{This blog is not affiliated with the VA. Though a Veteran, four yrs. all shore in Navy last year In-Country Vietnam, I don't work for the VA}
**USN All Shore '67-'71 GMG3 Vietnam In Country '70-'71 - Independent**


In 2003 some 72% of Americans fully supported the Abandoning of the Missions and those Sent to Accomplish so extremely Quickly after 9/11!!
At least some 95%, if not more as less then 1% serve them, not only still support the, just below, total lack of Sacrifice, they ran from any and all Accountability and left everything still on the table to be continually used if the political/military want was still in play in future executive/legislative wants!!
DeJa-Vu: “With no shared sacrifices being asked of civilians after Sept. 11", Decades and War From, All Over Again!!
Especially for the Corporate and Wealthy Community, investors in Defense Industries, and for these, Afghanistan and Iraq, came Two Huge Tax Cuts, with more sweetheart deals to same from states and the fed!!


Thousands of people across America don’t just talk about honoring Veterans; they walk the walk. Dedicated Volunteers Serve Veterans for Decades

On this Executive Administration, it's Cabinet and those directly around same, "Best - Ever": "We haven't had this kind of visibility from the White House—ever." Joyce Raezer National Military Family Association - Dec. 30, 2011, and plenty more of similar since Joyce, others, spoke and continues!

Ask yourself: If the Veterans Administration is so corrupt and mismanaged, as the conservative ideology, under which the seeds of are planted when they control, wants everyone to buy into as they obstruct the budgets and do extremely little after they charge same, then why does the Private sector, many problems within rarely heard about, adopt so many practices and advanced technologies developed within the VA, for free?! The VA, DoD, and in partnership with Universities and Colleges, not just Health Care are constantly in R&D and that developed that works is quickly moved into the private, for profit, sector, even as the VA is long under funded, decades, and especially during and after our wars that the few are sent into!

* * * * *
President Obama 26 August 2014

Fact: "This is not just a job of government. It’s not just a job of the veterans’ organizations. Every American needs to join us in taking care of those who've taken care of us. Because only 1 percent of Americans may be fighting our wars, but 100 percent of Americans benefit from that 1 percent. A hundred percent need to be supporting our troops. A hundred percent need to be supporting our veterans. A hundred percent need to be supporting our military families."

Fact:
"We’ve been able to accomplish historic increases to veterans funding. We’ve protected veterans health care from Washington politics with advanced appropriations. We’ve been able to make VA benefits available to more than 2 million veterans who didn't have them before, including more Vietnam vets who were exposed to Agent Orange. We’ve dedicated major new resources for mental health care. We’ve helped more than 1 million veterans and their families pursue their education under the Post-9/11 GI Bill."

August 26, 2014 - Secretary Robert A. McDonald's Remarks for the American Legion's 96th Annual Convention, Charlotte, NC
Fact: "Unlike, P&G, VA may not be concerned about quarterly profit and loss statements or shareholder value, but it does have a bottom line—Veterans. "
{which is why No Government agency should be turned into a private corporate entity feeding for profit off the Countries duty and responsibility, especially the VA}
* * * * *

Fact: “We are dealing with veterans, not procedures—with their problems, not ours.” —General Omar Bradley, First Administrator of the Veterans Administration

Facts: Matthew Hoh {former Marine and foreign service officer in Afghanistan}: "We spend a trillion dollars a year on national security in this country."
"And when you add up to the Department of Defense, Department of State, CIA, Veterans Affairs, interest on debt, the number that strikes me the most about how much we're committed financially to these wars and to our current policies is we have spent $250 billion already just on interest payments on the debt we've incurred for the Iraq and Afghan wars."
26 September 2014

Fact: "If military action is worth our troops’ blood, it should be worth our treasure, too — not just in the abstract, but in the form of a specific ante by every American." -Andrew Rosenthal 10 Feb. 2013

Fact: "12 years also is a long time. We now have a lifetime responsibility to a generation of service members, veterans and their families." Dr. Jonathan Woodson 11 Sep. 2013: With 9/11 Came Lifetime Responsibility
{two tax cuts, especially for the wealthy, came with these two recent unpaid for wars, nor the results of, DeJa-Vu all over again from the previous decades and wars from! Ignore the many issues, by those served, no need to fund!}

Fact: Sen. Bernie Sanders told Republicans: “If you can’t afford to take care of your veterans, than don’t go war. These people are bearing the brunt of what war is about, We have a moral obligation to support them.” February, 26th, 2014

Fact: 25 June 2014 U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller: Veterans' Affairs issue an 'all too similar' scene

Fact: How We Could Do More For Our Vets: "We need to go into debt to pay our debt to U.S. veterans to make sure they get the care and services we owe them."

