an Airborne Ranger
By Spc. Micah E. Clare, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Army Sgt. Jim McKinzie has always made a living out of getting dirty. Judging from his smiling face and his combat uniform -- soiled and stained with dirt, oil and gasoline -- it looks like he's not planning to change that any time soon. McKinzie, a 35-year-old generator mechanic, squad leader and truck commander in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is known for being one of the hardest-working noncommissioned officers in his unit, as well as the only Ranger-qualified NCO in the battalion.
"He's a down and dirty guy," said Spc. Evan Grabenstein, a communications operator from Houston. "He's always the last one to be working."
McKinzie said he doesn't find his work in the Army to be nearly as hard as the staggering number of civilian jobs he has worked.
"I've done air conditioner and heater repair, carpentry, auto mechanics, iron-working, filling fuel tanks and construction, to name a few," McKinzie said as he hooked up chains from a crane to emplace a trailer-sized refrigerator at an isolated outpost in Afghanistan's Paktika Province.
Even though he loves his work and may not show any signs of slowing down, he admitted there are some days when he can feel the strain.
"I've done a lot of manual-labor jobs," said the Fort Worth, Texas, native. "But at my age, it's starting to wear on me a little. I try taking a supervisory role more often." His soldiers would disagree with him on that note, though.
"He's still the first one to volunteer for work," exclaimed Spc. Cara Allen, a driver in the 782nd BSB from Trenton, N.J. "Then he'll make you do it with him!"
"I couldn't ask for a better squad leader," said Army Staff Sgt. Gerald Mickelson, McKinzie's platoon sergeant. Mickelson chuckled as he watched McKinzie still working on a truck after dark, when everyone else had gone to dinner.
"He's not afraid of getting as dirty as possible to get the job done," said Mickelson, who's from Monroe, Ga.
McKinzie attributes his attitude about work to a strong desire to put his whole heart into a job.
"It's not about pleasing anyone; it's about making it happen, regardless of what kind of job it is," he said in his Texas accent. "Therefore, get in there, get in dirty, and knock it out. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can get back to chilling out and relaxing."
Even though McKinzie has never minded the sweat, dust, dirt or grease required to complete a mission, he loves to get cleaned up at the end of one.
"I'm no prima donna," he said. "I don't need a shower every night, but there is nothing better than having one at the end of a long, dirty mission."
There was a time though, when McKinzie's whole life was less than cleaned up. McKinzie, his wife, Angela, and daughter, Brianna, were living in the projects and were very poor, he explained. However, just like in his work, all McKinzie needed was a good cleaning up to get back up on his feet and start over.
"God really delivered me and cleaned me up from the inside out," he said excitedly. After a few years of straightening up, he decided to volunteer for the military. While he was in the recruiter's office, something really caught his eye.
"I saw this poster showing the "double A's" (the 82nd Airborne Division patch) with the Airborne and Ranger tab above it. I thought that had to be pretty high-speed," McKinzie said. Shortly after, he graduated from basic training and went to his advanced individual training to become a generator mechanic. There he was given an opportunity to fulfill his dream of earning Airborne wings.
"I always wanted to go, even though I figured I would barely make it through," he said. "Even in basic (training), I prayed that God would give me a love for running just so I could pass the (physical fitness) test." He did pass Airborne Basic Course and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
Once at his unit, it wasn't long before another exciting challenge presented itself, when his battalion commander told him that Ranger school had opened to all military occupational specialties. "Go get your tab and we'll make you an NCO," he recalled his commander telling him.
"Even though I was an old man, I knew I was going to jump on that," McKinzie said, laughing.
Despite a lot of discouragement, McKinzie said he knew nothing was going to stand in his way of that tab. Preparing mentally and physically for success, he trained hard for six months before going to Ranger school, even when there wasn't an established training program for him, he said.
Just as he had been used to his whole life, Ranger school was no walk in the park.
"You get dirty, all the time," he said. "We got messed up there. It took a lot of self-discipline." Not until he finally graduated did he learn why he had been sent there in the first place.
"You don't go to Ranger school to become a leader," he said. "You go because you are a leader. You accept the challenge and make it happen. You have to get it without having your hand held."
Now, more than a year after graduating, McKinzie employs his leadership skills as a squad leader and truck commander in the 782nd BSB's "Market Garden" Combat Logistics Patrol, running supplies to far-reaching outposts in southeastern Afghanistan.
He enjoys his work, and most of all is glad for the support he gets from his wife and daughter while he does what he loves best: getting dirty.
"I do spend most of my time getting dirty," McKinzie said. "But I'm very blessed to be where I'm at."
With an Army combat uniform as badly ruined as his, stained again from a recent hydraulics fluid eruption, most people would probably be complaining. But for a man who has made a living out of getting dirty, McKinzie just jokes, "That's one more set of ACUs I'm down. The Army better be supplying me with more."
(Army Spc. Micah E. Clare is assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Army Sgt. Jim McKinzie has always made a living out of getting dirty. Judging from his smiling face and his combat uniform -- soiled and stained with dirt, oil and gasoline -- it looks like he's not planning to change that any time soon. McKinzie, a 35-year-old generator mechanic, squad leader and truck commander in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is known for being one of the hardest-working noncommissioned officers in his unit, as well as the only Ranger-qualified NCO in the battalion.
"He's a down and dirty guy," said Spc. Evan Grabenstein, a communications operator from Houston. "He's always the last one to be working."
