Midland Blood Drive/Reception to Honor Local Soldier

You may recall this recent post about wounded Midland soldier John Faulkenberry. I've learned that John and his wife will be in Midland for a short visit with family beginning December 5th, and that a combination reception/blood drive has been organized by their families on Sunday, December 9th. Here are the details, along with some additional background information:

This seems like one of the best excuses I can think of to donate blood (as if we really needed an excuse). If you live in the Midland/Odessa area and can fit it into your schedule, please mark your calendar accordingly, and pass this along to anyone else who might be interested.

GI Jill & a Midland Connection

Many in West Texas and particularly in Midland have been following the condition of SSgt. John Faulkenberry, a Midland native who was seriously injured in combat in Afghanistan last summer (listen to an interview with John's dad conducted by the local CBS affiliate here for more details about the incident) and is now undergoing rehab at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

John's dad, Richard, just happens to be from Fort Stockton, and my wife and I attended high school with him, his brothers, and his sister. Thus it was a rather strange coincidence when I received an email from Maryland blogger Soccer Dad, who, recognizing only a reference to Midland, wanted to alert me to a photo of SSgt. Faulkenberry being visited by Miss Utah 2007 at Walter Reed on October 24th.

As it so happens, Miss Utah is a soldier, aka Sgt. Jill Stevens, aka known as G.I. Jill, and she'll be competing in the upcoming Miss America pageant. I suspect she'll be the only contestant who is a decorated combat veteran, as she served an eighteen month tour as a medic in Afghanistan. She is a member of the Utah National Guard's 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, and she's also (duh) quite a looker, even if the tiara-BDU combination is just a teensy bit incongruous.

By the way, the last report I read about John is that his rehab is progressing nicely, although he still has a long road ahead of him.

And for those of you who are lonely Corps members at A&M, you can download a poster of Sgt. Jill, suitable for hiding from upperclassmen.

In Memory of 9/11

The Gazette was offline today in memory of the events of September 11, 2001.

Note: This post is backdated. Comments are closed.

Kerry Response

A friend just emailed this to me; the original source is unknown to me.

If some of our politicians had only a fraction of the class of those serving our country in harm's way, we'd all be better off.

Day-um, Dubya...

There's a scene in John Carpenter's 1988 sci-fi cult classic (a euphemism for a movie that's so bad, it's actually good) They Live in which the character played by that consummate thespian and pro wrassler Rowdy Roddy Piper confronts the mean aliens intent on subjugating humanity and announces his intentions: I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick a**. And I'm all out of bubblegum.

The US President's address to the UN General Assembly a few moments ago reminded me of that quote.

Mr. Bush made John Bolton look like a silver-tongued devil as he went through a murderer's row listing of primarily Islamic nations which foster, support, or otherwise allow themselves to be used to advance terrorism, including Iran, Syria, Sudan, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He spoke directly to the citizens of each nation, going over the heads, as it were, of their leadership...making it clear that it was that leadership that was at fault.

He addressed directly Iran's nuclear plans -- OK, its nookular plans -- stating plainly that (a) we were OK with the country having nuclear power, and (b) a program to develop nuclear weapons would not be tolerated. It'll be interesting to see how the Iranian president reacts in his address to the same body later this evening. I look for a measured response full of goodwill and diplomatic reciprocity. I also think the Houston Texans will win the next Super Bowl.

Equally interesting was what the President didn't talk about. He didn't express confidence in the United Nations as a body which could or would be instrumental in spreading democracy and liberty, or in fighting terrorism. He also didn't mention those partners-in-lunacy, Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro (a brilliant tactic, by the way, given Chavez's megalomania; he's got to be really torqued at the snub).

Couple of final, random observations:

• I wish the cameras had spent more time on the delegates during the speech. At one point early in the address, one of the delegates from Lebanon seemed to be giggling like a teenager immediately following Bush's mention of Hezbollah's hijacking of that nation for an unprovoked attack on Israel.


• Perhaps I've spent too much time reading the Bible (ha!), but the roll call of the nations (including complimentary comments directed toward the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates) struck me as being very similar to the accounts of Christ addressing the seven churches in the first couple of chapters of the book of Revelation, where the merits and shortcomings of each were detailed, and warnings (or rewards) were issued. I certainly don't believe that was intentional, or that the President or his speech writers would even recognize the similarity. Just sayin'...

Technorati tag: United Nations

Support a fellow blogger's appeal for refugee status

Update: Isaac emailed to correct something I wrote below. The appointment this week set the date for the hearing that will decide his status. Sorry for the misunderstanding, but that means he has more time to prepare his case. Prayers still needed...that doesn't change.

Isaac Schrödinger's blog masthead says it all: "pakistani-born - ex-muslim - refugee-claimant - pro-usa, and he's backed it up over the years via a prodigious number of posts. He has applied to Canada for refugee status and will be presenting his case before a tribunal of judges later this week.

Why does he feel the need for refugee status? This post details some of the examples of how "apostates" are treated by their Muslim countrymen in Pakistan. And this Reuters news article documents the findings of an independent Pakistani commission showing how religious intolerance toward non-Muslims in that country continues to grow.

