This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Real Soldiers

  • Senior Airman Jason Perri; saving the world one person at a time

    Former3cO sends us a link to the story of Senior Airman Jason Perri who was on his way to work one day when he came across an automobile accident and a body laying on the ground. His Air Force training took over;

    Perri took a breath, collected himself and sprang into action. First, he called his flight chief to notify him of the situation and then he asked the women if they called emergency services — they did.

    Perri then walked down to assess the injured’s condition and noticed the individual lost a large amount of blood, was unresponsive and suffered a major head injury. Perri knew what he had to do.

    “Everything I did was what the Air Force taught me,” said the Airmen who thought he would never have to use CPR.

    He proceeded to ask one of the girls if they had a towel – they handed him one. Perri then angled the towel so it would be in the ‘looking up’ position creating a clear passage for air. Once the passage was clear, he began to perform CPR in intervals of 10. The paramedics arrived and told him to just keep going and don’t stop.

    The victim of the accident did stabilize for a few days, but then gave up the ghost, but not as the result of this airman’s valiant efforts to save him.

    “I hope others will learn from situations like this and not take any training for granted,” he added of the event. “I wouldn’t have known what to do without the training the Air Force supplied me with.”

  • Edwin Lee Dean; still leading the way


    I posted this news on Facebook the other day, but ROS sent a link to Edwin Lee Dean’s obituary and I think we should mark the passing of one of the original Darby’s Rangers;

    Ranger Dean was a part of the First Ranger Battalion that landed in North Africa in November, 1942. He saw action in several key battles and beach landings, being awarded a Silver Star for his heroism during the Sened Station Raid—one of the first such citations ever awarded to an Army Ranger. While in North Africa, he was among the Rangers chosen to serve as a part of General George Patton’s contingent of bodyguards and served in the honor guard for Patton’s slain Chief of Staff. During July and August of 1943, Ranger Dean and his unit spearheaded the invasion of Sicily…

    Colonel Darby personally chose First Sergeant Dean to receive a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant. He was then assigned to the newly formed Fourth Ranger Battalion as company commander. It was also during this period of time that Second Lieutenant Dean received severe shrapnel wounds in his legs and a broken bone in his foot and was taken to a field hospital for treatment. Upon learning that his unit was moving out for a beach landing at Anzio, Second Lieutenant Dean left the hospital without being released by his doctors and rejoined his unit.

    Ranger Dean was reactivated during the Korean War in 1950. He volunteered for Airborne training and earned his parachutist badge in April, 1951 with the 82nd Airborne. He completed 19 jumps before illness led to his discharge from the service.

    The obit goes on to tell how Ranger Dean became Farmer Dean and also had a 22-year career at a local health center.

    In recognition of his courage, sacrifice, and devotion to this country and fellowman, in 2009 Ranger Dean was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia.

    And now he’s leading the way into eternity.

  • Not Safe for Work – Emphasis! Maybe NOT Safe for TAH?

    Damn you Troy via FB… So long Jonn, if this don’t crack you up you finally have an excuse to delete and dump me.

    Still, the funniest thing I’ve seen for a while:

  • Staff Sgt. Ryan Cross; saving the world one person at a time

    The Stars & Stripes tells the story of Staff Sgt. Ryan Cross (2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck) who on his way home from work in Germany when he came across an accident between a car and a motorcycle. The medics were treating the motorcyclist, but an elderly woman behind the wheel of the car looked to be in shock and stuck in her car while the engine was in flames;

    With the other driver who stopped to help, Fabian Schrödl, a 19-year-old German from the city of Creußen, Cross helped pull the woman out through the passenger door, as the driver-side door was damaged and would not open. The car was engulfed a minute or two later, Cross said.

    [German police officer Martin] Hasler said he arrived on the scene to find Cross tending to the woman while Schrödl stayed with the motorcyclist, a 17-year-old, who was taken from the scene with life-threatening injuries. Flames from the car were several feet high, he said.

  • A Belated Valor Award – With a Backstory

    In the early morning hours of June 13, 1968 – in Kontum Province, South Vietnam – an enemy unit moved into position for a night attack on a US camp.  SGT Frank Spink was on guard duty.  At 3AM, he noticed the enemy night attack about to begin, sounded the alarm, and engaged the enemy.  His actions gave sufficient warning to his unit to allow an effective response and prevent his camp from being overrun.

    His actions also drew the enemy’s full attention, however, and nearly cost SGT Spink his life.  He was severely wounded by enemy rocket fire during the attack.  His life was likely saved by his lieutenant, who rendered immediate aid during the battle.  SGT Spink did, unfortunately, lose an arm due to his wounds.