McKinzie said he doesn't find his work in the Army to be nearly as hard as the staggering number of civilian jobs he has worked.
"I've done air conditioner and heater repair, carpentry, auto mechanics, iron-working, filling fuel tanks and construction, to name a few," McKinzie said as he hooked up chains from a crane to emplace a trailer-sized refrigerator at an isolated outpost in Afghanistan's Paktika Province.
Even though he loves his work and may not show any signs of slowing down, he admitted there are some days when he can feel the strain.
"I've done a lot of manual-labor jobs," said the Fort Worth, Texas, native. "But at my age, it's starting to wear on me a little. I try taking a supervisory role more often." His soldiers would disagree with him on that note, though.
"He's still the first one to volunteer for work," exclaimed Spc. Cara Allen, a driver in the 782nd BSB from Trenton, N.J. "Then he'll make you do it with him!"
"I couldn't ask for a better squad leader," said Army Staff Sgt. Gerald Mickelson, McKinzie's platoon sergeant. Mickelson chuckled as he watched McKinzie still working on a truck after dark, when everyone else had gone to dinner.
"He's not afraid of getting as dirty as possible to get the job done," said Mickelson, who's from Monroe, Ga.
McKinzie attributes his attitude about work to a strong desire to put his whole heart into a job.
"It's not about pleasing anyone; it's about making it happen, regardless of what kind of job it is," he said in his Texas accent. "Therefore, get in there, get in dirty, and knock it out. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can get back to chilling out and relaxing."
Even though McKinzie has never minded the sweat, dust, dirt or grease required to complete a mission, he loves to get cleaned up at the end of one.
"I'm no prima donna," he said. "I don't need a shower every night, but there is nothing better than having one at the end of a long, dirty mission."
There was a time though, when McKinzie's whole life was less than cleaned up. McKinzie, his wife, Angela, and daughter, Brianna, were living in the projects and were very poor, he explained. However, just like in his work, all McKinzie needed was a good cleaning up to get back up on his feet and start over.
"God really delivered me and cleaned me up from the inside out," he said excitedly. After a few years of straightening up, he decided to volunteer for the military. While he was in the recruiter's office, something really caught his eye.
"I saw this poster showing the "double A's" (the 82nd Airborne Division patch) with the Airborne and Ranger tab above it. I thought that had to be pretty high-speed," McKinzie said. Shortly after, he graduated from basic training and went to his advanced individual training to become a generator mechanic. There he was given an opportunity to fulfill his dream of earning Airborne wings.
"I always wanted to go, even though I figured I would barely make it through," he said. "Even in basic (training), I prayed that God would give me a love for running just so I could pass the (physical fitness) test." He did pass Airborne Basic Course and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
Once at his unit, it wasn't long before another exciting challenge presented itself, when his battalion commander told him that Ranger school had opened to all military occupational specialties. "Go get your tab and we'll make you an NCO," he recalled his commander telling him.
"Even though I was an old man, I knew I was going to jump on that," McKinzie said, laughing.
Despite a lot of discouragement, McKinzie said he knew nothing was going to stand in his way of that tab. Preparing mentally and physically for success, he trained hard for six months before going to Ranger school, even when there wasn't an established training program for him, he said.
Just as he had been used to his whole life, Ranger school was no walk in the park.
"You get dirty, all the time," he said. "We got messed up there. It took a lot of self-discipline." Not until he finally graduated did he learn why he had been sent there in the first place.
"You don't go to Ranger school to become a leader," he said. "You go because you are a leader. You accept the challenge and make it happen. You have to get it without having your hand held."
Now, more than a year after graduating, McKinzie employs his leadership skills as a squad leader and truck commander in the 782nd BSB's "Market Garden" Combat Logistics Patrol, running supplies to far-reaching outposts in southeastern Afghanistan.
He enjoys his work, and most of all is glad for the support he gets from his wife and daughter while he does what he loves best: getting dirty.
"I do spend most of my time getting dirty," McKinzie said. "But I'm very blessed to be where I'm at."
With an Army combat uniform as badly ruined as his, stained again from a recent hydraulics fluid eruption, most people would probably be complaining. But for a man who has made a living out of getting dirty, McKinzie just jokes, "That's one more set of ACUs I'm down. The Army better be supplying me with more."
(Army Spc. Micah E. Clare is assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Microsoft, USO Open 'Above and Beyond' Voting
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Americans can now visit an online ballot to cast their vote for five people whose extraordinary contributions to the U.S. military go above and beyond the call of duty.
With the first "Above and Beyond Awards," Microsoft Corp. and the United Service Organizations, or USO, will publicly honor the outstanding commitment, exceptional service, sacrifice and achievements of individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to brightening servicemembers' lives over the past year, according to the awards' Web site. From hundreds of promising nominees, officials have narrowed the field to 14 finalists in the following five categories:
-- The Effort Award: Presented for providing outstanding support and comfort to troops, and enhancing their morale and personal welfare. The recipient inspires other groups or individuals to create new and unique ways to show their support of the troops through widely influential guidance or mentorship.
-- Medical Attention Award: Presented for providing superior medical attention to the wounded and injured. The recipient makes a broad impact across multiple communities, providing guidance, mentorship and resources to better the lives of the wounded. He or she inspires others to enhance their own support.