I'm not sure what's at stake for Isaac should the hearing not go well, but I'd ask you to join with me in praying that we don't have to find that out. I'm sure Isaac would appreciate knowing of your support for him in this very important hearing.

"Lebanon and the End Times"

Dr. Jim Denison has an informative essay up over at GodIssues.org about the new developments surrounding Israel and Lebanon. He gives a brief history and overview of Hezbollah and Hamas, the Muslim organizations who use terrorism as their chief weapons in pursuit of their goal of eradicating Israel as a nation, and then addresses the question of whether the events that are now unfolding in that part of the world herald the end times, as described in the Bible.

I'm not an eschatologist. Frankly, I've never understood why anyone would obsess over an apocalyptic timeline when it's pretty clear that none of us can predict the second coming. I suppose it's a harmless study, but I also don't see the benefit. Perhaps someone reading this can enlighten me.

Anyway, I tend to agree with Jim's leanings in the matter of Israel's role in the end times:

"Significant and valuable." I think that's a good -- if overly succinct -- description of modern day Israel. I agree, and I also believe strongly that Israel has the right to defend itself with all resources at its disposal against the same strain of terrorists who would do the same damage in America if given the opportunity.

I don't know. Maybe we are seeing "the beginning of the end" in the escalation of conflict between Israel and its myriad enemies. There's certainly enough lunatics in power in Iran to provide all the dangerous jokers the game can support. On a national level, I hope our country stays the course in providing Israel with the ally it deserves. On a personal level, I hope these events serve to motivate folks to figure out which side they're on from a spiritual perspective, because -- in the end -- borders and nationalities won't mean a thing.

As Dr. Denison puts it:

Will Underestimates Memory

I like George Will's columns. He's insightful and articulate (but what nationally syndicated columnist isn't? Art Buchwald doesn't count.) and covers a wide range of topics (his columns on baseball are enjoyable even for a non-fan). But I think he's off base with the admonition in yesterday's column that it's every Americans "civic duty" to see United 93 lest we forget the events of 9/11.

Listen, I apologize that I keep harping on this and as I've said before in this space, I have no doubt that the movie is important -- maybe even critical -- to perhaps millions of Americans, for a variety of reasons. But we don't all fall into that category.

For me, at least, I no more need to see United 93 to remember what happened and what's still at stake in the War on Terror than I needed to see The Passion of the Christ* to remember the sacrifice that I believe Jesus Christ made on my behalf 2,000 years ago.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that this is the last time I'll post anything on this topic. Unless Art Buchwald writes something about it.

*I did see POTC -- twice -- and was wonderfully moved by it...but it didn't "strengthen my faith" and my viewing of the movie didn't grant me citizenship in the class of "better Christians."

Technorati tags: George Will | Flight 93

"United 93" - Must see?

Jen saw United 93 this weekend and, not surprisingly, found it to be powerful and well made, echoing the almost universal feedback provided by critics and regular moviegoers alike.

I don't plan to see it.

Where I take mild exception to Jen's review -- and she's far from alone in this -- is the implication that it's somehow important that every American go see this movie, so that we won't forget the events of 9/11 and how they changed our lives, individually and as a nation. I would not dispute for a second that a film like this will prove to be a significant step for many who see it, whether it's for healing or for some other purpose, and because that's the case, I applaud the filmmakers for their apparent sensitivity and deft touch in bringing a partly fictionalized account of some of the events of that day to the big screen.

However, not everyone needs to go to a movie to remember that America is at war with an enemy that's cruel and imaginative and desperate, nor do we all need a visual stimulation to get a lump in our throats at a simple mention of the date. I'm not saying that those of us falling into this category are somehow stronger or more patriotic or more sensitive or more anything. We each just have different ways of dealing with these situations, and what I need or what works for me may well be ineffective for someone else.

Whatever other good comes out of United 93, my hope is that, above all, the symbolism of the first word of the movie's title represents the cumulative effect of 9/11 upon the American citizenry.

Technorati tag: United 93

"Terrorists won't defeat us (but watch where you sit...)"

Brave talk of refusing to let the fear of terrorism affect daily living seems to be so much whistling in the graveyard when offset by a British intelligence service report that advises businesses to move away from using cubicles or other "open space" office configurations because they put employees at higher risk in the event of bombings.

The report from the MI5 Security Service will no doubt be hailed by cubicle drones everywhere longing for the prestige of a private office, but they probably won't be heartened by the reasoning: "If you are converting your building to open-plan accommodation, remember that the removal of internal walls reduces protection against blast and fragments," the [MI5] leaflet says.

No one would argue against the need for reasonable caution and precaution in the risky world we now inhabit. But when terrorists begin to affect even our private sector architecture, it's also hard to argue that they haven't achieved at least a partial victory.

Link via Bruce Schneier's Schneier on Security blog.

Thoughts about the War

It's been a while since I've written anything about Operation Iraqi Freedom, now in its fourth year. After SSG. Will returned safely from that theater, we breathed a sigh of relief and focused on other things -- mostly more trivial things -- blog-wise.

When we marked the third anniversary of the invasion, I thought I should post something in observance of that arbitrary milestone, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't have any new insights to share or advice to offer, and I still don't.