Fact: “Why in 2009 were we still using paper?” VA Assistant Secretary Tommy Sowers “When we came in, there was no plan to change that; we’ve been operating on a six month wait for over a decade.” 27 March 2013

WHY? GOOD QUESTION THOSE SERVED SHOULD ANSWER!


Bob Herbert Losing Our Way : "And then the staggering costs of these wars, which are borne by the taxpayers. I mean, one of the things that was insane was that, as we're at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush administration cut taxes. This has never been done in American history. The idea of cutting taxes while you're going to war is just crazy. I mean, it's madness." Bill 'Moyers and Company': Restoring an America That Has Lost its Way 10 Oct. 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- Veterans Day, 2013: "As we pay tribute to our veterans, we are mindful that no ceremony or parade can fully repay that debt." read more>>>


Under two previous Executive administrations and wars from, father and son. With son and conservative congresses leading the extremely quick abandoning of the missions and those sent to accomplish after 9/11:

ProPublica and The Seattle Times Nov. 9, 2012 - Lost to History: Missing War Records Complicate Benefit Claims by Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans
"DeLara's case is part of a much larger problem that has plagued the U.S. military since the 1990 Gulf War: a failure to create and maintain the types of field records that have documented American conflicts since the Revolutionary War."

Part Two: A Son Lost in Iraq, but Where Is the Casualty Report?

Army Says War Records Gap Is Real, Launches Recovery Effort

3/27/15 - U.S. Nerve Gas Hit Our Own Troops in Iraq
"During and immediately after the first Gulf War, more than 200,000 of 700,000 U.S. troops sent to Iraq and Kuwait in January 1991 were exposed to nerve gas and other chemical agents. Though aware of this, the Department of Defense and CIA launched a campaign of lies and concocted a cover-up that continues today."
"When Brown and others tried to obtain their medical records to prove their illnesses were service-related, they learned that the records had disappeared."


Add in the issues of finally recognizing in War Theater and more Veterans, by the Shinseki Veterans Administration and the Executive Administrations Cabinet, what the Country choose to ignore from our previous decades and wars of: The devastating effects on Test Vets and from PTS, Agent Orange, Homelessness, more recent the Desert Storm troops Gulf War Illnesses, Gulf War Exposures with the very recent affects from In-Theater Burn Pits and oh so so much more! Tens of Thousands of Veterans' that have been long ignored and maligned by previous VA's and the whole Country and through their representatives!

How does a Country HONOR It's Fallen, by Their Own 'Sacrifice' in Taking Care of the Brothers and Sisters They Served With!!


"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." - Abraham Lincoln

"To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan" - President Lincoln

She wrote that she's proud of her service but added this: "That doesn't change the fact that I contributed - however indirectly - to human beings vanishing from the earth in a moment of sheer agony."







For our sisters: National Women Veterans Hotline, call 1-855-VA-WOMEN1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-66361-855-829-6636) New Hotline now up and running







They are a coalition of leading Veterans, mostly of OEF and OIF, and national security organizations who recognize that climate change is a major threat, and support fast, bold action. It is time for Americans to rise to the challenge, and we’re taking on the fight.





Their Mission: Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Learn More




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Sunday, December 5, 2010

HONORING THE FALLEN: US Military KIA, Iraq & Afghanistan/Pakistan - November 2010

Iraq, from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn Sept 1, 2010
There have been 4,747 coalition deaths -- 4,429 Americans, 2 Australians, 1 Azerbaijani, 179 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, 1 Czech, 7 Danes, 2 Dutch, 2 Estonians, 1 Fijian, 5 Georgians, 1 Hungarian, 33 Italians, 1 Kazakh, 1 South Korean, 3 Latvian, 22 Poles, 3 Romanians, 5 Salvadoran, 4 Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, 2 Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of December 5 2010, according to a CNN count. { Graphical breakdown of casualties }. At least 31,992 {31,967 as of last month} U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan


As the draw down continues, both in theater as to opporations participation and troops leaving the theater and not being replaced, the numbers of killed and injured draws down drastically as well. But those who die later, from wounds received or from ailments they developed or from suicides, are still not counted and will continue for the years and decades to come!


