Category: Real Soldiers

Tequila Volare sends us a link to the story of veteran Curtis Butler who went to the local power company to pay his bill this week and ended up paying a few thousand dollars for the bills of folks he doesn’t know;

“Just being thankful for what I have,” said Curtis. “I’m not rich but when you can put a smile on someone’s face, that’s a major blessing.”

Curtis knows about struggling to pay the bills. After serving two tours in Iraq, he returned to the United States with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There were problems with his military benefits that took time to resolve. In the meantime, Curtis spent some time living in his car on the streets of El Paso, Texas.

Now, he has his benefits and an apartment in Henry County. He’s about to get married.

“Last year, I’m sleeping in my car,” said Curtis. “This year I’m making somebody’s holiday dreams come true.

Merry Christmas, Curtis, and thanks.

The folks at the 3rd Sustainment Command at Fort Knox, KY sent us this story about one of their sergeants who takes time out of his day to read to local school children at a nearby school;

Sgt. Daniel Schneider sits down and is quickly surrounded. He’s not scared. There are no weapons pointing at him, only the fingers of little boys and girls. They watch in anticipation, wondering what book will be selected. As Schneider begins to read, all eyes are on him.

Schneider, a transportation management coordinator for the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), was reading to children at Pierce Elementary on Friday as part of the 3d ESC’s Partners in Education reading program.

The reading program, which is supported by volunteers, was organized by Master Sgt. Kenya Berry. Berry, a G3 operations sergeant with the 3d ESC, established the program to help offer reading support to the children at Pierce Elementary.
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“I basically provide (the school) a schedule,” said Berry. “Soldiers go in and they read to the students during the week and they’ll do any other kind of assistance that they require in the classroom.”

Berry’s goal with the reading program is to have more involvement with Soldiers in the school.

“I think that if soldiers got an opportunity to go out on a day to day basis and work with the kids in the school it’s something they would enjoy,” said Berry.

The reading program is in its third week and has had approximately 5 volunteers so far.

Schneider, who has volunteered twice already, had been interested in volunteer work and after hearing about the reading program he quickly volunteered. Schneider enjoys reading to the children and plans to volunteer more in the future

“They love it,” said Schneider. “You kind of made them happy and made their day”.

Photos and story by Sgt. Justin Silvers, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) public affairs.

From Army.mil comes the story that 8 Fort Drum soldiers who rescued the residents of a Fort Drum area apartment;

The Soldiers, who were all from G Company, 710th Brigade Support Battalion, help rescue residents and pets from a burning building in the Fort Drum neighborhood while they were conducting training last month.

Staff Sgt. Eduardo Rodriguez, Spc. Eric Anderson, Spc. Ronrico Philips, Spc. Chris Schneider, Spc. Khiry White, Pfc. Dijion McEachen, Pvt. Jonathan Mendoza and Pvt. Michael Parham without question, risked their lives to save strangers.
[…]
Although they knew the inherent risks of running inside a burning building, the Soldiers knew they had to do something.

“I saw something and I reacted to it,” White said with a shrug.

The Soldiers ran into the building and up to the top apartment that was on fire.

“At that time, I figured they could probably put that out themselves; if someone was inside, they could use their fire extinguisher,” White said.

After no answer at the first door, they moved on to the other apartments and began knocking on all the doors to ensure everyone had evacuated the complex.
[…]
Each of the Soldiers continued to clear the building while the fire grew rapidly. After several trips inside, they had successfully helped all residents and pets out of the building before the fire department arrived.

It’s on TAH because the media won’t cover it.

From Johnson City, TN comes the story about Ashley Edens who lost her jusband to a sniper’s bullet in Afghanistan seven short months ago. The widow has decided that enlisting in the Army is the best way that she can honor her husband’s memory and give back to all of the soldiers in Spc. Jason Edens’ unit who wrote her personal condolence letters;

“What I really would like to do after I get some rank and learn the ropes is I would really like to help families of fallen soldiers,” Edens said.

Families like her own. Soldiers like Jason. She now prepares to follow in his footsteps. They are big shoes to fill, but it sure sounds like she is on the right path.

“I do it because it’s what I need to do,” Edens said.

As you get older you get somewhat hardened by life.  You deal with disappointments, betrayal, the “system”.  You learn that you don’t always get what you think you deserve, and that what is “right and good” isn’t always what happens.

So as you age you tend to take on a more cynical view of life.  You develop a thicker skin; you learn to deal with disappointment.  You expect bad things in the world around you, and from people in general.

You have little choice.  The reality is that the world is full of stupid people – and of those who don’t give a damn about doing the right thing.  Reality rubs your nose in those facts.

Then something happens that reminds you that there are still some left who “get it” – who embody class, respect, and doing the right thing.  That there are still some proverbial “good guys” left.

Some time ago, I was forwarded two photos.  They speak for themselves.

The first is a photo taken at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial – the Wall.

I’ve been there once.  From photos and descriptions, as a young man I thought the design was foolish and inappropriate.

Damn – was I naive.

A few years ago, I visited the Wall.  In person, the somber, quiet dignity of that monument hits harder and makes more of an impact than I can describe.  But that’s another story altogether.

Back on topic:  the first photo shows one panel of the Wall.  Reflected in it are the images of the photographer and two of his friends or family members.  The names are fairly clear, but in the softcopy of the photo I have not all of them are readable.

At first glance, there’s nothing special going on here.

Then you notice, at the bottom of the segment, three small 3×5 notecards resting against the black stone of the Wall.  The second photo is a closeup of one of these notecards.

If the name at the bottom seems familiar – it should.  The card was signed by General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  The note was written the day he retired.

Military leaders don’t make it very far without the support and effort of their subordinates.  Some forget that fact along the way, as well as where they came from.

Looks like General Pace never forgot.

Four members of the 75th Ranger Regiment received awards for valor at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, on Friday, 26 October 2012.  The Chief of Staff of the Army, GEN Raymond Odierno, presided and presented the following decorations:

SGT Craig D. Warfle – received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism on 18 August 2010 in Logar province, Afghanistan.

SSG Dominic J. Annecchini – received the Silver Star for heroism on 16 May 2012 in eastern Afghanistan.

SGT Christopher D. Coray – received the Silver Star for heroism on 27 and 28 May 2011 in northern Afghanistan.

SGT Michael A. Ross – received the Silver Star for heroism on 13 April 2012 in Afghanistan.

In addition, at the same ceremony 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action between 15 May 2010 and 20 Oct 2010.

Details of each man’s heroic actions can be found here.  IMO it’s worthwhile reading.

Exceptional heroism.  Exceptional men.