But, the more I think about it and the more I see and hear reports about the "growing disenchantment" of Americans with the war, the more I realize that it's important and maybe even critical that those of us who continue to support our country's goals, strategies and tactics need to say so. Even if the voice is so infinitesimal as to be lost in the noise, there's value and, eventually, power in the combination of those voices.

So, with that in mind, I simply want to go on record with the following:

• I continue to stand behind President Bush and others in positions of governmental authority with respect to the decision to invade Iraq, remove Saddam Hussein, and attempt to provide an environment in which democracy can gain a foothold.


• I absolutely reject the idea that US troops should be pulled out of Iraq simply because the war is "too hard" or "too long" or "politically uncomfortable."


• I continue to consider the men and women who volunteer to serve their country as part of the US military to be patriots and heros, committed to a cause greater than themselves. I'm proud of them and I continue to pray for them and their families daily.

I don't expect everyone who reads this to agree with everything I've said, although I suspect that many of you will. But if you do agree, and you have a forum for expressing that agreement, I respectfully suggest that you use it and add your voice.

Lunch with SSG Will & Family

The lunch I was being so coy about earlier today was with none other than SSG. Will and his charming wife and drop-dead gorgeous baby daughter. They came through Midland on a road trip that took them through San Angelo and which will eventually end up in Oklahoma visited members of both families. I was so happy they were able to stop and let us meet them and express our appreciation for his service and the sacrifice their family has made on behalf of our nation.

We were joined by Jeff McDonald and his wife, and MLB. As you may recall, Jeff was running Will's reports from Iraq on the KWES-TV website thereby giving many more people an opportunity to read first-hand reports from the war.

Will is obviously happy to be home with his family, and will return to his civilian job on March 1. He's not saying goodbye to the military, having re-enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard for another tour of duty. However, if things work like they're supposed to, he won't be eligible to be tagged for combat duty for three years. I know he's willing to serve in that way if called, but we're all praying he'll be able to serve in other ways closer to home.

It was great to finally meet the family for which we'd been praying for such a long time. I took the occasion to officially retire the HeroBracelet I'd worn in his honor, and presented it to him. In turn, he promised to send me an M1 Abrams tank just as soon as a spare became available. ;-)

The next best thing about lunch -- a very nice one, by the way, at Venezia -- was that Jeff picked up the check. Jeff, if you think that gesture is sufficient to put an MSMer back in the good graces of this blogger...well, it's a wonderful start!

Roadmaps for Illegal Immigrants

A Tucson-based organization called Humane Borders has prepared detailed maps of certain remote portions of the US/Mexico border to assist illegal immigrants in their journeys. The maps show, among other things, the locations of water stations and rescue beacons (which may be activated by people in distress to attract the attention of the US Border Patrol), and the extent of cell phone coverage in the mapped areas.

The group has also prepared and will distribute warning posters describing the dangers of attempting to cross in these remote areas. (For a graphic description of those dangers, read Urrea's The Devil's Highway, a review of which is here.) These posters (and the maps, for that matter) also pinpoint known locations of previous deaths related to attempts to cross the border, presumably as a warning to those contemplating a similar undertaking. Somewhat ironically, the posters also show the estimated walking time to cover the required distance.

I don't question the righteous intentions of the folks behind this project -- they want to save human lives -- but I do believe they're seriously naive about what it will accomplish. For example, setting aside the fact that the group is facilitating an illegal activity, here are a few flaws in their approach:

• It's unlikely that most illegals will have either the skill or the equipment to effectively use these maps; I doubt that most have ever seen a compass, much less used one. In any event, they'll likely be relying on a coyote or guide (often with disastrous results, as Urrea points out in the above-linked book).


• Even if you have a map and the skill to use it, that shouldn't give you the confidence of surviving the hellish trek through the Sonoran desert in high summer. How many people will overestimate their survival abilities based on having a map? How many can actually assimilate the reality of walking 40 miles over brutal terrain in 100° temperatures -- at night?


• The posters are designed to educate and warn folks about that previous point, but how many of the immigrants (a) can read, or (b) will view them as anything other than American propaganda designed to keep them from the Land of Opportunity? In any event, I doubt such posters will remain posted very long considering the huge amounts of cash accruing to the organized criminals engaged in smuggling human cargo across the border.

The real problem is, of course, the last thing we need to do is provide a terrorist with resources designed to make undetected entry into our country easier. A terrorist who, by the way, will surely have both the skills and the equipment needed use those resources.

In a pre-9/11 world, we might just shake our heads at the well-intentioned but ultimately misguided efforts of these folks. Today, however, the stakes are considerably higher, and the unintended consequences could literally reverberate through our nation.

Tip: GOPUSA's The Loft

Technorati tags: Illegal Immigration | Humane Borders

SSG Will's Home!

I was pleased to receive an email from SSG. Will informing me that, following a 39 hour trip, he's been reunited with wife and daughter, the latter being someone he'd never met in person as he shipped out to Iraq just before she was born.

He's obviously thrilled to be home and enjoying the big and little pleasures of life in the States (the former I've already described; the latter include rain and broadband access).