Staff Sgt.Loleni William Gandy 36 Pago Pago, American Samoa, USA Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Army Reserve Died during physical training at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, on November 19, 2010


Sgt.David James Luff Jr. 29 Hamilton, Ohio, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire in Tikrit, Iraq, on November 21, 2010


POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq


Two U.S. soldiers are currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of December 1, 2009. The information below reflects the name, an unknown, officially listed as Prisoners of War or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown by the Pentagon.


Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41 Army reservist assigned Provincial Reconstruction Team Baghdad Ann Arbor, Michigan On October 23, 2006, Altaie was categorized as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown when he allegedly was kidnapped while on his way to visit family in Baghdad, Iraq. The Pentagon changed his status to missing-captured on December 11.


Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Ketchum, Idaho Captured in Paktika province in Afghanistan, on June 30, 2009. The Pentagon declared him Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown on July 1 and his status was changed to Missing-Captured on July 3.


Afghanistan - Pakistan!!
There have been 2,247 coalition deaths -- 1,416 Americans, 21 Australians, 345 Britons, 1 Belgian, 153 Canadians, 3 Czech, 39 Denmark, 25 Netherlands, 5 NATO, 8 Estonians, 1 Finn, 50 French, 45 Germans, 4 Hungarian, 33 Italians, 1 Jordan, 3 Latvian, 1 Lithuanian, 9 Norwegians, 22 Poles, 2 Portuguese, 17 Romanians, 1 South Korean, 30 Spaniards, 5 Swedes, 2 Turks, 1 New Zealand, 1 Jordanian and three NATO/ISAF -- in the war on terror as of December 5 2010, according to a CNN count. Below are the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose deaths have been reported by their country's governments. The troops died in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or were part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. At least 9,469 {9,134 as of last month} U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. In addition to the military deaths, 11 U.S. intelligence operatives have died in Afghanistan.

Spc.Jonathan Michael Curtis 24 Belmont, Massachusetts, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Curtis and Pfc. Andrew N. Meari were guarding the entrance to Combat Outpost Senjaray in the Zhari district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when they intercepted an insurgent, wired with explosives, attempting to enter on a motorcycle. The insurgent detonated himself, killing Curtis and Meari, on November 1, 2010.


Pfc.Andrew Nimr Mahmoud Meari 21 Plainfield, Illinois, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Meari and Sgt. Jonathan M. Curtis were guarding the entrance to Combat Outpost Senjaray in the Zhari district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when they intercepted an insurgent, wired with explosives, attempting to enter on a motorcycle. The insurgent detonated himself, killing Meari and Curtis, on November 1, 2010.


1st Lt.James Russell Zimmerman 25 Aroostook, Maine, USA Company E, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 2, 2010


Sgt. 1st ClassTodd Monroe Harris 37 Tucson, Arizona, USA Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire in Badghis province, Afghanistan, on November 3, 2010


Cpl.James Chad Young 25 Rochester, Illinois, USA 323rd Engineer Company, 863rd Engineer Battalion, 372nd Engineer Brigade, Army Reserve Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with a roadside bomb in Nar Kariz, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 3, 2010


Sgt.Jason James McCluskey 26 McAlester, Oklahoma, USA 264th Engineer Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire at Zarghun Shahr in the Mohammad Agha district of Logar province, Afghanistan, on November 4, 2010


Lance Cpl.Matthew J. Broehm 22 Flagstaff, Arizona, USA 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force One of two Marines killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 4, 2010


Lance Cpl.Brandon William Pearson 21 Arvada, Colorado, USA 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force One of two Marines killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 4, 2010


Spc.Blake Daniel Whipple 21 Williamsville, New York, USA 693rd Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a roadside bomb in the Khugiani district of Ghazni province, Afghanistan, on November 5, 2010


Sgt.Michael Francis Paranzino 22 Middletown, Rhode Island, USA B Troop, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on November 5, 2010


Staff Sgt.Jordan Blake Emrick 26 Hoyleton, Illinois, USA 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 5, 2010


Lance Cpl.Randy Rashad Braggs 21 Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 6, 2010


Pfc.Shane Michael Reifert 23 Cottrellville, Michigan, USA Company B, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 6, 2010


Spc.Dale Justin Kridlo 33 Hughestown, Pennsylvania, USA 161st Engineer Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade One of two soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with small-arms fire in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 7, 2010


Sgt.Aaron Brett Cruttenden 25 Mesa, Arizona, USA 161st Engineer Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade One of two soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with small-arms fire in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 7, 2010


Senior AircraftmanScott Hughes 20 Y Felinheli, North Wales No. 1 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment Hughes died on November 7, 2010, of injuries suffered when he was struck by a power boat operated by British Forces Cyprus while swimming off the coast of Cyprus on November 5. He was redeploying from operations in Afghanistan and his unit was in Cyrus for decompression activities before returning home to the United Kingdom.