-- Promotion and Success Award: Presented for outstanding impact and success in generating promotional support for the USO. The recipient provides selfless commitment to promote and create awareness of the USO, and helps enhance the morale and personal welfare of troops.
-- Every Day Difference Award: Presented to someone who makes a difference in a seemingly small, but significant way to improve servicemembers' quality of life. The recipient is an unsung hero who makes the most of personal (non-financial) resources to positively affect servicemembers' basic needs or way of life.
-- Youth Leadership Award: Presented to a youth leader -- age 17 or younger -- who champions and represents outstanding troop support. The recipient organizes self-generated or motivated individuals or groups that provide genuine support to the troops, and shows his or her troop support through innovative and unique ways.
Additional information about the 14 finalists can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/federal/AboveandBeyondAwards.mspx. The awards will be presented at a Nov. 12 ceremony in New York City.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Americans can now visit an online ballot to cast their vote for five people whose extraordinary contributions to the U.S. military go above and beyond the call of duty.
With the first "Above and Beyond Awards," Microsoft Corp. and the United Service Organizations, or USO, will publicly honor the outstanding commitment, exceptional service, sacrifice and achievements of individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to brightening servicemembers' lives over the past year, according to the awards' Web site. From hundreds of promising nominees, officials have narrowed the field to 14 finalists in the following five categories:
-- The Effort Award: Presented for providing outstanding support and comfort to troops, and enhancing their morale and personal welfare. The recipient inspires other groups or individuals to create new and unique ways to show their support of the troops through widely influential guidance or mentorship.
-- Medical Attention Award: Presented for providing superior medical attention to the wounded and injured. The recipient makes a broad impact across multiple communities, providing guidance, mentorship and resources to better the lives of the wounded. He or she inspires others to enhance their own support.
-- Promotion and Success Award: Presented for outstanding impact and success in generating promotional support for the USO. The recipient provides selfless commitment to promote and create awareness of the USO, and helps enhance the morale and personal welfare of troops.
-- Every Day Difference Award: Presented to someone who makes a difference in a seemingly small, but significant way to improve servicemembers' quality of life. The recipient is an unsung hero who makes the most of personal (non-financial) resources to positively affect servicemembers' basic needs or way of life.
-- Youth Leadership Award: Presented to a youth leader -- age 17 or younger -- who champions and represents outstanding troop support. The recipient organizes self-generated or motivated individuals or groups that provide genuine support to the troops, and shows his or her troop support through innovative and unique ways.
Additional information about the 14 finalists can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/federal/AboveandBeyondAwards.mspx. The awards will be presented at a Nov. 12 ceremony in New York City.
Program Encourages Scientific Collaborations
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - As panel members convene for the organization's 50th annual meeting, a five-nation program geared toward collaboration in defense science and technology is looking at its past and charting its future, a senior Defense Department official said. Andre van Tilborg, deputy undersecretary of defense for science and technology, is hosting the Technical Cooperation Program's meeting here this week. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States are the group's member nations.
The Canadian embassy will host a banquet for the members on Oct. 25 – the date that President Dwight D. Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan signed the memorandum to create the group in 1957. Van Tilborg said the science group is as relevant today as it was when it was founded.
"The world in which we live requires us to cooperate," he said. When Eisenhower and MacMillan created the program, it was to increase cooperation in the face of a challenge from the Soviet Union. Both men realized that "none of the nations involved have a monopoly on smart people, resources, facilities and experimental assets," van Tilborg said. "So there is a great benefit to sharing the knowledge of people and the availability of experimental assets."
Though it spends many times the amount of money the group's other nations spend on military research, the United States is getting value from the alliance, van Tilborg said. "There are many examples of important research programs that have reached fruition because of the combined efforts of U.S. and partner scientists, engineers and technologists," he said.
Much of the cooperation among the nations is motivated by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the overall war on terror. "One of the best examples I've seen ... is regarding helicopter flight," he said.
Chopper pilots in Iraq and Afghanistan face bad weather, sandstorms and flying at night. He said that many aircraft crashes are caused by the loss of situational awareness – not knowing how close the aircraft is to the ground or to objects.
"Eight years ago, a (Technical Cooperation Program) project started to develop new hardware, software and techniques that actually resulted in a helmet-mounted display that fuses information from all types of sensors," he said. The sensors measure how far the chopper is from the ground and how close objects are and can display that for the pilots.
What's more, these sensors operate in the dark, in poor weather and in sandstorms, he said. "They integrate all this information, and allow the pilot to have a much better grasp of the relative position of the rotorcraft," the scientist said. "There's an enormous impact on our operations, because our warfighters prefer to fight at night – it's less risky. And they prefer to operate in bad weather because the adversary prefers not to operate in bad weather. So this technology developed jointly shows the potential for enormous impact for operators."
Another project involved a joint research development effort to help cut civilian deaths and damage. The program helps planners estimate what collateral damage a bomb or missile would cause to a target.
"If we're intending to blow up a tank, we fire the missile at the tank and we don't want it to adversely affect any nearby buildings or the civilian population," he said. "Our nations have worked for five years to develop extremely sophisticated software tools and techniques that allow operators to understand, before they shoot the weapon, how they can absolutely minimize the impact of collateral damage – so that it's not a guessing game."
These tools wouldn't have been developed by one of the partners working in isolation, and certainly not as rapidly as they have been developed, van Tilborg said.
The program host said he sees the basic collaboration among the nations continuing.