And since he's continuing to check in on the Gazette, I know he'd appreciate any "welcome home" comments you'd care to leave. [Hint, hint]

Thank A Soldier Week Reminder

I know your December calendar is rapidly filling, but be sure to save a little room for National Thank A Soldier Week, December 19-25.

You probably know at least one man or woman currently serving in the military and undoubtedly tell them "thanks" on a regular basis, but this week is set aside to make a special effort to expand those expressions of gratitude. The website linked above has several suggestions for doing this (including a form to send an email to a soldier serving overseas during the holidays).

Closer to home, this seems like a good time to remind you that you can also donate to the Black Knight Fund right here on the Gazette (refer to the button in the right sidebar), for the benefit of our own SSG Will and his CO. And on behalf of SSG Will, I'd like to extend thanks to those of you who have already made a donation; I know how hard it can be to find some spare money at this time of the year, even more so considering the other giving opportunities we as a nation have faced this year.

Technorati tag: Thank A Soldier Week

SSG. Will Heading Home; One Final Request

The Good News

SSG. Will is wrapping up his official duties in Iraq and is preparing to hop aboard a C-130 for Kuwait. If things go according to schedule, he'll be back in the States in time for Christmas shopping with his wife and daughter. Please pray for continued safety and health as he prepares for that special first Christmas with his new (to him, anyway) daughter.

In an email I received this morning, he writes that if it weren't for having a wife and child to return to, he'd just as soon stay in Iraq and continue the work there until it's finished. He sees the value of what we're accomplishing and is proud to be a part of that. And, in case you're wondering, he and his fellow soldiers aren't paying much attention to the nonsense being spouted by certain politicians back in the States. That grandstanding is irrelevant to their recognition of and commitment to the job of giving democracy a chance to take root in the Middle East.

The Not-So-Good News

That's not to say that everything's hunky-dory in SSG. Will's part of the war. I've received an eye-opening education about how ridiculously bureaucratic the US military can be when it applies itself, and I want to share that with you...and then ask for your assistance, one more time.

SSG. Will's primary responsibilities are as a Supply Sergeant. As such, he's the guy who sees that the troops get the equipment and supplies they need to fight the war. In some ways, he's like a very well armed accountant. Not only did he occasionally go out on combat missions, but he also had to handle all the paperwork involved with keeping track of millions of dollars of US government property needed to execute said war.

Military Bureaucracy at Its Finest

Here's where my understanding of the process broke down. If a piece of equipment cannot be properly accounted for, the unit's Commanding Officer and Supply Sergeant are responsible for reimbursing the government for the value of that property out of their own pockets! So, for example, if SSG. Will issued a pair of M24 binoculars to a soldier who subsequently loses them (or sends them home as a souvenir, not that that ever happens), Will is liable for the $386 cost, unless he can produce written evidence that he issued the binoculars. The problem is that during a war, paperwork is often not the top priority, as you might imagine, and receipts can't always be located after the dust settles.

To make a long story short, it appears that SSG. Will and his C.O. are going to be liable for about $2,250 of unaccounted-for equipment, which will come out of their paychecks. In terms of percentage of total value of the equipment under their responsibility, this is just a rounding error...but it's a significant hit to an individual soldier's pay.

Now, I'm an accountant by education and I'm married to an accountant, and I understand perfectly the importance of having a strong system of controls in place to protect the US government assets that were purchased using my tax dollars. I applaud the philosophy of requiring personal accountability, a philosophy that should apply to each and every one of us who is an employee. But I also believe that such policies should be administered with an eye toward reasonability and materiality, and I don't think that sticking a couple of soldiers with a bill for $2,000 following a wartime deployment is reasonable.

Introducing the "Black Knight Fund"

Therefore, I'm putting forth the audacious proposal that we help SSG. Will and his CO with those expenses. I'd like to raise at least half of the money that Uncle Sam is doing to ding them for. I've bounced the idea off Will, who also visited with his CO about it, and they've agreed to the concept.

If you're in agreement, here's how you can help. We've converted the old "SGT. Will Fund" into the "Black Knight Fund," Black Knight being the call sign for Will's company. There's a PayPal "Make a Donation" button over in the right column, and if you'd like to help offset the amount described above, just click it and enter the amount you want to donate. 100% of the proceeds (minus PayPal's nominal processing fee) will be forwarded to Will for use in paying this assessment. If donations are sufficient to cover the entire cost, we'll deactivate the fund when the balance reaches $2,250. We're just trying to keep a couple of military paychecks whole.

I realize that this is a rather unusual request, calling for unusual trust. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me; my email address is available in the right sidebar also. Thanks in advance for your consideration of this request.

New Blog: "Religion of Peace?"

Our pal Discoshaman has supplemented his regular day-blogging gig with a new joint devoted to the coverage of news related to the War on Terror. Disco's perspective on that news is captured by the blog's title and tagline: "Religion of Peace? (Ignore the corpses behind the green curtain)" along with a running total comparing "the number of victims killed by Muslim terrorists since 11/11/05" vs. "the number of victims killed by Christian terrorists since 11/11/05." In case you're wondering, the current total is 94-0, with the Christians apparently lacking motivation. Personally, I think it has more to do with coaching.