Spc.Anthony Vargas 27 Reading, Pennsylvania, USA C Troop, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using a roadside bomb during a patrol in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 8, 2010


Cpl.Andrew Lewis Hutchins 20 New Portland, Maine, USA Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died of wounds suffered by small-arms fire while on guard tower duty at Combat Outpost Sabari in the Sabari district of Khost province, Afghanistan, on November 8, 2010


Lance Cpl.Dakota Ray Huse 19 Greenwood, Louisiana, USA 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force Died following a roadside bomb attack during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 9, 2010


2nd Lt.Robert Michael Kelly 29 Tallahassee, Florida, USA 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Died following a roadside bomb attack during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 9, 2010


Sgt.Edward Hubalek Bolen 25 Chittenango, New York, USA Company B, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire and a roadside bomb near Forward Operating Base Charkh in Logar province, Afghanistan, on November 10, 2010


Lance Cpl.James Bray Stack 20 Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan on November 10, 2010


Spc.David Christopher Lutes 28 Frostburg, Maryland, USA C Troop, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died on November 11, 2010, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb while on patrol in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 8, 2010


Staff Sgt.Andrew Stephen Bubacz 23 Dalzell, South Carolina, USA 97th Communications Squadron, 97th Mission Support Group, 97th Air Mobility Wing, assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Nuristan Died after sustaining head injuries while maintaining a communications tower at a forward operating base in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, on November 12, 2010


Spc.Shannon Chihuahua 25 Thomasville, Georgia, USA Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in the Wataphur district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 12, 2010


Cpl.Shawn Dee Fannin 32 Wheelersburg, Ohio, USA Company B, 404th Aviation Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade Died in a non-combat related incident in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, on November 12, 2010


Cpl.Jacob Russell Carver 20 Freeman, Missouri, USA Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of three soldiers killed when an insurgent suicide bomber detonated a vest bomb near their unit in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 13, 2010


Spc.Jacob Charles Carroll 20 Clemmons, North Carolina, USA Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of three soldiers killed when an insurgent suicide bomber detonated a vest bomb near their unit in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 13, 2010


Staff Sgt.Juan Luis Rivadeneira 27 Davie, Florida, USA Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of three soldiers killed when an insurgent suicide bomber detonated a vest bomb near their unit in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 13, 2010


Spc.Jesse Adam Snow 25 Fairborn, Ohio, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of five soldiers killed during a six-hour firefight that began when insurgents attacked their unit with small-arms fire during an operation to clear out Taliban militants and weapons caches near the Pech River in the Watahpur district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2010


Spc.Nathan Edward Lillard 26 Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of five soldiers killed during a six-hour firefight that began when insurgents attacked their unit with small-arms fire during an operation to clear out Taliban militants and weapons caches near the Pech River in the Watahpur district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2010


RangerAaron McCormick 22 Coleraine, Londonderry, Northern Ireland Company A, 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a security patrol in Nad-e Ali, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2010


Spc.Scott Thomas Nagorski 27 Greenfield, Wisconsin, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of five soldiers killed during a six-hour firefight that began when insurgents attacked their unit with small-arms fire during an operation to clear out Taliban militants and weapons caches near the Pech River in the Watahpur district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2010


Spc.Shane Hasan Ahmed 31 Chesterfield, Michigan, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of five soldiers killed during a six-hour firefight that began when insurgents attacked their unit with small-arms fire during an operation to clear out Taliban militants and weapons caches near the Pech River in the Watahpur district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2010


Pfc.Christian Michael Kade Warriner 19 Mills River, North Carolina, USA Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of five soldiers killed during a six-hour firefight that began when insurgents attacked their unit with small-arms fire during an operation to clear out Taliban militants and weapons caches near the Pech River in the Watahpur district of Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2010


