Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Wednesday Hero - L Cpl. Nicholas J. Manoukian

This Weeks Hero Was Submitted By Mark Bell

LCpl. Nicholas J. Manoukian
L Cpl. Nicholas J. Manoukian
22 years old from Lathrup, Michigan
1st Marines 6th Batallion 2nd Marine Division
Oct 21, 2006


Here
is a website that LCpl. Manoukian's mother set up for her son after he lost his life in Ramadi.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
It Is Foolish And Wrong To Mourn The Men Who Died. Rather We Should Thank God That Such Men Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Wednesday Hero - Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Kathi

Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin
Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin
44 years old from Mercer, Pennsylvania
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
January 4, 2006


Sitting in the car with Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin's 18-year-old daughter, her father's friend of 21 years had just broken the news of his death.

During years of friendship and service in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Lt. Col. McLauglin and retired Capt. Brad Mifsud had a bond so close that they promised each other if something were ever to happen to either one of them, they would be there for the other's family.

Lt. Col. McLaughlin died when a suicide bomber rushed through a crowd of Iraqi police recruits in Ramadi and detonated a bomb that also killed a Marine and nearly 80 Iraqis. The day before the attack, Lt. Col. McLaughlin said he was fully confident that Ramadi had finally turned a corner in the insurgency. As hundreds of local men streamed into the Ramadi Glass Factory on Wednesday to join the city’s long-defunct police force, a wide grin spread over a pinch of tobacco stuffed into the 44-year-old’s lower lip.

"This may not look like much, but it's history," McLaughlin told a reporter. "We're making history right here."

With a significant wound to the back of his head, Lt. Col. McLaughlin turned to his injured personal security detail officers and inquired about their well-being. Waving off medical attention, he asked them to check on the soldiers under his command.

"In an act of extreme selflessness, he stated that he was OK, but to concentrate on saving the lives of his men," said Col. Grey Berrier, a close friend of Lt. Col. McLaughlin.

Lt. Col. McLaughlin died shortly after giving that instruction, according to the Guard.

A long-time artillery officer in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, McLaughlin was assigned to Task Force 2-222 Field Artillery and was the primary liaison between the 2-28 Brigade Combat Team and local tribal and government leaders in Ramadi. His efforts were instrumental in getting local sheikhs to support the recruitment drive and encourage more than 1,000 area men to volunteer for the force, commanders said.

"Mike is a true hero in every sense of the word, and he died while doing his job the only way he knew how - out front and with great enthusiasm and courage," said Col. John L. Gronski, commander of the 2-28 BCT. "This loss only strengthens our resolve to carry on and complete the mission in order to honor his memory."

A gregarious wisecracker, McLaughlin said his hope was to one day return to a peaceful Iraq, where he planned to walk the streets of Ramadi in a traditional Arab "man dress," or dishdasha, and sip coffee and chai with those sheikhs he had met during the war. McLaughlin said that one particular tribal leader he had developed a close relationship with dubbed him "The Sheikh of Sheikhs" - a nickname that was soon picked up by fellow officers in the brigade.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
It Is Foolish And Wrong To Mourn The Men Who Died. Rather We Should Thank God That Such Men Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Wednesday Hero - Velez Family

This Weeks Heroes Were Suggested By CavMom

This week I have three people to talk about. Roy Velez and his two sons, Jose and Andrew. One who was lost in Iraq and another who lost his life in Afghanistan.


It happens almost daily. A stranger reaches out to comfort Roy Velez, unintended symbol of unspeakable loss and grief.

Today it's a woman who approaches as he's halfway through breakfast at Montelongo's Mexican restaurant.

"My brother told me about you and your sons," she says, extending her hand.

He takes her small hand between his - this sturdy man who has buried two boys who went off to war - and listens gently as her own story of sorrow spills forth. Her 8-year-old daughter, a traffic accident, her son at the wheel.

As waiters bustle about with trays of huevos rancheros and barbacoa plates, Mr. Velez does what he does best: offers up a soft prayer to help this mother endure her emptiness.

Strangers learn about Mr. Velez from newspapers and TV. They come to him to share their gratitude or their grief. They come to thank him and console him, tearfully, for his family's sacrifice.

This is how Mr. Velez chooses to live after losing two sons in two years, not riven with anger or paralyzed with sadness. But as someone ready for those who might slip into the darkness of despair.

For his strength for others, compassion and grace - and for serving as inspiration for anyone who knows his story - Mr. Velez is the 2006 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year.

Because this story is so long, I've linked to the article which you can read in it's entirety.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look


This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Schneider Trucking Awarded Patriotic Employer

http://www.schneiderjobs.com/drivers/Separating_Military.html
Schneider was one of G.I. Jobs Top 50 military friendly employers for 2006!
September 2006

“Schneider National is very supportive of my military commitments. There is never a second thought on providing me the time necessary to fulfill my obligations to my country, and I am always welcomed back with open arms.

During my recent deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, my supervisor and the IT staff maintained contact with my family and me over the course of the past year. Schneider also continued health coverage for my family at the employee rate and provided differential pay.

Schneider National’s actions truly support the corporate core beliefs of taking care of employees.”

