Showing posts with label deployed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deployed. Show all posts

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Deployment stress includes what to do with pets

Group works to minimize furry war casualties
January 15, 2012 5:42 AM
HOPE HODGE - DAILY NEWS STAFF
During a recent large deployment from Camp Lejeune, the Onslow County Animal Shelter received 22 newly homeless cats and dogs. But one new organization is working to minimize the furry casualties of war.

Marine 2nd Lt. Alisa Sieber-Johnson and her husband, Navy Lt. Shawn Johnson, had the idea to start Dogs on Deployment after the couple had a crisis situation familiar to many military couples: Sieber-Johnson, who is now at training in Pensacola, Fla., received orders to Virginia for six months, where she was expected to live in a military barracks that did not permit pets. With Johnson deployed during that time, they had nowhere to keep their Australian Shepherd, J.D.

“We looked into boarding with a professional boarder,” Sieber-Johnson said. “For six months, we’re talking $1,000 a month. It was just not feasible.”

Finally, the couple found distant relatives who were willing to take in their dog, and the idea for a network of volunteer pet boarders for deployed troops was born.

Dogs on Deployment, which launched in June, is a nonprofit networking site focused on connecting troops in need with willing boarders. There are no requirements to volunteer as a boarder, though the organization provides a contract for boarders to sign, and owners are expected to use their own judgment to find a good home for their pet.
read more here

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Parade will welcome home injured soldier

UPDATE August 25, 2012
Disabled soldier acquitted on shooting charge
UPDATE
Parade canceled after soldier arrested

This has been a great morning so far. Posts on homeless veterans and now this. Why? Because it shows people do care about our veterans and the troops. Watching national news, you'd never know that unless something catastrophic happens but there are thousands of stories across the nation proving how much the American people do care.

Parade will welcome home injured soldier
Losing leg 'part of war and part of life,' Braman says
Aug. 26, 2011
Written by
ERIC WEDDLE

Eric Braman talks Friday about his service as an MP with the Army 101st Airborne in Afghanistan. Braman lost his right leg when the vehicle his was riding in was struck by a rocket propelled grenade. (By John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

The intricate sleeve of tattoos on Eric Braman's right arm tells a story.

Among a skull, rose and vibrant colors are permanent drawings that honor his family, a deceased friend, and one that spells out his credo: no regrets in life.

That's the philosophy Braman takes when telling the story of his right leg. It was amputated below the knee a year ago after the military vehicle he was riding in was stuck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Nangarhar, Afghanistan.

Braman's friend and another solider died from the attack.
read more here

I often wonder what it is like for them to be in Iraq or Afghanistan watching news reports and wondering if they have been forgotten or if anyone cares. National media drums up the political discord tracking people in the Tea Party, as if they speak for America, talking about not wanting to pay taxes while avoiding reports about how they want to take away from veterans.

Imagine risking your life and reading what they have to say online or watching one of their videos. Turn on any major news station and you will not find many reports about them in Iraq or Afghanistan any more than you'll see reports on what happens to them back home.

When they are not reporting on politics, they report on celebrities or create new ones. It would be nice if they decided to make the troops celebrities. It takes a disaster to get them to report on anything else. Every station is focused on Hurricane Irene which is fine because of how many lives are affected by this giant. The problem is, there is just never enough focus on them. I had to face the fact the American people have no idea what is going on in other parts of the country because while their local news does a great job talking about their local veterans and troops deployed from their own communities, the national news failed them a long time ago. This is yet one more reason a blog like this exists. The stories are all out there but now we can all know what is happening one state to another. Sure there are heartbreaking reports about what is wrong across the country but there are also many reports about what is right with the people in this country no matter what state they live in. The national news may not care, but the American people do!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Florida golfers with extra clubs needed for troops

If they can do it in Navada don't you think Florida can do better? We have more veterans here and I'm sure we must have more golfers too.

Fore! Nev. tourney collecting clubs for troops

By Scott Sonner - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 4, 2009 14:28:17 EDT

RENO, Nev. — Officials for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open and a local insurance company who launched an effort last week to collect new and used golf clubs for U.S. soldiers overseas say they’ve already gathered dozens of full sets.

“The response has been unbelievable,” said Michael Stearns, director of the PGA Tour tournament.

“We have 30 bags with full sets and over 50 sets of irons. We’ve even got two pairs of golf shoes,” he said Thursday.

The tournament is sponsoring the Clubs for Armed Forces program along with KKOH radio and Employers Insurance Co., a Reno-based group of companies providing workers’ compensation insurance and services to small businesses.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/ap_military_clubs_4_forces_060409/

Friday, May 30, 2008

Rep. Steve Buyer kills bill to protect deployed in child custody cases

Bill would safeguard child custody rights

Measure dropped from ’08 defense act
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday May 30, 2008 16:50:39 EDT

A controversial measure that would protect deployed service members from losing custody of their children because of their military service was approved by the House in a pile of veterans-related bills passed in a pre-Memorial Day rush.

The bill, HR 6048, is a response to several cases in which state courts changed service members’ child custody arrangements, sometimes without notice, while the members were deployed.

“Many cases have come to light where service members who have been deployed have had their military service used against them in custody hearings,” said Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, the chief sponsor of the bill, which would amend legal protections in the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act.

“Recently, my office learned about a service member who, during her custody proceeding, was told by a judge that the mere possibility of her deployment weighed against the best interests of the child in denying her custody,” Turner said.

“Much is asked of our service members, and mobilization can disrupt and strain relationships at home,” he said.

His bill, he said, would provide them “peace of mind that courts will not take away their children” while they are deployed.



Other bills passed by the House would:

• Provide the annual cost-of-living adjustment in veterans benefits in December.

• Authorize construction and renovation of veterans facilities.

• Expand substance-abuse treatment and counseling for veterans.

• Ensure the housing needs of disabled veterans are met.

• Study the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation programs.

• Authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to advertise in national media to inform veterans about benefits for which they may be eligible.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/airforce_vabills_053008p/

Friday, May 16, 2008

Suspect stole from man serving in Iraq

Police: Suspect stole from man serving in Iraq

Friday, May 16, 2008 - 07:45 AM

Henrico County police are searching for a woman they say stole from a man while he was serving with the military in Iraq.

Lorraine Denise Drumgole, 45, is wanted on warrants charging her with several fraud-related crimes, including grand larceny, forgery, credit card fraud and credit card theft, Lt. Doug Perry said.

The victims are a Dumfries police officer and his girlfriend, both of whom live in Henrico, Perry said.

According to Perry, the reservist was checking his bank accounts while overseas and noticed a check that could not be accounted for, prompting an investigation that led to the discovery that a friend of his girlfriend's had stolen two checks while visiting their residence. The checks were subsequently cashed for $500 at the SunTrust at 1601 Willow Lawn Drive.

Perry said the girlfriend later learned that one of her credit cards was stolen and used twice at the WaWa at 500 S. Airport Drive, paying for items totaling $17.52 and $211.90.

Perry said police have spoken with Drumgole's mother and are uncertain where the suspect may be living.

Anyone with information can call Henrico police at (804) 501-5000.
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-05-16-0236.html