"The threats are different in today's world, but that underlying motivation is unchanged," he said. "Although we're at the 50-year mark for the (Technical Cooperation Program), it's as fresh as ever, because the work that needs to be done to make our nations safer, to develop the technologies that make our nations safer, is still required."
Van Tilborg said he sees the program moving toward more net-centric research. "Each of our nations intends to network the weapons and the sensors and the weapons and the people and the platforms into an Internet kind of structure," he said. "I think we all believe that kind of a network is the best way to defend against the kind of threats we will face currently and in the future."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - As panel members convene for the organization's 50th annual meeting, a five-nation program geared toward collaboration in defense science and technology is looking at its past and charting its future, a senior Defense Department official said. Andre van Tilborg, deputy undersecretary of defense for science and technology, is hosting the Technical Cooperation Program's meeting here this week. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States are the group's member nations.
The Canadian embassy will host a banquet for the members on Oct. 25 – the date that President Dwight D. Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan signed the memorandum to create the group in 1957. Van Tilborg said the science group is as relevant today as it was when it was founded.
"The world in which we live requires us to cooperate," he said. When Eisenhower and MacMillan created the program, it was to increase cooperation in the face of a challenge from the Soviet Union. Both men realized that "none of the nations involved have a monopoly on smart people, resources, facilities and experimental assets," van Tilborg said. "So there is a great benefit to sharing the knowledge of people and the availability of experimental assets."
Though it spends many times the amount of money the group's other nations spend on military research, the United States is getting value from the alliance, van Tilborg said. "There are many examples of important research programs that have reached fruition because of the combined efforts of U.S. and partner scientists, engineers and technologists," he said.
Much of the cooperation among the nations is motivated by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the overall war on terror. "One of the best examples I've seen ... is regarding helicopter flight," he said.
Chopper pilots in Iraq and Afghanistan face bad weather, sandstorms and flying at night. He said that many aircraft crashes are caused by the loss of situational awareness – not knowing how close the aircraft is to the ground or to objects.
"Eight years ago, a (Technical Cooperation Program) project started to develop new hardware, software and techniques that actually resulted in a helmet-mounted display that fuses information from all types of sensors," he said. The sensors measure how far the chopper is from the ground and how close objects are and can display that for the pilots.
What's more, these sensors operate in the dark, in poor weather and in sandstorms, he said. "They integrate all this information, and allow the pilot to have a much better grasp of the relative position of the rotorcraft," the scientist said. "There's an enormous impact on our operations, because our warfighters prefer to fight at night – it's less risky. And they prefer to operate in bad weather because the adversary prefers not to operate in bad weather. So this technology developed jointly shows the potential for enormous impact for operators."
Another project involved a joint research development effort to help cut civilian deaths and damage. The program helps planners estimate what collateral damage a bomb or missile would cause to a target.
"If we're intending to blow up a tank, we fire the missile at the tank and we don't want it to adversely affect any nearby buildings or the civilian population," he said. "Our nations have worked for five years to develop extremely sophisticated software tools and techniques that allow operators to understand, before they shoot the weapon, how they can absolutely minimize the impact of collateral damage – so that it's not a guessing game."
These tools wouldn't have been developed by one of the partners working in isolation, and certainly not as rapidly as they have been developed, van Tilborg said.
The program host said he sees the basic collaboration among the nations continuing.
"The threats are different in today's world, but that underlying motivation is unchanged," he said. "Although we're at the 50-year mark for the (Technical Cooperation Program), it's as fresh as ever, because the work that needs to be done to make our nations safer, to develop the technologies that make our nations safer, is still required."
Van Tilborg said he sees the program moving toward more net-centric research. "Each of our nations intends to network the weapons and the sensors and the weapons and the people and the platforms into an Internet kind of structure," he said. "I think we all believe that kind of a network is the best way to defend against the kind of threats we will face currently and in the future."
Gates Expresses Confidence Polish Elections Won't Stop Defense Cooperation
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed confidence today that the reversal of power in Poland following yesterday's elections won't upset U.S.-Polish defense cooperation. Poland's Conservative Civic Platform party won yesterday's general election on a platform that included redeploying the country's 900 troops in Iraq. The election promise, if fulfilled, would reverse strong support Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, have maintained for the Iraq mission since winning the 2005 election.
Gates is attending the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference here.
He pointed to the close, longstanding relationship Poland and the United States have shared and said he doesn't expect the election results to change that. "Regardless of the composition of the government, I expect that cooperation to continue," he told reporters.
"We clearly are hopeful the kind of cooperation we have enjoyed recently in both Iraq and Afghanistan on one hand and in moving toward negotiations and an agreement on missile defense will continue as before," he said.
Poland has been a coalition leader in the war on terror. In addition to its 900 troops in Iraq, about 1,200 Poles serve in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
In addition, the United States has been negotiating with Poland to place interceptors there as part of a missile defense system. The plan also seeks to base a radar station in the Czech Republic to shield the United States and Europe against rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed confidence today that the reversal of power in Poland following yesterday's elections won't upset U.S.-Polish defense cooperation. Poland's Conservative Civic Platform party won yesterday's general election on a platform that included redeploying the country's 900 troops in Iraq. The election promise, if fulfilled, would reverse strong support Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, have maintained for the Iraq mission since winning the 2005 election.
Gates is attending the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference here.