    For his wounds SGT Spink received a Purple Heart.  He was also recommended for the Silver Star, and apparently the award was approved.  Unfortunately, because of some administrative SNAFU, it was also never presented to SGT Spink.  Nor was SGT Spink aware of it.

    That’s where this story would normally have ended – no presentation, and no story.  Just another deserving but unknown hero denied proper recognition by a regrettable admin SNAFU.

    Except here, years later, someone followed up.

    Everyone in the military gives LTs and ENSs grief.  Much of the time, that’s well-deserved.  Virtually all new officers – particularly non-prior service ones – are naïve as hell.  Some new “butterbars” actually think they know their ass from a hole in the ground the day they’re commissioned.  And a few are really obnoxious and arrogant “pieces of work”.

    But most junior officers know they’re ignorant, and listen to (and learn from) their NCOs.  One thing most junior officers learn quickly from their NCOs is to take care of their troops.  And the good ones remember that for the rest of their lives.

    A few years ago SGT Spink’s former lieutenant was doing research on his old unit.  He came across paperwork for Spink’s Silver Star.

    He got in contact with his former soldier, and thanked him for saving lives that long-ago night.  He found out that Spink had never received his award.

    The former lieutenant and another vet then took action.  And though it took a while, the rest – as they say – is history.  A longstanding SNAFU was finally corrected; a deserving hero was recognized.  Earlier this week, SGT Frank Spink, US Army, was presented his Silver Star. Belatedly, yes – but he received it.

    Kudos, SGT Frank Spink.  Through your valor, many friendly lives were saved.  We belatedly honor your actions – and your heroism – on that long-ago day in June of 1968.

    And kudos also to John McHenry, SGT Spink’s former lieutenant, who followed up and took care of his soldier.  And to fellow veteran Fred Golladay – who, along with McHenry, simply wouldn’t let the matter rest.

  • Staff Sgt. Matthew Pinkston; saving the world one person at a time

    A story about Staff Sgt. Matthew Pinkston at the Army.mil page today tells the story of the patient administrator out driving with his wife, Alexandra when they came across a motorcyclist who had been in a accident. SSG Pinkston always carries a combat aid bag with him, so he was able to stabilize Billy Davis, the motorcyclist, and his badly mangled leg;

    “I went into my kit and got a tourniquet and put it around his leg,” Pinkston said. “I was able to get his leg out from underneath him and tried to keep him conscious. The leg stopped bleeding but he was thrashing around and I just kept trying to talk to him and he kept grabbing me saying he knows he lost his leg.”

    “I wasn’t sure what got me through that morning,” Davis said. “I’m convinced there was divine intervention at work. I asked Pinkston if anyone was there to help him. He said no. Pinkston is the major reason I am here now, for my mom, my son and my future wife. He kept me awake until the ambulance came and then I flatlined and woke up five days later.”

    You need to read the whole story, because the media isn’t going to mention the staff sergeant – he isn’t acting like any soldier they saw in a Rambo movie.

  • Colonel Gadson takes command at Fort Belvoir

    The Army reports that Col. Gregory D. Gadson, a double amputee and star of the movie “Battleship” has taken command of Fort Belvoir’s garrison;

    As of June 1, about 1,000 Soldiers in the Army Wounded Warrior program, or AW2, of 11,117 Soldiers and veterans have amputation injuries. Sixty-nine amputees have returned to active duty in the current conflict under the Continue on Active Duty, or COAD program. Eight more have returned to serve with the Army National Guard.

    Gadson returned to active duty to serve almost two years as director of the AW2 program before being selected to command Fort Belvoir. On Monday he was presented the Belvoir command colors by Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter, commander, Army Installation Management Command, on Long Parade Field across from post headquarters.

    “He has shown that it isn’t about what you cannot do, it’s about what you can do,” Ferriter said of Gadson. “He’s able to lead and get right to things that need to happen.”

    I can’t tell you how much I admire soldiers like Col Gadson who walk the walk. He represents the strength that all wounded warriors have within themselves to overcome their injuries, and I think the fact that he remained on active duty will inspire others to continue their lives despite the burdens they carry from the wars.

    Yeah, I think he’s got this.


    I Got This



    Battleship

    — MOVIECLIPS.com

  • “I just kept clearing until somebody told me to stop”

    Will sends us a report from the Army Times that two soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason W. Myers and Staff Sgt. Corey M. Calkins, have had their Silver Stars upgraded to Distinguished Service Crosses

    They received their awards June 12 from Adm. William McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

    I didn’t know that the DSC came with a box of Partagas cigars – those SF guys have good taste. Oh, click over to the article at the Army Times to read where the title for the post came from. It’s a pretty amazing story. Almost as amazing as the Army handing out Partagas.