Some will be put off by the no-holds-barred references to another religion, believing that religion would never truly advocate violence to another. And some people still believe in the tooth fairy.

At a time when even certain Republicans who should know better are starting to waffle about the realities of WWIII, ROP has the potential to reinject some energy into the coverage of said war.

Technorati tags: War on Terror | Islam

2,000 Reasons to Stay the Course

In an email I received yesterday, SSG. Will informed me that his outfit had lost another man to the terrorist enemy in Iraq, when his vehicle was hit by an IED. Will didn't mention his name or any other details, but it's a sobering reminder of the price being paid to secure freedom for the people of Iraq.

I don't know how to quantify that price, when the loss of even one life is too many but the "risk-free" alternative is unacceptable. What I do know is that the media's trumpeting of "2,000 American deaths" for any reason other than to honor the sacrifice made by the men and women that number represents is a disgusting display signifying only its inability or unwillingness to accept that freedom always comes with a price, and that the war in Iraq is nothing compared to what we'll experience if we don't stay the course.

I don't understand what makes 2,000 any different than 1,000 or 1,500 or 1,999. I don't understand why the 2,000th death should make us willing to cut and run. I don't understand why 2,000 should be sufficient reason to become more vocal in criticizing what we're accomplishing in Iraq. If anything, it should make us more determined to defeat the enemy who continues to kill not only Americans but also its own countrymen (and women and children) to advance a documented agenda that would ultimately bring the battle into our own neighborhoods here at home.

If the number 2,000 means anything at all, I hope it serves as a reminder to pray for and support our military as they put themselves in harm's way on a daily basis. To do anything less dishonors the lives that number represents.

Technorati tag: War on Terror

Report from Iraq: Counting Down

It's been a while since we had a report from SSG. Will, stationed south of Baghdad. He checked in yesterday via email and I'm happy to report that he's doing well and is relatively bored.

I've never been in war, but I would think that being bored is a good thing during a war. It tends to mean that no one is shooting at you at the moment, and that's a very good thing.

On a more somber note, he reports that his brigade has suffered its first fatalities, two in combat and three by accidents, the nature of which he didn't specify. The latter is a strong reminder that Iraq is a dangerous place to reside, regardless of your combat status.

Will is in the tail end of his deployment, although that is certainly subject to change, especially depending on what happens after next week's constitutional referendum in Iraq. But, the best case scenario is that he'll be home in time for his daughter's first Christmas, and that will be a special occasion beyond description.

Will also asked me to convey his deep appreciation for those who made contributions to the "SSG Will Fund" over the past year. The extra money was nice, of course, but the show of support was the special thing...just knowing that Americans back home were thinking about him and his fellow soldiers and standing firm in the support of what we're trying to achieve in the area.

This is a good time to reflect that even as the war is sometimes being pushed off the TV screen or the front page by a steady procession of natural disasters, real and imagined, we should take care not to forget the men and women who are in harm's way, securing freedom for people who haven't experienced it for a long time. Let's not take their service for granted.

Misconception about National Guard's Mission

A letter to the editor published in today's local newspaper is an example of the kinds of misconceptions floating around in the climate of stress:

Well, no...not exactly. The Army National Guard has a dual mission which is expressed in terms of national and state responsibilities. Here's a description of the National Guard's mission, straight from its website:

This clearly shows that (1) the President has the right to deploy the National Guard in the best interests of the country, and that right supercedes the states' rights, and (2) even when not "federalized," the National Guard's primary responsibility is to stay prepared for war or national emergency.

But, why don't we ask an active member of the National Guard how he views its mission? Here's what SSG. Will had to say on the issue via an email I received just yesterday:

So, if you disagree with the war that's being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, that's your prerogative. And you're certainly entitled to your opinion as to where America's troops should be deployed. But please don't try to substitute those opinions for facts. And the fact of the matter is that the National Guard is currently being deployed precisely in the ways that correspond to its official mission.

Technorati tag: National Guard

Will gets a promotion

I've been remiss in recognizing that Will is no longer "SGT Will," but is now, instead, "SSG Will." His recent promotion to Staff Sergeant is an indication of the quality of service he's providing while in Iraq and I hope you'll join me in congratulating him. (The extra pay won't hurt, either!)

Now, there is some downside to all of this, as it's causing me some extra work. I need to update the references to the "SGT Will Fund" (although I can't really change the name of the account in PayPal without starting over). Also, my Hero Bracelet is now out-of-date. And, finally, I need to get used to referring to "Mrs. SGT Will" as "Mrs. SSG Will."

I'm sure that if Will had realized the ripple effect of his promotion, he would have gladly declined the honor to spare me the pain and effort of these difficult changes. ;-)

Congratulations, Will...stay safe, buddy...and thanks again for being willing to do the tough duty in the cause of freedom!

Update from Iraq: A Visual Tour

Update (8/3/05): SSG. Will shares his perspective at the halfway point of his assignment in Iraq over at the NewsWest 9 website. The following post has also been updated to reflect Will's new rank of Staff Sergeant.

SSG. Will has assembled a great set of photos and captions taken on location in Iraq and Kuwait and we present them here for your viewing pleasure.