He pointed to the close, longstanding relationship Poland and the United States have shared and said he doesn't expect the election results to change that. "Regardless of the composition of the government, I expect that cooperation to continue," he told reporters.
"We clearly are hopeful the kind of cooperation we have enjoyed recently in both Iraq and Afghanistan on one hand and in moving toward negotiations and an agreement on missile defense will continue as before," he said.
Poland has been a coalition leader in the war on terror. In addition to its 900 troops in Iraq, about 1,200 Poles serve in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
In addition, the United States has been negotiating with Poland to place interceptors there as part of a missile defense system. The plan also seeks to base a radar station in the Czech Republic to shield the United States and Europe against rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
Two Sailors Dead in Bahrain Barracks Shooting
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Two female U.S. sailors were killed, and a third sailor suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound early this morning in Bahrain, military officials reported.
The incident was limited to the three U.S. Navy sailors at Naval Support Activity Bahrain and is not terror-related, officials said. The female sailors were shot at a military barracks at about 5 a.m. and were pronounced dead at the scene. The third sailor was reported to be in critical condition at a Bahrain hospital.
All names are being withheld until next of kin have been notified.
Initial indications are the three sailors were acquainted, but the extent of their relationships and the details of the shootings are still under investigation, officials said. Naval Support Activity Bahrain is the home base for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. (From a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command news release.)
Oct. 22, 2007 - Two female U.S. sailors were killed, and a third sailor suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound early this morning in Bahrain, military officials reported.
The incident was limited to the three U.S. Navy sailors at Naval Support Activity Bahrain and is not terror-related, officials said. The female sailors were shot at a military barracks at about 5 a.m. and were pronounced dead at the scene. The third sailor was reported to be in critical condition at a Bahrain hospital.
All names are being withheld until next of kin have been notified.
Initial indications are the three sailors were acquainted, but the extent of their relationships and the details of the shootings are still under investigation, officials said. Naval Support Activity Bahrain is the home base for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. (From a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command news release.)
Gates Praises Group's Successes, Urges Closer Cooperation
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged participants at the 12th annual meeting of the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial here today to focus on closer cooperation to address the challenges of proliferation, border security and counter-terrorism. The 11-member SEDM alliance includes Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which like Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia had participated as observers, received full SEDM membership today with the signing of a formal accession note.
"Given its recent history, Bosnia's transition from SEDM observer to member is all the more remarkable," Gates said. "Our strong support for Bosnia's SEDM membership reaffirms the United States' long-standing commitment to integrating Southeast Europe into Euro-Atlantic institutions."
The United States helped develop SEDM in 1996 to encourage greater regional security cooperation in the region. Although its original six members focused heavily on the Balkans, today the alliance has grown to become "truly southeastern Europe," as it was intended, a senior defense official traveling with Gates said.
"SEDM has been very successful in achieving its objectives of encouraging or maintaining stability and security in southeastern Europe (and) of encouraging cooperation," the official told reporters.
Gates extended praise today to the organization's far-reaching activities, which include sending the Southeastern European Brigade headquarters last year to the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan and supporting the Kosovo Force peacekeeping mission.
Gates called the Southeastern European Brigade's mission a contribution that "best represents SEDM's achievements." He also called SEDM's efforts in Kosovo another visible element of the alliance's commitment.
Still, Gates said, the United States doesn't want to see the KFOR mandate expanded. The European Union has an important role to play in Kosovo, he pointed out, noting EU efforts to establish a rule-of-law mission there.
Gates urged SEDM members to continue extending the organization's reach, but not at the expense of their own regional priorities, particularly counterproliferation, border security and counterterrorism. "To sustain and increase SEDM's relevance, member nations must be willing to address these crucial issues," Gates told the group.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who opened the two-day meeting this morning, joined Gates in urging greater regional cooperation focused on these issues, as well as SEDM's peacekeeping activities.
Yushchenko told participants his government, still being formed following national elections, is now ready to play a more active role in stabilizing Europe. He also reiterated Ukraine's interest in joining NATO.
Gates urged other SEDM nations to consider similar courses. "The United States strongly encourages SEDM to focus its efforts on activities which best support ongoing integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions such as NATO and increased cooperation and interoperability among SEDM member nations," he told the ministers.
The secretary called efforts by countries in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region to join SEDM "a testament to (the group's) accomplishments and importance." He urged SEDM members to view that growth as an opportunity "to take important steps to assure its ongoing relevance as a vital regional player."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged participants at the 12th annual meeting of the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial here today to focus on closer cooperation to address the challenges of proliferation, border security and counter-terrorism. The 11-member SEDM alliance includes Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which like Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia had participated as observers, received full SEDM membership today with the signing of a formal accession note.
"Given its recent history, Bosnia's transition from SEDM observer to member is all the more remarkable," Gates said. "Our strong support for Bosnia's SEDM membership reaffirms the United States' long-standing commitment to integrating Southeast Europe into Euro-Atlantic institutions."
The United States helped develop SEDM in 1996 to encourage greater regional security cooperation in the region. Although its original six members focused heavily on the Balkans, today the alliance has grown to become "truly southeastern Europe," as it was intended, a senior defense official traveling with Gates said.
"SEDM has been very successful in achieving its objectives of encouraging or maintaining stability and security in southeastern Europe (and) of encouraging cooperation," the official told reporters.
Gates extended praise today to the organization's far-reaching activities, which include sending the Southeastern European Brigade headquarters last year to the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan and supporting the Kosovo Force peacekeeping mission.