Pfc.Jørgen Randrup 27 Denmark Kompagniet B, I Bataljon, Den Kongelige Livgarde (Company B, 1st Battalion, Royal Life Guards) Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a dismounted patrol east of Gereshk in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2010


Staff Sgt.David Paul Senft 27 Grass Valley, California, USA Company B, 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Died of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on November 15, 2010


Lt. Col.Gwendolyn Ann Locht 46 Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA 96th Inpatient Operations Squadron, 96th Medical Group, 96th Air Base Wing Locht died on November 16, 2010, in Houston, Texas. She was medically evacuated from Kandahar, Afghanistan, on May 22, 2010, after being diagnosed with leukemia.


Staff Sgt.Kevin Matthew Pape 30 Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Died of wounds suffered in a heavy firefight with a large number of Taliban in rugged terrain in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on November 16, 2010


Staff Sgt.Javier Orlando Ortiz Rivera 26 Rochester, New York, USA 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 16, 2010


Pfc.Kyle Matthew Holder 18 Conroe, Texas, USA C Troop, 1st Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade Died of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on November 17, 2010


GuardsmanChristopher Davies Unavailable St. Helens, Merseyside, England No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards Killed when he was struck by small-arms fire during a security patrol in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 17, 2010


Spc.Justin Eric Culbreth 26 Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Company D, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Died of wounds after being struck by a roadside bomb in the Panjwayi district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 17, 2010


Sgt.Jason Thomas Smith 28 Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Explosive Ordnance Disposal Branch, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 19, 2010


Sgt.David S. Robinson 25 Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA Company D, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment Died of injuries suffered in a non-combat related accident in Qalat, Afghanistan, on November 20, 2010


Staff Sgt.Sean Michael Flannery 29 Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, USA Company A, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of two soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with a roadside bomb in the village of Ghotamudkha, Zhari district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 22, 2010


Spc.William Kyle Middleton 26 Norfolk, Virginia, USA Company A, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of two soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with a roadside bomb in the village of Ghotamudkha, Zhari district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on November 22, 2010


Lance Cpl.Ardenjoseph Ayuson Buenagua 19 San Jose, California, USA Company D, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 24, 2010


1st Lt.William James Donnelly IV 27 Picayune, Mississippi, USA 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on November 25, 2010


Pvt. Enlisted Grade 2Devon Jemail Harris 24 Mesquite, Texas, USA Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade in the Sayed Abad district of Wardak province, Afghanistan, on November 27, 2010


Pvt.Buddy Wendall McLain 24 Mexico, Maine, USA 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of six soldiers killed when an Afghan border policeman opened fire on them during a training mission at Combat Outpost Lonestar in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 29, 2010


Pfc.Austin Garrett Staggs 19 Senoia, Georgia, USA 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of six soldiers killed when an Afghan border policeman opened fire on them during a training mission at Combat Outpost Lonestar in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 29, 2010


Staff Sgt.Curtis Allen Oakes 29 Athens, Ohio, USA 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of six soldiers killed when an Afghan border policeman opened fire on them during a training mission at Combat Outpost Lonestar in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 29, 2010


Sgt. 1st ClassBarry Edward Jarvis 36 Tell City, Indiana, USA 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of six soldiers killed when an Afghan border policeman opened fire on them during a training mission at Combat Outpost Lonestar in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 29, 2010


Pfc.Jacob Alexander Gassen 21 Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, USA 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of six soldiers killed when an Afghan border policeman opened fire on them during a training mission at Combat Outpost Lonestar in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 29, 2010


Spc.Matthew Wayne Ramsey 20 Quartz Hill, California, USA 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division One of six soldiers killed when an Afghan border policeman opened fire on them during a training mission at Combat Outpost Lonestar in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on November 29, 2010


1st Lt.Scott F. Milley 23 Sudbury, Massachusetts, USA 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire in Logar province, Afghanistan, on November 30, 2010



Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Timeline: Compliments of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America


Dec. 03, 2010 - Recently, a lot has been happening in Washington around the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. Check out our interactive timeline to get the history and the latest, including what’s been said by key politicians and military leaders. For the Posted Timeline


Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America


PTSD - TBI - Military and Veterans Suicides


VA PTSD Program Locator


Department of Defense "Restoring Hope": You Can Help Save A Life


Study: military children have higher levels of stress, behavioral problems


The Rand Study on Military Children: Children on the Homefront: The Experiences of Children from Military Families


Army Health Promotion, Risk Reduction, Suicide Prevention Report 2010

Army Releases October Suicide Data


November 19, 2010 - The Army released suicide data today for the month of October. Among active-duty soldiers, there were nine potential suicides: two have been confirmed as suicides, and seven remain under investigation. For September, the Army reported 19 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, six have been confirmed as suicides, and 13 remain under investigation. {read rest}


The Military OneSource toll-free number for those residing in the continental United States is 1-800-342-9647. Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource Web site for dialing instructions for their specific location


The Defense Center for Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020.