I also want to thank Will for making a pledge to my Blogathon campaign coming up next Saturday. I tried to talk him out of it, but quickly realized that he's better equipped to prevail in any kind of argument. ;-) Seriously, though, it's great to see west Texans supporting each other, even (especially!) from the other side of the world.

Below is a teaser from the photo gallery. This one also cries out for a caption, don't you think?

Couple of things to keep in mind while viewing the photo gallery. "IED" stands for "Improvised Explosive Device," and "C4" is SSG. Will's truck. But, you knew that.

Technorati tag: War on Terror

Two predictable things: Islamic terrorism, and Daily Kos commenters

I won't even bother linking to the Daily Kos; if you really want to find it, it's easy, but I wouldn't recommend looking for it if you tend to blame terrorists for their attacks rather than the victims of those attacks.

It didn't take long for the terrorist sympathizers to start speculating about how Bush will spin the London bombings to his political advantage, how Rove is gleefully plotting to use this latest "windfall," how Blair is now exposed for the gullible idiot they've always known him to be, and how, frankly, this is what we deserve for not rolling over.

"Oh, the deaths are certainly regrettable and our thoughts go out to the victims and families, but..."

Disgusting.

Flying the Union Jack

The Gazette will be "flying" the Union Jack for an undetermined period of time, as a show of support for and solidarity with our British friends.

It's not much, but it's what I can do.

American blogger arrives in London at bad time

Patti over at the elegant White Pebble arrived in London with her son for a vacation just in time for the apparent terrorist attacks.

I suspect we'll be reading some fascinating first-hand accounts of the aftermath. And, as a cautionary note to any would-be terrorists, and to paraphrase Johner in Alien: Resurrection, she is not one with whom you wish to mess.

I'm glad she and her fellow travelers are safe.

Honoring our troops via herobracelets.org

I've just learned about HeroBracelets.org, an organization "...founded to honor the sacrifices made by America's volunteer Armed Forces. Putting their life on hold for potentially dangerous duty is a brave thing to do, and we admire them all. HeroBracelets are available for all American Armed Forces, regardless of when or where they served their country."

The organization sells metal bracelets in a number of configurations, designed to honor or memorialize those who are currently serving, who served in the past, or who have fallen on the battlefield. In addition, $2.00 from the sale of every bracelet goes to the Fallen Heroes Fund, a non-profit, non-political fund instituted to provide assistance to families of military personnel killed while serving their country.

I like this idea, and I've just placed an order for a HeroBracelet to honor Sgt. Will, who is serving in Iraq. You might want to do the same, or perhaps you've got another soldier whose memory or service you'd like to honor in a tangible way. The organization offers several varieties of bracelets and dogtags, including some to honor those who fell in Viet Nam, and those who've been awarded Purple Hearts for being wounded in action (a category my own father is in).

I take extra pride in the fact that HeroBracelets.org was created by a Texan, Chris Greta, who has a small ad agency in Austin.

Technorati tags: HeroBracelet | Fallen Heroes Fund

Report from Iraq: A soldier responds to the skeptics

Editor's note: I'm late in posting this update from Sgt. Will, who sent it just over a week ago, but it's still relevant. Unfortunately.

From Sgt. Will, working in harm's way in Iraq:

There's nothing I can add to what Sgt. Will says, except to say "amen" and express continuing thanks to men and women like him who are risking their lives to bring to Iraq and Afghanistan the same freedoms we seem to daily take for granted here in the safe and comfortable confines of America.

If you'd like to show some tangible support for Sgt. Will, you might consider make a donation to the Sgt. Will Fund. More information and a PayPal donation link are found in the upper right column of this page.

Technorati tag: War on Terror

Report from Iraq: In harm's way

Update: Sgt. Will's latest missive is now up on the NewsWest 9 website.

We haven't heard from Sgt. Will in several weeks and I was beginning to get concerned. But an email arrived earlier this afternoon and laid those concerns to rest...a bit. His assignments don't normally take him directly into the line of fire in Iraq, but a recent one that took place north of Baghdad was different. I'll let him take over from here:

"An interesting day." Heh. I saw two squirrels grooming each other yesterday, and thought that was "an interesting day."

Did you notice something in Sgt. Will's write-up? His descriptions of their objectives and tactics -- standard operating procedures, we can safely assume -- explicitly address civilian safety. In this case, that objective overrode even their ability to return enemy fire. Anyone who still has the misguided belief that our intervention in Iraq was about "the oil" and not about liberating people from an evil regime should carefully consider the implications of Sgt. Will's description of their mission.

He goes on to report that Mrs. Sgt. and Baby Sgt. are doing well back here in Texas. Your donations to the Sgt. Will Fund have been greatly appreciated as a tangible show of support for Sgt. Will as an individual, for his family, and for the mission to which he's committed.

Technorati tag: War on Terror

Report from Iraq: In war, boring is good...sometimes

Sgt. Will has checked in again. His outfit's settled into the Tallil Airbase in southern Iraq, which he likens to being back at Fort Hood...and that's not really a good thing, from his perspective.

He's been spending some quality time with Charlie 4 (his truck), and it sounds like something from "Mad Max Meets Hackers":

Refer to this post to get a refresher on the acronyms.