Gates called the Southeastern European Brigade's mission a contribution that "best represents SEDM's achievements." He also called SEDM's efforts in Kosovo another visible element of the alliance's commitment.
Still, Gates said, the United States doesn't want to see the KFOR mandate expanded. The European Union has an important role to play in Kosovo, he pointed out, noting EU efforts to establish a rule-of-law mission there.
Gates urged SEDM members to continue extending the organization's reach, but not at the expense of their own regional priorities, particularly counterproliferation, border security and counterterrorism. "To sustain and increase SEDM's relevance, member nations must be willing to address these crucial issues," Gates told the group.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who opened the two-day meeting this morning, joined Gates in urging greater regional cooperation focused on these issues, as well as SEDM's peacekeeping activities.
Yushchenko told participants his government, still being formed following national elections, is now ready to play a more active role in stabilizing Europe. He also reiterated Ukraine's interest in joining NATO.
Gates urged other SEDM nations to consider similar courses. "The United States strongly encourages SEDM to focus its efforts on activities which best support ongoing integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions such as NATO and increased cooperation and interoperability among SEDM member nations," he told the ministers.
The secretary called efforts by countries in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region to join SEDM "a testament to (the group's) accomplishments and importance." He urged SEDM members to view that growth as an opportunity "to take important steps to assure its ongoing relevance as a vital regional player."
Operation Pinecone Shifts Gears for Holidays
By Toni Maltagliati
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - For volunteers with South Riding, Va.-based Operation Pinecone, Halloween is over and the Christmas rush has begun. "We have 25 camps, four hospitals (and) two humanitarian aid contacts," said Mary Hacker, who founded the group two years ago after deciding to super-size a care package originally planned for one family friend deployed to Iraq.
"A neighbor came by, saw what I was doing, and said she had wanted to do something to help the troops but that she didn't have a contact over there," Hacker explained.
Word spread through Hacker's rural Virginia neighborhood and, with the help of a press release in the local paper, the women "were bombarded."
"Everybody wanted to do something, but they didn't know how," she said.
That was November 2005, when Hacker and her husband, John, shipped the group's first care package to a handful of soldiers in Iraq.
Two years later, Hacker's living room, dining room and basement runneth over with donations of Girl Scout cookies, toiletries, movie DVDs, music CDs, T-shirts, puzzle books, hard candy, playing cards, snacks and even blank holiday cards for troops to use. Another board member of Operation Pinecone has put a basement to use as storage space for the group's donations.
The group's name, Operation Pinecone, originated from Mary Hacker's desire to send a memento from home to the troops. She chose a pinecone, because pine trees grow in nearly every state in the United States. One pinecone accompanies each care package, Hacker said.
Operation Pinecone is a supporter of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Hacker said she has found her group's affiliation with America Supports You helpful.
"I think it's great," Hacker said. "It's been very beneficial to me. I can get information from other groups; I have someone to talk to; and I do a lot of referrals to America Supports You."
She explained that Operation Pinecone's aim is to concentrate the group's efforts to help the greatest number of troops overseas. When she gets requests for individual care packages, Hacker refers the individuals to groups who send personalized care packages.
"I would really rather do more for the masses than less for the individuals," Hacker said.
The "masses" include troops and veterans recovering at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Augusta, Ga., and Eisenhower Army Medical Center in nearby Fort Gordon, Ga. Two other military hospitals also receive Operation Pinecone care packages: the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., and Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.
Now that care packages filled with Halloween candy and decorations are making their way to Afghanistan and Iraq, the Virginia group is gearing up for two evening packing parties focused on Christmas care packages, Hacker said.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - For volunteers with South Riding, Va.-based Operation Pinecone, Halloween is over and the Christmas rush has begun. "We have 25 camps, four hospitals (and) two humanitarian aid contacts," said Mary Hacker, who founded the group two years ago after deciding to super-size a care package originally planned for one family friend deployed to Iraq.
"A neighbor came by, saw what I was doing, and said she had wanted to do something to help the troops but that she didn't have a contact over there," Hacker explained.
Word spread through Hacker's rural Virginia neighborhood and, with the help of a press release in the local paper, the women "were bombarded."
"Everybody wanted to do something, but they didn't know how," she said.
That was November 2005, when Hacker and her husband, John, shipped the group's first care package to a handful of soldiers in Iraq.
Two years later, Hacker's living room, dining room and basement runneth over with donations of Girl Scout cookies, toiletries, movie DVDs, music CDs, T-shirts, puzzle books, hard candy, playing cards, snacks and even blank holiday cards for troops to use. Another board member of Operation Pinecone has put a basement to use as storage space for the group's donations.
The group's name, Operation Pinecone, originated from Mary Hacker's desire to send a memento from home to the troops. She chose a pinecone, because pine trees grow in nearly every state in the United States. One pinecone accompanies each care package, Hacker said.
Operation Pinecone is a supporter of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Hacker said she has found her group's affiliation with America Supports You helpful.
"I think it's great," Hacker said. "It's been very beneficial to me. I can get information from other groups; I have someone to talk to; and I do a lot of referrals to America Supports You."
She explained that Operation Pinecone's aim is to concentrate the group's efforts to help the greatest number of troops overseas. When she gets requests for individual care packages, Hacker refers the individuals to groups who send personalized care packages.
"I would really rather do more for the masses than less for the individuals," Hacker said.