The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).


The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Suicide Prevention Resource Council.


Information about the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program.


The Army’s most current suicide prevention information.


The Army's comprehensive list of Suicide Prevention Programs.


Suicide prevention training resources for Army families {requires Army Knowledge Online access to download materials} .


The Next Chapter to ‘Wartorn 1861-2010’


We've had many chapters over these some forty years that the greater majorities were ignoring, after this past decade they can no longer push back into the dark the reality of war and traumatic life experiences nor the help needed!


HBO recently released ‘Wartorn 1861-2010,’ exploring the invisible wounds of war. While evocatively bringing the subject of PTSD to an ever-widening audience, the film leaves out the next chapter: the availability of effective, evidence-based treatments for PTSD. To better understand the breadth of options available for PTSD sufferers, their families and others, watch VA’s video “PTSD Treatment Works,” in which Dr Kate Chard describes the many VA resources available to Veterans, their families, and others. {for links to much more information}



Total Costs of Wars since 2001, the rolling tabulation, over $1,117,131,823,561+++++ and continually counting!


“The True Cost of the War”


September 30, 2010 10:00AM Full House Veterans Affairs Committee

The True Cost of the War


Archived Webcast September 30 at 10 a.m. Full Committee Hearing “The True Cost of the War” {If you listen or watch No Other Congressional Hearing, This One You Should, read the opening statements and watch the back and forth talk not in the opening statements but in the Congressional Records.}
Visit Site Page for Backlinks to Participants Opening Statements


CNN-Iraq and Afghanistan War Casulties


In Remembrance - Moving Tributes


Civilian Casulties - Iraq


John Hopkins School of Public Health { October 11, 2006 report } Updated Iraq Survey Affirms Earlier Mortality Estimates. Mortality Trends Comparable to Estimates by Those Using Other Counting Methods


Civilian Casulties - Afghanistan

Civilian casualties of the War in Afghanistan (2001-present)

The War in Afghanistan (2001-present) has caused the deaths of thousands of Afghan civilians directly from insurgent and foreign military action, as well as the deaths of possibly tens of thousands of Afghan civilians indirectly as a consequence of displacement, starvation, disease, exposure, lack of medical treatment, crime and lawlessness resulting from the war. The war, launched by the United States as "Operation Enduring Freedom" in 2001, began with an initial air campaign that almost immediately prompted concerns over the number of Afghan civilians being killed[1] as well as international protests. With civilian deaths from airstrikes rising again in recent years[2], the number of Afghan civilians being killed by foreign military operations has led to mounting tension between the foreign countries and the government of Afghanistan. In May 2007, President Hamid Karzai summoned military commanders to warn them of the consequences of further deaths.[3]........Continued


Exact Count of Civilian Casulties may never be known, as is the case in every conflict, especially an Invasion by another Country. For it is the Innocent Civilians and those Defending their Countries {of which All would be counted if this land were ever invaded} who suffer the most, during and long after!


UNHCR - Refugees and more, Afghanistan and Iraq


Iraq Refugees UNHCR - Iraq: UNHCR Global Appeal 2008-2009 - Iraq Situation


Afghanistan Refugees UNHCR - Afghanistan UNHCR Global Appeal 2008-2009 - Afghanistan Situation


All the Deaths, Maimings and Destruction are the Blood on All Our Hands, No One can Escape that Guilt!



97 percent {now more} of U.S. deaths in Iraq have occurred after George W. Bush declared an end to "major combat."
"Mission Accomplished!"


"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is," - George W. Bush, Texas Gov., 1999


The Rand Corporation Terrorism Report the press release here, you can get the full document here or a summary of the research brief here


"What is the difference between an al Qaida terrorist and a misguided American terrorist?" "The planes they fly!"