He's also excited about a new mission.

Sgt. Will closed his emailed report by offering to field questions if you have anything you'd like to ask him. Just leave your question in the comments and he'll either pick it up from there or I'll forward it to him.

I also want to take a minute to remind you that the "Sgt. Will Fund" is still open for donations. We had a fantastic response when we started it up last month, but things have slowed down considerably since then. Anything you can do to show your support for Will and his family will be appreciated more than you can imagine! Just click the PayPal button at right, near the top of this page.

Technorati tag: War on Terror

Remembering the Brave

The Rocky Mountain News has a moving account of how US Marines are honoring their fallen comrades, while offering comfort to grieving families. And, maybe, finding some healing of their own.

Marine Cpl. Dustin Barker is, by the way, a Midlander.

Technorati tag: Remembering The Brave

Humbled and Grateful

The post title neatly sums up how Will and I feel about the response to the recently established "Sgt. Will Fund." While I had a feeling that a number of Gazette readers would be receptive to a way to show tangible support for the sacrifices that Sgt. Will and his family are making while he serves our country in Iraq, I frankly underestimated that generosity. Oh me of little faith! ;-)

Will wrote today to say that his outfit has been issued a change in mission, but the details aren't yet available. Please continue to keep him and his family, and his fellow soldiers in your prayers.

And if you'd like to show your support via a contribution to the "Sgt. Will Fund" please feel free to do that as well. Think of it as a tip jar for someone who's doing really, really important work on our behalf!

Gracias, amigos!

Report from Iraq: Feeling like a Knight

Sgt. Will reports in from Iraq, having just returned Kuwait, and puts in his $0.02 about "force protection" (armor, for us non-military types):

Here are photos of Sgt. Will's truck before and after the installation of the LSAC. Quite a difference, huh?

Additional notes: Will also provided links to the Army's FMTV website and to GlobalSecurity.org's page for FMTV LSACs.

Update (2005-04-14): Here are some photos of the PLS mentioned above. Sgt. Will describes a PLS thusly: "...basically an Oshkosh 10 Ton truck that uses flat racks like the big dumpster trucks."

In addition, the KWES-TV website has just posted Will's latest "day-in-the-life" column.

And, don't forget that you can provide some tangible support to Sgt. Will and his family via the PayPal button shown at the right side of this page. 100% of the proceeds, net of PayPal's fee, goes to Mrs. Sgt.

Sgt. Will goes MSM!

Sgt. Will is now a contributor to the KWES-TV website, via what we hope will become a regular "day in the life" column about his experiences and observations while serving in Iraq. His first communique appears today, as he introduces himself and reports in from Kuwait where he's tracking down some supplies for his outfit.

His report is timely in that it runs in conjunction with the story about the area army reservists who shipped out yesterday for training and eventual deployment in Iraq.

I appreciate NewsWest 9's Web Editor and fellow blogger Jeff McDonald's interest in giving Sgt. Will a broader forum for his reports. I'd like to think that this is another good example of blogs and MSM cooperating to provide information of interest to a shared audience.

Announcing the Sgt. Will Fund

Regular readers know that Sgt. Will is the Gazette's "war correspondent," serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Will periodically sends in reports and photos from his deployment which serve to let us get a glimpse into the life of a west Texas native doing his part to bring democracy to Iraq. His reports are archived in the "War on Terror" category, if you wish to acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with him and his experiences.

Will and I have been kicking around an idea for a while. I was interested in finding a way to show more tangible support for him, and allowing Gazette readers to do the same if they so desired. Of course, the usual way to do this is via "care packages." The problem with care packages, while being very much appreciated by the recipients, is that they don't necessarily contain items that are really needed...things that you and I would never think of. One item Will mentioned by way of example is leather work gloves. That never occurred to me, and even if it had, I have no idea what kind he prefers, or what size he wears.

But someone does...and that's his wife (who, for reasons of privacy, we'll refer to as Ms. Sgt.). Ms. Sgt. is now busy caring for the couple's infant daughter (whom her husband has not yet been able to hold), but another of her roles is to keep Will supplied with certain items that can't otherwise be obtained in Iraq.

It occurred to me that we could make her job a lot easier, while providing Will with the things he really needs, by sending along an easily transferred commodity known as "cash." After discussing this with Will -- who's very sensitive about not wanting to look like he's got his hand out -- he's agreed to the establishment of the "Sgt. Will Fund" which will be used to collect nominal donations on his behalf. The Sgt. Will Fund is set up with PayPal, so it's secure and easy to donate (think of it as a tip jar...but with the tips going to a guy doing much more important work than writing words in a blog). 100% of the proceeds will be forwarded to Ms. Sgt. to do with as she deems appropriate.

The Sgt. Will Fund will be active for the duration of his deployment in Iraq, which at this point is unknown. If you'd like to show your support for an American soldier who, along with his family, is making a significant sacrifice in the service of his country, just click button on the right side of this page and PayPal will do the rest. As with most such gifts, the actual amount is less important than the giving...but generosity scores extra credit! And if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the following email address (you know how to make it work): sgtwillfund -a-t- ericsiegmund.com.