The "masses" include troops and veterans recovering at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Augusta, Ga., and Eisenhower Army Medical Center in nearby Fort Gordon, Ga. Two other military hospitals also receive Operation Pinecone care packages: the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., and Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.
Now that care packages filled with Halloween candy and decorations are making their way to Afghanistan and Iraq, the Virginia group is gearing up for two evening packing parties focused on Christmas care packages, Hacker said.
Gates Urges More Support in Terror War, Says He Will Press NATO
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked fellow participants in the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference for their support in Iraq and Afghanistan and told the group he plans to press NATO to live up to its commitments in Afghanistan. Gates, speaking with SEDM members at their 12th conference, expressed frustration that some NATO countries still haven't followed through with troop commitments made at the 2006 NATO session in Riga, Latvia.
"I am not satisfied that an alliance whose members have over 2 million soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen can't find the modest additional resources that have been committed for Afghanistan," he said during a news conference.
"I intend to pursue this in our meetings in the Netherlands," Gates said, referring to the upcoming NATO informal ministerial conference in Noordwijk, Oct. 24 and 25.
Gates praised members of the SEDM group, some also NATO members, for their support in the Middle East.
"I would especially like to thank Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine for the forces they have contributed in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said in his opening statement to the group.
Gates said several ministers approached him today expressing their countries' intent to increase their troop contributions, mostly in Afghanistan. Some of these countries still "have certain hurdles to clear at home" before they are able to make their additional force contributions public, he told reporters at a news conference.
In addition, Slovakia, which sent a representative to SEDM to observe the proceedings, shared plans to send at least 47 more troops to Afghanistan. The Slovakian representative told Gates these additional forces will serve with Dutch forces in southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. This will bring Slovakia's troop contribution in Afghanistan to 125 in 2008.
"I encourage all allies and partners to contribute as much as they can, especially in support of our efforts in Afghanistan," Gates told the ministers.
Particularly needed, he said, are more operational mentoring and liaison teams to help build an effective, self-sustaining Afghan National Army and additional provincial reconstruction teams where none currently exist.
Gates pointed to SEDM's deployment last year of its Southeastern European Brigade, or SEEBRIG, to Afghanistan as an example of the group's important contributions to the terror war. SEDM deployed the 100-troop headquarters element for a six-month rotation with the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan.
"This deployment showed that SEDM can make an important contribution. More importantly, it showed that partners can come together and collectively contribute to help bring stability to a place far from home," Gates said. "More of this should be encouraged."
Gates acknowledged some SEDM members' interest in deploying the brigade again. "It is understandable that SEDM members who have contributed personnel, equipment and funding to SEEBRIG would like to see it deploy again," he said.
However, he urged an assessment of the brigade, which was stood up in 1999. Before another deployment, "we should take an honest look at SEEBRIG's capabilities, shortcomings and requirements, and carefully review the assets SEEBRIG nations contribute to the brigade," he said.
SEEBRIG operates under a Multinational Peace Force Southeastern Europe agreement that was signed by Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey. Ukraine joined the agreement during today's SEDM meeting.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked fellow participants in the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference for their support in Iraq and Afghanistan and told the group he plans to press NATO to live up to its commitments in Afghanistan. Gates, speaking with SEDM members at their 12th conference, expressed frustration that some NATO countries still haven't followed through with troop commitments made at the 2006 NATO session in Riga, Latvia.
"I am not satisfied that an alliance whose members have over 2 million soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen can't find the modest additional resources that have been committed for Afghanistan," he said during a news conference.
"I intend to pursue this in our meetings in the Netherlands," Gates said, referring to the upcoming NATO informal ministerial conference in Noordwijk, Oct. 24 and 25.
Gates praised members of the SEDM group, some also NATO members, for their support in the Middle East.
"I would especially like to thank Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine for the forces they have contributed in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said in his opening statement to the group.
Gates said several ministers approached him today expressing their countries' intent to increase their troop contributions, mostly in Afghanistan. Some of these countries still "have certain hurdles to clear at home" before they are able to make their additional force contributions public, he told reporters at a news conference.
In addition, Slovakia, which sent a representative to SEDM to observe the proceedings, shared plans to send at least 47 more troops to Afghanistan. The Slovakian representative told Gates these additional forces will serve with Dutch forces in southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. This will bring Slovakia's troop contribution in Afghanistan to 125 in 2008.
"I encourage all allies and partners to contribute as much as they can, especially in support of our efforts in Afghanistan," Gates told the ministers.
Particularly needed, he said, are more operational mentoring and liaison teams to help build an effective, self-sustaining Afghan National Army and additional provincial reconstruction teams where none currently exist.
Gates pointed to SEDM's deployment last year of its Southeastern European Brigade, or SEEBRIG, to Afghanistan as an example of the group's important contributions to the terror war. SEDM deployed the 100-troop headquarters element for a six-month rotation with the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan.
"This deployment showed that SEDM can make an important contribution. More importantly, it showed that partners can come together and collectively contribute to help bring stability to a place far from home," Gates said. "More of this should be encouraged."
Gates acknowledged some SEDM members' interest in deploying the brigade again. "It is understandable that SEDM members who have contributed personnel, equipment and funding to SEEBRIG would like to see it deploy again," he said.
However, he urged an assessment of the brigade, which was stood up in 1999. Before another deployment, "we should take an honest look at SEEBRIG's capabilities, shortcomings and requirements, and carefully review the assets SEEBRIG nations contribute to the brigade," he said.