Martin D. Seifer


--  "Wednesday Hero"  < -- Google It

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Wednesday Hero - Spc. Jordan W. Hess

This Weeks Hero Was Submitted by Beth

Spc. Jordan William Hess
Spc. Jordan William Hess
27 years old from Marysville, Washington
Company C, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment
December 5, 2006


"Specialist Hess died of wounds received on a battlefield upon which no markers or memorials exist, yet his name will be etched upon the small part of each of our hearts that has hardened to stone by the realization of his passing. I will take Specialist Jordan Hess’ name to my own grave, in the hope that I can somehow preserve the honorable life that he led,” said Capt. Ian Lauer, commander of Company C.

Spc. Hess was a study in contrasts who loved a challenge. He had a warrior's spirit and was thrilled at the chance to serve his county, his parents said from their home in Marysville. He also was content to look for his muse in various forms of art, including glass-blowing, photography and poetry. It was this balance that people will remember most about the 26-year-old who was critically injured Nov. 11 in Ta'Meem, Iraq, when an IED detonated near his combat patrol.

A three-year veteran in the U.S. Army, Hess spent more than a year in Korea as well as time in Germany, always looking for an overseas assignment, Bill and Tammy Hess said. They knew their son was on his way to Kuwait the last time they spoke with him in October, and they suspected he had been deployed to Iraq as part of a tank unit when they didn’t hear from him for several weeks. After his injury, Hess was flown back to the United States and treated for several weeks at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. His parents, as well as his six brothers and one sister, were flown there to be with him.

"None of us wanted to see him hurt like that," Bill Hess said. "But one of the greatest blessings in my life was that we were able to say goodbye."

Hess was an avid wrestler from the time he was young, and news of his death circulated at Lake Stevens High School, where he attended until 1999. "He was a strong-willed, independent young man with a unique sense of humor," the Lake Stevens wrestling coaches said in a statement. "The Lake Stevens wrestling community today feels a strong sense of loss."


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look


This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

House of Jerky Supports Our Troops! (15% discount!)

House of Jerky Supports Our Troops!

http://www.houseofjerky.net/troops.html

Because this is about support, we are offering an opportunity for you to send jerky to a soldier. We give a 15% discount on all orders shipped to Military APO/FPO addresses. If you would like to share in supporting our soldiers, please email a letter of support and encouragement to forasoldier@houseofjerky.net Your letter will be printed and enclosed with your shipment. Many or our soldiers are unable to respond but we encourage you to include your address or email address.

"Want to send jerky to your favorite person overseas? Don't worry about shipping costs! We'll cover that! Just make sure you give the full shipping address and we'll get it there!
House of Jerky® gives a 15% Military Discount on all orders shipped to APO/FPO addresses and all Military Base addresses. Free shipping. Use coupon code supporttroops when you order from the Jerky Shop."
--  "Wednesday Hero"  < -- Google It

FREE Countdown Homepage to count down the days until your Soldier comes home.

http://www.countdownhomepage.com/

Stop marking off days on the calendar!
Get a FREE Countdown Homepage that counts down the days until your friend or loved one returns from deployment, extended training or relocation to another part of the world.

CountdownHomepage.com is was designed by a military spouse. Getting a countdown homepage is simply a matter of registering, logging in, editing some information in a template and clicking save. Then just set the homepage as the default homepage in your browser and each time you get on the internet or hit the home button in your browser you see the new number of days remaining. View a Sample Countdown Homepage

Each Countdown Homepage comes complete with:

  • Google search
  • Count down until your friend or loved one comes home
  • Count up since your friend or loved one left
  • The option to upload a photo
  • The option to add up to 10 commonly used links
  • The option to add a link to your blog and email
  • A calendar
  • and more...

--  "Wednesday Hero"  < -- Google It

Friday, January 05, 2007

Amazon Friday Sale - Army scrapbook & Care Pkg Items!

Amazon's Friday Sale - Check out today's items that are on sale only until midnight EST tonight!

Here's a few items that I hand-picked to share with you. The wok kit would be nice for a care package to a soldier who cooks.
I know mine requested a set of pots & pans while in Iraq and a hot plate and he said they were used a lot.

Army Scrapbook $16.99

Kitchen Hand Lotion and Antibacterial Hand Wash in Wok $16 (Reg. $30) + FREE shipping
Product Features

  • Great gift of Wasabi Green Tea Scented Lotion and Handwash
  • Beautifully presented in non-stick flat bottom wok
  • Lotion and Antibacterial Hand Wash 13.5 oz. Each
  • Add a splash of color to the kitchen!
  • Antibacterial Hand Wash is tough on germs and leaves a light fresh scent
HOOAH! Soldier Fuel Energy Bars, Apple Cinnamon, 2.29-Ounce Bars (Pack of 15) $13.99 (Reg. $29.85) + FREE shipping



--  "Wednesday Hero"  < -- Google It

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Wednesday Hero - Sgt. Brent Dunkleberger

This weeks hero was submitted by Jimbailoni.

Sgt. Brent Dunkleberger
Sgt. Brent Dunkleberger
29 years old from New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania
1st Calvary Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team
December 11, 2006


Sgt. Dunkleberger was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was killed by an RPG when his convoy was attacked while on a security mission.

"We can't put into words right now the grief we feel, but we can put into words how proud we are of Brent. He chose to serve our country and give his life for what he believed in," said William Dunkleberger, Brent's father. "we thank the community for the outpouring of support and ask everyone to continue to pray for us. We also ask the media to respect our privacy during this very difficult time."

Sgt. Dunkleberger graduated high school in 1996 and enlisted in the United States Army in 2003 and became a tank driver for the 1st Calvary Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

He is survived by his wife and four children.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look


This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.