I thank you, and I know that Sgt. Will (and Ms. Sgt. and Baby Sgt.) thank you as well!

First Lady makes local connection in Afghanistan

Terry Lowe is a Midlander working for a private security firm in Afghanistan. His assignment is a simple one (yeah, right): guarding the President of Afghanistan. During First Lady Laura Bush's recent visit to the country, she and Terry made connections, and the photo below shows the two Midland high school graduates together at the Presidential Palace. (Feel free to ignore the UT baseball cap. ;-)

Think you can go anywhere in the world without running into a Midlander? Think again, amigo. Very cool.

Technorati tags: War On Terror | Midland, Texas

Update from Iraq: Body Armor

Sgt. Will sent a quick update just before I left town last week, and he enclosed an interesting photo which helps to remind us that the soldiers in Iraq are engaged in a high-stakes endeavor. Here's his description of the photograph:

With all the publicity about inadequate protection for our troops (vehicular armor, in particular) it's good to know that there are items that actually exceed specs. I pray that Will never has to put his IBA to an actual test.

Technorati tags: War on Terror | Operation Iraqi Freedom

A Texan in Iraq

I don't have time tonight to do a full report, but I know you'll appreciate Sgt. Will's latest photo from Iraq:

If you're a Texan, the mere site of these two flags* flying together will send a chill down your spine. The idea of them flying in Iraq as a clear warning to terrorists just doubles the effect!

*The "Come and Take It" phrase and flag is tied to an actual piece of early Texas (pre-statehood) history.

Report from Iraq: #3

I just heard from my bud, Sgt. Will, who is serving in Iraq (Charlie 3/112 Armor). Will reports that he now has a new daughter, born February 28 (Texas time). I've seen a photo and, boy, is she a cutie! I know that Will is aching to hold her, but thanks to the magic of this here interweb thing, he was able to "be present" via instant messaging during the delivery.

Will reports that things have been relatively quiet thus far, although his outfit's mission is about to change in a way that will make them, um, "more targetable." And, although his formal role is more administrative than combat-specific, he's been going out on occasional forays that put him in harm's way. Given that, he's been doing a little OTJ training with a Barrett .50cal sniper rifle. Below is a photo of one of his practice groupings.

The pole in the picture was more than 350 meters distant, and he put three of ten into the tight pattern you see. Will tells me that the Barrett is spec'd for a 3 MOA shot group and while I don't know how to do the specific calculations, I'd have to agree with him that his group is pretty impressive.

If you've got room on your prayer list, please add Will and his family to it. I know he'll appreciate it.

Report from Iraq: Part 2 - Jan 2005

Update (2/7/05): Even though this was originally posted a couple days ago, I've bumped it back up to the top of the page, as it deals with a subject that...let's face it...is much more significant than a silly football game (no offense to the Pats and Eagles fans). I also realize I may have dealt a fatal blow to the space-time continuum by altering the post date, but it's precisely that sort of awesome power that caused me to start blogging in the first place. I'm sure you can deal with it.

I've just received a detailed report complete with photos from Will, who is getting settled into his tour in Iraq. He sent a very interesting slide show, which I've annotated and uploaded. The show is in Acrobat format and should open in autoplay mode. However, to see the annotations describing each photo, you'll need to open the file from within Acrobat and manually scroll through the document. Note that the file is almost 3 mb in size.

In his transmittal letter, Will writes about his perspective on these experiences.

I really like his reference to the Iraqi people and their ability to "see this through," because it's a perceptive reference to the fact that at some point, it is indeed the citizens of Iraq who will need to step up and take control over their own country...and their own democracy.

As I mentioned in the previously-linked post, Will's wife is expecting their first child in March and I know they'd appreciate your prayers for her and their daughter's health.

Newsflash: "Iraqi Election Process Not Perfect! Dismal Failure!!"

Reports of Iraqi ballot shortages are appearing and I predict an onslaught of posts from a certain end of the political spectrum trotting out lame arguments that those reports completely invalidate the election process, results and, indeed, our whole reason for being there to begin with.

Really?

The US of A has been practicing this free election democracy thing for a couple of centuries now, and we still haven't perfected the voting process.

Here's a thought. While practice may not make for perfect, it surely helps. And while ballot shortages in Iraq are certainly something to address in the future, it beats the heck out of voter shortages...or, much worse, free election shortages.

Technorati tag: Iraq

Report from Iraq

I got an email this morning from my pal and west Texan Will, who is a Supply Sergeant assigned to the 56th Brigade Combat Team, a Texas National Guard group stationed out of Fort Hood. He's now on the ground in Iraq and involved in the handoff of responsibilities from departing units. Here's an excerpt from his report (edited for privacy concerns):

Will is a Christian and I'm impressed and encouraged that he understands and appreciates the historical and Biblical significance of the region which he's helping to secure.

It's worth noting also that his wife will be giving birth to their first child in March, and it's likely he won't be there when that happens. I know he'd appreciate your prayers for his wife and child, as well as for him and his fellow soldiers in harm's way. He's promised to try to send periodic updates and photos once he gets to a place with a more reliable internet connection.

Technorati tag: War on Terror