SEEBRIG operates under a Multinational Peace Force Southeastern Europe agreement that was signed by Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey. Ukraine joined the agreement during today's SEDM meeting.
Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Parents of Navy SEAL
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor, accepted by Murphy's parents, Maureen and Dan Murphy, during a White House ceremony, is the highest military decoration. Murphy's is the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy's name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice," Bush said. "By presenting Michael Murphy's family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL."
On June 28, 2005, as Murphy led a four-man SEAL team in search of key terrorist commander, the unit came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy.
Despite intense combat around him, Murphy -- already wounded in the firefight -- moved into the open where he could gain a better transmission signal and request backup from headquarters. At one point, Murphy was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. The lieutenant picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy as they closed in.
By the time the two-hour gunfight had concluded, Murphy and two others SEALs had been killed. An estimated 35 Taliban died in the fighting.
As a somber postscript to Murphy's bravery, the helicopter that he requested crashed after being struck by a rocket- propelled grenade, killing everyone on board. In total, 19 Americans died in what Bush referred to as "the deadliest for Navy Special Warfare forces since World War II."
The president characterized Murphy as a born Navy SEAL.
"SEALs get their name from operating by sea, air and land, and even as a toddler, Michael could find his way through any obstacle," Bush said. "When he was just 18 months old, he darted across a neighbor's yard and dove into the swimming pool. By the time his frantic parents reached him, Michael had swum to the other side with a big smile on his face."
In addition to his physical strength, Bush said Murphy's strong moral character also was apparent at an early age.
"One day in school, he got into a scuffle sticking up for a student with a disability. It's the only time his parents ever got a phone call from the principal, and they couldn't have been prouder," Bush said. "Michael's passion for helping others led him to become a caring brother, a tutor, a life guard and eventually a member of the United States armed forces."
The president welcomed Murphy's parents and brother, John, who hail from Patchogue, N.Y., to the White House's East Room, noting that Murphy's decision to join the U.S. military was not easily accepted by his family. "As a Purple Heart recipient during Vietnam, Michael's father understood the sacrifices that accompany a life of service. He also understood that his son was prepared to make these sacrifices," Bush added.
Murphy is remembered by fellow SEALs as a wisecracking friend who went by "Mikey" or "Murph," a patriot who wore a New York City firehouse patch on his uniform in honor of the heroes of 9/11, Bush said.
"And they remember an officer who respected their opinions and led them with an understated yet unmistakable sense of command. Together Michael and his fellow SEALs deployed multiple times around the world in the war against the extremists and radicals," Bush said. "And while their missions were often carried out in secrecy, their love of country and devotion to each other was always clear."
Murphy is one of three servicemembers to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry in action during the war on terror. The president has presented medals to the families of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who died in Iraq.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor, accepted by Murphy's parents, Maureen and Dan Murphy, during a White House ceremony, is the highest military decoration. Murphy's is the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy's name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice," Bush said. "By presenting Michael Murphy's family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL."
On June 28, 2005, as Murphy led a four-man SEAL team in search of key terrorist commander, the unit came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy.
Despite intense combat around him, Murphy -- already wounded in the firefight -- moved into the open where he could gain a better transmission signal and request backup from headquarters. At one point, Murphy was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. The lieutenant picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy as they closed in.
By the time the two-hour gunfight had concluded, Murphy and two others SEALs had been killed. An estimated 35 Taliban died in the fighting.
As a somber postscript to Murphy's bravery, the helicopter that he requested crashed after being struck by a rocket- propelled grenade, killing everyone on board. In total, 19 Americans died in what Bush referred to as "the deadliest for Navy Special Warfare forces since World War II."
The president characterized Murphy as a born Navy SEAL.
"SEALs get their name from operating by sea, air and land, and even as a toddler, Michael could find his way through any obstacle," Bush said. "When he was just 18 months old, he darted across a neighbor's yard and dove into the swimming pool. By the time his frantic parents reached him, Michael had swum to the other side with a big smile on his face."
In addition to his physical strength, Bush said Murphy's strong moral character also was apparent at an early age.
"One day in school, he got into a scuffle sticking up for a student with a disability. It's the only time his parents ever got a phone call from the principal, and they couldn't have been prouder," Bush said. "Michael's passion for helping others led him to become a caring brother, a tutor, a life guard and eventually a member of the United States armed forces."
The president welcomed Murphy's parents and brother, John, who hail from Patchogue, N.Y., to the White House's East Room, noting that Murphy's decision to join the U.S. military was not easily accepted by his family. "As a Purple Heart recipient during Vietnam, Michael's father understood the sacrifices that accompany a life of service. He also understood that his son was prepared to make these sacrifices," Bush added.
Murphy is remembered by fellow SEALs as a wisecracking friend who went by "Mikey" or "Murph," a patriot who wore a New York City firehouse patch on his uniform in honor of the heroes of 9/11, Bush said.
"And they remember an officer who respected their opinions and led them with an understated yet unmistakable sense of command. Together Michael and his fellow SEALs deployed multiple times around the world in the war against the extremists and radicals," Bush said. "And while their missions were often carried out in secrecy, their love of country and devotion to each other was always clear."
Murphy is one of three servicemembers to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry in action during the war on terror. The president has presented medals to the families of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who died in Iraq.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
