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A little voice from Iraq.
Sandra:
I had the honor of re-visiting the city of Ar-Ramadi and walked the sacred ground where your family and many other families have given this country of Iraq and our nation the ultimate gift. I can tell you that those families as well as Our Doc Mendez's gift has not gone in vain.
I walked along side children, mothers and father's in the streets of ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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| My Men Are My Heroes by SGM Brad Kasal, USMC, is an outstanding look at combat in Iraq. SGM Kasal, then First Sergeant, is a Warrior and a Hero of the first order. His book is well worth the read and you will find in the pages of the book many other heroes which are his men. Although severely wounded, SGM Kasal completed his objective of getting his men out of a "Hell House" in Fallujah in 2004. Refusing to have his leg amputated, SGM Kasal has returned to duty although he underwent 21 surgeries for the 7 gunshot wounds, ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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Deanna Salie, widow of SFC David Salie who was KIA in Iraq, wrote an article for the Atlanta Journal-Consitutions on 4/27/07. She describes how dependents' compensation offsets the Survivor's Benefit. Again the difference is between the VA and the DOD. Many families are left in financial ruin and need because we as a nation do not keep faith with our Warriors.
This is a sore subject that the DOD does not want breached because the Warrior would worry about his family and become less efficient and effective as a service member. Yet the Warrior is told his family will be taken ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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The flag flown at half-mast is a symbol to remember someone who has died. That can be a well-known person or a group of people like the massacre at Virginia Tech recently. And the flying of the flag at half-mast is a sign of respect for someone we feel sorry has died.
ARE WE SAYING THAT OUR WARRIORS KILLED IN ACTION FOR US ARE NOT WORTH THE SAME RESPECT? The flag should fly at half-mast until the war in Iraq is finished and our service members are back home. The lead in this movement should be taken by all veteran organizations ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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Doc Mendez, one of our fallen Warriors, wanted to serve his country and he died for it in combat along with his comrades. All were heroes and all returned in flag draped coffins. His mother, Sandra Aceves, has made it her goal as a Blue Star Mother and as a Gold Star Mother to never let any of our heroes be forgotten.
What were these men and women killed for? Their lives were taken in their prime because they believed in this country and the freedom under which we live. In other words they died for the flag most of ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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We have lost many heroes this year and many more wounded physically and mentally. However, this hero I was personally familiar with. His name is Curtis Spivey and he was a wounded Army service member and also had served in the Marines with two tours in Iraq. He was on his third tour when he was wounded. He died April 2nd from his injuries. He is survived by his parents and a wife and beautiful 2 year old daughter. His father is a Navy Retired veteran also.
I first became familiar with the name Curtis Spivey through his uncle, whom ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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| I am sitting here this evening (Saturday) watching The Best Years of Our Lives for probably the umpteenth time. It always affects me because I grew up during WWII when my older cousins were all in the service and it always brings back good memories of growing up. However, what also affects me more is the way the WWII veteran was treated after returning home from a popular war. The same thing has happened in every war since and because Vietnam was an unpopular war it was worse. Now we are seeing the same stingy treatment of our Iraq War ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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"Over the past six years, some 22,500 soldiers have been discharged on grounds of 'personality disorder' --- a condition that can be alleged to have existed prior to their tour of duty --- thus absolving the Pentagon of its obligation to provide their medical care and pay their benefits." Article by Sherwood Ross, Infowars.net, 4/2/07.
"I cannot omit to mention the obligations this Country is under, to that meritorious Class of veteran Noncommissioned Officers and Privates who have been discharged for inability...It was a part of their hire, I may be allowed to say, it was the price of their blood ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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| I had the opportunity, thanks to Bill Rider of ACVOW and a member of The Walking Dead (USMC 1/9), to attend a reunion of these heroes. Let me tell you it was a pleasure and a privilege to talk with these "Lions in Winter." The years are catching up with us from when we served in Vietnam, but these Marines are still willing to stand up and be counted. These are combat-hardened veterans that believe America and would fight for the freedoms we enjoy. They are ever vigilant and alert and I would put my trust in any of them ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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VETERANS FROM ALL WARS YOU ARE NEEDED!! Mentors for our combat veterans are needed. Help our young warriors through a critical time and be there for them when they need to talk. Volunteer your services through one of the local groups in your communities that are helping returning veterans as they come home. There are those that are walking the talk and many others that are just talking about it but not helping out.
Remember your return from combat!! Many did not get help and needed it. Many fought the problems alone. There is no reason these returning veterans should be ... |
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| Posted by Michael Ireton at | | | |
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