In fairness, we’ve been putting ground zeros next to mosques in Iraq since 2003 - Unknown Comment Author


"How anyone can say that torture keeps Americans safe is beyond me -- unless you don't count American soldiers as Americans."
How to Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, to Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq
Matthew Alexander who is writing under a pseudonym for security reasons


"Torture is the tool of the lazy, the stupid, and the pseudo-tough. It's also perhaps the greatest recruiting tool that the terrorists have."
Major General Paul Eaton


Done "In Our Names"!


Still Coming Home, Our Brothers of WWII, Korea and Vietnam - Rest in Peace, You're Finally Home


U.S. Soldier MIA from Korean War Identified


December 02, 2010 - The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Sgt. First Class Wallace L. Slight, 24, of Yates City, Ill., will be buried Dec. 3 in Van Meter, Iowa. On Nov. 1, 1950, Slight was assigned to M Company, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, occupying a defensive position in North Korea, along the Nammyon River, near a bend known as the “Camel’s Head.” Two enemy elements attacked the 1st Cavalry Division’s lines, collapsing their perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. Almost 400 men, including Slight, were reported missing or killed in action following the battle.

In 1953, a U.S. soldier captured during the same battle reported that a fellow prisoner of war had told him Slight had died on the battlefield during the attack. {read rest}


Soldier Missing from Korean War Identified

November 08, 2010 - The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Cpl. Floyd E. Hooper, 27, of Stratton, Colo., will be buried on Nov. 13 in his hometown. In February 1951, his unit, the 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, fought against Chinese Communist forces in support of Operation Thunderbolt, an operation to sweep and clear enemy forces occupying areas south of the Han River. Strong enemy forces supported by artillery fire forced his unit to withdraw to a defensive perimeter where he was captured on Feb. 4, 1951, near Yangp’yong, Korea. After the 1953 armistice, it was learned from surviving POWs that he had been held in a POW camp in Suan County, North Korea, and died of malnutrition and dysentery just a few months later. {read rest}


Information For Veterans Who Served In Desert Shield/Storm and Their Families


July 2010 Secretary Shinseki Marked the 20th Anniversary of Gulf War with a Renewed Pledge to Improve Care and Services to Gulf War Veterans Continued in a Twelve Page PDF Download


It really is sad that this Country has to have it's legislators pass a binding legislation for issues such as this, especially as in many cases those running are appointed, mostly based on political affiliation, and/or are contracted out to the private sector when they should stay in Government hands!

Legislation would hold Army accountable for Arlington's graves


December 5, 2010 - The Senate passed legislation Saturday that would require the Army to give a full accounting of every grave at Arlington National Cemetery and fix any errors found at one of the nation's most sacred military burial grounds.

The bill would also require the Secretary of the Army to report to Congress on its progress in reviewing and overhauling the management of the contracts at the cemetery, including those that were issued to computerize the cemetery's records. The secretary would also be required to take steps to communicate more effectively with the loved ones of service members who have been buried there.

The measure comes after the recent discovery of hundreds of mixups and lapses at the cemetery, including unmarked and improperly marked grave sites, and the Army's announcement of its first criminal investigation into the scandal. The failures occurred despite federal spending of $5 million to $8 million on multiple contracts to modernize the cemetery's antiquated record-keeping. {read rest}


Candlelight vigil held for euthanized war-hero dog


Dec. 3, 2010 - CASA GRANDE - Candlelight vigils are pretty common. But for a dog?


It happened Friday night in Casa Grande for a female shepherd mix mistakenly euthanized last month by a Pinal County animal control employee.



The dog named Target saved soldiers in Afghanistan and lived through explosions in the war-torn country. It was brought to the Phoenix area in August by Army Sgt. Terry Young after his tour of duty. {read rest}


110th and 111th Congress put policy before politics, from the House Veterans Affairs Committee leadership


Attached are comprehensive materials to discuss accomplishments for America’s veterans. The two page document is limited to accomplishments from the 111th Congress, while the 4 and 8 page documents cover updates from 2007-2010.

2 page Document {251K}

Four page Document {258K}

8 page Document {95K}



HONORING THE FALLEN: US Military and Coalition Forces Killed in Action, Iraq & Afghanistan/Pakistan from 2003 to November 2010 - My Honor Rolls, and more, to Share



National World War II Memorial



National Korean War Memorial



National Vietnam Veterans Memorial - The Wall



The Vietnam Women’s Memorial


Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries


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